what is moe in anime

by Casper Mayer 7 min read
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Moe is an adjective that can be used to describe anime shows or characters. It's defined by TV Tropes as the ability of a character to instill in the audience an irrational desire to adore them, hug them, protect them, comfort them, etc. It's meant to evoke a sort of Big Brother Instinct, in men and women.

Moe (萌え, Japanese pronunciation: [mo. e] ( listen)), sometimes romanized as moé, is a Japanese word that refers to feelings of strong affection mainly towards characters in anime, manga, video games, and other media directed at the otaku market.

Full Answer

What is meant by Moe in anime?

Overall, the term moe is a Japanese slang term used in Japanese media that refers to an anime or manga character, usually a beautiful girl, who stems feelings of affection. This device is also a pun on the Japanese word for bussing, and can be a real name in the United States as a first name or last name. This can also be used as a nickname.

What does Moe mean in Japanese?

Moe (萌え, Japanese pronunciation: ()), sometimes romanized as moé, is a Japanese word that refers to feelings of strong affection mainly towards characters (usually female) in anime, manga, video games, and other media directed at the otaku market.

What is the best animie?

The Best Anime Of All Time

  1. One Piece: The Neverending Masterpiece. We can’t start a list about the all-time anime greats without including one of the longest and most popular stories ever told, now can ...
  2. Gintama: The Iconic Comedy Anime. Hopping right over to another monumentally huge Shonen series, it’s Gintama! ...
  3. Demon Slayer: The Newest Star Of Shounen. ...

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Which is the No 1 anime?

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  • Additional Director: Fumio Kurokawa, Eiji Okabe, Yoshio Takeuchi, Toshitsugu Mukōtsubo, Kenji Kamiyama
  • Screenwriters: Tatsuo Tamura, Masaki Tsuji, Tetsu Dezaki, Haruya Yamazaki, Tsunehisa Ito
  • Design: Jun Ikeda

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What is a moe character?

Moe is a Japanese term used in connection with manga or anime to describe something precious, usually (but not always) the ideal of youthful and innocent femininity. Written with the kanji for "to bud or sprout" (萌), the concept covers a range of ideal behaviour for youthful female characters in manga or anime.

What is a moe in bl?

A term literally meaning “to bud,” moe refers to the erotically charged interest that manga and animation fans feel for fictional characters.

Can a guy be moe?

The Male Moe can often be the same thing as a Bishōnen (pretty boys.) These boys are sometimes older (still High School age) and bare a common troupe of “Cute but Troubled” that can invoke Moe in female viewers.

Why is moe so popular in Japan?

Moe has become something of a revolution in anime namely because of its ability to sell merchandise. The strong feelings of fondness and connection with a character's design increases the chances of people wanting to buy figurines and other products that feature that character.

What is uke in anime?

“Seme” refers to the character who is the more dominant half and usually takes the lead in the relationship. In contrast, “uke” refers to the character who is less dominant or follows the lead in the relationship. You can roughly say that it's the equivalent of top and bottom as sexual positions in English.

What is moe short for?

The given name or nickname Moe, often short for Maurice, Morris, Mortimer, Morton, Murray, Mohammed, Moore, Moses, Mordecai, or other given names.

Is moe killing anime?

If you ask certain anime thought leaders throughout the last decade and a half or so, moe has been “killing anime.” Indeed, according to some, plague of cute girls descended upon the medium in the mid-2000s, leaving the anime industry a barren wasteland.

Is moe a Japanese name?

Coined in Japan in the late '90s, "Moe" (萌え, pronounced as "Mo-Eh", derived from a Japanese word that means "budding, to sprout/bloom") is an ill-defined otaku term that means, amongst other things, "cute", "huggable", or "endearing".

Where did the word moe come from?

The term “Moe” is a noun which was popularized in the DMV area (Washington Metropolitan Area). The word is used as a nickname to reference a stranger or a friend in replacement of “son”, “homie” or “bro”.

Whats the meaning of tsundere?

A tsundere is a character, most often female and in anime, who switches from being tough and cold towards a love interest into being soft and sweet.

What is the moe aesthetic?

Since the beginning of Japan's animation industry, a focus on aesthetic cuteness and a certain 'lovability' embedded in character design has comprised a significant role in the creative process. Such 'lovability,' describing a distinct emotional connection to 2D characters, has been described using the term 'Moe'.

