Hello Wallflowers! I am not going to do a decade in review since I did that already a couple of years ago. but I am loooong overdue for my top 10 anime. I actually made one coincidentally a decade ago but it's a consolidated top 10 of everything from anime, manga and dramas as the titles are fewer back in 2010.
I should have done it sooner but it's the nagging feeling that I should finish everything before I can post this. What if there's a hidden gem in my backlog that piled up beginning 2015 (due to pregnancy)? Fast forward to last year and major life events later, I have finished nine anime in eight months. It felt like forever. And after that, I found out I could actually start the list even without watching the backlog. LOL But the good thing is I was able to finish it and that has put off a lot of guilt feelings from me. I mean who blogs about reverse harem and never watches past the first episode??? Sadly, I don't remember most of the story of the anime from my top ten now and I'm at the point where I can rewatch everything again and make a proper blog review. But that's a very daunting challenge I am not ready to take. What I did is looked hard on my list which titles which evoke good memories. I also decided to do this chronologically instead of ranking them. It's hard to choose your favorite daughter y'know. You can click on the title for reviews. Here goes:
Miaka is transported inside the book of the Universe of the Four Gods. She becomes the priestess and goes on a quest to look for the guardians to save the country of Konan.
If you've been following my blog for a long time this is no surprise since I never fail to mention that this is the one started my love for reverse harem. The impact of an anime also depends on the stage of your life. I can imagine younger audience now may be turned off with the themes or quality of animation. I watched this when I was 18 or 19. It had problematic themes but back then I was so into it you know forbidden love, fanservice and the number of bishonen and of course the story. There are so many memorable characters. I was absolutely obsessed with Miaka and Tamahome. I laughed. I cried. I remember watching the show from cable channel and waiting for the rerun so I can watch it twice in a day. I have also read the manga and Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden. For many years to come, I kept on looking for something similar but I could not find one. This also started my love for isekai.
Haruhi stumbled upon a club with rich, weird members. In order to pay for the expensive vase that she broke, she has to work for the club...as a boy.
This is another story that I have mentioned countless times. It's 2007 I have now discovered streaming sites and anime blogs. I wanted to watch something that's already completed. I did not bother checking what the plot is. And I'm glad that I didn't because watching the first episode and finding out Haruhi was a girl in the end with Tamaki was priceless! Yes, we're close like that. The humor, the sweet moments, everything is endearing...It pokes fun of reverse harem. And I was so happy when I finished it armed with two words that will be the catalyst of this blog. To this day, this is the only reverse harem anime I have re-watched. It was only two years ago too that I have read the manga so I can finally have peace on what happened to the beloved characters afterward. And can I just say they have the most memorable uniform in all anime. You know right away if it's Ouran even if it's just a nameless supporting character. There's also a live-action drama version. I didn't like it at first but then it grew on me. If Fushigi Yugi Yugi started my love for isekai, this started my love for gender bender.
Kahoko Hino does not have musical talent but with the help of a fairy, she's able to compete with other musical prodigies.
I think it has something to do with me watching Magic Kyun Renaissance recently. It has awakened my sleeping emotions from the time I first watched La Corda. This is the next anime I watched after Ouran. I loved the soundtrack! I can still remember the opening and closing songs of the earlier reverse harem that I've watched especially this one. I also enjoyed the competitions and of course the bishonen. This is the first otome game adaptation that I have seen so I was a newbie to the idea of the open-ended question of who she will end up with. I did not enjoy La Corda d'Oro Secondo Passo and Blue Sky. Even though I loved this, the rewatchability factor is low for me. I think it went downhill with the ending. But this cemented my deal for bad boy types or in this case the hidden evil personality.
4. Saiunkoku Monogatari
Shurei becomes part of the imperial harem. She proves to be an invaluable member of the court in helping the empire of Saiunkoku.
