Reverse-harems are a popular subgenre of anime that star a female lead surrounded by charming and handsome male love interests. With swoon-worthy romance and heartwarming moments, these series feature an array of archetypes and satisfying character development for audiences to enjoy. Here are five great anime series to watch if you love reverse-harems.
Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket stars Tohru Honda, a high school girl who ends up living at Shigure's house at the invitation of Yuki Sohma. Despite Tohru having just moved in, Kyo Sohma crashes through the roof of her new bedroom and challenges Yuki to a fight. Trying to prevent the confrontation, Tohru gets between them and unknowingly activates their secret curse by accidentally hugging them. The Sohmas turn into their Zodiac animal form when hugged by the opposite sex, causing them to magically transform in front of Tohru.
As the only outsider who knows the Sohmas' deepest secret, Tohru comes to meet and understand the many Zodiac members suffering from their curse. The Sohma family includes many handsome and complex male members who slowly grow closer to Tohru as she helps them heal. Several even become romantically drawn to her, but only one will be able to steal her heart.
Ouran High School Host Club
Haruhi Fujioka's classmates assume she's a boy because of her baggy uniform and short hair in Ouran High School Host Club. She doesn't bother debunking this false perception but still doesn't quite identify that way. After accidentally destroying an expensive vase she can't afford to replace, she's forced to join the Ouran Academy Host Club to pay back its six male members.
Soon enough, Haruhi becomes a popular host at the club, offering charming and pleasant conversation to female classmates. However, her fellow club members soon discover she's actually a girl and decides to protect her true identity from everyone else. As Haruhi becomes an integral and exciting part of the all-male club, her fellow members begin to fall for her in their own unique ways.
Yona of the Dawn
Yona of the Dawn's titular protagonist is the spoiled and sheltered princess of Kouka Kingdom until her father is assassinated and she's forced into exile. Her trusted childhood friend and bodyguard, Hak, now protects her while on the run. An Oracle soon tells Yona to find the four legendary Dragon Warriors as she and Hak, soon aided by Yoon, attempt to fulfill this mission.
As Yona finds the Dragon Warriors one by one, she discovers they all have vastly different personalities and quirks. Yona shows them kindness and supports their individual needs, like giving the nameless Blue Dragon Warrior the name Shin-Ah. As Yona undergoes her own complex character development from spoiled princess to courageous warrior, her male travel companions grow to love and admire her. While working together to restore peace to Kouka Kingdom, Yona's companions will have to compete for her affection.
Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth
Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth stars famous classical literary characters who are given an anime makeover and adaptation. This steampunk reverse-harem centers around Cardia, who has a curse where anyone who directly touches her skin dies. She's saved from a mob of angry villagers by Arsène Lupin and taken to Count Saint-Germain's mansion.
At the mansion, she meets her attractive new housemates with familiar names like Dracula, Victor Frankenstein, Abraham Van Helsing, Impey Barbicane, and Herlock Sholmès. Not only does Code: Realize offer thrilling romance in a steampunk setting, but viewers will learn more about these legendary literary figures along the way.
Kamigami no Asobi
As the daughter of a shrine priest, Yui accidentally falls into the world of gods after discovering an ancient sword in Kamigami no Asobi. Zeus, the ruler of this world, asks Yui to attend a special school for divine entities to teach the young gods about love and strengthen their bonds with humanity.
Her classmates are comprised of gods from various cultures, including Apollo, Hades, Dionysus, Thor, Loki, Balder, Thoth, Anubis, Tsukito, and Takeru. As viewers learn about gods with different powers and backgrounds, they are also treated to several popular archetypes and heart-fluttering romance as the gods compete for Yui's attention.
