why do they put nudity in anime that doesnt need it?

[Maokun]

I find strange that only one person has pointed the one sad truth: The nude female body sells. We are hardwired to be attracted by it, and living in a century when it's ben pushed down our throats even more by advertising and media has not really helped.

Also, remember that even well written, intelligent anime series, are in the end cartoons. i.e a big chunk of their target audience are curious, hormone-inebriated teenagers; so being able to show a small cutscene in the next episode preview that there's gonna be even a modest, partial nude of one of the characters go a long way to ensure that it will be faithfully followed by the onlookers and that they'll probably urge their friends to do it as well. Sadly, rating is extremelly important so sometimes is necessary to use silly tricks like that to warrant the continued existence of the series. That's why it is called "fanservice".

[Shao Feng-Li]

I think we often forget that anime is not for us. We are not the target audience for anime. Japan is the target audience for anime. And whether you like it or not, nudity is not as big a deal. For most shows, I don't think animators throw in fanservice as part of some great calculated plan.

For another example, why does it seem like most series set in high school have a beach and/or hot springs episode? Opportunity for fanservice? Well, maybe, but it turns out, when you're a high school student in Japan, the beach and hot springs are pretty much the only place out of the city that you can go to on a budget.

It's a good idea to keep in mind when watching anime that Japan is not America.

Well yeah. Like in My Neighbor Totoro, the bathtub scene was in no way offensive, but just a bit weird to us. And then Japan gives us DearS, Gantz and Girls Bravo :B

[animechica]

I think we often forget that anime is not for us. We are not the target audience for anime. Japan is the target audience for anime. And whether you like it or not, nudity is not as big a deal. For most shows, I don't think animators throw in fanservice as part of some great calculated plan.

For another example, why does it seem like most series set in high school have a beach and/or hot springs episode? Opportunity for fanservice? Well, maybe, but it turns out, when you're a high school student in Japan, the beach and hot springs are pretty much the only place out of the city that you can go to on a budget.

It's a good idea to keep in mind when watching anime that Japan is not America.

I disagree, at least it terms of the "great calculated plan" thing. I think there definitely is some planning as far as marketing goes going on when it comes to producing any kind of entertainment. That's why we have commercials which feature (sexually) attractive people instead of "average" people. Certain musical artists who have been blessed in the looks department skyrocket to fame even if their music isn't anything great. This happens both in America and Japan, it seems.

Regarding the cultural nudity issue, I'd say you're correct, since it seems in America we use nudity for "fanservice" or comedic purposes, but in Japan, there's another element. Nudity can be just objective, just factual, just... naked without any sexual overtones. But... there's a difference in using nudity simply for what it is, and using it to attract viewers.

Well yeah. Like in My Neighbor Totoro, the bathtub scene was in no way offensive, but just a bit weird to us. And then Japan gives us DearS, Gantz and Girls Bravo :B

Haha, I remember the first time I watched that.
I was like 11 years old and just sat there for a moment and tried to understand how the heck a grown man could take a naked bath with his two pre-pubescent daughters and act like everything was perfectly normal.

In retrospect, it probably taught me that nudity doesn't have to be a bad thing if it's portrayed correctly.

[rocklobster]

Heck, there's nudity all the time in classical art. And most of the time, it's meant for art's sake. It really just depends on the intent.

[Shao Feng-Li]

Like they say, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. (Not to imply that you're going to hell because of nudity XD)

Classical nudity has been used for the sake of porn just as long as there have been humans.

[ShiroiHikari]

As for the scene in My Neighbor Totoro, bathing culture in Japan is worlds apart from how we do it in America. XD

[Nate]

Classical nudity has been used for the sake of porn just as long as there have been humans.

True, but that doesn't make it evil or wrong.

I can stab someone to death with a pair of scissors. That doesn't make scissors a dangerous tool of evil, it's just a person's choice to use it that way.

Nudity is the same way. It can be appropriate and beautiful. If someone wants to use it to get off then that's their business, it's not the nudity's fault.

