What is Fanservice?
1.
Usually seen in reference to Japanese popculture. When someone (i.e. manga/anime character, music artist) flashes the general public and/or whenever two or more famous people engage in any action which could be perceived as sexual in nature just to stand out or please (excite, shock, etc.) their fans. Many bandmembers have been known to kiss, lick, rub, and hump against other bandmembers while performing or while in public. Usually, this is purely platonic, but not always.
Person #1: Did you see the ~ *insert band name here* performed at their last concert?
Person #2: Where the vocalist licked the bassist's neck, and later on the bassist humped the vocalist?
Person #1: Yeah, wasn't it great?!
2.
As stated above, "fanservice" came from Japanese anime, film, and music culture. Its definition is spreading to include any unnecessary visuals included simply because the fans, presumably, want to see them. Gratuitous nudity, male or female, but also shots of cute
Jay (watching a Chinese
wuxia film): They just spent ten minutes showing us Alec Su taking a bath.
Shiu: Fanservice ...
3.
In anime, fanservice stands for scenes which are not relevant to the overall plot at all, but merely are included to give the viewers what they presumably want to see. This generally includes things like panty shots, bouncing boobs, shower scenes, skirts which barely cover the crotch area, but can also be things like incredibly overexaggerated explosions, giant robots or supercute animals.
Do an image search for "Agent Aika" and you will see. That series basically is ONLY fanservice without a plot.
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4.
In terms of Anime, the least extreme form of nudity or sexually based angles. This may include panty shots, minor nudity, underwear shots, bouncing breasts and other such things added solely for comic effect or pleasuring perverted fans.
A less severe form of Ecchi or Hentai.
mostly found in romantic comedies and comedy.
1. That's not hentai! Ecchi maybe, or even fanservice.
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5.
Catering to fans' base interests instead of to the integrity of the artistic work as a whole.
In the middle of the film, the director included two minutes of fanservice, thus providing many twelve year-olds with masturbatory material.
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6.
Anime nudity with nothing to do with plot or continuity.
Some episodes of Ranma 1/2 contain fanservice.
7.
When anime provides a service for the fans. Usually by showing girls in a sexual way.
Fanservice is for stupid people and children.
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