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[[File:moecamera 7147.jpg|link=Haruhi Suzumiya|frame|"Our documentary now focuses on the Moeblob... treat with care, they cry easily."<ref>That face... so cute... [[Cuteness Proximity|*Thought processes shut down*]]</ref>]]
{{quote|''"Somehow, when I look at her, I feel like I can't leave her alone. I feel like I have to protect her!"''|'''Chiri Kitsu'''
Coined in Japan in the late 90s, "Moe" (萌え, pronounced as "Moh-Eh", derived from a Japanese word that means "[[Cuteness Proximity|budding]]" or sometimes "[[Tastes Like Diabetes|to burn]]") is an ill-defined otaku term that means, amongst other things, "cute", "huggable", or "endearing". While it's sometimes used to describe a series, it's more about a specific ideal or kind of character.
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A common definition is that Moe is the ability of a character to instill in the audience an irrational desire to adore them, [[The Woobie|hug them]], protect them, comfort them, etc. To some, it can evoke a [[Big Brother Instinct]]. Don't be misled, however—Moe can evoke such feelings in women as well as men.
What is "Moe"? Moe characters are [[
Their personality will reflect an 'innocent' outlook on something vital, such as about romance. While the Moe character does bring up associations with submissive personalities in general, expect also attitudes that resemble that of a [[Cloudcuckoolander]] or a [[Manic Pixie Dream Girl]]: Moe characters usually are quirky, and rely on [[Costume Inertia]], [[Verbal Tic|odd language]], strange hobbies and the like to make them seem unique and noticeable. Occasionally, these quirks are completely unrelated and seem a bit disjointed. If a character is ''plain'', they are 'loudly plain' in the way [[Hollywood Homely]] characters are 'ugly'; sometimes they're just more moderate than the rest of the cast, and the writers implicitly suggest the audience is kind for liking the character for being plain.
More on these traits can be found [https://web.archive.org/web/20130815113944/http://www.japanator.com/the-four-laws-of-moe-14072.phtml here].
Such characters are also prone to being used as mere [[Ms. Fanservice|Fanservice]]. When a character has no visible personality traits aside from vaguely cute uselessness, he/she is termed the dreaded [[Moe Blob]]. An interesting result of this is some moe characters are quasi-[[Animated Actors]]; the series they star in need not be related at all, being only devices to enable the viewer to enjoy the character. Many of them feature in [[Gag Series]], and only the [[Covers Always Lie|merchandise for the series shows off]] its intended and occasionally creepy roots.
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See also [[Moe Anthropomorphism]], [[Moe Couplet]], [[Moe Stare]]; compare [[The Woobie]] where the focus is about sympathy. [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] has a similar appeal but for older characters. Also see [[When She Smiles]] for situations where applicable characters get massive Moe points for finally breaking out a smile. In darker series, very likely to suffer [[Break the Cutie]]. [[Weakness Turns Her On]] is a sort of [[Distaff Counterpart]] that concerns women's attraction to ''moe'' males. Contrast [[Rated "M" for Manly]]. [[What Do You Mean It's Not for Little Girls?]] when someone mistakes a moe show that's meant for [[Seinen|older males]] for a show that's meant for [[Shoujo|little girls]].
[[I Thought It Meant|No connection to]] a certain [[Three Stooges|bowlcut-wearing would-be leader
{{examples}}
== ''Moe'' characters ==
=== Advertising ===▼
▲== Advertising ==
* The Japanese ''Windows 7'' mascot [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nngGGBkjMpU Nanami Madobe] who's a bit ditzy and suffers from [[Cuteness Proximity]].
==== [[Ur Example]] and [[Unbuilt Trope]]s ====
▲== Anime & Manga ==
* Sailors [[Ill Girl|Saturn]] and [[Shy Blue-Haired Girl|Mercury]] in ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' are prototype cases - in fact, there's a [[Epileptic Trees|theory]] that the term Moe was originally derived from Saturn's civilian name, To'''moe''' Hotaru (written as 土萌; even the relevant kanji is the same.) Researchers such as Patrick W. Galbraith and Tamaki Saitō have found that "moe" was first used in 2channel in the 1990s, discussing female characters who were "hybrids of the Lolicon (Lolita Complex) and bishoujo (beautiful girl) genres". As this describes exactly Hotaru Tomoe, and coincides with Hotaru Tomoe's height of popularity in 2channel, there is likeliness in the theory that ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' is the [[Trope
* Moe Sagisawa of the little known (to westerners) anime [http://www.animenewsnetwork.
* One of the
** Shinji Ikari to a lesser degree and divided opinion.
** Maya. The way she cringes at even the slightest bit of violence (though technically more of a [[Woobie]] trait...) makes her quite Moe.
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* Milfeulle, Mint, and Vanilla from ''[[Galaxy Angel (anime)|Galaxy Angel]]''.
* Marian, from ''[[Sei Juushi Bismarck]]''...until it was [[Macekre]]d into ''[[Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs]]''.
* Nene Romanova from the original version of ''[[Bubblegum Crisis]]'', with her cuteness (as opposed to her teammates' beauty), her relative lack of combat competence leading to her needing to be protected, and her fretting about her waistline.
==== Modern Examples ====
* Hinata from ''[[Naruto]]''.
** Naruto and Sasuke when they were kids.
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** In ''[[Dragon Ball GT]]'', he becomes a playboy who is nevertheless still chaste and warm hearted.
* One of the major themes parodied in ''[[Ouran High School Host Club]]'', where the Host Club members each cultivate an exaggerated trait/fetish for their female guests, and their [[Drop-In Character|self-elected consultant]] Renge frequently [[Meta Guy|monologues]] her opinion of what is ''moe'' to girls. More satirically, Club President Tamaki views his feelings towards Haruhi as ''moe'' (protective and fatherly) even though his classmates realize it's unusually thick-headed way of dealing with actually being attracted to her despite her not really being impressed by him.
** Haruhi as a whole could be seen as Moe. Despite her general [[Deadpan Snarker|snarky]], and [[Snark Knight|apathetic]] nature she does still have some moe traits ([[Your Mileage May Vary|the former two traits could possibly be moe, too]]). Tamaki, Hikaru, and Kaoru often never fail to point out how [[Hollywood Homely|'plain' and 'dull']] she is treating it as more of an endearing quality, rather than an insult. The boys also love to dress her up in all sorts of outfits (granted, most are unisex or male—and Haruhi's not enthusiastic about it). She has few weaknesses with the exception of a [[Fear of Thunder]]. Haruhi is also painfully [[Oblivious to Love]]. Read chapters [https://web.archive.org/web/20100401180248/http://www.onemanga.com/Ouran_High_School_Host_Club/57/01/ 57] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20100403012650/http://www.onemanga.com/Ouran_High_School_Host_Club/58/01/ 58] for an unusually Moe Haruhi (she goes back to her [[Unexplained Recovery|normal]] self a chapter or so later).
** [[Token
*** Also Kirimi NEKOZAWA is very moe.
* Mikuru Asahina from ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'' is recruited for the S.O.S. Brigade specifically because Haruhi decides that there needs to be a moe mascot character (specifically a short, babyfaced girl with huge boobs). She then tries to make Mikuru even ''more'' moe by forcing her into a [[Meido|maid outfit]] and [[Meganekko|glasses]], and [[Black Comedy Rape|constantly molests her]] to get [[The Woobie|sympathy points]]. Some fans have coined the [[Fan Nickname|term]] "Moe-blob" for her (and characters like her), because to a casual watcher, [[Neutral Female|all she actually does]] in the series is stand around and be moe, and oh yeah, ''serve tea''. {{spoiler|Of course, she's actually driving the entire plot via [[Time Travel]]. [[All There in the Manual|It's in the books]].}}
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** Haruhi herself is also generally considered moe [[Misaimed Fandom|for analogous reasons that Rei Ayanami was]]. Many fans find her quirky personality, her appearance and antics both cute and endearing in it's execution [[Fridge Logic|even though when one thinks of them]] [[Comedic Sociopathy|much of what she does is quite disturbing]].
