More moé!

Moé (pron: mo-eh) is one of the character-classifications in animes. There isn't any specific definition for it. In a literal point of view, in Japanese language the word can be best defined as 'budding' 'sprouting' or 'growing' . However, based on my extensive reading, it is actually derived from a Japanese slang which conveys the 'liking' or 'strong interest' in something. In some cases it can also be equated with the concept of geek or otaku.

Within the realm of anime fandom, moé is actually an archetypal character (by and large, young female character a.k.a bishojou) that triggers the feeling of protectiveness ,more often than not, among the male viewers. Typically, this type of character brings out the sense of purity, innocence as well as extreme cuteness or popularly coined as kawaii. However, in my humble opinion, there are also moé cases where bishie or bishounen is involved, though, I consider this under isolated ones (click HERE and HERE). Furthermore, moé can also be pigeonholed as various types such as nekomimi-moé, megane-moé, meido-moé and the list goes on.

Below are some eminent moé characters. Notice that, all of them are wearing school uniform (read HERE).

Name : Hirasawa Yui

Anime : K-On! and K-On!!

Name : Asahina Mikuru

Anime: Suzumiya Haruhi No Yuutsu 1 & 2 and Suzumiya Haruhi No Shoushitsu

Name : Furukawa Nagisa

Anime : Clannad and Clannad After Story

Name : Sakura Mikan

Anime : Gakuen Alice

Name : Honda Tohru

Anime : Fruits Basket

Name : Mitsukuni Haninozuka a.k.a Honey-senpai
Anime : Ouran High Host Club

Initially, I associated moé with 'fetish'.Nevertheless, after doing some readings I believe the word 'fetish' is to strong. Evidently, it should not be associated with any sexual conduct. In addition, based on what I have read so far, moé should not be confused with ecchi or - even worse - hentai. For the reason that, moé characters usually initiate the sense of protectiveness as well as maternal / paternal love to protect. In actual fact, the characters are normally created to soothe the viewers (mostly male) rather than to incite sexual conduct. And for the same reason also, some critics claim that moé is a type of child-like character with erotic undertone also associated with lolicon. There are also some opinions that explain, moé characters only exist in seinen anime or manga since it targets the demographic - men. Thus, if the supossed moé characters ever exist in other genre, therefore they are not moé in actual fact.

For your information, there are many endless discussions and debates on this issue and it seems that they will not cease in any time sooner. Obviously, since there are many opinions on this matter, there are no exact black and white on how a moé character should be or act.

[Notes]

Bishoujos = beautiful young girls
Bishounens = pretty boys

Nekomimi = cat's ears

Megane = glases / spectacles

Meido = maid

Lolicon a.k.a Lolita Complex = sexual attraction to little girls

A cauldron of emotions

I know this is a late entry. CLANNAD has been around since 2006 and I just finished the whole series last month. Talk about late! This comedy + supernatural + romantic series is adapted from a visual novel. It is then produced by the same good people who produce Suzumiya Haruhi series – Kyoto Animations a.k.a KyoAni.

Anyway, there is something about this anime series that really gets me hooked. Clannad tells the story of Okazaki Tomoya the male protagonists of this series and Furukawa Nagisa, the female protagonist. Other than that, this series also focuses on his high school friends. Apparently, along the way, their roles are highlighted and each of them are give enough airtime to be noted.

After much pondering, I realized the very reason why I love this series. Each character is given her own special ‘arc’ that most of the time leaves me sobbing quietly. The saddest arc would be Ichinose Kotomi’s. It saddens me to the core when she waited for her parents to come home only to know that they had died in a plane crash.

Ichinose Kotomi slaughters violin...

Another arc that touches me is Ibuki Fuuko’s. She was actually an ‘apparition’ of a girl who was in coma who seemed to haunt the school because she had ‘mission’ to complete. At the end of the arc, she finally accomplished the mission and when her apparition disappeared, no one seemed to remember her…

Fuko-chan + hitode = KAWAII!

Besides that, the minor characters are not wasted at all. Another brilliant point of this series! There are quite a few minor characters that gradually leave a lasting impact, such as Sunohara Youhei, and Fujibayashi Ryou, as well as Nagisa's super-doting parents. I can certainly vouch that in the end, it will leave you with such mixed emotions that make you laugh, cry and perhaps allow you to discover emotions you thought you might have never had.

All in all, this anime is clean from any profane language as well as any lewd element and hence I would love to recommend this to all. Download the series HERE, if you are interested, that is.

To love thee, or to hate thee...

What is tsundere? This term is rather prevalent in the anime community but there are still many who are not really familiar with the term. The word tsundere is actually derived from two Japanese words; tsuntsun (aloof, morose) and deredere (lovestruck). Tsundere is actually an archetypical characteristic given mostly to female anime characters that are initially antagonistic, aloof and cold towards the protagonist and sometimes everybody. However, as the plot progresses their personalities shift. They will become emotionally vulnerable and tender towards a certain male character. Basically, this is done because they try to conceal their actual facades.

Below are some of the examples of the prominent tsundere characters.

Suzumiya Haruhi

Anime: Suzumiya Haruhi No Yuutsu

Haruhi is a high school student. She is unconventional, totally impulsive and unbelievable beautiful. Other than that, she is popular because she is smart, talented and athletic. Furthermore, she has a very competitive personality. She never opens her heart to any boys as she equates falling in love as a mental desease hence she rejects all boys who ever asked her out. However, to everyone’s surprise she can get along with Kyon despites her loath for boys. For this reason, she is my favourite tsundere character.


Aisaka Taiga


Anime: Toradora!

Aisaka Taiga is nicknamed as Palmtop Tiger due to her 'diminutive' size. Another reason is due to her violent temperament. She likes to snap at anybody and because of that she is NOT dubbed as Miss Congeniality. Nevertheless, she is very beautiful despites her aggressive facial expression and because of that, she receives many love confessions from boys her age. Other than that, she is also clumsy. Then, one day she met Ryuji and when she realises his domestic ability, she begins to depend on him. She even spends most of her time at Ryuji's home and what's important, when she is with Ryuji, her violent temperament is mellowed and she became more liken by all.


Yamada Ayumi

Anime : Honey And Clover

At the beginning of the series she is 21 years old, Yamada is well known by her peers at the art college. She is active and somewhat aggressive. And because of that she is nicked as The Iron Lady. Moreover, due to her good looks, she also catches the attention of her male friends/coworkers at the shopping district she works with but she simply shoves them off. This is because she has her eyes set on Mayama Takumi. Mayama, however, doesn't return her feelings, asking her why she is in love with him and encouraging her to go find someone else.


Fujibayashi Kyou

Anime : Clannad

Fujibayashi Kyou is a loud and aggressive. Despites her aggressive demeanor, she is well known as a good cook. She is Okazaki Tomoya's classmate in their second year.Throughout the year, Kyou has maintained a steady friendship with Tomoya even though they are put in different classes on their third year. Most of the time both of them bicker like nobody's business. However, secretly she is developing a crush on him. She is one of the classic tsundere characters in an anime series.

Evidently, there are thousands if not hundreds (yes, I am exaggerating!) tsundere characters out there that are worthy of being noticed. These characters are actually the very reasons why I love romantic-comedy animes.