Wrapping up the Basics - Recognizing Red Flags in Anime

More instruction on red flags in anime.

Harem

Harem: a show in which a lead male is surrounded by female characters

Examples: Kanon, Clannad, Love Hina, Happy Lesson, Tenchi Muyo, Seto no Hanayome

Reverse Harem: a show in which a female lead is surrounded by male characters

Examples: Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket

Probably one of the top 5 most popular genres. Its popularity may have to do with the ocean of dating sim games in Japan in which the object of the game is to make it to bed with one of the many girls characters. When we use the word Harem in anime, it doesn't always imply a suggestive situation. Certainly there are shows like Saishuu Shiken Kujira that take after the girl games mentioned above. The definition of Harem used to mean that the girl characters were trying to end up with the (indesisive) male (ex. Love Hina.) But with more recent usage, fans call shows which merely feature many girls as Harem.

Ero guro

Ero guro: short for "erotic grotesque" - shows that feature violence or bizarre scenes as erotic

Examples: Mnemosyne

According to Wikipedia, these shows are a type of Hentai that involve blood, gore, disfiguration, mutilation and body fluids. Not all shows that have pornographic, bloody scenes are ero guro. It is an artistic genre. This is the genre from which "tentacle rape" emerged. Because of the perverse nature, this genre is tucked away with Hentai and it not very available or popular among fans - praise God!

Clothing Moe
As I mentioned in an earlier post about red flags, Japan has a huge clothing fetish. That's why you'll see many similar outfits on girls in anime. Some examples of clothing moe:
Miko, Sailor Fuku, Maid, School bathing suit, and yukata respectively