In television, protagonists with several romantic possibilities and a vague romantic label have always been common. In contrast, anime ups the ante with its own harem genre.
There are now a variety of harem anime titles for viewers to enjoy if they want to experience hyperbolic gender dynamics and exaggerated attraction.
Harems usually surround a character with at least three members of the opposite gender if you’re not familiar with the genre.
A typical episode of the show shows romantic interactions between the MC and the cast, but usually, little progress is made towards actually getting together with any particular girl or boy for fear of upsetting other fans and destabilizing the delicate harem ecosystem that the show has cultivated. In that vein, this list will run down the Top 40 Harem Anime.
1. High School DxD
Issei Hyoudou is your typical high school pervert who spends all his time peeping at women and fantasizing about having his own harem. It seems that everything is going well for Issei when a beautiful girl asks him out; however, the girl turns out to be a fallen angel who brutally kills him!
A second chance is given to him, however, when beautiful senior student Rias Gremory, who is a top-notch devil, revives him as her servant, bringing Issei into the school’s Occult Research club.
As Issei slowly adjusts to his new life, he is forced to train and fight for survival in the violent world of angels and devils. Each of his new adventures is filled with hilarious, risqué moments with his new comrades, all while keeping the truth a secret from his parents and friends in High School DxD!
While the story starts in a simple way, it quickly develops a far more serious tone. It begins as an “ultimate harem” anime, and we can see the great world-building and the creative way that the plot is displayed.
They are simply amazing characters. We have the cool Rias, the pervert Akeno, and the quiet Koneko. The show shows how each character, especially Issei, grows as a person. All the girls are gorgeous, and the art is spectacular.
In the first episodes of the series, Issei is viewed as a hopeless pervert, but we see later on that he cares about other people and is pursuing his dreams.
2. Nisekoi
As the sole heir to an intimidating yakuza family, first-year student Riku Ichijou attends Bonyari High School. Ten years ago, Raku promised a childhood friend. The only clue he has now is a pendant with a lock, which can only be opened by the key which the girl took when she left.
After growing up years later, Raku has become a typical teenager who just wants to have fun with his middle school crush Kosaki Onodera while remaining as uninvolved in his yakuza background as possible.
However, when the American Bee Hive invades his home turf, Raku is forced into an uncomfortable situation: He is to pretend that he is experiencing romantic feelings for Chitoge Kirisaki, the stunning daughter of the group’s chief, to lessen friction between the two groups.
The reality is that this total tale couldn’t be farther from the truth-Raku and Chitoge hate each other from the first glance, as the girl thinks he is pathetic, while Raku thinks she is just as attractive as a savage gorilla.
Throughout Nisekoi, we follow the daily adventures of a mismatched couple who are forced to get along for the sake of maintaining peace in the city. There are many girls in Raku’s life, all of whom are somehow connected to his past, so his search for the girl who holds his heart and his promise leads him in unexpected directions than he thought possible.
Rather than its storyline or plot complexity, Nisekoi’s strength is its characters. The characters in Nisekoi are all likable.
3. Ouran Koukou Host Club
Haruhi Fujioka is a bright scholarship candidate without titles or positions at Ouran Academy, a prestigious school for students with a high pedigree. As Haruhi opens the door to Music Room #3, she stumbles upon the Host Club while searching for a quiet place to study.
In addition to Suou Tamaki, there is princely Ootori Kyouya, the mischievous Hitachiin twins Kaoru and Hikaru, the childlike Haninozuka Mitsukuni, as well as his strong protector “Mori” Morinozuka Takashi, are handsome boys with too much free time entertaining the academy’s girls.
Haruhi breaks an eight million yen vase during her desperate attempt to escape the hosts and becomes their errand boy to pay back her debts.
Having a convincingly masculine appearance, a friendly disposition toward girls, and an intriguing commoner status, she soon becomes a full-time host. Therefore, Haruhi is swept up in a glitzy whirlwind of elaborate cosplay, delicious food, and outrageous antics that only the extremely wealthy Host Club can manage.
Throughout the show, the fourth wall is rarely standing. Occasionally, this show will try to tug at your heartstrings, and it almost always succeeds. It’s a little corny, but for the most part, the cast is likable and makes the anime incredibly heartwarming. It’s easy to develop a favorite host, but there isn’t a single member of the cast who’s unentertaining or who outstays their welcome.
No matter what gender you are, you’ll find it funny, and it can range from smart to stupid at the same time. The wackiness is enough to make you laugh out loud.
4. Date A Live
The Eurasian continent suffered a supermassive “spatial quake” thirty years ago that resulted in the deaths of over 150 million people. Since then, these earthquakes have occurred intermittently across the world, albeit on a smaller scale.
Kotori Itsuka, Shidou Itsuka’s younger sister, is an apparently average high school student. After an imminent spatial quake threatens the safety of Tengu City, he rushes to save her but gets caught in the eruption that follows.
At its source, he discovers a mysterious girl who is revealed to be a ‘Spirit,’ an otherworldly entity responsible for triggering a spatial quake. After that, he becomes embroiled in a skirmish between the girl and the Anti-Spirit Team, a strike force dedicated to eliminating Spirits.
There is, however, a third party that believes in saving the spirits: Ratatoskr, surprisingly led by Shidou’s sister! In the aftermath of the clash, Shidou is forced to join Kotori, who offers him a method to deal with the danger from the Spirits: make them love him. In his quest to charm Spirits, the fate of the world depends on his dating prowess.
Shidou himself is a decent harem leader, taking care of his harem and dealing with things head-on. The characters in this are each fantastic in some different ways.
As a whole, this is a fun show that gives a different spin to the harem genre and doesn’t take itself seriously at all. It’s well worth watching if you enjoy that sort of thing.
5. Zero no Tsukaima
The self-absorbed Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière lives in a world of wands, cloaks, and royalty. Louise attends Tristain Academy, an elite school for magicians, but she has a major problem: she can’t perform magic properly, earning her the nickname “Louise the Zero” from her classmates.
When the first-year students are required to complete a summoning ritual, Louise’s summoning results in a catastrophic explosion! Despite everyone’s expectations, a boy named Saito Hiraga appears when the smoke clears.
