Love it or loathe it, fan service remains an undeniable presence in the anime industry, seeping into genres from slice-of-life romance to spine-chilling Isekai tales.
The controversial trope has sparked debates over its necessity, with shows like High School of the Dead becoming infamous for pushing boundaries.
Tetsuro Araki, the director associated with one of anime’s most notorious fan service scenes, recently addressed the matter amid discussions about his career on social media.
A thread celebrating Araki’s recent achievements prompted fans to reminisce about his work, with a notable mention of High School of the Dead.
The conversation delved into the anime’s infamous “Jiggle Physics” scene, and Araki clarified that he did not animate the scene himself but rather requested it from animator Takayuki Hirao.
Araki candidly shared,
“This was [done by] Takayuki Hirao! I asked him to do something interesting with the breasts. I was furious and then let it pass, saying, ‘What an utterly outrageous guy.'”
The Jiggle Physics scene from High School of the Dead has become a meme over the years, criticized for its explicit camera angles. For more than a decade, audiences have used it as a reference point in discussions about the perceived excesses of fan service.
While some view it as an example of over-the-top content, others see it as a tongue-in-cheek element, fitting within the context of High School of the Dead’s tone.
The debate surrounding fan service in anime remains a hot topic, and High School of the Dead continues to be a touchstone for these discussions. Audiences are divided on whether shows like it cater to their tastes.
As the conversation about the necessity and impact of fan service persists, the anime community continues to navigate the diverse landscape of this controversial trope.
For those intrigued by Araki’s earlier work, High School of the Dead invites viewers into a world where a group of Fujimi High students fights for survival after a zombie outbreak, led by Takashi as they navigate the horrors of the living dead.