Summary
Crunchyroll’s sweetest romance this season is undoubtedlyPseudo Harem, thanks to its fun concept that adorably plays with acommon trope of anime. Pseudo Harem’s premise is exactly what it suggests:a story about a harem that isn’t really one. This unique harem is follows Rin Nanakura, who, after joining her school drama club and meeting Eiji Kitahama, decides to use her acting skills to embody multiple harem archetypes to fulfill Eiji’s wish to be popular.
Despite being a popular genre, harem series frequently spark controversy for stereotypes surrounding them. Some of the criticism that Harem receives is that most series follow the same plot, becoming unoriginal, have excessive fanservice, the female characters sometimes fall for the protagonist for no reason, and it can cause frustration in viewers when the male lead can’t choose a love interest. However,Pseudo Haremis spared from these flaws by being the opposite of these series.
Pseudo Haremhas managed to put a clever twist on harem that not only keeps the essence of the genre but also avoids its issues.
Two of the Summer’s Hottest Romantic Comedy Anime Have One Key Thing in Common
Pseudo Harem and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian explore a rare type of social situation, and yet, they’re simulcasting simultaneously.
Pseudo HaremIs the Opposite of a Harem Series, With the Charm of One
Based on the Manga by Yū Saitō
InPseudo Harem,Rin contrasts with other female protagonists in haremanime since her situation is exactly the opposite of what the genre usually allows. While in most harems, every girl represents a classic archetype in the genre, like the tsundere, inPseudo Harem, Rin voluntarily embodies these different personalities, creating a “simulated harem” in which only she participates. Because of this,Pseudo Harempreserves the different dynamics created by each personality without increasing the characters.
Rin visually reflects her characters by changing her hair and voice tone; this way,Pseudo Haremdisplays the features that fans love about anime likeThe Quintessential Quintuplets, where the female protagonists look the same but differ in their styles and personalities. Also, its simplicity avoids problematic stakes, since Rin doesn’t see these characters as extensions of her personality; there is no love competition, and neither character stands out from the others because the motivation with which she acts isn’t exclusively to gain Eiji’s attention but as a way to express her feelings while also masking them due to her shyness.
Additionally, Rin is shown from the beginning to be in love with Eiji, and contrary to other harem series, where there’s often a lack of development in the relationships between the love interests and the protagonist, she uses these archetypes to motivate herself and be more assertive about getting closer with Eiji. Moreover,through their interactions, their relationship slowly builds up, creating heartwarming moments between them, since not only Rin begins to express more of her true desires, but Eiji, although he enjoys the “harem”, also begins to realize Rin’s importance in his life as more than friends.
Pseudo Harem Is a Comfort Romcom For Every Anime Fan
Pseudo Harem Shows That Love Takes Time In a Unique, Surprisingly Cozy, Way
Pseudo Haremis awholesome romance animepowered by the humor of Rin and Eiji. Rin’s ability to act out different personalities depending on the situation and how Eiji reacts to them creates both comical and endearing situations, which don’t feel forced but rather showcase the shyness of a first love.Pseudo Haremalso has something for everybody, sincefans who are familiar with the harem genre and its conventions may find the anime especially fun, while it also has the potential to appeal to even those who don’t usually support harems.
The anime, by focusing solely on Rin and Eiji’s heartwarming interactions, also conveys that developing a quality and meaningful relationship doesn’t always require the drive of additional romantic interests.Pseudo Haremsuccessfully subverts a criticized genre while still keeping its essence loved by fans, offering a comfortable experience through two lovebirds' role-play that doesn’t seek deep emotional development but highlights happy situations that will uplift everyone and is perfect for those fans of sugary romance that just puts a smile on the face after a hard day.
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is a North American-based streaming service owned by Sony that focuses largely on Japanese anime but also covers several East Asian drama series. The service is available in several countries and has a small catalog of self-created and published series, with most of its content licensed with partners overseas.