It is based on a light novel. The opening song of Shurei and Ryuji is forever etched in my memory. Back then I was thinking this is the closest to Fushigi Yugi. But it is unique on its own. I love the story, the characters and I can't get enough of the two main cast. My only complaint is that the couple's screentime together is so limited because of the political dynamics. I can vividly remember I was about to start with my new job and the start date was too far away so all I did was binge on reverse harem after another and this was the last anime. It was the perfect anime to end my marathon. To unload my feelings of happiness and excitement to discover more reverse harem, I created this blog. I really want to read the light novel or manga even though I saw a spoiler already. Huhu I also have a thing for King Incognito tropes and again ugh the villain, Sa Sakujun.
Saya is just an unassuming high school student. Until she remembers memories of her bloodied past.
This is not a shojo but....there is a reverse harem - two opposing reverse harem at that - and there is love and oh yeah a lot of blood and gore. For mature audience only. I think I might not have hyped this enough but I love this anime. I didn't like the live-action movie and Blood-C. I have not seen the other adaptations. But I think this series is the only one with the reverse harem element. I would want to rewatch all 50 episodes of Blood + again because, because I can't remember anything now. I mean I still remember the major plot points. I've always been the type of person who rarely rewatches stuff but I realized more than a decade of watching, I can watch all my favorites from fresh eyes. And this applies to non-reverse harem too. I see you Code Geass, Full Metal Alchemist, Death Note, Nana and all the Asian dramas...oh my god the list goes on. I don't want this pressure in my life. LOL
Misaka Ayuzawa is the tough president of Seika High, a former all-boy school. Unbeknownst to her classmates, she works in a maid cafe...but Misaki discovers her secret.
This is not marketed as reverse harem but the premise is a school that recently just turned into a co-ed school that rang the reverse harem alarm bells in my head. I am biased with all-boy school trope, I blame it on Hana Kimi. There are also many supporting guys after Misaka but the story is really about the two main characters and they are is just one of the adorable couples in shojo land. Another reverse harem I can barely remember now but just thinking from perverted Tsui POV is enough to make me remember how much I love this. Another manga that I need to finish!
7. Kamisama Hajimemashita (Kamisama Kiss)
Nanami Momozono lost her home and then suddenly finds herself as an Earth deity. Oh and the shrine has a familiar fox.
I love to pair reverse harem animes. Like Fushigi Yugi with SaiMono and Yona. Ouran with Kiss Him Not Me. And case in point, Kaicho wa Maid Sama and Kamisama. They are similar with the sweet light romance and fun factor. But of course, Kamisama has supernatural and kitsune themes. I have also read both mangas before it was adapted into anime. I'd say I preferred the anime but I want to pick it up again for closure too. Like with Maid Sama, the reverse harem element is not really a major point to the story even though there are so many characters smitten with the FMCs. The story is really about Nanami and Tomoe and I super love them. But Kamisama is cut above with Maid Sama with the other story brewing in the background but we'll see after I have finished reading both. There is a surprising isekai arc too!
I love to pair reverse harem animes. Like Fushigi Yugi with SaiMono and Yona. Ouran with Kiss Him Not Me. And case in point, Kaicho wa Maid Sama and Kamisama. They are similar with the sweet light romance and fun factor. But of course, Kamisama has supernatural and kitsune themes. I have also read both mangas before it was adapted into anime. I'd say I preferred the anime but I want to pick it up again for closure too. Like with Maid Sama, the reverse harem element is not really a major point to the story even though there are so many characters smitten with the FMCs. The story is really about Nanami and Tomoe and I super love them. But Kamisama is cut above with Maid Sama with the other story brewing in the background but we'll see after I have finished reading both. There is a surprising isekai arc too!
Ema moves in with her new family of...13 stepbrothers! Conflict ensues. 'Nuff said.
There are so many otome adaptations that I can easily choose for the character designs and bishonen. Hakuouki, Amnesia, Code Realize, Meiji Tokyo, Kamigami no Asobi, Arcana Famiglia, Prince of Stride. I can go on and on. But their stories were just not compelling enough for me to honestly call it my favorite. Except for Brothers Conflict. Brothers Conflict has a slice of life feel. Nothing supernatural. But okay 13 stepbrothers is a tad overboard and may be considered the fantasy with the wish fulfillment aspect of having so many hawt stepbrother. Normally the higher the bishonen count, the harder it is to differentiate or make them shine but for Brothers Conflict they all stood out in their own way. Even though it's an otome adaptation it has a manga feel on it. The story does not make sense and gets away from reason but it makes you go protective of it and say back off I love this! But alas, rewatchability and reading light novel/manga is at 50/50. But if they will have a second season, that's another story. I'm all for it!
