Sex and Violence is Ok!

[Milkymagic]

Don't be scared, sex and violence can be avoided, and you know what to do if you have kids...

There is anime that can be too violent, and loaded with sexual content, but none of which hinders my entertainment all that much. I meet lots of people who argue about both massive violence, and clad fanservice heathens. Personally, I could care less, stuff that's smart and witty will always be made no matter what year it is. Of course, a lot of anime that gets released here happens to embody both of these elements, and there's a demographic of people that support this. If we're worried about smarter anime, we have only a few things we could blame if a few smarter productions got canned in favor of Hanaukyo Maid Team or Amazing Nurse Nanako. Shit, I'm still waiting for stuff like Yokohama Shopping Log and Angel's Egg to receive release, or even a Robot Carnival re-release.

If Fist of the North Star wasn't as ridiculous as it was, I wouldn't have liked it as much (it's a work of art for reasons that seem obvious, wa-tah!). Another example: Kawajiri's Wicked City, which actually utilized its sexual content to tell a chilling story about creatures that shapeshifted into humans, and had an underworld-like touch to it. Without the sex, it could still be good, but it added a more mature atmosphere by keeping it in.

Then there's fanservice, brought on by a creator's urge to fulfill his carnal idealisms, while also making sure to poke a little fun at those concepts within. Of course, this sort of debate meets itself with the quality of the anime: is it reliant on the sex and violence? or are those elements just kind of there? In the long run, I'm more afraid of an anime's quality than these elements being present, though style definitely helps elevate the violence in an action sequence (Ninja Scroll was nice to look at), but that's only for an action anime. I'll take a few bloodied bodies and panty shots, just tell me a story that goes along with it. And if there's too graphic of sex and violence, just turn away. If it effects the story, that's because the story wasn't all that strong, yup.

This take of mine is pretty dimented, but I basically felt like asking around about this, being I'm very curious on everyone's opinions. Probably obvious to most people, but I've met some folks a con complaining about all the sex and violence that's in plenty of anime (but the funny thing was, I liked a lot of the shows they were mentioning, lol!), so that's what brought about the subject for me.

[Dark Lord]

Well... As for me, an anime can use sex and violence as much as they want, but not too excessively... and by excessively, I mean not too often... As long as it can serve as a good medium for plot progression, it's fine... I'm actually fine with the violence as long as thay don't exaggerate it to the point that it becomes disgusting to watch... As for sex, well I'm a bit sensitive to that stuff... No hentai, please!!!

[Mana]

The biggest problem that I (and probably others) have with sex and violence in anime is the gratuitousness. Either it's added onto a show to take up time and attract more of an audience, or that's all there is in the show, leaving no room for anything else, IE plot and character.

In small doses, it's fine; in hentai, it's fine. There are some anime that can pull it off well, but not very many, and most of the examples I can think of off the top of my head are actually manga, Black & White, the beginning of Crying Freeman (haven't seen the anime, so can't say), some of the Erika Sakurazawa stuff. However, most of the time it's just done needlessly and/or in bad taste.

[silan]

the beginning of Crying Freeman
Hah. The sex and nudity in Crying Freeman... that is the very epitome of gratuitousness.

[Mana]

I haven't seen the anime, so I can't really compare, but in the manga at least, the sex and violence served a purpose, and it manged to dovetail with the story very well. It wasn't violence for the sake of violence.

[silan]

I haven't seen the anime, so I can't really compare, but in the manga at least, the sex and violence served a purpose, and it manged to dovetail with the story very well. It wasn't violence for the sake of violence.
No, I'm talking about the manga too.

The violence... meh, you might be right, although there are points I'd argue about that.

The sex, I completely disagree with you about. You gotta be kidding. What I have the most problem with for Crying Freeman was the nudity. Constant, gratuitous nudity. Sure, he's got a damn cool tattoo. No, he doesn't really need to strip down the nude to kill people or fight people. And yet he does. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. :migrane:

[Mana]

Yeah, I was mostly using it as a violence example, the sex/nudity was pretty out there.

But at least it's a different kind of nudity than the bouncing tits and panty shots of most anime :p Need to have some variety after all.

[Emeraldas]

As long as it contributes to the story or is in some way valid other than attempting to appeal to teenage boys, I have no problem. Which is probably why I hate a whole lot of anime.

[Grasshopper]

You're damn right it's OK! Sex and violence is one of the best things about anime. You can experiment so much with it. Lets cut off all those guy's limbs in half a second with a samurai sword! Have at it! Lets have a huge orgy in some dark cave! Sure thing! Wait, what's that? There's tentacle monsters?! Yeah, that basically sums it up.

