Harem lead, a character that is always present in an eroge/visual novel and the anime adaptation of it. If you didn’t know, they are the most important character in visual novels or an anime adaptation of it. I say that because most of the time, people tend to focus on the girls too much but forgets about the most important thing, the person that all the girls love, the person that you play as (visual novel), the person you will see every time, the person who ties all these things together.
Maybe it’s the fault of the studio who makes the harem visual novel/anime. Yea, the girls are the main reason why you play/watch the visual novel/anime, but if the harem lead himself is a P.U.S.S.Y. (Procrastinating Undecided Slow Sissy Youth) or if he is nothing special, it makes us wonder why the girls like him in the first place. We will think that he does not deserve the company of beautiful girls. Thus, decreasing the enjoyment (for me anyway). Unfortunately, that’s the usual type of harem lead, the one you see most of the time.
The lack of story and character development in harem leads makes them bland. To me, a harem lead is equally as important as the girls, and neglecting such an important character is a bad idea. Well, if you’re watching/playing the anime/visual novel for the story, then story and character development in harem leads is very important. If you’re into the series for the cute girls and fanservice, then, such things are not needed.
Ever since I started playing CLANNAD (my first visual novel) recently (still playing it by the way), I found out about one thing. There are big differences between harem leads in animes and the ones found in visual novels. Anime harem leads tend to be ‘uncertain’ and they have a hard time choosing the right girl for them. Visual novel harem leads on the other hand, are quite different. In visual novels, you get to choose one girl depending on what you do and how you react, and that’s it. Then the story continues with the girl you have chosen, and you get to make more decisions to make the girl happy and in most visual novels, to unlock ’special scenes’.
So, if you think that the harem leads found in visual novel adapted anime sucks, think again. It’s the animation studio’s job to arrange all the girls’ paths together, including the harem lead. Since visual novels are meant for decision-making, it’s the same for the anime version as well. It’s not an easy task and most studios fail to do so. They have to add more ‘character’ to the harem lead since the harem lead is not dealing with only one girl, he is dealing with all the girls.
If your favorite girl is not ‘the right one’ for the harem lead, don’t blame him for not making the right choice. It’s obvious that in visual novel adapted anime, the harem lead will almost always pick the ‘main girl’, unless it’s Shuffle!’s Asa-ending. In visual novels, YOU are the one who makes all the decisions, so, of course you won’t complain. Just like us, the harem lead is not comfortable seing girls cry. But there’s no choice, the harem lead must end up with someone, even if it means that he has to break the other girls’ heart.
An example of a good harem lead is Aizawa Yuuichi from Kanon. Almost everyone agrees with me if I say that Yuuichi is the best harem lead out there, with Okazaki Tomoya from CLANNAD in a close second place, or vice versa. Both of them are way better than the usual harem leads. Yuuichi is a nice guy who is good in being funny and charming the girls. Tomoya is a delinquent who is even funnier, and he is an interesting character who has his own problems and backstory. So, aren’t those the qualities that are needed in every harem lead?
A bad example of a harem lead would be none other than Itou Makoto from School Days. Ughh..I hate that guy. I haven’t even finish watching School Days, dropped it at episode 4 and watched the last episode, but I know what happens in the anime. He takes advantages over the girls’ feeling for him and he breaks the girls’ heart. An innocent anime at first, and it changed into the exact opposite of it later. But I’m not saying that he deserves what had happened to him in the last episode, that’s too cruel. Anyway, he is still a bad harem lead. If you have watched the anime, you know what I mean.
But the the most important thing that makes a good harem lead is the story itself. So, both Kanon and CLANNAD have excellent stories, way better than most visual novel/anime. The fans love the stories in both of those title, and they automatically love the harem lead as well. Because the harem lead is the one who starts the story and who keeps the story going. The harem lead reacts and take actions depending on what’s happening. So, yea, without the harem lead, there is no ’story’.
