History SoYouWantTo / WriteAHaremAnime

* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'': Despite all you heard about them is...Fanservice, or Loads of them. Pros: Good for making the Harem aspect and InterspeciesRomance [[TearJerker sadly serious]] and [[CharacterDevelopment fleshed out]], Cons: [[FetishRetardant Too much fanservice]], '''especially''' the Anime.

* '''Exotic but not unusual girls''': NewTransferStudent, Princess, IdolSinger, TheStoic StudentCouncilPresident, etc. Unlike the first group, to has these girls in harem mean this guy is indeed a special guy. Think of some good reason why they're in the harem. A simple {{handwave}} may be enough to justify one of these special girls being in the harem (hey, he may be just a really lucky guy to catch her attention). But unless it's backed up by good writing, your harem hero can easily come off as a MartyStu.

A common subtype (based on the first major {{Deconstruction}} of this trope, ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'', which ironically came [[UnbuiltTrope before]] the HaremGenre really was codified as a trope) is to have the guy 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 UsefulNotes/{{asexual|ity}} character, one who is genuinely not interested in the harem, is the much darker "{{stalker|WithACrush}}" type -- when the "harem" is all in the protagonist's head, and they are all genuinely not interested. The HaremGenre setup is usually played up for comedy -- but it doesn't have to be.

* ''Literature/{{Kanokon}}'' has a guy who is a nearly UsefulNotes/{{asexual|ity}} cute little boy being hounded by two ''extremely'' lusty and busty girls. [[spoiler:(Continuing this, they decide to share him in the end.)]]

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 TheProtagonist, or his harem, simply [[{{Polyamory}} refuse to be shut out by a silly thing like monogamy]]. LightNovel/{{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. You could alernatively have the harem share him earlier than the end, a trend that has slowly become more common in recent years.

* ''LightNovel/{{Kanokon}}'' has a guy who is a nearly UsefulNotes/{{asexual|ity}} cute little boy being hounded by two ''extremely'' lusty and busty girls. [[spoiler:(Continuing this, they decide to share him in the end.)]]

Much of the advice on SoYouWantTo/WriteAMagicalGirlfriendSeries also deals with harems as well, as well as SoYouWantTo/WriteAHaremHero.

Go [[SoYouWantTo/WriteAHaremHero here]] if want to make the protagonist.

** The ChristmasCake (Often a teacher, often very concerned with the goings on, which she uses to justify her growing attraction.)

* '''Girls that you won't see in RealLife''': CuteGhostGirl, TokenMiniMoe CuteWitch, FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire, MagicalGirl, [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Angel]], {{Ridiculously Human|Robots}} RobotGirl, [[HornyDevils Succubus]], OppositeSexClone, HumanAlien, etc. On the plus side, it's clear that you're writing fantasy here (UrbanFantasy if you can justify their presence in a modern setting), and the audience will question less about their reason to fall in love than group 2's. On the other hand, do not expect to keep audiences satisfied with just romance and drama, they expect something ''special'' from this harem.

* {{Fanservice}}: 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}}s to the audience. NakedApron, BeachEpisode, etc etc. However, it is possible to [[Manga/RosarioPlusVampire put in way too much]] {{Fanservice}}.

* {{Fanservice}}: 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}}s to the audience. NakedApron, BeachEpisode, etc etc. However, it is possible to [[Manga/RosarioPlusVampire put in]] [[UpToEleven way too much]] {{Fanservice}}.

A common subtype (based on the first major {{Deconstruction}} of this trope, ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'', which ironically came before the HaremGenre really was codified as a trope) is to have the guy 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 UsefulNotes/{{asexual|ity}} character, one who is genuinely not interested in the harem, is the much darker "{{stalker|WithACrush}}" type -- when the "harem" is all in the protagonist's head, and they are all genuinely not interested. The HaremGenre setup is usually played up for comedy -- but it doesn't have to be.

