Looking at Kill la Kill: Fanservice As A Weapon

What if I told you that the very thing which you believed to be the problem was in fact the bleeding edge of a weapon designed with the sole purpose of "destroying" the very people you believed all this was made in service to?
SPOILERS: The video contains spoilers for the entirety of Kill la Kill.
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Chapters
0:00 - 0:47 Introducing
0:48 - 4:19 Fanservicing
4:20 - 7:26 Overwhelming
7:27 - 10:35 Queering
10:36 - 15:47 Castrating
15:48 - 16:00 Departing
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Notes
*It has been brought to my attention that Kathryn Hemmann uses They/Them pronouns. I was not aware of this at time of publication, and so I apologize for any issues this may have caused.*
1. See for example, DFG, 2021., Chasiri, 2013., Marxism-Leninim-Utenaism, 2014., Saitama, 2020.
2. Black, 2019.
3. Russell, “Glimpse”, 2008. Pg 17.
4. Russell, “Desire”, 2008. Pg. 3.
5. Boyd, 2016. pg. 67.
6. Again, see Black, 2019., Marxism-leninism-utenaism, 2014., Torres, 2018.
7. u/bookshelfmemes, 2021.
8. Boyd, 2016. Pg. 69.
9. Yet again, Black, 2019, Torres, 2018.
10. Boyd, 2016. Pg. 76.
11. Hemmann, 2013. Pg. 3.
12. Kinsella, 2002. Pg. 230. It was actually very difficult to confirm much information about this specific aspect, and I was unable to find any visual references of this “configuration” of Kogal fashion.
13. Ibid, Pg. 233.
14. In this context, the castration is of course not literal, but a symbolic representation of the anxieties of male inadequacy in the face of such dominant displays of feminine power. For an interesting Lacanian analysis of the place of the Japanese sword in the western film, see Lavery, 2019. Pp. 139-40.
15. Taylor-Harding, 2018. Pg. 117.
16. Boyd, 2016. Pg. 78.
============================================================
Sources
Black, Mo. “This Show is Progressive, I Swear! On Kill la Kill”. Moe’s Home For Treatises and Hot Takes. Medium. July 18, 2019. / this-show-is-progressi... , (accessed February 12, 2021)
Boyd, D. J. (2016), ‘“Nonsensical is our thing!”: Queering fanservice as “Deleuzional” desire-production in Studio Trigger’s Kiru ra Kiru/Kill la Kill’, Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture, 1: 1, pp. 61-83.
Chaisiri, Andy Lee. “Kill la Kill: The Fashion of Fascism” Art-Eater. (November 17, 2013) [Accessed February 12, 2021)
DFG, “Kill la Kill made me cringe out of my skull”, Reset Era. Jan 3, 2020. www.resetera.com/threads/kill... (accessed April 21, 2021)
Hemmann, Kathryn, "The Female Gaze in Contemporary Japanese Literature" (2013). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 762.
Kinsella, Sharon. “What’s Behind the Fetishism of Japanese School Uniforms?”. Fashion Theory, Volume 6, Issue 2, 2002. pp. 215-238.
Lavery, Grace E. Quaint, Exquisite: Victorian Aesthetics and the Idea of Japan. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2019.
Marxism-Leninism-Utenaism, “I’m Going to Tell You a Story”. Wrong. It’s tea. March 28, 2014. marxism-leninism utenaism.tumblr.com/post/81013286224/im-going-to-tell-you-a-story-this-is-a-story (accessed April 14, 2021)
Russell, Keith. “Desire, Lust and the Glimpse of Manga and Anime”. Dare to Desire: 6th International Design & Emotion Conference. School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, October 6-9, 2008.
Russell, Keith. “The Glimpse and Fan Service: New Media, New Aesthetics”. The International Journal of The Humanities, Vol. 6, No. 5. 2008.
Saitama, “Kill La Kill: Fanservice Gone Too Far [NSFW]”. Otaku Diary. March 17, 2020. otakudiary.com/kill-la-kill-f... (accessed April 14, 2021)
Taylor-Harding, Rosie. “Caught in couture: Regulating clothing and the body in Kill la Kill.” Law and Justice in Japanese Popular Culture - From Crime Fighting Robots to Duelling Pocket Monsters. Ed. Pearson, A. Giddens, T., & Tranter, K. Routledge, New York, 2018.
Torres, Riane. “My Fave Is Problematic: Kill la Kill”. Anime Feminist. June 22, 2018. www.animefeminist.com/my-fave... (Accessed March 28, 2021).
u/bookshelfmemes, “Haha wincest, am I right?” Reddit., March 29, 2021. / haha_wincest_am_i_right (accessed April 16, 2021).
============================================================
Music
Theme from Kill la Kill PV (2013) - Remixed.
Nihilore - Endless Blue
Nihilore - Jodie Foster
Nihilore - Man Alone Chimes the Hour
Nihilore - Do Not Look Back
===============================================
Images:
Autumn 2013 Anime Chart. atxpieces.wordpress.com/2013-...

