On more than one occasion, I’ve been described as a moe fanatic. Or, in less amicable instances, accused.
Even though I don’t really agree with the characterization, I generally take it in stride. After all, I do watch a lot of shows that cater to the moe crowd. And, I’ve never been one to rail against the presence of moe in an otherwise non-moe show (you got moe in my serious business!). I suppose simply accepting and occasionally enjoying moe is enough to make one a moe fanatic in the eyes of anti-moe zealots. It can’t be helped.
However, given how moe is as common to manga and anime nowadays as dirt is to the ground, it’s kind of hard to avoid the stuff, now isn’t it? I have to respect those who show disdain for moe not for their impeccable taste, but rather their talent for extracting garbage from a landfill.
Seriously, though, with moe being such a regular part of today’s anime scene, I find that my definition of what constitutes a “moe vehicle” is constantly changing. Does the mere presence of a single moe character a moe vehicle make? And, for that matter, what is a moe character? A character who behaves in an obvious moe fashion? Any female character below the age of twenty-five? Any female character? Any non-Hokuto no Ken character? And how much moe makes a moe vehicle (if a moe vehicle could chuck wood)? Moe, as far as the eye can see? A dash of moe for taste? The color pink somewhere in the logo?
And, while we’re at it, what the hell does moe mean in the first place?
In other words, if moe is such an ill-defined concept, is there value in categorizing shows as such, this one in the “moe” column, that one in the “not moe” column? Or, for that matter, is there value in categorizing fans in much the same fashion? After all, those who would describe me as a moe fanatic no doubt subscribe to a more liberal definition of what is and isn’t moe than I do. The shows I would consider to be overwhelmingly moe, I rarely watch. And, if I examine my list of all-time favorite anime series (which you can find here), I only find four or five shows that exhibit what I would consider moe tendencies - and only one that I would consider a true moe vehicle.
But you might feel differently. In fact, I’d expect you to feel differently. That’s just the way moe is.
Kumbaya.
I still don’t understand you “gar” fans, though. That’s just weird.
