Moe: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Moe (萌え) is a term used in Japanese anime and manga to describe a genre of shows featuring an "ideal girl."

The moe genre usually contains female characters not yet of adult age, or someone younger than the main character who is usually a male. There are dozens of characteristics that make a "moe" character but some characteristics make others consider her "un-Moe." They are often contradictory and are dependent on personal viewpoints. Typical "moe" characteristics are; childishness, large eyes, a strange hairstyle, a natural straight hair, a pair of glasses, a boy-like appearance, large breasts, little-sister-like attitude, etc.

The origin is not known. Some say it stems from a name of an anime heroine. Others believe that it was a wordplay of "Moeru" (燃える), literally meaning "to burn," but figuratively interpreted "to be madly in love." A variant of Moe is harem anime.

This genre is sometimes called mahou kanojo (魔法彼女) or magical girlfriend as most heroines from that category fit this description.

"Moe" is often confused or even equalised with "sexually attracted" or even "lolita" but there is a subtle yet distinct line that separate them. To many moe-loyalists, the point is on supporting and watching rather than to imagine being actively "involved" (literally and sexually) with the character. Their position is like that of an elder brother to a younger sister. Some that study "Moe" have pointed out similarities between "Moe" and "idol craze" of 70s and 80s where an "ordinally" but cute girl would come out of nowhere to become a popular singer. Other have gone even further back refering back to The Tale of Genji and its writer Murasaki Shikibu. The character of Onna Sanno Miya (女三の宮) already has the several distinctive characteristics of "Moe" like girlish look, childish behavior, a lack of common sense, and a noble upbringing. More derisively, it is sometimes commented another important characteristic is a character should be as non-threatening as possible, with the implication audience members would avoid or fear confident or tough women.

In theory, male moe characters exist in yaoi, but the term is rarely used to men.

"Moe!" is also used within anime fandom, and even in some anime, as an interjection or exclamation referring to a character the speaker considers moe, somewhat like a male version of the fangirl "Squee!"

Moe (pronounced Mo-ey) is a regional town in Victoria (Australia).