[@mstewie08]

I've watched the series a few times at this point. I can't believe I missed the castration allusions. My mind was too focused on the cutting of the societal fibers that force us into conformity, not even thinking about the direct comparison of the snip. Adds a new layer. Appreciate it.

[@StudyofSwords]

Psychoanalysis isn't really my wheelhouse, but it gave me a way to speak about the scissor blades/Bakuzan in a novel way. Having become more familiar with Lacan since I made the video, I think this reading is a lot less forced than I initially thought.

[@misakayy1911]

you didnt "miss" them because they arent there lol

[@ceton1843]

I just love when smart people show me again and again just how grest killlakill is.

[@StudyofSwords]

I will be honest, I cannot tell if this is a kudos or a dig, but I will assume good faith! Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

I saw you know Kill la Kill so there is a webcomic you should see ''HELLGASM SLAUGHTER'' is a webcomic that i ramdomly found on TAPAS a webcomic publishing site, by writing demon girl in search bar It looks like some kind of kill la kill/ devilman/evangelion fusion, telling the story of the devil of pride Belial who fight hell and heaven armies to become the new ruler of the cosmos, you could like her cause she's kinda similar to Ryuuko from Kil La Kill And there a lot of stuff about hell and its 13 circles. The story is full of dark humor and bloody fight with funny insane characters, the big bad is obviously inspired from Ragyo. PS: take time to read cause there are lots details which can be easily missed sometimes (particulary in fights)

[@eypandabear7483]

My understanding of the "bath scene" was that it mirrored, on an interpersonal level, the relationship between the life fibres and humanity as their host. In both cases, the idea of the naked (especially, but not exclusively, female) human body as inadequate and shameful is used to manipulate the victim. In the bath scene - and I believe this adds to its perception as "problematic" - Kiryuin reinforces this shame by forcing sexual pleasure on Satsuki, with an ease that suggests years of abusive conditioning.

[@StudyofSwords]

That's an interesting reading!

[@happyfullfridge]

Haven't seen this show but like the scissor sword that two women have to connect together also has seems to have some other symbolism that is more surface level lmao

[@StudyofSwords]

That's the fun thing about polysemy.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@sashaliiitt]

I remember a few of my friends insisting that Kill La Kill was "too fan service-y" for them, and not being able to properly articulate why I never got that vibe. Thank you for punctuating the symbols and themes I didn't take note of. I thought your video was wonderfully gripping and succinct!

[@StudyofSwords]

Very glad you enjoyed it.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

I saw you know Kill la Kill so there is a webcomic you should see ''HELLGASM SLAUGHTER'' is a webcomic that i ramdomly found on TAPAS a webcomic publishing site, by writing demon girl in search bar It looks like some kind of kill la kill/ devilman/evangelion fusion, telling the story of the devil of pride Belial who fight hell and heaven armies to become the new ruler of the cosmos, you could like her cause she's kinda similar to Ryuuko from Kil La Kill And there a lot of stuff about hell and its 13 circles. The story is full of dark humor and bloody fight with funny insane characters, the big bad is obviously inspired from Ragyo. PS: take time to read cause there are lots details which can be easily missed sometimes (particulary in fights)

[@shutdahellup69420]

People: *Watching ecchi shows* Also the same people: **wHaTS uP WitH aLL tHE nUdITy?**

[@StudyofSwords]