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 the creep factor -- after all, there's NoBisexuals, right? Another one: Boy with Girl, Girl, Boy, Boy or a Girl torn between the hunky new exchange student and her [[RomanticTwoGirlFriendship best female "friend".]]

A common subtype (based on the first major {{Deconstruction}} of this trope, ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'', which ironically came before the HaremGenre really was codified as a trope) is to have the guy 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 {{asexual|ity}} character, one who is genuinely not interested in the harem, is the much darker "{{stalker|WithACrush}}" type -- when the "harem" is all in the protagonist's head, and they are all genuinely not interested. The HaremGenre setup is usually played up for comedy -- but it doesn't have to be.

* ''LightNovel/{{Kanokon}}'' has a guy who is a nearly {{asexual|ity}} cute little boy being hounded by two ''extremely'' lusty and busty girls. [[spoiler:(Continuing this, they decide to share him in the end.)]]

* {{Fanservice}}: 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}}s to the audience. NakedApron, BeachEpisode, etc etc. However, it is possible to [[Manga/RosarioToVampire put in]] [[UpToEleven way too much]] {{Fanservice}}.

* ''Anime/RosarioToVampire'': Despite all you heard about them is...Fanservice, or Loads of them. Pros: Good for making the Harem aspect and InterspeciesRomance [[TearJerker sadly serious]] and [[CharacterDevelopment fleshed out]], Cons: [[FetishRetardant Too much fanservice]], '''especially''' the Anime.

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 TheProtagonist, or his harem, simply [[{{Polyamory}} refuse to be shut out by a silly thing like monogamy]]. LightNovel/{{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.

* StatusQuoIsGod: You don't have a series if he picks a girl and spits it out, so naturally he won't be able to.

* '''Girls that you won't see in RealLife''': CuteGhostGirl, TokenMiniMoe CuteWitch, FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire, MagicalGirl, [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Angel]], {{Ridiculously Human|Robots}} RobotGirl, [[HornyDevils Succubus]], OppositeSexClone, HumanAlien, etc. On plus side, it's clear that you're writing fantasy here (UrbanFantasy if you can justify their presence in a modern setting), and the audience will question less about their reason to fall in love than group 2's. On the other hand, do not expect to keep audiences satisfied with just romance and drama, they expect something ''special'' from this harem.

Why not make your story set around a ''literal'' [[RoyalHarem harem]]? Powerful Kings, Khans and Emperors across the centuries have been noted in keeping several ([[ReallyGetsAround or more]]) concubines or wives, spawning a massive dynasty. Take a break from the StrictlyFormula setting of modern day High School and have yourserlf a story set in such a historical (or HighFantasy inspired) empire, and your protagonist is/was the SpareToTheThrone who has suddenly found himself an only child, and needs to pick a bride from one of the [[DecadentCourt families in court]], or at least spawn an heir or three. Suddenly, you have a ''{{justified|Trope}}'' reason for the Protagonist to have been unlucky-in-love before now and suddenly have to deal with all these women, and suddenly, instead of the heroines being somewhat bratty teenagers who start of TugLoverWar at the drop of a hat, the heroines are darker, [[ManipulativeBastard more schemy-er]] versions of the typical Harem Genre Archetypes, with a ''reason'' to be so fixated on the same man. Comedy may ([[{{Deconstruction}} or may not]]) still be apart of the feel of the story, but the audience suddenly finds it balanced with court politics and nasty schemes and temporary alliances.

