Moe
: 萌え 【もえ】
Moe is a Japanese term used in connection with manga or anime to describe something precious, usually (but not always) the ideal of youthful and innocent femininity. Written with the kanji for "to bud or sprout" (萌), the concept covers a range of ideal behaviour for youthful female characters in manga or anime. To be moe, a character can be eager or perky, not overly independent, and call forth a desire in the viewer to protect them and nurture them. The term is also used to describe any preciously cute item; there is an animal mascot character store in Tokyo called Moe.
There is a lot of debate over the crossover between moe fandom and lolicon. While the crossover exists among fans and products the two genres are not synonymous.
See also: kawaii
There is a lot of debate over the crossover between moe fandom and lolicon. While the crossover exists among fans and products the two genres are not synonymous.
See also: kawaii
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The Mike Toole Show - Macross the Universe
anime
A search for the Macross: Do You Remember Love bluray in Japan's DVD shops sends Mike on a trip through the storied franchise's history and all the weird legal problems that keep it out of American hands.
― Over a week into my Japan trip (yep, I'm still talking about that damn trip! Don't worry, it's almost out of my system), I still hadn't managed to figure out how alphabetical order worked in DVD a...
Review: Dark Souls III
games
Dark Souls III is a splendid rendition of the form, but familiarity often breeds contempt. Though it's a great refinement of everything that's come before, this new iteration adds little to the formula.
― It's tough to describe Dark Souls 3 without becoming mired in references, it leans so hard into what's come before that its own character feels somewhat slight. Here's the poison swamp, here's the c...
The List - 7 Weirdest Short Programs
anime
Short-form anime has exploded in number over the last few years, ranging from comedy to drama to the downright surreal. Here are seven of the strangest!
― Japan's offering of short anime programs, ranging from five minutes to 15 minutes, has gotten more diverse in recent years. The format was previously relegated to flash-animated comedy like FROGMAN'S long-running Eagle Talon series or shoddy attem...
Magic User's Club! TV + OVA DVD
anime
Theron takes in the entire Magic User's Club franchise and tries to determine if this once-somewhat-popular romantic comedy still has any magic left in it after all these years.
― Though it has both light novel and manga adaptations, Magic User's Club! started out in 1996 as a six episode anime-original OVA series. (Some sources out on the Web claim that the OVA is an adaptation of the franchise's sh...
The Spring 2016 Anime Preview Guide
anime
The Spring 2016 Anime Preview Guide has begun! Check back daily for fresh takes on all of this season's hottest new shows.
Available Now: Big Order - Spring 2016 Shorts - Three Leaves, Three Colors - Flying Witch - Haifuri - Kiznaiver - Tanaka-kun is Always Listless - Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto - Shonen Maid - Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song - Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress - And you think there is never a girl online? - Anne-Happy - Super Lovers - Bungo Stray Dogs - Twin Star Exorcists - and much more!
Available Now: Big Order - Spring 2016 Shorts - Three Leaves, Three Colors - Flying Witch - Haifuri - Kiznaiver - Tanaka-kun is Always Listless - Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto - Shonen Maid - Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song - Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress - And you think there is never a girl online? - Anne-Happy - Super Lovers - Bungo Stray Dogs - Twin Star Exorcists - and much more!
ANNCast - Spring Forward, Fall Back
anime
Zac and Jacob wrap up the spring season and pick their favorites from the lot, including My Hero Academia, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and much much more, plus live questions!
― ANNCast Episode 257: Spring Forward, Fall Back Zac and Jacob wrap up the spring season and pick their favorites from the lot, including My Hero Academia, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and much much more, plus live question...
Answerman - Why Are Some Manga Printed In Such Limited Quantities?
manga
If you're a fan of lesser-known manga (or in some cases, middle volumes of popular long-running series) tracking down copies can be a nightmare. Justin explains why.
― Melissa asks: I've been a longtime fujoshi and now that I've got a stable job and can really expand my yaoi manga collection, I've noticed that many series are out of print, making it hard for me to track them down. I know a lot of ya...
When They Cry Blu-Ray
anime
This 2006 horror series holds up very well in terms of story; even if you've already seen, read, or played it, it's fun to go back and see how much these early arcs actually reveal once you know the answers.
― When mid-twentieth century radio host Reverend Vernon McGee said “God made the cities, and the devil made small towns,” he wasn't talking about When They Cry, but he very well could have been. ...
Awesome Nozomi Anime Give-Away
anime
Our awesome friends at Nozomi Entertainment have offered to let ANN give-away a bunch of recent and upcoming Nozomi titles. 10 randomly selected entrants will each receive the Nozomi title of their choice.
― Our awesome friends at Nozomi Entertainment have offered to let ANN give-away a bunch of recent and upcoming Nozomi titles. 10 randomly selected entrants will each receive the Nozomi title of th...
Interview: Kazuya Sasahara on Dai-Shogun VR
anime
The man behind the soldier bunnies of Apocalypse Meow has a vision: anime in virtual reality. Specifically, Dai Shogun in virtual reality, via Kickstarter. Naturally, we had a few questions about his ambitious plans.
― Kazuya Sasahara is known among Western fans chiefly for his directorial work on Cat Shit One (also known as Apocalypse Meow in the US), a little CG OVA featuring realistic fuzzy animal...
The X Button - First Impressions: Bravely Second: End Layer
games
This week: a look at Square Enix’s brand new Bravely Second! Plus Valkyrie Profile’s long-awaited return, a newly lost RPG, and a rediscovered fighting game!
― I hope you like Valkyrie Profile, because it comes up in this week's column yet again. And I actually have an excuse for discussing it, too! But first we have a mystery on our hands. It's rare for an unreleased video game to turn up, and it's...
Forget Me Not GN 1
manga
Based on a Taiwanese novel, Forget Me Not's first volume struggles with female characters who are more tropes than people even as it spins a fascinating story.
― Forget Me Not puts readers in a difficult position. Protagonist Yusuke Serizawa isn't really a bad guy per se, but he has hurt plenty of girls and women (and presumably males; they just aren't central to the story), and even if it was due mo...
Anime Spotlight - Shonen Maid
anime
After his mother passed away, grade school boy Chihiro Komiya starts working as a "maid" at his uncle's grand estate.
― Shonen Maid Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Yusuke Yamamoto (Aquarion Evol, Walkure Romanze) Series Composition: Yoshiko Nakamura (Hiiro no Kakera - The Tamayori Princess Saga, Mont...
Anime Spotlight - Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto.
anime
The cool, cooler, coolest high school student is here, and his name is Sakamoto.
― Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto. Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On Air starting April 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Shinji Takamatsu (Gintama (TV), Mobile Suit Gundam X, School Rumble, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!) Character Design: Kana Ishida Atsuko Nakajima (T...
Full Time Managing Editor Wanted in Tokyo
For a project we are developing with one of our partners, Anime News Network is looking for a full time managing editor for a new website. The candidate must possess the following: Experience with online journalism publishing, preferably in anime or a similar niche market (e.g. videogames); Native, professional English language writing skills; Familiarity with the anime industry, market and fandom...