There is something to be said for having realistic expectations about the show you're watching.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@TheHollandHS]

Anime fans who didnt watched it entirely: Fanservice is sad People Who watched it entirely : yes , it is.... 🥺

[@StudyofSwords]

"Eventually, a girl outgrows her sera fuku" Okay, but does it have to hurt this much? 😭

[@Stevem]

This is a really cool end to the series , im interested in looking into that “Desire, Lust and the Glimpse of Manga and Anime”. piece

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@SoShiBias]

Excellent video series on KLK. Wish I have more to say but you've covered some good corners nicely. Guess this 4 part series will yet be another 'weapon' for me show misunderstood folks about the point of the show (non-aggressively).

[@StudyofSwords]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@halfchiangel88]

I really enjoyed these Kill la Kill videos, I think I'll have to rewatch it again to really absorb this new info

[@StudyofSwords]

Well, that's ultimately the goal - getting you to critically engage with the media you consume, so glad it was a success!

[@CarmelPhillipe]

Really enjoyed this. There's been a tone of discourse on this show, and I've seen quite a bit. Even so, here we are with more in-depth, academic discussion that makes me view it in a different way. Thank you.

[@StudyofSwords]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. There's a surprising glut of academic works, in English no less, which explore this show. While academic attention isn't an objective barometer for quality, it nevertheless belies the kinds of criticism's I've been examining throughout this series.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@FROZENbender]

Can't believe how dismissive some people are of the ability of media to tell narratives deeper than "me see boob me horny". I've really seen people dismiss highschool of the dead for having "bad physics" and "dumb fanservice", ignoring the fact that these high impact action scenes are so iconic and memorable that we're still talking about them (on sites like reddit) TWELVE years later. I've seen KLK being dismissed the exact same way. Well, I'm just happy I'm able to enjoy the fact that all this content is coming out during my lifetime. I'm really enjoying anime these days, even more than I ever did and I'm in my mid-twenties. And any guidance to point towards artistic merits of a work I love is great. I thoroughly believe that media can be enjoyed on many levels but sometimes a more high level analysis really goes a long way when trying to understand what the actual point of it all was. Thanks for the vid!

[@StudyofSwords]

One would think, particularly with anime, that being able to see past appealing character designs or overt displays of sexuality, would by this point be a relatively normative position for people who consider themselves "fans", after all the "weeb" v "normie" binary is ubiquitous to the point of memesis. It's not, of course, and so here we are.

[@StudyofSwords]

@akise2557Being dismissive without interrogation isn't a particularly useful way of engaging with media.

[@StudyofSwords]

akise2557 And as an individual choice, that's perfectly reasonable (I did after all start this series of by stating that "shutting your brain off" was fine, and so the inverse is also true, just noping out), the difficulty arises when your personal proclivities are leveraged to dismiss people who want to engage with the series as "cope", so to speak.

[@PIRATEOTR]

I think this is my favorite one in this series yet! Really great stuff! You bring up so many details in the narrative that I'd either forgotten or just sorta went straight through my brain and fell out the other side without a thought in between, really makes me appreciate the work more. Btw agree with your comment re: psychoanalysis as something I don't really agree with but can reveal another layer of meaning in a lot of works.

[@StudyofSwords]

Hey Thanks! It's a very dense text so there is a lot that is easy to miss. Even during the re-watch before I started writing, I wasn't paying close enough attention. There's this incredibly subtle but hilarious running gag where Mrs. Mankanshoku continues to look at Aikuro whenever he's in the same scene as her, and just a full on stare. But I only started to look for it because one of the sources mentioned it.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@Sneaker3719]

Have to say, no notes on this vid. It's really great, and does wonders expanding on points made in the last vid! I am legit tempted to go rewatch Kill la Kill right now because of you just so I can appreciate what it does, better than when I first watched it! You've really got potential to blow up with analysis like this, man!

