Key Takeaways
- The harem anime genre thrives with diverse narratives and fanservice, drawing in audiences with potential love interests gunning for protagonists.
- English dubbed harem anime find success with quality voice actors mirroring Japanese tonality.
- Series like “Rent-A-Girlfriend” and “Monster Musume” excel in English dub, catering to mainstream audiences with impressive localization efforts.
Harem storylines have become commonplace in the anime landscape, enticing audiences with comedic narratives and a hint of fanservice. Be it absurdly large harems or reverse harem situations, this budding genre is teeming with all sorts of tropes and fantasies. The idea of several possible suitors gunning for the protagonist’s attention is a rousing concept for audiences, and the genre’s success is a testament to this fact.
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Despite representing the crude and raunchy side of the anime industry, harem series have begun making their way to mainstream audiences. This trend has opened up a market for English dubbed harem anime, resulting in several popular series receiving dubbed variants. While most anime fans cling to the notion of English sub being the superior viewing experience, these English-dubbed harem anime present a contrary narrative, giving their subbed counterparts a run for their money.
Updated November 18, 2024 by Ahmed Rehan Nasir: Harem series are a staple within the anime landscape, and each new season is accompanied by several new harem adaptations. Fall 2024 is no different, as many promising entries have made their way into this season’s lineup.
Avid dub-watchers are in for a treat, as these new harem series have already been booked for a dub variant. For those who have exhausted their dubbed harem libraries, this list has been updated with a few more exciting entries with English dubbing that rivals its subbed counterpart.
15 Tales Of Wedding Rings
An Otherworldly Isekai Harem
Tales of Wedding Rings
- Release Date
- January 6, 2024
- Studio
- Staple Entertainment
- Japanese Title
- Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- MyAnimeList Score
- 6.08
Tales of Wedding Rings has a dramatic beginning with Haruto Satou crashing a wedding in another world, coupled with a life-threatening attack by an Abyss monster that throws Haruto into the center of the premise. While Haruto becomes the princess’ husband in the very beginning, he still has to marry four more princesses to obtain their powers, an odd twist that turns this seemingly monogamous setting into a full-blown harem debacle.
Released in Winter 2024’s lineup, it comes as no surprise that the harem anime has already received an English dub. With Crunchyroll taking charge of the series’ English dubbing, Tales of Wedding Rings has received a veteran English dub cast. The voices of the primary characters can be found in several popular anime series, whether it’s Wistoria: Wand and Sword or the hit harem anime 100 Girlfriends.
14 Girlfriend, Girlfriend
A Harem With Multiple Winners
Girlfriend, Girlfriend
- Release Date
- July 3, 2021
- Studio
- Tezuka Productions, SynergySP
- Japanese Title
- Kanojo mo Kanojo
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.17 (Season 2)
Akin to any other harem anime, Girlfriend, Girlfriend follows a protagonist with multiple love interests. In this case, however, Naoya Mukai is already in a relationship with a girl, yet his carnal desires get the best of him. The result is an odd premise featuring an open relationship with two girlfriends, a first within the harem genre.
Studio Nano is responsible for the series dubbing, and despite being a newer name within the localization industry, the agency has produced an exceptional English dub for the series. The studio has worked on several projects for Funimation and Crunchyroll, with Kaguya-sama: Love is War being their most famous work. Overall, the dubbing cast has done the series justice, bringing Girlfriend, Girlfriend’s wonky narrative to mainstream audiences.
13 The Testament Of Sister New Devil
Racy Harem With a Step-Sibling Twist
Release Date |
Jan 8, 2015 |
---|---|
No. Of Episodes |
12 |
Studio |
Production IMS |
Japanese Title |
Shinmai Maou no Testament |
Despite following a fantasy-like premise with Demon Lords and Hero Clans, The Testament of Sister New Devil is primarily a harem series with extremely raunchy subtexts. The series ups the ante by turning the entire harem debacle into a step-sibling situation, throwing all sorts of deviant fantasies into the mix.
As absurd as the narrative may be, the Testament of Sister New Devil boasts an impressive dubbing cast. Funimation was responsible for the series’ dubbing, and the entertainment company ensured the dubbed version embodied the original’s tonality.
12 Rosario + Vampire
Supernatural Harem Full Of Mythical Creatures
Rosario + Vampire
- Release Date
- January 3, 2008
- Studio
- Gonzo
- Japanese Title
- Rosario to Vampire
- Number of Episodes
- 26
- MyAnimeList Score
- 6.75 (Season 1)
Another harem anime that incorporates supernatural thematics, Rosario + Vampire is a fanservice-heavy series that doesn’t hold back on its ecchi scenes. With a vampire, a succubus, and a witch populating the series’ harem lineup, Tsukune Aono is in for a raunchy high school experience.
