Squee 9

[louiselux]

This is especially for lebateleur, who asked me for squee about


Mangaka who understand fan service.

Until quite recently this request would have baffled me, not knowing who mangaka were or what fan service was, but happily I've educated myself a bit in manga terminology.

Manga-ka: one who writes/draws manga.
Fan service: traditionally, a scene or shot which had little plot value but is solely there to titillate the viewer. 

Think of all the ridiculous short skirts you see on girls in manga and anime, and the bizarrely perky breasts - that's all fan service and it's aimed at keeping people's eyes glued to the screen or page, possibly during the slow bits so we don't just wander off, bored. Fan service seems to be associated particularly with manga and anime, but Western fandom has it too. Captain Kirk's ripped and/or missing top, anyone? Almost any outfit of Buffy's you care to name?  Half-naked Spike? Mulder in his little red speedos? These things are fan service. So not necessary, but so much fun to watch. It's pretty, it's sexy, it stimulates our lizard-like hindbrains into some excitement.

But it's not always so blatant - it can be good deal subtler. Good manga-ka understand this and they also understand that fan service can take many forms. It doesn't just mean naked flesh, although I'm not saying that's not fun. For instance, I think that subtext, purposely put in and lovingly layered, is fan service. Minekura Kazuya, I'm lookin' at you (for this example, at least). Gojyo/Hakkai - it's never going to happen in Saiyuki, it doesn't really help the plot in any way-- come on, it doesn't--  but nevertheless it's there and it's put there on purpose to hook us in and make us happily squee. Saiyuki doesn't skimp on the blatant stuff though, by the countless half-naked, 'I forgot to button my flies' poses and Hakkai and Gojyo wandering round in little towels for most of one episode in the anime. There's a very nice bit in one of the later Saiyuki episodes, where we get to see some of Hakkai's exposed neck!  He unbuttons his collar! It's really lovely, because he never unbuttons his collar at any other time. In contrast, the more blatant somehow the less affecting it is: Kougaiji's lack of shirt, full stop. Yaone's 'bra', Lirin's scarily large teenage breasts - someone buy that girl a sports bra. And, oh yes, Goku dressed a girl.

Comments

[tgreywords.livejournal.com]

There are a few fanservice-y gems in Reload -- the episode where they go to the resort (much nakedness -- that might be the Gojou/Hakkai towels-only one you were talking about) and there's one with shirts off, when they get drawn into that hypnotic trap. There's a couple more in Gunlock - towards the end, it's no shirts for our boys again when they get caught in the rain, and -- I dunno, whenever they put Sanzo in that black tank top/sleeveless turtleneck thing and jeans, I just melt into a tiny little puddle.

Whee! :D

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I think that Sanzo's black top and gloves is probably the most blatant fanservice outfit of them all. It's just so kinky.

There's also the bit towards the end of the Kamisama arc where Gojyo is manhandling the half naked Sanzo on the bed - I think I spat coffee all over the screen at that point, and then almost died laughing.

[tgreywords.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, yes yes. Someone had an icon of that! And then, Hakkai steps in *G* Oh gosh, but -- that part was equally funny and heart-wrenching, because he's in such pain... poor Sanzo.

[maeritrae.livejournal.com]

Hey Louiselux, could you take a look here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/maeritrae/101878.html)?

[blu-mondae.livejournal.com]

the countless half-naked, 'I forgot to button my flies' poses

I remember when I first started reading Saiyuki, and I had no idea who Minekura Kazuya was, even if the manga-ka was a man or a woman. After a few books, I was pretty sure she was a woman, based on the fan service. What convinced me 100% was the "please violate me" Hakkai pic in vol. 3. (A picture which single-handedly convinced a friend of mine that she needed to read the series!)

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

That 'please violate me' pic is just such a perfect example of fanservice-- I'm thinking as well of the one where Hakkai's sucking on a crucifix with his shirt open (and probably his trousers too).

[permetaform]

dude yes! ::mad applause::

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed the squee!

[lebateleur.livejournal.com]

And how did you know I was thinking 58 when I requested that rant, hmm? Nice rant indeed - fanservice is like MSG in my book - mostly unnecessary in that you can survive without it just fine, slightly addictive, not terribly bad for you, and it just makes everything taste better!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

And how did you know I was thinking 58 when I requested that rant, hmm?

It's because 58 has taken over my BRAIN! Help, send reinforcements!

[lebateleur.livejournal.com]

It's because 58 has taken over my BRAIN! Help, send reinforcements!

Good luck getting out alive. I've heard stories about people who've managed it, but I have yet to meet one in the flesh;)