[@StudyofSwords]

Thank you so much! I'm very glad you enjoyed the video. If I'm able to accomplish nothing else, giving people a reason to engage with the show again (or for the first time) is its own reward.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

I saw you know Kill la Kill so there is a webcomic you should see ''HELLGASM SLAUGHTER'' is a webcomic that i ramdomly found on TAPAS a webcomic publishing site, by writing demon girl in search bar It looks like some kind of kill la kill/ devilman/evangelion fusion, telling the story of the devil of pride Belial who fight hell and heaven armies to become the new ruler of the cosmos, you could like her cause she's kinda similar to Ryuuko from Kil La Kill And there a lot of stuff about hell and its 13 circles. The story is full of dark humor and bloody fight with funny insane characters, the big bad is obviously inspired from Ragyo. PS: take time to read cause there are lots details which can be easily missed sometimes (particulary in fights)

[@Sneaker3719]

@@sachaheretnourry8187 Um, okay. I'll be sure to check it out when I have the time.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

@@Sneaker3719 So did you look at it ?

[@Sneaker3719]

@@sachaheretnourry8187 Listen, I'll get back to you when I do. I have college, so I'm not exactly free as a bird with my time.

[@fluffy_tail4365]

Wow this is such good work again. Really loved the part about life fibers, it just makes perfect sense.

[@StudyofSwords]

Hey thanks! Tbh, I'm not particularly fond of psychoanalysis because I have fundamental disagreements with it's essential premises, but it's been so incredibly influential in the development of literary criticism that it's a necessary consideration when examining texts and can nevertheless be used in some interesting ways

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@ajvellojina]

Amazing video man! I really liked your analysis. Kill la kill is my favorite anime and I enjoy watching other people discover new things about it.

[@StudyofSwords]

Hey Thanks! KlK has long been a favourite of mine as well, so it's pretty neat to be able to make videos about it that get watched by other people.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@ingwerschwensen8115]

Great vids. All four parts. Thanks!

[@StudyofSwords]

Hey! Glad you liked them!

[@Piestonight]

Great work man!

[@StudyofSwords]

Hey thanks a lot! I'm glad you enjoyed it. This is actually part 4 of a series so fell free to check out the other entries.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@frecio231]

Just a minor correction, there's a heterosexual ship, Mako and Ira Gamagori, he is very much into Mako, but Mako is even more into Ryuko.

[@StudyofSwords]

While this is definitely a ship among the fandom, it's not something which is present in the text. Often, the final moments of the final episode are cited, Gamagori decked out in formal wear with a bouquet and looking nervous, while the four kings "spy" on Ryuko/Mako and their chaperone Satsuki, but there's nothing definitive about who the object of his affection is - there is, for example, a considerable narrative basis to assume he has intentions on Satsuki, and not Mako. Fundamentally, my point was only that outside of Ryuko/Mako, and of course the relationships among the parents which were established/divorced before the narrative of the series, there are no expressed romantic intentions among the characters, something which is relatively unusual in "Battle Shonen", let alone Senin proper. Which, at bottom, does allow for quote "organic" queer readings. Thanks for the comment!

[@frecio231]

@@StudyofSwords ok, good point, I still think is Mako thou, he does a lot of stuff of a heterosexual point of view. He protects her a lot more than any other student, of course he does protect and sees for the safety of every single citizen as he is in charge of that role in his agreement with Satsuki but kind of takes personally the safety of Mako, and arouses sometimes while looking at her. And be aware, I ship Mako and Ryuko probably more than what can be considered healthy. Just saying that there's absolutely no text in Gamagouri's actions is kind of ignoring a very strong part of his character. I personally don't think Mako would see Gamagori as a potential romantic interest but I think Gamagori does. Thanks for the answer!!

[@AbandonSafety]

Glad I heard about this video.

[@speeddemon5339]

Great video but the only thing I didn’t like about kill la kill was the ending I mean it was a good ending nonetheless, and the symbolism of Ryuko being free to wear what ever she wanted to was amazing. But couldn’t they just have made it so senketsu is just a sentient scrap that is unwearable by ryuko? I mean I do know the reason why senketsu died was (according to the wiki) because he absorbed too much energy or something and dissented because of it. But I digress. As always another great video.

[@StudyofSwords]

Yeah, narratively he wasn't able to maintain that form because he had absorbed to much of the life fibres and wasn't manufacturered to be able to withstand that degree of absorption. Thematically it also works, what with the "outgrowing" her sailor uniform and maturation/end of highschool (even though she was a second year O_o) and that Ryuko no longer had to rely on Senketsu, since she had her "found family" so to speak, with them literally catching her collectively. Also it's Trigger and they seem to enjoy somewhat bittersweet endings. But yeah, it's also fiction so they could have altered Senketsu's fate, but I suppose the narrative weight of a character death is worth considering vs a "happy" ending.

