How Far Is Too Far?

There are a lot of things I respect about the anime industry. One of those things is the industry's willingness to push forward with new, brave ideas. Anime creators aren't afraid to move into uncharted waters and provide experiences that other forms of media haven't even touched upon yet, or are too nervous to do so. I appreciate these bold steps, but sometimes you have to wonder what the creator's goal was.

As I said, I'm all for taking new steps in directions that other media hasn't been brave enough to tackle. The thing is, sometimes I feel that anime creators are pushing content in this direction just for shock value. It all depends on the anime and the situation, but it can sometimes be hard to tell what the real motivations of the team are.

Take, for example, Dance in the Vampire Bund. I get that the main character looks like a young girl but is actually thousands of years old. That in and of itself makes for an interesting story and some unique situations. I can respect the story from that point, but do we really need to see that main character nude repeatedly? Exploring the dynamics of that relationship in the eyes of others is where the interesting story is. Watching another character rub gel all over the young-looking character's body seems to be nothing more than for shock value.

Do you think that anime takes it too far sometimes? Perhaps you believe things haven't been pushed far enough? I am all for each creator's vision and keeping away from censorship. I can self-censor what I do not like. It's not the creator's job to make content that is palatable to all. I just have to wonder if sometimes that creator is really trying to tell a story, or if they're just trying to get a rouse out of the viewer.