When you see a female character with a large chest, what do you think? Is it simply an artistic rendition of a curvy female body type, or does it fall under the category of fan service, and seem to exist as sexual titillation for consumers of a certain sex and sexual orientation? Leaning toward the latter line of thought, feminist bloggers such as myself often point out those big-breasted women of manga, anime, and video games as problematic. Just in my last post, I again attempted to tackle the issue, using the popular shonen manga series Fairy Tail as that week’s example of the prevalent trend.
While many previous readers have voiced disagreement with the concept that something is wrong with the fan service I highlight, a recent reader got me thinking about the issue in a slightly different fashion: where do we draw the line between “pure” artistic rendition of the human body and bodies draw for the purpose of sexual fan service?
One of the many charms of fiction like manga and anime is the varied art styles, the way the artist chooses to visualize a world. Art styles range from highly cartoonish and deformed to relatively realistic, resulting in many ways to represent the human body. Just think of comparing the artwork in Hiroyuki Takei‘s Shaman King or Gainax‘s Panty and Stocking to that of Naoki Urasawa‘s Monster or Tsugumi Ohba’s and Takeshi Obata‘s Death Note. Clearly, these artists all have distinct ways of drawing the human body. Depending on the style, the body many be more or less exaggerated, and exaggerated in different fashions at that.
Here’s where we hit a snag. Artistic expression is something to enjoy, but all too often, a line is crossed in the fictional depictions of busty women that shifts attention away from the character and onto the character’s body. Instead of just being another character who happens to have a shapely body, the minds behind the fiction sexualize her, focusing on her breasts, her curves, or what-have-you. Her body becomes a tool intended to gratify the straight male consumer and the work encourages the reader/viewer to objectify her through those cleverly placed shots.
Nevertheless, there are ways of making the majority of one’s female characters curvy without giving the series a crazy injection of fan service. Compare the depiction of curvy female characters in works such as Fairy Tail to that of Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist. FMA is full of female characters with shapely bodies, from mechanic/childhood friend Winry to highly skilled military personnel such as Hawkeye and Major General Armstrong. Unlike other works, however, their (realistically) sizable busts are not the center of attention. Is it apparent that they’re shapely? Yes. Gone, however, are convenient shots of shiny breasts, bouncing boobs, or other gimmicks intended to draw the eye to their chest. Some female characters even wear clothing that could have been used as fan service in other series, like Winry’s tube top or Izumi Curtis’ cleavage, but the mangaka chose not to focus on. Perhaps Arakawa’s female villain Lust comes closest to fulfilling fan service, acting as this series’ sexy character, but even the fan service we see with Lust isn’t as pronounced as the fan service in many other series. The fan service in FMA is slight, allowing the consumer to appreciate each character as a whole. In other words, there is a way to depict shapely women without making them into sexpots, and demonstrates that those who do fulfill that role in manga or anime are drawn with the intent that they do so.
Of course, we have to recognize that fiction has a way of showing audiences ideal body types of both sexes. I tend to focus on the depiction of female body standards (large breasts and a tiny hourglass waist), but male characters have long appeared in superhero-type fashion, boasting six-packs and muscles in areas you didn’t even know it was possible to build up. One of my favorite examples is Gohan from DBZ, who ends up with a chiseled body long before he even hits puberty. Obviously, both sexes get to see unrealistic ideals reflected in fiction. Despite the fact that those six packs often represent strength and power while the sizable female chest serves to turn the female body into something pleasurable for a given demographic, such male representations still builds on traditional ideas of masculinity and unrealistic body ideals. There are also examplesthat put male characters in the sexualized spotlight.
Here’s where all those reading this post who are ready to defend fan service can relax a bit. I’ve laid out how I differentiate fan service bodies from shapely forms, I’ve touched on why I see fan service as problematic, and I’ve pointed out men suffer from this fan service, too. Nevertheless, I don’t think that this kind of fan service in and of itself is the biggest problem. There will always be fan service and, in limited doses, it’s not that big of a deal. The issue becomes the sheer volume of fan service.