[@speeddemon5339]

@@StudyofSwords yeah I guess so. And you know I’m surprised that you don’t have more subs I mean your videos are really well put together and you give off the same vibes as some of my other favorite reviewers. Keep it up I like it. And there is always fan-fic😏

[@StudyofSwords]

@@speeddemon5339 Hey thanks! Really do appreciate the support!

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

I saw you know Kill la Kill so there is a webcomic you should see ''HELLGASM SLAUGHTER'' is a webcomic that i ramdomly found on TAPAS a webcomic publishing site, by writing demon girl in search bar It looks like some kind of kill la kill/ devilman/evangelion fusion, telling the story of the devil of pride Belial who fight hell and heaven armies to become the new ruler of the cosmos, you could like her cause she's kinda similar to Ryuuko from Kil La Kill And there a lot of stuff about hell and its 13 circles. The story is full of dark humor and bloody fight with funny insane characters, the big bad is obviously inspired from Ragyo. PS: take time to read cause there are lots details which can be easily missed sometimes (particulary in fights)

[@StudyofSwords]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@kingj282]

The Freudian analysis is interesting, if not somewhat reaching. More convincing is your overall framing of Kill La Kill as a feminist critique of patriarchal systems and the male gaze.

[@StudyofSwords]

Absolutely. It's definitely the most forced of my analysis, and I included it as a lark, as well as giving some context to talk, at least tangentially, about the weaponry, keeping the video marginally on brand. Glad you enjoyed it though!

[@skylarsolar893]

SO ITS ALL GAY

[@StudyofSwords]

Always has been.

[@FirstGentleman1]

@@StudyofSwords and always will be.

[@badza47]

how do you not have more subs

[@StudyofSwords]

I need to make more videos like this, I guess?

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS

[@ultimate_pleb]

*a n n i m e*

[@StudyofSwords]

This is how I know I've made it as an anituber, people getting annoyed at me pronouncing anime correctly.

[@Real_Remilia_Scarlet]

Imo the queer and castration stuff is kind of a stretch lol great vid tho

[@StudyofSwords]

I will concede on the castration bit, as that was a bit of fun to shoehorn in, however brief, a tangent to discuss anti-lifefibre weaponry. The queer reading, otoh has quite a lot of textual support. Thanks for the comment!

[@alittleofsomething]

Yeah, no, it was explained why Mako said "pet's go on a date" by a different youtuber and it's not queer in nature. You just want it to be. Also I think Mako will end up with that huge guy who got a crush on her.

[@StudyofSwords]

They go on a date, at the very end of the show. Sorry about that.

[@alittleofsomething]

@@StudyofSwords Yep, a friend date, which is a thing in Japan, as I heard. Not a romantic date. Like going out with a friend you don't feel romantically involved in.

[@StudyofSwords]

@@alittleofsomething Again, there is an abundance of visuals (Mako having the same reaction to Ryuko in the Synchronized Kamu as the horny male characters, the numerous Hallelujah sequences, the fact that the term used when Mako says "date" is the same as you'd use for a romantic date, etc., all of which support a canonical Ryuko x Mako ship, which is the closest anyone else in the series gets to a relationship outside the parents, to say nothing of a queer reading of the series (which is what I'm talking about in that section of the video.)

[@sleepysartorialist]

These are fascinating but you constantly mispronouncing kogal is really frustrating...as is the mistaken assumption of the meaning behind the slang term. Folks like to pretend they don't know because it's embarrassing to know what subcultures are all about but there's plenty of content about it IN Japanese. :|

[@StudyofSwords]

My apologies, as it should be clear, I do not speak Japanese, and so my pronunciations are often wrong. Appreciate the correction. Same thing with sources, I have to rely on English translations of Japanese texts, or research conducted by people who speak/read Japanese.

[@M3rtyville]

I am honestly not a fan of fan service considering its insanely overused and a cheap way to get attention. I feel a lot of series don't use it properly especially long running series that are revived and pander to nostalgia and some shows that pander to the male gaze I guess. Tho I don't think fan service is terrible itself. It's like any tool in your toolbox that can help you to spice up a story. And Kill la Kill does it pretty well.

[@Tetemovies4]

I think there's a lot of confirmation bias past the sexual assault part. I strongly disagree with the postulates you build upon on male character fanservice. Also Ryuko is herself made of lifefiber.

[@StudyofSwords]

It's important to remember (particularly if you haven't watched the other videos), that this isn't supposed to be THE definitive/authoritative reading of the text. It's an exploration of one reading (a self reflective critique of the conventional application of fanservice on part of the production). That's the thing with polysemy, there's room for more than a single perspective on meaning in a text. Thanks for the comment!

[@Cam-wz5yb]

To mutch big words

[@StudyofSwords]

Uh, sorry?

[@mysmallnoman]

" these fanservice scenes are only used for comedy not arousal " noy only that's dumb as these scenes are both erotic and funny, you also described 95% of fanservice scenes in anime in general lol But what to expect from the dude who thinks there wasn't much fanservice before 2013

[@StudyofSwords]

Note that my precise phasing was " KLK certainty does have more traditional displays of fan service, but these are used almost exclusively for humour not arousal." So, given that I spent the section just before this explaining the basic mechanic of erotic fanservice through the use of the glimpse, what I'm referring to when I say "traditional displays" are those specific instances rather than ALL fanservice throughout the series. It's an important distinction. Insomuch as "there wasn't much fanservice before 2013", not something I said at any point. What I did say was that the absurdist degree of fanservice that KLK leveraged, arguably it's most notable and marketed feature, was unique for TV anime circa 2013. Thanks for the watch and engagement though!

[@Mecks089]

_"A level of Fan Service that had not been seen before."_ Kid, yes I'm calling you a kid, you clearly haven't seen any anime from the 90's to the mid-2000's then.

[@StudyofSwords]

These happened to be formative years in my consumption of Japanese visual media so you would be incorrect there. But, for discussions sake, which properties would you point to which contained more explicit and overt treatment of fanservice?

[@Mecks089]

@@StudyofSwords OVAs in general, the first Anime I ever bought was a Catgirl anime about a child custody battle that blew into over the top antics, a father and his son separating from the mother over disputes in technological abuse since the father was a engineer/scientist, during an accident a stray cat dies as an indirect result upsetting the son so the father augments the cat's brain in an Android's body to look like a high school girl, placing as an older sister figure to the boy. Naturally in most cases of either comedy or animated intense scenes, pantyshots of the android cat girl appear frequently, but aren't entirely focused or zoomed in on, even as far as a bathing scene where the cat girl is clearly topless but it wasn't used for comedy, but not entirely to oogal any arousal either. Another Cyborg girl is eventually involved and the two naturally fight it off, but instead of the aerodynamic fighting scenes you'd seen here in Kill La Kill, the girls were using they're bodies as literal weapons. Neither of these girls are truly human by any Superficial standard. Another example would be the Tenchi Muyo Ryo-Oki OVA, in certain scenarios the main female character is often the most engaging with the main male character, often dressing lewdly, but never entirely provocatively, Cleavage shots, here and there, but literally one very dismissive and often undernoticed pantyshot, and yet there's quite a few scenes where she's entirely topless. From a public or private bath scenes, to being in a glass tank. Neither of these scenes were for comedy, or truly intended arousal.

[@StudyofSwords]

@@Mecks089 So Tenchi was an obvious choice, and certainly one I'm familiar with. And while there are certainly sequences which take place in a bath, which feature "actual nudity", that wasn't what was meant by "levels" KLK isn't, despite its notoriety, a particularly "ecchi" show, as there isn't any overt/ explicit "nudity" - heck, Ranma 1/2 had more explicit nudity. My point was that the "exposure" to run time, something which occurs whenever a character wears a synchronized Kamui (to say nothing of transformation sequences or even other characters who are also exposed) is on screen, which is a significant portion of the show, something I expand on later in the video.

[@sachaheretnourry8187]

If you like Kill la Kill, you should read Hellgasm Slaughter on TAPAS