Saito, Louise’s familiar, is now treated as a slave, forced to clean her clothes and eat from the ground. Saito’s hand has an unfamiliar mark, believed to be the mark of Gandalfr, a powerful familiar.
The wild, adventurous, and explosive Zero no Tsukaima follows Saito as he adjusts to his new life and Louise as she proves there is more to her than her nickname suggests.
Louise and Saito’s relationship is the story’s driving force. The show gradually introduces small plot twists as their relationship develops, why the boy is so special. Why Louise always seems to mess everything up.Why Louise always gets in the way.
The plot isn’t particularly deep. There isn’t much depth to the plot. There are a lot of tools that have already been used many times before. The characters are somewhat cliché. However, it may be one of its charms. It doesn’t force you to think outside of your anime paradigm. This allows you to relax and enjoy some crazy characters and their antics.
6. Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
Kodaka Hasegawa is eager to make friends at his new school when he learns that he will be transferring there. The blond hair and intimidating expression of Kodaka immediately cause him to be labeled a violent delinquent. Despite a month passing, Kodaka is still alone due to his notorious reputation.
As he watches Yozora Mikazuki talking to her imaginary friend in an empty classroom, his life begins to change.
The two decide to start the Neighbor’s Club after sharing stories of their lonely high school lives. People who don’t have friends can participate in daily activities that teach them social skills and how to fit in, which should help them to make friends.
Amidst this club filled with outrageous oddballs, Kodaka may finally have found people he can call friends, thanks to eroge-loving Sena Kashiwazaki and other eccentric outcasts.
There is a message in this anime that it is not necessarily about the number of friends one has, but rather the one friend that is worth a hundred.
In general, the comedy is pretty funny. The funniest moments are the club’s fruitless attempts at making friends, such as establishing relationships through multiplayer gaming, karaoke, and staying in touch via cell phones. Of course, these efforts fail miserably.
The show shows the doomed attempts of the “Neighbors Club” to become popular and make friends. The story does convey a rather nice message about friendship coming from unexpected places, despite the fact that most of their attempts fail.
7. Trinity Seven
After the bright red sun stopped shining, Arata Kasuga’s town was destroyed, and the residents disappeared, causing the “Breakdown Phenomenon.”. Even so, Arata’s world is artificially rebuilt by the magical grimoire given to him by his childhood friend and cousin Hijiri Kasuga.
Lilith Asami investigates the phenomenon by appearing before Arata, whose artificial world suddenly disappears. He is given two options: hand over the book, or die. Yet, Arata opts for the third option — enrolling at the top-secret magic school Royal Biblia Academy, where he finds six other magical users. They, along with Lilith, make up the Trinity Seven, the elite of the school, each bolstering their own power and ability.
In his quest to save Hijiri and with the help of his newfound friends, Arata does everything in his power to stop the destruction of his hometown and to bring his best friend back.
The plot is very intriguing and, at first, seems a little mysterious, but it keeps you wanting more. Sometimes, an episode ends, and you wish you could continue watching it. Everything seems to fit into the world pretty well, and the happenings all seem somewhat well thought out. There is a sense that each section brings everything together a little more, and it is very satisfying to watch.
The characters in this anime are likable and well made, which is one of its strongest points. As a result of the adequate character development, you feel for some of the characters and learn a little more about them than in other anime. Characters add to the feeling of the anime, and each one adds their own unique perspective.
8. 5-toubun no Hanayome
Despite being an ace high school student, Fuutarou Uesugi leads a tough life. Due to his standoffish personality and reclusive nature, he is friendless, and his father is in debt, forcing his family to scrape by.
A female transfer student claiming “his seat” argues with Uesugi during his lunch break, leading both of them to dislike each other. The same day, he’s presented with a golden chance to clear his family’s debt: a private tutoring gig for a rich family’s daughter. He’ll earn five times the average wage for such a position. When he accepts the proposal, he is horrified to discover that the client is the same girl he confronted earlier!
When Uesugi has unsuccessfully attempted to convince Itsuki that he is the best tutor there can be, he learns that Itsuki also has four other sisters, who, despite the very real threat of failure, refuse to work with him.
As Uesugi’s family’s livelihood is on the line, he is adamant in his commitment to rid the sisters of their dislike of studying and lead them to graduation.
The characters in this show are funny and real. Initially, the show appears to be a classical, generic harem where the male character loves all the female characters. In this series, however, the guy only wants to study, and he doesn’t see the quintuplets as friends or even as candidates for a relationship.
Fuutarou has to take different decisions to deal with each of the quintuplets because they all have different personalities.
9. Masamune-kun no Revenge
As a child, Masamune Makabe was rejected by a rich, beautiful girl named Aki Adagaki, who nicknamed him “Piggy” for being overweight. Masamune worked hard to improve his appearance after being devastated. Masamune, now a handsome but narcissistic high school student, is determined to exact revenge on Aki. Next time they meet, he will make her fall madly in love with him and eventually reject her.
Masamune is surprised to discover he has transferred to Aki’s school. Masamune begins forming a relationship with the ”Brutal Princess” but fails miserably despite his efforts.
Upon finally accomplishing his vengeance, Masamune receives a mysterious letter addressed to him by his old nickname. Masamune’s plan is doomed before it even starts unless he discovers the sender’s identity!
The interesting aspect of Masamune-kun no Revenge is that it takes a rehashed idea and executes it with a panache that leaves you wanting more.
Each girl in the anime has her own character, and even those not introduced in the show from the beginning get plenty of backstories.
The fact that the MC is a unique character with a nuanced feel about him is also very refreshing. That’s super refreshing and not what people familiar with harem are used to seeing in a generic male lead.
The ambiance is very cheerful, and the colors are bright and vibrant, allowing for a pleasant and soothing ambiance that fosters laugh-inducing and embarrassing situations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJSnmsGzgn4
10. Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo
As Ryuu Yamada entered high school, he was determined to turn over a new leaf and live a productive life. Because of this, he chose Suzaku High, where no one would know about his violent delinquent reputation. Ryuu, however, quickly becomes bored; he has reverted to his old ways as a second-year – inattentive, with bad grades, and always getting into fights.
Ryuu encounters Urara Shiraishi, an exceptionally pretty honors student, after returning from yet another office visit. The two tumble down the stairs after a misstep, resulting in an accidental kiss! They discover that they can switch bodies with a kiss, a feat that will be both convenient and problematic.
When Toranosuke Miyamura, a student council officer and the sole member of the Supernatural Studies Club, discovers their new power, he recruits them.
Miyabi Itou, an eccentric who is fascinated by the supernatural, soon joins the group, and they find out about the Seven Witches of Suzaku High, seven women who gained different powers by kissing each other. The Supernatural Studies Club sets out on its first quest: to identify all the witches.
It is quite a unique story and concept. As you watch each episode, it gets more interesting. The main characters lead the story pretty well. They are well-developed, funny, cute, and lovely. They have various, different, and unique personalities, backgrounds, which make you interested enough to enjoy the story.
The story starts off with a bang, sweeping you off your feet, and when it comes to a close, it sets you down so gently at the finish line that all you can do is smile.
11. Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou
Kimihito Kurusu led a quiet, unremarkable life alone with his parents abroad until monster girls started crowding into his life! Japan, in this alternate reality, is the first country to integrate non-human species into society.
Kimihito, the newly-minted “Darling,” quickly attracts girls from all types of races, resulting in an ever-growing harem flush with eroticism and attraction due to the incompetence of Interspecies Exchange Coordinator Agent Smith.
His and the ladies’ plight is complicated by the Interspecies Exchange Act, which forbids sexual interactions between species. The only exception is an experimental marriage provision.
As the lusty and passionate women hound Kimihito’s every move, seeking his sexual and romantic affections, his life becomes rife with creature-specific caveats and sensitive interspecies laws. Where Kimihito and his harem end up is anybody’s guess, with new species often appearing and events materializing out of nowhere!
However, Monster Musume is not a generic anime. Rather it has a quite fresh take on the genre with a very unorthodox character cast which indirectly makes the ecchi elements very unique. It’s very creative for a fanservice anime and thus manages to stand out from the crowd quite a lot.
As a result, Monster Musume is one of the more noteworthy series in the ecchi harem genre. Monster Musume takes the cliche personalities that many harems have and makes them their own.
Monster Musume’s premise is rather simple. No complicated overarching story, no dark past, no stupid out-of-place action scenes, or anything along those lines. Just plain and simple lewdness in a comedic setting. That’s all it is, and that’s all it needs to be.
12. Rosario to Vampire
In Youkai Academy, creatures are learning how to live in harmony with humans. Every student attends in human form and takes normal academic courses, including literature, gym, foreign language, and mathematics. There is, however, one golden rule at Youkai Academy-any human found on school grounds must be executed immediately. At Youkai Academy, there is one golden rule: any human discovered on school grounds must be executed immediately!
Tsukune Aono is a teenager whose bad grades prevent him from getting into any high school. In a last-ditch effort to secure his education, his parents enroll him in Youkai Academy. Tsukune has a run-in with Moka Akashiya, the most attractive girl on campus, as he enters this new world.
In his decision to remain in this perilous realm in order to continue his relationship with Moka, he is unaware that beneath her beauty lies a menacing creature — a vampire.
The supernatural comedy Rosario to Vampire is a story about Tsukune’s romantic adventures and misadventures with beautiful but dangerous creatures.
Every episode of this anime follows a set of rules. Tsukune and Moka are in love, and when a challenger appears, Moka beats the crap out of them, and that’s the end of it. There’s a list of waifus, as there is in every harem series. Each one is a distinct monster with a distinct personality from the others.
Everything just clicks into place like a well-assembled puzzle. Overall, the anime is entertaining. When watching something, it’s critical to have a cast of characters with a variety of personalities. Rosario to Vampire is diverse because it features many different personalities.
13. Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?
During the course of investigating a suspicious house, 16-year-old Ayumu Aikawa is tragically killed. He awakens, however, next to an armored girl known as Eucliwood Hellscythe. She reveals herself as a necromancer who revived Ayumu, turning him into a zombie!
Ayumu, now immortal, sets out to find his killer. While searching in a cemetery, he stumbles upon a boisterous girl dressed as a magical girl fighting a bear with a chainsaw.
Haruna tries to erase Ayumu’s memories of her, but he absorbs her magic instead. Due to the loss of her powers, Haruna now orders Ayumu to take on the task of tracking down creatures known as “Megalo,” monsters that roam the human world and terrorize its people.
The series explores the daily lives of the human-turned-zombie Ayumu as he adjusts to his new, ludicrous life in which the supernatural is the norm.
As with most harem animes, the actual plot is not the show’s main focus. In spite of this, it seems quite promising at first glance.
In essence, the characters are fairly typical harem stereotypes. However, because they all belong to the supernatural world, things are slightly different. All of them have a higher purpose in life, and they can all be hilariously funny at the same time. All in all, they seem like proper characters, unlike the majority of harem animes.
14. IS: Infinite Stratos
Infinite Stratos (IS) is an exoskeleton weapon developed by Japan that can only be piloted by women. As a result of its power and combat prowess, an international treaty has been signed banning its use as a military asset.
Upon discovering that Ichika Orimura is the only male capable of piloting an IS, Ichika is bound to enroll in the Infinite Stratos Academy: an all-female boarding school, where the students become IS pilots upon graduation. Ichika reunites with two close friends from his childhood at this training school, Houki Shinonono and Lingyin Huang, and becomes friends with Cecilia Alcott; a British IS representative.
As taught by Chifuyu Orimura, their strict homeroom teacher and Ichika’s older sister, Ichika and the girls will have to rely on everything at their disposal to defend themselves and their academy against the dangers they will face during their exciting school days.
Despite the standard setup, IS rises above its material, making the old archetypes shine as fun and enjoyable characters. Almost all characters are well fleshed out and possess a few traits that set them apart from the rest.
Then this is what you need if you enjoy comedy, mecha, and harem anime! There is great character art and amazing fight scenes, especially when the action takes place in the skies. It holds up pretty well, has a story, and ties in things well.