** Also Kyon's sister and Tsuruya. Nyoron?
* ''[[
* Can a [[Humongous Mecha]] be Moe? Well, if the mecha in question is Dolores from ''[[Zone of the Enders]]'', then yes.
* One episode of ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'' features a one-shot character rife with disjointed moe characteristics: a cute, pale, spacey, soft-spoken, transfer student prone to bad luck who's interested in the occult. When Fuyuki takes a shine to her, his [[Clingy Jealous Girl|secret admirer]] [[
* In ''[[Lucky Star]]'', when Miyuki talks about how absentminded and how [[Dojikko|clumsy]] she is, Konata tells her that "these are not faults, but elements of ''moe''". And then deconstructs the [[Dojikko]] elements by dismissing them as something cute in anime
** Also, [[Cloudcuckoolander|Tsukasa]].
** And Yutaka. Especially in the
** Let's set the record straight here. Miyuki and Yutaka were outright called "walking Moe points" by Konata. And, what's more, the manga called themselves Moe-[[Yonkoma]]—the genre of yonkoma that started with ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', and hence maybe should be listed below with [[Hidamari Sketch]] etc...
** The entire cast, really. It's arguably what the series is best known for.
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** You can't have a page on Moe without mentioning [[Adorably Precocious Child|Negi]].
** Hell, even the current [[Big Bad]] and his minions have Moe elements. {{spoiler|''especially'' [[The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body|Shiori]], whose [[Luminescent Blush|fa]][[Cry Cute|ce]] on the last page of chapter 283 is perhaps one of the most Moe things yet seen in the manga.}}
* Subverted in ''[[Welcome to
** The novel version is WORSE. Visualizing it is impossible, however, as the traits contradict!
** Specifically, she is a childhood friend who is a [[Meido]] robot, [[Ill Girl]], an apparition, alien, and a [[Youkai|Kitsune]].
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** Yukinari counts, especially in the episode where he dressed as a girl.
* Going by the [[Year Zero|series timeline]], [[Nerds Are Sexy|glasses-wearing nerd Yomiko Readman]] should be about thirty years old during ''[[Read or Die|R.O.D. the TV]]''. But unlike Nenene, Yomiko looks exactly the same as she did in early stories.
** ''[[
* [[Magical Girl Warrior]] shows aimed at an older male audience, such as ''[[Lyrical Nanoha]]''.
** Nanoha herself became even cuter by having a cute partner, one major reason for the strong Nano/Fate fandom despite its [[Ship Tease|occasional vagueness]]. When Nanoha is older, the addition of Vivio lets her show off her big sister''/''[[Action Mom|motherly]] traits.
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** Lindy Harlaown from ''[[Lyrical Nanoha|Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]''
** Signum (yes, ''[[Badass|that]] [[Lady of War|Signum]]'') shows her fair share of moeness in the ''[[Magical Record Lyrical Nanoha Force|Force]]'' manga after {{spoiler|recovering from the [[Curb Stomp Battle|brutal slaughtering]] [[Near-Death Experience|that almost killed her]] [[So Last Season|at the beginning of the season]]}}. Her first reaction {{spoiler|upon recovering counsciousness}} is to give a broad smille with big, bright eyes(complete with blushing cheeks) and say some cute lines to the ones around her.
* Despite anyone watching the show probably [[Fetish Fuel|not having a problem with an older lead female]], Mizuho's age in ''[[Please Teacher!]]'' is discretely never mentioned. Adding to the problem is that the plot treats her position as Kei's teacher as being the illicit detail, and not apparently an age gap. She seems to inhabit a magical twenties-something spot that is also somehow young enough to give her a little sister and a first kiss during the show's run. Mizuho's mother is no help, as she [[Shotacon|REALLY has no problem]] with Kei being younger...
** Mizuho is listed as 23 years old on several sites, making her five or eight years older than Kei, depending on whether you use Kei's mental or physical age.
* Nyu, the innocent split personality of [[Ax Crazy]] Lucy from ''[[Elfen Lied]]''. Also, Kisaragi with the bonus of being a [[dojikko]], {{spoiler|despite which she doesn't last very long.}}
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** Actually Nami was this during the Arlong arc which served as an important part of her [[Character Development]] same with Robin during the Water 7 arc and this is both as adults in the present and children in the flashbacks. Obviously afterwards this takes a backseat to [[Action Girl|the action]].
* The first two seasons of ''[[Da Capo]]'' feature a character actually [[Meaningful Name|named]] Moe. Given her large breasts, [[Cloudcuckoolander|easygoing personality]] and way of speaking, she is indeed what many would consider ''moe''.
* The [[Meaningful Name|appropriately named]] Moe Katsuragi in ''[[
* Every teenaged female character from ''[[Hayate the Combat Butler]]''. Hell, Hayate himself falls into this during his crossdressing moment(s); so much so that Maria and Nagi feel uncomfortable, and Klaus, unaware it is Hayate, is instantly smitten.
** As is Tama the pet tiger.
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** Not just those two. Pretty much every single girl in the series has a Moe moment at some point. Even [[Attractive Bent Gender|girl Keima]] pulls it off.
*** Especially Shiori, the shrinking violet librarian.
* Yuko, from ''[[
{{quote|"If someone has flaws or defects, but that is exactly what draws you to them, people call it moe. It's different from 'like,' where you're drawn to their good points, their strengths. 'Like' doesn't care for defects or flaws. Moe is the opposite of 'like' or 'dislike'....."}}
* Suzuhara Misaki from the manga version of ''[[
* Suzie Wong, from ''[[Digimon Tamers]]'', manages to {{spoiler|1=[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJtOmz_qcgg overcome the semi-religious programming of one of the Devas and turn her against her own faction]}} with the power of sheer concentrated moe.
* Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga from ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'' is incredibly moe and cute.
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** Arguably Sakaki. While her appearance lends itself more to the [[Huge Schoolgirl]] look, her attitude is pure Moe, especially in the way that her love for cute things being dashed constantly results in people feeling sorry for her.
** Chiyo-chan is very moe too.
* Hazumu of ''[[Kashimashi:
* ''[[Kaiji]]'' often gets called moe or even a moeblob, as part of [[Memetic Mutation]]. Of course, he is both male and not ''really'' moe, but the sheer amount of [[The Woobie|woobieness]] makes him look moe in the eyes of fans.
** In fact due to the complete lack of female characters and most of the male characters are more on the manly side. The show is about as un-moe as you can get.
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*** Or Kaguya. Most adorable [[The Chessmaster|international political figurehead]] ever. And she's [[Wise Beyond Their Years|got the brains to match]].
** If you say Lelouch didn't look adorable when the rest of the student council forced him to wear cat ears, ''you are lying''. On the other hand, he's [[Magnificent Bastard|a complete bastard]], so it balances out.
*** Episode 12, R2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20191016124745/http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/photoperson17/GC/1290-1.jpg The] [http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/photoperson17/GC/1291-1.jpg scene] with Shirley. Actually, any [http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/photoperson17/GC/1180.jpg conversation with Shirley]
** Subverted by Nina Einstein, who looks and most often acts the part, but is a racist who not only endangers her friends with her xenophobia-driven panic attacks, but also invents the series' premiere [[Weapon of Mass Destruction]] to fulfill [[Ho Yay|Princess Euphemia's]] [[Evil Eye]] induced dreams of genocide.
*** To her credit, once she ''does'' personally witness what said weapon can do, she [[Must Make Amends|tries to at least partially fix]] the mess she caused, even earning a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] when she creates the counter weapon.
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* Nel from ''[[Bleach]]'', on account of being the most adorable little kid, and {{spoiler|she's every bit as adorable in her adult form.}}
** Orihime Inoue counts as moe as her [[Tareme Eyes|big droopy eyes]], [[Cloudcuckoolander|spacy attitude]], and {{spoiler|eventual [[Break the Cutie|cutie-breaking]]}} sometimes overshadow her hotness. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLfFUGnLWC4 Her image song] is just adorable.
