Death by Harem
Click above for 800 x 600 size.
My entry for the RIUVA contest.
I've always been fascinated as to how the etymology of the Arabic root of "harem" has meanings of the forbidden and the sacred; in contrast, when "harem" is used in English, it often connotes sexual licentiousness and epicurean excess.
It would also be interesting to track when the word was first applied to anime series with a male lead being surrounded by girls who are all hawt for him. This genre is quite a venerable one (e.g. Ranma 1/2) but I can't seem to recall the term being widely applied to series prior to Love Hina. The use of the term also creates its own sub-vocabulary such as "male harem lead" who is usually a loser who can't decide on choosing one girl among the many - thus raising accusations of how harem anime series are essentially vehicles for otaku wish fulfillment.
Harem anime series certainly enjoy a certain degree of popularity because the sheer variety of heroine types will appeal to fans across a wide demographic. Besides being able to "pick your favourite", interest is maintained through rival camps forming and then slugging it out against each other in forums, blogs and other electronic community media. Such extended interaction is even more plausible when the series has an ambiguous ending where there is no clear "winner" - though why would the girl be a winner if the male harem lead is a loser? It's like being told that you've just won the lottery and the prize is life imprisonment and hard labour. Besides, who's to say that how these harems will turn out in the medium to long term?
Stripey Joins PPP
cf. Section 376 of the Singapore Penal Code (Cap 224)
Dear Stripey,
I am writing to inform you that, after much deliberation, the Ai Ai Asa (AAA) will not be renewing your membership.
In the past, you had shown leanings towards Kaedeism, particularly with your praise of her Morning Calls and Psycho Jealousy but were admitted into the AAA on account of your expressed desire to do so.
However you have since repeatedly raised Primula above Asa in your SHUFFLE! hierarchy as evidenced by your discussions of top 10 anime imouto-sans, chosen Primula BGM as a favourite anime OST tune, demanded for a Primula OVA, raved about her in the context of your favourite genre of siscon and the last straw, your heretical speculation that Primula will triumph over Kaede and even Asa eventually. The latter point was also verbally made to Interrogator Zyl over bah chor mee at Tai Hwa. He speculates that probable causes are your disillusion with Asa's initial refusal to use magic but, more importantly, your inability to resist the combined siren song of loli-meido-siscon.
As we believe that there shall be no compulsion in anime fandom (Al Anime, 2:256), we wish you all the best in your future endeavours outside the AAA and enclose a motivational poster for your retention.
Best regards,
AAA Membership Services
for General Committee, AAA
SHUFFLE! Memories & Really? Really!
Me heart fluttered with excitement when I read the announcement that SHUFFLE! will returning to TV in the winter. Thought it was going to be an OVA. Apparently SHUFFLE! Memories is just a Director's Cut (whatever that means) repeat broadcast with new OP and ED.
Read Omni's invaluable season preview post that another Navel offering, Lovedol ~Lovely Idol!, will be coming to our screens but given that (1) the Soul Link anime didn't win many fans and (2) asread improved on the SHUFFLE! story when producing the anime, I'm adopting a sit and wait attitude to that.
In any case, Navel seems to be powering ahead with the SHUFFLE! franchise with yet another sequel game. Whereas Tick! Tack! was Nerine-centric, Really? Really! appears to be aimed at the boxcutter-wielding, Asa-lynching hoodies of the KKK. 
Psycho is the new moé
T_|'s comment captures a trend so well. And I certainly can't resist a chance to make fun of Sakura Matou and Kaede Fuyou at the same time. But unless we get Heaven's Feel, both girls (whose games were commercially released on the same day, 2004-01-30) will have to bow down to the girls of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - the best horror series I've seen for a long time. Mad thanks to Kurogane for getting this ball rolling and to Stripey for finally tipping the balance.
Kabitzin Bane
Well, actually more like Lisianthus Bane (re: SHUFFLE! Ep 5 and I wonder what Kikyou's feelings are on this matter). Nonetheless one suspects that the double combo sliminess of okra and nattou will probably not find favour with the Administar of the Sea Slugs! Team either.
Green Eyed Monster
Ah how jealousy can add spice to an anime series and even raise the Charisma of an already cute female character. For me, Kaede's mental breakdown and psycho outburst represented the best improvement of SHUFFLE! anime over the game. While it didn't make me like her more, it certainly made her a much more interesting character and also handed victory over to Asa-chan.
For this week's episodes of Fate/Stay Night, Mai Otome, Kashimashi and Shakugan no Shana, sensed quite a bit of Jealousy in the Anime Force.
