Crunchyroll's New Romcom Anime Shatters Anime Cliches With A Fresh Twist

Warning: Spoilers ahead for episode #1 of The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You. The newest romantic comedy anime on Crunchyroll, The 100 Girlfriends, is breaking the mold when it comes to the typical harem genre. In many anime, a harem consists of multiple girls vying for the protagonist's affection. However, The 100 Girlfriends offers a refreshing take on this concept.

While harem themes are a common trope in anime, The 100 Girlfriends takes a humorous approach to address and improve upon it. As the title suggests, the anime centers around a harem, but instead of treating it as a mere subplot, it becomes the main focus. Interestingly, the anime manages to tackle the issues associated with this genre by making a significant change: it fully embraces and explores the harem premise.

100 Girlfriends Fixes Harem Anime By Actually Following Through On Its Premise

The harem anime cliché is cleverly addressed in The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You, as it actually follows through on the concept. The story revolves around Rentaro Aijo, who has been rejected romantically 100 times, only to be rewarded by the God of Love in a rather complex manner. Throughout high school, he will encounter 100 soulmates and must date each one, or else they will meet a tragic fate. In the first episode, Rentaro establishes a relationship with his first two soulmates, Hakari Hanazono and Karane Inda, with the promise of 98 more to come. This commitment sets The 100 Girlfriends apart from other harem anime.

What sets The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You apart is how seamlessly it integrates the harem plotline. Unlike other harems that provide flimsy justifications for character attraction, this anime establishes genuine chemistry between Rentaro, Hakari, and Karane. Rentaro's efforts to express his affection demonstrate that he truly deserves the love of multiple girls. This level of dedication surpasses that of other anime in the genre, and it is refreshing to see an anime actively addressing and remedying some of the genre's shortcomings.

100 Girlfriends Is The Perfect Product Of The New Romance Anime Trends

Another takeaway from The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You is its commitment to the harem element, making it a prime example of the new trends in romance anime. In recent years, a common trend in anime is to focus on romance early on or even from the start, as seen in shows like Bloom Into You and Kaguya-sama: Love is War. 100 Girlfriends not only embraces this idea but adds a harem dynamic, which is a significant representation of how romance anime has evolved.

This concept is best illustrated through the characters. The manga's later volumes establish strong justifications for why Rentaro would attract multiple girls, and each girl is given her own independent character arc and personality regardless of their feelings towards him. This distinct approach sets 100 Girlfriends apart from other harem anime that often neglect to develop their female characters beyond their connection to the protagonist. This refreshing take aligns perfectly with the show's efforts to subvert clichés within the harem genre. Audiences can look forward to seeing this unfold in the upcoming episodes on Crunchyroll.

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You releases new episodes Sundays on Crunchyroll.