Love or hate them, there are several harem anime every season. If it isn't the main focus of the plot, the genre and its conventions tend to worm their way into several shows every season. Often having a young man (or a young woman in the case of a reverse harem) be the center of attention from a bevy of attractive members of the opposite sex. Then proceeding to bumble their way through the pits and potholes of romance!
Japan's love affair with harem anime is as broad and as deep as the genre. Still, despite the vast variety of harem anime available, there are still things that rarely, if ever, happen in them and things that just happen all too often.
10 Never See: Side Character Getting Their Own Romantic Interest
Picture by Osomatu-Sama.
Let's not let the main character hog all of the romance. Sometimes the show has a fun, interesting, or loyal side character that quickly gets relegated to an afterthought because they happen to be the same sex as the main character. The laws of harem universes dictating that the only one getting any sort of action is the main character and his harem.
Still, it would be nice to see some other characters have their own romantic escapees. They don't need a full-on harem, but for those that prove to be interesting and great friends to the main character, it would be nice to see them get a little bit of happiness too!
9 See Too Often: The Status Quo
Harem anime tend to have the annoying habit of turning back all development onto its head. Seemingly erasing every step of progress in favor of keeping the harem lead and their admirers in a constant circle of will-they-won't-they antics.
Though, it is hard to blame the authors. It is just the nature of the beast. More often than not, the manga series and light novels these anime are based on tend to have to go on for hundreds of chapters. If any major changes happen, it threatens to end the manga early and gets them in serious trouble with their editors and publishing companies. Some may have managed to make significant changes to the status quo, but it is not an easy thing to do.
8 Never See: An Interesting Main Character
The exact opposite of the above. Truth be told, when watching a harem anime, more often than not, the viewer isn't there for the main character but the group of women or men that vie for their affection. Though, even if they aren't the main draw, it is nice to see them stand out.
It doesn't take much really. Just enough of a personality to play off their love interests in fun and creative ways. As long as they are not simply reacting to their advances and acting as bystanders to their own romantic life in the process. So, it's unfortunate that this doesn't happen nearly enough.
7 See Too Often: Little Sister Love Interest, Kissing Cousins, & Other Family Relations
Let's take a trip towards "eww" territory. Harem anime tend to have a fixation on making one of the members of the harem lead's family be a member of their harem. Sometimes going so far as having the main focus of the story be whether or not they are going to turn their sister or another family member into their lover.
There is simply no lines that anime isn't willing to cross. Cousins, little sisters, big brothers, and even mothers (blood-related or not) are fair game to be a member of the main character's ever-growing harem. No matter how much that last sentence may have made you throw up in your mouth.
6 Never See: An Actual Fight
No matter how heated the race for the main character's heart it, there is rarely any physical confrontations between the members of the harem. They may hate each other's guts but it never goes farther than a few heated words between them.
This is not about advocating for violence, but it is a little unrealistic for there to seldom be a confrontation. Odder still is how often they all seem to become close friends because of their shared romantic interest. Even saying things like they'll "Cheer them on!" despite having conflicting goals. It is safe to assume not everyone would be happy to root for someone else to end up with their crush.
5 See Too Often: No Romantic Resolution
It is an unfortunate result of anime as a whole but harem tend to never reach a romantic resolution. Most of the time they are well within their run in their manga magazine or have several volumes of story left when they are turned into an anime.
So instead of ending things, they simply avoid a conclusion. They run one last climactic episode that that may seem to turn the whole situation onto its head only for them to end up exactly where they started. With the harem fine and completely intact. Leaving the fans with little choice but to follow the light novel or manga and pray that it doesn't get canceled before it gets a proper ending.
4 Never See: Beyond The Confession
Harem anime tend to end (if there is one at all) just when things are getting good. The confession happens, the happy couple comes together, and everything afterward becomes a moot point because that's as far as the story is willing to go.
No! We just got to the best part! Now that they aren't locked in an endless loop of failed romantic shenanigans, we can watch their relationship flourish and grow with a completely natural progression that isn't interrupted by the other harem members. The confession is only the beginning of the romantic relationship but harem anime tend to end it right there and then!
3 See Too Often: Fall Physics Are Random & Chaotic
It may be funny the first, amusing the second time, but by the third time, it becomes a bit trite. Harem anime tend to ignore normal physics to literally bend the main character over backward so that he could fall into a compromising situation with one of their admirers. Soon getting a hand or face full of unmentionables whenever it is damn near possible.
The problem is that after a while it becomes a bit bland. There are only so many ways a person can fall into cleavage before things get tiresome. Any comedy or titillation in the matter eventually succumbs to the law diminishing returns. After a while, there are just better ways to inject comedy or erotic tension into a series.
2 Never See: A Satisfying Ending For Everyone
We are not talking about the characters of the show, but the fans that watched their hijinks from day one. Ending a harem anime is a can of worms that is about ready to explode even if it has a proper ending. There is still a chance that all hell will break loose among the fandom.
Factions form and the internet hype machine see various groups clash over who should win the heart of the main character. It guarantees that not everyone will be happy when the eventual choice is made and one member of the harem wins at the expense of all others (and their fans).
1 See Too Often: Bland Self-Insert
If you follow anime enough, there tends to be a trend when it comes to harem main characters. Not only do they all look the same, sporting a hear of dark hair and light skin with an average level of attractiveness, but they also tend to have the same personality. Which is not having one at all.
In a wild attempt to let the viewer live vicariously through the harem lead, they are often given the blandest of looks and a personality to match. Often described as nothing more than unassuming or, most heinous of all, you're typical everyday schoolboy or girl. Their personalities often relegated to a single word like nice or weird.