Moe
Added 14 years ago by Brad • Updated 9 months ago by Autumn Able
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Tags: anime otaku character relationship fetish anthropomorphism
Additional References: Urban Dictionary Wikipedia
About
Moe is a Japanese slang term used to describe one's feeling of attraction towards a specific type of anime, manga or videogame character. It also refers to the subculture within anime fandom that deals with moekko, which means "adorable" or "cute" characters.
Origin
The etymology of the term "moe" remains unknown and disputed. One of the more prominent theories behind the term's origin points to the Japanese word for "budding," as with a plant that is about to flower. According to Nomura Research Institute's Ken Kitabayashi, the slang term is a pun with the Japanese verb for "to sprout" ( (萌える, moeru) and its homonym "to burn" (燃える, moyasu), in the sense of one's heart burning with passion.
Another theory asserts that its usage stems from 2channel in the 1990s when the word was used to refer to female characters who were "hybrids of the Lolicon (lolita complex) and bishoujo (beautiful girls) genres," Hotaru Tomoe from Sailor Moon being an early example of a moekko character.
In an article written by Patrick W. Galbraith of Tokyo University [1], Galibraith explores the origins and meanings behind the term "moe". He states that the term originated from 2channel in the 1990s in the discussion of young, cute, and innocent girls and their burning passion for them. This term likely picked up because moeru (nominalized as moe) while meaning 'to bud or sprout,', is homophonous with the verb 'to burn.'
The sexualization of underage (or underage-looking) characters in manga goes back to the late '70s, when underground and adult manga artists such as Disappearance Diary creator Hideo Azuma began to work around censorship laws by drawing characters without pubic hair. This was the beginning of the lolicon (Lolita Complex) trend;
Spread
However, typically in use "moe" generally means what an individual finds to be appealing or cute. It is not limited by gender or even necessary limited to living things, though a degree of personification is typically necessary for something to be considered moe and it is not uncommon for people to put human traits on non-human subjects to achieve a "moe" effect. (see Gijinka)
While the term can be associated with romantic love for the character, it can also refer to having pure and platonic love for a character.
Most often though, moe characters are young female characters. However, even characters like Kaiji Itou have been considered "moe" at one point.
Common Moe Archetypes
While many of these are associated with personality, there are also many physical characteristics typically owned by characters designed to be "moe". Moetron and other fan-made chimera characters are meant to make fun of how common these characteristics are.
- Megane (glasses wearing characters)
- Twin tails (see Hatsune Miku), and drill hair
- Loli (young or youthful looking girls)
- Tsundere
- Kuudere (cool and apathetic type, often portrayed as robotic)
- Maid
- Cat girls, girls with fangs
- Plain girl
- Imouto (little sister)
- Energetic girl
- Clumsy girl
- Ahoge (アホ毛, antenna-like hair that sticks up)
Moe Sangyo
In particular, a lot of attention has been brought to anime series using "moe" characters to ensure that a series sells. It is very similar to the concept of western media using sex appeal to promote franchises. Some fans are all right and actually prefer shows of this type, while others automatically dismiss a show if it is using "moe" to draw in appeal. This particular topic of "moe is the cancer killing anime" is something that's even discussed among Japanese fans. (See GAR)
Moe sangyo (萌え産業?) literally means "budding business," and refers to the current[citation needed] boom in entertainment industries relating to otaku-primarily anime, manga, and video games. The word "moe" literally means "budding" or "sprouting," but has come in otaku culture to refer to a crush, fetish, or infatuation with a specific character or subject, usually involving cute young girls or young boys. Moe can be used as an adjective, noun, or an exclamation, similar to "kawaii."
Moe Anthropomorphism
One other phenomena is the personification of non-human objects. A popular fad among corporations lately has been to create selling points for products by using anime characters or even creating moe mascot characters based off of different products. Most of it starts out as fan art, but some of these things are adopted or created by corporations.
These kinds of mascots are popular in otaku culture and they are frequently seen on many websites including, but not limited to 2channel, Futaba Channel (2chan), 4chan, pixiv, deviantART and Nico Nico Douga.
External References
[1] Japanese Studies – Moe, Exploring Virtual Potential in Post-Millennial Japan
Entry Editors ( 12 )
Sub-entries ( 7 )
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Ellen Baker (New Horizon)
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Gijinka / Moe Anthropomorphism
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Moetron
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-Dere
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Cute Little Fang
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Imaichi-tan
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Chibi
Recent Images ( 25 )
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Moe anthropomorphism used by cellphone companies
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It's too moe... I can't breathe!
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An essay on moe
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can someone draw moe from the simpsons like being moe in an anime context
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God I love this show
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Moe
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Moe Lisa
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Amoerica
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Ain't no moe
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Moe
Comments ( 51 )
and so begins our group collaboration! lots of work to be done here…
now accepting researchers for this entry^^
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MoeAnthropomorphism
TVTropes on Moe.