SHUFFLE! 24
The final episode at last! Rin finds Asa at the hillside viewing point where she reminisces about all her happy memories like it's the last night of her life. Unable to persuade her to save herself and at his wits' end, Rin slashes his wrist. Her desire to save him, coupled with Rin channelling Mentar's reasoning, causes Asa to use her magic to heal him thus saving them both.
Things are back to normal harem comedy. Kaede, Nerine and Lisianthus/Kikyou continue to jockey for Rin's favour. Mayumi and Itsuki clash. Primula provides surprisingly numerous doses of humour. Ama-san no longer has to live in fear of the Yggdrasil Project.
122 screencaps follow. Mostly of our (i.e. the AAA's) beloved Shigure Asa of course but a few of Ama and Kikyou as well. Readers may find some of the screenies disturbing.
SHUFFLE 19-21
Enter SHUFFLE!, the series to topple Da Capo's reign and displace Kiminozo to 3rd place on my HGTA chart.
Meet Kaede, the tragic heroine who made it possible with her story-arc (ep 19-21).
Kaede brings to mind Sakura (Da Capo) and Mitsuki (Kiminozo) because she along with these female-lead senpais belong to that exclusive class of unforgettable anime characters instrumental for creating the powerful drama that sets these series apart. Personally, I deem these girls to be some of the saddest characters in anime haremsphere (yes, even Mitsuki who has my pity for finishing with Takayuki). My heart bled profusely as Kaede sat sobbing on Rin's bed, devastated that (in Zyl's Nuclear War terms) her desperate 'final strike' did not move Rin. (Although methinks Mitsuki-styled "Ultimate move" works better with comatose competition or rival-away-at-nursing-school.... arrggghh! If only Kotori asked Junichi instead of the stupid mirror this question in ep 1?! Anyway I digress.)
SHUFFLE continues to surprise me with a deviation from the seemingly designated girl (just imagine Kaoru finishing the series with Tina instead of Aoi in Ai Yori Aoshi) and having a harem lead with a backbone. Ep 19 clearly shows Rin to be not a mere hero but almost a martyr for Kaede. But therein also lies the question, is Rin's godly compassion for Kaede borne of brotherly love, incredible altruism or something else? Personally, given the circumstances, I find it hard to accept Rin's fierce, instinctive protection of Kaede to be based on mere siscon sibling love. Could the long years of cohabitation regelated Kaede to 'sister' status? (Of cos that never stopped anybody, see Da Capo for details.) Or did the years of abuse scarred him so bad that he could never truly love her unreservedly as he could with Asa? Sigh, either way, it’s a love lost and it really breaks my heart to see Kaede bawl again in ep 21 as she embraces he who could not reciprocate her feelings. Somewhat reminds me of the bittersweet recharge-hug Sakura gave Junichi in the final scene of Da Capo; a parting gift, the consolation prize.
School idols don't seem to be in favour with the anime gods nowadays. Anyhow Kaede joins Kotori in the ranks of rejected campus princesses and while I seriously doubt SHUFFLE will get any better than this, I'm looking forward to the series closing with my favourite SHUFFLE girl. Go Asa-chan!
SHUFFLE! 23
There's trouble in paradise as Asa's condition deteriorates. Ama-san tells all to Rin. He is unable to persuade Asa to save herself by using up the magic that is accumulating within her and which her human body is increasingly unable to tolerate. Their quarrelling seems to worsen Asa's illness, adding pressure on Rin to figure out a way to get Asa to save herself. After regaining consciousness in the wake of her third attack, Asa leaves Rin behind in the hospital. Waking up to find her gone, he rushes out in the night calling out her name.
Warning. PC game-based game spoilers as well as a hefty 126 screencaps of mainly the Shigure mother and daughter as well as Kareha follow.
SHUFFLE! 22
A Fun and Hilarity episode. It seems that everyone in school now know that Rin and Asa are a couple. There's a dinner party for Rin with a funny Kikyou-Primula confrontation. Most of the gang, including the Demonic Moving Maids, help Rin to bring his new apartment up to scratch. Kareha fesses up on who she loves. Asa gets Rin to stop reminding her that she is older than him and they share another romantic moment together before she is laid low by another attack which sets the scene for the next episode's exploration of the Ama-Asa backstory as well as the resolution of her illness. For other opinions, see Random Curiosity and Kurogane.
18 Kikyou / Lisianthus and 100 Shigure Asa screencaps follow:
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