Why not make your story set around a ''literal'' [[RoyalHarem harem]]? Powerful Kings, Khans and Emperors across the centuries have been noted in keeping several ([[ReallyGetsAround or more]]) concubines or wives, spawning a massive dynasty. Take a break from the StrictlyFormula setting of modern day High School and have yourserlf a story set in such a historical (or HighFantasy inspired) empire, and your protagonist is/was the SpareToTheThrone who has suddenly found himself an only child, and needs to pick a bride from one of the [[DeadlyDecadentCourt families in court]], or at least spawn an heir or three. Suddenly, you have a ''{{justified|Trope}}'' reason for the Protagonist to have been unlucky-in-love before now and suddenly have to deal with all these women, and suddenly, instead of the heroines being somewhat bratty teenagers who start of TugLoverWar at the drop of a hat, the heroines are darker, [[ManipulativeBastard more schemy-er]] versions of the typical Harem Genre Archetypes, with a ''reason'' to be so fixated on the same man. Comedy may ([[{{Deconstruction}} or may not]]) still be apart of the feel of the story, but the audience suddenly finds it balanced with court politics and nasty schemes and temporary alliances.

* See ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' as a textbook example of the genre minus (most of) the sexual overtones -- the guy is a [[KidHero child]]. Just about every Anime girlfriend trope is in here -- [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools not that there's anything wrong with that.]] You have mysterious foreigners, glasses-wearing girls, slightly chubby girls, {{genki girl}}s, a Tsundere with a past, a {{Ojou}} with a [[ComedicShotacon shotacon]] complex, pairs of mischievous twins, a schoolgirl lesbian or two, sporty girls, a ''[[CuteGhostGirl ghost girl]]'', a vampire ElegantGothicLolita, a '''robot'''.. However, this should not be considered a typical HaremAnime series, as outside of casting, was a textbook case of WriterRevolt -- 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 GenreShift.

Much of the advice on SoYouWantTo/WriteAMagicalGirlfriendSeries also deals with harems as well.

* '''Exotic but not unusual girls''': NewTransferStudent [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess]], IdolSinger, TheStoic StudentCouncilPresident, etc. Unlike the first group, to has these girls in harem mean this guy is indeed a special guy. Think of some good reason why they're in the harem. A simple {{handwave}} may be enough to justify one of these special girls being in the harem (hey, he may be just a really lucky guy to catch her attention). But unless it's backed up by good writing, your harem hero can easily come off as a MartyStu.

* '''Exotic but not unusual girls''': NewTransferStudent [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess]], IdolSinger, TheStoic StudentCouncilPresident, etc. Unlike the first group, to has these girls in harem mean this guy is indeed a special guy. Think of some good reason why they're in the harem. A simple {{handwave}} may be enough to justify one of these special girls being in the harem (hey, he may be just a really lucky guy to catch her attention). But unless it's backed up by good writing, you harem hero can easily come off as a MartyStu.

Every harem series are usually in a high school setting. Why not age up the characters and make it either a college setting or take out schools all together and have the characters just be adults whom are juggling everyday issues and romantic relationships?

* {{Fanservice}}: 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}}s to the audience. NakedApron, BeachEpisode, etc etc. However, it is possible to [[Manga/RosarioToVampire put in]] [[UpToEleven way too much]] {{Fanservice}}

A common subtype (based on the first major {{Deconstruction}} of this trope, ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'', which ironically came before the HaremGenre really was codified as a trope) is to have the guy 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 {{asexual|ity}} character, one who is genuinely not interested in the harem , is the much darker "{{stalker|WithACrush}}" type -- when the "harem" is all in the protagonist's head, and they are all genuinely not interested. The HaremGenre setup is usually played up for comedy -- but it doesn't have to be.

* '''Normal girls''': {{Childhood Friend|Romance}}, {{Tomboy}} GenkiGirl, {{Tsundere}} AlphaBitch, [[AloofDarkHairedGirl Kuudere]] HeirToThe Dojo, ShrinkingViolet {{Meganekko}}, YamatoNadeshiko, etc. This is basic group, easily fit in any setting.

* '''Normal girls''': {{Childhood Friend|Romance}}, {{Tomboy}} GenkiGirl, {{Tsundere}} AlphaBitch, ShrinkingViolet {{Meganekko}}, etc. This is basic group, easily fit in any setting.