I suggest you add the different types if Moé, such as 'tsundere', 'yandere', 'meganekko', etc…
^Those are different; tsundere, yandere are personalities, while moe is anything cute.
Yeah, either way they are part of moe culture, am I right?
Yeah… and meganekko is awesome.
Should we make an entry of Moe Anthropomorphic?
I asked Brad Kim in the IRC and he said no.
I'm only suggesting so as a parent entry…
There are many Moe Anthropomorph that's been a meme already including: GDG, Hatsune Miku, and OS-tan
think we can use this as parent entry for moe anthropomorph memes-
What about anthromorphism in general?
Anthropomorphism began long before the internets ever appeared, so I don't really think it's an internet meme.
MOE Anthropomorphism on the other hand wasn't a very popular thing (especially in the Western hemisphere) until internet came around, so, IMO, that makes it liable for an article.
I say go for it, Ice Cream Lover!
I dunno if Moe can really be considered a meme. I mean sure, it tangles a lot with internet culture and such, but… Moe itself is merely a term used in anime circles, Moe is not a product of the internet.
Since Brad Kim is already suggesting, I would like to be an editor of this entry too :3
I'll just put in the entry for Moe Anthropomorph rather than going for the effort and making another one; after all, I might be using the same picture of animecello…
@The Ghost
Let's just say this is an important part of understanding different memes. I mean, Otaku and Furry are not memes, but they're important to note if you want to understand other memes…
@PneumonouaglagkdjfWHATEVERTHEHELLELSE
Okay, that's true. You have a fair point. In that case I would also suggest adding in sections about tsundere and such here, for the same reason.
@Ice Cream
Really?
thanks real genius, you should be able to edit now.
I was actually planning to put in a Moe Anthropomorph but either I'm a bit scared it'll be deadpooled or else I just don't have to look for all of the Moe Anthropomorph…
+1 dead pool
This would work better as an addition to an otaku page. This page will probably also just turn into a page for some SFW Hentai.
+1 the above troll needs to learn how KYM works before he complains.
According to Urban Dictionary, ( http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=moe )the top definition of "Moe" is:
The fetish or sexual attraction idealized people, usually a perfect young girl
However, on a forum I frequent where A LOT, of the members are asian/otakus, "Moe" seems to refer to anything in anime, and some times video games, that is extraordinarily adorable/cute/innocent and at the same time hot, etc.
Urban dictionary is very unreliable.
Japan: It has great toilets
^lawl
But then, that's why I put in the 2nd bit of my comment
Alright, I did my part in the Moe Anthropomorphism. Feel free to edit, guise :3
Ok, i would like to edit, too.
Should we also put in "Gar"?
They've practically the same meaning… except it's used for male…
I'll make my edits when I'm actually able to.
Back to images, Imma upload everything including the bathroom tub.
temporarily disabling photo uploads. editors, think we can start IDing some of the more notable examples.
please add one liner (identity / kym img link ) under "example section." i'll start
can there be ice cream moe?
Hmmm I'm not sure… but there can be "Dairy Queen" Moe…
Yes there can be ___ moe!
Why this is not considered a meme on this site already is beyond me. +1
im feeling like im in /c/…
Hmm…
There's a double image post of Furude Rika.
A short list of common types of moe:
Meganekko – glasses girl
Dojikko – clumsy girl
Kemonomimi – animal ears
The -deres: Tsundere, yandere, kuudere
Maid
Zettai Ryouiki (Absolute Territory)
Sailor suit
Twintails
Ponytails
Catchphrases and speech patterns e.g. desu
Eye/hair colour: unnatural, heterochromatic eyes, matching colours
Bokukko – girl who refers to herself with a masculine pronoun, usually "boku".
Tomboys, and by extension crossdressers
Miko – shrine maiden
That is by no means a complete list.
"Moe!"
-Travis Touchdown, No More Heroes
deadpool? really?
dudes, 'moe' is like everywhere…
memetic it may not be, but still popular.
Awwwwwww, Why we can't add Videos? :<
Question. Does Moetron aply for this meme or can it be one on it's own?
I was under the impression that "moe" could also refer to something more a long the lines of "cute", in the more innocent, endearing sense. It seems to be one of those wierd little concepts that is a lot of different things to a lot of different people.
DISABLE!?!nnnnnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooolewklb,l , e , kgg]k]t[
;v jxfhgbvg bnnmh
http://poots.com/card/images/img_1134.jpg
I don't even know.
@Pinkie Pie
"You have no moe!"
"What does 'moe' mean?"
-Shinobu, No More Heroes 2
YOU FORGOT YANDERE!
Cuteness overload!
We're talking about this Moe, right?
How to end a moe situation
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