What is this genre all about? 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".
We present you the list of Harem anime you should watch right now.
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Top 20 Harem anime you should watch right now. [2024 List]
- 20. 2.5 Jigen no Ririsa
- 19. Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!
- 18. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
- 17. Sword Art Online II
- 16. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka
- 15. Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu 2
- 14. Tensei Shitara Dai Nana Ouji Dattanode, Kimamani Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu
- 13. Bakemonogatari
- 12. Kimi no Koto ga Dai Dai Dai Dai Daisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo
- 11. High School DxD
- 10. Goblin Slayer
- 9. Mato Seihei no Slave
- 8. Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou 2
- 7. Highschool of the Dead
- 6. Ouran High School Host Club
- 5. Clannad
- 4. Tensei Kizoku no Isekai Boukenroku: Jichou wo Shiranai Kamigami no Shito
- 3. 5-toubun no Hanayome ∬
- 2. Sekai Saikou no Ansatsusha, Isekai Kizoku ni Tensei suru
- 1. High School DxD Hero
20. 2.5 Jigen no Ririsa
Okumura, president of his school’s manga club, prefers 2D character Liliel over real girls. When Ririsa, a cosplay enthusiast and Lilliel fan, joins the club and asks Okumura to become her photographer, the line between 2D and 3D blurs.
2.5 Dimensional Seduction is currently airing and will have 24 Episodes. It is also Known as: 2.5次元の誘惑, 2.5 Jigen no Ririsa
19. Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!
Some people just aren’t suited to playing the part of the flashy, in-your-face hero or the dastardly, mustache-twirling villain with larger-than-life panache. Instead, they operate in the shadows and pull the strings of society through wit and cleverness. That’s the role Cid wants to play when he’s transported to another world. Cid spins a yarn or three and becomes the unlikely leader of the underground Shadow Garden organization that fights against a menacing cult (which he totally made up). However, there’s a catch even his wild imagination didn’t see coming: the cult he concocted actually exists, and they’re beyond displeased that his power fantasy just got in the way of their evil plans!
The Eminence in Shadow has finished airing and it has 20 Episodes. It is also Known as: 陰の実力者になりたくて！, To Be a Power in the Shadows!
18. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
Corporate worker Mikami Satoru is stabbed by a random killer, and is reborn to an alternate world. But he turns out to be reborn a slime! Thrown into this new world with the name Rimuru, he begins his quest to create a world that’s welcoming to all races.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has finished airing and it has 24 Episodes. It is also Known as: 転生したらスライムだった件, Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
17. Sword Art Online II
A year after escaping Sword Art Online, Kazuto Kirigaya has been settling back into the real world. However, his peace is short-lived as a new incident occurs in a game called Gun Gale Online, where a player by the name of Death Gun appears to be killing people in the real world by shooting them in-game. Approached by officials to assist in investigating the murders, Kazuto assumes his persona of Kirito once again and logs into Gun Gale Online, intent on stopping the killer.
Once inside, Kirito meets Sinon, a highly skilled sniper afflicted by a traumatic past. She is soon dragged in his chase after Death Gun, and together they enter the Bullet of Bullets, a tournament where their target is sure to appear. Uncertain of Death Gun's real powers, Kirito and Sinon race to stop him before he has the chance to claim another life. Not everything goes smoothly, however, as scars from the past impede their progress. In a high-stakes game where the next victim could easily be one of them, Kirito puts his life on the line in the virtual world once more.
Sword Art Online II has finished airing and it has 24 Episodes. It is also Known as: ソードアート・オンライン II, Phantom Bullet, SAO II, Sword Art Online 2, SAO 2
16. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka
Commonly known as the "Dungeon," the city of Orario possesses a huge labyrinth in the underground. Its strange name attracts excitement, illusions of honor, and hopes of romance with a pretty girl. In this city of dreams and desires, new adventurer Bell Cranel has his fateful encounter with the tiny Goddess Hestia.
Thus begins the story of a boy striving to become the best adventurer and a lonely goddess searching for followers both working together to fulfill their goals.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? has finished airing and it has 13 Episodes. It is also Known as: ダンジョンに出会いを求めるのは間違っているだろうか, DanMachi, Is It Wrong That I Want to Meet You in a Dungeon
15. Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu 2
The second season of Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu.
Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- 2 has finished airing and it has 25 Episodes. It is also Known as: 月が導く異世界道中２, TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy- Season 2
14. Tensei Shitara Dai Nana Ouji Dattanode, Kimamani Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu
The study of magic requires aptitude, effort, and the right bloodline. One sorcerer loved magic, despite lacking the bloodline and aptitude for it, and died wishing he’d spent more time studying in life. He reawakens as Lloyd, the seventh prince of the Kingdom of Saloum, with all his previous memories intact. Blessed with a strong magical bloodline, he uses his gifts to master the study of magic.
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 転生したら第七王子だったので、気ままに魔術を極めます, I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince
13. Bakemonogatari
Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student, manages to survive a vampire attack with the help of Meme Oshino, a strange man residing in an abandoned building. Though being saved from vampirism and now a human again, several side effects such as superhuman healing abilities and enhanced vision still remain. Regardless, Araragi tries to live the life of a normal student, with the help of his friend and the class president, Tsubasa Hanekawa.
When fellow classmate Hitagi Senjougahara falls down the stairs and is caught by Araragi, the boy realizes that the girl is unnaturally weightless. Despite Senjougahara's protests, Araragi insists he help her, deciding to enlist the aid of Oshino, the very man who had once helped him with his own predicament.
Through several tales involving demons and gods, Bakemonogatari follows Araragi as he attempts to help those who suffer from supernatural maladies.
Bakemonogatari has finished airing and it has 15 Episodes. It is also Known as: 化物語, Ghostory
12. Kimi no Koto ga Dai Dai Dai Dai Daisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo
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?
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 君のことが大大大大大好きな100人の彼女, 100 Kanojo, 100Kano, Hyakkano
11. High School DxD
High school student Issei Hyoudou is your run-of-the-mill pervert who does nothing productive with his life, peeping on women and dreaming of having his own harem one day. Things seem to be looking up for Issei when a beautiful girl asks him out on a date, although she turns out to be a fallen angel who brutally kills him! However, he gets a second chance at life when beautiful senior student Rias Gremory, who is a top-class devil, revives him as her servant, recruiting Issei into the ranks of the school's Occult Research club.
Slowly adjusting to his new life, Issei must train and fight in order to survive in the violent world of angels and devils. Each new adventure leads to many hilarious (and risqué) moments with his new comrades, all the while keeping his new life a secret from his friends and family in High School DxD!
High School DxD has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ハイスクールD×D, Highschool DxD
10. Goblin Slayer
"I'm not saving the world. I just kill goblins." Rumor has it that, in a certain guild in the middle of nowhere, there is an extraordinary man who has climbed all the way to the Silver rank just by killing goblins. At the same guild, a priestess who's just become a new adventurer has formed her first party... and the man who ends up rescuing that party when they get into trouble is none other than the Goblin Slayer.
Goblin Slayer has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ゴブリンスレイヤー, Goblin Slayer
9. Mato Seihei no Slave
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.
Chained Soldier has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 魔都精兵のスレイブ, Slave of the Magic Capital's Elite Troops
8. Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou 2
Transported to another world and left behind by his former friends, Hajime had to make his rise from literal rock bottom. It was in the labyrinth where he strengthened his weak magic and found several beautiful allies. Now after saving his classmates, he ventures for Erisen to escort Myuu and her mother. He'll fight and defeat anyone he has to in order to find a way home—including a god!
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Season 2 has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ありふれた職業で世界最強 2, Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest 2, From Common Job Class to the Strongest in the World 2nd Season, Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou 2nd Season
7. Highschool of the Dead
It happened suddenly: The dead began to rise and Japan was thrown into total chaos. As these monsters begin terrorizing a high school, Takashi Kimuro is forced to kill his best friend when he gets bitten and joins the ranks of the walking dead. Vowing to protect Rei Miyamoto, the girlfriend of the man he just executed, they narrowly escape their death trap of a school, only to be greeted with a society that has already fallen.
Soon, Takashi and Rei band together with other students on a journey to find their family members and uncover what caused this overwhelming pandemic. Joining them is Saeko Busujima, the beautiful president of the Kendo Club; Kouta Hirano, an otaku with a fetish for firearms; Saya Takagi, the daughter of an influential politician; and Shizuka Marikawa, their hot school nurse. But will the combined strength of these individuals be enough to conquer this undead apocalypse?
