One thing that I find fascinating about anime is how it perceives sex when compared to American TV. A good example would be Shana 11, where Shana’s mom goes on extolling about how special kissing is. For American TV, kissing is almost a throwaway. Kissing and sex are treated very casually in American TV to the point where it’s almost a joke and trivial.

(I not saying this for all American TV, but the odds are against it… 7th Heaven, Doogie Howser, and Picket Fences are a few exceptions.)

I still remember watching Seinfeld and Cheers when growing up, and almost every episode either dealt with a new relationship (read: sex) issue for either Seinfeld, Elaine, Sam, or even George. Sex was just a punchline… oh, it’s funny that she snores loudly after sex! Oh, it’s funny to bet how long we can go without, uh, you know! Oh, it’s funny to see Sam get it on with Diane with Becky watching! Almost all successful primetime sitcoms — Friends, Frasier, Married with Children, Everybody Loves Raymond, Newsradio, Cheers, Fresh Prince — were ungodly focused on sex. And, it doesn’t end nor start with just sitcoms… what do you think Ally McBeal, Baywatch, Law and Order: SVU, The OC, Ed, Melrose Place, 90210, Laguna Beach, and Sex and the City were about? And even completely unexpected genres like sci-fi have tons of sex… I mean, can you name one cast member from TNG or DS9 that didn’t get any action? They even had an two episode Worf and Ezri Dax “Maybe we shouldn’t have slept together arc” during the height of the Dominion War. Or the infamous zero-g room in Space Above and Beyond. Toss in some Battlestar Galactica and Xena: Warrior Princess, and sci-fi is just as smutty as any other genre. And I’m not even going to go into the social morass that is Blind Date, Cheaters, and Jerry Springer.

According to all of these TV shows, sex is funny and hip and there’s not really a lot of emotional consequences beyond hallucinating and seeing a dancing baby. For anime, though, it’s a lot different. It’s not that there isn’t sex, it is just not handled as casually: there are no simple hookups, and there’s no punchline. (Note: I’m not considering h-titles. I’m pairing network TV against network TV. I’m also not comparing movies… there was more sex in Lord of War than in Ninja Scroll, Ghost in the Shell, and Mind Game combined. I’m also not considering rape, as there’s more of that on Lifetime than even SVU.) Let’s do a quick rundown of all the filthy sex I remember seeing in anime:

The most poignant occurence is for Kare Kano , and, 18 episodes in, Arima and Yukino decide to have sex. I haven’t watched Kare Kano in years, but I still remember it well, if only because of the build up and how the series is defined by the two of them building a relationship together. While the anime was very funny for the most part, their act wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t discarded or laughed at like it would be for Seinfeld or Newsradio . Kare Kano showed the mentality of the two afterwards and how they changed, especially with Arima getting a bit darker. Arima and Yukino had to deal with some real emotional consequences.

, and, 18 episodes in, Arima and Yukino decide to have sex. I haven’t watched in years, but I still remember it well, if only because of the build up and how the series is defined by the two of them building a relationship together. While the anime was very funny for the most part, their act wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t discarded or laughed at like it would be for or . showed the mentality of the two afterwards and how they changed, especially with Arima getting a bit darker. Arima and Yukino had to deal with some real emotional consequences. In Ai Yori Aoshi , where it’s somewhat, but lightly, implied that Aoi and Kaoru slept together on the final episode of the original series. Okay, they build a relationship over the course of a series and lifetime… they’re engaged to each other… they’re adults (Kaoru is in grad school)… so… it’s not unexpected, and it’s treated with dignity. This is also an odd case, since it’s one of the few harem series to feature sex (no, I’m not counting Green Green ), and isn’t that a genre that’s supposed to be dripping in it?

, where it’s somewhat, but lightly, implied that Aoi and Kaoru slept together on the final episode of the original series. Okay, they build a relationship over the course of a series and lifetime… they’re engaged to each other… they’re adults (Kaoru is in grad school)… so… it’s not unexpected, and it’s treated with dignity. This is also an odd case, since it’s one of the few harem series to feature sex (no, I’m not counting ), and isn’t that a genre that’s supposed to be dripping in it? Next, there’s Gundam Seed , where Kira gets it on with Flay and then Dullindel with Talia, but, again Kira has his consequences to deal with, and it wasn’t random sex. Flay did her best vixen bit, and for an episode, GS became a bit 90210 … but the sex drove the series? No, it was still the plastic model whoring.