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Rosario + Vampire boasts a star-studded English dub cast, with the voice of One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy playing Moka Akashiya, and the voice of Fairy Tail’s Natsu Dragneel taking on the role of Tsukune Aono. With such an experienced staff at the helm, there’s no denying that this version far exceeds expectations.
11 Campione!
Saving Humanity Through Harem Antics
Release Date |
Jul 6, 2012 |
---|---|
No. Of Episodes |
13 |
Studio |
Diomedéa |
Japanese Title |
Campione! Matsurowanu Kamigami to Kamigoroshi no Maou |
Harem anime are often confined to mundane slice-of-life settings, merely focusing on the raunchy relationships at hand. Campione! defies this notion with its oddly intriguing premise — a harem of heretic gods. An assemblage of mythological deities with a backdrop of Rome sets a novel stage for the harem antics that ensue.
With Sentai Filmworks being responsible for the series’ English dubbing, Campione! has received a remarkable dubbed variant that stays true to the original’s semantics. Accompanied by a few creative liberties, the dubbed version certainly stands on par with its subbed variant.
10 Monster Musume: Everyday Life With Monster Girls
An Ever-Expanding Interspecies Harem
Monster Musume: Everyday Life With Monster Girls
- Release Date
- July 8, 2015
- Studio
- Lerche
- Japanese Title
- Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- MyAnimeList Score
- 6.95
Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls is another oddball harem anime as it features a society where humanity co-exists with mythical creatures. Teenager Kurusu Kimihito’s luck lands him with several of these beautiful mythic women. From the reptile Miia to the centaur Centorea, Kimihito has all sorts of beguiling beauties gunning for his love.
Despite the ravaging perversion throughout the series, Monster Musume has an English dub that is worth watching. The dubbed adaptation accurately captures the original’s charm, primarily owing to Sentai Filmworks’ impressive selection of voice actors.
9 Tying The Knot With An Amagami Sister
Fall 2024’s Most Promising Harem Series
Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister
- Release Date
- October 2, 2024
- Studio
- Drive
- Japanese Title
- Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi
- Number of Episodes
- 7+
- MyAnimeList Score
- 6.98
Tying the Knot With an Amagami Sister is one of Fall 2024’s most promising romance entries, though the adaptation also qualifies as a harem anime. As the name suggests, the series features Uryu Kamihate at the forefront, who somehow ends up living with three Amagami sisters, and he is bound to marry one of the three. However, it’s up to the three sisters to influence his eventual decision.
Despite releasing this season, Tying the Knot With an Amagami Sister has already received a dubbed variant, with quality that clearly rivals its subbed counterpart. Given the show’s anticipation, it’s truly no surprise that the anime’s English dub has a rather star-studded cast. Produced under Crunchyroll’s expertise, the dub cast includes popular voices such as Donquixote Rosinante from One Piece, Tanya Degurechaff from Saga of Tanya the Evil, and Tsuyu Asui from My Hero Academia.
8 Rent-A-Girlfriend
Experimenting With the Odd Concept Of Rental Girlfriends
Rent-A-Girlfriend
- Release Date
- July 11, 2020
- Studio
- TMS Entertainment
- Japanese Title
- Kanojo, Okarishimasu
- Number of Episodes
- 36
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.03 (Season 1)
Rent-a-Girlfriend has taken the genre by storm with its novel take on the harem concept. By introducing the notion of rental girlfriends, Rent-a-Girlfriend has rebranded the entire trope with a fresh perspective and new dynamics. While the protagonist may be a bit insufferable with his simp-like antics, the series makes up for it with its rental beauties.
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The series’ author Reiji Miyajima is known for his crisp artwork and vivid character designs, an element that may have played a major role in the series’ success. Rent-a-Girlfriend’s English dubbed version stands on par with its subbed counterpart, doing Miyajima’s artistic flair justice in both variants.
7 Shuffle!
Supernatural Fantasy Harem With Gods And Demons
Shuffle!
- Release Date
- July 8, 2005
- Studio
- asread.
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.01
The presence of Demon Lords and the King of Gods might paint a grave picture, yet Shuffle! upends expectations with a slice-of-life harem that has just a tinge of supernatural drama. As one of the early-2000s most promising harem anime, the series remains a classic within this budding genre.
Shuffle! has a star-studded English dub cast, as the voices of several renowned characters populate the show’s roster. With Cherami Leigh, the voice of Fairy Tail’s Lucy and Sword Art Online’s Asuna, and Jerry Jewell, the voice of Detective Conan, the series is loaded with impressive voice actors famed for their work within the industry.
