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[itisnotlogical]

I think I had an epiphany. I was thinking about the baseless "Anno made Rei as otaku-bait" theory and why people would want to spread that.

Then it came to me just now. The people who would benefit from spreading such a story are the hardcore NGE fans who wish to handwave-away the obvious flaws in the show (such as embarassing fanservice), while also setting themselves up as the "elite" who "get it" as opposed to the "masses" who "don't get it". Thus it serves two purposes:

(1) it absolves the show's flaws, since the flaws are there "on purpose" as "meta-commentary", and thus absolving said obsessed fan from having to justify the less-than-salubrious elements of the show.

(2) it creates a heirarchy of fans, with the "elite" fans with their "one true interpretation" now able to look down on anyone who is "enjoying the show in the wrong way", a way that makes Anno cry and makes God kill a kitten.

But but but... the fanservice in NGE (the show and End) is pretty tame. Even the spandex plug suits are about the least erotic take on the idea I've seen.

[Hawkfrost]

I think I had an epiphany. I was thinking about the baseless "Anno made Rei as otaku-bait" theory and why people would want to spread that.

Then it came to me just now. The people who would benefit from spreading such a story are the hardcore NGE fans who wish to handwave-away the obvious flaws in the show (such as embarassing fanservice), while also setting themselves up as the "elite" who "get it" as opposed to the "masses" who "don't get it". Thus it serves two purposes:

(1) it absolves the show's flaws, since the flaws are there "on purpose" as "meta-commentary", and thus absolving said obsessed fan from having to justify the less-than-salubrious elements of the show.

(2) it creates a heirarchy of fans, with the "elite" fans with their "one true interpretation" now able to look down on anyone who is "enjoying the show in the wrong way", a way that makes Anno cry and makes God kill a kitten.

But but but... the fanservice in NGE (the show and End) is pretty tame. Even the spandex plug suits are about the least erotic take on the idea I've seen.

Have you watched it recently?

[Reelya]

idk, I'm checking out the original here right now.

the first shot we ever see of Rei is a close-up shot of her boobs-to-crotch in the spandex suit. Clearly Hideako Anno would be truly "shocked" that a girl he introduced with a boobs-and-crotch close up in skin-tight spandex would become sexualized in the fan's mind. You're supposed to realize boob close-ups are a deconstruction of your sexist tendencies, right ? xD

Additionally ,the first clear shot we see of Misato is that photo of her leaning forward with her boobs in your face. And the first thing that happens when we meet Asuka is the wind blows her dress up and gives Shinji a full view of her panties. Now, this being 1996 we as the audience don't get a full view, but we do get a glimpse of said panties. And if you look at the original credits, Asuka and Rei are introduced by zooming silouhettes past where you can see their boobs and crotch more clearly than their faces, before you ever get a potrait of their face.

And that's only from a few minutes poking around at the show.

[ggamer]

the first shot we ever see of Rei is a close-up shot of her boobs-to-crotch in the spandex suit.

wasn't she covered in bandages in her first shot

[Leafsnail]

Some of the previews explicitly promise fan service as well I believe.

[Reelya]

the first shot we ever see of Rei is a close-up shot of her boobs-to-crotch in the spandex suit.

wasn't she covered in bandages in her first shot

Luckily the bandages missed her sexy bits. Look, I was going to say trust me on this because I literally checked out the scene a couple of minutes ago so none of this is based on my memory of the show. But here's a screencap anyway since it's not actually nude. Still, probably NSFW:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

There's your establishing shot for Rei as a character right there. Note, I did not select this shot from any longer scene. It's the first shot in which Rei appears in it's entirety. Of course you can say that's not the worst thing ever, but that's not what the point is. The point is, Rei was clearly introduced in a "geee look at those sexy bits" way.

Some of the previews explicitly promise fan service as well I believe.

Clearly this was Anno's meta-commentary on how pathetic people were, tuning in week after week for the mere promise of fanservice. "you sicken me, watching a show which promises fanservice" is what Anno was thinking all along.

[Sirus]

Also, didn't Shinji walk into Rei's apartment, see her naked, and fall on top of her for accidental gropage? Or was that just Rebuild?

Either way, that's not exactly "tame" fanservice

[Flying Dice]

Yeah, that happened as well. The most awkward and least-hitty of "accidental" boob grabs ever animated, I'd guess.

Also: "Thermal expansion." 

Though I would say that Misato joking about fanservice in the post-episode omakes shouldn't be taken seriously as "Okay everyone, tune in next time for more hot sexualization of teenagers!" any more than it should be considered to be meta-commentary about otakus. Pretty much every show that does omakes like that uses them to make stupid jokes, break the fourth wall, and poke fun at the series.

[Sirus]

Speaking of those next-episode-previews, I believe I read somewhere (might have been on TVTropes, so...) that often when Misato promised "more fanservice", the next episode would be one of the darker ones with little to no fanservice. So the idea that they were used to make jokes or poke fun at the series has some merit.

[Mattk50]

is it worth mentioning what happens at the start of EoE. Because that happens.

[Reelya]

idk if character self-service really counts as "fanservice"

[itisnotlogical]

sure it totally can, though he's pleasing himself over a mentally damaged girl in a coma and afterwards admits in despair "I'm so fucked up". the lack of sound (besides shinji), monochrome color scheme and fucked up implications don't lend any creepiness to the scene or inform the viewer's mood in any way

[Reelya]

I agree it has an impact, but I disagree that it counts as "fanservice" in the sense of "giving fans what they want", unless we extend "giving the fans what they want" to be depression and mindscrew.

[itisnotlogical]

speaking of fanservice, I watched Monster Musume because I kept seeing the name around and didn't know it was basically softcore porn

I feel like many psychological essays could be written about the prevalence of the "guy who doesn't want sex at all ends up surrounded by beautiful women and keeps getting his face buried in their boobs totally on accident, protesting all the while" setup.

[Execute/Dumbo.exe]

speaking of fanservice, I watched Monster Musume because I kept seeing the name around and didn't know it was basically softcore porn

I feel like many psychological essays could be written about the prevalence of the "guy who doesn't want sex at all ends up surrounded by beautiful women and keeps getting his face buried in their boobs totally on accident, protesting all the while" setup.

I was kinda disappointed but thinking about it I can't comprehend how I thought it was going to be anything else.