Summary

Mixing action witha solid amount of fanservice, the battle harem genre is an intriguing subset of harem anime that offers the best of both worlds. Similar to regular harem series, these anime feature a protagonist surrounded by a bevy of beauties. There’s a slight twist, however, as these seemingly harmless girls are clad in overpowered combat abilities.

The genre is still rather obscure, though it’s certainly making its way into mainstream anime as newer series continue to mix the two key ingredients of battle harem; gripping action and never-ending fanservice. While some battle harems don’t tend to take themselves seriously, others present a more serious narrative that is doused with action, meaning there is something for everyone in this enticing subgenre.

True to its namesake,Is This a Zombie?follows Ayumu Aikawa as he roams the world as a zombie after being revived by a necromancer. However, Ayumu isn’t the only otherworldly creature in the anime’s cast, as he is accompanied by several other mythological creatures that eventually become a part ofhis ever-expanding harem. While the anime’s primary premise features Ayumu and his harem hunting down creatures known as Megalo, the anime eventually delves into several harem tropes that deem the anime a clear battle harem series.

With a ton of violence and graphic scenes, the anime can often push the limits with its steamy scenes, though it remains within the boundaries of anime fanservice. The show starts strong with a unique and interesting premise, though it eventually becomes victim to the genre’s tropes that bog down the overall series.

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Japanese Title

Juuou Mujin no Fafnir

Unlimited Fafniris rather similar toInfinite Stratos, as the premise features a protagonist who is the first male to beaccepted to an all-female academy. The academy is reserved for extremely powerful girls who are known as Ds, a mysterious group that came into being after destructive Dragons appeared in the world.

While the plot surrounding the Ds might seem rather interesting, the anime instead focuses on Yuu Mononobe’s new life in an all-female academy, and that too, with girls who possess overpowered abilities that can generate dark matter. Harem anime are known for overpopulating their harems, leaving little room for character development for each member, andUnlimited Fafnirfalls into the same category. While the anime manages to offer both action and fanservice, it lags on character development and pacing.

Studio

Seven Arcs

Extraterrestrial females setting foot on Earth and somehow fallingfor a lovable idiotis a common premise in battle harem anime, andSekireiis no different. The anime features a rather brilliant yet struggling student named Minato who discovers latent abilities inside of him with the help of an alien woman.

However, with his newfound abilities, he must partake in a tournament where other aliens battle, and with each victory, Minato claims more Sekirei and adds them to his harem. With colorful personalities and unique powers, each new Sekirei adds something new to Minato’s harem.

Seireitsukai no Blade Dance

Blade Dance of the Elementalersis another battle harem anime that plays on the subgenre’s many tropes, even more than its counterparts. Enrolling in a Spirit Academy, Kamito Kazehaya finds himself in an all-female class, a setup that is bound to lead toan amusing harem narrative.

With the series premise moving toward the Blade Dance, a battle festival that is set to take place two months after the series' beginning,Blade Dance of the Elementalersmanages to squeeze in a considerable amount of action. However, these elements are often overshadowed by the series' incessant comedic and fanservice moments.

Rosario + Vampireis one of the most renowned seriesin the harem landscape, though it also fits into the battle harem category due to the absurd powers possessed by Tsukune’s harem members. After enrolling at Yokai Academy, a boarding school for monsters, Tsukune gets entangled with a bunch of otherworldly creatures who eventually become part of his harem.

Tsukune comes into contact with all sorts of monsters, be they witches, fairies, or vampires. WhileRosario + Vampiredoesn’t expand on the action side of things that often, it offers plenty of fanservice moments. However, a few events in the series do highlight the show’s battle aspects, such as the anti-schooler’s threat to blur the barrier between the human and monster worlds.

8bit

IS: Infinite Stratos

Infinite Stratosis a sci-fi battle harem anime that is based around a power that can only be wielded by women, albeit except for one man, the series' protagonist. An exoskeleton weapon known as the Infinite Stratos is developed by Japan, with powers so immense that an international treaty bars it from being used by any nation. There’s a catch, however, as this exoskeleton can only be powered by women.

However, one man has discovered the power of wielding this weapon, which lands him in the Infinite Stratos Academy, an all-female boarding school. A 15-year-old surrounded by combat-wielding women who are all swooning for him is the perfect recipe for a battle harem anime, andInfinite Stratoscapitalizes on this very aspect.Teetering between comedy, romance, and action,Infinite Stratoshas all that the battle harem genre has to offer.

Representing the battle harem genre in all the right ways,Date a Livefeatures a ton of action, coupled with a roster of beguiling beauties, each clad in a unique power. The premise ofDate a Liveis even more bizarre, as it follows Shidou’s efforts to quell the catastrophic disaster brought on Earth by otherworldly beings called Spirits.

Instead of fighting the Spirits to resolve the matter, Shidou has to seduce them one by one, meaning the fate of the world is dependent on his flirting skills. As bizarre as the premise may seem, the anime is thoroughly entertaining, largely owing to its colorful cast, gripping action, and tons of fanservice.

High School DxDis the quintessential harem anime that has defined much of this genre. With a pervert at the helm of the narrative, Issei Hyoudou’s life turns upside down when he gets entangledwith fallen angels and devils. Now amid these otherworldly creatures, Issei is bound to his new captors as a servant, leading to a ton of hilarious moments.

While the anime isn’t exactly classified as a battle harem, the notion of the series fits the theme with each member of Issei’s harem possessing overpowered abilities and superpowers. The characters also get to showcase their powers in several fights throughout the series, though Issei is able to outshine them all.