Is "Fan-Service" necessary for anime to be?

[blackrosetwilight]

Seriously is it necessary I know its good for comic relief and all but sometime it really ruins an animes' appeal when its over used. Like Ikkitousen and Najica Blitz as examples.

[~*Red*~]

Well, for some animes, it could be removed, and for others, it should be kept, because it keeps the story interesting.

[Midnight Rambler]

I believe that "Fan Service" is appropriate for some titles and inappropriate for others. It would be weird to see a lot of fan service in something like "Pokemon" or DBZ, but to see it in something like "Golden Boy" or "Burst Angel" seems only natural. I myself am trying to finish "Ikkitousen" right now and if not for the fan service and one humorous character, the series would have no appeal at all...

[KuroTan]

Yes. The same concept is applied to non anime shows to get ratings so it's only natural.^^

[Akihiko Yamamoto Hozagaki]

I like Ikki Tousen even with the fan service. I don't think it ruins the show at all. As long as it's just fan service and not soft porn, it's all okay. I can't say I'd like it better without it since it doesn't really bug me that much.

[Metronome]

It's not like fan service is an entirely bad thing anyway right? Sometimes you don't even notice or pay attention to it even though it is present. Besides even the "Originator" of fan service Gainax has more going for it than just that, I mean who doesn't know about the "Gainax ending" and the "Gainax bounce".

[Ickyarkman]

Me :P i never even heard of galinax

[Metronome]

If you're serious then that's sad. Gainax is a very well known anime studio for their works Neon Genesis Evangelion, Kare Kano, Mahoromatic, He Is My Master, etc.

[Aizmov]

Depends. Most of the time it isn't necessary. I don't really care for it

[Gjallarhorn]

I would just like to point out that the entire point of Najica was fanservice. Anyone who's watched more than a single episode could tell that. So, I don't think it's a good standard to go by when talking about an anime that has been "ruined by fanservice".

The kinds of fanservice that really gets me is the sudden interjection of something silly and goofy as something serious is going on; one thing about Bleach that really irks me.

GAINAX has handled the perverted fanservice fairly well, and it doesn't really make it something central. Managing to do that in Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann is an impressive feat.

If a series it going to have fanservice, it should know that there is a recognizable limit, beyond which it becomes too open, blunt, and rather annoying.

Is it necessary? No. I'd prefer to see less of it, honestly. Maybe if writers weren't trying to fit in momentary panty-shots, they'd have more time to make half-decent stories.

[Souji Seta]

Fan-service eh? Well, I'd sure like it in some animes but some I rather pass. It's good for some animes and not for some in other words. Let's see, I kinda like the fan-service shots in Bakuretsu Tenshi and Kore ga watashi no goshujin-sama, but I wouldn't like fan-service in animes like Jigoku Shoujo, it's just wrong. I guess, it really depends.

[naotavespaboy]

In places yes. It is usually used to add humour to some of the darker Animes like Trinity Blood. The only time it really bothers me is if the Anime relies on it entirely for its popularity like Ikki Tousen.

[Ezzy]

Fan service can be very enjoyable and funny in most anime, but sometimes it can go over the top. In the end fan service it not neccassary in any way and has nothing to do with the plot, but if it was not there the anime may not seem as enjoyable as it was.

[Brother Ichiro]

Seriously is it necessary I know its good for comic relief and all but sometime it really ruins an animes' appeal when its over used. Like Ikkitousen and Najica Blitz as examples.

Who cares, as long as the girls are hot.

[Hideki Motosuwa.]

Who cares, as long as the girls are hot.

That is true! To me(well, in my opinion and taste) as long as the characters are hot, then I could care less if the fan service ruins the story. Actually, fan service doesn't ruin a story at all.

[Captain Warheart]

I agree that for some Anime fan service does not have to be included. I wouldn't say to remove it entirely though because when it's included in scenes like InuYasha, it generally means it's almost time for a laugh. So I'd agree in some Anime yes, in other Anime no.

[serasvct]

I think that as long as the fan service is brief, it's hardly noticeable. Also, in some series the fan service may be a part of the plot: like Love Hina. If the anime is about a teenage boy, of course he's going to notice the attributes of the opposite gender! So if the guy in the anime is noticing how hot his female counterpart is, I'm okay with that.

Some fan service can be really amusing, as well.

[Baka]

I think it works for some anime and doesn't for others. The makers of Ikkitousen actually hired a high school girl to pose for them so they could get authentic looking shots. But yeah that anime really over did it.

[Amray]

Really does not bother me.
If I enjoy the Anime then fair enough, and if I don't then I don't.

"The typically understood definition is inclusion of racy or sexual content (usually female, but also male) to titillate the viewer, such as nudity, and other forms of eye candy. Lesbian or gay activity is another form of fan service. Shower scenes are very common in movies, and in anime of the 1980s and 1990s"

Haha, I'm not complaining! I personally find it quite awesome. ^_^

[Legend Saber]

Depends. Fan service definitely works well with the mood of certain stories (such as Golden Boy or Negima), but there are times where it feels unnecessary, out of place or even detrimental. For the most part, though, my experience has been that anime tend to know what audience they're catering to, and utilize fan service accordingly.

It's difficult to say whether or not I enjoy fan service. It works best when used for comedic or lighthearted effect, and seems odd in an otherwise serious plot. Kino no Tabi, Jigoku Shoujo and Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku work very well without fan service. The aforementioned Golden Boy, Negima and Chobits wouldn't be the same without it.

[daft]

No, it isn't necessary, but it's certainly entertaining (well at least to me it is). So... yes, it's necessary.

[Brother Ichiro]

That is true! To me(well, in my opinion and taste) as long as the characters are hot, then I could care less if the fan service ruins the story. Actually, fan service doesn't ruin a story at all.

Exactly!

[PigFarts]

Fan-service in anime...*sigh*....nothing could bother me MOAR!

Let's take Death Note for example; episode 25, to be specific. In the episode, there's this sappy conversation between Light and L, there on the roof and it's RAINING (commence the fan girl squeeling - Light and L and DRENCHED in water) and they go back into the building to give each ohter FOOT MASSAGES! Ugh, this episode just bothered me, trying to build this "relationship" between Light and L, which only exists in Fanfics and now the anime - this was one of the few parts of the anime of Death Note that made me cringe.

No, fan-service is not necessary, but it's obviously done anyway. I just wanted to see the animated version of an awesome manga series and instead, I have this budding relationship between the protagonist and his enemy. Why they give each other foot massages...I DON'T KNOW!

[kaori_tenshi]

Well usually most of the anime characters (especially shojo animes) the characters are hot/pretty so usually somewhere the fanservice is there O.o ( i don't think I know what I am saying ;-; ) well I think fan service is great to some...but its not totally necessary though o.O Even if I find it in pretty much any anime I watch >.< heh.

[NovaStar]

I think in all honesty, Fanservice really only plays a point in two types of shows predominantly. and that's Romance and Harem, or in some scenario's both shows mixed at the same time.

Fanservice to me, while a Bonus at some stages, is just overplayed in a good portion of Anime. someone's already mentioned Najica Blitz Tactics as one fine example of Fanservice gone wild.

Another key example of "Too much for it's own good" is "Ikki Tousen" or "Battle Vixin's" - in which there's a gracious ammount of it in almost every episode.