Fanservice

[Shanghai Alice]

Okay, we all know what fanservice is, and I'm sure we all have differing opinions on it.

In my opinion, fanservice isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there's a time and place for it.

For example, in a show like Lucky Star, you almost expect it. It's a comedy, which pokes fun at the less savory side of anime (Oh Kanako, Konata...).

However, in shows like, say Ghost in the Shell, where the writers need to take a moment to show the Major's behind during the middle of a mission, it feels... out of place to me.

In my opinion, fanservice is one of the things that gives anime kind of a bad name in other countries.

But that's my opinion.

Discuss.

 

[Vernikova]

After thinking about it for a second, I could only think of two instances so far when there should be no fan service. First, when it's supposed to be a serious, tense moment. I'm looking at you Code Geass. Random panty shots during a tense moment is ridiculous. Second is when it is a time of story or character development. Your mileage may vary here but I think in the early episodes of a series and the end is where I don't want to see any of that.

 

[Alice]

After thinking about it for a second, I could only think of two instances so far when there should be no fan service. First, when it's supposed to be a serious, tense moment. I'm looking at you Code Geass. Random panty shots during a tense moment is ridiculous. Second is when it is a time of story or character development. Your mileage may vary here but I think in the early episodes of a series and the end is where I don't want to see any of that.

Yeah really... shuffle only ever actually showed anything uncensored during the most serious, depressing parts of the show... it really makes no sense to me.

 

[Jeremy]

I really don't like fan service at all, sweeties. I admit there is a time and a place for it, but still. I especially hate it during serious moments since well, it feels like it takes away the moments atmosphere like in High School of the Dead. Then again the entire series is pretty much fan service to me. XD

 

[Shanghai Alice]

Gah, Code Geass was so WTF-filled that panty shots during battle barely even count anymore.

However, in GitS...

I mean, really. They're in the middle of an anti-terrorist operation, much blood is being spilled, and...

Now for a shot of Kusanagi's ass.

Yay.

 

[Harmonie]

I hate fanservice, but everything is fine as long as it isn't in my face. From what little I saw of High School of the Dead that fanservice was very much in my face. I already had points against the anime because it was about zombies and I hate zombies, so that anime was instantly dropped.

Seriously... A girl with insanely large breasts, and then you make them jiggle? As I said I can usually ignore the oversized breasts (I can't deny that some of my favorite series [One Piece] have that, but... not that bad. And at least One Piece is so good that the fanservice can just be ignored.), but when they make a BIG DEAL about them like that I just can't take it.

It shocks me that there are people that actually like that... That actually get turned on my anime characters on the screen. Doesn't make any sense to me. And I like girls. I just can't find anime girls any where near attractive. They're cartoon characters.

 

[Shanghai Alice]

I can understand liking characters for cuteness, but I agree with everything you say, about being able to ignore it as long as it's not overwhelming, and people getting turned on.


Though yes, I will defend the cute characters fiercely.

 

[revelp8]

I personally don't mind the fanservice...given the genre i watch is mostly harem/comedy >.>

i mean, sweet jesus ikki tousen and strike witches? pinnacles of fanservice if i may say. not to mention sekirei now.

Although Code Geass had a bit of random moments of fanservice. esp kallenxlelouch, that was always a given. but nina...that really felt out of place.

On the subject at hand though, personally i don't think it should define as to what "anime has been known for" yes, its quite known to be in a lot of popular and well liked anime, but i think its just for the lulz. its much more than just that.

 

[Shanghai Alice]

Ask any non-fan what anime is.

Odds are, they'll say porn.

 

[digi-kun]

Ask any non-fan what anime is.

Odds are, they'll say porn.

Um, most [non-adult] non-fans know at least what anime is.

As far as fanservice goes, and I'm assuming you're referring to sexual fanservice, I don't mind it as long as it's subtle. I really don't like the "Kyaa, /pantyflash" all over the place, hence why i dropped Rosario+Vampire right off the bat. I'm not so keen on boob-physics either, especially when they zoom in on them. Most are fine so long as there's something else going on. For service, dedicated service-type anime, it needs variety or it gets dull really fast. Also, service during serious scenes shouldn't be used unless the point is to break the mood with an awkward silence [in drama anyways].

Other than that, panty glimpses, light-cleavage, and other subtle service I'm generally fine with so long it's not spammed all over the series.

 

[Wings Don't Cry]

Sometimes it's completely unnecessary and it's worse when they've been censoring it the whole time then all of a sudden you can see all of the breasts and censor it every other time after that. I'm looking you Samurai Deeper Kyo, what was the point in the steam and the towel if you can see her nipples?

 

[Alice]

but nina...that really felt out of place.

