So You Want To/Write a Harem Anime: Difference between revisions

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The result is that [[Harem Anime|the protagonist, previously unlucky in love, suddenly has several girls all vying for his attention at the same time.]]
The result is that [[Harem Anime|the protagonist, previously unlucky in love, suddenly has several girls all vying for his attention at the same time.]]


One of the most popular Anime and Manga storylines due to its pure unadulterated wish fulfillment -- this is the major setup for [[Renai Game|Renai Games]] (often called [[Dating Sim|Dating Sims]] in the US), which are frequently made into an Anime as a form of cash in. But that shouldn't stop you from doing one, remember [[Tropes Are Not Bad]], and the story of conflicted lovers is as old as time itself.
One of the most popular Anime and Manga storylines due to its pure unadulterated wish fulfillment—this is the major setup for [[Renai Game]]s (often called [[Dating Sim]]s in the US), which are frequently made into an Anime as a form of cash in. But that shouldn't stop you from doing one, remember [[Tropes Are Not Bad]], and the story of conflicted lovers is as old as time itself.


Much of the advice on [[So You Want To/Write a Magical Girlfriend Series|Write a Magical Girlfriend Series]] also deals with harems as well.
Much of the advice on [[So You Want To/Write a Magical Girlfriend Series|Write a Magical Girlfriend Series]] also deals with harems as well.


== '''Necessary Tropes''' ==
== Necessary Tropes ==


* [[Fan Service]]: A Harem series is essentially a fanservice series. You need to make your characters very appealing both to the protagonist and to the audience. This includes specific [[Shout-Out|ShoutOuts]] to the audience. [[Hadaka Apron]], [[Beach Episode]], etc etc.
* [[Fan Service]]: A Harem series is essentially a fanservice series. You need to make your characters very appealing both to the protagonist and to the audience. This includes specific [[Shout-Out|ShoutOuts]] to the audience. [[Hadaka Apron]], [[Beach Episode]], etc etc.
* [[Love Dodecahedron]]: You don't have a series without at least some relationship conflict. In most cases, this is at least 3 characters being in love with the hero, who is unable to choose. If there's only 2 rivals for the hero's affection, it's a [[Love Triangle]].
* [[Love Dodecahedron]]: You don't have a series without at least some relationship conflict. In most cases, this is at least 3 characters being in love with the hero, who is unable to choose. If there's only 2 rivals for the hero's affection, it's a [[Love Triangle]].
** Note that these do not necessarily have to be ''serious'' contenders. The situation could shake out to a [[Official Couple]] or a [[Love Triangle]] situation, with the extra, "beta" characters being [[Pretty Freeloaders]] or be genuinely interested -- but not to the point of the "real" relationship interests. Many [[Love Dodecahedron]] situations in harems turn out to have some of the beta characters having [[Hidden Depths]] in the form of outside relationships -- a girl who initially seems to be pining for the hero may actually be suffering after losing her husband to illness, or be awaiting her fiancee's return from overseas.
** Note that these do not necessarily have to be ''serious'' contenders. The situation could shake out to a [[Official Couple]] or a [[Love Triangle]] situation, with the extra, "beta" characters being [[Pretty Freeloaders]] or be genuinely interested—but not to the point of the "real" relationship interests. Many [[Love Dodecahedron]] situations in harems turn out to have some of the beta characters having [[Hidden Depths]] in the form of outside relationships—a girl who initially seems to be pining for the hero may actually be suffering after losing her husband to illness, or be awaiting her fiancee's return from overseas.
* [[Status Quo Is God]]: You don't have a series if the hero picks a girl and spits it out, so naturally he won't be able to.
* [[Status Quo Is God]]: You don't have a series if the hero picks a girl and spits it out, so naturally he won't be able to.
* [[Accidental Pervert]] and many of the [[Comedy of Errors]] tropes: Misunderstandings are going to move your plot forward, you should stop thinking about avoiding them and start thinking about how to do them well.
* [[Accidental Pervert]] and many of the [[Comedy of Errors]] tropes: Misunderstandings are going to move your plot forward, you should stop thinking about avoiding them and start thinking about how to do them well.