[Milkymagic]

Crying Freeman had me in stitches, as it didn't seem necessary for everyone to strip down and fight. There were certain entertaining martial arts sequences, but for the most part, the anime sucks because it is an undeveloped and monotonous mess. The manga, which I have yet to read, is sold in an adult section in a bookstore not far from me. That says everything, LOL! <-

A lot of anime can be unappealing as far as who its aimed at. Females don't get the same level of entertainment men do I feel, since it is women who are scantily clothed for the most part (but that seems to be changing a bit as of late). Also, the flow of smart anime, from fun anime, and dumb anime has only moderately changed over the years. It seemed like there was more titles back then one could choose to avoid such things, and in this day and age you have to sift through titles a bit to avoid fanservice (and possibly excessive violence).

Still, I'm OK with it, as long as they keep making the good stuff alongside (hell, even I love to veg to a dumb one once in a while).

[Mana]

I don't think me being a female has anythign to do with my dislike of fanservice, as A) I don't like male fanservice either, and B) generall speaking, I enjoy the naked woman's body much more than a male's.

[Milkymagic]

That's understandable, being it was a lack of story in the first place that spawns an arguement such as this. Still, it was something I always asked myself,"Does all this fanservice piss women off?"

Fair enough

[Starwind Amada]

I still don't understand what motivated the animators of Crying Freeman to draw an 80-pound woman running around naked. They must've been either drunk or really depressed. Seriously, Bei-san is DISGUSTING to look at.

[silan]

I don't care about fanservice, either male or female, as long as there's a purpose behind it. I just don't like it when it's blatantly gratuitous or constantly there for no reason.

The manga Crying Freeman is a perfect example, as is the manga Remote. Both had gratuitous fanservice. In Crying Freeman, it was (well, really of everyone, but) mostly of the male main character. In Remote, it was of the female main character. Both annoyed me, not because of the fact of it or gender of the character, but because it was so senseless in both cases.

[So Panic.]

I've never been bothered much by sex and/or violence. It doesn't really make a difference unless yoiur morally opposed to thoise types of graphics. What bugs me a little however is the need for them in a cartoon.

I just don't see how anyone could get off on that... the sex part that is.

[Dark Lord]

Oh yeah... If they do manage to add any sex or violence, it should somehow be beneficial to the quality of the anime... Especially to the sex part... I mean showing sex just for the sake of showing sex is just sad... Not sad boohoo, sad pathetic... A mindless show bent on either blood or pervertion...

[Milkymagic]

I still don't understand what motivated the animators of Crying Freeman to draw an 80-pound woman running around naked. They must've been either drunk or really depressed. Seriously, Bei-san is DISGUSTING to look at.

I really wanted to stab my eyes out when I saw her, so we're agreed.

Yeah, like I said, I've seen some anime (Wicked City for example) that use sex in ways that don't bother me. Then there's shows that slap it in, though I'm not particularly offended, but then it can be unnecessary, or even a little graphic when given the situation it's depicted. Same with violence on my part.

[NausicaaBoy]

Ill post seriously this time...

To begin; the sexual aspect of anime. Sexuality and developing sexuality is a reccurent theme in the anime genre. While at times it adds nothing to the story. Other times it certainly creates a bond that all viewers are familiar with. Lust is just part of human nature. However, at other times its just a little too much for the senses.

Violence. Once again a bond is created. A parallel is drawn between the animated worlds we submerge in, and the worlds in which we live on a daily bases. Our world is currently at war and at no time in history has mankind been entirely peaceful. Thus for anime to be palpable there must be elements of human nature including violence and lust as well as love and drama.

[kyubichan]

Sex: When it's hinted at or just shown briefly/partly, and actually a part of the story and/or the development of the characters (like in NGE), it's all good for me. But when it's totally out of place (Tsukihime), bound to happen but should've been kept on a 'need to know basis', it shouldn't be there at all.

Violence: 'Best' violence I've seen is in Bleach. There's blood, but it's not sickening. It's a bit more realistic than just little stains of blood on the clothes. "WTF?!" violence makes my head spin, like those one-shot mangas or anime where blood and limbs are all over the place, you don't even know where one guy ends and another begins.

[Milkymagic]

Certainly, if there's human nature intended into the preceedings, it certainly does help. If done within the reasoning of a normal human, it remains more believable than gratuitous, and seemly necessary given those precedings.

And whether its realistic or not pretty much opens it up for interpretation, as to whether it was needed in the slightest. The need for realism and human nature to be present seem like two big factors in determining what can be offensive or ridiculous the viewer themselves. The other factor to put in would be the tolerance of such things.

I'll still stick with my opinion for now, but I liked these takes, very interesting...

CUE COMMERCIAL BREAK

[Panwolf]

The worst I've ever seen was "Mouse." It was loaded with nudity, explicit sex scenes and the like.

My friend made me watch it, and if you've read Ranma or Inuyasha, the boobies don't really bug you. xD

I don't mind sex or violence. It adds to the story and makes it more realistic. Like blinking.

[NausicaaBoy]

really I agree with milky - It all comes down to context. As with everything else in this world.