, where Kira gets it on with Flay and then Dullindel with Talia, but, again Kira has his consequences to deal with, and it wasn’t random sex. Flay did her best vixen bit, and for an episode, became a bit … but the sex drove the series? No, it was still the plastic model whoring. Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo had Agnes’ lecherous husband, but it’s strange to juxatapose Agnes’ “cannot kiss” criteria against her husband’s, “It’s okay to bang my secretary” mindset. Extremes, but it is a plot device meant to build sympathy for one while contempt for another. Similar concept for Eri’s father in FLCL .

had Agnes’ lecherous husband, but it’s strange to juxatapose Agnes’ “cannot kiss” criteria against her husband’s, “It’s okay to bang my secretary” mindset. Extremes, but it is a plot device meant to build sympathy for one while contempt for another. Similar concept for Eri’s father in . Shiki and Ms. Bumstead in Tsukihime . Bittersweet ending for Shiki, I guess.

. Bittersweet ending for Shiki, I guess. Koi Kaze . Brings up an interesting point, which I’ll get to later.

. Brings up an interesting point, which I’ll get to later. There’s also Misato x Kaji for Evangelion , yet it’s usually a footnote compared to the rest of the TV series.

, yet it’s usually a footnote compared to the rest of the TV series. Paranoia Agent , TSR , and others had their shares of prostitutes. But it’s not like CSI or SVU never had episodes about prostitutes either.

, , and others had their shares of prostitutes. But it’s not like or never had episodes about prostitutes either. GTO . Though, only in the live action version did Onizuka finally lose his virginity. I’ll still count it…

. Though, only in the live action version did Onizuka finally lose his virginity. I’ll still count it… Natsuki gave Takumi a “graduation present” in the Initial D manga… can’t remember if it made it into the anime. If not, she can at least fit in the compensated dating category.

manga… can’t remember if it made it into the anime. If not, she can at least fit in the compensated dating category. Then there’s Fasalina in the cockpit for Gun x Sword… which was probably the most unnecessary rite-of-passage. This was as unnecessary as Mulder’s romp with that vampire or Kaylee’s engine servicing in Firefly.

BTW, all of these examples save for Arima and Yukino, they’re more or less all adults.

Looking at the list and recalling the past TVs that I have watched, there’s just no comparison. The amount of sex in American TV is just astronomically more than anime. There’s more sex in an episode of Ally McBeal than ten years worth of anime. Yet, why does anime have this perception of sexual deviancy amongst some people, as illustrated by the ineptness of some recent media outlets? Is it because there’s a lot of filthy sex in anime? No, especially when compared to standard American TV. Is it because there’s a lot of sexual imagery? Well, that’s up for debate. I watched Magical Lyrical Girl Nanoha and thought, “Well-told story, well-executed fight scenes, and I’m glad they hired an English speaker for Raging Heart.” Someone else, i.e. think Genshiken‘s Madrame, would have different thoughts. But, again, is it anime’s fault? What’s the fundamental difference between Magical Girl Nanoha and Magical Girl Agnes? Their age? Or how we perceive them? Is it even valid to lump one’s fantasies with what’s really out there? I’m sure a lot of ladies (and non-traditional males) have fantasies about Tom Brady. Does it mean he’s ecchi? At some point, common sense has to stop in.

Let’s say you’re a parent with growing kids. Will you be more concerned if the kids watched Dawson’s Creek and Friends and start thinking that sex is trivial, funny, and become desensitized to it? Or if they watch Gun x Sword and build a giant robot controlled by a stripper pole? One is real and presented as reality. The other is not real and not presented as reality. Will you be more concerned over shows like MTV’s The Real World (which features an ungodly amount of wanton sex) and wonder if that’s better or worse than Nanoha A‘s? I mean, is there really a comparison? A TV show that basically says, “It’s fine to get drunk everyday, sleep with as many people as possible, and act like total jackasses,” against a TV show that tries to entertain with a focus on friendship and doing one’s best? The sexual message out of something like The Real World is there and in your face. It’s not coy. It’s not subtle. It’s just there. For most anime, like Nanoha and even Sailor Moon, there has to be that extra leap from the viewers imagination to get there. Again, where does one draw the line? There’s no sex in the show. There’s no sexual inneudo or jokes in the show (except for maybe Chrono’s name). They are school girls… does that make it not right? How are they different from the girls on Saved by the Bell or pre-2001 Britney Spears?

