At this point I'm high on caffeine so two more posts before I crash and burn.
50. Lupin III
Everyone's favourite lovable rogue and probably one of the most recognisable faces of classic anime. His antics are the stuff of legends.
49. Hellsing
I have to thank TeamFourStar's abridged version for renewing my interest in this series that sort of stayed stale for a while. Now it's awesome with crazed Catholics, police girls with big cannons and Nazi Vampires vs the might of the British Empire.
48. Happy Lesson
An idea that shouldn't work, a harem where five beautiful teachers decide to mother a delinquent student; funny and charming, not bad for a former hentai game.
47. A Certain Scientific Railgun
A spin off from the Magical Index series, Railgun just focuses on Misaka, one of the most compelling female protagonists of recent years with the coolest super power.
46. Onegai Teacher
A romantic relationship between a student who stopped aging and a half alien teacher develops into one of the most interesting shows about adolescence and the often taboo subject of sex among high schoolers.
Now lets bring this list season to a close with the Top Ten Best Types of Females in a Harem.
Honorable Mentions
The Tomboy with a Girly Streak Type
Miss Sakaki from Azumanga Daioh
The Mama Bear Action Girl Type
Yoko Littner from Gurren Lagann
The Out of Luck Hard Worker who Deserves Better Type
Kiyone Makibi from Tenchi Muyo
10. The Genki Girl Who Thinks the Best of Everyone Type
Kaolla Su from Love Hina
These are the girls in a harem you don't want to underestimate as they are usually the first to like the male lead and are usually the ones that give enough confidence to said male lead to keep going. While their enthusiasm can go overboard it's usually that boundless optimism that makes the challenge worth it.
9. The Bifauxnen Girl who can do Both Genders Easily Type
Ukyo from Ranma 1/2
Charlotte Dunois from Infinite Stratos
Bifauxnen is a term used to describe someone of ambiguous gender and both these characters personify this term perfectly, while there is similarities linked to the Tomboy with Girly Streak type at the top of the page what makes this such a good type is that they get on best with the male lead and it's that kind of friendship usually from childhood in Ukyo's case with Ranma that makes the characters stand out.
8. The All Your Fantasies in One Type
The Entire Female Cast of Happy Lesson
This is cheating a bit because you can argue this with any harem but this one stands out for many reasons. Happy Lesson is unique that you have a choice of five different teachers who play mother to the lead character who by the ending become your wife and add to that, a tsundere, a little sister, an older sister and a stalker. Your very much spoiled for choice. There are no other harems like this one.
7. The Perfect Girl who Actually has a Backbone Type
Lacus Clyne from Gundam Seed
Surprised it's not Belldandy? Well for all the perfection this girl gives in her looks, boundless optimism and sickening kindness, Lacus Clyne is not afraid to command a Battle Ship and will call you out for being a dick, which is how Athrun Zala ended up being dumped by her.
6. The One Who Supports you when the Rest of the World Rejects you Type
Hinata Hyuuga from Naruto
It's surprising how often Naruto has managed to appear on these lists, well certain characters do really well to match the subject matter, and some of Naruto's best moments is watching Hinata take on impossible odds to defend Naruto's honor, it paid off after 700 Chapters as they are married with two children.
5. The Dependable Little Sister with Strong Domestic Skills who will make the Best Wife and will Likely win in a Realistic Harem Scenario Type
Sasami Jurai from Tenchi Muyo
Another character not to underestimate is the youngest one, sure you may think she's not a threat being too young to do the things the main females do but she can also get away with a lot more things like spending quality time, winning praise and generally being kind and benevolent; compare that to the other girls which include a Mad Scientist, a stuck up Princess, a clueless Police Officer and a Rambunctious Space Pirate, bonus points that you already know what this girl is going to look like when she grows up, who are you going to choose? It's obvious isn't it.
4. The Extremely Sexy One who will fall in Love with you for Real Type
Rias Gremory from High School DxD
Harem shows get alot of stick for featuring match ups that depict really unrealistic relationships, then you meet Rias Gremory. It's easy to make assumptions considering that the target audience have probably seen this so many times before, really sexy girl and a hapless loser? Actually Rias subverts this by genuinely caring about Issei Hyodo, not only does she encourage him to be a better person but does so the normal way by actually giving useful advice and training and not over reacting when she has to scold him and it pays off when she develops feelings for him for real which saves her from an unwanted marriage.