15. Strike the Blood
After a fateful encounter, Kojou Akatsuki’s life as an ordinary high school student in the Demon District of Itogami Island come to an unexpected end.
When it is discovered he is the fourth primogenitor, a powerful vampire whom most consider nothing more than a legend; he is thrust into the spotlight. Kojou’s destructive potential causes the Lion King Organization to send in an apprentice swordsman, Yukina Himeragi, to keep an eye on him, and if he becomes a threat, kill him.
As Kojou becomes familiar with his abilities and both struggle to keep the city from various chaotic forces, the two form an unlikely alliance.
Though it does tend towards the harem side at times, it’s not just about the lead male who happens to be a vampire. The whole cast plays a part. While the storyline isn’t the most original, it flows smoothly. The actual plot of this anime is interesting and is a new take on something that has been done many times before.
Even though it gets sidetracked at times due to romance, each episode is captivating and are entertaining! The development of the characters is very well done, and the relationships between those characters are well defined! The series has a ton of action but has its fair share of fan service, as most series do.
16. Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu
One of the strongest characters in the fantasy MMORPG Cross Reverie is Diablo, the Demon King. Due to his rare artifacts and unrivaled player level, he overpowers all foolish enough to challenge him. Although Diablo has a fearsome reputation, his true identity is Takuma Sakamoto, a shut-in gamer without any social skills.
As he defeats hopeless challengers day after day, Takuma is absorbed in his virtual life until he is teleported into another reality where he takes on the appearance of Diablo!
Takuma is met by the two girls who summoned him in the world of his favorite game: Rem Galeu, a petite Pantherian adventurer, and Shera L. Greenwood, a busty Elf summoner. In an attempt to subjugate him, they perform an Enslavement Ritual. However, the spell backfires, and they become his slaves instead.
Takuma now feels more awkward than ever, so he decides to accompany the girls in finding a way to resolve their contract while adjusting to his new life as the menacing Demon King.
This anime is jam-packed with entertainment at every turn. The dialogue, the action, the discoveries, the ecchi! You will certainly never be bored. This anime has enough story and flow to keep you from thinking this is a pure fanservice anime despite the extreme ecchiness.
The reaction of our protagonist to this new world is always fascinating. Despite being an antisocial shut-in, he appears to be an arrogant and cunning Lord. Unlike most Isekai anime, he is not ignorant or stupid, and his knowledge is not misplaced.
17. Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai
As the legendary “God of Conquest” in dating sim games, Keima Katsuragi can win any girl’s heart. He prefers the two-dimensional world of video games to the real world because he is unhealthily obsessed with galge games, a genre of Japanese video games that feature interactions with attractive girls.
Keima is misled into aiding a naive and impish demon from hell named Elucia “Elsie” de Lute Ima with her mission: bringing back evil spirits that have escaped hell and scattered themselves throughout human society by accepting an anonymous offer.
Ultimately, Keima discovers that the only way to capture these spirits is to conquer what he hates most: the unpredictable hearts of three-dimensional girls! Keima’s title as the “God of Conquest” is put to the ultimate test as he has to navigate through the hearts of real-life girls while shackled to Elsie by a deadly collar.
Keima is your typical gamer boy who abhors reality to the last drop. In a way, his character is very simple – yet the series is handled very well and developed to stay true to its origins. In a way, he’s very likable.
Overall, this is a great anime. This anime combines humor and adventure successfully to make a masterpiece that many previous animes have tried but failed to achieve. If you’re looking for a funny anime that still has a good story played out by likable characters, this is definitely an anime that you should put on your list.
18. Shinmai Maou no Testament
Basara Toujou learns the hard way that having a run-in with your new stepsister in the bathroom is not a good way to make a good first impression. When his father introduces two beautiful girls as his new siblings, he has no choice but to welcome them into the Naruse family: the redheaded Mio and the slim, silver-haired Maria.
Basara is forced to reveal his former affiliation with a clan of “Heroes” after one of the girls reveals herself to be a demon, Mio, the daughter of a former Demon Lord, and Maria, her trusted succubus slave. Basara, who has begun to care for his sisters, instead decides to use his powers to protect them and forms a master-servant relationship with Mio to look after her.
Basara has to do everything in his power to protect his new family members, with the Heroes constantly watching over him and hostile demons constantly threatening him. In addition, the protector himself is hiding his own dark secret that still haunts him to this day.
The plot is simple, but the relationships between the demons and the hero clan are fascinating to observe. Despite staying true to the usual harem tropes, Shinmaoi Maou manages to introduce quite a number of interesting plot twists and introduce mysterious characters masterfully.
However, while maintaining the usual harem tropes, this anime masterfully introduces a number of interesting plot twists and mysterious characters.
This anime is a battle harem with a focus on powers, ecchi, and girls; it’s your standard harem, only better. Everyone who enjoys a good story should watch this anime.
19. Gakusen Toshi Asterisk
During the previous century, an unprecedented disaster called the Invertia drastically changed the world. Existing nations’ power declined dramatically, paving the way for a conglomerate known as the Integrated Empire Foundation to take control.
Further, the Invertia led to the emergence of a new species of humans with phenomenal physical abilities, the Genestella. Elite students are hand-picked from around the world to attend the top six schools, and they have entertainment battles called Festas.
The Seidoukan Academy, where Ayato Amagiri attends, has suffered a decline in performance in recent years. He sees Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld, the popular Witch of Resplendent Flames, half-dressed through a series of events. Julis challenges him to a duel for violating her privacy.
As a result of the duel being annulled by the student council president, Ayato reveals that he is not interested in Festas. His purpose in enrolling in the academy is to locate his missing sister. Ayato, surrounded by some of the best Genestella on the planet, sets out to win when a more devious plot unfolds.
At first glance, this anime may seem like every other show, but as far as battle harems are concerned, it ends up being something special. Story-wise, it’s sweet and simple and really ticks all the boxes from character types to the typical anime embarrassing moments.
Characters in this anime are really well done, have good backstories, and are just very comedic in all.
20. To LOVE-Ru
The timid Rito Yuuki has yet to confess his true feelings for his classmate Haruna Sairenji, who has been the object of his infatuation since junior high. Rito’s situation becomes even more challenging when a mysterious, naked woman crashes right on top of him while he is bathing.
Adding to the confusion, Rito discovers that the girl, Lala Satalin Deviluke, is the crown princess of an alien empire who has fled. Even though she is the heiress of one of the most powerful starships in the galaxy, Lala is more than happy to marry the decidedly average Rito to avoid an unwanted political marriage.
In To LOVE-Ru, Rito’s daily struggle to cope with the chaos that begins upon Lala’s arrival is depicted. As he is constantly foiled by a legion of swooning beauties, To LOVE-Ru is a romantic comedy that is full of slapstick humor, sexy girls, and outlandishly lewd scenes.
To LOVE-Ru is an anime with a single goal: to provide the viewer with an endless supply of ecchi, with a side of slightly cliched but still grin-inducing comedy. To Love-Ru will appeal to fans of slice-of-life and harem. The comedy here might not be anything novel in the ecchi genre, but it is very easy to understand and follow.
Although the story still contains strange and unusual elements, the protagonist no longer appears surprised when an alien crashes down in front of him. Even without the explanation, it’s still hilarious and entertaining to watch. The show’s main strength is its well-crafted characters.
21. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata
Otaku Tomoya Aki has been collecting anime and light novels for years, fascinated by series that have captivating stories and characters. In order to provide the same experience for others, Tomoya wants to create his own game, but he cannot do it alone.
Utaha Kasumigaoka, a literary elitist and childhood friend of Eriri Spencer Sawamura, writes the script for his visual novel, and he directs it as well. With his super-group in hand, Tomoya only needs inspiration for his project, and he meets the beautiful, docile Megumi Katou, who becomes his main character.
In an effort to touch the hearts of those who play his game, Tomoya uses what knowledge he has to create a new doujin circle. He does not realize that the creators have had to undergo the same emotions themselves to invoke these feelings.
Even though the story isn’t entirely creative, it’s still fun. It is very common for protagonists to do whatever it takes to chase their dreams, including in reality. However, the situations created in the course of the series are funny, somewhat pleasant, and usually make those watching smile.
The anime excels most at its characters. While describing the plot, the author slowly elaborates more on the characters as if slowly giving us pieces of a puzzle to understand them better.
In general, the series is quite satisfying and can please a wide variety of audiences.
22. Grisaia no Kajitsu
Yuuji Kazami just entered Mihama Academy as a transfer student. He wishes to live a normal high school life, but this dream will not come true soon since Mihama Academy is quite the opposite. In this small class of just the principal and five other students, all female, Yuuji learns about each of them and their personalities as he becomes acquainted with them.
As he learns more, he begins to realize that the group of students occupying the academy each have traumatic memories hidden away from the world.
These girls have fallen from their trees and now live at Mihama Academy. Mihama Academy offers these girls a home; they are the “fruit” that has fallen from their trees and has begun to decay. It’s up to Yuuji to become the catalyst to save them from themselves, but how can he accomplish that when he can’t even save himself?
Characters are Grisaia’s main selling point. Every character is unique, and they also cope with those traits and pasts. Their focus is on moving forward. In this anime, you will not find a character that you dislike since every character differs from the other. Just based on the interactions between the characters, it’s an amazing ride.
Each character gets their own story arc, and each arc does a great job of creating a setting and really showing the issues that these girls carry around with them and Yuuji managing to solve it somehow.
23. Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru
Eita Kidou’s parents’ infidelity not only caused his family to break up but also made him skeptical about love. Eita is not interested in romance and devotes his entire high school career to his studies to become a doctor.
Masuzu Natsukawa, the beautiful and popular girl, was quick to notice Eita’s apathy. Being sick of being the object of people’s affection, she asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend since she, too, is disgusted by the concept of love. While Eita refuses, Masuzu has one trick left up her sleeve: threatening to post the embarrassing contents of Eita’s journal online if he doesn’t comply.
Eita’s life has been turned upside down by a fake romance with the most desired girl at school. Whether he is envied by his peers or receives a confession, he must deal with the trouble that comes along with having a new relationship.
There are plenty of harem rom-coms out there. It is nothing special, and it does not stand out much. But it’s really likable, and there isn’t much to dislike about it. It probably works well because, as plain as it is, it does what it is supposed to.
The story revolves mostly around a childhood friend who tries to recover the protagonist from his kind-of-evil girlfriend while other harem members join their ranks. It is a very lighthearted story. This is what sets anime apart from other shows of the same genre. It is one of the best animes in this genre.
24. Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou
17-year-old otaku Hajime Nagumo is called to a fantasy world to save mankind after his ordinary life is disrupted. Hajime’s classmates are rewarded with impressive abilities that render them useful in battle, but he is mocked for gaining only a weak transmutation ability lacking any real offensive power.
Hajime is betrayed by a classmate during an expedition to the Great Orcus Labyrinth, plunging him into an abyss. In spite of surviving the fall, Hajime is faced with ominous monsters and misfortunes that spiral him into a nightmare.
Trying to escape the labyrinth, he meets a vampire he names Yue, also trying to escape. Determined to live one more day, he decides to fight for his survival. A few others along the way join Yue and Hajime on their journey home while gradually transforming from commonplace into one of the strongest beings on Earth.
A story about Hajime pulling himself and his friends through hell and onto the other side, with the harem trope common to many of these kinds of shows. In this cute yet brutal show, we see how he loves those close to him and how much he hates his enemies.
The tight walk rope the MC has to walk to not take things too far but also be a realist of the situations he is always in make it enjoyable. The MC feels more like how most people would react in such a situation rather than go and destroy everything and save the day.
25. Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou
In an effort to change the world for the better, Akuto Sai transfers to Constant Magic Academy, where he befriends Junko Hattori, a virtuous ninja clan member. While on their way to the academy, they promise to make the world a better place together; however, the situation suddenly changes upon his arrival. He is prophesied to become the Demon King!
The school fears him as word of his destiny spreads, and Junko loses trust in him. As much as Akuto is determined to not let his predicted future determine his fate, everything he says and does seems to reinforce the fact that he is destined to become the Demon King.
Additionally, he is surrounded by a harem of beautiful girls who each have their own plans for him, from bringing him to justice to simply showing him love. Akuto must cope with a growing list of misfortune as he fights to prove his fate is not predestined.
With comedic circumstances, wonderful characters, and epic battles, this show keeps the hits coming. This anime appears to be a lighthearted series that appeals to a wide range of audiences. All the main characters are extremely likable and have unique backgrounds.
After only a few episodes, however, it quickly takes a dramatic turn. It doesn’t necessarily become darker, but it does become much stranger.
Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou has enough distinguishing characteristics to set it apart from the rest of the anime in this genre.
26. Mayo Chiki!
The fact that his mother and sister both love professional wrestling contributed to Kinjirou developing a resilient body that could withstand hard punches, aggressive kicks, and even deadly vehicle bumps so as to endure their various grappling positions and locks.
Additionally, he developed gynophobia, an abnormal fear of women. Just one touch from a girl causes his nose to bleed uncontrollably, he sweats excessively, and in rare cases, he faints abruptly.
A fated meeting in the restroom changes his life for the worse. After escaping from a girl, Subaru Konoe discovers that the most popular student in their school, the butler of the headmaster’s daughter, Kanade Suzutsuki, is actually female!
Kinjirou is assaulted violently by Subaru, who deals significant damage and knocks him unconscious. Later, he meets Kanade. In return for his silence, she promises to cure his phobia.
In this comedy, all of the characters are different; they are funny, they have their own purpose, and even if this is a harem, they don’t like Kenjirou at first sight.
The comedy and romance genres make this anime enjoyable. In addition, this anime has an unusual harem genre in it since it is shared by both Konoe and Kinjirou. It’s fun to discover each character’s unique type of personality.
If you ever are feeling down, watch this anime. You’ll be happier/more joyful than you would expect to be.
27. Sora no Otoshimono
Tomoki Sakurai has always woken up with tears after having a dream of an angel. As a result of this, Sohara Mitsuki seeks the help of Eishirou Sugata, an eccentric sky maniac. Consequently, he suggests that Tomoki’s dream is undoubtedly related to the so-called New World, an anomaly that scientists have been unable to explain.
Eishirou schedules a time for the New World Discovery Club to meet in order to observe the mystery in the sky. Tomoki’s peaceful life is turned upside down when a strange girl falls from the sky and begins to call him master.
As the New World Discovery Club learns more about the Angeloids that have arrived on Earth, Sora no Otoshimono follows their daily activities.
While the anime doesn’t completely focus on a story-driven plot, it doesn’t mean it lacks one. As the anime crosses over to the darker-toned scenes, they are actually quite entertaining and change the way you perceive the angeloids. There are also several fan service episodes that will always make you laugh.
The humor in Sora no Otoshimono is random, but yet it will make you laugh. The characters are also set up in such perfect proportions for a comedy anime. Overall, it is a good anime that mixes a dark story with light humor. If you watch this, you will truly enjoy it.
28. Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni
As a result of a careless error, God accidentally strikes Touya Mochizuki down with a bolt of lightning! As an apology, God gives him one wish and the opportunity to live again in a magical fantasy world. Upon accepting the offer, Touya asks only that he be allowed to keep his smartphone in his possession as he is about to embark on this mysterious journey.
Touya begins anew in this new world, which is filled with magic – which he has an affinity for – and cute girls vying for his attention. With these girls—Linze and Elze Silhoueska, Yumina Urnea Belfast, Leen, and Yae Kokonoe—Touya not only discovers secrets of this new world but also finds an endless supply of romance frustrations.
To begin with, the purpose of this show was to go all out in its premise and make fun of other shows like it that are afraid to challenge the status quo. Despite being an ironic comedy anime, the story still shines through. Beyond the clichés, it takes original turns throughout the story that one would not even nearly expect even from a regular, serious fantasy cliché anime.
The characters are made to make you laugh and nothing more; there is no backstory, there is no huge goal or anything, just funny moments being unfolded between them. This anime is the literal apex of ironic comedy anime. If you enjoy ironic parody comedy or just something light in contrast to all the serious dark tryhard animes, you will love this ironic masterpiece of an anime.
29. Kaifuku Jutsushi no Yarinaoshi
With his new powers as a Hero who could heal any injury regardless of severity, Keyaru seemed to be destined for great things. Instead, he was subjected to years of seemingly endless torture and abuse.
With Keyaru’s healing skills, he was able to collect the memories and abilities of those he treated, making him stronger than anyone else. He had already lost everything by the time he reached his full potential.
To reclaim his life, Keyaru cast a powerful healing spell that rewound the world back to the time before his terrible fate began. Due to his past anguish, he vows to redo everything in order to fulfill a new purpose – to exact revenge upon those who wronged him.
This is a satire of the generic fantasy and revenge plot. Both the story and premise of the series are stunning. As far as anime stories go, this is a nice change from the typical fantasy stories.
It’s debatable if the protagonist is an anti-villain, but the title doesn’t really matter. It should come as no surprise that his motivations are clear and focused: taking revenge on those that destroyed him in the past. It’s a good story; the protagonist is easy to empathize with, he’s extremely proactive, and he’s frighteningly competent.
Boredom is the worst feeling to have when experiencing anything, and this anime is far from boring.
30. Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko
Youto Yokodera does not want to be seen in the same light as most men: as a pervert. Although people do not see his true nature, people often misinterpret his lewd actions as good intentions.
When he hears rumors about a cat statue that can banish an unwanted quality, he searches for it and prays for it to do so. All wishes are not free; however: those unwelcome traits are transferred to another who wants them!
In realizing that vocalizing his dirty thoughts isn’t the best thing to do, Youto decides to regain the traits he lost by seeking out the person who gave them to him in the first place. He was unfortunately not alone in praying to the cat statue, and now not only must he fix his own life, but also that of others.
The romantic comedy Hetai Ouji to Warawanai Neko is aware of its strengths. By combining a strong cast of characters with its moe appeal, it delivers a genuinely refreshing experience.
