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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''', |''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei|Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei]]''}}
 
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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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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{{examples}}
== ''Moe'' characters ==
 
=== 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]].
 
=== Anime &and Manga ===
 
==== [[Ur Example]]s 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 namerNamer]].
==== [[Ur Example]]s and [[Unbuilt Trope]]s ====
* 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 namer.
* Moe Sagisawa of the little known (to westerners) anime [http://www.animenewsnetwork.cc/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1304 Kyoryu Wakusei] is another possibility for the trope namer. As in the case of Hotaru Tomoe her name and year of the anime's debut coincide perfectly with the earliest uses of the term.
* One of the ur-prototypes for the modern type is widely agreed to be ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'''s Rei Ayanami; exotically beautiful, physically and emotionally vulnerable (even if it [[Kuudere|isn't obvious at first]]), in utterly pitiable circumstances once you [[Mysterious Past|discover what that is]], [[The Stoic|coolly]] [[The Spock|logical]] where others are uncertain... and, well, [[Bandage Babe|occasionally shown bandaged up]]. An absolutely staggering amount of what constitutes the modern trope has its origins in Rei, which is particularly hilarious when you consider that the creator was trying to make Rei ''[[Creepy Child|disturbing]]''. Talk about [[Misaimed Fandom|swing and a miss]].
** 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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* 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 Mini-MoeLoli|Haninozuka Mitsukuni]] is definitely moe. Although he's 18 at the beginning of the series, he still takes afternoon naps, adores sweets, and carries around his precious bunny. Honey could also fit under [[Badass Adorable]] considering he is more than capable of [[I Know Karate|taking care of himself]].
*** 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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* ''[[My-HiME]]'' skewered the concept in a [[Post Episode Trailer]] (where a lot of things did indeed "burn") as well as foreshadowing the show's darker themes much later.
* 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]] [[:Category:Yandere|Momoka]] outright describes her as a "retarded moe character."
* 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 but annoying in real life.
** Also, [[Cloudcuckoolander|Tsukasa]].
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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 Thethe NHKN.H.K.]]'' by creating a character that combines as many moe aspects as possible, with [[media:NHK Moe Manga.png|creepy results]] (though the [[media:NHK Moe Anime.jpg|anime version]] scales it back enough to actually ''be'' moe).
** 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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** 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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** 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 ''[[xxxHolic×××HOLiC]]'', has a small monologue on moe in [[Expanded Universe|the book xxxHOLiC: Anotherholic]]:
{{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 ''[[Kidou Tenshi Angelic Layer|Angelic Layer]]''.
* 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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*** 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.}}
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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 ''[[ToA AruCertain Majutsu noMagical Index]]'', [[Meaningful Name|doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out]]. Bonus points that she [[Older Than They Look|looks like a]] ''[[Older Than They Look|10-year-old]]'' [[Older Than They Look|girl]].
** 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 ''To[[A AruCertain Kagaku noScientific Railgun]]'' side is probably her series' moe character. BitA bit clumsy and frequently gets played upon by her friend Ruiko, she has a fair amount of charm that can enamor the audience to her.
* [[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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* 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. [[:Category:Yandere|Yandere]]? Double 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|Bobobo]]''. The little guy is adorable! Sure, he can be rather crazy, but...
* 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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* 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 ''[[IkokuCroisée Meiroin noa CroiseeForeign Labyrinth]]'' is built to pull the heartstrings, and boy does she. She's tiny, has [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] qualities, always wears fancy kimonos, is occasionally clumsy, is adorably stubborn about being useful, and is emotionally scarred from intense guilt. Despite her overall maturity, her girlishness breaks through sometimes; she just can't see a cat without wanting to pet it!
* 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]]''.
 
=== ComicsComic Books ===
* 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.
 
=== FanfictionFan Works ===
 
=== Fanfiction ===
* [[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 ===
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** Carly in the third film aslo acts as this, due to being more emotional than Megan Fox's character Mikeala in the first film and more playful.
* 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 ===
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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."''}}
* ''[[Discworld/Unseen Academicals|Unseen Academicals]]''{{'}}s Mister Nutt isn't classically cute, but he is a good example of the "[[Adorkable|adorably awkward]]" type of male moe character: shy, [[No Social Skills|socially awkward]] in a polite, [[Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness|erudite]] sort of way, a real sweetheart but seriously lacking in self-esteem and generally [[The Woobie|in dire need of a hug]]. All this is rather incongruous, considering what he [[Badass Bookworm|turns out]] [[Super Soldier|to be.]] {{spoiler|When Pratchett uses [[Our Orcs Are Different]], he doesn't fool around. Also, despite the fact Nutt is gray-skinned and unattractive, [[Interspecies Romance|Glenda sees something in him]].}}
** 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 ===
 
