What is Harem anime?

Harem is an entertainment-related trope which is characterized by three or more characters, normally female, who for some reason are in the presence and under the influence of one character, generally male, according to a few genre-defining guidelines; here it will be assumed, for simplicity of language, that the harem lead is a male character and the members are female characters. Though that is the rule, there are exceptions; a story in which there is one female character and several male characters is normally called a "reverse harem", or sometimes also "male harem". Aside from the swapping of the characters' genders, the trope's details are mostly the same, with the majority of the changes relating to the differences in behavior between men and women of the characters' age range. It is also possible to create harems with homosexual relationships, again with very few changes to the main antics themselves. The harem may not have more than only one lead, as that would be a love polygon, or less than three members, as one would form a couple and two would make a love triangle. As a defining rule of harem, the interactions between the lead and each of the individual members are filled with romantically or sexually loaded content, either implicitly, through innuendo or subtext, or explicitly, through text or actions, and those actions are a key plot element. Generally, the female characters' looks and personalities will vary a lot among the ones present in one single series, but quite rarely will they actually differ from the common stock archetypes, which are known, well-defined, and easy to copy; for this reason, the genre as a whole is often considered repetitive. Usually, the characters involved directly in this trope are in the late teenager to young adult age range, but that is not mandatory. Sexually charged behavior on the lead's part pretty much can't be avoided, and it's typical to see him stamped as a pervert by some or all of the members, regardless of whether he is one; the sexual tones also applies to the depiction of the harem members, often leading the genre to labeled sexist. The lead will often suffer very violent retribution for his behavior, which has attracted criticism of gratuitous violence as well. Most of the harem members will be romantically or sometimes sexually interested in the one male character, and in him alone; that, however, is not an absolute rule, and indeed sometimes none of the female characters are really interested at first, so the protagonist has to build relationships with them from scratch. That idea comes in large part from visual novels; it is quite common for visual novels to revolve around controlling the male lead and have him build relationships with either as many female characters as possible or with one of them, the latter being more common for visual novels with branched story paths; a large portion of those visual novels also feature erotic content, which may be hard to adapt to TV series. It may be also possible that the harem is only a support to the existing or predictable relationship between the lead and the most important member; additionally, the lead may end up in relationships with most or all of the harem members, with the agreement of all, in a setting normally called "harem ending".

Newest Harem Anime You might like

Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi

0

Description:

Uryuu Kamihate has had a rough start to life, but plans to forget it all by achieving his dream—matriculating into medical school. But when he arrives at his new foster home, a working shrine, his dream of a quiet place to study goes up in smoke. Not only will he be living with the three beautiful, lively Amagami sisters—but he learns that he must marry one of them and take over the temple! (Source: Kodansha USA)
Type

TV

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

unreleased

Aired

2024-12-31

Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou 3rd Season

(Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Season 3)

0

Description:

The third season of Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou.
Type

TV

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

unreleased

Aired

2024-10-31

Elf-san wa Yaserarenai.

(Plus-Sized Elf)

0

Description:

Naoe-kun, a massage therapist, is about to head home for the day when he's saddled with a rather strange patient. This lovely lady has emerald eyes, pointy ears, and grew up in the forest–everything about her screams “elf,” except for one thing: her bodacious body. It turns out she left her world but loves junk food in this one, and now her obsession has caught up with her. Can Naoe-kun help this loveable elf girl lose the weight–and keep it off? (Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)
Type

TV

Rating

17+

Status

unreleased

Aired

2024-07-31

Megami no Café Terrace 2nd Season

(The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses Season 2)

0

Description:

The second season of Megami no Café Terrace.
Type

TV

Rating

Ecchi

Status

unreleased

Aired

2024-07-31

2.5 Jigen no Ririsa

(2.5 Dimensional Seduction)

0

Description:

“I have no interest in real girls!” So claims Okumura, the president of the school’s manga club. He’s your typical otaku, obsessed with a sexy (fictional) 2D manga character known as Lilliel. Then the new school year starts, and a (real!) 3D girl named Lilysa whose passion is cosplay joins the club. Lilysa convinces Okumura to become her photographer–and guess who her favorite manga character is? Not only that, but Lilysa is into modeling the fetishy stuff! The boundaries between 2D and 3D start to blur as this hot-blooded romantic comedy unfolds. (Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)
Type

TV

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

unreleased

Aired

2024-07-31

Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha: Shijou Saikyou no Maou no Shiso, Tensei shite Shison-tachi no Gakkou e Kayou 2nd Season Part 2

(The Misfit of Demon King Academy Ⅱ: History's Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants Part 2)

7.71

Description:

The second cour of the second season of Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha.
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Status

upcoming

Aired

2024-04-12

Date A Live V

0

Description:

The fifth season of Date A Live.
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Status

upcoming

Aired

2024-04-10

Tensei Shitara Dai Nana Ouji Dattanode, Kimamani Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu

(I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability)

0

Description:

Prince Lloyd wasn't always a prince...in fact, his previous life is one he remembers perfectly: he was a sorcerer, of sorts. So when he was forced to reincarnate, he decided to continue his studies, prince of the realm or no! But his new life has its own sets of challenges...including being a 10-year-old! What's the 7th prince/sorcerer to do?! (Source: Kodansha USA)
Type

TV

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

upcoming

Aired

2024-04-02

Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu 2

(Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- 2)

7.87

Description:

