I'll never understand why fanservice is a bad thing. Is it just moral superiority or what?
I'm not opposed to a little fanservice and I'm definitely not opposed to sex humor, it's when it's excessive and forced I don't like it. High School of the dead had so much needless fan-service that it was "almost" unwatchable. I think MTT does a good job at using fan-service in a entertaining way and the characters like the Manga-president has other aspects to her personality other then to be used in fan-service (compared to the nurse in HHOTD).
I'll never understand why fanservice is a bad thing. Is it just moral superiority or what?
Done poorly, it's transparent pandering.
However, if it's done well, it actually adds to realism. In real life, people are sometimes naked by mistake, not all the time, but sometimes. Evangelion is an example of fanservice done right.
t's when it's excessive and forced I don't like it.
Why not?
Done poorly, it's transparent pandering.
So you feel like your intelligence is insulted.
I think I'll jump in here too and say that it can also reflect poor writing, or an attempt to get people to watch something that the creators know isn't very good and therefore try to draw attention to their show/story using boobs/panty shots. Fanservice used as a crutch or as bait for an audience to distract them from bad writing, bad plot, weak characters, etc. weakens the presentation of whatever it is I'm watching. Also, it feels like a cock-tease. If you wanted to make porn so badly, why not go and make some porn? What's the point of taking your porn idea, making it into an unwatchable mess with nonsensical or insipid plots? Just go make your goddamned porn. I also hate when I get tricked by something that has neat character design or catches my eye, and then turns out to be twenty minutes of convoluted reasons to show panties and boobs.
I think I'll jump in here too and say that it can also reflect poor writing
How do you account for comments like "It's a great show except for all the fanservice"?
Often it's just a knee-jerk reaction (possibly Scott in this podcast, though I can't say until I've seen the show), but fanservice can often be disruptive.
Fanservice also doesn't necessarily equal sex. It's simply any time you have a scene or event in a show that is designed specifically and primarily to please the fans via some understanding of their meta-involvement. It's not really distinct from the show or the plot, and the line is blurry. I could come up with a better definition if I tried.
For example, the Major has a stupendous butt. Legendary even. Pandering fanservice would zoom in on that thing at every opportunity. It would be a "we're having a butt contest at the beach!" episode in the middle of the show.
Instead, we occasionally get a low-angle shot of her on a motorcycle. Quite pleasing, but also not out of character. Fanservice it may be, it also plays with her otherwise decidedly masculine/androgynous character, bad-assitude, and lack of humanity. It complements the show, with a bit of fun.
Aramaki gets some fan service too. In Second Gig, the wine cellar episode is 100% Aramaki fanservice. We see the side of him we never get to see, and have a bit of fun along the way. But, the episode dovetails well with the established plot and characters, and highlights the complex nature of his relationship with the Major.
It would be a "we're having a butt contest at the beach!" episode in the middle of the show..
Are you saying this would be a bad thing?
Keep your butt contests out of my political intrigue. I started trying to watch Code Geass a while ago, and just gave up a few episode in, because I felt that I was being bombarded with high-school situations. No, fuck that. If I want a drama, give me a fucking drama. High school silliness, I'll stick with Azumanga Daioh. I don't want to be reeled in with a genre I like, then have asses/boobs/moe shoved in my face, especially when it's clearly only there to please the perverted fanbase.
It would be a "we're having a butt contest at the beach!" episode in the middle of the show..
Are you saying this would be a bad thing?
It would certainly be a break with the tone of the series.
Yep. This is exactly the kind of "disruptive" I meant. While such an episode might be okay in another show, I can't see it working in Ghost in the Shell.
Fanservice while mostly T&A also covers stuff like the detailed specs of a weapon, mech or ship. The made up technical fanboy jargon is usually rattled off by some gun nut or an obsessed mech mechanic/pilot in the series. I personally never found that fan service off putting while watching those types of shows.
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Also, it feels like a cock-tease. If you wanted to make porn so badly, why not go and make some porn? What's the point of taking your porn idea, making it into an unwatchable mess with nonsensical or insipid plots? Just go make your goddamned porn.
I also hate when I get tricked by something that has neat character design or catches my eye, and then turns out to be twenty minutes of convoluted reasons to show panties and boobs.
For example, the Major has a stupendous butt. Legendary even. Pandering fanservice would zoom in on that thing at every opportunity. It would be a "we're having a butt contest at the beach!" episode in the middle of the show.
Instead, we occasionally get a low-angle shot of her on a motorcycle. Quite pleasing, but also not out of character. Fanservice it may be, it also plays with her otherwise decidedly masculine/androgynous character, bad-assitude, and lack of humanity. It complements the show, with a bit of fun.
Aramaki gets some fan service too. In Second Gig, the wine cellar episode is 100% Aramaki fanservice. We see the side of him we never get to see, and have a bit of fun along the way. But, the episode dovetails well with the established plot and characters, and highlights the complex nature of his relationship with the Major.
Also, education is love - that teacher deserved a comment in the podcast.
Based on the first
twothreefourfivesix episodes, Scott was overreacting to the fanservice.I teared up at the end of the beach episode; definitely a great moment.
Also, the recurring naruto symbol is a nice touch, especially in the way it links the end right back to the start.