Ah yes. Any anime with a cast of females will eventually put those girls in sexy outfits. Sometimes, the school festival becomes the excuse to put on a maid café. How about a bunny girl restaurant? Or the school trip or weekend getaway to a hot spring village? These formulaic plot points became staples for a reason. Or REASONS, as the kids say. Then we have the iconic fanservice episode — The Swimsuit Episode!
Two anime programs made us expect a swimsuit event just from their premise. The audience assumes we’ll see them in other outfits besides their school uniforms when you have high school girls involved. Kimizero has beautiful and sexy gyaru characters, so we needed to see Runa (and hopefully her friends) in revealing and skimpy bathing suits. Similarly, Hyakkano builds up a harem of soulmates with different body types and personalities. What kind of designs would each girl choose? Only the swimsuit episode can provide those answers.
But what about anime in fantasy settings with wizards, magic, monsters, and suits of armor? I wouldn’t expect to see the flimsy, stretchy fabric we usually see in a swimsuit there. How would a tailor make nylon, lycra, or spandex without a petroleum-based manufacturing industry in the background? Well. Fantasy has separate meanings, too! Fulfilling our wishes for scantily-clad women, Ikenaikyo and Goblin Slayer came through. Yes! Goblin Slayer! What the heck? I never imagined I would see Cow Girl in a bikini outside of the products the J-List store provides.
Here are the best swimsuit episodes of the Fall 2023 Anime Season. So far.
Ikenaikyo, Episode 5!
The writers for Ikenaikyo combined the market district lottery prize, public pool date, and hot spring hotel plot formulas into an overnight stay for Allen and Charlotte. Naughty! The biggest revelation, besides the anachronistic bikini and waterpark, was what Charlotte hid under her regular clothes. Was there a magic spell to protect Charlotte’s modesty? This show is not supposed to be “that kind of naughty.”
Kimizero, Episode 5! (Bonus Bikini on Episode 6)
It was only a matter of time before Runa wowed Ryuuto with her impressive gyaru proportions popping out of her swimsuit. The beach episode also turned into an overnight stay for the happy couple. And it was another scene where the audience cried out in frustration at our lead character’s hesitancy. C’mon, man! At least he held Runa’s naked hand.
Kimizero gave us bonus time on the next episode or a series of them! The opening credits hinted we’d see Nicole in a bikini at some point, so summer vacation started in the show. Guess where Runa and Nicole are. They’re at a beach in Chiba, working for Runa’s uncle at his beach hut! If you watched the Goddess Café Terrace, you know what the waitress uniform looks like. I want to see more of Nicole!
Goblin Slayer II, Episode 6!
I’m stunned. I’m still in shock. How does Goblin Slayer’s adventurer party celebrate killing goblins on a river cruise? Grilled fish and bikinis! And we might see Cow Girl, Priestess, High Elf Archer, and Guild Girl in those skimpy outfits again! They brought them for lounging time during an Elf wedding. Please don’t disappoint us, Goblin Slayer! Now… How do we get Sword Maiden, Witch, Female Knight, and Female Rhea into two-piece swimsuits? I’m ready for more surprises!
Hyakkano, Episode 6!
Hyakkano’s high-quality animation and loving attention to beautiful girls made their pool date episode the one to watch for the season. Bouncing bosoms in a straining swimsuit? Check. Squeezing and fondling? Check. Material for fans of PLOT, JUSTICE, and BACKSTORY? You know it! Hyakkano also gave me the best tsundere scene ever. Karane can’t even compliment cute bikinis without going full tsun on them!
The fall anime season is only half over, so more swimsuit episodes might be coming. The rule for fanservice in a twelve-episode season had been to save it for the eighth or ninth one. Writers usually give the audience a fun time before a dramatic final arc to end the season on an emotional climax. But, as you can see, those sexy episodes happen all over the timeline now. Is that a welcome change? I don’t mind, but others could have stronger opinions.
Did you enjoy these swimsuit episodes? Who was your favorite girl? Thicc Hakari in Hyakkano edges past Cow Girl, but I can be convinced otherwise. Were there any shows I missed? Which anime show are you hoping has a swimsuit story soon? Let us know in the comments below or online on Facebook, Twitter, or Discord.
Every day can be full of fanservice if you have the correct calendar. Check out the J-List calendar section to see your favorite anime and artists. We like Coffee Kizoku’s art, and you can pick up a 2024 calendar now!