What is uke in Japanese?

uke (plural ukes or uke) (judo, martial arts) The training partner against whom tori performs a move. (Japanese fiction) A passive or submissive male fictional character in a same-sex relationship; a bottom. quotations ▼

Why is Moe used in anime?

Rice also goes on to say that moe is used to get anime and manga works out to "hardcore fans who buy excessive amounts of items related to the character of their desire.". John Oppliger from AnimeNation traced the first decade of the 2000s as the time when moe became increasingly popular and recognized.

What is a moe?

Jump to navigation Jump to search. Japanese slang. A character that might appear in an anime or manga series that can elicit feelings of moe. Moe ( 萌え, Japanese pronunciation: [mo.e] ( listen)), sometimes romanized as moé, is a Japanese word that refers to feelings ...

Why was the Saimoe Tournament cancelled?

One such contest is the Anime Saimoe Tournament, organized by members of the textboard 2channel, which ran every year from 2002, until its cancellation after the 2014 contest due to declining interest. Moe characters from the fiscal year starting July 1 and ending June 30 the following year were eligible.

When did the Moe Game Awards start?

They were started in 2006 as the Bishōjo Game Awards, but their name was changed to Moe Game Awards in 2009. It is sponsored by the Japanese game rating board Ethics Organization of Computer Software (EOCS) and is described by them as "an R18 game industry version of the Academy Awards ".

When did the Saimoe tournament become international?

In 2006 and 2007, the Saimoe Tournament became an increasingly international event; 2channel users obliged foreign otaku by putting up an English version of their rules page. The International Saimoe League, also known as ISML, is another online moe popularity contest that is for a worldwide audience.

What anime is Hotaru from?

Anime columnist John Oppliger has outlined several popular theories describing how the term would have stemmed from the name of anime heroines, such as Hotaru Tomoe from Sailor Moon (Tomoe is written as 土萌, relevant kanji is the same) or Moe Sagisawa from the 1993 anime Kyōryū Wakusei.

What is the Moe manifesto?

In The Moe Manifesto, anthropologist Patrick Galbraith defines moe as an affective response to fictional characters or representations of them. The applications of this definition are widespread to political, economic, and cultural discourses.

Moe- anime meaning

A “moe” character in anime is the kind of character who you want to protect. Usually, these characters are clumsy, lovable, and slightly vulnerable.

Common traits of moe in anime

Not all “moe” characters are made alike, but there are some common traits you might want to look out for if you want to find a good “moe” character.

Examples of moe anime characters

This character is known for being clumsy and a little bit stupid. Although he is a good cook, he has a habit of falling asleep when he probably shouldn’t.

Some moe characters are also Tsundere

Some “moe” characters are also “Tsundere”. This is not a word that people who don’t watch anime will be familiar with.

How to tell if an anime character is moe

If you love a character and you’re wondering whether or not they’re moe, you need to think about how much like a child they are.

Conclusion

And now you know what a moe character is. It’s a term that’s most commonly used in Asian media such as anime (cartoons) or manga (comicbooks).

Why is Moe Sangyo used?

Moe Sangyo. In particular, a lot of attention has brought to anime series. They are using “moe” as the characters to make sure that a series sells. It is very same as the concept of western media using sex appeal to promote the franchises. Some fans are all right and prefer shows of this type.

What does "moko" mean in Japanese?

Means to the cultural group within a larger culture within the anime state that deals with moko. Also means “adorable” or “cute” characters.

What does "moe" mean in anime?

Moe has a complex history and meaning. Most people believe it’s a certain type of anime character. Namely, cute, innocent girls with big eyes that do cute things. While moe does deal with this, it’s true definition goes beyond kawaii. Now, some may wonder why it matters to define anime slang (moe isn’t really slang) precisely.

What is the abbreviation for moe?

In fact, the verb moeru combined with an abbreviation of Hatoru Tomoe to give us the word moe. Young girls with large, pupil-less eyes, glossy skin, small (or no) breasts and an innocent personality make the archetype for moe-seeking character design.

What is the meaning of Sagisawa Moe?

For some, it’s a mild sexual arousal and love for a character. For others, it is “the ultimate expression of male platonic love,” and for still others its pure love without sexual components.

Why is Moe an emotional reaction?

Because moe is an emotional reaction to a fictional character, it varies from person to person. However, it involves a desire for fantasy; it isn’t a desire to realize that fantasy. Fujoshi, or “rotten girls,” provide a good example of these.

What is Fujoshi anime?

