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!
