60945


I have watched the first episode of _Neon Genesis Evangelion_ and at the end,
after the credits, there was a short teaser of the next episode, ended with
the sentence:

> Tune in next time for lots more fan service!

I have watched much more American TV shows and movies than anime, so for me,
the word "fanservice" has more bad associations, like some unnecessary things,
not connected to the plot. So if fanservice is mentioned in a teaser, does it
mean something else in anime, or do people watching anime like fanservice
rather than looking down on it?


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T09:09:36.213
60940
2020-11-28T20:47:57.903
2020-10-30T15:38:19.137
35679
48663
question
neon-genesis-evangelion
Is fanservice considered good in anime?


All though I don't think we really can answer the " _do people enjoy watching
fanservice_ " part of the question. As this is left to the opinion of the
viewer, lets get into what 'fan-service' entails in anime.

Your definition of " _something unnecessary_ and " _not connected to the_
plot", except when talking about watching it for the plot (definition may be
considered nsfw, look it up at your own discretion) is pretty accurate.

[Fanservice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_service) content's direct
intention is to please the audience, which often leads to content of a sexual
nature in anime targeting the Shounen and sometimes Shoujo demographic.

These scenario's can come forth through a range of causes. In-universe reasons
range from innocence of the character, to accidental walk ins. But it is not
uncommon to have scripted 'beach episodes' or 'bathing scenes' where either
implied nudity or absurdly small bikini's are featured as a form of fan-
service.

Hence the fan service mentioned in the teaser implies that more such scene's
will be shown. However, by my recollection of the series, no actual body parts
are shown in those scene's. With the exception of the directors cut version,
which did feature nipples on certain characters.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T10:26:25.337
60941
2020-10-30T12:33:59.210
2020-10-30T12:33:59.210
20275
1458
60940
answer


Most TV shows (Anime or not) engage in fan service of some sort. Generally
speaking, it means you give the audience exactly what it wants. That can mean
anything from seeing a long-brewing relationship brew into a romantic one, or
it could mean two characters finally having a brawl that highlights their
powers.

In Japan, though, there's more permissive rules about nudity than there are
elsewhere, so "fan service" often became synonymous with a nude scene
involving female characters. The anime [Super Dimension Cavalry Southern
Cross](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Dimension_Cavalry_Southern_Cross)
(which is the second arc in the US version of the Robotech series) features
just such a scene in the first episode, where the main female character is
shown topless in the shower (which is why the Netflix version is TV-MA, while
the original broadcast TV series merely cropped it out).

As the US markets grew, however, they were toned down to more "acceptable"
levels of sexuality involving things like community bathhouses (more common in
Japanese culture) or swimsuits. The Naruto series featured the "[Sexy
Technique/Jutsu](https://naruto.fandom.com/wiki/Sexy_Technique)" (link may be
slightly NSFW), where the main character assumes the form of a scantily clad
or even naked woman (with the key parts obscured).

Evangelion was almost certainly using it as a tease to boost viewership, since
the original TV series really didn't push those limits very much (if anything,
the series revolves around how timid the main characters are with each other).
The movie _End of Evangelion_ , oddly enough, went the other way with scenes
like

> a dying Misato kissing Shinji as a lover and remarking they can "do the rest
> later".

The Rebuild Evangelion movies have been even more racy with

> Shinji entering Rei's apartment to return something to her. He winds up
> knocking over a very naked Rei and falling on her in such a way as to avoid
> showing anything.

# Is it considered good?

It depends. Kotaku reviewed [No Game No Life](https://kotaku.com/no-game-no-
life-is-a-must-watch-for-any-gamer-1596865091) and noted this

> Shiro is 11 years old in No Game No Life. In the first episode alone, we get
> two panty shots of her. Over the course of the series she is naked several
> times (though of course it is self-censored in one way or another); and
> while the only one that young, she is far from the only girl seen in varying
> states of undress.

And later

> But used as satire or not, that doesn't change the fact that the fanservice,
> while never superseding the plot, is still a constant presence—and 11-year-
> old Shiro is a part of that.

Some shows lean heavily on fanservice to draw viewers, to the point where the
plot can suffer. Most Anime that is considered "good" tends to be those with a
solid plot.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T19:58:14.767
60943
2020-10-30T20:05:06.580
2020-10-30T20:05:06.580
48808
48808
60940
answer


Fanservice is content which is not necessary for the progression of the story
but something which pleases the viewer/fan. In anime this is usually sexual in
nature, but can also be hints towards ships in the fandom, cameos, or similar.
It is something intentional added in hope it will increase viewers/sales.

Reception towards fanservice is mixed. Since it is often sexual in nature, it
has a negative effect for the female viewer in a male oriented show (and vice
versa). And for more plot heavy shows, extended and repeated use of fan-
service can be distracting and end up annoying. For a 'ecchi' show, fan-
service is expected and people would complain if an episode goes by without
it.

In the end, fanservice is a balance of adding value without distracting from
the show. Sometimes this will hurt certain demographics to boost the main one.
But it is a balance which is taken to increase viewers.

In case of the mentioned example in Neon Genesis Evangelion, mentioning it so
directly in the preview was something I found unusual when watching the show.
Since it is not a fan-service oriented show, it appears as a pretty desperate
move to increase viewers since it indirectly says there is nothing more
interesting coming up in the next episode. Maybe I'm missing a historical
context here, but the show was never expected to get as popular as it got.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T21:46:47.540
60945
2020-10-30T21:46:47.540
34849
60940
answer


Anime is entertainment. Fan service exists to entertain.

Just as there is lower or higher quality anime, there will be lower or higher
quality fan service.

And as with any form of entertainment, it is highly subjective.

* * *

However, with regards to the final words in Neon Genesis Evangelion I'm not
sure the translation is correct.

I believe that what Misato Katsuragi says is, "Kono tsugi mo sabisu sabisu".
Which roughly translates to, "The next one is on the house".

This would be a reference to her hard drinking.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-28T20:47:57.903
61140
2020-11-28T20:47:57.903
57378
60940
answer