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She has the cuteness of a small animal and although she is small and quiet she is a hard worker.
"Moe" (JP) is a term for a character who is the embodiment of being "cute" and innocent, and gives off feelings of strong affection. They behave in cute ways that make people have irresistibly endearing feelings of adoration and desires of protection toward them.
Etymology
Meaning of the Term
Moe (萌え) is a Japanese word meaning "cute (attractive in a delicate way)".[1]
Origin
Although the exact origin of the word "moe" is unknown, there are several popular theories that the term might have stemmed from the name of anime heroines, such as Hotaru Tomoe from Sailor Moon (Tomoe is written as 土萌, which includes the same kanji meaning cute) or Moe Sagisawa from the 1993 anime Kyouryuu Wakusei. The term first became popular in 1993-94 among users of Japanese bulletin board systems.[citation needed]
History
The character Lum from the 1978 manga Urusei Yatsura is widely regarded as being the first "moe" character.[2] She is also credited with inventing and popularizing the idea of a "waifu", or a fictional female character that the audience has great affection for.[3]
Characteristics
According to manga artist Ken Akamatsu, the feeling of moe is that of a "maternal affection" and is a "pure love which does not include any suggestive action and is an exceedingly peaceful desire."[4]
In his article he defines three conditions for moe:
- The character cannot have suggestive actions or messages.
- The person feeling moe must be stronger.
- The moe feeling must make the current state desirable.
A person's attraction to a moe character is not one of romantic desire, but rather a natural feeling of "protection".
Moe Elements
The term "moe element" (JP) refers to the elements that make up the object of moe. In particular, it often refers to women, children, animals, and other elements of protection and affection that make people feel "protective" and "cute".[5]
Many archetypes are built around the concept of "moe" and these archetypes are referred to as moe elements, including archetypes such as dojikko and kemonomimi,
Gap Moe
There is also a concept in Japan known as "gap moe" (JP) that refers to the idea that moe can come as a result of a gap between two seemingly opposite personalities. If the gap is in a beautiful direction it creates an unexpected surprise of satisfaction which leads to moe. It is also sometimes referred to as "surprise moe" (JP).[6][7]
This concept is the basis for many "dere types" which rely on this gap as the main appeal for these characters. The two most popular examples of having a gap for appeal are tsundere and kuudere. With tsundere the gap moe derives from the idea of a character who comes across normally as quite harsh, strong and confident on the surface, but who is actually very loving, caring and filled with emotional turmoil or insecurities which causes people to want to protect them. With kuudere the gap moe derives from the idea of a character who appears completely emotionless on the surface, but is actually more passionate and loving than most on the inside which causes a very appealing dynamic. Having sides to a person that are different to your first impression, sides that only you know about, also has the effect of making you feel closer to them.[6]
Both of these "dere types" have a large gap between two seemingly opposite personalities that results in a large amount of satisfaction when these characters finally show their deredere side. It can make the audience feel like they watched that character grow as a person and feel large amounts of pride in them for finally making it to that point.
Gap moe can also come as a result from an unexpected twist in what one might expect from initial impressions by looking at someone. For example, a monster musume who looks large and scary at first glance but is actually super cute, adorable and the friendliest person you'll ever meet. This unexpected twist causes people to become very attached to that character, especially if their appearance on the surface causes them turmoil, such as being unfairly judged for looking a certain way.
For example, if we take a look at Ameri Azazel from Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun she normally has this very stern, serious look on her face and this is how the vast majority of people view her, as someone who would never act cute or have any fun. So when she changes her attitude and starts acting extremely cute around Iruma to the point that she stutters over her words and starts acting clumsy and unable to bake cookies it creates an intense feeling that leads to moe.
| Normally | → | Actually |
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Personality
Moe characters are very innocent and kind. They give off feelings of strong affection and behave in cute ways that make people want to protect them. Moe characters are usually portrayed as being sweet and affectionate the majority of the time and making those around them happy. They may also be shy like a hajidere and hide behind those they trust when they get scared. A lot of bakadere characters also fall under this due to their childlike sense of wonder and innocence.
Similar Japanese Archetypes
- Deredere: A term for a character who does not hide their feelings towards their love interest from beginning to end and are sweet and loving towards them the entire time.
- Hajidere: A term for a character who is normally very shy and timid and blushes from embarrassement whenever they are near their love interest, but eventually overcomes their shyness and becomes deredere for them.
- Idol: A term for a character that is a popular singer or performer that many people look up to and idolize.
- Mahou Shoujo: A term for characters that are magical girls.
- Meganekko: A term for a cute and sweet female character who wears glasses.
List of Characters
Gallery
 Hotaru Tomoe from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon  Mirajane Strauss from FAIRY TAIL  Kobato Hasegawa from Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai  Maria Takayama from Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai  Senko from Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san  Kanon from PriPara |
References
- ↑ What is Moe. Pixiv Encyclopedia.
- ↑ Love in the Moe Realms – A Concise 'Dere' Guide. Otaku Lounge (2014/04/08).
- ↑ Exploring the ‘Lum Effect': Urusei Yatsura's Impact on Modern Anime. ZenPlus (2023/07/06).
- ↑ The World and Mind of the Tsundere: Moe and the Gain-loss Effect. Animents (2014/09/21).
- ↑ What is Moe Element. Pixiv Encyclopedia (2010/08/31). “Moe elements are the elements that make up the object of moe. In particular, it often refers to women and children, animals and plants, and other elements of protection and affection that make people feel "protective" and "cute".”
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 What is Gap Moe. Nico Nico Pedia (2010/05/14). “"Gap moe" is moe that is created by the gap between one element and another element inherent in a person, a situation that would not normally occur. Also called "surprise moe". A gap is created between elements that are generally thought to be contradictory, such as "a delinquent (roughly speaking, a "bad" person) picking up a stray cat in the rain (roughly speaking, a "good" act)". When that gap is in a beautiful direction, it creates surprise and multifacetedness, which leads to moe. It is difficult to remember that a person is naturally the way they are, but an unexpected side to them leaves a strong impression. In other words, one good point is emphasized, making them appear attractive. Furthermore, the fact that someone is unexpected and multifaceted makes them seem like a deep person. Having sides to a person that are different to your first impression, sides that only you know about, also has the effect of making you feel closer to them. The greater the distance (range) between elements, the greater the gap moe. On the other hand, if the gap is too big, it becomes difficult to grasp what kind of character they are, and there is a risk that it will fall apart. Gap moe can only be achieved with a solid core or axis. Many combinations of gap elements have been used repeatedly, resulting in new types. Gap between appearance and inside, impression and reality The gap between the inner or stereotypical image of a person imagined from their outward appearance and their actual character or nature. For example, "looks boyish but actually has girlish interests," or "looks blunt but is actually kind. A change in conditions, such as "usually ___ but sometimes ___." It includes long-term and irreversible changes. The destructive power of tsundere (tsuntsun → deredere) is well known.”
- ↑ What is Gap Moe. Pixiv Encyclopedia (2010/07/10). “Gap moe is a moe element created by a gap. Gap moe occurs when a gap is created between one element of a character and another. It is a kind of "surprise moe". Roughly classified: "The gap between appearance and inner self, between impression and reality", "Changes due to time, place, and situation", and "Deviation from the typical pattern". The gap between what at first glance appears to be impossible or unlikely causes moe in people's minds. The wider the range of the gap, the stronger the gap moe tends to be.”