What is the most optimal amount of girls for a harem anime?

usually it's 3-5

but really it depends on how many the author can handle with pic related doing a good job with an entire class and most writers probably would've been best with just one girl.

>>160496291
As long as best girl wins, the number doesn't matter.

Depends what the gimmick is. Twok had way more than 5 but the gimmick made the girls irrelevant after their arc was finished. 3-5 is a good range unless you have one or two side girls that pop in for a two ep arc.
So sayeth the Harem King

>>160496291
72

>>160496291
Only a dozen of those girls can be considered in the harem, the rest are just side characters who suck up to the MC.

>>160496291
So long my fetish is not included increase the number by one.

>>160496291
~300
but the best girl has to be tall, DFC, tsundere and blue haired

>>160496291
1

>>160496291
4-5
2 potential winners 1-2 designated losers and 1 who just seems to fuck around

>>160496291
4. Just like the Prophet (PBUH) recommends, which considering His experiences of having a haremette from every background (loli included). This view is shared by several anons in this thread, such as >>160496683 >>160498171
After a certain threshold, the rest are just token tagalongs. 4 is the sweet spot.

>>160496732
If you take the Rites of Zhou, the Imperial Harem for the holder of Mandate of Heaven should be entitled to 121 women, comprised of:
>1 Empress
>3 Madames
>9 Imperial Concubines
>27 Hereditary Consorts
>81 Imperial Wives