== '''Choices, Choices''' ==
== Choices, Choices ==


First things first, you will need to figure out the level of harem-ness. Is it a protagonist with a large number of [[Pretty Freeloader|Pretty Freeloaders]] and a rapidly less understanding girlfriend? Is it a pair of [[Childhood Friends]] both realizing their feelings for the hero at the same time he finally makes progress with the [[New Transfer Student|new exchange student]]? Is it a band manager trying to keep a group of diverse personalities from killing each other?
First things first, you will need to figure out the level of harem-ness. Is it a protagonist with a large number of [[Pretty Freeloader]]s and a rapidly less understanding girlfriend? Is it a pair of [[Childhood Friends]] both realizing their feelings for the hero at the same time he finally makes progress with the [[New Transfer Student|new exchange student]]? Is it a band manager trying to keep a group of diverse personalities from killing each other?


Does anything get resolved? Are certain characters [[Put on a Bus|destined for a bus?]] Is it [[Love At First Sight]]?
Does anything get resolved? Are certain characters [[Put on a Bus|destined for a bus?]] Is it [[Love At First Sight]]?


== '''Pitfalls''' ==
== Pitfalls ==


There are good harem stores, and there are bad harem stories. The genre does not work without actual interpersonal conflict. If one character isn't likable, then there's no reasonable struggle, no drama.
There are good harem stores, and there are bad harem stories. The genre does not work without actual interpersonal conflict. If one character isn't likable, then there's no reasonable struggle, no drama.
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Avoid abruptly [[Cleaning Up Romantic Loose Ends]] as best you can.
Avoid abruptly [[Cleaning Up Romantic Loose Ends]] as best you can.


== '''Potential Subversions''' ==
== Potential Subversions ==


There's a reason masculine pronouns have been used so far -- flip the genders. Girl with Boy, Boy, Boy, Boy. This is becoming more popular as creators across the world try to defy the [[Girl Show Ghetto]].
There's a reason masculine pronouns have been used so far—flip the genders. Girl with Boy, Boy, Boy, Boy. This is becoming more popular as creators across the world try to defy the [[Girl Show Ghetto]].


Flip the sexuality of the characters. Boy with Boy, Boy, Boy, Boy, or Girl with Girl, Girl, Girl, Girl. A popular gag character is a gay character getting in on the harem against the protagonist's wishes, or joining the Harem not to chase after the protagonist, but to chase after another character in the harem -- and this is ALWAYS played up for creep factor -- after all, there's [[No Bisexuals]], right? Obvious subversion: Boy with Girl, Girl, Boy, Boy or a Girl torn between the hunky new exchange student and her [[Romantic Two-Girl Friendship|best female "friend".]]
Flip the sexuality of the characters. Boy with Boy, Boy, Boy, Boy, or Girl with Girl, Girl, Girl, Girl. A popular gag character is a gay character getting in on the harem against the protagonist's wishes, or joining the Harem not to chase after the protagonist, but to chase after another character in the harem—and this is ALWAYS played up for creep factor—after all, there's [[No Bisexuals]], right? Obvious subversion: Boy with Girl, Girl, Boy, Boy or a Girl torn between the hunky new exchange student and her [[Romantic Two-Girl Friendship|best female "friend".]]


The end result of almost all of these series is the characters pairing off with each other, one at a time. The subversion then becomes if the protagonist, or his harem, simply refuse to be shut out by a silly thing like monogamy. [[Kanokon]] did this to hilarious effect -- Kouta ultimately picks Chizuru but that hardly slows Nozomu down -- and in the end, they decide to share him.
The end result of almost all of these series is the characters pairing off with each other, one at a time. The subversion then becomes if the protagonist, or his harem, simply refuse to be shut out by a silly thing like monogamy. [[Kanokon]] did this to hilarious effect—Kouta ultimately picks Chizuru but that hardly slows Nozomu down—and in the end, they decide to share him.