[laborpilot86]

I HATE FAN SERVICE! Their, I said it. I find fan service to be extremely distracting from vital things like plot, animation and character. Violence has never bothered me in the slightest, especially in most anime. But sex just for the sake of it is just stupid

[LadyYuina]

I HATE FAN SERVICE! Their, I said it. I find fan service to be extremely distracting from vital things like plot, animation and character. Violence has never bothered me in the slightest, especially in most anime. But sex just for the sake of it is just stupid

Wow, you seriously hate it? I'm a girl and I'll clearly state that I do not hate fan service, but neither do I like it to the extent that I'll say I am never disgusted with it when they show too much of it. Two fan service factors that I do not like too much is excessive showing of humongous (constantly jiggling) cleavage, and too many panty shots.

[laborpilot86]

I just find it really distracting.

[Milkymagic]

I just find it really distracting.

It can be, which is both bad and good...if it's used in a cheeky context. Or if the story and characters overpower it enough in quality. If it's busting out, begging for attention, then that's used in the unnatural context me and Nausicaaboy were talking about; it can potentially kill a story if the story is being overshadowed by it.

Still, can't really bring myself to hate it, so I'll stand with LadyYuina on this one.

[Neo-Hunter]

its alright with me i mean its a scene in the anime it self just like a movie or tv show. so it doesn't bother me.

[Dark Lord]

I HATE FAN SERVICE! Their, I said it. I find fan service to be extremely distracting from vital things like plot, animation and character. Violence has never bothered me in the slightest, especially in most anime. But sex just for the sake of it is just stupid

Fan service is commonly used, maybe a bit overused, tool in anime for capturing a specific mood needed to thoroughly enjoy a certain scene... So it may actually help in the development of plot and character... not sure about animation though... However, many shows typically overuse this tool, making it very detrimental to a show... But when used in the correct dosage, it may help improve the quality of a show...

[gdavall2003]

I don't mind violence too much as long as it doesn't reach 'Geno Cyber' proportions. I've never actually come across that much sex in the anime I watch apart from the occasional mild fan service.

[Milkymagic]

I don't mind violence too much as long as it doesn't reach 'Geno Cyber' proportions. I've never actually come across that much sex in the anime I watch apart from the occasional mild fan service.

Genocyber did shock me a bit when I first saw it, especially when children were slaughtered the way that was depicted (their flesh was like play-doh!). Still, I tried to understand the anime's sense of post-apocalyptic dread, which gave me a headache in the end with its non-sensical nature.

And on the prior nod to fanservice by Dark Lord: I've actually seen fanservice used as great comedy in some cases (Golden Boy's a prime example).

[gdavall2003]

Genocyber did shock me a bit when I first saw it, especially when children were slaughtered the way that was depicted (their flesh was like play-doh!).

I was actuallly thinking of the bit where the guy woke up and he was... open. Quite an eye opener really.

[laborpilot86]

Well, thats the Japanese for you. When talking about violence in anime, you have to keep in mind two things. 1)that Japan is the only nation on the planet to have a nuke thrown at them in anger, (twice!)and 2)that modern Japan was born out of a tradition of almost endemic clan warfare. These two factors are bound to have an effect on the culture's zeitgeist, for both good (Macross, Ghost in the Shell:Stand Alone Complex)and ill(Gene Cyber[which I havn't seen], MD Geist)

[Erigion]

If an anime doesn't have sex and violence, it ain't worth my time.

[Milkymagic]

If an anime doesn't have sex and violence, it ain't worth my time.

Y'know something? More than half of my anime definitely have some form of sex and/or violence in them, and I mean stuff that would alter the rating of the film. I still own some non-violent/minor fanservice anime, but I usually have to dig...rather deep, at least in my collection.

[zarahf]

I would have to draw a distinction between basic fanservice (the occasional unexpected glimpse of innocent white cotton under an already perilously short fuku for example) and sex. They often serve two distinct functions. Fanservice rarely changes the storyline. It is simply an addition, something to ogle or laugh at. Sex on the other hand usually (though not always) tends to require a plot to support it. As many have said before me sex that is supported by a storyline and serves to enhance that story is fine. Gratuitous sex shout be confined to hentai. The occasional fanservice is fine by me. Even as a woman I find the occational flash exciting.

As for violence: It is unavoidable that anything that allows as much human expression without the confines of reality would go without it. Art often is used to express that which humans desire but just as often that which humans abhor and fear. In the latter text it is a way to face that fear in a safe non-threatening arena. The same reason that war movies flourish during times of national strife. Bloody battles can be seen as an abstract mirror of the random murder, mutilation and mayhem society tells us we should fear in the everyday world. Violence in anime (or any other media medium for that matter) is to be expected and will always be a heavy component. This said I have no problem with it. I do, however, think it should be handled with a little tact. Blood in excess can be distracting to the storyline.

:udb: