Summary
- Harem series often have the protagonist ending up alone, which is a rare and unconventional narrative choice within the genre.
- In Monster Musume, Kimihito is unable to choose a partner due to the government's ban on intimacy between humans and monsters.
- Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends showcases a protagonist who prioritizes friendship over choosing a love interest, resulting in an uncommon ending for a harem anime.
Despite being a niche genre, harem series have made a mark within the anime and manga landscape. Much of this success can be attributed to the novelty and innovative storytelling these shows accompany, guaranteeing viewers a distinct experience every time. One such innovation in these anime and manga is a narrative where the protagonist ends up alone, despite boasting a harem full of beguiling personalities.
Considering the diversity within the harem genre, one would expect such storylines to be quite common, yet it's extremely rare for the protagonist to end up alone. The few series that embody this trope result in the protagonist either losing the entire harem or failing to cement a relationship with anyone, leaving things vague and open to interpretation. While fans might be disappointed with an ending where no one wins, it still serves as a novel narrative within an oversaturated genre.
6 Monster Musume: Everyday Life With Monster Girls
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Release Date |
July 7, 2015 |
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No. Of Episodes |
12 |
Monster Musume is the quintessential harem anime that embodies both the raunchiness of ecchi anime and the comedic relief of rom-coms. The story follows Kimihito Kurusu’s struggles with humanoid monsters after he volunteers to host a monster girl under a government program. With a reptile, centaur, arachnid, and many other creatures being lumped in together, Kimihito gives it his all to be a hospitable host.
However, this also involves giving in to the monster girls’ seductive antics and sexual advances. Despite every single member of the harem gunning for the protagonist’s affection, the anime concludes without Kimihito ending up with any of the girls. The government’s rule of banning intimacy between humans and monsters further cements the fact that Kimihito will end up alone.
5 School Days
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Release Date |
July 3, 2007 |
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No. Of Episodes |
12 |
Based on a visual novel video game, School Days is a harem anime laden with several dark twists, deviating from the usual lighthearted narrative that harem series are known for. The series’ ending is also rather unconventional as the protagonist, Makoto, ends up being murdered by his own harem.
The show also veers towards the raunchy side of harem, as scenes of sexual nature are rather common in the show. However, the narrative is truly novel and compelling, and the ending denies the protagonist from ending up with any of the potential love interests.
4 Trinity Seven
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Release Date |
October 7, 2014 |
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No. Of Episodes |
12 |
Trinity Seven initially offers a substantial premise with the destruction of Arata’s hometown, and the following choice to enroll in a magical school further gives the plot some thrill. However, the anime falls down the harem rabbit hole right after, as seven other magic users known as the “Trinity Seven” join him.
Despite every single one of the Trinity Seven serving as potential love interests for Arata, he fails to pin down any of the girls as his eventual lover. With the series failing to renew for another season, fans are left with an ending where the protagonist fails to choose a final partner.
3 Why Can't I Get a Girlfriend?
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Release Date |
May 2, 2011 |
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No. Of Chapters |
67 |
Why Can't I Get a Girlfriend? Is one of the few harem manga where the protagonist ends up without finding love. True to its namesake, the manga concludes without Seiya finding a girlfriend, forcing him to forgo his goal of finding a partner before the end of high school.
The narrative becomes a bit tragic as Seiya remains hopeless and gloom-ridden by the end of his rejection-filled journey. While Seiya refuses to give up and makes a new resolution to find a girlfriend before college ends, the current conclusion leaves him without a potential love interest.
2 Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends
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Release Date |
October 7, 2011 |
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No. Of Episodes |
24 |
The protagonist of Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends is so keen on making friends that he forgoes the actual purpose of boasting a harem. In a bid to save all his friendships, Kodaka fails to choose a love interest by the end of the series. His efforts at keeping every member of the club happy overshadow the harem aspects, leading to an ending that is rather uncommon within this genre.
The anime was never renewed for a third season, leaving the conclusion rather open-ended and incomplete. Since there are no signs of a new season, fans will have to accept the current conclusion, one where Kodaka ends up without a partner.
1 Angel Tales
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Release Date |
October 4, 2001 |
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No. Of Episodes |
13 |
Angel Tales is another novel harem anime that deviates from the usual overly perverted antics. Mutsumi Goro’s bad luck haunts him for years, though his luck turns around after a fateful encounter with a fortune-teller. He receives a total of twelve guardian angels, all vying to be Mutsumi’s favorite angel.
Despite possessing a massive harem, Mutsumi is barred from going down the perversion route due to a clause that bans any sort of romance between him and his guardian angels. It is later revealed that all twelve guardian angels are his former pets that died due to his bad luck. However, this fact doesn’t stop the harem antics from kicking in. The anime was never renewed for a new season, and the current conclusion leaves Mutsumi without a definitive partner.