*** [http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/l/lo/loituma.gif Orihime] [http://media.animegalleries.net/albums/userpics/100755/Orihime%20Inoue.jpg?=123 is] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120410140639/http://sp1.fotolog.com/photo/1/47/23/kalu_ichi/1268543965305_f.jpg just] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120410134300/http://www.animejackpot.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/orihime_bleach.jpg absolute] [http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mtfk_BzA2c/RyStYdtH0UI/AAAAAAAAAKw/C2aus_n13Rg/s400/Orihime%2BInoue.jpg pure] [http://www.animecubed.com/galleries/bleach/orihime/pics/acg62g.jpg unadulterated] [http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:AsPhDr9km3vG0M:http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1024/3174298886_db001f9497.jpg&t=1 freaking] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120430042706/http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/6342/155994-163411-orihime-inoue.jpg adorable] [http://media.animegalleries.net/albums/bleach/orihime_inoue/bleach_orihime0055.jpg?=123 cuteness], I dare you to try and deny it!
*** She's even more Moe now that the anime came back from the Zanpakuto filler arcs, with bigger eyes and rounder facial features.
** Momo Hinamori just ''reeks'' of Moe. Cute and willowy, even her name sounds Moe [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Moe]]! {{spoiler|Her Zanpakutou Spirit, Tobiume, being the one little girl of the cast, also qualifies big time.}}
** [http://download.minitokyo.net/Bleach.404540.jpg Rukia] [http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Rcx0OSoWh-6dDM:http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t325/sango868/Bleach/Rukia/rukia-04.jpg&t=1 also]{{Dead link}} [http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:nJrk4UVc9onKrM:http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/9868/vlcsnap20957ls8.png&t=1 fits] [http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7799/2010042600013.jpg this] [http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Uz7B9-SUY7oU5M:http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8702/696600.jpg&t=1 trope]{{Dead link}} [http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2505/minimok2img600x45012916.jpg rather] [http://foro.cemzoo.com/picture.php?albumid=10550&pictureid=165357 nicely]{{Dead link}} [http://oi34.tinypic.com/34xrnv6.jpg as] [http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:9cC-ujSQN5pJcM:http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/962/1222copie.jpg&t=1 well.]
** Kotetsu Isane, the 4th Squad VC is very possibly the moest of them all in Bleach, and consistently presented as such.
** Hanatarou Yamada, seventh seat of the 4th squad, is about as moe as a male character can get. When he got a volume cover, it was of him ''tripping over his own feet''.
** Also, Nemu and Ururu count.
* Cute characters such as Bridget (''[[Guilty Gear]]''), Mizuho (''[[Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru]]''), and Jun Watarase (''[[Happiness! (visual novel)|Happiness!]]'') are often considered moe. The fact they are all [[Wholesome Crossdresser|guys]] is incidental.
* Most, if not all, of the various ''[[Gundam]]'' series all contain a moeblob (or several). Tiffa Adill of ''[[After War Gundam X]]'' takes the cake for eliciting "I-wanna-protect-her!" feelings from the audience, thereby being very moe without even trying that hard.
* Yin of ''[[Darker than Black]]'' is like Yuki above another [[Emotionless Girl]] character who seems to fall into this both because of mannerisms and [[Woobie]] characteristics. Amber from the same series is probably a subversion. She looks and behaves most of the time like a very cute and [[Genki Girl|cheerful]] young girl. However, this is due to the [[Merlin Sickness]] caused by her renumeration, and more importantly, her plan involves pretty much killing the entire population of Japan (although she has a somewhat [[Necessarily Evil|justifiable]] reason).
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* [[Cute Shotaro Boy|Conan]] of ''[[Detective Conan]]''. Of course, this is a case of [[Older Than They Look]]...
** Also, Ai and Ayumi. And Ran when she's crying for Shinichi/Jimmy to come home.
* Train Heartnet from ''[[Black Cat (manga)|Black Cat]]'', during the time when he got shot with a [[Transformation Ray|Lucifer bullet]] and [[Fountain of Youth|reverted back to being a kid]]. Just the whole transformation exudes "[[Moe Moe]]" vibes. It's complete with his original clothes falling off of him because they're suddenly too big for him, he blinks innocently several times, and says "eh?" in a very cute, high voice. Later, he's even shown to be forced to [[
* Any work (and I mean ''any'' work) done by Koge Donbo. Her series are made of sheer [[Moe Moe]]. [[Di Gi Charat]], [[Pita-Ten]], [[Kamichama Karin]]... yeah.
* Used with utmost hilarity and blatancy in ''[[Ultimate Girls]]'', where the trope itself figures in the plot and is the source of the heroines' power needed to destroy the Monster Of The Day. It works so well with the cute and shy protagonist Silk, so much that she '''absolutely positively does not want the job!'''
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* Suiseiseki from ''[[Rozen Maiden]]'' was the 2006 Saimoe winner, and by virtue of being her twin, Souseiseki qualifies as well, albeit in a different way.
** Sousei ''was'' the finalist of the 2005 tournament, only to be beaten by [[Lyrical Nanoha|Nanoha]].
* Yui from ''[[To
** Nearly the entire cast, actually.
* Most of the male cast in ''[[Ookiku Furikabutte]]''. Despite being a sports manga, it's more or less the female-targeted equivalent of a moe show in that there are tons of quirky [[Cast Full of Pretty Boys|male]] [[Loads and Loads of Characters|characters]] and has a large [[Estrogen Brigade|female]] [[Yaoi Fangirl|fanbase]] who...aren't there for the baseball.
* Young Gilbert in ''[[Pandora Hearts]]'' [http://www.mangareader.net/350-24630-17/pandora-hearts/chapter-1.html is moe] (he's the little weenie clutching his head there), but the (cheerfully sadistic) people around him like to create situations that make him even more moe. This is taken to [https://web.archive.org/web/20120410141311/http://notcliche.com/siriru/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Gilbert.png extremes] in the first DVD omake.
* ''[[Strike Witches]]'': Little girls with magical abilities that fly around in magic-powered boots to fight extradimensional evil. They grow animal ears and a tail when they use magic. The girls from Fuso (Japan) wear one-piece school bathing suits all the time, some others wear just a jacket and lowleg pantsu.
* Mytho from ''[[Princess Tutu]]'' is a male example. The [[Damsel in Distress]] of the series, with huge eyes framed with thick eyelashes, Mytho's lost his [[Emotionless Girl|emotions]] and a good deal of his common sense—which means he's CONSTANTLY in danger. [[Tall, Dark and Snarky|Fakir]] just can't seem to resist how helpless he is.
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* Fitting the [[Dysfunction Junction]] of the series, Kiri Komori of ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei]]'' is very moe, and one of the friendliest, most well-adjusted characters of the series, despite being an extreme agoraphobic.
** There's also Maria who is moe even to the characters in the show. See the quote above.
* Komoe-sensei from ''[[
** All of the Misakas in general.<ref>Mikoto even won the 2011 International Saimoe Tournament!</ref>
** Index herself is quite moe. :3-face, [[Big Eater|eats a lot]], and speaks in such a way that tugs at your heart.
** Kazari Uiharu from the ''
* [[Kuudere|Satellizer]] [[Defrosting Ice Queen|L]] [[The Woobie|Bridget]] from ''[[Freezing]]'' can pull this off quite well, especially [[Meganekko|when she has her glasses on]].
* Chihiro Shindou, from ''[[Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two.|ef: a tale of memories]]'' is both incredibly moe and very much [[The Woobie|woobie]] due to her condition. If one thinks that a girl with brain damage causing severe memory problems and missing one eye couldn't be moe, you'd be very wrong. Contrast this with her twin sister Kei, who is incredibly [[Tsundere]] (emphasis on ''tsun'') and doesn't really fit the moe archetype.
* Kirika from ''[[Noir]]'' is very moe. She may be a cold-blooded killer, but you still want to hug her.
