Fanservice. That titillating spice in anime which can either add some zest to a series or make it unpalatable. I notice it far more than David does, who thinks fanservice has become cliche. I personally believe fanservice isn’t cliche, but my definition of the term may be different from other people’s:
Rachel’s Definition of Fanservice
Fanservice is anything which is gratuitous and exists purely for the satisfaction of a group(s) of fans. Fanservice is excessive and unnecessary use of “popular” motifs which do not in any way shape or form contribute to the atmosphere, mood, plot, story or character development of an anime. A few things which are commonly termed fanservice in the anime fandom are pantyshots, meido (maids), nekomimi (catgirls), meganeko (girls with glasses), boob shots and gothic lolitas. However fanservice is not limited to feminine attire or female anatomy. It can also be overuse of popular gags, excessive blood and violence and/or unnecessary inclusion of characters or props. In short: Fanservice can be absolutely anything (people, places, things) used in excess, which doesn’t move the story forward nor creates atmosphere or mood.
I believe fanservice isn’t any one thing. It’s simply gratuitous use of popular motifs and characters as an end in themselves and not a means to an end. Fanservice is a way of making a product more appealing to a wider audience, or, is a way of targeting a specific group of fans who are wild about a specific character or theme. Catgirls come to mind.
But if an anime featured solely or mainly catgirls, the entire series should be judged on its merits as an anime before being condemned as purely fanservice. I do believe there are series which exist solely for fans of a particular motif and which don’t necessarily delve too much into things like plot and character development. Personally, I avoid such series. I don’t have the time to sit down and watch something which holds little appeal for me. If I see catgirls or gothic lolitas collapsed in what I dub the “moe fold“, I’m not going to be watching that series if I have a ton of other anime to watch. To me, such visuals smack of pandering, and although I can’t judge the series based solely on what appears to be fanservice driven character design, I’m not gonna go outta my way to prove my initial impressions wrong.
After hearing us sound off on our disbeliefs or definitions of fanservice, what are your thoughts on the issue? Do you believe fanservice exists? Is it something you easily recognize or is it in the peripheries as you watch a series? When you think about fanservice, what comes to mind? What’s your definition of fanservice?
Please share your definitions of “fanservice” in the comment section below!
I think that fanservice is a term that can only be used within the context of the same universe. For example Cloud in Final Fantasy VII has spikey hair. Naruto having spikey hair is a cliche (or a convention if you wish to use a more generous term) but it is not fan service because we cannot assume that fans of FFVII are fans of Naruto. However Squall in FF8 or some other protagonist in a subsequent Final Fantasy series having spikey hair could be fan service. But even the spikey hair example is not always fan service, for instance if the producer of the final fantasy series tends to like spikey hair or the character designer has a style which often depicts his male characters with a certain hair cut then it’s not fan service it’s just the style of the series.
To cut my rant short basically my definition of fanservice is:
A a visual or narrative device implemented within a manga/anime/game/film universe for the sole purpose of pleasing a subset of its fanbase.
Agreed, technically fan service can be anything with the means to excite the viewer.
however fan-service is great when it is sexually suggestive – one of my favorites is the Tessa bathing scene from the Full Metal Panic 2nd Raid OVA
@Guy Incognito, I think that fanservice is a term that can only be used within the context of the same universe.” That’s an interesting concept, and I agree there maybe some very specialized types of fanservice, but there really are those fanservice standards which always raise my fanservice-radar. Those usually being boob/ panty shots and dumb moe girls.
@will08, fanservice takes the easy way out with the sexual variety of fs. I can at least appreciate a well placed homage or movie-reference. Bouncing jiggle-bags are just lazy. C’mon fanservice, you can do better!
I have a pretty simple definition:
— Bouncy Booby shots, and Panty/Butt shots —-
I see no need to add more to it, I see why some would want to, but that dilutes the meaning.
If someone says to you an anime has lots of fan service in it, you know what they mean and don’t have to think for even a moment…
— Bouncy Booby shots, and Panty/Butt shots —-
As for the other stereotype aspects of anime which seem to be done to entice the viewer (blatant powering up, spikey hair, etc)… I haven’t looked them up but I would presume that they each have their own descriptors, and if they don’t maybe some new ones need to be coined
@Alternator, while I agree the majority and most obvious bits of fanservice are sexual, I find that character designs, such as meido, goth lolis, meganeko, etc., are fanservice as well. They’re just as obnoxious and gut wrenchingly irritating as bouncy woman parts.
Rachel, if you were a lesbian you would enjoy the jiggle-service.