Anime Vice News

RSS

Vice In Paradise: Moe Edition

A tedious brief explanation of Moe.

By gia manry  |  Feb. 19, 2009

  


So what is Moe for you?

Filed under: Moe
24 Comments
Black_Rose moderator on Feb. 19, 2009 at 11:01 p.m.
To be honest, I had no idea of what moe was before checking out the page on this site.

As for my taste in characters, I have a "fetish" if you might call it that towards quiet, socially-inept girls. Rei Ayanami and Yuki Nagato being my two favorites, maybe it's because i'm a quiet guy myself, I don't know. This also translates to my real life, as pretty much every girl I've been with have similar personality.
RedRoseson Feb. 19, 2009 at 11:36 p.m.
@BR: wow really? Most guys who are into anime (well at least the ones I know IRL) know what moe is.

The first time I ever saw the word "moe," my first instinct was why are they talking about a guy named Moe. Then I get the image of that Simpsons bartender... that's definitely not moe.

As for myself, I definitely know I have a megane moe. <3 Glasses are quite awesome *coughs especially on cute guys who are intelligent coughs* This can be reflected both in anime and real life.
giaon Feb. 19, 2009 at 11:57 p.m.
"Moe" is a relatively young concept in the anime world-- I think it's really mostly been predominant for the last ~3-5 years. Which, when you consider anime was made for most of the 20th century, is pretty young.

That said, even if the "moe" concept wasn't especially solidified, characters that we would now call "moe" were still created.

Another thing I didn't go into was some of the moe subsets. The most common is "tsundere," and if you don't know what it is, I bet you've seen it-- Evangelion's Asuka is, Ranma 1/2's Akane is, and Love Hina's Naru is..."tsundere" is the word they use for the girl who is outwardly hostile to the object of her affections (but inwardly-- and usually not very subtlely --in love with him).

My theory on that, of course, is that otaku like to think that the girls who don't like them are, in fact, secretly in love with 'em. ;)

RedRoses: If you'd like a special word for it, guys with glasses are sometimes referred to as "megane-kun" (as opposed to girls with glasses, meganekko). :)
Black_Rose moderator on Feb. 20, 2009 at 12:03 a.m.
I've known what tsundere was for quite a while now but never in my life heard the word Moe as anything but a person's name. As for this:

gia said:
""My theory on that, of course, is that otaku like to think that the girls who don't like them are, in fact, secretly in love with 'em. ;)"
One can only hope :P

Agent_Loston Feb. 20, 2009 at 4:59 a.m.
Long hair and glasses, no wait that more of a fetish. Yea, went I see a Moe girl I go ,what wrong with that girl and get your act together. For me, it still Anime and i enjoy it for what it is.
Devillyon Feb. 20, 2009 at 7:05 a.m.
Well yeah what rose said that`s the first time i heard about moe ^^
LoL interesting question for laziness i`ll just quote this from the ''Who is the Hottest Video Chick?'' thread :)

Devilly said:
"i go for so many types of girls that i cant keep up XD

1 The food freak who stays thin
2 The cutie
3 The warrior
4 The beauty queen

but my girls are mostly a combo of those^^"
Yep that`s it, actually Dev is my moe since she Qualifies for the first 3 XD
bakatanukion Feb. 20, 2009 at 7:10 a.m.
I am a huge, huge, huge fan of moe in various forms. While I have preferences that I gravitate toward, I can like a girl who is moe in completely different ways just as much. In general though, I just like girls with a very sweet personality. Tsundere I find to be usually just obnoxious, but there are still tsunderes I really like. I am big into kemonomimi, ultra-cutesy or frilly clothing, and in general tsurrupettan.

Actually though, completely helpless girls can get on my nerves sometimes. Ideally the girl would be extremely sweet and cutesy, but not a wimp either. I like magical girl shows because they are awesome and fight evil, while being super cute. I enjoy just about any form of moe though.
Kawanoka_Kyrogion Feb. 20, 2009 at 7:14 a.m.
@Gia: lol at girl with sniper :D
Void_Wizardon Feb. 20, 2009 at 7:58 a.m.
Moe for me is tsundere girls, frilly outfits, and shy girls. Many things add a moe bonus like cat ears, pigtails, bows, school uniforms, stockings, socks, bells, and plenty of other things.
Nikoon Feb. 20, 2009 at 8:44 a.m.
Actually, despite being in this fandom for over a decade (wow), I don't think I've quite nailed down what characteristics I find to be moe. I guess I go by a character-by-character basis. I don't mind a little tsundere, but not full-on tsundere. I think moe for me is female characters who are usually capable but have their vunurable points. Some shy girls are also moe too.
Ruby_Alexandrineon Feb. 20, 2009 at 10:56 a.m.
Is it safe to say that the Moe concept is not my thing.  Its not because the majority of Moe characters are female and I'm a female, its just that many Moe characters are annoying.
Sillyfaerieon Feb. 20, 2009 at 12:07 p.m.
Well, I'm still not sure that I get the concept but nevertheless I'd have to say, Shinku. Not just the GL (though I certainly like that), but what attracts me in a girl is definitely *not* helplessness (on her part at least and we'll just leave it at that. . .)