Fujoshi are women who consume, produce, and reproduce romances inspired by manga and anime. They particularly focus on yaoi. Women account for the majority of online fan-fiction like yaoi. Yaoi are stories that focus on relationships between androgynous men.

When did Moe come out?

Wherever people consume anime, moe and other terms enter people’s awareness. Moe has roots in the 1970s and 1980s. During these decades, artists began creating characters specifically to inspire moe within people (Saito, 2017). It’s a common misconception that moe is just a name for images of cute girls.

Does Kawaii make moe?

Kawaii often creates moe, but it doesn’t always. A cute skirt, for example, may be kawaii, but it doesn’t create moe because the skirt is a physical object. However, if it would become a metaphor or a reminder for a fictional character, it could generate moe. It works in the same way as the road in Galbraith’s example.

What is a Moe character?

A moe character is, specifically, a type of character that's endearing to the beholder. Moe characters been defined by some as "a type of character you want to protect". Clumsiness, tsundere, anything that a character shows that makes them seem vulnerable and lovable/adorable, that's moe.

What is a moe?

Moe is a Japanese term used in connection with manga or anime to describe something precious, usually (but not always) the ideal of youthful and innocent femininity. Written with the kanji for "to bud or sprout" (萌), the concept covers a range of ideal behaviour for youthful female characters in manga or anime.

What is a moe girl?

A generally accepted definition is that a young girl drawn in an art style also named "moe" can be consided moe. Here is a picyure of k-on, one of the most stereotypical moe Anime: Few would argue these girls are not moe. However, beyond this the definition varies greatly.

When did Moe come about?

The word came about in the early 1980's and became more widely used in Japan around the 1990's. The word has evolved over time to deal in affection of all kinds in the anime and manga genre. In today's society moe is very popular with the otaku crowd and pulls in an e. Continue Reading.

What does it mean to be a moe?

To be moe, a character can be eager or perky, not overly independent, and call forth a desire in the viewer to protect them and nurture them. The term is also used to describe any preciously cute item; there is an animal mascot character store in Tokyo called Moe. 7.1K views. ·. View upvotes.

Does anime shield children?

Anime doesn’t shield children from pain and death as much as American children are expected to be shielded. Even in shows for pre-teens, anime characters that get beaten up will bleed, feel pain, and even die. When American cartoons show characters beating each other up, characters often bounce right back.

Do anime have boys?

Some include boys in Anime, some even go as far to include real boys and girls. Older women are generally not consider to be moe unless they designed to appear young: She is a teacher in the Anime, over 18 anyways. As for real girls, there is little agreem.

What Is Moe?

Moe is an adjective that can be used to describe anime shows or characters. It's defined by TV Trope s as the ability of a character to instill in the audience an irrational desire to adore them, hug them, protect them, comfort them, etc. To evoke a sort of Big Brother Instinct, in men and women.

What Is the Impact of Moe on the Anime Industry in Japan?

Let's face it: moe is profitable. One issue is that in Japan, people rarely buy DVDs as they're very expensive, so studios make a lot of their income by selling merchandise such as body pillows, figures, key chains, toys, plushies, etc. of their anime characters.

Problems With Moe

I know there are good moe shows out there, and they can be fun if you're into it and just want something inoffensively cute and entertaining. BUT, moe shows are hated by critics for a reason. Namely, they're driven by character clichés.

But Wait! The Defense of Moe

Objection! In order to be rational here, we have to point out that there are in fact two sides to this issue.

What is the plot of Tamako Market?

For when a talking bird is a literal wingman. Plot: Tamako knows just about everything there is to know about mochi, the traditional Japanese dessert treats. When she’s not attending her first year of high school, she even invents new flavors and varieties for Tama-ya, her family’s mochi shop.

What is the plot of Ro Kyu Bu?

Plot: Hasegawa Subaru enters a basketball club of Nanashiba High School, but the activity of the club gets suspended because the club leader falls in love with an 11 year old daughter of the coaching teacher.

What is the plot of Nichijou?

Nichijou. For when your brain can’t handle the normal life. Plot: While the title suggests a story of simple, everyday school life, the contents are more the opposite. The setting is a strange school where you may see the principal wrestle a deer or a robot’s arm hide a rollcake.

What is the name of the group of thieves in Futari Wa Milky Holmes?

Futari wa Milky Holmes, which takes place two years after the other series, follows two young girls, Alice and Kazumi, who, inspired by Milky Holmes, form their own detective unit, Feathers, and fight against a group of thieves known as the Color the Phantom. 20. Sound of the Sky. For when moe girls suffer from PTSD.

