Harem anime is a ubiquitous theme in anime/manga and doesn't look to be going anywhere anytime soon. Due to this, there is a lot of room for innovation and experimentation that other themes or genres may not always be as open to. The most obvious area where this has been tried is how harem anime ends and what that means for that series' story.
When it comes to the idea that nobody wins in a harem, it might surprise some fans that this is a lot harder to find than initially expected. Many harems will opt for even the vaguest of conclusions rather than the main character not picking a single girl to end up with or vice versa.
Haganai: I don't have many friends
Japanese Title | Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai |
Year of Original Airing | 2011 |
At first glance, Haganai seems like a fairly standard harem with a good number of things going for it. It features appealing character designs, a unique cast of characters, and a plot that many may even be able to relate to. It even features a main character who isn't the typical harem protagonist. Hasegawa Kodaka cares so much about his friends and the club they are all a part of that it prevents him from deciding which girl to choose.
The series was popular enough to receive a second season and OVA which gave many fans the hope that a third season could also happen. Unfortunately, the second season was not all that well received, with the ending leaving an extra sour taste in the mouths of fans. At this point, it has been 10 years since the second season ended, making it all but a "pipe dream" for there to be a third season, which gives this anime the unique distinction of being a harem where nobody wins.
Saber Marionette J
Japanese Title | セイバーマリオネットJ |
Year of Original Airing | 1996 |
Saber Marionette J is a classic 90s anime set in a futuristic world where viewers follow a young swordsman named Otaru Mamiya from the country of Terra II. Before long, Otaru finds himself on an adventure with three androids, Lime, Cherry, and Bloodberry, also known as "Marionettes." Said adventures are remembered for their blend of comedy, action, and romance that was well-received enough to warrant a second season.
It's hard to say if Saber Marionette J is a cult classic, but for those that do remember it, it is often remembered very fondly. The series does have the unique distinction of having an asexual main character who, throughout both seasons, is shown to have little to no romantic attraction to not only the Marionettes but nearly all characters. This leads to the ending of the series depicting Otaru and the Marionettes happily living together, but purely platonically.
Angel Tales
Japanese Title | Otogi Story Tenshi no Shippo |
Year of Original Airing | 2001 |
In this series, viewers follow Mutsumi Goro, a guy whose luck is just about as bad as it gets, but seemingly turns around as guardian angels come into his life. From there, the classic harem hijinks take place, but there is a caveat to this in that there is a "no romance" clause to the relationships of the characters. Things get a bit more interesting when it's revealed that all the angels were previously Goro's pets who have come back to repay him for his kindness and love. Goro himself is also a reincarnation of the sage "Seijya."
The series seemed to be quite popular during its time as it received two seasons, a special, and a few of the characters appeared in other Tokyo Kids productions. Unfortunately, it wasn't popular enough to receive a third season which would likely have been the conclusion to the story and answered the question of whom Goro would end up with. Many fans believe it was likely to be Ran, but without a proper conclusion, the series holds the distinction of being a harem where nobody wins.
Trinity Seven
Japanese Title | トリニティセブン |
Year of Original Airing | 2014 |
Out of all the entries on this list, Trinity Seven is likely the most popular and well-known, but also the most disappointing to the fans. The story of Trinity Seven focuses on Arata Kasuga in his journey to become a "Magus" by meeting with the Trinity Sevens to save his childhood friend and cousin Kasuga Hijiri. A decent enough premise with a lot of appealing qualities of note, except for Arata being a perverted harem protagonist which has proven to be a very tiring archetype found in harems.
Arata's archetype would only be the tip of the iceberg for how frustrating and mediocre this series would prove to be to fans. Despite the issues apparent early in the show, the series was popular enough to get a movie, which was more than a little surprising. What isn't all that surprising is the fact that the anime may never receive any subsequent seasons as it has been nine years since it ended with no signs of a return.
School Days
Japanese Title | スクールデイズ |
Year of Original Airing | 2007 |
A lot of anime deserve more recognition, but unfortunately many get forgotten very shortly after their conclusion. However, very few anime fans will forget the now-infamous conclusion to the anime adaptation of School Days. The ending is so infamous, in fact, that it often overshadows the entire show and anything else that happened during its run.
For those that don't know, the main character Itou Makoto is murdered by his childhood friend Saionji Sekai after realizing she can no longer handle Makoto being a womanizing cheater. Shortly afterward, Katsura Kotonoha, the initial love interest, murders Sekai after discovering what she has done to her love Makoto. This shocking and unexpected ending had the unintentional side effect of making it impossible for School Days to be a harem where someone could win.