?'s re: tsundere - just girls? just love - not "friendship": so long as they Ernie and Bert* Watanuki and Domeiki what do you call it???

*Yes it's a verb; file under NOG = Not Officially Gay
Bertmastaon Feb. 20, 2009 at 12:18 p.m.
Personally i do like the tsundere's, its such a cute quality :D
Sonata moderator on Feb. 20, 2009 at 12:22 p.m.
Women with swords, or girls that can pretty much kick my butt, yeah that pretty much sums it up for meXD
OkazukiIchigoon Feb. 20, 2009 at 1:09 p.m.
Anything stereotypical of moe, I like.
HeeroYuyon Feb. 20, 2009 at 3:42 p.m.
Definitely Tsundere, but it has to be of the right balance. Too much tsuntsun and you get annoying Louise (saddistic little...), too much deredere you get boring Nogizaka (not even a real tsundere anymore at this point).

That, and the ever important zettai ryouiki which I even went out of my way to make an article for for this comment.
giaon Feb. 20, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.
Heero: see, I'm very weird with tsundere. Mostly I don't like them at all...but I LOVE Louise. I think it's the fact that she's a just-barely-closeted BDSM queen =P
Bertmastaon Feb. 20, 2009 at 4:05 p.m.
Tsundere is so cure, come on Gia, you know its great, its the way they act all tough but you know they are all soft and cuddly inside :D
Papasanon Feb. 20, 2009 at 4:19 p.m.

 My Moe is personified in two words: Samejima Mamimi. I am a sucker for the girl who isn't necessarily helpless herself, but has the whole world against her, beating her down. I want to save her, and save her, and save her again. Every time I watch FLCL I want to jump into the TV and pull her out where no one can get her anymore, and when she Effs off in the end to pursue her photography dreams, I cry huge tears of joy for her escape.

RedRoseson Feb. 20, 2009 at 4:23 p.m.
gia said:
RedRoses: If you'd like a special word for it, guys with glasses are sometimes referred to as "megane-kun" (as opposed to girls with glasses, meganekko). :)
Wait a momento. So what's meganedanshi then? I've heard that meant boy glasses fetish but what can I trust on the internet. >_> I've definitely heard meganekko before.

Dig Deeper into Moe

Moe (pronounce moh-eh) is a Japanese slang term for something one likes, and within the anime realm is used to refer to characters who inspire a protective sort of love-- usually because the characters seem to need someone to take care of them.

Edit/View the Wiki
Hit the Forums (64 Posts)
Add/View Images (33 Images)
Watch Some Videos (1 Video)
Popular News
Pokemon Black and White Looks Delicious in Motion

First video of a Pokemon battle in Black and White.
Comment & Win: One Piece Vol. 52, 53

Time for a giveaway folks! Now, act civil, we don't want anyone to get hurt in the mad rush to win.
Beginner's Guide to FLCL

Gainax's madcap, surrealist anime, broken down for new viewers.
Ballz Deep

Steve gets intimately close to Dragon Ball Z, for science!

Weekly Naruto: Chapter 572

Join us for a discussion about this week’s newest Naruto chapter.

YU YU HAKUSHO #29 -- Watch & Learn

Which one's the lover? Which is the fighter?
YU YU HAKUSHO #28 -- Watch & Learn

A show for everybody who likes to beat up smartass kids.
CASTLE IN THE SKY -- Retro Review

A mild misfire kept up by charming humor and music.
EUREKA SEVEN #28 -- Watch & Learn

Prepare to feel all sorts of contradicting feelings.
Weekly One Piece: Chapter 656

Join us for a discussion about this week’s newest One Piece chapter.

EUREKA SEVEN #30 -- Watch & Learn

Heh heh... they dig on engineers in this one.
YU YU HAKUSHO #30 -- Watch & Learn

He's, uh, actually more dangerous than he looks.

BLEACH to Enter the Final Arc

After over ten years, Tite Kubo announces that BLEACH is entering it's final arc.
Weekly Naruto: Chapter 572

Join us for a discussion about this week’s newest Naruto chapter.

Why Do Guys Like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic?

Lets take a look at the show itself and find out why teen and adult men watch it. There has to be something to it, right?
YU YU HAKUSHO #29 -- Watch & Learn

Which one's the lover? Which is the fighter?
Amateur vs. Expert: PERSONA 4 #16

I don't want to blow anyone's minds here, but I'm beginning to suspect Naoto might not be a dude.
Winter Watch: Nisemonogatari #4

Hide your kids and hide your wife. Nisemono is about launch a shock and awe campaign of fanservice against your senses.
EUREKA SEVEN #28 -- Watch & Learn

Prepare to feel all sorts of contradicting feelings.
EUREKA SEVEN #30 -- Watch & Learn

Heh heh... they dig on engineers in this one.
help  |  terms and conditions  |  privacy  |  advertise  |  rss

Submissions can take several hours to be approved.

Save ChangesCancel