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* Aiko from ''~I"s~'' has shades of Moe. She's cute, adorable, a little helpless, sometimes goofy and more than once forgetful.
* Quite possibly all of the female characters in ''[[Kanon]]'' are arguably Moe. They all seem to have one quirk or another that just makes them adorable in their own way.
* The same is true of ''[[Clannad (visual novel)|Clannad]]''. Some of them (Like Kotomi) still manage to stand out.
* While we're on the topic of KEY, almost every girl in ''[[AIR]]'' qualifies as this, especially Misuzu.
* Assuming you don't hate her guts, [[Project A-ko|C-ko]] could be considered moe before the term even existed.
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* Various characters in ''[[Fairy Tail]]'' will qualify here and there, but the grand moe prize goes to [[Horned Humanoid|Aries]].
* [[Cute Shotaro Boy|Ooyama]], Tenshi/Angel/ {{spoiler|Kanade}} and [[Cuteness Proximity|Shiina]] from ''[[Angel Beats!]]!''.
** ''Especially'' [http://kuro.hanyuu.net/data/preview/4e/0b/4e0b191c6b154464b225198715d563ad.jpg Tenshi.]{{Dead link}}
** Yui definately qualifies, as well as Yusa, Irie and Sekine.
* Almost all of the main female characters in ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]'' have shades of this from time to time, and believe it or not, [[Defrosting Ice Queen|Inner]] [[Badass Adorable|Moka]] is probably at the top of the Moe totem pole, at least in recent chapters. Still, the rest of the cast all have their moments.
** Fong-Fong is a male example.
* Misa Amane from ''[[Death Note]]'' is a pure moe blob. [[Girlish Pigtails]]? Check. Gothic lolita? Check. [[Zettai Ryouiki]]? Check. Girly pouty attitude? Check. Long light colored hair? Check. [[
* Hinako from ''[[Training with Hinako]]''. She's a buxom 16 year old whose main purpose is to innocently [[No Fourth Wall|flirt with the viewer]] while teaching them how to do important things like how to exercise, have good sleep habits, and bathing, all the while providing lots of [[Fan Service]]. And in volume 3, she even introduces us to her [[Les Yay|loli playmate]] Hiyoko.
* Ranka from ''[[Macross Frontier]]''. Hell, she once [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|stopped an uprising]] by airdropping onto the battlefield and ''[[Glamorous Wartime Singer|singing]]''. The fighting Zentradi '''stopped dead'''.
** Arguably a deconstruction where, despite her ''moé'' points (or because of them), she royally screws up in the last few episodes.
* Dengaku Man from ''[[Bobobo-Bo Bo-bobo
* Toboe of ''[[Wolf's Rain]]''. Let's see: adorable, shy, clumsy, quirky, instills the need to hug? Yep, all of the above.
* Asuka Sugo from ''[[Future GPX Cyber Formula]]'' is an early example of the trope, especially in the TV series and the first 2 OVAs.
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* Give Holo from ''[[Spice and Wolf]]'' [[Trademark Favorite Food|an apple]], I dare you. As a [[Trickster]], she knows how to make good use of her talents. She also has plenty of [[The Woobie|woobie]] moments.
** Nora definitely qualifies as well.
* In episode 10 of ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'', it's revealed that {{spoiler|Homura Akemi}} was an [[Adorkable]] example of this before {{spoiler|[[Took a Level
** Madoka herself is an example of this, too, as well as Sayaka Miki, which just adds to the [[Mood Whiplash|emotional whiplash]] when {{spoiler|Sayaka snaps and starts gleefully cackling to herself while bludgeoning a witch to death}}.
** Between her large breasts, being a [[Cool Big Sis]], and {{spoiler|her [[Cruel and Unusual Death]]}}, Mami also qualifies. She also won the 2011 Anime Saimoe Tournament. There's a reason why her last name is To''moe''...
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* Though she's [[Christmas Cake|older than most examples]], [[Cute Clumsy Girl|Miranda Lotto]] from ''[[D.Gray-man]]'' easily qualifies [[Beautiful All Along|after her makeover]]. Her insecurity is [[Squee|incredibly cute]].
** [[Action Girl|Lenalee]] has her moments as well, though she [[Badass Adorable|really doesn't need protection too often]].
* Yune of ''[[
* Erio Touwa from ''[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko]]''. She's obscenely cute and acts half her age.
* Sawako Kuronuma from ''[[Kimi ni Todoke]]'' is definitely this from the audience's perspective. She's incredibly shy and innocent, and a bit of a ditz.
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* Melfina of ''[[Outlaw Star]]''.
=== Comic Books ===
== Comics ==▼
* One male example who gets away with it because of his age is Calvin from ''[[Calvin and Hobbes]]''. Remember when the baby raccoon died? It was also a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]yes,▼
** It's when he ''wants'' to be, and it ''never'' works on his parents. Not even [[Puppy Dog Eyes|"Bambi eyes"]] work.▼
*** "Bambi Eyes," tend to lose the intended effect when one is using them to ask for a flamethrower.▼
* The title character of ''[[Empowered]]'' is a rare example in an American [[Superhero]] comic.
{{quote|'''ThugBoy:''' She's got this whole adorable, aching vulnerability thing going on... [...] I wanted to comfort her '''and''' tap that ass like it's never been tapped before.}}
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* Squee from [[Johnny the Homicidal Maniac]] could be an example of this.
=== Fan Works ===
* [[And If That Don't Work?]] has Shinju Ayanami, [[It Makes Sense in Context]]. Imagine the Moe qualities of Rei and Shinji and add a healthy dash of [[Elegant Gothic Lolita]].▼
▲* [[And If That Don't Work]] has Shinju Ayanami, [[It Makes Sense in Context]]. Imagine the Moe qualities of Rei and Shinji and add a healthy dash of [[Elegant Gothic Lolita]].
* [[Chi and Chakra|Chi and]] [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5067899/28/Chi_and_Chakra Chakra] has Ryoko Saotome, a moe [[Blood Knight]].
* Pretty much EVERY original character that [http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2451821/Nearlover7 Author Nearlover7] writes. And if you know her from [[D 2 Brigade]], she's pretty moe herself.
* [[Word of God]] says that [[Beware the Nice Ones|Aideen]], the previous [[Playing with Fire|Fire Keeper]] is this, as well as [[Beware the Nice Ones|Anacaona]] the very first [[Blow You Away|Air Keeper]] in [[Keepers of the Elements]].
=== Film ===▼
▲== Film ==
* [[David Bowie]]'s character from ''[[The Man Who Fell to Earth]]''—a fragile alien who proves highly, tragically vulnerable to the pitfalls of the human world.
* The ultimate western example would be [[Audrey Hepburn]]'s adorably innocent Princess Ann from ''[[Roman Holiday]].''
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* Chucky from [[Child's Play (film)|Childs Play]]. Yes, he is a psychotic mass murdering [[Complete Monster]], but he just looks so adorable in his doll body.
=== Literature ===▼
▲== Literature ==
* Interestingly, there's quite an argument to be made for this trope being [[Older Than They Think]]; many of these character traits are actually found in 19th-Century ''Western'' literature (which was consumed voraciously once Japan opened trade with the world). The comparison isn't always ''exact'' (generally speaking, Victorian-era authors [[Break the Cutie|had rather different ideas]] [[Too Good for This Sinful Earth|about how to use this character type]]), but this character type actually shows up quite a bit more often than you might think:
** The best example of this might be [[Les Misérables|Cosette]]. The [[Animated Adaptation]]s that have aired in Japan over the years seem like they might've cranked the "moe" meter for her up to 11... but, uh, nope, that's pretty much ''exactly'' how she was described and acted in the book. Especially once she starts getting abused by the Thenadiers, even the most stoic among us pretty much want to scoop her up and give her a big hug and tell her it'll all be okay. [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|Valjean then]] ''[[Crowning Moment of Awesome|does]]'' [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|this]], and you can't help but cheer. This fades a little when she gets older, but Victor Hugo still makes her seem quite vulnerable. [[Fetish Fuel|And, uh, describes her toilette in some detail.]] Yeah...
