Popular for their numerous love interests, harem animes have gained strong popularity. These are the best harem animes ever made.
Protagonists with several romance potentials and vague romantic labels with them have always been a popular trope in television. Anime, however, ups the ante with its own harem genre. This sitcom formula has withstood the test of time in anime and viewers can now consume a plethora of harem anime titles in case they want to see some hyperbolic gender dynamics and exaggerated attraction.
In any case, it might not be a good idea to just do an eeny-meeny-miny-moe in Netflix's or other anime streaming site's harem section. Some of the titles in this anime theme or genre can rather be too "daring" or worse, a crass representation of harem. As such, if one wants to start with harem, the most popular titles such as these are advised.
Harem anime has always been popular, which is why there's usually a new title coming out every year in the said genre. Hence, it can get hard picking the best harem anime, especially for fans who have limited viewing time. That's why five more best harem anime contenders have been added here.
They are some of the top harem anime in existence not just because of their restraint from too much ecchi but also because of their sensible treatment of their characters. So don't miss these excellent harem anime as even beginners in the genre will find plenty to like here.
The genre is on a roll this year. It's finally getting the quality it deserves with all the best harem anime around. Some of them are quality titles that don't just pander to the ecchi audience and can be thoughtful romances. As such, these good harem anime additions will surely reinforce the genre's positive points.
#10 The Quintessential Quintuplets
#9 The Fruit Of Grisaia
Release date : 2014
Other themes/genres : Drama, romance, psychological, school
Where to stream : Crunchyroll
The Fruit of Grisaia might seem like an ordinary harem anime with the typical cast of dynamic girls and a quiet boy, but it adds more stakes by featuring some deep-seated psychological issues. It begins when transfer student Yuuji Kazami enters a new school. Initially, he was excited to begin a new life but was soon disappointed on his first day.
#8 The World God Only Knows
Release date : 2010
Other themes/genres : Comedy, romance, supernatural
Where to stream : Hidive
The World God Only Knows puts a wacky twist on an otherwise standard harem anime: the protagonist, Keima Katsuragi, is also to act as an exorcist or spirit hunter. It all began when a deceptively cute demon girl tricks him into the job. For some reason, the most effective way for Keima to capture spirits is to also capture the hearts of girls—because convenience!
That would have been easy except Keima prefers dating sims and 2D girls to real ones. In fact, he's a self-proclaimed God of Conquest where he can conquer any girl's heart— in a dating simulator, albeit. Thus, his simulation skills are put to the test where he must woo to win back his freedom.
#7 Tenchi Muyo! War On Geminar
Release date : 2009
Other themes/genres : Fantasy, comedy, mecha, isekai, ecchi
Where to stream : Hulu
Speaking of harem anime with an impressive choice of a premise, Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar takes the cake. It's also somewhat of an isekai anime on top of the mecha and fantasy additions. In any case, protagonist Kenshi Masaki got spirited away into a bizarre land where he is tasked with assassinating a crown empress by piloting a mecha.
Only, he failed to do this but his gender— which has been unheard of for a mecha pilot in the land of Geminar, saves him. The empress refused to execute her killer and kept Kenshi around to train him as a bonafide mecha pilot among the other female mecha pilots in the empress' army.
#6 Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend
Release date : 2015
Other themes/genres : Comedy, romance, ecchi, school
Where to stream : Funimation
Weird title choice aside, one might find delight in Saekano's endearing (albeit predictable) plot. Otaku Tomoya Aki one day decided to fulfill his dreams of creating his own visual novel. So, he recruited a bunch of old friends and acquaintances (all of whom happen to be female) to help him with the project.
Sure enough, the visual novel he was concocting was romantic in theme. More than that, the visual novel game they're making is more of a dating simulator. Hence, they all inadvertently pour their hearts and souls into the visual novel in the most genuine and "method" way possible.
#5 Hayate The Combat Butler!!
Release date : 2007
Other themes/genres : Action, comedy, romance
Where to stream : Hidive
One of the solid classics of the harem genre, Hayate the Combat Butler!! owes its success to a mix of genres and the fact that it's a light-hearted approach to a rather disheartening plot. That's because Hayate Ayasaki was abandoned by his parents after they accumulated a crippling amount of debt. He is then sold to the Yakuza and plotted his escape by trying to kidnap a rich girl to pay off his parent's debts.
Luckily (or unluckily) for Hayate, the wealthy girl he kidnapped believed that her kidnapper was professing his love to her. So she forgave him and even gave him a job as his butler. Joining the chaos is the female entourage of the wealthy girl who keeps inadvertently falling for him.
#4 Nisekoi: False Love
Release date : 2014
Other themes/genres : Comedy, romance, school
Where to stream : Hulu
While on the topic of anime involving Yakuza, Niseoki: False Love makes the notorious gang instrumental in its romance tangle. At the center of that turmoil is Raku Ichijou, heir of the said Yakuza group. Raku was forced to be a rival gang's representative's boyfriend in order to maintain an uneasy peace.
Problem is, Raku hates her and the feeling is mutual. Also, Raku somewhat promised himself to a missing childhood friend who conveniently re-appears while he's still in a pickle with a rival gang girl.
#3 Yamada-kun And The Seven Witches
Release date : 2015
Other themes/genres : Comedy, romance, supernatural, school
Where to stream : Funimation
Here's a unique one: harem but the two main characters can swap bodies. Such is the case with Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches. It starts with a transferee student named Ryuu Yamada who accidentally kissed a beautiful honor student.
To their surprise, both learned that they can switch bodies after the kiss. Their newly learned power brings them into the circle of the Supernatural Studies Club where they made it their goal to find out who else among certain individuals share the same ability.
#2 Rosario + Vampire
Release date : 2008
Other themes/genres : Comedy, romance, fantasy, school
Where to stream : Hulu
Looking for another disorderly twist in a harem anime? Why not monster girls? Rosario + Vampire explores that notion. Protagonist Tsukune Aono enrolls in Youkai Academy thanks to his stingy parents but he soon discovers that it's actually a school for supernatural monsters such as succubi, werewolves, and vampires.
Thankfully, he falls in the company of Akashiya Moka and other monster girls who view him as a precious friend since he's the only human in the academy. It's not all ecchi situations and opportune moments for Tsukune though as he also helps the girls address the school's most glaring issues.
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