The fujoushi revolution is HEEEERE!!

For those who haven’t heard, the KyoAni CM formerly known as “Swimming Anime” is officially going to be made into an anime known as Free. You should also probably stop living under a rock. You could get crushed doing that!

Jokes aside, I’m cautiously optimistic about TV Free. Why? Okay, so it’s flagrant fujoushi bait, but I don’t have a problem with that. Studios make anime with girls flash their boobs, asses, and all manner of other naughty bits all the time, so why shouldn’t the lady viewers get some of the same? Plus, it’s KyoAni. Though I’m constantly giving them shit about being too corporate and “spirit-less” in their storytelling – and the fact that they green-lighted this show for such flagrantly profit-motivated reasons only strengthens those arguments – among all the major studios they’re the ones who most consistently seem to respect their characters. Take their two most recent shows, Chu2koi and Tamako Market. Particularly the latter; Tamako Market featured a beach episode with no discernible fanservice, because it simply wasn’t necessary. Combined with KyoAni’s tendency to make good (if not always great) stories, this is shaping up to be a female-oriented fanservice anime that might just have a decent plot. Also, have you seen the latest CM? Those pretty boys are moe as shit! So like I said, cautious optimism.

Super moe.

But that led me to an interesting thought, and it’s on the matter of feminism. I’ve mentioned this a few times before, but I actually consider myself a feminist. This has always led to a bit of tension when it comes to all those ecchi anime that I watch, because while some of them are legitimately good and the fanservice is justified, too many err into the exploitative side of the equation, which is worrying. That’s why in my own writing, I’ve always subscribed to the idea that if I’m going to give the guys some fanservice to enjoy, I should give the ladies some as well! I actually end up employing very little fanservice, but I still try to balance the scales when I do. I mean, it’s only fair, right?

That’s why TV Free is almost feminist, in a twisted kind of way. Okay, not really, because the feminism I subscribe to would have neither men or women being exploited. (I just couldn’t resist the provocative title. Sue me!) We don’t live in that kind of happy-go-lucky world though, and it’s very true that female characters are frequently exploited in fiction. Now we have TV Free, a show which is showing every indication of exploiting, gasp, men! In fact, it pretty much already is – it got green-lighted based on a plot-less CM that is 95% glistening pretty boys in swimsuits (Edit: to clarify, I didn’t mean that the story was based on the CM, just that it got green-lit because of the overwhelmingly positive reception the CM got. That’s an assumption though, so who knows what KyoAni was planning). If that’s not exploitative, I don’t know what is. Also, jealousy inducing.

I will never sparkle like them. Zetsubou deshita!

So let me repeat: I don’t think exploiting men = feminism. In fact, it’s the exact opposite of what feminism stands for, which is equality between the sexes. It’s an interesting thought though, that maybe we’ll get closer to that ideal when both men and women know what it’s like to be lusted after as a sexual object, or at the very least, know what it’s like roll our eyes as someone more attractive than us is ogled. In that way this exploitation could almost be good, because it might help a few more people step into their sister’s (or brother’s) shoes and see the other side of the equation. At the very least though, it’s nothing if not fair. We’ve gotten cute girls and oppai anime for ages, so it’s high time we give female anime fans some more shameless fanservice of their own. I only ask one thing – give TV Free a good story and good writing. This is nothing I don’t ask of every male-oriented fanservice show, by the way…fanservice is fine, just don’t insult our intelligence in the process, whether we be male or female. With TV Free, give us the 6-pack abs and the bishie sparkles, but stimulate our thoughts as well. That’s the best fanservice of all.

I’m going to keep today’s post pretty short, because I really only had the one thing to say, so now I’ll hand it over to you! Whether it’s about the junk I just talked about or the upcoming TV Free anime in general, I want to hear your thoughts. Just keep it civil, alright? It pains me to think that something as elemental as “equality between the sexes” is seen as controversial by some, but sadly that’s the case – and my provocative use of the word “feminism” probably won’t help things – so if you’re going to use this post to go off on some intolerant screed, kindly can it. For everyone else, I want to hear your thoughts. The bishie swimmers are coming! What will you do?