Topics: Fan-Service in Anime

Zach Goodier

Anyone who keeps up with my reviews might realize that more than a couple have been noted for what I generally call “excessive fan-service.”  However, I think that this is a topic that should be delved into in more detail, as I shall endeavor to do here. 

This more or less summarizes the issue of excessive fan-service in general.

In general, for those who are new to the anime genre, or those that just want a definition to work with, “fan-service” is a term used by many to describe any attempt to use sex-appeal to gain and keep an audience, and more than a few popular shows make very extensive use of fan-service to give their show appeal.  Now, in a broad sense, almost every anime contains some form of this, whether it be an episode on the beach with swimsuits, or even the typical uniforms that all students wear in the series, some fan-service is not only present, but expected in some way.  However, when I use the term in a negative context, it usually indicates that a show leans too heavily on sex-appeal, diverting attention from the story or characters, and sometimes to distract the audience from some terrible writing.

This isn't an actual clip from Rosario + Vampire, but it does illustrate what the show more or less focuses on.  While it might be tough for a guy to turn away while the show is on, I can say without shame that I had trouble remembering this show a couple weeks after watching it.

Future Diary does fan-service in exactly the right way; they use it to add appeal to the female characters, like Yuno and Minene, without dragging the whole shown down by turning it into a harem or the like.  Other shows, such as Rosario+Vampire make a much more extensive use of fan-service (just note that the camera is almost always below skirt-level around the female characters), and while the show itself has a fair deal of humor, and even the makings of an interesting story, you get so bogged down with panty shots and seduction, that most of the praiseworthy aspects of the show have already faded into obscurity. 

Let's be honest, Yuno is hot, and the show makes no attempt to hide that.  However, it's what she brings to the story that makes both her and the entire show unforgettable.

Overall, fan-service isn’t an evil just because it exists, it's like a spice that can both make and break any series.  I love sexy/dangerous female leads, such as Revy in Black Lagoon, and Yuno in Future Diary; however, these characters are already original, and well-written with a compelling back-story and something to bring into the show before any use of fan-service is brought into the mix, and that’s what makes these characters memorable.  In the other cases, the characters often fade into an obscure mass of low-cut blouses and high-cut skirts.  That doesn’t necessarily make them bad characters, just not usually as memorable.  As long as fan-service is treated more like spice, something to add a touch of here and there, it doesn't overwhelm the rest of the work, and ruin everything else that a series has to offer.