Fan service in an anime is a fan’s guilty pleasure. Some use it to enhance the overall “visuals” of the anime, some rely too heavily on fan service to the point where it feels cheap and exploitative, and some provide the perfect balance that improves the story and viewing experience. So grab some popcorn as we dive into a cultured topic of ranking the best and worst fan-service anime. Respectfully.
10. Rent A Girlfriend
This anime is a realistic depiction of a misguided 20-year-old virgin, albeit with an unrealistic execution. It follows the story of Kazuya, the ultimate trash protagonist. He is a college student who has just been dumped by his first girlfriend, and later on proceeds to use a rental girlfriend service.
Though the visuals are stunning, the writing somehow feels off. Kazuya may be a bit of a mess, but you just can’t help but root for him to get his act together or cringe because of his actions. If you ever encountered or watched this anime, we do not recommend replicating it in real life.
9. Darling in the FranXX
The anime starts off strong with an interesting premise but quickly devolves into a mess of fan service and plot holes. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where children are raised to pilot mechs called FranXX to fight against mysterious creatures called Klaxosaurs. The mecha designs are cool, and yet, the constant underwear shots and suggestive poses are just too much to handle.
Zero Two’s famous Tiktok line, “Darling,” is partly the reason why this anime still lives on to this day. Despite its flaws, this anime is straight up whatever runs in a teenage boy’s imagination; Mechas, Hot E-girls and a bit of sexually suggestive provocative actions from a lady they can never get.
8. Keijo
The only sports anime that will leave you wondering why on earth someone decided to create a sport that involves women using their bottoms as weapons. Instead of touching each other with their hands, the players use their derrieres to shove each other out of a small floating platform. It’s the ultimate showdown of butt power, and the competitors are not afraid to show off their assets.
There’s so much fan service in Keijo that it makes you wonder if the creators were just trying to see how much jiggle physics they could fit into a single episode. So if you ever need a sports anime that’s equal parts ridiculous and entertaining, give Keijo a shot. Who knows, you might even come away with a newfound appreciation for the power of the posterior.
7. The Monogatari Series
Araragi Koyomi is a relatable guy that somehow attracts the most bizarre people into his life. He finds himself in all sorts of dangerous and mysterious situations, often involving vampires and spirits. The show does a great job of weaving together elements of the supernatural, drama, and even a bit of action. Compared to some of the other anime, you won’t be too distracted from the plot by any overly gratuitous scenes since it’s pretty mild.
However, when the show decides to show some skin, you’ll start questioning yourself why you even jumped into this rabbit hole. This anime can make brushing teeth look like the most sensual thing in the world, and trust me. You’ll never look at everyday objects the same way again.