There are many different body types in this world, and it’s a good thing to pull from and represent that variety. Art even has the power to expand on the vast variety we already have in this world. Unfortunately, instead of representing various body types, some fiction eliminate that variety in their efforts to provide fan service. Others reinforce stereotypes. Even when we see a female character who supposedly doesn’t have an ideal body (which often means she has small breasts), we aren’t encouraged to appreciate variety. Rather, our attention is thrown back to sex appeal and cultural ideals. It’s not unusual for female characters with small breasts to express dissatisfaction with their body and occasionally envy toward those who have the ideal body type. Although we may sympathize with that character’s feelings, at times, traditional ideals seem to be confirmed in these tiny melodramas: it’s presented as a given that girls should be dissatisfied with smaller chests. On the flip side, female characters with big chests are often doomed to fulfilling fan service, no matter what kind of personalities or skills they possess. Seeing this type of rendition repeatedly can feel limiting, which is a shame since art clearly has the potential to expand our perceptions of the world.
I’ll finish this post by stating that I don’t claim to hold all of the answers on this issue. There’s a bit of a gray area between artistic expression and all its exaggerated glory, and the realm of simple fan service. Viewpoints on fan service itself are largely varied as well. Much of it depends on the eye of the beholder, but I hope this clarifies my personal definition. With that thought, what do you think of this issue?
Gagging on Sexism 
I also would prefer if anime shied more away from fanservice. Too often one gets the impression that the animators expect fanservice to carry the viewer through a weak story. And, as you said, one can draw attractive characters without resorting to impossibly large bosoms.
However, being able to draw attractive characters without exagerrated proportions relies on the artist being trained to draw the human body realistically–for example, practice in drawing nudes. Many mangaka probably don’t have that artistic training, so they resort to the exaggerated proportions we’re so familiar with.
Great article! As for my thoughts, I have a hard time with this issue. On one hand I think that curvier bodies or larger breasts are only natural, I myself am on the large-chested side so I see a character like Lara Croft, who is constantly shamed for being too sexual due to her breast size, as a normal looking women who happens to have large breasts. On the other hand when it’s done in a way this is degrading (ie large breasts with a mini bikini and jiggle physics) then it’s problematic.
I suppose it all comes down to the way it’s done in the specific piece of media. If a woman just happens to be curvy or large-chested but is dressed normally and acts normally, then I don’t think it’s an issue. When another woman has the same body but is objectified in various ways through clothing choices, actions, etc then it’s more of an issue. I hope that made sense… haha.
Yes. All of the yes for this article.
As the guy striving to be the mangaka, and the guy who researches crap religiously to not screw up/gain new ideas, I completely agree that there is too much fanservice in anime/manga. Kill la kill was a hilarious exxageration of the problem, but again, Kill la kill did not exactly solve the problem, only make fun of it.
From both ends of the spectrum (but mostly female from what I can tell) fanservice is overwhelming. Now, I am a true believer in it, but only when done correctly. EG: do a beach episode every once and a while to lesson the tension of the upcoming arc. Here and there a sexy/embarassing situation maybe. The point is, don’t do it every other scene.
I do believe that you have already addressed the root of the problem: the angles and close ups of titulating body parts (again, male and female, mostly female). You make a great example with FMA, as these women are usually pretty curvy but it is NOT the focus. The focus is how Izumi is AN ORDINARY HOUSEWIFE WE SWAER REALLY GUYZ.
(You get the point)
For my own preferences, I like to draw many different body styles and no matter what they happen to be, I emphasize thier character and not thier bodies, with the exception of the occassional humorous beach episode or something.
This is also something I struggle with- see, my main character, a woman, happens to have large breasts simply because the randomizer in my brain said so, and unlike the other various female characters she happened to be the best because of her personality. I try to emphasize how badass she is, but I always worry that people will take her character the wrong way and pre-judge her. Luckily I think my followers are getting the fact that I’m serious, again due to the fact that I don’t present her as a set of boobs but rather a well define character.
