Confused about definitions

[wiggins]

OK, I need some clarification on what fanservice is. I read the CAA definition, and I have read other versions of the definition of fanservice flying around. Is fan-service nudity? or hentai? I've seen some fanservice where female anatomy is emphasized, but the chracters are fully clothed. It was not hentai or full nudity. Does fanservice also include hentai and full nudity? I hope this question isn't inappropriate. If it is allow me to apologize and please let me know, so I don't make the same mistake twice. I don't want to get banned from here. Thanks guys!

[Link Antilles]

From what I gather.... it's pretty much something to grab the viewer’s attention, with not much importance to the story. Examples, of course; female characters in unreasonably skimpy clothing. Or even, I believe, adding excessive amounts of blood in a game to sell more copies..... or please the fans... Stuff like that. Meh, people can be so simple minded.

That help?

[kaji]

From what I know, Fanservice doesnt have to be a bad thing (ie: sex, nudity ect), but just somthing that doesnt benefit the story what so ever and is made gereraly for the fans of "something."

Lets use Stree Fighter for example, you could argue that a live action movie called "Street Fighter" that has bad actors and tells an incorrect story, is a sort of Fanservice. It has little to do with the actual game, except that it features characters from it.
On the same note, DOA Beach Volley Ball, has little to do with DOA except that it features some of those characters.
Going back in time here, the movie The Jetsons Meet the Flinstones, has little to do with their indevidual storys, rather it just incorporates two show that have larg fan basses and pushes them together in an attempt to give their fans something new.

This can be, and is often, taken to the inapropriate level with anime (or any cartoon for that matter) and video games.

I guess that is just the messed up world that we live in.

[Gypsy]

Yeah, basically what kaji said. The term "fanservice" just means anything that's done as a favor to the fans. 98% of the time when used speaking about anime, it's not a good thing. Fanservice can mean anything from a pantie shot, unrealistic body proportions, nudity, and so on. Does this make a little more sense, wiggins?

[DrNic]

Or even, I believe, adding excessive amounts of blood in a game to sell more copies

Kool, I like the sound of that sorta fanservice...well, maybe not too much blood...just enough to get to the Evil Dead sorta level

[wiggins]

OK! Thanks everyone! (Do they say arrigato mina-san in Japanese to mean the same thing?) That helps clear things up. Thanks!

[Mangafanatic]

I'm glad you asked this, I've sorta been foggy about it too.

[skynes]

What's this Yaoi and Yuri I hear about here? Only Yuri I know is a Red Alert 2 character

[Link Antilles]

Well, Yuri Gagarin was a Russian Cosmonaut and the first person to orbit the earth. Sadly, he never made it home.

Anyways, skynes, there's a Anime Terms Dictionary in the FAQs section, I copy this from there:
Yaoi/ (Bi)Shounen Ai - means "boy's love"; when one or more characters are homosexual.
Yuri/Shoujo Ai - where a female character is lesbian.

Not a good thing, to say the least…..

[skynes]

Ah... I see. I'll make sure I never watch anything of that now

[CobaltAngel]

Kool, I like the sound of that sorta fanservice...well, maybe not too much blood...just enough to get to the Evil Dead sorta level

Yeah, sometimes alot of blood is cool... although, I do generally prefer it to have atleast a little to do with the plotline. XD

[DrNic]

Yeah, sometimes alot of blood is cool... although, I do generally prefer it to have atleast a little to do with the plotline. XD

Lol, yeah, I hear ya! I actually didn't realise what fanservice was before I came onto this site. NGE had me really baffled when I heard it used on there, lol!