The topic of fanservice can be a touchy one among anime fans. Providing some blatant eye candy is nothing new for anime, as Space Battleship Yamato regularly featured skirt flips and a brief glimpse of pure white cloth, but it seems to be especially controversial these days as the nature of fanservice itself changes and anime is increasingly seen as catering to a fanbase which actively sexualizes characters.
But there are many different approaches to fanservice, and I wonder, what do anime fans consider to be the “best” (or in a sense “worst”) form of fanservice?
Let’s say there’s a fairly serious show, and the show contains fanservice. Which of the following do you consider the lesser of two evils/the better of two worlds?
1) Fanservice that occurs during a dramatic and emotional scene that is possibly the climax of a show.
2) A fanservice moment or possibly even episode which occurs between important and emotional plot points.
Essentially, when is fanservice more welcome or considered more egregious, when it exists within a “dramatic” moment or when it happens as a “break” of sorts?
I can see arguments for either side. Someone who says example 1 is worse would probably argue that fanservice can trivialize or harm what could have been a truly great moment. However, it reminds me of Tezuka’s work, where he would stick comedic moments right in the middle of serious ones, only here we’re replacing comedy with sex appeal (and also possibly comedy).
Example 2 meanwhile can be seen as the greater menace because it can detract from characterization. But then it can be seen as a form of relief, a break in between emotionally involving moments in a series.
So, which is the path you’d choose?
OGIUE MANIAX 
As far as I know, “especially controversial these days” only applies to one myopic anime message board along the entire Information Superhighway.
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I think it still applies elsewhere with other fans, but that’s an especially hilarious case.
DON’T INSULT HEROMAN
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I dislike it entirely. The more blatant, the more I dislike it.
It’s harder to take characters seriously with ridiculously large breasts bouncing around, or acting otherwise fanserviceish.
“beach scenes” feel out of place in SO many anime.
The only thing I don’t mind is the page between chapters in manga.
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Actually I’d rather have a series consistently showing a bit of fanservice here and there instead of an alternation of plot and boring fanservice-only episodes.
Those obligatory beach episodes have a very high probability of being terrible…
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I’m always okay with fanservice. However, I am not always entertained by it. I don’t watch fanservice-centric anime not because I don’t like fanservice, but because it isn’t enough for a show to go on. When a show can skillfully weave a compelling narrative and still pull of fanservice, no matter how extreme (Qwaser) then I can go for it.
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Lemme guess — with the picture, you were thinking of the shirt-rip in the final episode?
However, it reminds me of Tezuka’s work, where he would stick comedic moments right in the middle of serious ones, only here we’re replacing comedy with sex appeal (and also possibly comedy).
One Piece also seems to have the credo of “never a bad time for comedy.”
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I like the way SHAFT handles fanservice–especially in something like Bakemonogatari. A flash of Senjougahara’s naked body during a bit of plot exposition. A glimpse of Hachikuji’s panties as she kicks Koyomi in the face. Nadeko breathing heavily during her exorcism.
I guess these all fall into example one. I like them because they don’t feel shoehorned in. A bit more natural, and actually add a bit of spice to the show.
But I have no problem with fanservice in general anyway!!
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The problem I have with fan-service isn’t that it exists; it’s because anime nowadays overuses fan-service to the point of normality. Just about every popular anime now has a beach episode in addition to skirt shots up the wazoo (figuratively speaking lol, but sometimes literally).
Just tone it down already Japan! If you’re that sexually frustrated, then work on that population problem you seem to be having.
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I agree, when fanservice is appropriately timed (applies to case 1 or 2) and used sparingly it’s fine and sometimes comedic. However, when a show becomes inundated with it where you can’t go one episode or worse 15 minutes without some form of fanservice the show becomes much more off putting.
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