A common subtype (based on the first major [[Deconstruction]] of this trope, [[Urusei Yatsura]], which ironically came before the [[Harem Anime]] really was codified as a trope) is to have the hero be a royal pervert and the "harem" unable to stand him for more than a few minutes at a time -- at first. Flipping this, having an [[Asexuality]] character, one who is genuinely not interested in the harem is an interesting subversion, as is the much darker "[[Stalker with a Crush|stalker]]" type -- when the "harem" is all in the protagonist's head, and they are all genuinely not interested. The [[Harem Anime]] setup is usually played up for comedy -- but it doesn't have to be.
A common subtype (based on the first major [[Deconstruction]] of this trope, [[Urusei Yatsura]], which ironically came before the [[Harem Anime]] really was codified as a trope) is to have the hero be a royal pervert and the "harem" unable to stand him for more than a few minutes at a time—at first. Flipping this, having an [[Asexuality]] character, one who is genuinely not interested in the harem is an interesting subversion, as is the much darker "[[Stalker with a Crush|stalker]]" type—when the "harem" is all in the protagonist's head, and they are all genuinely not interested. The [[Harem Anime]] setup is usually played up for comedy—but it doesn't have to be.


Perhaps the least used subversion would be to not focus on the guy in the middle at all. Try taking a look at the situation from the POV of a girl who has to compete with four or five other girls for someone's affections. What makes this boy so special to her? Is her interest in him really romantic in nature, or she really just a friend who doesn't want to lose him to a girlfriend? What will she do to stand out in his eyes, and most importantly, what will she do if he picks her? What if he ''doesn't''?
Perhaps the least used subversion would be to not focus on the guy in the middle at all. Try taking a look at the situation from the POV of a girl who has to compete with four or five other girls for someone's affections. What makes this boy so special to her? Is her interest in him really romantic in nature, or she really just a friend who doesn't want to lose him to a girlfriend? What will she do to stand out in his eyes, and most importantly, what will she do if he picks her? What if he ''doesn't''?


A lot of harem animes have the guy finally choosing the [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] or the [[Tsundere]], which is getting pretty damn predictable. Why not have him choose [[The Smart Guy|the brainy chick]], the [[Otaku]], the [[Cool Big Sis]], or the gangster girl? Heck, speaking of [[Tsundere|Tsunderes]], how about avoiding [[Abuse Is Okay When It Is Female On Male]]?
A lot of harem animes have the guy finally choosing the [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] or the [[Tsundere]], which is getting pretty damn predictable. Why not have him choose [[The Smart Guy|the brainy chick]], the [[Otaku]], the [[Cool Big Sis]], or the gangster girl? Heck, speaking of [[Tsundere]]s, how about avoiding [[Abuse Is Okay When It Is Female On Male]]?


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== '''Writers' Lounge''' ==
== Writers' Lounge ==


=== '''Potential Motifs''' ===
=== Potential Motifs ===


[[The Unwanted Harem]], unless you're subverting that trope. The standard motif of this series is [[One True Pairing|one "true" pairing]], which [[Oblivious to Love|the hero will not realize until the end]]. If one of the harem characters (the "one true paring") realizes this before the hero does (and this is becoming more and more standard nowadays) expect lots of [[Cannot Spit It Out]].
[[The Unwanted Harem]], unless you're subverting that trope. The standard motif of this series is [[One True Pairing|one "true" pairing]], which [[Oblivious to Love|the hero will not realize until the end]]. If one of the harem characters (the "one true paring") realizes this before the hero does (and this is becoming more and more standard nowadays) expect lots of [[Cannot Spit It Out]].


=== '''Suggested Plots''' ===
=== Suggested Plots ===


The [[Romance Arc]], obviously. In addition, everything under [[Fan Service]] and [[Romantic Comedy]], only with multiple parings. Eventually the series has to end -- the [[Romantic False Lead]] might start to make an appearance as some of the tetrinary characters get over the hero, which may or may not go over well.
The [[Romance Arc]], obviously. In addition, everything under [[Fan Service]] and [[Romantic Comedy]], only with multiple parings. Eventually the series has to end—the [[Romantic False Lead]] might start to make an appearance as some of the tetrinary characters get over the hero, which may or may not go over well.