Anyway, enough personal ranting: This article is spot on. One point I would like to make though- in manga and anime especially, characters with small/flat chests appear to be equally sexualized from my understanding (the japs like loli after all) but again, your point stands that it still isn’t right.
And just for anyone out there who wants references… For female sexualtion (of nearly any body type) go to Maken Ki for reference. For the male side? Watch Free! And or DBZ if you can stand not laughing at five uears olds with bigger pecs than you do!
I agree with your points, personally, I think fanservice is okay as long as it makes sense.
For example, see the title character Michiko from Michiko to Hatchin, she’s often wearing revealing clothes, but it goes perfectly with her character, someone that heard about how she was like shouldn’t feel the least bit surprised when first seeing her. Then when you add that she lives in Brazil, and you can almost feel how hot the days are from the screen, it just adds up naturally. Another plus is she’s clearly aware of the clothes she’s wearing, like when a guy ogles her early on and she puts the sheet she wanted him to look at in front of her boobs and nonchalantly remarks “pretend it’s my tits”, he immediately feels embarassed too.
Or look at Kaoru Mori’s A Bride’s Story, there’s a scene where she’s taking a bath, of course she’d be naked, but her body language and facial expression don’t suddenly become those of a character forced to pose erotically for the reader, they remain those of a person relaxing as they wash.
Yeah, the problem is not the big breasts but the “breasts larger than the head with the “camera” shoved into them every second”. To an anime no related example, Korra. She is busty and in a dress she looks even bustier but it is not bad because that not the focus and because her clothes are normal (that is, like a shirt would look in a normal busty woman, not like it was painted on her bare skin). Plus they don’t feel the need to make every gesture she does sexy. I’ve seen superhero comicbooks where the women ALWAYS seen to be posing for Playboy, even when they are doing the most ordinary things. It’s…disgusting.
To me, it’s not usually the body itself that’s either fanservicey or non-fanservicey, but rather the way in which a body is portrayed. Does the ‘camera’ purposefully linger around a woman’s curves, or zoom in on her breasts to show them jiggling around when she so much as sits down? I have no issue with women who are portrayed as being bustier than others – they do exist after all, even in Japan where the average bust size is smaller than in some other countries – but I don’t tend to like it when someone’s curves become a selling point of the entire story.
“Her body becomes a tool intended to gratify the straight male consumer and the work encourages the reader/viewer to objectify her through those cleverly placed shots.”
Although I’ve used the term ‘male gaze’ myself many times myself, I’ve start reconsidering that reality is more complex. Sakura Trick was a yuri anime with lots of kissing, lustful thoughts, boobs jiggling and almost pant shots -what one would totally address as catering to a male audience, right? Where’s the issue? There were lesbians who actually enjoyed the series and/or particularly the fanservice. Does this say something about them? Not necessarily, since we’re not just the fiction we consume.
I’ll make clear that I dislike fanservice but depending how much is shoved in my face I might enjoy such a series, for instance Kill la Kill. Nevertheless it’s much more probable that I will praise a series like FMA like you do. Where do I want to lead the discussion?
“Seeing this type of rendition repeatedly can feel limiting, which is a shame since art clearly has the potential to expand our perceptions of the world.”-
Yes, representation is important, I won’t and can’t deny it. Does art though have social intentions? It could be. Should every piece of art be what we like and want? I don’t think so. My humble opinion is that we should praise what good comes in our way and ask more of it. I don’t find it productive or good for us psychologically to write negatively about 9 out of 10 works that come our way. In every medium mediocrity is a Gauss diagram. Then again, I can’t say that anger doesn’t hold power and possibly change.
What is very very important is to make sure that people can make a distinction between fiction and reality and that they can treat women and people in generally in a good way IRL.
P.S.: “such male representations still builds on traditional ideas of masculinity and unrealistic body ideals” – manga is thankfully a medium where males aren’t depicted only as macho. We have the classic shounen protagonist who’s a wimpy plain boy and we have the classic shoujo male love interest who’s more effeminate in appearance. The macho ideal is I think a mostly US-centered issue in comics because their history focused disproportionately on superheroes; if we take a look in French comic Tin Tin is an ideal of cleverness, Lucky Luck of justice and speed but also a very lax guy, Asterix and Ovelix are short and obese respectively and their power comes from a magical portion to resist the conquerors.
