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I've never been compelled to write a review before, but I have to after seeing one particular scene in this special.

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata's Episode 0 starts off with an onsen scene as the girls forming the harem discuss anime. The male lead and center of the harem is frustrated as he pushes his face against the wall, angered that his is missing out... on the anime discussion. Funny, and I thoroughly enjoyed this segment. I appreciate how the show pokes fun at harems and the character introduction was silly as well.

The MC is voiced by Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, whom you may know as Sora from ... NGNL, Kantoku from Denki Gai or Kirito from SAO. I love this voice actor, and he definitely suits the otaku MC. I don't know much about the other voice actresses, but I have yet to watch a non-enjoyable anime featuring Matsuoka-san, so this was another green light for this series.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Despite the silly initial plot and character introductions, the biggest turn off for me was the rape scene. I don't care what any of you say about it because, like it or not, that was rape. The MC repeatedly says "no" and "stop" as one of the girls touches him and begins to sexually assault him. This triggered me and I immediately had an anxiety attack. They brush it off in the next scene as the "main heroine" is said to have "rescued" him, trivializing the issue. He is not traumatized and it is swept under the rug as just a comedic result of the girls' desire for him as the center of the harem. There is no retaliation, punishment or confrontation with the rapist. This is not something that should have been included in the show, let alone dismissed as comedy. Many people have not been educated on the issue that no means no, and, unfortunately, I am fearful that the dismissal of the incident in the show could actually influence people (to some extent) to think that going along after someone says no is somehow more okay. YES, I KNOW NOT EVERYTHING IN ANIME/MEDIA IS REALISTIC OR SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, BUT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT. Rape is a very serious issue, and it made me highly uncomfortable that it is taken so lightly in this show.

Needless to say, I will not continue to watch this series due to the disturbing content that was put in as harmless fun when it is actually reducing a more serious issue to a gimmick.