[[Generation Xerox]] is also a type commonly used in fanfiction, but rarely if at all in an actual series: The whole harem thing was resolved a long time ago. The hero made his choice, and everyone's come to terms with that and gone on with their lives, found other loves, and everyone has children of their own... Then Puberty starts to kick in with the new generation, and wouldn't you know it, it's all centered on the [[Official Couple]]'s child, or the child of another couple, or someone else entirely. Suddenly, the parents see what it was like on the outside of the situation they grew up with. Some may despair, some may laugh, others may see it as a second chance of sorts (especially if there were other matters aside from (or alongside) feelings influencing their participation in the first place): If I couldn't have you, my son will have your daughter.
[[Generation Xerox]] is also a type commonly used in fanfiction, but rarely if at all in an actual series: The whole harem thing was resolved a long time ago. The hero made his choice, and everyone's come to terms with that and gone on with their lives, found other loves, and everyone has children of their own... Then Puberty starts to kick in with the new generation, and wouldn't you know it, it's all centered on the [[Official Couple]]'s child, or the child of another couple, or someone else entirely. Suddenly, the parents see what it was like on the outside of the situation they grew up with. Some may despair, some may laugh, others may see it as a second chance of sorts (especially if there were other matters aside from (or alongside) feelings influencing their participation in the first place): If I couldn't have you, my son will have your daughter.


== '''Departments''' ==
== Departments ==
=== '''Set Designer''' / '''Location Scout''' ===
=== Set Designer / Location Scout ===


* Almost universally, you're going to be looking at young characters, and young characters almost always mean schools, libraries, and the like.
* Almost universally, you're going to be looking at young characters, and young characters almost always mean schools, libraries, and the like.
* You need a house -- or dorm, or inn, or apartment complex -- that will hold 3-10 people comfortably.
* You need a house—or dorm, or inn, or apartment complex—that will hold 3-10 people comfortably.
* A [[Beach Episode]] is almost a requirement. A [[Hot Springs Episode]] is usually par for the course, as well.
* A [[Beach Episode]] is almost a requirement. A [[Hot Springs Episode]] is usually par for the course, as well.
* Mixing in some other genres -- scifi, fantasy, etc -- is possible as well, and would definitely affect your location choices.
* Mixing in some other genres—scifi, fantasy, etc—is possible as well, and would definitely affect your location choices.


=== '''Props Department''' ===
=== Props Department ===


=== '''Costume Designer''' ===
=== Costume Designer ===
* [[Transfer Student Uniforms]] and casual wear that plays up the characters' personality. [[Fan Service]] outfits are common as well.
* [[Transfer Student Uniforms]] and casual wear that plays up the characters' personality. [[Fan Service]] outfits are common as well.