Hey…um, I was wondering if you could do one of these for marmalade boy. It’s a anime.
Actually, I’ve been meaning to get to Marmalade Boy for some time now. It depends on if I can get my hands on the series (I try to watch/read series legally), but if I can, I’ll try to write a post on it!
I also lean towards believing they only make big-breasted females as fanservice or comedy relief.
It’s not hard to believe, when the camera focuses on the breasts or shows them jiggling like jello from every subtle movement.
Really, the only anime I remember seeing where making an unusually big-breasted female was actually vital to the story was Durarara, since it actually affects her negatively. It portrays what she has to deal with as a result, and leads to conflict and emotional development later on. Even then, I did not get “fanservice” vibes from this anime since her boobs don’t jiggle unrealistically or get tons of unnecessary screen-time.
I suppose there are times where they are given big breasts simply to play the role of an intentionally seductive character that is actually part of the story, like a hostess, model, or an actual serious prostitute.
Fanservice is straight-up annoying! It’s not even sexy, and hovers around the line between awkward and embarrassing.
The most bothersome thing is not character design, but camera angles. I appreciate artistic camera angles as much as anybody, but every so often I find they’ve positioned the camera between a woman’s legs, or from behind her rear end as she’s mid-conversation, or focused on her breasts. And for no reason; just as though the camera-person was bored.
It’s annoying, and I want the creators to recognize that and stop.
Hi. Good article, love your blog, I’ll follow it from now on 😀
My opinion on the subject not of sexist fan service but of fan service as a whole is that within its core concept is the component of cheapness. This is what defines it.
What I mean is that we can’t define it as giving the consumer the goods he wants, as I feel that is also the goal of most artists. Artists can’t solely make stuff that only they like, the communication is bidirectional and they thrive on good feedback. So there’s nothing wrong in giving what people want.
What I think is wrong is actually seeking the best feedback possible at the lowest cost. Being cheap. Establishing your consumer demographic, what they want, and giving it a mixture of recipes that were proven to work for the lowest possible cost in time, money and intellectual artistic effort.
Underlying here is a much deeper problem that consists in my opinion in the fact that art is subjected to the goal of capitalistic gain. For the starting artist to survive and for the big corporation to amass piles of bills.
To put it bluntly, money is the only or at least the main reason why cheap “art” as Boy Bands or the Super Sentai ever existed and also the reason for boobs being huge on girls that are constantly showing their panties when they fall. And there’s definitely something wrong with money soiling art. A true artist should have no interest in money, feedback efficiency or anything else than an original and pure artistic expression between her/him and the consumer. When that is the case you have the best art a single artist can produce.
Countless times has a work been tainted with fan service when adapted into a film or series, drifting from the original purer intent of the artist and that’s what I feel we should be focused on. The sexist aspect of fan service is only the natural result of artists having to satisfy shareholders. This may seem like an exaggeration but I don’t feel being too far from the truth.
In fact, my eyes pop out like Master Roshi’s whenever a girl “accidentally” reveals panties or her ass, that’s because I have a penis, and there’s not much I can do to change that. And it really bothers me to be a victim of that fan service, having to constantly masturbate when I read mangas 😀
I would much rather have an artistic world deprived of all that shit and replace it with pure art that gives my brain a boner instead. I would happily give up all of the porn in the world to be able to read something as magnificent as Nausicaä again or discover music as brilliant as Drukqs by Aphex Twin…
To be honest I find the way “camera” is positioned or how long does it lingers on certain parts more problematic than fanservicy bodies. I can normally read such things as High School of the Dead or Fairy Tail, but I can’t stand looking at this thing, even though Miku’s breasts are relatively small:
Maybe it’s because I actually have big breasts so, as long as character having them isn’t in work only for a fanservice is, for me, more progressive than female oriented literature (where most protagonist are sad, because of her small cup size and characters looking more like me are “mean bitches” or too stupid to live.