The Best Manga With Main Characters Who Avoid The Harem Route

Key Takeaways

Araragi in
Bakemonogatari
remains loyal to his girlfriend, avoiding harem clichés.
The protagonists in series including
Haganai
&
Wise Man’s Grandson
seek commitment and embrace monogamy.
Combatants Will Be Dispatched
&
A Certain Magical Index’s
MCs evade harems due to various reasons, maintaining originality.

As someone who’s spent countless hours immersed in the realms of fantasy and science fiction, I must say that these two anime series, “Combatants Will Be Dispatched” and “A Certain Magical Index,” are quite the fascinating finds!

As a dedicated gamer, let me share my thoughts on the tired trope that’s become all too common in today’s anime and manga: The infamous ‘Harem Route‘. You know the drill – multiple love interests circling around our protagonist with no clear commitment or progression. While some series have tried to shake things up a bit by introducing what they call a ‘pseudo-harem’, where the main character keeps orbiting around various potential suitors, never fully committing and moving things beyond that point. It’s like being stuck in gaming limbo!

In this rephrased version, I’ve tried to maintain the original meaning while making it easier for a casual reader to understand:

6 Bakemonogatari

MC Sticks With His Quirky Girlfriend Despite All Odds

First Published: March 14, 2018
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Drama, Comedy, Supernatural, Romance
Author: Nishio Ishin

The anime titled “Bakemonogatarai,” more commonly known as the “Monogatari Series,” originates from the Light Novels penned by Nishio Isin. Although the manga is nearing its end, the anime continues to thrive, with a fresh installment called “Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season” – essentially seasons 4 and 5 of the series split into two components. However, one may wonder about the Main Character’s complex relationships with his potential love interests throughout the storyline.

Koyomi Araragi, a previous vampire and occasional supernatural investigator, has managed to stay loyal to Hitagi Senjougahara amidst numerous female characters circling him. Despite their fair share of highs and lows, Araragi and Hitagi have continued their relationship in the sequence of the novels and manga, making it clear that this story’s goofy Protagonist steered clear of the harem trope and found his way to a committed relationship instead. Bravo for them!

5 Too Many Losing Heroines

The Protagonist Remains Alone Forever

First Published: April 29, 2022
Genres: School-Life, Comedy, Romance
Author: Takibi Amamori

It’s quite unusual: how might fans react to a show where the main character not only gets friend-zoned but actively assists every female lead in achieving their individual happily ever after? Is he insane? Is he foolish? Or is he simply too good to be true? The answer remains elusive, as this series presents an intriguing premise: regardless of the heroines’ actions, the main character always subtly guides them towards the right path, only to step aside.

Interestingly, “Too Many Losing Heroines” has garnered quite a following among admirers of romantic anime, who seek a change from the typical school-life Harem teen dramas filled with overused tropes and stereotypical characters. Despite this protagonist being rather uninteresting at times, he generally embodies a decent person (though some fans speculate he might be a self-insert of the author, which could feel odd). Regardless, it offers an enjoyable reading experience.

4 Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends

MC Graciously Avoids Commitment Because He’s Scared

First Published: March 27, 2010
Genres: School-Life, Comedy, Romance
Author: Yomi Hirasaka

This comedy revolves around a whimsical, amusing, and heartwarming school setting as a group of unusual and self-conscious individuals establish a “Friendship Club” in their quest for companionship. However, it takes an unexpected turn, leading to a situation reminiscent of a harem, where the main male character is persistently pursued by three other girls, each attempting friendship, yet with him consistently struggling to reciprocate effectively.

It appears they didn’t grasp the purpose of the club; it was intended for making acquaintances, not assembling a group of admirers. Regardless, the main character seems ill-equipped to forge friendships, let alone engage in a romantic relationship. As the plot of Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends unfolds, his blandness mysteriously dissipates, and he finds himself pursued by two girls. Like many anime protagonists, he evades commitment and dismisses any romantic overtures. The issue with Kodaka (the main character) is that he’s too fearful of change and values the Club excessively. That’s why he avoids altering the dynamics of his friendships.

3 Wise Man’s Grandchild

A Man True To His Word Picked A Girl And Married Her

First Published: March 2016
Genres: Action, Romance, Drama, Isekai, Fantasy, School-life, Sword And Sorcery
Author: Tsuyoshi Yoshioka

In a fresh take on the isekai fantasy genre, the manga titled “The Grandson of the Wise Man” unfolds an extraordinary journey. Unlike other protagonists, this character finds himself entangled in battles against demonic adversaries, masterminded by one of the most formidable isekai anime antagonists. Yet, amidst this chaotic world, his singular focus lies on Cecily, a classmate he has fallen deeply for. From their first encounter, his affection for her is unwavering, promising undying devotion until the story’s end.

He doesn’t hesitate to openly discuss his intentions to marry her eventually, even with her family present. Given the context of their world filled with swords and sorcery where death is commonplace, it appears he’s in a hurry to wed before it’s too late. However, the plot hasn’t advanced significantly yet, as the main antagonist remains unvanquished. With the anime possibly being canceled, readers interested in knowing the story’s conclusion are left with no choice but to delve into the Light Novels.

2 Combatants Will Be Dispatched

To Avoid Losing Their Beloved, They Moved Him To Another World

First Published: March 2018
Genres: Isekai, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Satire, Action, Shonen
Author: Natsume Akatsuki

In the series titled “Combatants Will Be Dispatched,” we follow the story of the least formidable but most appealing soldier from an evil faction, reminiscent of Cloud Strife. This individual is chosen by the female heads of Evil Organization Kizaragi for a mission to conquer another realm. The women are so infatuated with this man that they’re willing to go to great lengths to shield him, causing frustration in our protagonist, Nº6, due to his lack of strength compared to other combatants. To keep tabs on him, they assign a robot for supervision.

In essence, they are shielding him from the escalating struggle for global dominion they’re embroiled in, as they adore him excessively. Consequently, Combatant No.6 and Alice are assigned to another realm and instructed to establish a base of operations, which Kisaragi intends to seize. However, the world they were transported to is teeming with attractive individuals who frequently get too close to No.6, causing Alice to frequently report these incidents and stir up quite a fuss in Command Center. The high command isn’t happy about it, but truthfully, there’s no real cause for concern; No.6 shows little interest in any form of dedication. This keeps him away from the typical Harem scenario, and the fact that he is rather unsavory character.

1 A Certain Magical Index

Bad Luck Bryan Meets Two-Legged Shark, No Time For Harems Here

First Published: May 12, 2007
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Drama, Comedy, Tragedy, Action, Shonen, Sci-Fi
Author: Kazuma Kamachi

Kamijou Touma is Bad Luck incarnate, a low-class Esper in a world full of monstrously powerful people. One day, as he is coming back from school, he finds a strange little girl hanging on the balcony of his apartment. She claims to be a powerful magician, possessing over 100,000 grimoires in her head. What she doesn’t tell him, is that she also has a bad habit of biting, but Touma will have lots of opportunities to discover that for himself.

In a surprising twist, the human piranha character in “A Certain Magical Index” faces persecution from a wicked organization exploiting her abilities. From this point, Touma’s misfortune escalates, with a multitude of female characters entering his life – including a classmate and her clones. However, many of these women are profoundly psychopathic or associated with sinister groups intent on his demise. Although the series contains some romantic moments, it consistently steers clear of the Harem Route, either because Touma is unusually unlucky (his superpower) or because he’s too oblivious to interpret overt advances. This forms the core plotline of “A Certain Magical Index.

2024-09-23 19:34