What is the plot of Azumanga Daioh?

For when you want to see the anime adaptation that started ‘the cute girls doing cute things’ trend. Plot: Azumanga Daioh is a Japanese yonkoma comedy manga series written and illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma, serialized in MediaWorks’ Dengeki Daioh magazine from February 1999 to May 2002.

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Overview

Moe , sometimes romanized as moé, is a Japanese word that refers to feelings of strong affection mainly towards characters in anime, manga, video games, and other media directed at the otaku market. Moe, however, has also gained usage to refer to feelings of affection towards any subject.
Moe is related to neoteny and the feeling of "cuteness" a character can evoke. T…

Meaning

Moe used in slang refers to feelings of affection, adoration, devotion, and excitement felt towards characters that appear in manga, anime, video games, and other media (usually Japanese). Characters that elicit feelings of moe are called "moe characters". The word has also evolved to be used regarding all kinds of topics. Included in the meaning of the word is the idea that "deep feelings felt towards a particular subject" is used in cases where a simple "like" is not enough to …

Origins

The term's origin and etymology are unknown. Anime columnist John Oppliger has outlined several popular theories describing how the term would have stemmed from the name of anime heroines, such as Hotaru Tomoe from Sailor Moon (Tomoe is written as 土萌, relevant kanji is the same) or Moe Sagisawa from the 1993 anime Kyōryū Wakusei. Psychologist Tamaki Saitō identifies it as coming from the Japanese word for "budding", moeru (萌える). Ken Kitabayashi of the Nomura R…

Usage

Moe characters have expanded within the Japanese media market. In 2003, the market for moe media such as printed media, video, and games was worth 88 billion yen; roughly one-third of the estimated 290 billion yen otaku market in Japan. In 2009, Brad Rice, editor-in-chief of Japanator, said that "moe has literally become an economic force" saying that more products use some elem…

Commentary

There are various interpretations of the concept of moe, and the subject has been heavily discussed. Psychologist Tamaki Saitō considers the moe used by otaku to be the embodiment of their particular kind of sexuality. Saitō points out that while otaku creations fulfill an abnormal impression of sexuality, few otaku actually apply this impression to real life. He thus argues that moe is something that sustains the otaku's sexuality within a fictional world, with the fiction itsel…

See also

• Chibi (slang)
• Figure moe zoku
• Ingénue
• Kawaii, cuteness
• Lolicon

Further reading

• Galbraith, Patrick W. (2014). The Moe Manifesto: An Insider's Look at the Worlds of Manga, Anime, and Gaming. North Clarendon, Vermont: Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 9784805312827. OCLC 855905684.
• Katayama, Lisa (21 July 2014). "Love in 2-D [description of moe phenomenon in Japan]". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2019.

External links

• Towards a Cartography of Japanese Anime: Anno Hideaki's >>Evangelion - Through an interview with Hiroki Azuma dealing with Evangelion the article sheds light on the origins of the moe phenomenon
• "Superflat Japanese Postmodernity" – cultural critic Hiroki Azuma on otaku aesthetics, including moe

Feeling Moe

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Feelings of moe vary. For some, it’s a mild sexual arousal and love for a character. For others, it is “the ultimate expression of male platonic love,” and for still others its pure love without sexual components. For many men, moe is an innocent girl that doesn’t “demand masculine excellence” and provides an outlet for nurturing t…
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Moe and The Male Gaze

  • Many people accuse moe as being a part of female objectification: cute girls doing cute things for guys to watch. However, as you can see with the fujoshi, moe extends beyond the sphere of objectification. You could argue fujoshi objectify men through yaoi. But the feelings objectification creates–possession and lust–differ from moe’s feelings. Of course, objectification can overlap …
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Moe’s Contradiction

  • On the surface, moe appears a contradiction. It has an element of innocence to it, but it also has adult desires built into it. In our above fujoshi conversation, the innocence of the road changes to a sex slave. Moe often moves along this spectrum because it is pure fantasy. As fantasy, it allows people to project what they want or explore otherwise taboo subjects. For example, Rei Ayanam…
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Defining Moe

  • So we’ve come down to creating a single definition for a complex, variable set of emotions. First, moe isn’t a type of image or character design. It’s the emotion inspired by those designs. Second, moe provides an indirect way to express your feelings to others by sharing why you like a character or relationship. It’s a taste in characters, setting...
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