=== '''Casting Director''' ===
=== Casting Director ===
* See ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' as a textbook example of the genre minus (most of) the sexual overtones -- the Hero is a [[Kid Hero|child]]. Just about every Anime girlfriend trope is in here -- [[Tropes Are Not Bad|not that there's anything wrong with that.]] You have mysterious foreigners, glasses-wearing girls, slightly chubby girls, [[Genki Girl|genki girls]], a Tsundere with a past, a [[Ojou]] with a [[Shotacon]] complex, pairs of mischievous twins, a schoolgirl lesbian or two, sporty girls, a ''[[Cute Ghost Girl|ghost girl]]'', a vampire [[Elegant Gothic Lolita]], a '''robot'''...
* See ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' as a textbook example of the genre minus (most of) the sexual overtones—the Hero is a [[Kid Hero|child]]. Just about every Anime girlfriend trope is in here -- [[Tropes Are Not Bad|not that there's anything wrong with that.]] You have mysterious foreigners, glasses-wearing girls, slightly chubby girls, [[Genki Girl|genki girls]], a Tsundere with a past, a [[Ojou]] with a [[Shotacon]] complex, pairs of mischievous twins, a schoolgirl lesbian or two, sporty girls, a ''[[Cute Ghost Girl|ghost girl]]'', a vampire [[Elegant Gothic Lolita]], a '''robot'''...
** This should not be considered a typical [[Harem Anime]] series, however, as this particular example, outside of casting, was a textbook case of [[Writer Revolt]] -- the author and artist wanted to do a fighting manga, his publisher wanted a harem manga, and he played along until it was popular enough that he could do a [[Genre Shift]].
** This should not be considered a typical [[Harem Anime]] series, however, as this particular example, outside of casting, was a textbook case of [[Writer Revolt]]—the author and artist wanted to do a fighting manga, his publisher wanted a harem manga, and he played along until it was popular enough that he could do a [[Genre Shift]].
* Your hero is probably going to be an [[Unlucky Everydude]]; this can be subverted, however. How about a hero that's [[The Ace]] and completely [[Oblivious to Love]]? Or worse (for the girls) -- [[The Ace]] who also happens to be [[Invisible to Gaydar]]?
* Your hero is probably going to be an [[Unlucky Everydude]]; this can be subverted, however. How about a hero that's [[The Ace]] and completely [[Oblivious to Love]]? Or worse (for the girls) -- [[The Ace]] who also happens to be [[Invisible to Gaydar]]?
* At least one character, most likely the "one true girl" will be a Tsundere who [[Cannot Spit It Out]]. A [[Yandere (disambiguation)]] foil is becoming common as well, played up for a various balance between creep factor and comedy.
* At least one character, most likely the "one true girl" will be a Tsundere who [[Cannot Spit It Out]]. A [[:Category:Yandere|Yandere]] foil is becoming common as well, played up for a various balance between creep factor and comedy.
* Standard other female characters include:
* Standard other female characters include:
** [[The Smart Girl]] (Glasses, short hair, very meek)
** [[The Smart Girl]] (Glasses, short hair, very meek)
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== '''Extra Credit''' ==
== Extra Credit ==
=== '''The Greats''' ===
=== The Greats ===
* ''[[Ranma ½]]'' starts piling on the harem girls -- and then the girls gain their own harems. Plays up just about every related trope, despite [[Word of God]] saying that Akane and Ranma are the [[Official Couple|real couple]] and everyone else is just a distraction. Shipping wars follow this series to this very day.
* ''[[Ranma ½]]'' starts piling on the harem girls—and then the girls gain their own harems. Plays up just about every related trope, despite [[Word of God]] saying that Akane and Ranma are the [[Official Couple|real couple]] and everyone else is just a distraction. Shipping wars follow this series to this very day.
** Similarly, ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]'' was already subverting this trope in the early 80s -- with the <s>world's</s> Universe's biggest pervert Ataru Moroboshi trying to intentionally invoke this trope, and failing. Had an odd case of pseudo-[[Running the Asylum]] -- the fans ''vastly'' preferred Lum, who was originally going to be the distraction between the original [[Official Couple]], Ataru and Shinobu.
** Similarly, ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]'' was already subverting this trope in the early 80s—with the <s>world's</s> Universe's biggest pervert Ataru Moroboshi trying to intentionally invoke this trope, and failing. Had an odd case of pseudo-[[Running the Asylum]]—the fans ''vastly'' preferred Lum, who was originally going to be the distraction between the original [[Official Couple]], Ataru and Shinobu.
* ''[[SHUFFLE!]]'' was a rare example that ended the [[Love Dodecahedron]] before the series did. [[Yandere (disambiguation)|That didn't end well.]]
* ''[[SHUFFLE!]]'' was a rare example that ended the [[Love Dodecahedron]] before the series did. [[:Category:Yandere|That didn't end well.]]
* Likewise, the rather brutal [[Deconstruction]] ''[[School Days]]'' took this general idea, dashed in a nearly [[Warhammer 40000|Games Workshop]]-level of '''[[Grimdark]]''', and, well, [[It Got Worse]]. Oh God, did it ever get worse. Proof that a [[Harem Anime]] doesn't ''have'' to be comedy.
* Likewise, the rather brutal [[Deconstruction]] ''[[School Days]]'' took this general idea, dashed in a nearly [[Warhammer 40000|Games Workshop]]-level of '''[[Grimdark]]''', and, well, [[It Got Worse]]. Oh God, did it ever get worse. Proof that a [[Harem Anime]] doesn't ''have'' to be comedy.
* ''[[Kanokon]]'' is also a good subversion, with the hero being a near [[Asexuality|Asexual]] cute little boy being hounded by two ''extremely'' lusty and busty girls. {{spoiler|(Continuing the subversions, they decide to share him in the end.)}}
* ''[[Kanokon]]'' is also a good subversion, with the hero being a near [[Asexuality|Asexual]] cute little boy being hounded by two ''extremely'' lusty and busty girls. {{spoiler|(Continuing the subversions, they decide to share him in the end.)}}
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* ''[[Ouran High School Host Club]]'' is a [[Stealth Parody]] of [[Shoujo]] [[Romantic Comedy]] stories, but specifically aims towards [[Reverse Harem]]. Oh, and it has plot behind the absurd amount of comedy.
* ''[[Ouran High School Host Club]]'' is a [[Stealth Parody]] of [[Shoujo]] [[Romantic Comedy]] stories, but specifically aims towards [[Reverse Harem]]. Oh, and it has plot behind the absurd amount of comedy.