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** Note that he has this quality ''in-universe'', which is why he's such a [[Chick Magnet]].
{{quote|''"I once consulted a knowledgeable pal," I said, "and his theory was that the sight of me hanging about like a loony sheep awoke the maternal instinct in Woman. There may be something in this."''}}
* ''[[
** Walter Plinge from ''Maskerade'' as well. He's just so ''earnest'' in his gawky misfit-ness. {{spoiler|Totally subverted by the end. You can call Ghost!Walter a lot of things, but Moe isn't one of them}}.
* Veesey-koosey from Corwainer Smith's short story ''Think blue, count two'' is a passenger in suspended animation aboard a interstellar vessel who as been selected to be part of the emergency crew not because she was good at anything but because she has a daughter potential of 999,999, meaning that anyone older than her would accept her as a daughter after a few minutes of relationship and because of that that person would be extremely motivated to save her life and hence the ship.
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** Specifically invoked by {{spoiler|Shae}} during {{spoiler|Tyrion's trial for murdering Joffrey}}; when she tells a (totally untrue) story of how he horribly abused her, the text says "As the tears rolled down that pretty face, no doubt every man in the hall wanted to take {{spoiler|Shae}} in his arms and comfort her", which is practically the definition of Moe. The circumstances make it one of the most brutal subversions of this trope you're ever likely to encounter.
▲== Live Action TV ==
* Azkadellia, the [[Magnificent Bitch]] of [[Tin Man]] oddly enough has her Moe moments (Moements?). "[[Tear Jerker|Oh, Xora]]."
* Gaius Baltar in the reimagining of [[Battlestar Galactica]] is perceived this way by female fans.
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*** Inversion? More like extra moe for [[Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds]]. Whedon's basically doing live action moe seinen.
* Glitch from [[Tin Man (TV series)|Tin Man]] has ''moe'' qualities for many fans, due to the combination of his adorably quirky personality and [[The Woobie|traumatic backstory.]]
* [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Marlena_Moreau_(mirror) Marlena Moreau] from the ''[[Star Trek:
** Also [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Gem Gem] from the episode "The Empath." She never speaks a word, and all you see her do is take peoples' pain away like E.T.
** Also, also, [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Jame_Finney Jame Finney], the teenage daughter of one of Kirk's friends and a ''very'' emotional [[Shrinking Violet]] [[Pettanko]] with blue eyes big enough to drown in and a pleated miniskirt that screams "[[Sailor Fuku|schoolgirl]]". When she apologizes to Kirk so sheepishly, you just want to give her a big hug.
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* Howard's girlfriend Bernadette from ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]''. Seriously, she's a short, adorable blonde who wears glasses and has an incredibly cute voice, she's like an assertive live-action [[Haruhi Suzumiya|Mikuru]] with slightly smaller breasts.
* Alexis Castle from ''[[Castle]]''.
* On ''[[Daddy's Daughters]]'', [[Child Prodigy]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20111115100927/http://www.papinydochki.ru/wp-content/photos/Galina_Sergeevna_small.jpg Galina] [https://web.archive.org/web/20111115112450/http://www.papinydochki.ru/wp-content/photos/liza_arzamasova.jpg Sergeevna] ([[Liza Arzamasova]]) is a realistic-looking example of [[Moe Moe]]. She is an [[Adorkable]] [[
* ''[[The Inspector Lynley Mysteries]]''' DS Barbara Havers - played by [[Sharon Small]], she of the heart-shaped face and enormous green eyes - ''definitely'' qualifies as this, particularly since she is a "puppy" [[The Woobie|the world keeps kicking]]. Of course, unlike most kicked puppies, [[Jerkass Woobie|she]] [[Tsundere|bites back]]... but she [[Character Development|gets over that]] eventually. ([[Deadpan Snarker|Well]], [[Sarcastic Devotee|mostly]].) And that doesn't stop her 'kicked puppy look' from being one of the most effective on television.
* [
* [[Action Girl|Parker]], from ''[[Leverage]]''. Partially as a result of her obviously [[Troubled Past]] and partially as a result of her endearing [[Cloudcuckoolander]] qualities, Parker's emotional pain seems to set off protective instincts in the entire team. [[Badass|Eliot]] even offers to kill a charlatan psychic for making her cry.
* ''Sometimes'' Shawn Hunter from [[Boy Meets World]], but ''especially'' [[Wholesome Crossdresser|when he's 'Veronica']] in ''Chick Like Me'' ([[S 4 E 15]]). She's just so shy and so happy to hear how pretty she is.
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** Perhaps this isn't too surprising. Viewed in terms of tropes and not as a historical documentary about theoretical physics, this is an [[Adorkable]] actor with a [[When He Smiles|beautiful smile]] playing a [[Cute Glasses Boy]]-[[Stoic Woobie]]-[[Ill Boy]]-nerd who uses physics trivia and Beatles lyrics to flirt with the girl he likes.
=== Music ===▼
* [http://www.last.fm/music/kesson+shoujo/+images/30553495 Lala]{{Dead link}}(left), the [[Vocaloid]] singer for [[Japanese Pop Music|J-Pop]]/[[Sensory Abuse|digital noise]] [[Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly|shotgun wedding]] わたしのココ. You think it stops there? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qaubABv_zs Wait 'till she opens her mouth.]▼
▲== Music ==
** Possibly something of a [[Woobie]] as well; [http://watashinokoko.web.fc2.com/uketsuke.html the band's webpage]{{Dead link}} states that she's a [[Shrinking Violet]] [[Up to Eleven|to the nth degree.]]▼
▲* [http://www.last.fm/music/kesson+shoujo/+images/30553495 Lala](left), the [[Vocaloid]] singer for [[Japanese Pop Music|J-Pop]]/[[Sensory Abuse|digital noise]] [[Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly|shotgun wedding]] わたしのココ. You think it stops there? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qaubABv_zs Wait 'till she opens her mouth.]
▲** Possibly something of a [[Woobie]] as well; [http://watashinokoko.web.fc2.com/uketsuke.html the band's webpage] states that she's a [[Shrinking Violet]] [[Up to Eleven|to the nth degree.]]
* [[Lights]]
* Damon Albarn of [[Blur (band)|Blur]] most likely invokes this, particularly in the mid-90s. [http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5600000/damon-damon-albarn-5650642-500-665.jpg Just look at him.] [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Fq5J_Aq_Ymk/SYsKOZyKEaI/AAAAAAAABws/Gt0aIby2e9I/s400/Picture+1.png Awwwwww.]
* [[Gorillaz]] guitarist Noodle has always been one in her way, especially considering the visceral art style. Here she is aged [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pr40z63uRnk/TGDaLOzS99I/AAAAAAAAAKo/tn4HIDqr2uM/s1600/Gorillaz.jpg ten], [http://images2.fanpop.com/image/polls/388000/388039_1267362823483_full.jpg fourteen] and [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Noodle_Phase_3.jpg twenty]{{Dead link}}, complete with [[Cool Mask]].
** 2D also invokes this feeling a bit, particularly in Phase 3. He's definitely more [[Ugly Cute]] than anything, but his advanced [[Woobie]]hood and [[The Ditz|ditzy,]] [[Erudite Stoner|laid-back]] demeanor make him... pretty damn lovable.
▲* One male example who gets away with it because of his age is Calvin from ''[[Calvin and Hobbes]]''. Remember when the baby raccoon died? It was also a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]yes,
▲** It's when he ''wants'' to be, and it ''never'' works on his parents. Not even [[Puppy Dog Eyes|"Bambi eyes"]] work.
▲*** "Bambi Eyes," tend to lose the intended effect when one is using them to ask for a flamethrower.
=== Tabletop Games ===
* [http://www.flick.com/~cdr/rpg/bliss/final/sarah.html Sara Smith] of ''[[Bliss Stage]]'' fame.