Well, that’s it for now. There are many other factors that makes a good harem lead, but these are some that I know of. Everyone have their own preference and their own ideal harem lead. The number of good harem lead is decreasing lately, so I’m looking forward to seeing more of the good ones in the future. In other words, I’m wating for another hit visual novel by Key and the anime adaptation of it by KyoAni. Also, you won’t get any cookies for finding out that I’m a CLANNAD fan.^^
Then, I ask of you, what makes a good harem lead?
~Setsukyie~
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July 20th, 2008 at 10:06 pm #omo
The harem lead indeed is the most important part of a harem, but it’s not the character that brings all the boys to the yard, so to speak.
Not so sure about the rest of your post–I didn’t think much of Yuuichi or Tomoya, they are both fairly average characters. Compared to harem leads from manga->anime, they are actually very mediocre.
There are also some visual novels/eroge adaptations that don’t have the typical harem structure, like ef.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:19 pm #Setsukyie
@ omo: Yuuchi and Tomoya are average? Really..
I don’t know why, but I like both of them.
Both of them make other harem leads look like nothing in my eyes.
About harem leads from manga->anime.
Forgot to mention them..lol.
Yea, most of them are better than harem leads from visual novel adapted animes.
But still, Yuuichi and Tomoya are pretty decent to me.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:33 pm #Kresnik
As long as they’re not submit or got played around by the girls, then they’re good lead.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:36 pm #maru
*nods in agreement*
Character development for harem leads are reallyyy important..
GJ!
And yeah, Makoto sux -_- finished School Days and regretting over it. Total waste of time.
Erm. getting out of topic, whr do u get the translation for the game?
or u can read japanese? heh.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:49 pm #Setsukyie
@ Kresnik: I guess so.
@ maru: Well, there is an unofficial english translation out there.
I got it from this thread.
http://www.animea.net/forums/f108/clannad-pc-17606/
There is a guide on how to use the english translation there as well.
Aside from from the translation, there are some ‘extra’ things that are available to download…
*evil laughs*
July 20th, 2008 at 10:53 pm #nutcase23
this post is obviously written while someone is in post-CLANNAD giddyness =D
July 20th, 2008 at 11:08 pm #DrmChsr0
The only good harem lead is a dead harem lead.
Unless the harem lead is female in a room full of females and is a lesbian.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:19 pm #Setsukyie
@ nutcase23: You got that right.
CLANNAD FTW!
Kyou FTW!
Kyou > Konata..=D
@ DrmChsr0: Dead harem lead = Itou Makoto..
“Unless the harem lead is female in a room full of females and is a lesbian.”
lol..
July 21st, 2008 at 1:05 am #A Day Without Me
While I wouldn’t count Yukito from Air as a harem lead, really, would you?
In some ways I don’t really think of Tomoya as being exactly a harem lead, since in the TV series, for the most part, it seemed that only three of the girls had crushes on him. Some day I might get around to writing that post.
Nagisa x Tomoya = love.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:26 am #metalsnakezero
I now understand why I like Clannad and Kanon besides Kyou Tsundereness and Ayu Catch Phrase “Uguu”
July 21st, 2008 at 3:02 am #53RG10
Harem leads just don’t have to be a complete loser…it’s just too common. That’s why I liked CLANNAD’s Tomoya and DaCapo’s Yoshiyuki, they’re not your lovable loser type and I can actually see a person like them having girls fall for them…even if it’s just three.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:18 pm #maru
thx Setsukyie for the link.
will try that out this weekend..
and thats a LOT “extra” ur talkin about.. lol
July 21st, 2008 at 5:16 pm #Stifler
What are you talking about? Matoko so totally had it coming. He was literally begging to be killed by his actions. Why, I would kill him myself if I was there.
