This is a "Work in Progress" list of harem and romantic comedies that I've seen and might even recommend. This is my favorite genre within anime, so I have seen quite a bit, but not everything is good enough to make my "Most Favorite" list. I did enjoy most of these to some extent and I'll be rating them as "Liked a Lot", "Liked Somewhat" and "Liked Just a Small Bit". I have a hard time telling people to not watch something, and prefer to leave it up to the viewer to decide if the show is worth their time based on my observations.
This is a WIP, so for now it's in a very loose order of preference. I am listing all I can remember, but might have missed some from my past. Of course, it will continue to grow over time.
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1. School Rumble
Liked it a lot (hilarious, great characters) |
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2. Maison Ikkoku
I liked it a lot (THE best pure romance-focused anime of them all; a tad long) |
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3. Toradora
Liked it a lot (emotional story with a few twists from the norm. Has an actual ending) |
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4. Urusei Yatsura
Liked it a lot (hilarious older anime comedy ~ not a harem) |
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5. Cheeky Angel
Liked it a lot (it was endearing, funny and made me feel really good) |
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6. To Aru Majutsu no Index
Liked it a lot (exciting, endearing, sometimes a little sexy [Kanzaki Kaori!]) Season 1 and 2 are great, spin off A Certain Scientific Railgun, is great too. That one is not a harem or rom-com, though. |
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7. Yamada's First Time
Liked it a lot (often hysterical but balanced with sweet interplay between the leads) |
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8. Kimi ni Todoke
Liked it a lot (often funny rom-com that made me weepy more than a few times) |
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9. Nodame Cantabile
Liked it a lot (difficult virtuoso meets erratic pianist and is pushed by her eccentricities while helping her focus beyond her natural talents. Very sweet romance about grown-ups) |
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10. My Bride is a Mermaid!
Liked it a lot (funny, odd, hyper-active comedy. Commits to a satisfying ending for the characters) |
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11. Baka and Test -- Summon the Beast
Liked it a lot (includes season 1, 2 and OVAs - very funny throughout with some more serious episodes in the latter half of the second season - needs a 3rd now) |
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12. Sekirei
Liked it a lot (exciting series with an intriguing mystery developing) |
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13. Saint Knight's Tale
Liked it a lot (aka Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari. A fantastic thrill ride) |
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14. Negima!
Liked it a Lot (first series was sweet, second series was exciting) |
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15. Charger Girl Ju-den Chan
Liked it a lot (surprisingly funny, over-the-top silliness with added ecchi) |
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16. Aishiteruze Baby
Liked it a lot (not a comedy but has some humorous moments. Often touching and sometimes very melancholic, the relationship between the three main characters is heartwarming.) |
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17. Cross Game
Like it a Lot ~ so far (the best sports anime I've seen. Nice romance but not heavy handed about a boy and girl who pursue a baseball dream while dealing with a tragedy in their past. The sports scenes actually have tension and a sense of realism [no magic pitches or DBZ-like powers]. The characters have some depth to them and the plot unfolds effortlessly.) |
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18. Ah! My Goddess
Liked it a lot (joyful romance with an practically perfect angel-like girl.) |
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19. Rosario to Vampire
Liked it a Lot (really enjoyed the characters and their development) |
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20. His and Her Circumstances
Liked it WHOLE lot (80% of it is lightyears better than any other rom-com, but due to disagreements between the anime director and the manga creator, the series just stops dead at episode 26. Everything remains unresolved. Before that, though it's smart, funny, and complex.) |
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21. Lovely Complex
Liked it a lot (warm and funny but gets a bit bogged down by indecision) |
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22. Omamori Himari
Liked it a lot (very entertaining harem action-comedy. too short, I want more!) |
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23. Sumomomo Momomo
Liked it a lot (fun marital-martial arts romantic comedy with harem elements; similar to My Bride is a Mermaid in style; moderate ecchi) |
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24. The Familiar of Zero
Liked it a lot (just a fun adventure. Needs a 4th season - I want more!; more ecchi in later seasons) |
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25. Arakawa Under the Bridge
I liked it a lot (season 1 and 2 ~ funny but needs a proper conclusion) |
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26. Maburaho
Liked it a lot (sweet characters and story) |
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27. Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
Liked it a lot (enjoyable, sweet, funny, but lacking any tension) |
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28. Okamisan
Liked it a lot (I wasn't sure what to expect, but this 12 episode tsundere show was a pleasant surprise. A seemingly weak-willed guy confesses to heroine, Ryoko and joins her aid society club. Sometimes a bit dark which was also unexpected. Short but good.) |
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29. Amagami SS
Like it so far (my one complaint: shorter stories limit character-relationship growth) |
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30. Tenchi Muyo
Liked it a lot (watched the OVA series again recently and it's very good as an adventure, but it lacks real romance. I need to check out the other shows in the franchise soon.) |
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31. Heaven's Lost Property
Liked it somewhat (saw seasons 1 and 2, waiting for the promised season 3) |
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32. Is this a Zombie?
I Liked it somewhat (A lot of fun. Interesting harem-action show, where the main character (male) is also a "magic girl") |
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33. Ladies vs Butlers
Liked it somewhat (doesn't really amount to much; lots of ecchi) |
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34. Amaenaideyo!!
Liked it somewhat (rather confused in concept) |
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35. Seikon no Qwaser
Liked it somewhat (I've only seen 21 of the 25 episodes; nothing of season 2; very perverted) |
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36. Seitokai Yakuindomo
Liked it somewhat (a non-romantic harem with lots and lots and lots of sex jokes. No ecchi, though) |
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37. Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
Liked it Somewhat (good likeable, mysterious characters but there needs to be a second season 'cause nothing is resolved) |
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38. Hayate the Combat Butler
Liked it somewhat (lengthy but needs more emotional development) |
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39. He is my Master
Liked it somewhat (needs more romance) |
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40. Love Hina
Liked it somewhat (been a long time so my memory is fuzzy) |
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41. Inukami!
Liked it somewhat (meanders too long early on but excels toward the end) |
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42. Midori Days
Liked it Somewhat (unusual and funny, but a bit shallow too often) |
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43. Vandread
Liked it somewhat. (action packed and funny) |
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44. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
I liked it somewhat (Entertaining, if a bit predictable. A very engaging secondary character named Yura Keikain. I look forward to the second season.) |
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45. Demon King Daimao
Liked it somewhat (fun but short; very ecchi. Has lots of action and a generous amount of humor, too) |
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46. The World God Only Knows
I liked it somewhat (I'm not sure where this is going, but it has a decent set up for something greater than it is to this point. 2nd season was better but still is missing something) |
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47. Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls
Liked it somewhat (Good animation design and plenty of ecchi. Story format is thoroughly familiar and despite a nice setting, doesn't add anything to the harem genre.) |
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48. Sora no ManiMani
Liked it Somewhat (familiar but entertaining romance between reunited childhood friends. This time through their high school astronomy club. No resolution at the end) |
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49. To Love-Ru
Liked it somewhat (lost its direction during the second half) - Second series Motto To Love-Ru is MUCH better than the first. Very ecchi, especially season 2) |
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50. Ranma 1/2
Liked it somewhat (emotionally underdeveloped considering the plot) |