* The ''[[Warhammer
** She's so cute she'll [[Dawn of War|cahptoor]] your heart!
** An unintentional example: The Land Raider is a ginormous uber-manly [[Awesome Personnel Carrier]] / [[Cool Tank]], [http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:Land_Raider.JPG with] [http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:SM-redeemer.jpg multiple] [http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:LRHelios.jpg variations], each more badass than the last. The there's the [http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:Spartan1.jpg Land Raider Spartan...]
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* The [[Collectible Card Game]] Weiss Schwarz uses moe as its primary selling point, allowing moe stalwarts such as the [[Lucky Star]] and Clannad casts to wage bloody moe battle against each other.
=== Theatre ===▼
▲== Theatre ==
* In ''[[The Phantom of the Opera]]'', Christine is an perfect example of a Moe done well.
=== Video Games ===
* Recette, from [[Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale]], could only accomplish what she did because she was so lovable. It's even lampshaded in the dialogue. "That girl: something about her inspires people to care."
* Anveena from [[World of Warcraft]] [[The Sunwell Trilogy]] is practically the poster girl for this trope.
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** P4 also contains a fairly hilarious ''subversion'' using a character from P3, to boot: {{spoiler|Chihiro, of all people, shows up during the school trip to Iwatodai, as the ''class president'' of Gekkoukan High. She isn't "moe" anymore (her fear of men, ah, having been conquered). Instead? She's now [[Nerds Are Sexy|only about a half-step under Tina Fey in terms of straight-out hotness]].}}
** On the topic of Persona, P2's Jun Kurosu. Jesus Christ, just, Jun Kurosu. Even his first demon contact is called "Moe Face". Then there's the one involving Ginko putting Jun in drag and him looking so cute that the female demons adore him and the male demons are scared of him. Hell his official profile talent (amongst fortune telling and flower language) is CROSS DRESSING. Oh Atlus.
* From ''[[
** Tsubaki might be inching in this direction if she keeps getting mind raped the way she is, too. Though to a lesser extent than Noel.
** [[Little Bit Beastly|Mak]][[Cute Monster Girl|oto]] has shades of this as well.
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** And in ''[[No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle]]'', Shinobu says "moe!" on receiving items and will taunt enemies with "you've got no moe!" She also asks "what does moe mean, anyway?" while saving.
** There's also ''Pure White Lover Bizarre Jelly'', the offensively moe [[Cliché Storm]] anime that Travis watches in both games. It needs to be [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqaz1kDz14w seen] to be believed.
* In the ''[[Touhou]]'' fandom, many jokes have been made about Yuyuko Saigyouji's power of [[Superpower Lottery|absolute mastery of death]] and ''moe''.
** The recent fighting game where Suwako makes her appearance has taken the fanbase by storm with her moe, especially her animations.
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** And so is Presea Combatir. And they're both [[Cute Bruiser]]s.
** There's also Estelle from [[Tales of Vesperia]], full of so much ''Moe'' to go hand-in-hand with her [[Damsel in Distress]] role. In addition, she's adorably naive and gentle, though it wears off to a degree as the game progresses. She does start off as a girl who ''wants to make graves for every monster she kills''.
* The ''[[Atelier
** Ah, but Pamela has no flaws. (Other than being, you know, ''dead''. And [[Bitch in Sheep's Clothing|surprisingly horrible]] in some appearances.) [[Mana Khemia|Vayne]] on the other hand, is extremely moe.
* The girls of [[Samurai Warriors]] and [[Dynasty Warriors]] are either a combination of this, [[Fan Service]], and/or [[The Woobie]]. [[Genki Girl]] Xiao Qiao in particular is ''so'' moe that [[Oda Nobunaga]], of all people, [[Pet the Dog|pats her on the head]] in the Sengoku ending of [[Warriors Orochi]]. (It's [[All There in the Manual]]: Apparently she reminds him of his little sister Oichi, who was characterized similarly in the first Samurai Warriors game.)
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{{quote|"Moe!! A girl wearing glasses and coughing up blood is Moe!"}}
** From the same game, Kenshin is a more traditional moe character when around Rance. The rest of the time, she's the [[Lady of War]].
* Talim, Amy, and Xianghua from [[Soul Calibur]]. Tira could be viewed as moe if you like [[
** Pyrrha joins the list in Soul Calibur V, although many players have griped that she comes across as forced.
* ''[[Devil Survivor]]'' is pretty heavy on the Moe (the better to freak you out with), but Amane Kuzuryu takes the cake. Her status as a [[Defrosting Ice Queen|Defrosting]] [[Emotionless Girl]] {{spoiler|who gets royally screwed over by her father}} is enough to make her a [[Neon Genesis Evangelion|Rei clone]]. And when you save her from {{spoiler|[[Demonic Possession]]}} in her route, [[When She Smiles|her return to normal is just]] '''''[[When She Smiles|adorable]]'''''.
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* ''[[Guilty Gear]]'' has May, Dizzy (of the [[Shrinking Violet]] type), and Bridget (though Bridget is a [[Unsettling Gender Reveal|unique circumstance]] and could be [[Cute Shotaro Boy|something else]]).
=== Visual
* Shiki from ''[[Tsukihime]]'' tends to have a love of moe traits among the girls in the games. The doujins take this to whole new levels, creating his infamous line "So moe...I'm gonna die~!"
** The female cast of the game are all quite moe; some just more than others.
** Akiha, Arcueid, Hisui, Satsuki, and Len; arguably the most ''moe'' characters out of the lot.
** [[Your Mileage May Vary]] with all of the above.
* The girls of ''[[Katawa Shoujo]]'', who are all [[Disabled Love Interest|Disabled LoveInterests]], but especially [[Shrinking Violet]] Hanako. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111115112731/http://shimmie.katawa-shoujo.com/post/list/i%27m_gonna_die%20pimmy%20comic/1 Parodied in a series of yonkoma] where Hisao's heart arrhythmia acts up on witnessing the girls being cute; they're literally so ''moe'', it hurts.<ref>Except Shizune, who uses her foot</ref>
** In fact, the new moe rallying cry appears to be HNNNNNNNG!, imitating the character's heart attacks due to moe overdose.
** Reiterating that Hanako out-moe's the others, that series of Yonkoma has most of the girls doing something to make Hisao's condition act up. Hanako's was just 3 [[Beat Panel]] of her looking at him, looking away, and looking at him again, apparently [[Shrinking Violet|trying to work up the courage to say something]].
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* A quick answer: the whole moe game genre. Not that they are bad for it.
▲=== Web Comics ===
▲== Web Comics ==
* ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-01-29 shows us] how not to do it: two moeblobs exceeding the critical mass together can make a [[Tastes Like Diabetes|moesplosion]] (cue speechless Diane).
* Hanners of ''[[Questionable Content]]''.
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* Eve from ''[[Apple Geeks]]'' is a robot. She is also very innocent and very cute. "What kind of cat would you want?" "I want a lolcat!"
* ''[[Eerie Cuties]]'' brings us Chloe, the [[Meganekko]] Moe succubus who [[I Am Not Pretty|thinks that she's a failure]] as a [[Succubus]].
* ''[[Anime News Nina]]'' parodies the phenomenon with "Melodic Summer Kuu-Tan," whose eponymous main character is a ''literal'' moe-blob, as seen [http://www.animenewsnetwork.
* Secret, from ''[[Keychain of Creation]]'', with enough adorability that Keychain fanart about her is overwhelmingly more popular than [[Ms. Fanservice|Marena's]].
* Kimiko from ''[[Megatokyo]]''. "Rehhhh???"
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* ''[[Cuanta Vida]]'' has Anton, the panicky [[Meganekko]] medic. The CV fandom is usually ridiculously protective of the two main characters, {{spoiler|so it really says something that Anton was immediately forgiven for working with Rojo to kidnap Bleu.}}
=== Web Original ===
* Sierra Manning in ''[[Survival of the Fittest]]'', a cute emotional girl whose cuteness is only amplified by her lisp.
