[[HayateTheCombatButler http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hayate_fanservice.jpg]]

->"Like my mother said: when all else fails, lift up your dress."
-->-- '''Niamh''', ''I'd Do Anything''

->"Why is everyone naked?!"
-->-- '''[[FanNickname Manshiro]]''', ''{{Mai-Otome}}'' manga

Gratuitous display of female characters in skimpy clothing, or none at all, under the assumption that it will attract or "reward" straight male viewers. (There is occasionally fanservice for straight female and gay male viewers, [[MostWritersAreMale but it's not nearly as common]].) This is not just a fan term, but one used during the production of, and even in the dialogue of, various shows. For example, the end-of-episode previews during the early part of ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'' frequently promise "more fanservice" (although it never seems to deliver [[NeverTrustATrailer quite as much as it promises]]).

While the specific term "fanservice" arose from the Anime community, the concept of adding a little titillation to a work is far, far older (at least as old as the Roman Empire, making this OlderThanDirt). When nudity or sexual content is an expected part of a work, it's not {{Fanservice}}; it's only when the nudity or sex is thrown in "just because" that {{Fanservice}} becomes a part of the narrative. For example, nudity in a pornographic movie would not qualify, while Sharon Stone's infamous "beaver shot" in Paul Verhoeven's ''BasicInstinct'' would. Real {{Fanservice}} is seldom explicit or graphic -- that is the territory of pornography. Instead it is primarily there to "add a little extra" by teasing and titillating the (usually male) audience.

"Fanservice" is sometimes used in a more general way, to mean adding things to a show that don't need to be there, but nonetheless please the viewers. When this is something non-sexual, like needlessly flashy attacks in a HumongousMecha show, it's PanderingToTheBase. Sexy fanservice is considered the default form, because it is everywhere, and it's easy to add to any kind of show.

Some shows may have [[MsFanservice designated fanservice characters]]; characters who, even if they are main characters and/or otherwise complex (as in, they have a role beyond fanservice), can always be found in a fanservice situation. Some shows, especially American shows, have characters for both male and female fanservice. Exactly how much fanservice makes its way into a series can depend on what channel a show is broadcast, but with the advent of series on DVD, this can be subverted with liberal application of CensorSteam. More literally, fanservice also consists of things designed to please longtime dedicated fans: {{Shout Out}}s, {{Omake}}, in-jokes, etc. {{Moe}} is also a kind of fanservice.

While some fanservice can increase the appeal of a show, [[ErectionRejection too much fanservice]] can become very distracting and in some cases, put viewers off completely, especially if the fanservice is directed towards the opposite sex.

Very hard to subvert or even [[LampshadeHanging lampshade hang]] -- the former is [[FanDisservice usually disturbing]] and the latter is well, just fanservice with a joke attached. You might as well have the person wearing nothing but a lampshade.

See also SchoolgirlLesbians, YaoiGuys, ShallowLoveInterest, TheissTitillationTheory (for some of the basic principle behind fanservice) and TurnOnTropes.
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!!{{Sub Trope}}s
[[index]]
* AbsoluteCleavage
* ActionDressRip
* AnimeAnatomy
* AssKicksYou
* BabyGotBack
* BandageBabe
* BareYourMidriff
* BeachEpisode
* BeautyContest
* BellyDancer
* BetweenMyLegs
* BiggusDickus
* BoobsOfSteel
* BreastExpansion
* {{Burlesque}}
* CatFight
* CatholicSchoolGirlsRule
* ChorusGirls
* ChippendalesDancers
* ClothingDamage
* ContemptibleCover
* {{Cute Shotaro Boy}}
* {{Dojikko}}
* DirtyHarriet
* EstrogenBrigadeBait
* FanDisservice
* FanserviceCover
* FanServicePack
* FanserviceWithASmile
* FemaleGaze
* FetishFuel
* ForeignFanservice
* FormFittingWardrobe
* FurBikini
* FuroScene
* GagBoobs
* GagPenis
* {{Gainaxing}}
** MistyMay
** JigglePhysics
** JiggleShow
* GoingFurASwim
* HadakaApron
* HartmanHips
* HellBentForLeather
* HelloBoys
* HoodOrnamentHottie
* HotMenAtWork
* HotSpringsEpisode
* IgnoreTheFanservice
* ImpossiblyLowNeckline
* InnocentFanserviceGirl
* InstantCosplaySurprise
* TheItemNumber
* LadyInRed (sometimes)
* LeotardOfPower
* LingerieScene
* MaleFrontalNudity
* MaleGaze
* ManInAKilt
* MarilynManeuver
* MarshmallowHell
** FunbagAirbag
* ModestyBedsheet
* MsFanservice
* NakedOnArrival (sometimes)
* NaughtyNuns
* NightNurse
* NotDistractedByTheSexy
* NubileSavage
* TheNudifier
* OutdoorBathPeeping
* PageThreeStunna
* PantyFighter
* PantyShot
* ParentService
* PeekABoo
** GodivaHair
** HandOrObjectUnderwear
* PillowFight
* PitGirls
* PlayboyBunny
* PleasePutSomeClothesOn
* PoolScene
* PublicExposure
* {{Sarashi}}
* SchoolSwimsuit
* SeashellBra
* SelfFanservice
* SensualSpandex
* SexForProduct
* SexyBack
* SexySilhouette
* SexyWalk
* SharpDressedMan
* SheCleansUpNicely
* SheFu
* ShirtlessScene
** WalkingShirtlessScene
* ShowerScene
** ShowerOfAngst
** ShowerOfAwkward
* ShowgirlSkirt
* ShowingOffTheNewBody
* ShowSomeLeg
* SkinshipGrope
* SlipIntoSomethingMoreComfortable
* SlipknotPonytail
* StockUnderwear
** BlackBraAndPanties
** OfCorsetsSexy
** StockingFiller
* {{Stripperiffic}}
* StripPoker
* ThongOfShielding
* ThreeMinutesOfWrithing
* TransformationSequence
* {{Underboobs}}
* VaporWear
* WetSariScene
* YouCanLeaveYourHatOn (aka {{Striptease}})
* YumYum
* ZettaiRyouiki
[[/index]]
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!!Now in separate pages:
*[[{{FanService/Anime}} Anime and Manga]]
*[[FanService/ComicBooks Comics]]
*{{FanService/Film}}
*FanService/LiveActionTV
*FanService/VideoGames
*FanService/WebOriginal
*FanService/WesternAnimation
*{{FanService/Others}}
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<<|AnimeTropes|>>
<<|{{Fan-Speak}}|>>
<<|IndexOverdosed|>>
<<|SexTropes|>>
<<|TurnOnTropes|>>
<<|MultiPageTropes|>>
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->'''Waldorf:''' You know, they seem to chronicle the various forms of sexiness to a very large extent.\\
'''Statler:''' Clearly because they don't have any sexiness in their own lives.\\
'''Both:''' Do-ho-ho-ho-hoh!