=== 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: TOSThe Original Series]]'' episode "[[Star Trek: The Original Series/Recap/S2/E04 Mirror, Mirror|Mirror, Mirror]]." So cute. So seemingly [[Manipulative Bitch|cold and calculating]], yet so [[The Woobie|abused and fragile]] under the skin.
** 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]] [[Glasses GirlMeganekko]] with [[Girlish Pigtails]], [[Zettai Ryouiki]], and [[Hair of Gold]].
* ''[[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.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121221001949/http://televisionheaven.co.uk/gidget.jpg Sally Field] as [[Gidget]]. "If you're in doubt about angels being real..."
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* Rather surprisingly, [[Benedict Cumberbatch]]'s performance as a very young [[Stephen Hawking]] in BBC's ''[[Hawking]]'' inspires ''moe'' feelings in the female fanbase, at least if the comments on youtube and tumblr are at all indicative.
** 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 ===
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** 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.
 
=== Newspaper 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.
 
=== Tabletop Games ===
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{{quote|Something about you makes people pity you and want to take care of you. You get + 3 on all reaction rolls from those who consider you to be in a position of helplessness, weakness, or need (which never includes those with the Callous disadvantage). Taken in conjunction with above-average looks, Pitiable means you are "cute" instead of "sexy"; in combination with below-average looks, it means you are "appealingly homely," like a basset hound.}}
* 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 ===
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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 [[:Category:Yandere|Yanderes]].
** 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 NovelNovels ===
* 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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** Ron DeLite: {{spoiler|1=Mask☆DeMoe.}}
* A quick answer: the whole moe game genre. Not that they are bad for it.
 
 
=== Web Comics ===
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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, ...
* [httphttps://uncyclopedia.wikia.comca/wiki/Moe According to] [[Uncyclopedia]], musicians such as [[Megadeth|David Ellefson]], [[Black Metal|Varg Vikernes]] ([[Troubled but Cute]]), and [[Def Leppard|Rick Allen]] ([[Bandage Babe]]) are considered moe by [[Heavy Metal]] fangirls.
* 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.
 
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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 [httphttps://uncyclopedia.wikia.comca/wiki/Moe "archetypal moëkko character."] (The [[Heavy Metal Umlaut]] is significant in this context.)
* 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].
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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|[[:Category:Yandere|Yandere]]}}, which is still a branch of moe.
** 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 [[:Category:Yandere|Yandere]], etc.
*** 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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== Entire series called ''moe'' ==
 
=== 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!]]}''} that are the zenith of moe.
* CLAMP, [[Chobits|on]] [[Cardcaptor Sakura|occasion]].
* [[Akiyuki Shinbo]]. Anything he touches will at least have clearly recognizable elements.
 
=== Anime &and Manga ===
 
=== 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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* 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), [[:Category:Yandere|Yandere]] / [[Cute and Psycho]] (Russia, (arguably) Latvia, and Belarus), [[Cute Shotaro Boy]]s (Sealand and Latvia), [[The Cutie]] (Taiwan), and various others. Listing all the [[Meganekko]] would take up half the page. England and Italy have been called tsundere and moe, respectively, ''in canon''.
** 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 [[:Category:Yandere|Rus]][[Psychopathic Manchild|sia]], and, ''just to top it all off'', his [[Horrible Judge of Character|crush]], [[:Category:Yandere|Belarus]], ''breaks all his fingers in less than five minutes''. Face it, this guy's ''entire life'' is made up of [[Yank the Dog's Chain]] moments.
** [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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* 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'').
* [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 ====
 
=== 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 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]]'' moe-fies everything, including ''[[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]].
** Even Nerf NOW commented on Poppy from ''[[League of Legends]]'' when she was [httphttps://www.nerfnow.com/comic/1695 smacked with a cute hammer].
** [https://www.nerfnow.com/comic/2026 "CD Projekt does not Moe!"]
 
 
=== Western Animation ===
* ''[[ChalkZone]]''{{context}}
* ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]''{{context}}
* 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 ''[[KaBlam!]]!''{{context}}
** 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 OddParents]]''.{{context}}
* ''[[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)|LiloandLilo and Stitch]]!'' From the [[Puni Plush]] art to the high octane [[Sweet Dreams Fuel]], it drips of Moe at every corner. Especially Lilo.
* ''[[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: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'', especially Fluttershy and Applebloom.
** 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 Home for Imaginary Friends|Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends]]''.{{context}}
* ''[[Rainbow Brite]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Shirt Tales]]''{{context}}
* ''[[My Life as a Teenage Robot]]'': Jenny, whose insecurities and innocence can be quite endearing.
 
----
{{quote|''uguu~''}}
}}
 
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Moe{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime Fan Speak]]
[[Category:Double Standard]]
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[[Category:YMMV Trope]]
[[Category:Memetic Mutation]]
[[Category:Trope Names from Japanese]]