High School of the Dead has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 学園黙示録 HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD, Gakuen Mokushiroku: Highschool of the Dead, HOTD, HSOTD
6. Ouran High School Host Club
Haruhi Fujioka is a bright scholarship candidate with no rank or title to speak of—a rare species at Ouran High School, an elite academy for students of high pedigree. When she opens the door to Music Room #3 hoping to find a quiet place to study, Haruhi unexpectedly stumbles upon the Host Club. Led by the princely Tamaki, the club—whose other members include the "Shadow King" Kyouya, the mischievous Hitachiin twins, and the childlike Haninozuka "Honey" and his strong protector Mori—is where handsome boys with too much time on their hands entertain the girls in the academy.
In a frantic attempt to remove herself from the hosts, Haruhi ends up breaking a vase worth eight million yen and is forced into becoming the eccentric group's general errand boy to repay her enormous debt. However, thanks to her convincingly masculine appearance, her naturally genial disposition toward girls, and fascinating commoner status, she is soon promoted to full-time male host and plunged headlong into a glitzy whirlwind of elaborate cosplays, rich food, and exciting shenanigans that only the immensely wealthy Ouran Host Club can pull off.
Ouran High School Host Club has finished airing and it has 26 Episodes. It is also Known as: Ouran Koukou Host Club, 桜蘭高校ホスト部, Ohran Koko Host Club, Ouran Koukou Hosutobu, Ouran Koukou Host Bu, OHSHC
5. Clannad
Tomoya Okazaki is a delinquent who finds life dull and believes he'll never amount to anything. Along with his friend Sunohara, he skips school and plans to waste his high school days away.
One day while walking to school, Tomoya passes a young girl muttering quietly to herself. Without warning she exclaims "Anpan!" (a popular Japanese food) which catches Tomoya's attention. He soon discovers the girl's name is Nagisa Furukawa and that she exclaims things she likes in order to motivate herself. Nagisa claims they are now friends, but Tomoya walks away passing the encounter off as nothing.
However, Tomoya finds he is noticing Nagisa more and more around school. Eventually he concedes and befriends her. Tomoya learns Nagisa has been held back a year due to a severe illness and that her dream is to revive the school's drama club. Claiming he has nothing better to do, he decides to help her achieve this goal along with the help of four other girls.
As Tomoya spends more time with the girls, he learns more about them and their problems. As he attempts to help each girl overcome her respective obstacle, he begins to realize life isn't as dull as he once thought.
Clannad has finished airing and it has 23 Episodes. It is also Known as: CLANNAD, CLANNAD
4. Tensei Kizoku no Isekai Boukenroku: Jichou wo Shiranai Kamigami no Shito
After dying in the act of stopping a crime in modern Japan, our hero is reincarnated as Cain von Silford, third son of a noble family in a world of swords and sorcery. In his new life, all children receive a blessing from the gods…but Cain is unexpectedly blessed with an absolutely enormous, over-the-top cornucopia of magical powers. If his dream of traveling the world as a free spirit is to come true, he can’t reveal too much of his potential to the wrong people. A light-hearted, escapist adventure in another world begins!
The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure: Servings Gods Who Go Too Far has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 転生貴族の異世界冒険録 〜自重を知らない神々の使徒〜, Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World
3. 5-toubun no Hanayome ∬
Second season of 5-Toubun no Hanayome.
The Quintessential Quintuplets 2 has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 五等分の花嫁∬, Gotoubun no Hanayome 2, The Five Wedded Brides 2, 5-Toubun no Hanayome 2
2. Sekai Saikou no Ansatsusha, Isekai Kizoku ni Tensei suru
"I'm going to live for myself!"
The greatest assassin on Earth knew only how to live as a tool for his employers—until they stopped letting him live. Reborn by the grace of a goddess into a world of swords and sorcery, he's offered a chance to do things differently this time around, but there's a catch...He has to eliminate a super-powerful hero who will bring about the end of the world unless he is stopped.
Now known as Lugh Tuatha Dé, the master assassin certainly has his hands full, particularly because of all the beautiful girls who constantly surround him. Lugh may have been an incomparable killer, but how will he fare against foes with powerful magic?
The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 世界最高の暗殺者、異世界貴族に転生する, Ansatsu Kizoku, The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
1. High School DxD Hero
4th season of the High School DxD anime series.
High School DxD Hero has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ハイスクールDxD HERO, High School DxD 4th Season
