It can be difficult to explain what I mean by that, all incarnations of Little Witch Academia are free of the Anime style fan-service that I've complained about before. And Akko's character design and wardrobe are at first glance identical. I think a lot of it has to do with how her Legs are animated, I'm a Leg Man so maybe most viewers aren't paying as close attention to that as I am.
This isn't a criticism, I liked the LWA movies and I'm enjoying the series so far (I'm 9 episodes in as of deciding to make this post).
The theory I'm going to present here, that many may find truly shocking, is that the reason for this is that the TV series is more concerned with appealing to Male Otaku.
The way Akko is sexy in the original movie is kind of like how Sailor Moon was sexy, and other Shoujo Anime. LWA may not be officially marketed as a Shoujo Anime, but it feels more like a Shoujo Anime then an Otaku anime. In other words, yes Women do like being Sexy in their wish fulfillment fantasies, just as male leads are generally attractive in stuff marketed to men.
Meanwhile Enchanted Parade was crowdfunded mainly by Western fans which is why it actually premiered in America first. So it was made perhaps more so then most Anime with a concern for appealing to a Western audience. Really playing up how the premise is basically Harry Potter meets My Little Pony.
But the TV series aired on regular Japanese television. And so had to be concerned with keeping actual Otaku hooked more then any prior incarnation. Hence getting in episode 8 the first really blatant Yuri Bait moment.
And here is the fact so many critics of Cute Girl shows and their fanbase overlook. For better or for worse, stereotypical Otaku actually don't want their Cute Girls to be Sexy, they want them being Cute but totally pure and non-sexual. Contrary to what you may have heard, including from Otaku themselves when we're making fun of ourselves, most Otaku consider sexiness and cuteness mutually exclusive. Even Digibro included no "Lolies" in his list of the Hottest women in Anime.
Akko being sexy never crossed my mind. Diana, Amanda and Chariot, yes but not Akko.
ReplyDeleteAs for what JP otaku want. Eh. It is what it is, though annoying when it gets in the way of my bliss.