Harem (genre)

Harem (ハーレムもの, hāremumono; "harem works") is a genre of light novels, manga, anime, and video games focusing on a main character surrounded by multiple potential romantic or sexual partners. The term "harem" derives from the historical harem, a secluded part of a household reserved for women, and refers by analogy to a man associated with multiple women. Originating in Japan in the 1970s, its popularity increased during the late 1980s and 1990s with the advent of dating simulator games.

The genre often features a protagonist who is surrounded by three or more suitors, love interests and/or sexual partners. Harem works are frequently comedies that rely on self-insert protagonists which allow projection for the viewer, often accompanied with an ensemble cast of supporting characters.

A story featuring a heterosexual male or homosexual female protagonist paired with an all-female harem is informally referred to as a female harem or seraglios, while a heterosexual female or homosexual male protagonist paired with an all-male harem is informally referred to as a male harem, reverse harem, or gyaku hāremu (逆ハーレム).

Although originating in Japan, the genre later inspired variants in Western media.

Structure

The most distinguishable trait of harem works is the presence of a single protagonist surrounded by multiple different characters who are treated as options for a sexual or romantic relationship. In some instances, the plot may follow an additional arc for the protagonist and these characters to embark on together; however, many harem works, especially dating sims, focus on the relationships themselves (and the tension and competition between different potential partners) as the key driver of the plot.

Ending

Most harem works end with the main character pairing up with one or more of their suitors, with some games and visual novels featuring branched endings dependent on player choice. A "harem ending" occurs in works where the protagonist ends together in a polyamorous relationship with all of the suitors.

"Reverse"

While most harem works focus on a male protagonist with women suitors due to the audience for harem shows being primarily male, "reverse" harem works focus on female protagonists courted by men and thus targets a mostly female audience.

Same-sex relationships

Although most harem works feature primarily heterosexual relationships, and cisgender and binary gender identities, works in the genre can contain characters of various gender identities and sexualities, including many yaoi and yuri harem works. An example of a same-sex harem anime would be Kyo Kara Maoh!, which features a male protagonist with male characters comprising his harem. Especially in dating sim visual novels, some works feature characters of multiple genders, with the player choosing whether to pursue an opposite- or same-sex relationship.

Criticism

Some harem works have been criticized for their portrayals of women and romantic relationships. Critics have argued that female love interests can have limited agency or characterization beyond their relationships with the protagonist, with some relying on distinct visual traits or personality types to differentiate them. Other criticism has focused on the genre's use of passive protagonists and multiple characters competing for their affection, which some commentators have interpreted as reinforcing unrealistic expectations about romantic relationships.

See also

• List of harem anime and manga

Further reading

• Brenner, Robin E. (2007). Understanding Manga and Anime. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited. pp. 82, 89, 112, 297. ISBN 978-1-59158-332-5. OCLC 85898238.
• Drummond-Mathews, Angela (2010). "What Boys Will Be: A Study of Shonen Manga". In Johnson-Woods, Toni (ed.). Manga: An Anthology of Global and Cultural Perspectives. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 69–70. ISBN 978-0-8264-2938-4. OCLC 1322861289.