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Forum - View topicEP. REVIEW: Mieruko-chan
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r4737
Posts: 35 |
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Why do all Western critics, writers and reporters hate fan service in anime? I mean, every review I have read about animes by Western critics has been hated of fan service.
I have read the reviews of Japanese audiences and most people enjoy the fan service and do not hate it and accept and respect it as part of the story and the idea and choice of the author in making the story. Even Japanese women do not hate fan service and consider it part of the freedom of expression of anime (as in the case of anime with handsome men and the Yaoi genre with fan service for women). I think because of the Western wokeness and the lack of freedom of expression in Western stories, some critics, even if they like fan service, have to say it badly or show disinterest so that they are not hated by people and their colleagues. |
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shabu shabu
Posts: 79 Location: Tokyo |
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America seems to be very regressive and close-minded when it comes to sex compared to Japan in my experience. A lot of what is seen as no big deal in Japan would generate a lot of controversy in America.
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r4737
Posts: 35 |
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It's not just about sex, it's about freedom of expression in storytelling and anime. Imagine what "konosuba", "no game no life" or "mushoku tensei" was like without fan service?
Fan service is one of the most interesting and entertaining aspects of anime, which unfortunately is always criticized by Western critics and journalists. The West always despises the fan service in anime and can not respect the author's idea and effort to make a compelling and entertaining story. |
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HueyLion
 Posts: 914 |
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Actually got a anime to be spooked about every week, its been a while.
I could do with less fan service though (Yes yes its anime, its Japan, its to be expected!). However, I don't want the MC to be creeping around with the suspense slowly growing only to have a random panty shot or boob groping when Im trying to get scared not arouse...I mean what about my immersion?! Otherwise, good anime so far. |
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lossthief
ANN Reviewer
 Posts: 1440 |
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If y'all are going to have this stupid circular argument for the 1000th time could you at LEAST do it in the comments of a review that was actually harping on fanservice? Steve devoted one mildly critical paragraph that amounted to "sometimes this cheesecake feels at odd with the tension of a scene and that might lose people". That's hardly hating on the concept of sex or whatever y'all are trying to construe it as. |
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Animegomaniac
Posts: 4157 |
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Devoting one paragraph isn't "harping"... because it's more than that. And worse.
What the hell man. That's exactly hating on the concept of sex. Anyways, as a New Englander, I again apologize for the Puritans. Sex and horror have been intertwined longer than movies have been around and this is nothing new. It's not even sex or even nudity, it's just a little skin and a little more suggestion. Still, I've heard complaints of horror movies with too much nudity but never complaints that it had nudity in the first place. Why grade anime exploitation at a different level? For PG 13 horror fans? It's funny to have to suffer through this review when I saw a Youtube video earlier today regarding the old days of OVA anime, lamenting the fact that horror fans are turned away from anime horror despite the copious amounts of blood, sex and gore rampant in the 80s. Now? "OMG, it's suggestive! It may turn away viewers!" |
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AmpersandsUnited
Posts: 633 |
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I don't know, gratuitous nudity has been a pretty standard staple of the horror genre since at least the 70s. If anything, the show seems pretty tame. The best we've gotten so far was that toilet shot in the first episode. High School of the Dead did it way better. The girls are still cute though so I'll continue watching even if it doesn't push the envelope further. |
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whiskeyii
 Posts: 2266 |
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I know this show eventually eases up on the fanservice, and I think it’s the better for it. I think the author was trying to go for a B-movie schlocky horror feel, but it honestly comes off feeling really desperate—like they had no confidence in their own ideas and propped it up with fanservice as a crutch instead (or who knows, maybe it was a requirement of the magazine or something). I’d forgotten how seriously *thirsty* this series was in its early days.
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Errinundra
Moderator
 Posts: 6580 Location: Melbourne, Oz |
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@ r4737,
You've made your point. Any further posts on the issue will be treated as soapboxing. |
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TarsTarkas
 Posts: 5922 Location: Virginia, United States |
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The show is going to have a story and plot. Sadly for us manga readers, it looks like the anime will spoil us, when it surpasses the current volume. |
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Nev999
Posts: 158 |
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I actually really appreciate Steve for mentioning whether the fanservice levels are tapering off, and I really hope he mentions in his next review. I found it frustrating in the premiere that whenever I was starting to get into the situation and feel a nice sense of dread, there'd be a jarring ass shot that would take me out of the fun-creepy emotion of the scene. With the teeth brushing scene, it was really building on the dread and how hard the main character was trying to keep her cool in the situation, and I felt pleasantly spooked and was really vibing- then suddenly her ass was in my face, the tension so carefully built was deflated, and I was left only emphasizing with the apparent wedgie she had. It bums me out when a show sabotages itself like that. So yeah, too horny for it's own good sounds right to me.
The toilet scene was actually better, because that at least emphasized the vulnerability of her situation as well and didn't feel at odds with what was happening. Sex in horror can be used effectively (when there's good sensuality that works a lot better than random teen girl ass at random times, I'm down with that), but it sucks if it ends up ruining the tension of the scene and keeps me from being invested and spooked. So if it does taper off to levels that at least don't interfere with me enjoying the spookiness, I'd really appreciate knowing, because I might just skip episode 2 and come back to it. I hope the review for episode four lets me know if it's a continuing trend, because I hear that's the case for the manga. |
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Kirki
Posts: 296 |
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As someone who has enjoyed series like Highschool of the Dead, Blood Lad, and even Rosario to Vampire (well I was little when I saw that one don't judge me), it's not about the existence of fanservice, but how well it is incorporated in the story and how it works out in its favor. Fanservice scenes in Mieruko-chan, especially in the first episode, feel completely out of place and are inconsistent with the tone of the story. They work much better in the second episode, but by the third episode you realize the story is much more interesting when it takes itself a tiny bit more seriously in the supernatural font. Either way, I like this series a lot so far and I wouldn't recommend someone stays away from it only due to a few leering shots.
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ExaggeratedReality
Posts: 6 |
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I'm in the camp of "what is going on with this fan service". Don't get me wrong, when the tone is right I love fan service. It's just for this show specifically it slams you like a truck when you're really experiencing the tension of a scary moment. I'm on the edge of my seat then BAM, wedgie shot. It has nothing to do with being a westerner, it has to do with tone and storytelling. When done right it can be fun. I don't feel like this is done right.
I've been reading the manga, and I don't remember this much fan service, although I could be wrong. However my friend who's only watching the show does mention how he's taken out of a scene on multiple occasions because of the unnecessary crotch or breast shots. Which is disappointing because I was super excited for a legitimately scary anime for the season. I'll keep watching of course, because these grotesque monsters are what draws me in. I just hope they turn the focus even more on the horror |
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a_Bear_in_Bearcave
Posts: 548 Location: Poland |
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People already responded well enough with explanation why fanservice can actually be a problem, so I just want to add that, like some already mentioned, in manga the fanservice quickly subsides and the fact that manga became so popular to even get an anime while fanservice was almost all removed for a long time now proves that this fanservice was completely unnecessary in the first place. And yes, as some who enjoys reading Mato Seihei No Slave, it's not about hating sexiness, it's about if it's at the cost of the character being "fanserviced".
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DirtyCircle
Posts: 128 |
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I've only read the first volume and the fanservice bits really annoyed me. I have the third volume, I just need the second but after seeing how much cheesecake the artist included in the first, I was really wondering if I'd bother or not. I like the concept and found the manga really compelling but something just felt off and I wanted to send him to horny jail. If it decreases though, I'll definitely pick up the second volume and continue reading.
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