What makes Harem Anime so appealing?

Self-explanatory.
Why is the Harem Genre so appealing towards the Anime fans?

Sir Maddy wrote:Self-explanatory.
Why is the Harem Genre so appealing towards the Anime fans?

It isn't, at least for me anyway.

The characters are more appealing than the actual genre, so I guess that's why I tend to watch harems from time to time. I rarely watch harems just because they're harems [The main characters also usually suck in those "cheesy" harems].

This is a question that I think can't be answered. You can get opinions on it, but there's no concrete answer. It's all about preferences.

MrLincecum wrote:

Sir Maddy wrote:Self-explanatory.
Why is the Harem Genre so appealing towards the Anime fans?

It isn't, at least for me anyway.

The characters are more appealing than the actual genre, so I guess that's why I tend to watch harems from time to time. I rarely watch harems just because they're harems [The main characters also usually suck in those "cheesy" harems].

This is a question that I think can't be answered. You can get opinions on it, but there's no concrete answer. It's all about preferences.

I think anime preference is about fantasizing about something you lack. My favorite genre is action and I admire strong female characters because it is what I aspire to be. By that theory, harem watchers secretly (or not-so-secretly) want a harem for themselves.

Personally I dislike harem, mostly cause of the main character who's usually a spineless cowardly slug who has nothing going on for him - having a bunch of girls chase someone like that around and get in fights w/ each other over him seems very ridiculous to me. Use the harem part in support of something more meaningful (action, comedy, suspense, etc.) and I will likely watch it, but shows like Kanokon annoy me to no ends. But I'd imagine that Red is correct in that many guys like the harem genre because it portrays something they want to happen to them. Well that, and of course boobs - in just about any show w/ harem elements I've seen there is plenty of boobage being flaunted all around, I'd much rather have firefights and explosions instead but if that is unavailable I suppose boobs do work as an effective substitute, lol

For me it all depends on the actual anime... There are some harem and reverse harem anime that I LOVE.... others I can't stand...

As for the wanting my own harem? Well damn... what girl hasn't had dreams of a couple of sexy guys who all want her? XD

ladyalchemist85 wrote:As for the wanting my own harem? Well damn... what girl hasn't had dreams of a couple of sexy guys who all want her? XD

Careful what you wish for there, Miss, some of them guys here have such one-track minds that once you send them in the gutter there ain't no crawling back out, and they'll drag you right along as well! lol

Paper Tiger wrote:

ladyalchemist85 wrote:As for the wanting my own harem? Well damn... what girl hasn't had dreams of a couple of sexy guys who all want her? XD

Careful what you wish for there, Miss, some of them guys here have such one-track minds that once you send them in the gutter there ain't no crawling back out, and they'll drag you right along as well! lol

Well that's ok then! I was married to a Navy guy, you can't drag my mind any further into the gutter than I have already taken it myself!

ladyalchemist85 wrote:Well that's ok then! I was married to a Navy guy, you can't drag my mind any further into the gutter than I have already taken it myself!

Idk about that, I'm a professional steering wheel holder by occupation - I get gutter mind exercise day in and day out whether I like it or not! And mind you, it appears I'm one of the mild/tame ones here, lmao! Btw your avi is hilarious, where is it from? Kinda looks like a comic of some sorts...

I think the main appeal for harems is the cast. A harem by default has a lot of female characters allowing many people to have at least one female character they like. Add in a little fan service and you have hundreds of male Otaku trying to claim they are married.

Plus some people dream about having a harem but since Poligamy is illegal in most places this is as close as most people can get.

As has been said before it really depends on the anime itself. I like comedy above all else in anime and some harems are just outright funny while others do nothing but make me cringe.
Another reason could be many harems have quite a lot of ecchi in them and guys think with their penis half the time (I know I do).
On the flip side the MC is usually a complete twunt who needs to grow a pair and for some reason they are always some little skiny dude with no obvious appeal, both of which aggravate me.
If they aren't running fear from physical contact they are a complete lech for some reason there is no middle ground with them.

So in short
Pros
Funny
Boobs

Cons
MC needs shot

I personally don't go out of my way to avoid them but most I've seen have been fairly terrible.

I don't care much for harem, especially in visual novels, that is unacceptable.
I like one girl only or it isn't really true love if your f ucking 5 girls.

I'm an avid gamer... My avi is one of my, if not my favorite champions to play from League of Legends, Lux the lady of luminosity. XD

I like and dislike harem anime. I like them for the comedy and social aspect. I hate them cause they sometimes go overboard with the inter-fighting for the MC who a lot of time is a twerp that wont even get noticed over here.

I know that did not come out right but oh well.

As for secretly wanting a harem. Are you Crazy? That is way too much work and hassle.

I honestly find Harems to be annoying more times then not. Especially considering the Main Protagonist is usually annoying. I usually find one character i like, and the rest utterly piss me off. That is my own opinion of course.

I like them because there are lots of agreeable girls who hang around a main character(him being a clueless idiot makes it better).

It's something i feel like i've missed out on. Well at least having one person hang around me like i'm the greatest thing would be more feasible. Although impossible.

In short,
It's just another fantasy world to escape to when things seemingly suck in RL.

Harem animes are just bubbly fun. Sometimes I don't want to watch anything heavy, so I'll watch a harem.

i dont watch harems on purpous, but when looking for some comedy, thats usually where it ends up

yes comedy and lots of i think girls

...my opinion is that we watch harems for the same purpose as we watch the rest of anime, or read manga...to escape from the suckiness of reality...what guy hasn't imagined lots of girls who all like him...or vice versa. IMHO, we watch harems to fantasize, and laugh, and metaphorically stick our middle finger up at reality

Dcmac wrote:Harem animes are just bubbly fun. Sometimes I don't want to watch anything heavy, so I'll watch a harem.

This is exactly how I feel.

mine was a bit more on the heavy side...everyone else just said, Because they are funny...geez I went philisophical again

In all honesty, I think the Harem anime depends more on the main character then the bunch of busty chicks. If the main character is an annoying wuss, I'll most likely hate it. But if the main char is awesome, I'll probably love it. So it doesn't actually depend on the harem itself for me, but on the main character. Although the main character usually a wuss, so that there is need for a bigger team.

Prety much what Karma said.