The second season of Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu.
Type

TV

Episodes

25

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

current

Aired

2024-01-08

Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari

(Tales of Wedding Rings)

6.45

Description:

Satou and his best friend, Hime, have been together for as long as he can remember. So when she tells him she's going back to her home world to get married, his first thought is to follow her and crash her wedding. All goes according to plan, and with a kiss from Hime herself, Satou becomes the new groom! But unbeknownst to Satou, the man who marries Hime is destined to be a hero of immense power and save the world! Is Satou up for the challenge, or is this just too much responsibility for one high schooler to handle?! (Source: Yen Press)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2024-01-06

Mato Seihei no Slave

(Chained Soldier)

7.05

Description:

The demon-filled dimension known as "Mato" has opened to threaten humanity, and a type of "peach" tree that grows there yields fruit that confers special powers to those who eat it, giving humanity a fighting chance, but this only works for women. As such, as protectors of humanity, women rise in social status while men are relegated to second-class citizens scraping for basic occupation and acknowledgment. Cue Yuuki Wakura, a domestically crafty and laborious high school senior whose older sister was taken during a Mato event 5 years before; while lamenting the hardships of the life ahead of him, an event opens before him, and while being rescued from demons by Captain Kyouka of the Anti-Demon Corps, she confers his powers as her "slave" and turns him into a mighty beast mount that mows down the demons. However, there is a surprising price to pay for being her "slave"... and it's not him who has to pay it.
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

24 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2024-01-04

Otomege Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai desu 2nd Season

(Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games Is Tough for Mobs Season 2)

0

Description:

The second season of Otomege Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai desu.
Type

TV

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

current

Aired

2023-12-31

Temple Specials

(TenPuru: No One Can Live on Loneliness Specials)

7.33

Description:

Specials included in the BD/DVD release of Temple.
Type

special

Episodes

2

Ep.Length

12 Min

Rating

13 teens or older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-10-25

Kimi no Koto ga Dai Dai Dai Dai Daisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo

(The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You)

7.82

Description:

Rentaro Aijo was rejected 100 times in middle school. He visits a shrine and prays for better luck in high school. The God of Love appears and promises that he’ll soon meet 100 people he’s destined to date. But there’s a catch—once destiny introduces someone to him, the two must happily love each other. If they don’t, they’ll die. What will befall Rentaro and his 100 girlfriends in high school? (Source: Crunchyroll)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-10-08

Kanojo mo Kanojo 2nd Season

(Girlfriend, Girlfriend Season 2)

7.29

Description:

After their hot springs trip, Naoya continues his relationships with both Saki and Nagisa. Bringing along Milika (who kissed Naoya) and Shino (who secretly has romantic feelings for Naoya), they embark on a summer vacation full of romance with a fireworks festival, camping, and Okinawa. Milika's younger sister Risa also appears, making the romance in this neo-standard rom-com heat up even more. A season two filled with summer and swimsuits is about to begin! (Source: Crunchyroll)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-10-06

5-toubun no Hanayome∽

(The Quintessential Quintuplets~)

7.9

Description:

A new anime adaptation called Gotoubun no Hanayome∽. It will adapt stories from the manga that weren't adapted in the original anime series. Note: The anime was pre-screened in Japan theatrically for 3 weeks on July 14, 2023.
Type

special

Episodes

1

Status

finished

Aired

2023-07-14

Eiyuu Kyoushitsu

(Classroom for Heroes)

6.41

Description:

The story is set in Rosewood Academy, a school that trains future heroes destined to protect mankind. The school accepts only those with the most potential. Arnest Flaming, a girl who boasts the top record in the academy, is assigned to guide a mysterious but cheerful new student named Blade who rivals her own power. (Source: Anime News Network)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-07-09

Temple

(TenPuru)

6.74

Description:

Akemitsu Akegami was always told by his father that "no one can live alone"... but he's sure determined to do just that! After all, his father sure wasn't saying it with the best intentions, and Akemitsu has no desire to become like that creep. But when a chance encounter with a young woman leaves him with thoughts that are all too impure, he decides to do what he must - become a Buddhist monk and renounce his worldly ways. But the temple he decides to devote himself to...is full of women? And that same young woman is there, too?? What's a guy to do? (Source: Kodansha USA)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-07-08

Level 1 dakedo Unique Skill de Saikyou desu

(My Unique Skill Makes Me OP even at Level 1)

6.51

Description:

Ryouta Satou gets the surprise of his life when he's suddenly transported into another world and nearly clobbered at the hands of the young, pretty adventurer Emily Brown. This new world revolves around defeating monsters and profiting on whatever they drop—food, money, items, etc. Unfortunately for Ryouta, he has no skills to speak of...until he learns he has the ability to get rare drops! Suddenly his luck turns around...or does it? (Source: Kodansha USA)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-07-08

Tenchi Muyou! GXP: Paradise Shidou-hen

(Tenchi Muyo! GXP Paradise Starting)

0

Description:

2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the original Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki OVA series and to celebrate, a brand new Tenchi Muyo! GXP anime series was announced. The new series, titled Tenchi Muyo! GXP Paradise Beginnings Arc, connects the 4th and 5th seasons of the series and will serve as an introduction to the Paradise War through the eyes of Seina Yamada. (Source: Crunchyroll)
Type

OVA

Episodes

6

Ep.Length

30 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2023-05-25

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