It’s not like underaged sex doesn’t happen in American TV either: Homer and Marge (they weren’t older than Arima and Yukino), Picket Fences, and Doogie Howser dealed with this issue. It’s not like American TV didn’t showcase their jailbait either… for example, Nicole Eggbert back in her Charles in Charge days, Catherine Bach in Dukes of Hazzard, and Holly Marie Combs in her Picket Fences role. Just because there’s an attractive girl in a TV series, it suddenly makes it smutty? We don’t use that judgement for American TV, so why use it for anime? Just because Hinata Natsumi is drawn cutely, does it make Keroro Gunso any less or more smutty than Charles in Charge?

I think the fundamental diffence is how sex is conveyed in anime vs. American TV: whereas American TV is upfront with its sexual content, anime is more coy. I think there’s three reasons why people may perceive anime as being sexual in content:

Moe. Even if there’s no explicit sex in anime, there may be a lot of fetish-catering. I don’t remember seeing any nekomimi meido on American TV, but there’s sure a lot more in anime. (Yokata!)

Progressiveness. Anime has always tackled themes a bit more progressive than network American TV. Remember the fuss about the first lesbian kiss on Ellen ? Didn’t Alpha have her lesbian kiss a few years prior? It kinda happens all the time in anime now… yet they had to pull the lesbian relationship from The OC because it was too hawt. It’s The OC ! If we can’t have hawt lesbian action in that, what can we have it on?

? Didn’t Alpha have her lesbian kiss a few years prior? It kinda happens all the time in anime now… yet they had to pull the lesbian relationship from because it was too hawt. It’s ! If we can’t have hawt lesbian action in that, what can we have it on? Taboo. Getting back to Koi Kaze, anime isn’t afraid to tackle taboo issues to try and present a story. There’s just no way mainstream American TV would show something like Koi Kaze, even if it is more about dealing with one’s feelings and despair than sleeping with a sibling. 90210 pushed a lot of envelopes, but it never had a Brandon x Brenda storyline. Also, anime shows us things like a nakkid Arika getting wrapped by a nakkid Sergey Wong and (hopefully) Suzu bathing with Ikuto. I just can’t see this happening on network shows… except for many Jerry Springer (and maybe Maury Povich).

All of these three points — moe, progressiveness, and taboo — aren’t explicit ideals. They don’t hammer and aren’t as loud as the explicit casualness of sex on American TV. Is it worse to have to imagine? Or is it worse to actually see? That becomes the fundamental difference between anime and American TV. One is seen. One is not as easily seen.

Still, lost in argument thus far has been “is anime actively trying to be sexy for viewers?” A good microcosm is to compare American animated shows aimed at adults against their anime brethren. The Simpsons… Family Guy… Futurama… Venture Bros… Boondocks… Stripperella… even The Critic all had many episodes focused on sex, and there’s a plethora of sexual jokes and innuendoes for the other episodes as well. Can I think of an American animated series for adults that isn’t focused on sex? No. Can I think of an adult-oriented anime series that doesn’t rely on sex to entertain and tell a story? Mushishi. H2. Aa! Megami-sama. Cowboy Bebop. Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig. Crest of the Stars.

Anime has proven itself to be a verstile and wide form of entertainment, and, still, it is less smutty than American TV. With or without sex, it can entertain and tell a good story whereas sex has almost become a necessary crutch for American TV these days. So before people starting complaining about the sexual content in anime, maybe they should take a good, hard look at what’s on MTV, Fox, and TBS first. Maybe it’s time to be worried about the sex that we can see before worring about the sex that we can’t.

(Meta: I starting writing this post a long time ago. Never happy with all my drafts. Not really happy with this. But if I didn’t publish, I don’t think I ever would. And, yes, I do feel like an old fogey when I can remember Charles in Charge… I think a piece of me just died.)