But yeah, Tomoya and Yuuichi are both great leads, no doubt about that.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:09 pm #wenwen
I totally agree that Tomoya and Yuuichi are the best harem leads!!! ^_^ I, as a girl, personally like them ^_^
As for Makoto…I HATE HIM!!!!! If you’ve watched till the last episode, you’ll be happy to see him die! ^_^ Because I am! I could not stand him any longer while watching him break everyone’s heart. Before the last episode, I even swore that I’ll kill him if no one does! He’s the WORST harem lead of all!!! *stops ranting about how much she hates Makoto*
I personally love playing visual novels(not eroge) ^_^ Especially Symphonic rain ^_^ I totally love the part where the fairy/angel Phoni disappeared in front of Chris(lead) and Arietta finally woke up from her coma ^_^ I felt so happy ^_^ I’ve gotten all the endings and unlocked all the special scenes ^_^ Hm…I love it when Chris finally remembered about Arietta being in a coma and all ^_^ I love Symphonic rain, the story is touching and the music is good ^_^ The voice acting is good too, with Mai Nakahara(also Nagisa from CLANNAD) as Arietta and Tortinita(twins). When I watch Kanon, I do feel that it somehow resembles Symphonic rain a bit ^_^
I feel bad whenever I end up with someone other than the lead in visual novels as something will happen to the main girl or the main girl would be heartbroken. In Memories Off 2, the main girl will be crying whenever I went in a route other than her’s. And in Symphonic rain, Phorni will disappear and Arietta will DIE in her coma, and that’s really sad…
July 21st, 2008 at 8:30 pm #Setsukyie
@ A Day Without Me: Well, for some reason, I didn’t like Air much.
And I even forgot the name of the harem lead. Nothing special about him..
@ metalsnakezero: There are lots of reasons to love both of the series.
There’s a reason why CLANNAD and Kanon are in my top 10..
@ 53RG10: Agreed. But I don’t like Yoshiyuki much. Well, that’s coming from someone who haven’t finished watching Da Capo II..
@ maru: No problem. There a LOT of it but it’s worth it.
You will definitely love it and you will appreciate CLANNAD more.
@ Stifler: lol. If you’re that cruel, you will let him suffer first before killing him. A quick and simple death is not enough for him.
@ wenwen: You always agree with me, don’t you? ^_^
ymphonic rain huh.. Maybe I’ll try it later since you have shown how much you love it in your comment.
But I’m still busy with CLANNAD.
Btw, have you ever played CLANNAD before?
You should do so if you haven’t.
15 comments FTW! (the most that I have gotten so far) ^_^
July 21st, 2008 at 9:32 pm #nutcase23
I never get more than 12 comments for my posts >_>.
The only time I get that is the Cosfest 2008 and that’s because of the pictures…*sob*
July 21st, 2008 at 10:22 pm #Setsukyie
@ nutcase23: You want more comments on your posts?
Spam comments on your own post and say that you are just replying peoples’ comments as an excuse.
Just like what I’m doing now.^_^
Oh yea, didn’t you read what I post above?
I said,
Kyou>>>>>>>>>>>>>Konata
=D
July 21st, 2008 at 10:34 pm #nutcase23
Eh? What did you post? All I saw was funny asterisks at the bottom of your posts. I thought you did that on purpose? =D
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm #wenwen
In Symphonic rain, I advise you to leave Arietta alone first, because her ending is in a locked scenario and you have to have all the endings plus the ‘Al Fine’ scenario to unlock it ^_^ LOL! I I guess I agree with you on almost everything except the ‘S.A’ part, LOL! Cause I’m still watching it and loving it, LOL XD
I’ll play CLANNAD once I got a translated version…or maybe I’ll learn japanese, LOL! But I want to play CLANNAD as well ^_^ I know it’s a really great game too(and anime)! And Kyou>Konata LOL! I sometimes feel that Kyou and Ryou are like Kagami and Tsukasa ^_^
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:46 pm #nutcase23
Okay just to bump Setsukyie’s post over to 20 comments =D
@wenwen: Do learn Japanese. It’s quite fun if you are really interested =D
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm #Setsukyie
@ wenwen: The guy below you said the same thing too, that I should watch S.A again..
Yea, Kyou and Ryou do look like the Hiragi twins. With the same traits as well.
Coincidence?
http://www.animea.net/forums/f108/clannad-pc-17606/
The link has everything you need…*evil laugh*
@ nutcase23: You see, someone agrees with me that Kyou>Konata.
You still don’t want to convert to Kyou-ism huh..
Tch..
21 comments FTW!