What is Harem manga?

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".

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Fruits Basket

8.25

Description:

Tohru Honda is a high school freshman who is having a serious bout of misfortune. Not only was she recently orphaned with the tragedy of her mother's death, but she also has no where to live and is currently residing in a tent! However, when her luck to seems to be at its worse, she meets the Sohma family - and is invited to stay with them in exchange for taking care of the household chores. But it isn't long before Tohru discovers the Sohmas have deep a secret. The family is cursed by the spirits of the Chinese Zodiac, and some of the children born into the Sohma family are possessed by these spirits. When possessed, they cannot be "huggled" by the opposite sex, or they transform into their respective Zodiac animal! However, this doesn't phase Tohru, who promises to keep their secret. She continues living with them, and her grave humbleness and thankfulness never wanes. As a result, they come to be very important people in her life, and the Sohmas begin to realize how very lucky they are to have her.
Type

manga

Volumes

23

Chapters

136

Status

finished

Started

1998-07-18

Ouran Koukou Host Club

(Ouran High School Host Club)

8.24

Description:

Haruhi sticks out like a sore thumb as a poor, smart girl who got into the hoity-toity Ouran High School on talent alone. When she mistakenly wanders into the meeting room of the host club and breaks a valuable vase, she's recruited to join the club. Realistic and sarcastic, Haruhi isn't used to being around crazy people like the princely Tamaki, scheming Kyouya, silent Mori, immature Hunny, and devilish Hikaru and Kaoru, but she's got no choice if she ever wants to pay earn what she owes. Too bad the club is made for girls to come and be entertained by gorgeous guys -- and Haruhi's been mistaken for a boy! Includes chapters of the story "Romantic Egoist" in various volumes, starring a pair of twins who play matchmaker with their fellow students, teachers and the like. (Source: MAL)Note: The final volume contains a special bonus chapter where the group travels to Spain.
Type

manga

Volumes

18

Chapters

87

Rating

Status

finished

Started

2002-07-24

Overlord

(Overlord)

8.24

Description:

The story begins with Yggdrasil, a popular online game which is quietly shut down one day. However, the protagonist Momonga decides to not log out. Momonga is then transformed into the image of a skeleton as "the most powerful wizard." The world continues to change, with non-player characters (NPCs) begining to feel emotion. Having no parents, friends, or place in society, this ordinary young man Momonga then strives to take over the new world the game has become. (Source: ANN)
Type

novel

Volumes

17

Status

current

Started

2012-07-30

Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken

(That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)

8.23

Description:

After being killed by a passing robber, a normal 37-year-old guy find himself reincarnated in another world as a blind slime with unique skills. With a new name "Rimuru Tempest" he got after meeting his new friend, the "catastrophe level" Storm Dragon Verudora, he starts his slime life in another world with his increasing number of minions. (Source: Guro Translation)
Type

novel

Status

current

Started

2014-05-30

Pulse

(Pulse)

8.22

Description:

Mel, a renowned heart surgeon, lives a carefree life with sex being a tool for joy rather than a show of affection. Then she meets someone that turns her view of love and life upside down. This story is about two people that meet with minimal expectations but soon become enthralled in a relationship that changes everything about themselves. Winner of Lezhin's 2nd World Comic Contest. Webcomic by Thai artist, originally released by Lezhin in English.
Type

manhwa

Chapters

67

Rating

Smut

Status

finished

Started

2016-06-08

Beware of the Villainess!

(Beware of the Villainess!)

8.21

Description:

A refreshing, unique villainess who's been dropped in the world of a novel, only to overthrow it all! The reason why? She couldn't just stand by and watch the female lead be manipulated by all four shitty male leads. The story of a villainess, who intends to throw out all the jackasses, and a wolf that only yearns for her! (Source: MU)
Type

manhwa

Chapters

128

Status

finished

Started

2020-04-13

Aruitou

8.2

Description:

On a hill overlooking the sea, in a town that retains its old-world beauty, a new and gentle love story begins! (Source: Transcendence)
Type

manga

Volumes

0

Status

finished

Started

2011-01-01

Overlord

(Overlord)

8.19

Description:

The story begins with Yggdrasil, a popular online game which is quietly shut down one day. However, the protagonist Momonga decides to not log out. Momonga is then transformed into the image of a skeleton as "the most powerful wizard." The world continues to change, with non-player characters (NPCs) begining to feel emotion. Having no parents, friends, or place in society, this ordinary young man Momonga then strives to take over the new world the game has become. (Source: ANN)
Type

manga

Volumes

0

Rating

Status

current

Started

2014-11-26

Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai

(The World God Only Knows)

8.19

Description:

Katsuragi Keima is known on the net as the god of getting the girls while in real life he’s known as otamegane and he hates all real girls. However he is approached by Elsie, a devil from hell, to help her in catching runaway spirits that hide in people. Apparently the spirits only hide in the hearts of girls and the only way to get the souls out is by making the girl fall in love so the spirit gets forced out. And he’s not allowed to fail or he will lose his head. (Source: MU)
Type

manga

Volumes

26

Chapters

271

Rating

Status

finished

Started

2008-04-09

Perfect Half

8.19

Description:

Once a world ruled by men, women stand up and fight to become men's equal. Now, in a land that is equally divided up between man and woman, the battle of the sexes is on! Who's going to win? But more importantly...what's the name of the game? (Source: Lezhin)
Type

manhwa

Rating

Status

current

Started

2016-01-01

Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!

