How to Improve the Harem Genre

[ShineCero]

The Harem Genre, whether is one boy with a bunch of girls or one girl with a bunch of guys (though those types of Harms are rare) tends to have stories that drive many fans up the wall. Thus, this thread is created in order to improve the aspects of harem as a whole. 

Can Harem Genre be fix, in a way can be improve with better characters and story telling? Do you think it's rather impossible that the harem genre can ever seen "improvements"? What would you do for this genre?

 

[~ Z ~]

Make the guy not give a crap about the girls and he constantly bashes on them on any given chance he has. He doesn't make them feel bad but he kinda makes them see the error in their ways. He's kinda a dick but he's got a heart of gold and he doesn't go too far as to where he makes the girls cry. Here's an example.

Girl: Hey! I made you a cake! *Cake looks like a poorly shaped heart.* It's my love to you! ^_^
Boy: It looks like crap. *No emotion in voice, hands in pockets.* ._.
Girl: Well I made it out of love! It's the thought that counts! ;~;
Boy: Yeah, I appreciate it but--
Girl: Did that other girl make you a better cake?! D:<
Boy: No but I wanted to sa--
Girl: You must be allergic to cakes, how stupid can I be?! ;o;
Boy: I love cakes but that's not--
Girl: You must hate me! *Gives him cake and runs off, crying cliche* >,o,<
*Couple scenes later.*
Boy: *Knocks on door to girl's room.* Hey, you in here?
Girl: What? You just gonna curse me out and tell me how much you never wanna see me again? I can understand... o,n,o
Boy: *Returns plate cake was on.* The cake was pretty good. eue
Girl: *Wide eyed and blushes.* You ate my cake? o.o!
Boy: Yeah, I was hungry so I ate a piece of it. ._.
Girl: But.. why were you trying so hard to not eat it? D:>
Boy: I wasn't. I was trying to tell you I was on a diet. -_-;
Girl: O-Oh... So you gave up your diet to confess your love to me in my room by eating my cake?! *Sparkles!* o3o!
Boy: No, I got locked out from my room and I had nothing else to eat. >_>;
Girl: O-Oh.. <_<;
Boy: Yeah, I'm just here to give you back your plate. Bye.
Girl: Wait!
Boy: What?
Girl: C-Can I get...a goodbye kiss befo-- >3<
Boy: *Closes door.* -.-;

And he does a similar process for all the girls who love him but in a sense, he kinda tells them that they should be friends, not lovers. If anyone wants to use or draw that scene, go ahead. xDD

 

[Nick]

Make the guy not give a crap about the girls and he constantly bashes on them on any given chance he has. He doesn't make them feel bad but he kinda makes them see the error in their ways. He's kinda a dick but he's got a heart of gold and he doesn't go too far as to where he makes the girls cry. Here's an example.

You explained me, then gave a long example of something iv'e done....

Anyways, The genera has too much fanfare! I don't hate the harem genera its just that its almost never done well.
The characters are always both horny and overly competitive, the mains never know what to do in any situation ever, the actual story is delayed because of the fanfare and nothing is ever accomplished.

If you want to fix the genera then you need to make it less of a point and more like an undertone.
I would use Log Horizon as my example for this, as it is clear that a number of characters 'like' Shiroe, it doesn't get in the way of the story.

So maybe all along the real problem, was just the people making the anime... *Insert x-files music here*

 

[Kumori]

I don't like this genre and IMO I can't see it improve cuz the whole concept is faulty...
I just dislike the idea of having one boy/girl and everyone is just drooling over them...
It doesn't make any sense to me...

 

[Elio]

I probably would just chalk it up to my slight SJW tendencies and the fact that I really hate this genre in general, but to be honest there's nothing more you could do to improve the harem genre because the entire premise of it is just terrible in the first place. I mean, even if you disguise it as a space opera or adventure or whatever, if it's a bunch of sappy girls falling in love with one wuss of a guy, I'm out. I really just hate how these genres just tend to trivialize and glorify unhealthy relationships that center on obsession over one person. And I HATE how it's mostly just multiple girls on one guy?? 

The problem is that there's just too much demand for this kind of crap and "too many otaku in the anime industry". Maybe we could probably see "better" harem genres if we actually start from who's actually making these animes in the first place...

 

[ShineCero]

There's also "reverse harems" that finds in the same line. I think the only way to improve the harem genre is to kill it completely or ultimately deconstruct the entirely of the genre of itself. I don't mind multiple people falling in love with a single person. However, make attempts to break them down. However, as long it sales and make money regardless of how crudely the plot is.. they're still going to make money off of them.

 

[Eruner]

Replace Ecchi with interesting Plot and some background story.
Also add at least one male (female in reversed) protagonist into show.

That would fix not only Harem animes, what do you say?

 

[ShineCero]

Replace Ecchi with interesting Plot and some background story.
Also add at least one male (female in reversed) protagonist into show.

That would fix not only Harem animes, what do you say?

But how would these poor Okatus in Japan get their bouncing tuddies? :kat:

Seriously, I was actually looking forward to that one anime with the Zombies; Highschool of the Dead. I was like "Huh, a Zombie anime? Well the other one was a comedy with Magicial Girl references and it was funny as shit, perhaps this anime would be co- oh boobs. Yep, seeing where this going.

 

[Chronicle-King]

If the series involves Fantasy Elements with Animal/Human hybrids of sorts, have the male lead be a Human/African Lion hybrid, and as a direct result, his need to seek out a harem of females makes a lot of logical sense.

 

[ShineCero]

Yeah, but it would then be bloated and gloss over with the overexcessive fanservice :kat: