2013-01-11, 14:13 | Link #1 | |
Senior Member
Author
|
The Blend of Serious Action and Sexual Fanservice in shows like Strike Witches
[MOD EDIT: This conversation was moved from the Vivid Red Operation anime thread, as it's a standalone topic that is actually a bit more related to Strike Witches and others shows]
Quote:
If the tone for a scene is lighthearted, or actually erotic, then I sometimes like fanservice in those scenes. But I found with Strike Witches they'd pull the fanservice at some of the worst possible times.
__________________
Last edited by relentlessflame; 2013-01-11 at 19:59. |
|
2013-01-11, 14:24 | Link #2 | |
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 41
|
Quote:
This sort of reminds me of the "don't put <genre x> in my <genre y> show" argument, but in a different way. To me, it's the blend of the two that's part of the appeal. But it comes down to each person being wired differently, I guess.
__________________
|
|
2013-01-11, 14:33 | Link #3 | |||
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
I honestly find the Strike Witches approach to camera focus during combat to be jarringly unnatural, and immersion-breaking. Quote:
Quote:
__________________
|
|||
2013-01-11, 14:52 | Link #4 | |
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 41
|
Quote:
Maybe I also watch action scenes differently. I tend to focus more on the holistic composition of the scenes, not just on the "the attacks thrown, where they hit, and how the combatants respond to the attacks". I don't generally treat it like watching athletes playing sports (which, honestly, I don't do that much anyway). So maybe that's why I don't find it so distracting. If you're trying to focus on the technical execution of the action, then I suppose that fanservice might get in your way. I've tended to like my favourite "action scenes" more for the way everything came together overall (narrative, cinematography, colours, lights, composition, music, sound, etc.); they may be horrible from a technical "combat" perspective for all I know.
__________________
|
|
2013-01-11, 16:27 | Link #6 | |
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
Being a pro sports fan, and a pro wrestling fan at one time, probably does influence me a bit here. So technical execution of the action is important to me. I guess for somebody that isn't that focused on the technical aspect of the action, pairing it with some fanservice isn't as distracting, at least not in a bad way.
__________________
|
|
2013-01-11, 16:51 | Link #7 | |
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
|
Quote:
Hell yeah. I couldn't agree more.
__________________
|
|
2013-01-11, 17:11 | Link #8 |
Not an expert on things
Join Date: Jun 2007
|
That's not a very good comparison. Relentlessflame already told you what he thought about the fanservice in Strike Witches and Vivid Red Operation. I don't see how comparing it to a completely different show with a completely different tone will change his mind.
|
2013-01-11, 17:19 | Link #9 |
Banned
|
IMHO the scenes I can call as fanservice in this episode are:
> The bloomers and her butt focus during the opening and > Butt focus on the transformation scene. *I also say that the way those girls held hands during the rescue scene is fanservice.. That's not a smart way to held ones hand when attempting a rescue. |
2013-01-11, 17:25 | Link #10 | ||
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
Let's say you have a sparring contest between a couple of the Strike Witches and you know that nothing aside from personal pride is on the line here. Then fine, crack out the fanservice, since the fight itself is pretty superfluous anyway. But if you're having people fight alien monsters that seem bent on destroying the world, then that's kind of serious, if you ask me. Quote:
So I think that Obelisk ze Tormentor's comparison is fine.
__________________
|
||
2013-01-11, 17:31 | Link #11 | |
Not an expert on things
Join Date: Jun 2007
|
Quote:
His comparison is the equivalent of saying that Fate/Zero shouldn't have gore because it would be out of place in Strike Witches. |
|
2013-01-11, 17:41 | Link #12 | ||
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
Strike Witches is similarly "brighter" than Fate/Zero, but nonetheless what the Strike Witches are doing is often of a serious nature. Something doesn't have to be "dark" in order to be "serious". What determines the seriousness of an action scene is... 1) What are the stakes? If lives are on the line, it's serious. If it's just somebody's pride on the line, it might be less serious. 2) How much do the participants care about it? The more intense the participants are over it, the more serious it is (unless the high intensity itself is played for laughs, of course). Quote:
Don't tell me that gore can't be mixed with cute girls because I've seen (and enjoyed) Higurashi, Umineko, and Another.
__________________
|
||
2013-01-11, 17:42 | Link #13 | |
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
|
Quote:
__________________
|
|
2013-01-11, 17:46 | Link #14 | |
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
Slayers is a good example of a show that knows how to seamlessly gravitate between lighthearted and serious. Slayers does have its fanservice, but it kicks it to the curb when the major fights happen.
__________________
|
|
2013-01-11, 18:34 | Link #15 | |
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 41
|
Quote:
In the end, it's just something that some people will get over easily, and others can't. It depends on the person. I do think it's part of the flavour of the show, though.
__________________
|
|
2013-01-11, 18:37 | Link #16 | |||
Not an expert on things
Join Date: Jun 2007
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I'm not saying you guys aren't allowed to dislike how VRO inserts fanservice in its fights. I can completely understand your points of view in saying that it takes you out of the fight (even though I don't feel the same way). It's just a lousy comparison. |
|||
2013-01-11, 18:51 | Link #17 | ||
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
|
Quote:
Quote:
Fate/Zero has serious fights Slayers has serious fights Now, assuming that VRO will also have serious fights, there’s nothing wrong in comparing how much fanservice inserted in those fights. Unless VRO will not have any serious fights at all after this. Once again, I’m not comparing the overall anime but only the serious fights. If you still don’t get it after this post, then I give up.
__________________
|
||
2013-01-11, 19:20 | Link #18 | ||
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
A serious fight is a serious fight, regardless of the "boundaries" set by the show which includes it. It thus can be compared to equally serious fights in other shows. Quote:
I'm honestly at a lost to understand why this particular comparison seems to bother you so much. If fanservice in a serious fight scene doesn't bother you then why would you be bothered by fanservice in a Saber fight in Fate/Zero?
__________________
|
||
2013-01-11, 19:42 | Link #19 | |
Also a Lolicon
Join Date: Apr 2010
|
<3 fanservice. Anyways.
Quote:
That really is it. Since at least part of why I'm watching VRO is the fanservice, I really don't mind fanservice, actually, I quite enjoy it. |
|
2013-01-11, 19:47 | Link #20 | |
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 41
|
Quote:
When I see a "serious fight", I always consider it in the context of the work in which its presented. My brain doesn't suddenly switch to "serious fight mode" and start comparing it to other serious fights in other unrelated shows. All "serious fights" may be "serious fights", but the universe in which the show is occurring changes my expectations and thus my reactions. This isn't reality after all; each fictional world is different and has its own standards, rules, and expectations. Fate/Zero is a very dark, serious show pretty much from end-to-end. It has its mood, its sense of direction, and its own style. To do something that is inconsistent with its own established style would be jarring, and unlikely to be well-received by the audience who was expecting something else. But this is a bright and colourful show focused on cute heroines, and it established that fanservice is an element of the show throughout. So once we understand that this is just part of its style, even in "serious fights", then it ceases to be jarring within its own established framework. This is just like how a franchise like Muv-Luv is laden with serious action and bloodshed, but its heroines are clad in extremely revealing battle attire the whole time. There are fights that are absolutely "serious" and deadly, but the outfits could also be seen as a sort of constant fanservice. To some people, I suppose that would break their suspension of disbelief and cause them to not take the "serious fights" as seriously. But it doesn't have to be that way for everyone. The comparison is not invalid, but to me its value is severely limited. Not least of which is because two shows with such different moods, approaches, and styles are unlikely to result in the very same set of expectations. You have a very specific personal set of expectations that apply to all serious fighting scenes regardless of the show... but that isn't the way it has to be.
__________________
|
|
|
|