Both incompetance and competance can be cliche. For every clumsy bishoujo that burns her grilled cheese sandwich there’s a yamato nadeshiko who can make roast turkey out of canned food.

Perhaps I as being a bit too harsh, but even you have to admit that low fan service is overused. In my opinion it has been so overused that it is no longer worth it to sift through the ocean of crap ecchi to get to the genuinely funny moments. The Otaku male is a predictable creature as I understand it and the promise of nakkid girls is to the average male otaku a bacon sandwich to a starved wolf. Most of us bite when ecchi is dangled like a carrot before us and thats what many a marketing department is banking on. Sex does sell, however it might become a problem when the marketing guys start dictating what series is going to be produced and what needs to be shoe horned in for the sake of sales. I think that we can both agree that the marketing department ought have no say in the making of a series.

Shuffle was alright but I remember it more for the most awesome Asa victory than the ecchi. Besides Kaeade going spectacularly insane was the real high point of the show. Then again I admire those with murderous intent for the sake of a goal.

@Will
I couldn’t have put it better myself.

I think Crusader’s saying that “High” fanservice are those things that reveal a side of the character we don’t normally see, or that there is potential for more from that character.

We see Lafiel in her uniform all the time. If that’s all we were ever allowed to see, we might be justifies in concluding that that’s all their is to her character, but then we get to see her all dolled up in formal evening-wear. It reminds us that there really is an Imperial Princess under the uniform.

The shot if Kagami in her PJ’s and hair down in Lucky Star is another example. There’s no skin, but it’s very good at showing us that she will one day be a very beautiful 2D representation of a fictional woman.

“Low” fanservice is all the other tittilating ecchi fap-material meant to pander to the pathetic otaku in Japan. It sells, but that doesn’t means it’s worthy of any praise.

At least that’s how I interpret things.

I find it a bit pretentious to summarily dismiss all sorts of sexual fanservice as vastly inferior and less enjoyable. There’s a reason there exists the phrase “sex sells,” because it most definitely does. I myself enjoy such shows as Goshoushou-sama Ninomiya-kun, Koharu Biyori and Shuffle! and the what you term “low” fanservice is a big part of why those shows are enjoyable. Now do I think all shows should have boobshots and pantyshots? No. But do I think there is something wrong with some shows doing so? No again. There’s something to be said for variety, and sex certainly sells with the masses. I’m not going to deny my various guilty pleasures and fun shows outright and say every show should be like Haruhi.

@Christopher Fritz
Well hopefully Macross Frontier will be just the thing you are looking for. Yeah bottle fairy kinda rubbed me the wrong way a couple times.

@rollchan
Admiral Spoor is love…

Lafiel is fine too.

@DrmChsr0
Hey I can dream right?

@ZeusIrae
Thanks for reading but what is DITE?

@guest
Good to know that the brothers of Spectacular Insanity are still remembered. Crest of the Stars was when Sunrise was great, nowadays they have series where characters go shopping in the middles of a war…

@IKnight
Macross Frontier cannot come soon enough. Sad to see that you are not in possession of a long enemies list, or in muy case book…then again perhaps that is a blessing.

Thanks I was unsure whether or not I avoided morality. I went for a sort of High fantasy vs. low fantasy slant, ie Tolkien is high while Warhammer fiction is low.

@Stripey
Other than kneeling on those blasted fruits in submission to the lady of your one ring…sure I suppose the smell isn’t fatal. However it is not always pleasant either. Admit it you will remember loli-in-a-bag long after you become a senile old man.

@Martin
I am sure that with age comes wisdom, but Admiral Spoor among my first characters whom I revered and I hope that others in youth also latched unto that special character. Great to see that Crest of the Stars is still fondly remebered.

@halcyonTwilight
Yeah its kind of disappointing how Moyashimon has not seen as much subbing as some other series, but that’s my pick. Nevertheless precision is need for shock and awe, carpet bombings usually just cause shell shock to those unfortunates underneath the B-52. Hey SHnY made it over because of fan reaction right? So there is still hope left in this world.

The female cast of Crest of the Stars (GREAT series, btw!) for instance, or perhaps Eureka Seven’s Talho or Bebop’s Faye Valentine aren’t just good-looking - they are attractive and worthy of respect as people because they have depth and personality. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of eye candy (I have blood in my veins, not antifreeze!) but perhaps some of us are looking for a more sophisticated variety, which is no bad thing really.

As with so many things, fanservice isn’t necessarily a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ thing - it often depends of context or how much it’s used.

Besides what kind of idiot puts chilli on his cheese cake and truffles?

LOL! Love this line. Fanservice is not for everyone. Some would write it off whether ‘high’ or ‘low’ types by your definition. In this aspect, to use another Singaporean analogy, fanservice are like durians. Those who dislike it, would flee at the whiff of it. But I believe it is those who enjoy good durians do get a little more of what life has to offer.

However, while fanservice offends some, and drives others away, I do try to avoid moralising about it. Nothing’s more dangerous than a quick rush to judgement.

So your entry is a fine piece of work, because it builds an argument on your own preferences and a well-placed distinction (’high’ = subtle, charm-based, rare; ‘low’ = in-your-face, sex-based, common (pun intended)) rather than moral precepts.

Unfortunately, like someone has mentioned, crude fanservice is a easy and guaranteed trick to keep otakus engaged to pathetically uninspired stories and characters.