Ask John: What are the Best Harem Anime Comedies?

Question:
What are some of the best harem comedies?

Answer:
Actually, the specifics of this question make it somewhat difficult to answer. In actuality, most harem anime fall into the comedy genre, or exhibit comedic qualities, by default. But several of the best anime titles in the harem genre are not primarily comedies. So I’ll do my best to provide an appropriate answer. (And please forgive me if I forget to mention any deserving candidates. There are, after all, a whole lot of harem comedies.)

Tenchi Muyo and Love Hina are frequently cited as the illustrative epitome of harem anime largely because they are among the most memorable and outstanding titles within the genre. Both series have weaknesses – apart from the inherent weakness of the “harem” genre’s fundamental concept – but the strengths of both of these titles are significant. Tenchi Muyo suffers from overexposure and steadily declining quality after its initial series. The original six episode OVA series and “Night Before the Carnival” special introduce memorable characters, an entertaining situational setting, and exceptional visual design, but the Tenchi Muyo anime tends to get increasingly unfocused and irrelevant as it continued to produce more episodes, more series, and more spin-offs. It’s also fair to say that Tenchi Muyo is as much a sci-fi anime as it is a “harem” anime. Love Hina begins and ends a bit poorly, with a repetitive, plodding introduction and an anti-climactic concluding OVA series. But the bulk of the TV series is engaging and memorable romantic comedy.

I’ve always considered Vandred primarily a sci-fi series with harem and comedy elements, but if it’s classified as a harem comedy in space, then it definitely deserves mention as one of the best anime of its type.

Ai Yori Aoshi succeeds by narrowly focusing on a single core relationship surrounded by supporting characters rather than attempting to be a genuine ensemble story. The amount of character personality and development given to its protagonists also helps make Ai Yori Aoshi stand out above many other similar harem shows that seem to use stock stereotype characters. Calling the show a comedy might be a bit excessive, but the series does have a pronounced sense of humor.

Similarly, Ah! My Goddess can be reasonably called a lighthearted romantic drama as much as a “harem comedy.” The humor of A!MG is more subdued than slapstick, based more in character relationships than goofy gags and situational comedy. But the series undeniably deserves mention as one of the best harem comedies.

Animation studio Shaft’s Negima!? anime, which consists of the second Negima television series, the Spring and Summer Special OVAs, the Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba OVA series, and the upcoming Negima!? OVA series, is a very quirky, abstract comedy. The franchise, furthermore, isn’t a conventional harem anime because it doesn’t revolve around romantic relationships. But by definition a show about a male character constantly surrounded by 32 attractive girls is a harem anime. The unique cinematic and comedic style of director Akiyuki Shinbo may be too outré for some viewers. But for fans and viewers receptive to it, the diversity of energetic character types and personalities in the Negima cast, and the show’s quirky style make it stand far out from the rest of the harem anime pack.

The 2008 They Are My Noble Masters (Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de) television series, while not one of the very best “harem” anime, still manages to be one of the best harem anime comedies because of its cast of characters with distinct personalities, and more importantly because of its bizarre and hyperbolic humor and frequent anime in-jokes. Viewers that enjoy “KimiAru” are likely to also enjoy the similar, but not quite as absurd 2005 television series He Is My Master (Kore ga Watashi no Goshujin-sama).

The original 2001 Hanaukyo Maid Tai television series, not to be confused with the inferior 2004 remake Hanaukyo Maid-tai: La Verite, prominently exhibits all of the cliché characteristics of harem anime, and suffers with a non-ending. But viewers willing to enjoy its exploitative, predictable humor will find it highly entertaining.