** This trope could also easily explain why Orn "Dutchy" Ayers is so popular on the board. Dutchy is an [[Funny Foreigner|Icelandic]], [[Bi the Way|free-loving]] [[Nerds Are Sexy|comic book nerd]] who watches soccer and cries [[Tender Tears]] over the plight of third-world countries among other things. Add in his in-game posts, which makes many handlers see him as [[The Woobie]], and his habit of wearing a [[Pointless Band-Aid]] over his nose, and you have a character who [[Ensemble Darkhorse|most of the board adores]].
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* [http://www.youtube.com/user/MRirian MRirian] became the second most subscribed person in Japan: for doing '''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNbArSkU3gU nothing but staring into a camera]''', looking incredibly moe. Really, almost all of her videos only staring consist of that.
* Jade Sinclair, codename Generator, of the [[Whateley Universe]]. Cute, [[Genki Girl]], looks about ten years old even if she's a high school freshman, still fixated on Hello Kitty, ...
* [
* No mention of Erika Swanson of ''[[Erikas New Perfume]]'' yet? ''For shame.'' After using the [[Imported Alien Phlebotinum]], she finds herself balancing tweenage social hardships with several infantile traits (Most prominently being the usage of diapers) and yet she still manages to be a [[Cheerful Child]] when not utterly embarrassed. Combine that with a [[Shrinking Violet|shy]], sweethearted nature and a pair of soulful [[Green Eyes]], and she is 100% Moe.
=== Western Animation ===▼
▲== Western Animation ==
* [[Betty Boop]] may well have been the original progenitor of the animated Moe character. The target audience of her cartoons was adult men rather than children, and she made popular the large eyes and other child-like facial features that are common on a lot of modern Moes. Also, she was voiced by Mae Questal, who at the time was very popular due to her cutesy voice.
* Adorably ditzy [[Magical Girl]] Hay Lin, from ''[[WITCH (animation)|WITCH]]'', '''IS''' this trope. Aside from Rei, one struggles to find a character who fits it so perfectly. If she's not being suggestive and adorable, she's being [[The Woobie|even more adorable and frightened]], she's a slender little thing with a nice chest when she transforms but [[Pettanko]] leanings when a normal person. All she needs is blue hair and some bandages and she could be Rei's (much more chipper) sister.
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** Ron has his moments.
* Toki of ''[[Metalocalypse]]'' is the closest thing to Moe you can get in that series. He's so childlike, endearing, and you just can't help but want to hug him because he's probably the most sentimental of the group. And then there's his little song "Underwater Friends." However, he's also a good example of [[Beware the Nice Ones]]...
** According to [[Uncyclopedia]], Toki is an [
* Bubbles of ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]''.
* Lindsay from ''[[Total Drama Island]]''. Peppy, innocent, sweet and has a very childish tone to her voice. Plus, how can you not love [http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100111204507/totaldramaisland/images/b/bb/Lindsay-puppy-eyes.jpg this face].
** Also, among the new contestants, Dawn and Zoey. The former is a [[Harry Potter (novel)|Luna Lovegood]] [[Expy]], is the shortest girl in the season, has big, doe eyes, and a cute, squeaky voice. The latter is a cute redhead that has an endearing personality and a [[Friendless Background]] that would make anyone want to give her a hug.
* June from ''[[
** And Loopy.
* Oh God, Megan's cute little sister Molly from [[My Little Pony]] is the ''epithome'' of Moe.
** A mislead witch known as Draggle from [[My Little Pony]] also qualifies, in ways mostly unlike those of Molly's.
* Klot from [[School for Vampires]]. Don't look at him - let alone talk to him - for long, or you'll find yourself offering him your blood voluntarily.
* Rudy, Penny, and Snap from ''[[
* Jasmine from ''[[The Boondocks]]''.
* Shadowcat from ''[[X-Men: Evolution]]''. Kurt too, and Rogue, and Toad, and Amara, and the girl with the giant hands in the Morlocks, and to some, X-23, hell, lets just say half the cast.
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** Hugely subverted in "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic/Recap/S1/E26 The Best Night Ever|The Best Night Ever]]" when she {{spoiler|goes completely [[Cute and Psycho]] when the animals in the garden of the palace run away from her}}.
*** She was under a lot of stress at the time however, given that all she wanted to do was be friends with the animals and they just kept running away from her.
*** She could also be {{spoiler|[[
** Apple Bloom is also very Moe, earning the [[Fan Nickname]] "Moe Pony" based on her first appearance alone.
** Most characters from ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' are pretty Moe to begin with. Heck, the entire show might be the best example of the "moe" concept catching on in western fandom today. Either way, many of the Ponies can fall under many different moe tropes, such as:
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*** Pinkie Pie being an Aho-ko
*** Apple Bloom being a Loli
*** Fluttershy being either typical moe, [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] or even [[
*** Sweetie Belle is [[The Klutz|adorably clumsy]], has an amazing singing voice yet she's too shy to sing in public, the cutest voice cracks in the history of voice acting...d'aww!
** Particularly notable is the episode "Green Is Not Your Color," where Fluttershy becomes a supermodel entirely due to her Moe appeal, complete with [[Enforced Method Acting]] so she always looks scared in her pictures.
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* Butters from ''[[South Park]]''. ''Loo-loo-loo, I've got some apples...''
== Entire series called ''moe'' ==
=== Notable Producers of Moe Series ===▼
▲== Notable Producers of Moe Series ==
* The animation company M.O.E. is named after and produces many such shows; some have more [[Fan Service]] than others.
* [[Kyoto Animation]] also has a knack for this. They made the series (''[[Lucky Star]], [[Kanon]], [[Air]], [[Clannad (visual novel)|Clannad]], [[Haruhi Suzumiya]], [[K-On!]]
* CLAMP, [[Chobits|on]] [[Cardcaptor Sakura|occasion]].
* [[Akiyuki Shinbo]]. Anything he touches will at least have clearly recognizable elements.
▲== Anime & Manga ==
* Most of the female cast from ''[[Kanon]]''. Even the fully-grown Akiko is just as cute as the teenage girls.
** Ayu is especially notable for this. Looks much younger than other characters in the series, and she constantly finds herself in tight situations (eliciting her catchphrase "Uguu").
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* ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'' could be a prototype; it came before moe, but it follows the structure of many modern slice-of-life moe series with its almost entirely female cast of quirky characters and emphasis on their interactions and day-to-day lives. Though unlike most moe series the focus is more on humor than cuteness and the girl's personalities are [[Played for Laughs]] instead of [[Squee]]s. Special mention goes to [[Cheerful Child|Chiyo]], [[Huge Schoolgirl|Sakaki]], and [[Schoolgirl Lesbian|Kaorin]].
* ''[[Di Gi Charat]]''
* ''[[Uta Kata]]'' is a psychological analysis of [[Humans Are
* ''[[A Little Snow Fairy Sugar]]''
* ''[[Potemayo]]'' is about [[A Boy and His X|a boy and]] the eponymous, unspeakably cute, over-possessive, ''literal'' moe-blob he found in his fridge.
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* Mentioned in ''[[Shikabane Hime]]'' - after Ouri falls ill, Keisei ills his room with posters and collectibles from the series ''[[Show Within a Show|Moe Warrior Zenbunose Puchi-tto]]''. Ouri is rather less than pleased.
* ''[[Yotsuba&!]]'' by the same author as ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]''.
* ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' is stuffed to capacity with moe goodness, appropriately, as its huge cast of characters consists of [[Moe Anthropomorphism|moe anthropormorphisms of countries]]. You've got your standard-issue "[[Cloudcuckoolander|Hetare]]" (Hetalia is a contraction of "Hetare Italy," referring to North Italy, but many other characters also qualify), [[Tsundere]] (Germany, South Italy, and most notably, England), [[
** Also, Canada, [[Memetic Mutation|WHY SO MOE?]] Even when some Canadians [[Single-Issue Wonk|don't like]] [[Misplaced Nationalism|this]].