3. The Thrill Seeker who's Idea of Fun is Building a Fast Car and Testing it out Type
Charlotte Yeager from Strike Witches
A relationship needs to be fun and creating thrills to enjoy makes for some of the happiest of memories, there are plenty of times where you can relax and lay back and forget the world but enjoying activities that both can do creates the kind of memories you tell your kids about. As for Charlotte Yeager? Out of all the characters who love adventure, Charlotte is my personal favorite.
2. The Perfect Gamer Girl Type
Ayame Shaga from Ben-To
As a Geek, the best relationships come when the person who plays games with you is the perfect partner to go into battle with, whether it's pulling an all nighter in Co-op, a team battle in a shooter, an intense racing session or a quick one on one fight, you know full well you'll enjoy the experience much more than playing against a stranger who swears alot. Gamer Girls get alot of unfair criticisms and should be made to feel more welcome into the world of gaming because you don't realize what you're missing. Bonus points for Ayame Shaga being a Sega Fangirl.
1. The Adorable Girl who wants to Shower you with Love Type
Juvia Locksar from Fairy Tail
But the most important girl in the world is always the one who wants to shower you with love, because it's that kind of dedication that becomes an important part of any close relationship and the support beam of the Harem Anime. This may feel like a kop out and it's true that Juvia borders some unhealthy Types such as the Stalker and the Clingy Jealous Girl but Juvia also has streaks of the "Girl who wants to be Accepted". Love is a free emotion and it's a beautiful thing to see when that one girl wants to show it to the Guy she loves the most and while Juvia has her faults so does every other girl and looking past that makes a relationship last a lifetime.
Just to prove I haven't turned this world into a Pokemon World, here's an anime review of something completely different. Today I review Happy Lesson.
Happy Lesson is about a school delinquent named Hitotose Chitose who by a number of strange circumstances winds up with five of his school teachers living at his house as his mothers and he couldn't ask for better mothers; the glorious art design makes every teacher look extremely attractive and that even extends to the other female cast members outside the teachers.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that this is a harem anime but it surprisingly manages to subvert that stamp, while the teachers do like to take care of their adopted son to extreme levels, no one has ever overstepped the mark.
While it feels it can only work with one joke, the in-depth character backgrounds prevent that from happening as well. It plays everything so well that I have a hard time finding faults with it.
Lets look at our lovely teachers in name order as they each reference the first five numbers in Japanese.
Mutsuki Ichimonji - Classics Teacher, has a slight hidden temper beneath the friendly exterior and one of Anime's most beautiful women.
Kisaragi Ninomae - Science Teacher, basically a more interesting and less emotionless Rei Ayanami with explosions and wacky science.
Yayoi Sanzenin - School Nurse, traditional Miko complete with sword, run for dear life if you see her with ice.
Uzuki Shitenno - Art Teacher, Genki Otaku Girl, seriously needed one of those in my school.
Satsuki Gokajo - Gym Teacher, overly passionate with insane training regiments.
The support cast also includes Chitose's adoptive sisters Minasuki the younger sister who dotes on big brother and Hazuki the ever reliable older sister with a pop career and a bigger appetite than Son Goku. We also have Fumitsuki the girl with a crush on Chitose and Kanna the wacky science girl who also has a crush on Chitose and finally we have comic relief with Students B & C who act this way as a tribute to the deceased Student A. There's one more important character but that's on the season 2 review coming soon.
There's plenty to offer in this 13 episode series, the drama has plenty of emotion and can leave a few teardrops in the eyes, the comedy is so hilarious that you have to pause scenes just to calm down, the music is so upbeat that its hard to feel depressed and the dub is so well done that it never occurs to you that the actors they chose were not regulars of ADV's voice actors, some barely have any credits to their name. The whole thing is one complete package and will keep you entertained for hours.
Final Verdict: Definitely worth a watch, it does everything right and doesn't leave anything that can be criticized, if I actually gave scores this would be my highest rating at about 97%.
