Divergence Eve - Fan Service

Fan Service

The most controversial aspect of Divergence Eve by far is the amount of fan service used. Nearly all the women in the series have slightly larger than usual breasts, including the medical staff and unnamed bridge crew. The bust measurements of the main characters range from 89 to 104 centimetres in their official profiles, but all have waist sizes of 60 centimetres or less. They initially had a tendency to be unrealistically bouncy, though this effect has been reduced over the course of the series.

The training outfits used by the main characters are similar to tankinis, but with the top half's bottom ending as high as possible. Their flight uniforms are skin-tight, and the small interiors of their R.A.s make for very close-up scenes, often at immodest angles. Their standard uniforms are more modest from the waist up, but feature very high miniskirts and high stockings. Misaki appears in a full-frontal nudity scene very early in the series, but without any primary sexual characteristics drawn. Scenes in her quarters also tend to have her in various states of undress.

The ending credits arguably go the furthest in terms of fan service. Set to the J-pop style song Pump up!, they feature Misaki in many outfits, almost all revealing:

• hotpants, sports safety equipment, and a halter top (and later, a halfshirt)
• bike shorts, tank top, and safety gear
• three different thong bikinis
• an apron
• a laced-up tube top, a miniskirt, and thigh-highs
• two full dresses
• a Gothic Lolita outfit with camisole, miniskirt, garter belt, thigh-highs, and high boots
• a Chinese Qipao dress ending very high
• four Japanese school uniforms, including a sailor fuku and a physical education uniform
• a transparent wet T-shirt, brassiere, and hotpants
• a showgirl outfit
• a waitress uniform

Finally, each episode's credits end with a topless sunbathing scene. The camera is aimed high enough to cut off the image and prevent the need for additional censorship, but very little is hidden, and the bounce effect is used.

The level of fan service in Divergence Eve has attracted much criticism from western viewers. Critics typically condemn the fan service first and foremost, before all other aspects of the show. Similarly, the few reviews that have praised the fan service tend to use it as their primary praise; some have called the plot mediocre, yet still recommend it due to the visuals.