Trope has problems in its description vs. examples: Foreign Fanservice

Some of the problems are specified near the end of this thread, but in a nutshell, the current description describes it as the way that American characters (usually women, but not always) are portrayed as being Fanservice heavy in Asian works. This does not fit with the more general title, and moreover, the examples include western works with European Fanservice characters.

Perhaps there should be a couple subtropes that fall under the single heading of Foreign Fanservice, I don't know, but at the moment the trope is very muddled and confusing.

Edit: Also, my typo is stuck in the conversation title forever, sorry.

edited 29th Jan '12 1:22:59 PM by agentjohnbishop

Five of the six Live Action Film examples have nothing to do with the trope as it is written. The name certainly gives the wrong impression to Americans who do not think themselves to be living in Animeland. I suggest Trope Transplant or a broadening of the definition.

Of course, then Western examples would then require a little research as to where the works were made. Shouldn't be too big of a problem.

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Yeah, this could definitely use a definition broadening.

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I could see this being a Supertrope to the various stereotypes in this... just cause she is a Foreigner and gives some fanservice is not a trope really IMO.

The main Japanese connotations for this trope is a stereotype that foreign girls (especially Americans) are unhinged, fanservicey, prone to Skinship Grope, have big breasts yada vs the Japanese conservative Yamato Nadeshiko types. (Phenotype Stereotype almost always required) Ai Yori Aoshi and Dead Or Alive would be the examples that come to mind. (although Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei plays with this and switches it up making her Fanservicy and Frivolous Lawsuit happy)

American view of other places like say Swedish girls is a bit different. Then for men its common stereotype to be Italians.

Hell the type is so engrained I cant tell who the page image is it could be 15 different people that come to mind.

EDIT: take the third option and its from a hentai that I just came across.

edited 29th Mar '12 12:26:21 AM by Raso

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Question is then, should it be specifically for Japanese views of American characters, or should it cover both that and all other cases when the creators bring in a foreigner specifically for fanservice?

To me it seems like a supertrope with some subtropes, but at the same time, I'm not sure they're distinct enough to count on their own. The only thing that differs them is where the works are created.

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Russian women and French men are also used in American works for the same thing.

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Sometimes a girl from Yodel Land in a skimpy Dirndl is used or a member of the 'Swedish Bikini Team'

A mod could fix that. <goes to holler for a mod>

@Raso: Seconded. I was wondering why the description seemed so restricted in comparison to the title.

edited 3rd Feb '12 4:04:00 PM by MarqFJA

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.

Don't we already have Everyone Looks Sexier if French?

I'm not really sure how Foreign Fanservice is different, except for being anime-specific.

edited 8th Feb '12 8:39:18 AM by johnnye

I think the difference between Foreign Fanservice and Everyone Looks Sexier if French is that the latter is about specific nationalities that are considered sexy (by some other culture), whereas the former is that the Japanese Phenotype Stereotype of Westerners is that they are sexy (tall, blonde, large bust), regardless of nationality. So for example, Anime Chinese Girl has elements of Everyone Looks Sexier if French but not of Foreign Fanservice.

[edit] I agree the name is rather broader than the trope; perhaps it could stand a rename?

edited 8th Feb '12 8:54:00 AM by lebrel

Calling someone a pedant is an automatic Insult Backfire. Real pedants will be flattered.

^Right, so it's the same trope ("stereotypes about certain nationalities being sexier than others") applied to a specific culture's stereotype about a specific (if broad) other culture.

Well, not quite; I'd say Foreign Fanservice is more a subtrope of Phenotype Stereotype than of Everyone Looks Sexier if French; the core of the trope is that Westerners (all Westerners) are tall, blond and voluptuous (if female) / built (if male), not that they have sexy accents or are snappy dressers or are talented lovers.

Calling someone a pedant is an automatic Insult Backfire. Real pedants will be flattered.