The complete first season of To Love Ru, the foundational ecchi harem comedy, is now available to stream on both Hulu and Crunchyroll, complete with English dub and subtitle options. The 26-episode series, produced by Xebec, originally aired in Spring 2008 and follows the chaotic daily life of Rito Yuuki after he accidentally proposes to an alien princess.
Adapted from the manga by Saki Hasemi and Kentaro Yabuki, To Love Ru established many of the tropes that would define the harem genre for years to come. The premise centers on Rito's attempts to navigate an increasingly bizarre domestic situation involving the alien princess Lala Satalin Deviluke, her two sisters, and a growing cast of female characters who develop crushes on him, often leading to slapstick and surreal comedic situations.
Xebec, known for its work on titles like Kanokon and Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse, animated this series. While the original series is complete, it spawned several OVAs and a sequel series, Motto To Love Ru, indicating the franchise's enduring popularity and the potential for further content to become available.
For fans of classic ecchi comedies or those curious about the roots of the genre, the availability of the entire first season offers a chance to binge a series that defined a specific era of anime. Its blend of sci-fi elements, school life, and over-the-top romantic comedy has cemented its place in anime history.