=== '''Contested''' ===
=== Contested ===
Some examples that worth the look so you can SEE the pros and cons, in this case, [[Your Mileage May Vary]].
Some examples that worth the look so you can SEE the pros and cons, in this case, [[Your Mileage May Vary]].
* ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]'': [[Better Than It Sounds]], despite all you heard about them is...Fanservice, or Loads of them. Pros: Good for making the Harem aspect and [[Interspecies Romance]] [[Tear Jerker|sadly serious]] and [[Character Development|fleshed out]], Cons: [[Fetish Retardant|Too much fanservice]], '''especially''' the Anime.
* ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]'': [[Better Than It Sounds]], despite all you heard about them is...Fanservice, or Loads of them. Pros: Good for making the Harem aspect and [[Interspecies Romance]] [[Tear Jerker|sadly serious]] and [[Character Development|fleshed out]], Cons: [[Fetish Retardant|Too much fanservice]], '''especially''' the Anime.
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** Though one must point out that it's not neccessarily that she's ''un''feminine. It's just that she's a [[Nightmare Fetishist]] who looks like a [[Stringy-Haired Ghost Girl]]. Once you get past her love of all things gore and horror and apparent allergy towards all things (conventionally) beautiful, she's actually quite the [[Yamato Nadeshiko]]. (Also probably a reason the reverse harem doesn't really work in making her more 'feminine.')
** Though one must point out that it's not neccessarily that she's ''un''feminine. It's just that she's a [[Nightmare Fetishist]] who looks like a [[Stringy-Haired Ghost Girl]]. Once you get past her love of all things gore and horror and apparent allergy towards all things (conventionally) beautiful, she's actually quite the [[Yamato Nadeshiko]]. (Also probably a reason the reverse harem doesn't really work in making her more 'feminine.')


=== '''The Epic Fails''' ===
=== The Epic Fails ===
* [[Tenchi Muyo!]] (OVA 3) shows that harem stories that are filled with [[My Kung Fu Is Stronger Than Yours]] can dilute the plot to the point of pointlessness, and the addition of [[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]] to the cast ''never'' helps.
* [[Tenchi Muyo!]] (OVA 3) shows that harem stories that are filled with [[My Kung Fu Is Stronger Than Yours]] can dilute the plot to the point of pointlessness, and the addition of [[Mary Sue]]s to the cast ''never'' helps.
* [[Tenchi Muyo! GXP]] also shows that trying to stay [[Strictly Formula]] is fine, shows still need some form of extra ''oomph'' to push it up from "mediocre," to "watchable." As with OVA 3, this Tenchi series seemed to have the harem aspect just because everyone expects a Tenchi series to have a harem (never do this), and when harem antics are something you just endure so you can watch the ever wacky antics of Seriyo Tennan, you've messed up.
* [[Tenchi Muyo! GXP]] also shows that trying to stay [[Strictly Formula]] is fine, shows still need some form of extra ''oomph'' to push it up from "mediocre," to "watchable." As with OVA 3, this Tenchi series seemed to have the harem aspect just because everyone expects a Tenchi series to have a harem (never do this), and when harem antics are something you just endure so you can watch the ever wacky antics of Seriyo Tennan, you've messed up.


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