An illustration of Wikipe-tan depicted in a swimsuit, an example of sexual fan service
Fan service (ファンサービス, fan sābisu), fanservice or service cut (サービスカット, sābisu katto) is material in a work of fiction or in a fictional series that is intentionally added to please the audience. Classically sexual in nature, fan service may depict fictional characters in revealing outfits, poses, or situations, occasionally involving partial or full nudity. The term originated in Japanese in the anime and manga fandom.
Today, especially outside anime and manga, the term has expanded to hold a wider meaning. This includes any elements, be it visual nods, referencing older or forgotten media related to material, shipping certain characters, plot detours or otherwise, that are not needed by the actual plot or character development, but are included as nods to, or pandering to the long-term fans of the material, especially in context of sequels or prequels, or later seasons of series.
Keith Russell defines fan service as "the random and gratuitous display of a series of anticipated gestures common in Manga and Anime. The typical, but not only, variety of fan service in anime or manga is racy, sexual or erotic content, which may or may not include nudity or fetish content[bettersourceneeded] (for example, maid costumes). Fan service is especially common in shonen manga (aimed at boys). In shounen manga, pin-up girl style images are common "in varying states of undress", often using an "accidental exposure" excuse to show a favourite female character or an upskirt "glimpse of a character's panties". Jiggling breasts, known as the "Gainax bounce", are an example of fan service. The "bounce" was taken up by other animators, including the creators of the hentai series Cream Lemon. Shower scenes are very common in movies and in anime of the 1980s and 1990s,[example needed] whereas many more recent TV series use trips to onsen (Japanesehot springs) or trips to tropical locales (or in some cases a swimming pool) in order to showcase the characters in bathing suits. Series aimed at males can also include fan service for women, as an attempt to court a wider audience.
Shoujo manga, aimed at female readers, also includes fan service, such as showing male characters "half-naked and in enticing poses". Robin Brenner notes that in the US comics culture, fan service aimed at women is rare, and also that in Japan, series can be famous for their fan service content. Chris Beveridge explains this mindset with Agent Aika: "There's some sort of plot in there, but that's not the reason you're watching it. ... we're watching this for the sheer amount of fanservice." Male homoeroticism, such as accidental kisses, is a common feature of fan service for women and has been described as "easier to get away with" in terms of censorship than fan service for males. In the Boys' Love genre, fan service is "artwork or scenes" in products that "depict canonical characters in a homosocial / homoerotic context". Shoujo manga series may eroticise its female leads as well for crossover appeal, as fan service aimed at a potential male audience.
Robin Brenner notes that fan service can be offputting to some readers, as in a male reading shoujo manga or a female reading shounen manga and that in general fan service is more criticised by some when it features a female character. She cites Tenjo Tenge as an example of a fan service–laden series. When the series was localised, a large amount of this fan service was removed, leading to outcry from fans.
Sport
Baseball teams provide events that are described in Japan as fan service, such as dance shows, singing the team song or a performance by the team mascot.
TV and film
In English-speaking contexts, especially in Western film and TV Show franchises, the term "fan service" has expanded beyond its original, more sexualized meaning in anime and manga. It now often refers to moments added to primarily please or reward longtime fans rather than to serve the needs of the broader story. This can include the return of fan favourite characters, nostalgic references to earlier installments, callbacks to memorable lines, familiar music cues, or the reappearance of iconic elements from a franchise's past. Reception tends to hinge on execution: audiences and critics are generally more forgiving when a reference serves the story or pays off earlier setup, but view it more sceptically when a cameo or callback seems included only to generate excitement or promote the work. This concept is frequently discussed in connection with major franchises such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars, where returning characters, familiar imagery, and recognizable themes are often used to create a sense of nostalgia and connection with longtime audiences. However, some critics argue that repeated reliance on fan service can cause certain characters, references, or nostalgic elements to overstay their welcome, diminishing their impact over time.
See also
Look up fanservice in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
↑Example: 吉田陽一, ed. (25 June 1999). Encyclopedia Cutie Honey: Go Nagai World (エンサイクロペディアキューティーハニー: 永井豪ワールド). Nakano, Tokyo: Keibunsha. p.028. ISBN978-4-7669-3236-2. A frame (numbered "25") from the English opening sequence of New Cutie Honey, in which character Danbei Hayami fires a Rocket Punch as main character Honey Kisaragi lies topless and prone in the background, is shown and captioned "サービスカット! 団兵衛がジャマ……"
↑de la Ville, Valérie-Inés; Durup, Laurent (2009). "Achieving a Global Reach on Children's Cultural Markets: Managing the Stakes of Inter-Textuality in Digital Cultures". In Willett, Rebekah; Robinson, Muriel; Marsh, Jackie (eds.). Play, creativity and digital cultures. Routledge. pp.45–47. ISBN978-0-415-96311-4.
123Harcoff, Pete (23 May 2003). "Fan Service". Anime Glossary. The Anime Critic. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
12"Fan Service". Animetion's Glossary. Animetion. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