(The Eminence in Shadow)

8.19

Description:

Just like how everyone adored heroes in their childhood, a certain young man adored those powers hidden in shadows. After hiding his strength and living the mediocre life of a mob character by day while undergoing frenzied training by night, he finally reincarnates into a different world and gains ultimate power. The young man who is only playing at being a power in the shadows, his misunderstanding subordinates, and a giant organization in the shadows that gets trampled….. This is the story of a young boy who had adored powers in shadows possibly eventually reigning over the world of shadows in another world. (Source: NU)
Type

novel

Status

current

Started

2018-11-05

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta...

(I Reincarnated into an Otome Game as a Villainess With Only Destruction Flags…)

8.18

Description:

I recovered my past memories when I was hit on the head by a rock. I am Katarina Claes, the eight year old daughter of the duke. In a feverish nightmare, in which the prince’s fiancee was determined, I have realized that this is the otome game from the previous life. Also, I have turned into the villainess that interfered with the romance of the capture targets… If the heroine got a happy end, I would be exiled, while if she got a bad end, I would be killed by the capture target… I have no happy end!? Why is it only bad!? Somehow I have to avoid the destruction end, and reach old age peacefully!! (Source: Novel Updates)
Type

novel

Status

current

Started

2015-08-20

Inso's Law

(My Life as an Internet Novel)

8.16

Description:

“I just want to live a normal life, why is this happening to me!” Your average student Ham Dan, whose hobby was reading “Law of Insomnia” wakes up to a beautiful novel like heroine. But even in the world of fantasy novels, her role is no different. Stuck as the childhood friend of the heroine, her normal everyday life comes to an end, becoming more twisted by her strong character. (Source: Mangadex)
Type

manhwa

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

current

Started

2019-03-31

Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute

(To Be a Power in the Shadows!)

8.16

Description:

Just like how everyone adored heroes in their childhood, a certain young man adored those powers hidden in shadows. After hiding his strength and living the mediocre life of a mob character by day while undergoing frenzied training by night, he finally reincarnates into a different world and gains ultimate power. The young man who is only playing at being a power in the shadows, his misunderstanding subordinates, and a giant organization in the shadows that gets trampled….. This is the story of a young boy who had adored powers in shadows possibly eventually reigning over the world of shadows in another world. (Source: MU)
Type

manga

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

current

Started

2018-12-26

Yaoshenji

(Tales of Demons and Gods)

8.14

Description:

In his past life, although too weak to protect his home when it counted, out of grave determination Nie Li became the strongest Demon Spiritist and stood at the pinnacle of the martial world. However, he lost his life during the battle with the Sage Emperor and his six deity-ranked beasts. His soul was then brought back to when he was still 13 years old. Although he's the weakest in his class and has the lowest potential future talent, having only a red soul realm and a weak one at that, with the aid of the vast knowledge which he accumulated from his previous life, he decides to train faster than anyone could expect. He also decides to help those who died nobly in his previous life to train faster as well. He aims to protect the city from the coming future of being devastated by a record number of demon beasts and the previous fate of ending up destroyed. He aims to protect his lover, friends, family and fellow citizens who died in the beast assault or its aftermath. And he aims to destroy the so-called Sacred family who arrogantly abandoned their duty and betrayed the city in his past life. (Source: MU)
Type

novel

Status

current

Started

2015-01-01

Ouran Koukou Host Club University Special

8.12

Description:

Two years after the Main Series. Haruhi and everyone are in the University. This is released to celebrate airing of live-action drama.
Type

manga

Volumes

0

Chapters

2

Status

finished

Started

2011-07-23

Rosario to Vampire: Season II

(Rosario+Vampire: Season II)

8.1

Description:

The story continues where the first season left off only months into the future. Yuokai Gakuen has been repaired and the new semester is underway. Tsukune and gang are back, and more powerful then ever. Anti-Thesis's true identity is relieved. With new adversaries looming on the horizon, and something much more sinister then the gang has ever faced before. Tsukune is battling with the monster inside him. With the help of Moka, Mizore, Kurumu, Ruby, and Yukari. Tsukune trains to get his vampire blood under control and the strength to protect what he holds dear. The new season focuses more on the girls, their past, and their families. New confrontations await them. New friends and allies will join them by their side. Together they will discover the secrets of Moka's rosary, and her lineage... (Source: girlsdeadmonster)
Type

manga

Volumes

14

Chapters

67

Rating

Ecchi

Status

finished

Started

2007-11-04

4 Cut Hero

8.08

Description:

The Hero has defeated the Demon King! But the Princess he meant to save turned out to be a Prince. NEETdom, here he comes, but a life of relaxation surrounded by animes is a pretty sweet deal. Unfortunately, he gets caught up in millennia old legends, curses, and a twisted plot involving multiple Kingdoms and many dragons. Through and through, though, he'll follow a path of whimsy, even if that involves him palling it up with "villains". (Source: MU)
Type

manhwa

Rating

Status

current

Started

2014-08-18

High School DxD

()

8.07

Description:

Hyoudou Issei could be called the most perverted high school student ever, however he happens to be one of the most unlucky guys when it's about girls. One day he's asked out by a girl named Yuuma Amano, but at the end of the date he's killed by her - where she reveals her true identity, the Fallen Angel Raynare. Later on he's resurrected by the High class Devil Rias Gremory as her "Pawn". He then finds out the truth of Devils and joins the same club Rias founded.
Type

novel

Volumes

25

Chapters

240

Rating

Ecchi

Status

finished

Started

2008-09-20

Lilith's Cord

8.03

Description:

The current generation of humans are often said to be called descendants of Adam and Eve. However, there lies a small number of a different type of humans in this world. Children of the one who is called to be Adam's first Eve - Lilith. Her children look completely the same as Eve's descendants, and the few who live among us... are still somewhere in the world. (Source: MU)
Type

manhwa

Chapters

93

Rating

Smut

Status

finished

Started

2016-11-19

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