Hopefully All I’ll Ever Have To Write About M-o-é

Since I began working a day job where my computer use is restricted, I’ve had to catch up on Twitter happenings in long bursts once I get home. Earlier today (Monday), another discussion about moé occurred among the people I follow. I didn’t really have a good opinion about what was discussed but I still wanted to say something more substantive than “I don’t really care”.

It was when I read the following words from the writer of AnimeVision (@animevision) that I had a moment of clarity and knew how to phrase my personal attitude toward this subject:

Try this: ‘moe’ is what I feel when I see my kids. They’re small, cute, vulnerable, and unwise to the ways of the world. They need… #
…protection, and the feelings I have for them make me want to provide that protection. Nothing more, nothing less. That people can… #
…develop that sort of attachment (or more!) to a ’2D’ character is an interesting concept, though. Moe for me in anime is simply visuals. #

That desire to protect and take care of something smaller than oneself (even a pet) is something that feels a little odd to me now but perhaps such feelings may develop inside me when I get older and maybe have kids or get an animal companion. In the present, I prefer strong characters in my entertainment – or rather, ones with resolve and thoughtfulness. Outspoken, smart, sensual personas over those who are jitteringly nervous, whiny, or naïve. A different sort of idealization but one that I’m more comfortable with than an objectifying kind.

I don’t go out of my way to trash things dubbed as moé material because I would rather spend my time with something I might enjoy. Last summer, I tried to give Kanamemo a chance because it dealt with delivering newspapers. In the first four episodes I watched, there were some good moments like Saki (the flat-chested chief) managing her delivery crew and the girls singing in a park to placate a group of creepy guys with cameras into buying subscriptions. I also enjoyed the relationship between Yuuki and Yume and the mutual affection each had for the other.

However, the mothering overaffection of Haruka toward Kana (and even Saki) unnerved me enough that I haven’t gone back to the series. I may someday return and finish it – who knows. I acknowledge that Haruka’s behavior was supposed to be funny and it probably was funny or cute to some viewers but not to me.

I find both sides of this amorphous debate increasingly annoying – it’s become such a tired topic. The fires of haters and defenders seem to burn stronger with each passing month. Can’t we just go back to using “adorable” to describe approximately the same thing? Moé may have different meanings to many people – this guy wrote a tl;dr piece about six of them – but I would like to withdraw myself from any further discourse surrounding it and focus my energy toward more constructive endeavors.