You’ll probably think how ridiculous the plot sounds right away. And you would not be wrong– it is very much silly. The concept of a cat statue being able to grant wishes is absurd and difficult to believe. But HenNeko seldom takes this aspect seriously.
Yokodera is actually one of the series’ strongest points. For the harem genre, where the protagonist is almost invariably some blockhead with supernatural abilities, Yokodera defies the genre’s mold. He is honest, knows how to communicate with people, does not run away, and most importantly, has a brain.
31. Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku
A programmer in his 30s named Ichirou Suzuki is drowning in work. Tired, he catches up on sleep only to wake up in a fantasy RPG world, which is a hybrid of the games he was debugging in real life.
He finds out that not only does his appearance change to that of a younger version of himself, but his name as well has changed to Satou, a nickname he used while running beta tests on video games.
Satou, however, is at the mercy of an army of lizardmen before he is able to comprehend his situation. Satou, as a result of being forced to cast a powerful spell in retaliation, wipes them out completely and increases his level to 310, effectively maximizing his stats.
As a high-level adventurer with a multitude of skills, Satou sets out to explore this magical new world.
Satou is shown to be the leader of his party in Death March. Being an edgy teen trying to rise to the top, fighting to gain status, is one thing; being at the top of the dominance hierarchy, nurturing others, is quite another.
In watching Satou care for his crew, we can see what it means to be a teacher. Allowing them to experiment, always supporting them, and always willing to teach through example – Satou is a man, not a boy.
You can see what level grinding, skill development, and team development look like from the perspective of a coach by watching Death March.
32. Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Comedy wo Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru
It should have been normal for Kanade Amakusa to be a high school student, and it would have been if he wasn’t living with the most ridiculous curse possible. In “Absolute Choice,” a system imposed on him by a self-proclaimed god, he is presented with randomly selected actions, which he must carry out based on his choice.
His dilemma is further complicated by the fact that it always occurs in public places, and the options available to him are always rude and crude.
Thus, the helpless boy struggles to maintain his reputation while praying to avoid another spontaneous episode of Absolute Choice. Despite his best efforts, the one in charge is always one step ahead of him and proceeds to not-so-subtly introduce him to several girls at his school.
Just as Kanade’s school life seems hopeless, he makes a terrible decision on the way home that sends a gorgeous girl tumbling from the sky, along with the promise of more hysterically horrible choices to come.
There are many different characters, each with a special quality that sets them apart, and they are all carefully animated.
Eventually, you discover a couple little twists about these characters, and Kanade is forced to complete missions to rid himself of his curse, which mainly involve interactions with the cast. As Kanade will be stuck with the “Absolute Choice” for the rest of his life if he fails one of these missions, most of the character development occurs in these missions and interactions.
33. Kiss x Sis
When Keita Suminoe’s father remarried, he gained a new mother, as well as older twin sisters. Despite both being distinct and similar, homely and mature, Ako was a student council president, and the athletic and distant Riko was the former disciplinary president. The three siblings have been together since kindergarten, resulting in a close bond between them. Over time, however, their relationship grew more romantic-and erotic.
While still in middle school, Keita has already received a sports recommendation, but from a different high school than his sisters. He gives in to their desperate pleas after both sisters are disappointed and try to change his mind. His lust-driven sisters have now begun to pursue him as he attempts to study for his high school exams.
As their parents approve, Ako and Riko strive to be Keita’s future wives, while Keita tries to keep the relationship strictly platonic. But will Keita be able to resist the temptations of two beautiful girls vying for his attention?
The series has a light plot, and you can almost think of it as a slice of life. Keita is your typical “harem-anime lead,” in which he constantly fantasizes about the girls or is engaged in the actions that he normally fantasizes about.
Ako is the more mature sister who cooks for the family and does well in school. Riko is more playful and childlike. You may sometimes wonder what their differences are, but they are especially evident when seducing Keita. If you’re looking for something easygoing, this is it.
34. Sekirei
The brilliant yet struggling Minato Sahashi has failed his college entrance exams for the second time, resulting in his being regarded as worthless by those around him. After a beautiful, supernatural woman falls from the sky into his life, the course of his seemingly bleak future is dramatically altered.
The woman in question, Musubi, is a unique being called a “Sekirei,” a humanoid extraterrestrial with extraordinary powers. These aliens kiss them in order to awaken additional latent powers within humans carrying the Ashikabi gene.
As Musubi recognizes the potential within the seemingly insignificant youth, she kisses the bewildered Minato, initiating a bond between them. His new partner leads him into the world of the Sekirei, where he and others compete for survival in a contest called the “Sekirei Plan.” However, they are unaware of what is really at stake beyond the competition itself.
The story is pretty much straightforward as for any of these ecchi animes. This story has a nicely thought out plot and concept/constructs that are explained adequately as the story unfolds.
The characters are where Sekirei really shines. The characters are all unique, and it’s practically impossible to not find someone you like. Most of this anime’s appeal comes from its Sekirei. It is highly comical at times to see their personalities and their constant battle to be Minato’s one love.
It’s a very amusing show. Anyone with a sense of humor will be laughing every other minute as they watch this.
35. Absolute Duo
Those who can materialize weapons from their souls are known as Blazers, and they attend Kouryou Academy High School to harness their powers. Students are required to partner with another in hopes of one day becoming an Absolute Duo.
After his sister and friends were killed by a mysterious man, Tooru Kokonoe hopes to attend this academy in order to gain power. However, he is forced to duel the person sitting next to him at the opening ceremony, with the loser being expelled.
While preparing for the match, Tooru manifests a shield, not a weapon, which attracts the attention of a foreign student named Julie Sigtuna.
The story isn’t very deep, but it really doesn’t need to be. Simple stories keep the show light and fun. You can follow along without having to put a lot of thought into it. All of the characters, from the main cast to the supporting cast and even the villains, are perfectly suited for the story. Their easy design makes them easy to recognize at a glance.
There is at least a chance for each of the girls in the show to shine once or twice. At least the main cast and supporting cast get a role in the story, making them part of it rather than just there for fanservice’s sake.
Basically, if you’re looking for a lighthearted and fun harem show with some fun ecchi stuff, this is the show for you.
36. Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de
During a Literature Club meeting, four club members and their faculty adviser’s niece discover they have supernatural powers. The local chuunibyou Jurai Andou is ecstatic about their new abilities; however, his own is only a show and unable to accomplish anything.
Furthermore, he is totally outclassed by those around him: club member Tomoyo Kanzaki manipulates time, Hatoko Kushikawa has control over the five elements, club president Sayumi Takanashi can repair both inanimate and living objects, and their adviser’s niece Chifuyu Himeki can instantly create objects.
Despite the mystery surrounding why they received these powers, little has changed for the Literature Club. Even though their lives are now tinged with the supernatural, these five superpowered students continue on with their everyday lives.
They’re quite nice characters. All of them have their own stories, and all of them have a lot of affection for the protagonist. Each episode explores their personalities and brings out their challenges. Guessing what might happen next does not add to the thrill. It instead lies in the way viewers are able to feel part of a story through its expositions.
Don’t expect supernatural battles from Inou-Battle. Look forward instead to themes of hard work, responsibility, self-honesty, and friendship. Inou-Battle will deliver. This show’s title speaks for itself as the very first episode quickly demonstrates that the women in this show aren’t to be trifled with.
37. Ore wo Suki nano wa Omae dake ka yo
Amatsuyu “Jouro” Kisaragi is an average second-year high school student whose weekend has two dates: Sakura “Cosmos” Akino on Saturday, and childhood friend Aoi “Himawari” Hinata on Sunday.
Taiyou “Sun-chan” Ooga, the baseball team’s ace, is beloved by both girls, but sadly for Jouro. Now, he has to help the two girls win the same guy’s heart by giving them advice and guidance.
To his friends, Jouro’s friendly and obtuse persona is only a ruse to portray himself as the clueless hero of a textbook romantic comedy. Despite his cheery façade, he is a schemer underneath, and his new plan is to get Sun-chan to fall in love with either Cosmos or Himawari and claim the other for himself.
The gloomy, four-eyed Sumireko “Pansy” Sanshokuin threatens Jouro’s last-ditch effort with her knowledge of his true identity, which he hid for all this time.
To succeed in this hilariously messy situation, each of the five students must navigate countless lies, traps, and misunderstandings.
In a romcom-harem, we finally have a protagonist who isn’t the timid, dense guy who won’t take hints. At last, we have a guy who won’t let being friend-zoned affect him. Amatsuyu Kisaragi, however, is still a kind person. His inner monologues when he feels like he’s being played by the girls make him great. He’s helpful and kinder than most people in the real world, but what makes him exceptional is how he deals with his feelings.
38. Campione!: Matsurowanu Kamigami to Kamigoroshi no Maou
Religion sometimes finds people, but for 16-year-old Kusanagi Godou, it’s old-time religion that’s found him! Because Godou defeated the God of War in mortal combat, he was forced into the position of Campione, whose job it is to fight Heretical Gods whenever they attempt to invade the local territory.
Besides making Godou roadkill on the Highway to Heaven, this job comes with a lot of other issues. His ‘enhanced status’ is attracting a slew of overly-worshipping female followers. After all, they’re just there to assist him in his demigod-like duties, right?
Why does their leader, the demonically manipulative sword-mistress Erica Blandelli, seem so devilishly interested in encouraging such unorthodox behaviors? Get ready for immortal romances, heavenly harems, and lots of deities battling it out with the pious in the ultimate smash, bash, and thrash of the titans.
You would be making a mistake by expecting an elaborate storyline, unexpected plot twists, and incredible character development from an ecchi harem show. But, despite having fan service and a harem, this is an awesome show that understands how to tell a story.
It doesn’t feature well-written characters or characters you’ll be able to relate to, but it does feature good character traits that will lead you to love them. The female characters are fantastic. They are not overly violent or annoying.
39. Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta
In a game or in another world, most people would rather be the protagonist of an adventure-filled world. However, a certain girl is not so fortunate. When she regains memories of her past life, she realizes that she was reborn in the world of Fortune Lover, one of the games she used to play.
Sadly, the character she reincarnated into is the game’s main antagonist, Catarina Claes, who faces utter doom in every ending. With her knowledge of the game, she is able to break free from the chains of this accursed fate.
Nevertheless, she needs to be careful not to set off death flags that may speed up the impending doom she is attempting to avoid. However, to affect the lives of all those around her, she strives not as the heroine but as the villain.
Despite its similarities to other Isekai stories, this one has a unique twist. Otome Game is a great anime. It is an Isekai, which we all love. With its relaxing and tranquil story development and pacing, the show shines brightly.
Katarina is not your conceited aristocrat, as she is an otaku who is now a noble. She is bold and helpful, often acts without thinking– that kind of a friend you want to be with and protect.
Each character brings something to the table, but also what you would expect from posh rich families. Someone nervous, someone hard to befriend at first, etc. A good mesh of characters that fit well together.
40. Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai
Third-year high school student Nariyuki Yuiga works tirelessly to receive the VIP nomination, a scholarship that will cover his college tuition. He is awarded the renowned scholarship in recognition of his hard work.
A condition of the scholarship is that he tutors the school’s geniuses in their weakest subjects! Yuiga’s new pupils include math whiz Rizu Ogata; literature legend Fumino Furuhashi; and his sports-savvy childhood friend, Uruka Takemoto, who cannot do anything but sports.
This anime follows Yuiga as he teaches his three eccentric students through a series of comedic antics. Can Yuiga help his students achieve their goals as Ogata and Furuhashi’s ambitions conflict with their talents?
Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai boasts everything about an unusual time in high school. This anime can make you feel a whole lot of emotions based on your situations in real life and how ‘relatable’ they can be. This anime is addicting, funny, and, more importantly, interesting to watch.
It is a harem but not in the competitive way. Lots of sugary sweet scenes, jealousy, and misunderstandings galore. Basically, it’s everything you’d expect from a typical romcom harem.
Yuiga isn’t your usual protagonist since he believes that helping those who aren’t good at what they do, helping those who aren’t talented, is the right thing to do. He’s not particularly shy, and he knows he’s clueless about romance, but his single-minded focus is studying. The rest of the main cast all play off of each other really well.