Yona runs for her life after a coup d'etat. She's determined to save her kingdom by looking for the dragon warriors.
I always dubbed Saiunkoku Monogatari as the successor of Fushigi Yugi until along came Akatsuki no Yona because of her quest for the warriors and the ancient oriental setting sans the isekai. But it is a worthy anime on its own. We have a strong heroine, engaging storyline, dreamy antagonist and loveable characters. It's hard to choose a favorite character, I love 'em all. My whole being is screaming for season two. I sometimes wish I will wake up to the news of the second season. But at this point, my positivity for a sequel is waning and now my NEED to read the manga again is piquing. I am so confused about which to read first now but this definitely on my priority list.
Kae Serinuma loses weight when her favorite game character dies. The guys started to notice her but she would rather ship the said guys together.
I chose this because I need a tenth anime and if a better anime comes along (I'm looking at you certain otome reincarnation anime) this anime would be the first to go. Or maybe La Corda. Or Maybe Maid Sama?? I don't know we'll cross the bridge when we get there. I'm not looking to rewatch or to read the manga but then again never say never... I'm not saying it's bad, it's really fun! It reminds me of Ouran because of the otaku details and the randomness or anything goes episodes. Plus I love the fact there's a character who still loves her even with her original weight. The reason I might not be too keen is that the story lacked depth or conflict...I don't know but it was super refreshing to watch this from the usual otome game adaptations. And it was only recently announced that there will be live-action movie.
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After making the list I noticed I tend to go with nostalgia and no surprise with manga adaptations. And now I am conflicted with rewatching vs reading source materials. So far I have only read Fushigi Yugi and Ouran. And after I have read all of it no promises... I might.. rewatch them again for proper reviews. And I feel strongly with the word, might.
Even though they are from different tropes but one thing that they all have in common is that I liked stories that doesn't have pushover heroines or zero personalities. Okay, Ema and Kahoko are bordering on it maybe because they are from otome games.
Even though they are from different tropes but one thing that they all have in common is that I liked stories that doesn't have pushover heroines or zero personalities. Okay, Ema and Kahoko are bordering on it maybe because they are from otome games.
I already mentioned this that the trend in shojo now is that we get more anime from otome games and manga gets live-action movies or live-action tv series. I would prefer more of manga to anime though.
Manga adaptation is more into world-building, female-centric and focusing on one or more male characters. Otome game adaptations are more into character building and when we say character the focus is on all the bishonen instead of the heroine.
Manga adaptation is more into world-building, female-centric and focusing on one or more male characters. Otome game adaptations are more into character building and when we say character the focus is on all the bishonen instead of the heroine.
Otome game too also has a predictable flow of storytelling. They try to squeeze a character route into just one episode. Okay, the anime is meant to introduce the characters for you to play the game. There is a pressure to make the guys go on equal footing and thus the usual ending of heroine not picking anyone. Wow! When I started this I didn't realize it will become into nostalgia and manga vs otome games.
So what are your top 10 reverse harem anime? Let me know! Should I create top 10 reverse harem dramas too? I would really appreciate it if you subscribe to my Youtube channel. Thanks for dropping by~
When I saw Saiunkoku on the list I know it's a 10/10. Only a few intellectuals appreciates it! I'm disappointed that most of the otome game anime adaptations got butchered. Nil Admirari, Amnesia and Code:Realize actually has a very nice plot(in the game).
ReplyDeleteMy top 10:
1. Magic Kyun Renaissance
2. Saiunkoku Monogatari
3. Utapri(S1 and S2)
4. Brother's Conflict
5. Dame X Prince(really funny lol)
6. Akatsuki No Yona
7. Kenka Bancho Otome
8. Kinetograph ova
9. Kamisama Hajimemashita
10. Norn9
I would've listed Fruits basket but it's not RH
Thanks for sharing your top 10! :) Yeah, otome games haven't been given justice when adapted into anime.
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