Fan Service, Pretty Men, and Knowing Your Audience

Let’s talk about art for the female gaze.

Specifically as it pertains to anime and manga, of course.

In a substantial amount of the media that falls under that umbrella, the patriarchy rears its ugly head–women are drawn with breasts that have their own gravitational pull, outfits are designed in a way that seems to be begging for a nip slip, and there is almost always a contrived scene that allows a male character to end up groping a female one- usually without her explicit consent. And let’s not forget that the words “length” and “skirt” don’t seem to know of each other’s existence.

And no, boys, shows like Baki are not for the female gaze. Overly muscular, shirtless men oiled up and gripping on each other is not done in the hopes of getting the ladies hot under the collar. And let’s not forget Yujiro interrupting Baki and Kozue for “training advice”. I still shudder. Muscular men can absolutely appeal to women; that doesn’t automatically make their presentation female-oriented fan service.

BUT- fan service for women isn’t based on conventional attractiveness, or even how much skin is shown! BUT—female-oriented fan service isn’t necessarily about conventional attractiveness or how much skin is shown! For me, competence, skill, and aura are where it’s AT. I mean, a nice physique never hurt anybody, but the muscles come second to the prowess! Now, I’m not saying every scene we’re about to discuss was intended as female fan service. Sometimes we girlies just see something we like and collectively lose our minds.

There are some anime and manga that focus their fan service on the female audience- and they do it well. Let’s yap about a few.

Jujutsu Kaisen (2018-2024)

JJK is probably one of the most popular and recent examples of drawing for the female gaze. If you ask me, Gege was drawing with one hand for the manga covers. I mean, have you seen the volume 8 art? I had to do a double take cause I thought Toji was gripping something other than that worm. The blood cascading over Naoya with his tongue out to catch it on the cover of volume 17? And after seeing volume 29 with True Form Sukuna spreading the lips of his belly mouth?? I could have passed away.

MAPPA also does an amazing job serving us in the anime. I mean, S2 with Gojo in the subway in Shibuya? Hanami died so we could EAT. Watching Gojo grip those antlers with that deranged smile fundamentally altered something within me and others, apparently; the scene of him breathing has a looped audio on Youtube that lasts 1 hour, 2 minutes and 43 seconds. Go check, I’ll wait.

Back yet? Great. I won’t judge if you listened to the whole thing.

Now, the Shibuya arc kept feeding us- we had Nanami’s famous ponytail grab and Sukuna’s absolute reign of terror that made me reconsider my stance on mass murder (just kidding, murder is bad!). All in all, 10/10 no notes. Thank you, Gege. Now if only you’d stop killing off the characters I love…

Free! Iwatobi Swim Club (2013-2018)

There are a LOT of things Free! does correctly. From an ABSOLUTE BOP of a closing, to giving Gou the time of her life as club manager (the scene of them picking out new swimsuits was HILARIOUS), Free! doesn’t lean toward lewd jokes or oversexualization. It focuses on a swim club, which means there will be shirtlessness, but that doesn’t take away from a very emotionally charged story.

And PLS- I’m a sucker for a sharp-toothed character, and Rin doubles down with that aggression.

Black Butler (2006-ongoing)

BEFORE YOU START- there are lots of things about Black Butler that we can dissect and hang our heads about. BUT TODAY WE’RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE SUAVE NATURE OF SEBASTIAN MICHAELIS.

I mean, holy graceful danger, Batman! Sebastian is the epitome of calm, collected, and unbothered. He looks UNFAIRLY ATTRACTIVE in a suit, and his competence is literally supernatural. And the fact that he’s a DEMON on top of it all? Chef’s kiss.

The gloves, the suit, the “I am simply one hell of a butler.”?? Sebastian is proof that nudity in any form isn’t a necessity to cause the masses to swoon. His elegance isn’t just visual; everything he does reinforces it.

Last, but most definitely not least…

Attack on Titan (2013-2023)

This man is the DEFINITION of competency-based sex appeal. The poise, the composure, the stoicism! And as much as I hate to say it, a certain level of trauma makes an anime man someone you foam at the mouth for.

While Levi has plenty of scenes that I could cite to prove my point, I’m going to use what might be the most undeniable expression of this man’s battle prowess- but not when fighting Titans.

Levi fleeing the Anti-Personnel Control Squad, led by Kenny Ackerman, while being the SEXIEST MAN IN PARADIS.

This scene caused me to be physically unwell. And before we get to the action, we have to acknowledge the scream. In English AND Japanese, his voice is immaculate.

Watching that man use ODM gear to perform what can only be described as midair ballet to evade bullets?? The level of spatial awareness needed is insane. And he’s thinking TACTICALLY throughout it all. It’s just him and more than 10 enemies. Every shot reinforces what we already know: Levi is calculating, resourceful, and terrifyingly efficient. And using a chair and a shotgun to create a distraction and kill 3 people??? Yeah, I’m having his babies, no doubt. I can’t say with confidence that Isayama intended this scene to be as sexually charged as it is, but I can say that I (along with the rest of the Levi girlies) definitely took it that way.

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is how you do fan service for the female gaze.

You don’t need gratuitous nudity, anatomically questionable proportions, or a conveniently placed gust of wind. Sometimes all it takes is a well-tailored suit, a little emotional vulnerability, or a man who is exceptionally good at what he does.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a nice set of abs as much as the next girl. But there’s something about watching a character demonstrate absolute mastery of their craft that scratches an itch no amount of shirtlessness ever could.

Of course, the female gaze isn’t a monolith. What has me foaming at the mouth might do absolutely nothing for you. But I think we can all appreciate the difference between a character who’s simply attractive and one whose entire presentation makes you sit up and pay attention.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with Levi Ackerman and the replay button.

Which anime character has you acting absolutely UNWELL, and what scene did it?