6 Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends
A Harem Full Of Ragtag Misfits
Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends
- Release Date
- October 7, 2011
- Studio
- AIC Build
- Japanese Title
- Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.16
Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends starts with a wholesome premise of two loners finding respite in each other’s company, an encounter that leads to the establishment of the Neighbor’s Club. The club further attracts a horde of eccentric characters that make the narrative a bit more lively, especially with their over-the-top harem antics.
With the voice of Nico Robin from One Piece and Detective Conan’s primary protagonist leading the show’s English dubbing, the series’ subbed version plays second fiddle to this excellent dub. Funimation is responsible for a multitude of exceptionally localized dubs, and Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends is one such anime.
5 Date A Live
Saving The World Through A Harem Of Beguiling Beauties
Date A Live
- Release Date
- April 6, 2013
- Studio
- AIC PLUS+, Production IMS, J.C.Staff, Geek Toys
- Number of Episodes
- 58
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.70 (Season 5)
In true harem fashion, Date A Live‘s premise is as absurd as it gets. A supernatural phenomenon ravages the planet, and the only solution to the predicament is for high schooler Shidou Itsuka to charm the female spirits behind this phenomenon.
The dubbed version of the anime has a rather experienced cast, with famous voices such as Armin Arlet from Attack on Titan, Happy from Fairy Tail, and Zero Two from Darling in the Franxx lending their voices to the series’ cast. With Funimation as the primary licensor for Date A Live, it comes as no surprise that the dubbed variant of the anime has done exceedingly well.
4 High School DxD
A Classic Harem With Exceptional Localization
High School DxD
- Release Date
- January 6, 2012
- Studio
- TNK, Passione
- Number of Episodes
- 48
High School DxD is the quintessential harem anime, with a long history of introducing anime audiences to the depths of this genre. Balancing supernatural elements with perverted antics is surely an arduous task, yet High School DxD boldly intermixes these two concepts for a novel viewing experience.
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With Funimation leading the English dubbing, the voice actors went all out on creating an unhinged version of an already deranged anime. The studio took a myriad of creative liberties by changing translations and substituting much of the dialogue for one-liners and borderline lunacy. The result is an effortlessly funny harem anime that far surpasses its subbed counterpart.
3 Yamada-kun And The Seven Witches
A Supernatural Harem With An Oddball Cast
Yamada-kun And The Seven Witches
- Release Date
- April 12, 2015
- Studio
- LIDENFILMS
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Japanese Title
- Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo
Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches is another harem with a bizarre supernatural premise, which further cranks up the absurdities of this harem. Ryu Yamada discovers the power to activate the powers of seven witches by kissing them, a revelation that leads to the beginning of Yamada’s endeavors of finding the rest of the witches.
Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches boasts a veteran cast, with the voices of several popular anime characters being in their portfolio. From Fairy Tail’s protagonists Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster to My Hero Academia’s Shoto Todoroki, the anime features all sorts of famous voices, a fact that testifies to the dub’s exceptional quality.
2 The Quintessential Quintuplets
A Lightweight Romcom Harem
The Quintessential Quintuplets
- Release Date
- January 11, 2019
- Writers
- Mayumi Morita
- Creator(s)
- Negi Haruba
The Quintessential Quintuplets is a wholesome rendition of the classic harem trope. With perversion and raunchiness at the minimum, the show is perfect for newer fans who simply want to test the waters before diving right into hardcore harem bliss.
With Funimation leading the series’ English dubbing, the cast is studded with famous voices. The main cast shares its voices with other popular series such as Attack on Titan, The Devil Is a Part-Timer, and High School DxD. With an experienced VA staff at the helm, the Quintessential Quintuplets’ English dubbed version stands on equal grounds with its subbed variant.
1 The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
A Ridiculously Large Yet Wholesome Harem
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
- Release Date
- October 8, 2023
- Studio
- Bibury Animation Studios
- Japanese Title
- Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.79
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You promises exactly what the title states — a hundred soulmates all vying for the protagonist’s love and affection. Despite the series’ overkill of a harem, it was at the forefront of Fall 2023’s anime line-up, largely owing to its satirical parody of the usual harem anime high jinks.
With the help of Crunchyroll’s expertise, the anime received an exceptional dubbed variant that fans will almost certainly prefer over the original. Even with a somewhat novice voice cast, the English dubbed version’s tonality mirrors the Japanese voice cast, and the anime’s success can easily be attributed to Crunchyroll leading the charge.
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