History Main / ZettaiRyouiki

"Absolute Territory" (''zettai ryouiki'' in Japanese) describes the area of bare skin exposed on the thighs between the skirt and stockings or socks for female characters. The term and the trope come from Anime and Manga, with the term being used as an homage to the Eva units in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.

* Christine after she's first been abducted by the Phantom in the 2004 film adaptation of ''ThePhantomOfTheOpera.''

Since a Zettai Ryouiki is defined by the length of the stockings or socks, some people have categorized it into grades depending on the length of the socks. This ranking system goes from Grade F to Grade A[[note]]Some even include a [[RankInflation Grade S]] (Grade A + {{Tsundere}} + TwinTails), which started as an InJoke based on Rin Tohsaka of VisualNovel/FateStayNight[[/note]]. However, only Grades A and B are considered true Zettai Ryouiki.

** Celica, the heroine of ''Gaiden'', has a Grade B variant with what could generously be described as "shorts with an inverted ShowgirlSkirt[[hottip:*:it covers all of the areas that a ShowgirlSkirt doesn't, and ''doesn't'' cover any of the areas that a ShowgirlSkirt does]]" Her ''Awakening'' DLC redesign raises the stakes by turning the skirt part into a MiniDressOfPower slit up the side halfway to her armpits such that [[MarilynManeuver a good wind]] ''[[BareYourMidriff bares her midriff]]''. [[SwirlingDust Did we mention she's a mage?]]

** Fate's Barrier Jacket in the first two seasons, as well, and Nanoha's normal outfits (non-Barrier Jacket, non-school uniform) from those seasons. And the Lieze twins (''very'' perfect "A" Grade). And Vita's normal non-combat outfit (only "B"-Grade, which is sad because she meets both of the added requirements for a Grade S). And [[{{Tsundere}} Teana's]] Barrier Jacket and military uniform. Yeah, this show runs on {{Fanservice}}, alright.
** Don't forget [[ChurchMilitant Sister Schach]].
** There's also the strange case of Reinforce, who has... [[FashionableAsymmetry only one sock]].

* Alice in ''{{Manga/ARIA}}'' since it's part of her school uniform, making her of the very few main characters who wears something else aside from her undine outfit. In one anime episode, Aika wears the variety with shorts.

* Alice in ''{{Manga/ARIA}}'' since its part of her school uniform, making her of the very few main characters who wears something else aside from her undine outfit. In one anime episode, Aika wears the variety with shorts.

*** [[{{Tsundere}} Noire]]/ [[WhiteHairedPrettyGirl BlackHeart]]. Bonus points as Grade S.

"Absolute Territory" (''zettai ryouiki'' in Japanese) describes the area of uncovered thigh between the skirt and the stockings that's apparently a total magnet for MaleGaze.

Zettai Ryouiki is made up of three components: [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal socks, skin, and skirt]].[[labelnote:*]]The golden ratio for the ultimate zettai ryouiki is 4:1:2.5 (length of skirt : zettai ryouiki : length of socks above knee) and the acceptable margin for error is ±25%.[[/labelnote]] As per usual for fandom who [[{{Cosplay}} obsess about costumes]], this can be considered a {{moe}} attribute and thus, appear prominently in character designs and [[{{Seifuku}} schoolgirl outfits]], [[CustomUniformOfSexy despite the fact that it kind of defeats the point of a uniform]].

As a relatively new phenomenon, the symbolism of Zettai Ryouiki only recently began to crystallize. Since it is, by nature, a sensual costume that symbolizes budding, innocent sexuality, a trait common for TheIngenue who is already aware of her attractiveness but not (yet) cynical enough to put it to use (which is why many a {{Tsundere}} wears Zettai Ryouiki). Of course, as with any symbols, GenreSavvy characters can {{invoke|d trope}} it on purpose even if far from the described archetype themselves.

It has gained popularity around the world, especially in Japan, where it is a very popular fashion item with girls and young women, so the occurrence of Zettai Ryouiki can be regarded as TruthInTelevision.

As the length of this page proves, ZettaiRyouiki is SeriousBusiness.

Examples should be limited to Rank A and B. Use the page image to identify them.

* Fionna, Finn's gender swapped counterpart in Adventure Time, sports the thigh-high version with her skirt.

* Geum Jan Di of ''BoysBeforeFlowers'', sports this on every episode of the show along with her school uniform.

* {{Music/Vocaloid}} is full of Zettai Ryouiki.

** Erza Scarlett has a few armors that donned this style and in some cover pages.
** Lucy on a few cover pages, and the clothes she gets from the Stellar spirit world, usually has this.
** Wendy donned this in the Edoras arc and later in the Tenrou Island arc.
** Mirajane's [[spoiler:Take Over Satan soul]] gives her this in [[ThighHighBoots boots.]]

** Urtear's battle outfit and Meredy.

* ''LightNovel/InfiniteStratos''

* Common in more recent ArtixEntertainment games, such as the 2008 classes and armors in AdventureQuestWorlds.

** Celica, the heroine of ''Gaiden'', has a Grade B variant with what could generously be described as "shorts with an inverted ShowgirlSkirt[[hottip:it covers all of the areas that a ShowgirlSkirt doesn't, and ''doesn't'' cover any of the areas that a ShowgirlSkirt does]]" Her ''Awakening'' DLC redesign raises the stakes by turning the skirt part into a MiniDressOfPower slit up the side halfway to her armpits such that [[MarilynManeuver a good wind]] ''[[BareYourMidriff bares her midriff]]''. [[SwirlingDust Did we mention she's a mage?]]

** Naru also wears this from time to time and [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_517ga6fxt_9922.jpg the cover of book 7]] she manages Grade A and epic OperaGloves ''at the same time''.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem''

** One non-mounted example (at least, pre-promotion) is Princess Eirika from ''FE 8''. Actually, here's another: Mia pre-promotion in ''FE 9/10'' (after promoting to upper tier, the skirt becomes too long). Also Lachesis from ''FE 4'', the inspiration for Eirika's design.

* As if ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney''[='=]s Ema Skye weren't cute enough already, her look in ''AceAttorneyInvestigations''' features this trope.

** Neru Akita has Grade A thigh-highs (boots), a tsundere personality, and... sadly, only a side ponytail. Disappointing, but she is the closest you'll get to Grade S when it comes to Vocaloid.

* ''Manga/DragonBall''
** ''DragonBallZ''. Rare male example: Zarbon. [[http://dbzs.jp/meteor/img/chara/03/zarbon.jpg Even if it's less hotpants than it is underpants.]]