A different look at fanservice and sexuality in anime

[Lego]

No, this isn't one of my "zomg the sky is falling posts" heh. I decided to go ahead and watch Requiem from the Darkness(Hundred Stories) today out of boredom, and started thinking about it. From the first episode, you see Ogin as a very attractive female. But in a few seconds, she can turn her face into bones, or just terrify you instead of titillating you. So I started to think about shows where fanservice and sexuality are used in clever ways. For example, either to further the plot, add depth to a character, amplify a moment or scene, or a host of other reasons. Some of the shows I thought about were:

Shuffle: There are many moments in this series where fanservice is shown, but it uses it to build on characters. One of my favorite scenes had to be from a early episode. Rin is being chased by a bunch of wackos, and hides under a table that Asa is at. While under the table, Rin <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> is seemingly "shoved" under Asa's skirt, and gets a nice view of her panties. When the idiots are gone, Rin gets up and talks to Asa. Asa seems disappointed that Rin didn't take a look at her underwear. </span> For me that defined her character a little more.

GITS SAC: Most of the show is action, story, and plot details. But every now and then we get a nice shot of Motoko to remind us that she is in fact a woman with a nice body. From her "backing out" of a tank, to hanging out with friends at her place, being in a tight body suit, or even in a white evening dress, the little bits of fanservice expand on her character and let the viewer have a rest from the heavy nature of the series.

Vandread: The show is full of sexuality and sexually charged conversations heh. For me, it made me realize that the women of the Nirvana were clueless, as they were separated from males for a long period of time. Moments like the ones mentioned made the series enjoyable.

Full Metal Panic: While FMP has fanservice, you do get a tension(was going to say sexual tension) between our loveable military nut and Kaname. It's expanded upon more in FMP TSR, especially during the <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>"haircut scene" </span>.

Cowboy Bebop: Faye, that is it, one word heh. Through out the series, Faye gives off a strong vibe whenever she is on screen. The same can be said for the moments where Julia is shown, and you get that tension between Julia and Spike, and Spike and Faye.

I'm sure that others can list different shows, but I listed some that came to mind.

[something]

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Lego said:
Full Metal Panic: While FMP has fanservice, you do get a tension(was going to say sexual tension) between our loveable military nut and Kaname. It's expanded upon more in FMP TSR, especially during the <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>"haircut scene" </span>.

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Most awesomely awkward scene ever. I thought my head was going to explode. Best scene in the whole franchise.

[Lego]

Yeh, I really enjoyed that scene. Can't wait for Funi to bring it over heh.

[Lego]

Sorry for the double post, but wanted to add one heh.

Gankutsuou : In a middle episode, after <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>the death of Franz. Albert and Eugine are at the airport after Albert "rescues" her from her marriage to the fake aristocrat. The kissing scene between the two of them really tells you a lot about their relationship and how it has changed from the starting of the series. </span> With the music, it makes a great scene.

[aquapermanence]

In a way, the fanservice cliche is very similar to the use of visual cliches in Broadway musicals--the over-the-top, unnecessary and in-your-face references to sex and decadence are things you have to accept or at least expect in order to watch and appreciate a whole category of works.

But that doesn't mean that any musical with line dancers in silver bikinis is automatically playing the cliche or attempting to directly titillate the audience, and by the same token not every anime that shows a little skin is going for the fanservice angle.

Still, it's painfully difficult to find an example of a naturalistic representation of female nudity or even anatomy in anime that isn't tied to the shallow pleasure of ogling a pretty girl; even "average" characters tend to be idealized in their appearance and proportions, and with often simplistic or unadventurous designs it becomes easy to look at girls in anime as mannequins with breasts. In terms of both characterization and character design both males and females are often left looking unfinished, but at least to my eyes it looks as though male characters aren't deliberately sexualized as much as females.

Where the line is drawn for me is when it becomes a difference of characterization and believability--Motoko or Faye dressing up to look elegant, being consciously aware of their own bodies and the power they have over others, are in-character behaviors that bring to the viewer's attention some nuances of the worlds in which they live. An objective observer could watch a show like Ghost in the Shell or Cowboy Bebop and not be put off by the costuming choices, they being well fit for the setting even if not directly or necessarily relevant. Likewise, Fujiko's outfits in Lupin the 3rd run all the way from conservative to buck-naked--sometimes in the same episode. Her reputation is that of a sexy and well-put-together woman, but it's one that precedes her rather than follows her around. She doesn't have to strip down to her underwear and straddle a camera for you to know it's true.

For myself there are a few shows that are either heavy on the fanservice or just tend in that direction, but are still completely watchable and enjoyable either in spite of it, with disregard to it, or as a compliment to it. I don't believe for a minute that cutoffs and a bustier are the best choice of attire for a tro-con in Dirty Pair, but I'll go along with it. When a single gratuitous element is played straight and serious, it takes on a sheen of authenticity it could never have had in a story written and designed around showing off as much as possible. At the same time, a show like Aika is just so completely over the top in terms of quantity of panty shots, yet internally consistent with their use, that the question of taking them seriously becomes moot--they're so thoroughly present, and yet at the same time their presence has no impact on the story itself.

[Lego]

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Where the line is drawn for me is when it becomes a difference of characterization and believability--Motoko or Faye dressing up to look elegant, being consciously aware of their own bodies and the power they have over others, are in-character behaviors that bring to the viewer's attention some nuances of the worlds in which they live. An objective observer could watch a show like Ghost in the Shell or Cowboy Bebop and not be put off by the costuming choices, they being well fit for the setting even if not directly or necessarily relevant.

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Thats what I was getting at heh. Moments from series that are fanservicy or sexual in nature, but they go beyond the normal "zomg boobs" aspect of it, like the ones that I've mentioned. Hell, it doesn't even have to be fanservice.