So what’s been on my mind for a while is ecchi anime. For those not in the know, Ecchi is a genre of Anime notorious, or famous, for its use of fan-service and focus on sex-based humor. I don’t find a problem with this; it can be pretty fun and funny.
But as a writer and designer, there are problems I see in the story telling that I’ve wanted to talk about for a while so here we go. By the way, this post will probably be Not Safe For Work so reader be warned. For examples, we will be using Monster Monsune (Everyday Life with Monster Girls) as my ecchi anime example.
Darling the Impressionist
The first point is the protagonist, who is usually your average straight male with a mundane life. This is done for a specific reason, to allow impressing of the viewer onto the protagonist easier. When the main character has few distinguishing traits, it is easier for the viewer to see themselves as the main character.
The protagonist of Monster Monsume is named Kimihito Kurusu. But, he is almost exclusively called Darling or variations of it. He’s housing monster girl for a foreign exchange program run by the government. Hi-jinks ensue. Evident from his vary name, Darling is meant to be a basic male character without any unique traits so the reader can better put themselves in his shoes.
So there is a purpose to this thin main character, but that’s the issue. Thin.
The character lacks motivation and depth beyond being used as a plot point. The environment, a monster girl filled world, or situation, the government gives you foreign exchange students, drives the story forward because the protagonist can’t. In contrast, each girl in Monster Monsume has a specific personality that allows the show to have a wide appeal. Papi is a bubbly, energetic harpy with a naive and innocent nature. She also has a young girl’s body and has no fear of stripping her clothes. Miia the llamia, snake woman, is outgoing, beaming, and has lived with Darling the longest. She also is aggressively jealous of anyone who seeks Darling as well. They drive the situations forward.
Plot and “Plot”
When I mention “Plot” I am referring to the explicitly sexual content, or fan service: objectification of a character by displaying specific body parts such as abs, breasts, or butts. Fan service is another name for the male or female gaze or showing off the goods.
Fan service, as its name implies, is used to give the service of showing appealing bodies or actions to the viewer, the fan. It’s an acknowledgement that the male and female gazes exist and then actively playing to it. The genre knows what and who it is, but this poses another problem.
The world is sometimes focused on the “Plot” not the plot.
The fan service overtakes the narrative, as is the case with some Monster Monsume story lines. The main overarching plots of the show are: Darling is chosen as the host home for monster girls and must help them acclimate to human culture, and due to changing law, Darling is required to marry one of the monster girls. So the chapter when Darling goes to a farm and winds up milking minotauress and shaving pan fawns, the "Plot" is taking over. The chapter shows a few more monster girls and one-off relationships that are interesting, but it doesn't move anything along for Darling other than touching different girls.
However, overall, Monster Monsume has a good balance of "Plot" and plot. Centorea Shianus, the centaur, battles her desire to be an honorable knight and her undignified desire to the lover and partner of Darling. She also battles her enormous breasts, a crux of the comedy and fan service used for her. Rachnera Arachnera desires Darling because of his true kindness to her after being a forced laborer for a cruel man, but this is difficult because of her foreboding atmosphere and aloof attitude. She is also very into domination and shibari or rope bondage, or web bondage rather.
For what the show wants to be, this is good to sustain long term action: the sexual obstacles and situations can be overcome repeatedly and easily, while the personalities of the girls make sure that the obstacle/situation of their emotions can not be overcome, or at least overcome easily.
Wrap-Up/TL;DR
Ecchi anime is perforated with fan service, paper thin plots, and equally thin protagonists, but it is for a reason. Having a generic protagonist and focusing on sexy "Plot" over plot makes a show more alluring on the surface level. However, this is NOT, all ecchi. There are good ones out there, Monster Monsume being one of my personal favorites. If you want to know more ecchi anime, or are just curious about anime in general, I would recommend going over to TheAnimeMan and MistyChronexia on YouTube, these guys know what’s what about por..I mean anime and its many facets.
Until next time everyone!