Quality Fanservice Anime

[coates32]

Ever since I've read this article [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-07-29/five-steps-to-better-fanservice/.90255] (slightly NSFW) on Anime News Network, I've been wondering what do the good people of the Escapist forums consider quality fanservice anime and why?

As for me, I would something like Cat Planet Cuties, because even though it has plenty of fanservice, (most of it was, thankfully, not too extreme) it also had some interesting character development and very good character designs.

Another one I would (sort of) consider to be a quality fanservice anime is the the first two seasons of Queen's Blade. While the service in that title is a bit more extreme than I normally prefer (especially season 2), it did at least had a decent plot and some cool back-story for some of the characters.

 

[Fox12]

That's an oxymoron.

Berserk and Evangellion both have a little fanservice, I guess, but that's not the draw of the show/manga. The disservice heavily outweighs the fanservice.

I really like Elfen Lied, despite the fanservice. The story was actually really emotional, and some of the scenes were incredibly well executed. The music, in particular, is staggeringly well done. It's either beautiful, or horrifying, as the situation demands. Unfortunately the writing isn't so good, it tries too hard to be dark, and the voice acting is uniformly terrible. Still...

 

[Elfgore]

Highschool DxD and Freezing. Insanely high amounts of fan-service, but each has decent to great characters and an amazing setting. I'll admit that most ecchi anime is bad, but I will defend these two to the death as being quality anime.

I would also say Sekirei and Rosario+Vampire[footnote]The second part of the series when the manga started to actually get serious.[/footnote], but only the manga versions of the two. The anime for both is greatly overwhelmed by manga.

Edit: *looks at avatar* Shit! How did I forget Haganai? Though I think it's not as strong as the two I mentioned above, it still gets some points from me. With interesting characters and having a harem that even after the protagonist admits his love to someone, I'm still not sure who he will end up with. Which is something I can usually pick up within the first episode. So kudos for that I guess.

 

[coates32]

I watched 5 episodes of Kill La Kill so far and it's outstanding.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Watch Golden Boy.

It's only 6 episodes long and brings some nice 90's designs, meaning characters have actual bulk. And it sounds really stupid, but it's one of the few anime that handles its fanservice with a certain... class. It's also funny as hell.

 

[Queen Michael]

Monster Musume is the latest hit. I never miss the manga. (The bookstore I go to even let me buy the latest volume more than one week before the release date!)

ANN's Hope Chapman, who usually can't stand fanservice anime, cheerfully admitted that Monster Musumue interested her more than any other of this season's anime.

 

[coates32]

Also check out Desert Punk.

 

[Worgen]

Look up Godannar.

Its quite good, it starts out a bit in your face but once you get a few episodes in then you start to really learn more about the characters and such. Plus, you can just watch it on youtube, its all up there.

 

[Talaris]

My pick is the Monogatari series, specifically Bakemonogatari. Wordy as hell, but intelligent and witty too, plus the few action scenes you see look amazing. As for the fan-service it provides, it for the most part compliments the story, rather than acting as a detriment to it.

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

Well, I'm a big fan of the Monogatari series, which are usuallly pretty fanservice heavy (especially Nisemonogatari,) but something about Studio Shaft's animation and art style that makes it kinda sexy for me. That, and I just really like the characters, and their interactions with each other is a lot of fun, The fanservice sorta adds to that.

 

[coates32]

Highschool DxD and Freezing. Insanely high amounts of fan-service, but each has decent to great characters and an amazing setting. I'll admit that most ecchi anime is bad, but I will defend these two to the death as being quality anime.

I would also say Sekirei and Rosario+Vampire[footnote]The second part of the series when the manga started to actually get serious.[/footnote], but only the manga versions of the two. The anime for both is greatly overwhelmed by manga.

I have to agree with about DxD and Freezing about their interesting characters, and DxD has some of the best service I've seen in anime.

And while I'm a fan of Sekirei, I'm always surprised how popular that series is.

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

Oh, there are sooo many good ones to chose from..
Inukami, Zero no Tsukaima, Needless, and my favorite one; Green Green.

The red thread in my case would be comedy with a touch of sadness.
I'm also not a fan of Oppai (big breasts).

Uhm, so yeah..Ok, you got me. I'm a pervert. Happy now? ^^

 

[TristanBelmont]

Highschool of the Dead is schlock. Fanservicey schlock.

AND I LOVE IT

The show of Rosario+Vampire is goofy fanservice in contrast to the more serious books.

Hihschool DXD is another.

 

[WonkyWarmaiden]

From what I've watched, the first season of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is great if you're into guys with bared midriffs or guys walking around in revealing loincloths.

 

[Autumnflame]

Shokugeki no soma

While not entirely fanservice the " foodgasms " should satisfy you.

The rest of the show is entertaining if you like Iron chef type of experiance

 

[balladbird]

I kinda agree with the fellow who said that "Quality fanservice anime" is an oxymoron. Just never saw the appeal of the genre, since for me personally I don't need a middle-ground genre between story driven anime and hentai. Not looking down on folk that do, though. It takes all kinds to make the world spin, and all that.

Though, now that I stop to think about it, I may actually be actively biased against the genre, simply because I've never forgiven Ikki Tosen.

They had one of the best plots for a shonen action vehicle ever: the souls of the heroes of 3 kingdoms china reincarnated in a modern setting... geez, I fanboy just thinking about it... aaaand they waste it on a panty fighter. *sigh* oh, japan.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Watch Golden Boy.

It's only 6 episodes long and brings some nice 90's designs, meaning characters have actual bulk. And it sounds really stupid, but it's one of the few anime that handles its fanservice with a certain... class. It's also funny as hell.

Toshihiro Kawamoto is one of the best character designers in anime ever. The guy's work on Golden Boy is pretty great, but when you find out that he did a ton of the Gundam OVAs and Cowboy Bebop you realize that he has a huge range and variety of characters.

 

[Redryhno]

Gonna have to second Highschool DxD, the later seasons really turn it into a fun little thing, nothing makes sense still, but the basic premise is a guy that's so horny he gets magic powers, you can't exactly have things make sense in a setting that allows that. Also as others have said, Monster Musume. Also Prison School, if it follows the manga at all, should be something to watch for.

Some others I'd recommend would be Kanokon, Samurai Girls is sorta interesting, Is this a Zombie? We Without Wings is ok at points, Aria the Scarlet Ammo is just one of those turn off your brain and enjoy the stupid, also Sherlock, Rogue Hero is worth a watch I think, Demon King Daimyo for sure, Shuffle's got some interesting developments.

There's alot of fanservicey shows that have some pretty good parts to them honestly. Whether it's the world presented or just some of the characters, even if they are archetypes, you don't see them in other genres all that often. I'm sure there's more, but this is just off the top of my head.

 

[Paragon Fury]

A list, here we go:

Spoiler

Monster Musume

Sekirei

High School DxD

Desert Punk

Cat Planet Cuties

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