Fanservice is one of the most overused elements of anime, with a multitude of series airing each season that feature sexualized and scantily clad characters and tend to put off viewers with dicey scenes that seem disconnected from the main story. However, some anime take fanservice to the extreme in original and innovative ways.
In most modern anime, the fanservice feels forced and can make the series seem shallow by objectifying characters and ruining serious scenes or exciting battles with unnecessary, gratuitous nudity. Fortunately, not only do some over-the-top anime use fan service effectively, but there would also be completely different stories without it.
Content warning: This article contains discussion of adult themes, including adult topics related to sexuality.
Fairy!!!
Fairy is one of the anime with the most ridiculous premises, seemingly existing solely for fan service as it features a bizarre sport where players in swimsuits use their breasts and butts to punch each other. However, Fairy takes itself seriously, with fanservice becoming a way to tell its story rather than simply pleasing viewers.
Fairy embodies many sports anime clichés, with characters who train hard and fight intensely, and a strong, fiery protagonist who never gives up and dreams of becoming a pro. Therefore, fan service is not only absolutely necessary in Fairybut it’s also included naturally to create an entertaining, unapologetic and hilarious shōnen parody.
Food wars! Shokugeki No Soma
Food wars seamlessly blends cooking with the dynamics of shōnen battles and fan service to visually represent the joy of eating. In Food wars, Yukihira Soma enters a special high school where everything is decided through culinary battles, and eating becomes an almost religious experience where the extreme happiness of the characters is depicted as if they were taking off their clothes.
Fortunately, Food warsThe fan service isn’t disruptive, as it becomes a recurring element in its narrative, and it’s balanced with humor, with many viewers who can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of these sequences. What’s more, even viewers who avoid fan service decide to ignore it. Food wars in favor of its interesting underdog story and good recipes.
Prison school
Prison school is a highly controversial anime that, at first glance, appears to be nothing more than fan service and lewd jokes. However, the anime turned out to be quite enjoyable, as it differs from other ecchi in that instead of using sexuality in an erotic way, the fan service is so over the top that it becomes part of the comedy.
In Prison schoola group of boys caught spying in the girls’ bathroom are convicted and imprisoned in the school, where they are subjected to hard labor and horrible discipline. Although it’s not for everyone, as it features depraved characters, fetishes, and brutal violence, Prison school retains its essence as a parody anime with many moments of tension and suspense.
Golden Kamuy
One of the most underrated anime, Golden Kamuy follows a former soldier named Saichi Sugimoto who joins forces with young Asirpa to find hidden treasure together. However, despite the serious tone that fans often attribute to historical anime, Golden Kamuy is one of the most absurd seinen ever.
Golden Kamuy always finds a way to surprise viewers, being particularly funny in its use of fan service, as it features several scenes of shirtless and buff guys. This fanservice stands out from the typical prince-type characters of shojo anime, showing glimpses of Golden Kamuyand why it’s such a crazy, action-packed adventure.
Big Blue Dream
At first glance, Big Blue DreamThe premises of a college diving club seem to promise large doses of fan service, featuring characters on the beach in swimsuits. However, the anime defies viewers’ expectations. Big Blue Dream is a masterclass in how to pull off silly comedy, with jokes that, while simple, are hilarious.
Although it features cute girls in bikinis and male fan service (with the first episode featuring a game of striptease, paper, scissors almost from the start), in Big Blue Dreamnudity is used as a comedic element. Big Blue Dream always has a punchline ready and doesn’t take itself seriously, becoming one of the best comedy anime.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is perhaps one of the most misleading anime series, with a misleading title that surprised many viewers who were unaware of its themes. In the anime, fanservice scenes are rare and subtle, and Mai’s iconic bunny costume serves a real purpose.
As a result, even though it looks like another fan service anime, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is an incredibly touching story. The anime’s most notable traits are its emotional moments, its intriguing plot, its use of romance, and the way it develops the relationship between Sakuta and Mai with great delicacy.
Kakegurui
Although Kakegurui may seem like a simple gaming anime, where the tension lies in twisted and compulsive gambling, the series has multiple sexual overtones. In Kakeguruifan service is integrated as it seeks to demonstrate the obvious sexual pleasure that characters, such as Yumeko Jabami, feel while playing, and which is often reflected in their frenzied expressions.
Thus, despite some touches of mystery and suspense, Kakegurui revolves around its eroticism and its daring scenes to show that the thrills of the characters are linked to their good or bad hands during games of chance. However, the charm of the anime lies not only in its expressive characters but also in its intense gameplay which has earned it Kakegurui widespread popularity and live-action adaptation.
Chainsaw man
While Chainsaw man offers fan service like other shōnen anime, in Tatsuji Fujimoto’s work it serves a thematic purpose. Although Denji’s goal is sexual intimacy, which creates a perfect opportunity for fan service, the way this is presented doesn’t fit the norm nor is it as rewarding as most viewers might expect.
Denji’s hypersexuality and toxic relationships are explored throughout Chainsaw manThe story of like the raw, pure emotions of someone who grew up without meaningful personal connections. Because of this, Chainsaw man does not shy away from depicting violence and sexual themes in a blatant and intentional manner. This unique approach allowed Chainsaw man a controversial and groundbreaking shōnen anime.
Panties and stockings with garter belt
Panties and stockings with garter belt is one of the most controversial animated series in history. However, despite its notoriously explicit and vulgar nature, Panties and stockings with garter belt thrives on his cheeky, raw and suggestive humor. Following the angels expelled for their behavior and who can turn their underwear into weapons, Panties and stockings with garter belt offers many fan services.
The greatest example of fan service in anime can be seen in oversexualized magical girl transformations that cater to both male and female audiences. However, the fanservice never feels too intrusive due to the nature of the characters and the cartoonish art style of the anime, where nudity is often played as a gag.
Panties and stockings with garter belt is over-the-top, visually appealing, and stupidly funny for those who enjoy its raunchy humor. Additionally, its atmosphere of senseless anarchy and mind-blowing cliffhangers make it one of the most daring anime, where viewers never know what to expect.
Kill kill her
Unlike most ecchi anime where the excessive skin shown is intended to appeal to a certain audience, fanservice plays a vital role in Kill her Kill herand removing it would completely change its story. Plus, the absurd amount of fanservice in Kill kill her and the way it’s depicted often makes it seem more like comic relief than gratuitous.
Beyond the characters who take off their shirts, the uniforms where they are almost half naked, or the crazy transformation sequences, Kill kill her is an unbridled anime with an interesting apocalyptic world, jarring battle scenes brimming with madness and epicness, unexpected twists and turns and humorous gags that made it an enjoyable surreal experience under the Studio Trigger brand.
- Release date
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2013 – 2014
- Directors
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Akira Amemiya, Masahiko Otsuka, Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Writers
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Kazuki Nakashima
- Franchise(s)
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Kill her Kill her