That was actually a really important plot point... and I think choosing to do it like they did really enforced the fact that she loved so and so, and that later on, it's going to cause a lot of turmoil between her and Lelouch.

(I love how I knew exactly what you were talking about, just by seeing her name. lol)

 

[Cherrim]

Like a lot of others, I can stand fanservice so long as it's not the main draw of the anime. But too many gratuitous panty shots, zoomed-in cleavage bounces, etc. and it just detracts from the experience entirely. I love it when it's used in a parody sort of way (Gurren Lagann is good for that) but when it's a perfectly serious scene and suddenly all you see is a five second upskirt of the heroine, it's just silly.

:/ It makes me wonder if they really have much faith in the characters they created for the series, as well as the plot, if they have to "resort" to using fanservice to attract viewers. (And the fact that it even works kind of sickens me.) I mean, was it not good enough before you added gratuitous fanservice? Clearly not if I come away thinking "oookay too many panty shots" rather than "wow, that was a well-paced episode" and whatnot. :/

 

[Shanghai Alice]

That was actually a really important plot point... and I think choosing to do it like they did really enforced the fact that she loved so and so, and that later on, it's going to cause a lot of turmoil between her and Lelouch.

(I love how I knew exactly what you were talking about, just by seeing her name. lol)

Lulz, like most younger viewers, I didn't know what the hell she was DOING until I looked it up later.

Neither did Nunnally, apparently. :P

Also, when I read the post about Nina, I DIDN'T know what you mean, and I thought the series was using NINA, of all people, for fanservice. I was wondering "when did THAT happen?"



...also...

Digi-kun, I guess you just know more intelligent people than I do. Ask anyone, and anime is porn. No plot, no awesomeness, it's just straight up porn.

...*sigh*

Yeah, I dunno. Even cleavage and ass shots can taint a series if they're highlighted enough. I'm not talking only about bouncing (Lulz, Hetalia...), but even someone like Major Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell) can be very irritating sometimes (Even if she IS made of pure essence of WIN).

Also, when I said "Lulz, Hetalia", I'm once again saying that there IS a time and a place for it.


Oh, and funny story while typing this...
While I was posting the thing about other's opinions of anime, my little sister walked up, and wanted to know what "pom" (The rn ran together to make m) was...

*Facepalm*

Fortunately, she's so young she won't remember later.

 

[Legobricks]

I make a point of not watching anything with fanservice intended as such. That is to say, like in Kiki's Delivery Service when she's riding her broom you can often see her bloomers, but... she's flying, having your dress blown about is just what happens. It's a nice touch of realism when the animators didn't do a magical underwear concealing skirt on everything, but if it's intended for arousal or what have you, there we have a problem. There's enough actual adult anime around, and I'd watch that if I sought such sights, so I'm actually quite bewildered at why all this comparatively softcore fanservice in normal anime gets such attention. You could say because it's X specific character, but that's what fan-art is for.

 

[Shanghai Alice]

Heheh, reminds me of the TVTropes thing about Kiki's.

They were right. For those kind of shots, they were very tastefully done.

 

[Eternal Nightmare]

This reminds me of the Rosario+Vampire anime, the mangas way better by the way. Panty shots every five minutes even during tense moments and battles. Its a harem/comedy which is fine but the panty shots drive away most of the story that's going on. Don't get me wrong I LOVED the anime but a panty shot every few minutes....come on really.

Fan service can actually be more harmful than good in all. I really technically don't approve that much of fan service, but a teeny bit doesn't hurt as long as it isn't a huge distraction.

 

[Alice]

Fanservice can actually be pretty funny if done right, so a show like Umisho, even though it's overflowing with it, is still pretty good.

And then there are shows like B Gata H Kei, where you would expect a ton of it, but they really didn't put in any unless it was necessary for the plot. (Which it was a lot of the time, but still.)

 

[Shanghai Alice]

Fanservice can actually be pretty funny if done right, so a show like Umisho, even though it's overflowing with it, is still pretty good.

Like I said, if played for comedy, it's okay. In most comedy shows, you actually expect it, to some degree.

But I believe that anyone who has seen GitS has seen enough of Kusanagi's nether regions, after just one fight.

Although watching her try to... um... coax information out of that one guy in 2ND GIG was fairly lolworthy and cringe inducing. At the same time.

 

[HugSomebody]

On the topic of fanservice, I feel silly for not understanding what tentacle rape was until a few days ago. ^^;;

I've never watched an anime or read a manga without any fanservice at all. I thought Pokemon was at first, but then... But to be honest, I've seen it so much that it's ok with me. There's always going to be that one busty girl character, unnecessary panty shots, very fanservicy abdominal shots.