** Lithuania comes damn close to being the most moe, if simply through having ''hellish luck''. First, he's lackey to [[Valley Girl|Poland]], who has a good heart but is ''very'' selfish, then he winds up with [[
** [http://himaruya.blog61.fc2.com/blog-entry-643.html This post on Himaruya's blog] adds [[Chinese Girl]] Taiwan pretty firmly to the Moe chain. Apparently confirmed in the drama track of China's CD, where she's given a quite child-like and girlish voice.
** So...would that make Mochimerica [[Incredibly Lame Pun|a literal moe blob]]?
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* ''[[GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class]]''
* ''[[Pani Poni Dash!|Pani Poni Dash]]''
* ''[[
* ''[[Hanamaru Kindergarten]]''
* ''[[Hamtaro]]''
* ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]''. It's debatable how intentional this was on the part of the creators, but its success with the adult male [[Periphery Demographic]] helped launch the moe craze of the mid-to-late 2000s.
* ''[[Project A-ko]]'', many female characters (none of them including B-Ko) are subject to Moe.
* ''[[Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai!]]''
* ''[[MM!]]!''
* ''[[Tamayura]]''
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* ''[[Mitsudomoe]]''
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''
* ''[[Working!!]]!!''
* ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]''. In addition to the art style, this series inspires the trademark huggable/in-need-of-protection feelings by putting the cute female characters through [[Darker and Edgier|massive amounts of suffering]], turning them into epic [[woobie]]s.
* ''[[Strike Witches]]'', which is most famous for taking a bunch of cute moe girls and putting them in uniforms that [[Panty Shot|do not include trousers]].
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* ''[[Yuru-Yuri]]'' sold itself as a moe comedy like ''[[Lucky Star]]'' or ''KON'' but with [[Girl-On-Girl Is Hot|more overt]] [[Les Yay|lesbianism]].
* ''[[Ro-Kyu-Bu!|Ro Kyu Bu]]''
* ''[[
* Inverted with ''Manga[[Kaiji]]'', the anti-Moe anime. Which wouldn't be mentioned except that its second season was expressly advertised as such.
* ''[[Fortune Dogs]]''
=== Video Games ===▼
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20130328094328/http://www.segagagadomain.com/saturn12/gametengoku.htm Game Tengoku]'' (also known as ''The Game Paradise'').▼
▲== Video Games ==
▲* ''[http://www.segagagadomain.com/saturn12/gametengoku.htm Game Tengoku]'' (also known as ''The Game Paradise'').
* [http://www.konami.jp/am/otome/ Behold the latest SpinOff of] ''[[Gradius]]''! ''[[Otomedius]]''!
* ''[[Arcana Heart]]'' is [[Widget Series|widget-powered]] ''moe''.
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* ''[[Touhou]]''.
==== Visual Novels ====▼
* Another set of [[Dating Sim|H-Games]] with actual plots and sympathetic characters is Key's works. ''[[Kanon]]'' and ''[[AIR]]'' have both been animated twice [[Bleached Underpants|with all H-scenes removed and practically no fanservice]], and didn't lose much; ''[[Clannad (visual novel)|Clannad]]'', which was also animated twice under the same contract, was completely clean in the first place.▼
▲== Visual Novels ==
▲* Another set of [[Dating Sim|H-Games]] with actual plots and sympathetic characters is Key's works. ''[[Kanon]]'' and ''[[AIR]]'' have both been animated twice [[Bleached Underpants|with all H-scenes removed and practically no fanservice]], and didn't lose much; ''[[Clannad]]'', which was also animated twice under the same contract, was completely clean in the first place.
* ''[[Visual Novel/Wanko To Kurasou|Wanko To Kurasou]]''. [[Puni Plush]] art, loli doggirls and (for the most part) [[Sweet Dreams Fuel]]? ''Kitaaaaa!''
* There's actually a whole VN genre for so-called "moege". ''[[Da Capo]]'' and its spinoffs, ''[[SHUFFLE!]]'', ''[[Snow Sakura]]'' and ''Canvas2'' are just some that this particular niche has to offer.
** Speaking of ''[[Da Capo]]'', remeber the character Moe above in the anime section? In the VN there's more to her than meets the eye, and it has to do with her unusual sleeping habits, if that alone is not Moe enough. {{spoiler|She takes sleeping pills. Not because of insomnia, but due to a tragic incident in her childhood - there was a boy she liked, then one day he died. Overcome with grief, she made a wish to the magical Sakura Tree to see that boy in her dreams. Hence her need to sleep. Thus when the tree withers, she loses that wish, and just breaks down. Awwww}}
=== Web Comics ===
* ''[[Nerf Now]]''
** Even Nerf NOW commented on Poppy from ''[[League of Legends]]'' when she was [https://www.nerfnow.com/comic/1695 smacked with a cute hammer].
** [https://www.nerfnow.com/comic/2026 "CD Projekt does not Moe!"]
===
* ''[[ChalkZone]]''{{context}}
▲* ''[[Nerf Now]]'' is a moe version of ''[[Team Fortress 2]]''. While all the characters in ''TF2'' are male ([[Epileptic Trees|probably]]), the comic has male and female versions, and otherwise follows devotedly the [[Rule of Cute]]. It also has [[Moe Anthropomorphism|Moe Anthropomorphized]] [[Starcraft|Zerg]] [[Cute Monster Girl|Girls]].
* ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]''{{context}}▼
▲* ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]''
* The 1980's cartoon ''[[Hello Kitty]]'s Furrytale Theater''. No, it's not an anime. [[Tara Strong]], the mistress of cute characters, started as Kitty on this show when she was 13.
* The ''Life with Loopy'' shorts on ''[[
** And the Henry and June shorts at some points. Because uh, the two main characters include a [[Cute Shotaro Boy]] and a [[Cute Bruiser]].
* ''[[Care Bears]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Strawberry Shortcake]]'' - especially the first two incarnations (i.e., the 1980s specials, and the 2003 series).{{context}}
* ''[[Rugrats]]'', but moreso in the later episodes.{{context}}
* ''[[The Buzz on Maggie]]''{{context}}
* To some extent, ''[[The Fairly
* ''[[Kim Possible]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Wakfu]]'' has been described on this very Wiki as ''[[Gurren Lagann]]'', "but with [[Moe Moe]] rather than [[Hot Blood]]." The main character is Yugo, a [[Cute Shotaro Boy]] with [[Cute Little Fangs]], huge brown eyes, and a [[Nice Hat]] with cat ears. One of his companions is Amalia, a [[Rebellious Princess]] with a [[Flower in Her Hair]] who [[Does Not Like Shoes]] and harbours a ''deep'' attachment to her female bodyguard. Speaking of said bodyguard, even [[Tsundere|Evangelyne]] [http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/I_am_Latia/WHYSOMOEEVA1.jpg has] [http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/I_am_Latia/WHYSOMOEEVA2.jpg her moments.] It's important to note, though, that while these characters ''look'' huggable and helpless, [[Badass|they're anything but.]]
* ''[[Sabrina the Animated Series]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Lilo and Stitch (Disney film)|
* ''[[Madeline]]'' shows shades of this, oddly enough for a late 80's/early 90's show. A lot is done to ensure the tiny, cute heroines are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj2XOhC1YlM as tiny and cute as possible].
** "She may be teeny-tiny, diminuitive, petite, [[Ear Worm|but that has never stopped her from being pretty neat..."]]
* ''[[My Little Pony:
** Also the '''original''' ''[[My Little Pony]]''.{{context}}
** The jury's still out on ''[[My Little Pony Tales]]'', though...{{verify}}
* ''[[Ruby Gloom]]''{{context}}
* To a certain extent, ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]''.{{context}}
* ''[[Doug]]'', to an extent.{{context}}
* ''[[Foster's
* ''[[Rainbow Brite]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Shirt Tales]]''{{context}}
* ''[[My Life as a Teenage Robot]]'': Jenny, whose insecurities and innocence can be quite endearing.
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{{quote|''uguu~''}}
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