Of course, most nudity isn't used appropriately these days anyway.

[animechica]

True, but that doesn't make it evil or wrong.

I can stab someone to death with a pair of scissors. That doesn't make scissors a dangerous tool of evil, it's just a person's choice to use it that way.

Nudity is the same way. It can be appropriate and beautiful. If someone wants to use it to get off then that's their business, it's not the nudity's fault.

Of course, most nudity isn't used appropriately these days anyway.

Yeah, by that logic, we'd be really constricted, because people get off to feet, furniture, CHILDREN...

[Nate]

Well, if someone gets off to something that isn't inherently sexual, that's sorta their problem.

Even though you don't need to even be naked to have sex, nudity is probably inherently more sexual than say, feet. I'm not advocating walking around naked all the time, or anything. Like I said, most nudity isn't used appropriately these days anyway. The purpose of nudity most of the time in modern society IS to produce a lustful reaction. It can be used properly, for example, Schindler's List is an excellent example of appropriate nudity.

That's what I'm saying though, is stuff like the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel has nudity in it, and if someone wants to use that for their lustful fantasies then well...that's their business I guess, but that doesn't make the nudity inherently bad or wrong. And it shouldn't be censored or removed or anything.

Never heard of people getting off to furniture though. That's a new one on me. Though I guess you can have fetishes for basically anything.

EDIT:

Sadly, rating is extremelly important so sometimes is necessary to use silly tricks like that to warrant the continued existence of the series. That's why it is called "fanservice".

Though we at CAA use "fanservice" to describe unnecessary nudity and whatnot, that's not what the term actually means. Fanservice is just a term that means making fans excited and pumped up...servicing the fans. Example: the Marvel/DC crossover a few years back was pure fanservice because people wanted to see things like Superman vs. the Hulk for years.

The Kamen Rider Decade movie, All Riders vs. DaiShocker is pure fanservice because it's a teamup of every single Kamen Rider that's ever existed. Heck, there's supposed to be a Decade/Shinkenger crossover event next month that's a huge heaping helping of fanservice. I mean I know I'm giddy about it if it's true.

Sometimes an anime can have nudity and it doesn't qualify as fanservice. My Neighbor Totoro has already been mentioned.

[rocklobster]

Galaxy Express 999 has nudity in it and it's definitely not fanservice. It's always in scenes where you'd expect it and done in a non-expressive way.

[Maokun]

Though we at CAA use "fanservice" to describe unnecessary nudity and whatnot, that's not what the term actually means. Fanservice is just a term that means making fans excited and pumped up...servicing the fans. Example: the Marvel/DC crossover a few years back was pure fanservice because people wanted to see things like Superman vs. the Hulk for years.

The Kamen Rider Decade movie, All Riders vs. DaiShocker is pure fanservice because it's a teamup of every single Kamen Rider that's ever existed. Heck, there's supposed to be a Decade/Shinkenger crossover event next month that's a huge heaping helping of fanservice. I mean I know I'm giddy about it if it's true.

Sometimes an anime can have nudity and it doesn't qualify as fanservice. My Neighbor Totoro has already been mentioned.

Yeah, that was what I meant. Nudity in anime is fanservice and so is usually called. That is to say, it is one of the preferred, cheapest and expected ways to provide fan-service and boost ratings.

[Nate]

Nudity in anime is fanservice and so is usually called.

*facepalm*

And I just finished explaining how nudity in anime is NOT always fanservice, with My Neighbor Totoro and Galaxy Express 999 as examples of anime containing nudity that is not fanservice.

[Tsukuyomi]

I agree, nudity is one of the most preferred means of fanservice, but it's not the only type ^__^

[Maokun]

Nudity in anime is most times fanservice and so is usually called.

There, I fixed myself, though I believe the context made pretty clear that was my idea, if I'm talking about ratings boosts. Or do you truly believe that scene in Totoro was a meant as a hook for potential watchers? No need to go ruining your face to stress an already agreed point