Chuunibyou - Character Discussion - Rikka Takanashi

[Chaos2Frozen]

Originally Posted by Arturia Polaris

I don't think it was gratitude, but more like a condition Mori Summer put.

And why would Nibutani care what Rikka calls her little club?

[Arturia Polaris]

The same reason she chose to stay in the club, she actually enjoys the whole thing... deep down.

Arty

[Chaos2Frozen]

Originally Posted by Arturia Polaris

The same reason she chose to stay in the club, she actually enjoys the whole thing... deep down.

Arty

But that's not the same as being concern about what to call the club; are you saying (for argument sake) that had Rikka not add that one word in the name Nibutani wouldn't have joined them ? Or at least would have made a fuss about it?

[Kaoru Chujo]

I think the club name was gratitude -- and humour by the staff. Nibutani couldn't have cared less what they called the club, as long as she got her manuscript out of circulation. But Rikka was grateful that the club could be saved, and went ahead and did it on her own.

I think Yuuta is her soulmate in her fantasy world, like a best friend and partner, but being human she can't help getting some physical and emotional feelings toward him, too. Is she thinking romance right now (episode 6)? I'm not sure, but I don't think so. She just has unconscious feelings that come out in little playlets like that hand-holding as the wind passed by (at the railway crossing). And in her admiring eyes after he gave her the new mail address. And in her twinge of jealousy when he looked at Nibutani's form in the pool.

I think Rikka is just about as moe as an anime character can get. Moe in the original Akamatsu Ken sense of a child-like person whom you just can't help wanting to take care of. And usually a person with some fetishistic characteristic (e.g., being tsundere, or wearing an eyepatch) and perhaps a handicap of some kind (chuunibyou, that eyepatch).

Moe has become a much more general word over the years since it first came into wide circulation (around 2005). Now it just means something like "makes me hot for her." But Akamatsu claimed that real moe had no sexual content, and was just a reflex response of wanting to protect and look after such a person. I've never actually believed the nonsexual part, to be honest. Nor do I here. But in all other ways, Rikka fits that original meme as well as any character ever has.

[Hyper]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I think Yuuta is her soulmate in her fantasy world, like a best friend and partner, but being human she can't help getting some physical and emotional feelings toward him, too. Is she thinking romance right now (episode 6)? I'm not sure, but I don't think so. She just has unconscious feelings that come out in little playlets like that hand-holding as the wind passed by (at the railway crossing). And in her admiring eyes after he gave her the new mail address. And in her twinge of jealousy when he looked at Nibutani's form in the pool.

Totally agree on this. Her feeling is still developing and she doesn't know that yet. It is a part of her charm, really. She doesn't plan them to be the case, but what she feel like doing are making Yuuta (start) falling for her.

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Moe has become a much more general word over the years since it first came into wide circulation (around 2005). Now it just means something like "makes me hot for her." But Akamatsu claimed that real moe had no sexual content, and was just a reflex response of wanting to protect and look after such a person. I've never actually believed the nonsexual part, to be honest. Nor do I here. But in all other ways, Rikka fits that original meme as well as any character ever has.

I don't know what was said, but I believe that moe does not have to imply sexual is more accurate. They are not mutually exclusive, though it is the case for me personally. To not going too off-topic, for me, Rikaa is a character that go into the pure moe catagories, which mean I avoid any NSFW material featuring her.

[Arturia Polaris]

I just realized that Rikka's sister is extremely... well developed if you know what I mean. Rikka is a potential hottie (even more than Mori Summer... actually nvm that)

Arty

[Aquifina]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I think Rikka is just about as moe as an anime character can get. Moe in the original Akamatsu Ken sense of a child-like person whom you just can't help wanting to take care of. And usually a person with some fetishistic characteristic (e.g., being tsundere, or wearing an eyepatch) and perhaps a handicap of some kind (chuunibyou, that eyepatch).

Well, that's an interesting definition. I usually just think of moe as kawaii plus a certain amount of immature child-like behavior plus some kind of eccentricity, although this vague conception of mine fits well with Rikka's character also (although it'd also apply to Chitanda from Hyouka). Your definition strikes me as a more articulate version of the general sense I have when I think of moe.

However one wishes to define it, it's clear Rikka is moe, but so much of her character is also driven by the comic premises of the series, which I see as a somewhat separate issue. This sometimes verges on the edge of making Rikka downright annoying, which I at least wouldn't associate with moe.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by Aquifina

...However one wishes to define it, it's clear Rikka is moe, but so much of her character is also driven by the comic premises of the series, which I see as a somewhat separate issue. This sometimes verges on the edge of making Rikka downright annoying, which I at least wouldn't associate with moe.

Good point. Probably didn't occur to me since I don't find her at all annoying. And can't a tsundere be annoying? That's a standard type of moe character. Anyway, I think of those "comic premises" as the context of Rikka's fetish/eccentricity, so not separate from her moe appeal.

I finally found a translation of the original post in which Akamatsu Ken defines moe. There's interesting detail there.

[Aquifina]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Good point. Probably didn't occur to me since I don't find her at all annoying. And can't a tsundere be annoying? That's a standard type of moe character. Anyway, I think of those "comic premises" as the context of Rikka's fetish/eccentricity, so not separate from her moe appeal.

Tsunderes *are* frustrating to watch at times, but Rikka's antics take it to a whole new level. Don't get me wrong; it's really part of her charm, but the writers really do push things to the edge, especially in the early eps, where we don't see the scenes that are starting to make Yuuta's heart melt.

[Arturia Polaris]

I kind of agree here. The whole talking-to-the-teacher-so-I-can-go-home-with-Yuuta thingy pissed me off, even more when she's clinging to Yuuta and stopping him from "growing" in a way.

Arty

[ultimatemegax]

Today's blog post confirmed that Rikka's birthday is June 12.

[Lord of Fire]

Originally Posted by ultimatemegax

Today's blog post confirmed that Rikka's birthday is June 12.

Why am I not surprised?

Images

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

[Gault]

Spoiler:

Rikka has the hots for Yuuta now

[Lord of Fire]

Originally Posted by Gault

Spoiler:

Rikka has the hots for Yuuta now

I'd argue that it's been that way for quite some time (maybe even since she first met him), but it's only know that she's actually beginning to understand what she's feeling.

[Itlandm]

If she understood what she was feeling, she would not go on about how excited she was. (Near the end of episode 8.) She would be embarrassed about sniffing his clothes, or talking about her excitement while watching a love story on TV. She is still like a child, only her body is growing up. It is very lucky for her that Yuuta is such a reliable young man. At some point I suppose she will find out though.

[-Necromancer-]

Hello im new here just now actually so please tell me if I mess up or something?

Also I love rikka ^_^ I cant wait to see the ending between her and Dark flame master

[Lord of Fire]

Originally Posted by Itlandm

If she understood what she was feeling, she would not go on about how excited she was. (Near the end of episode 8.) She would be embarrassed about sniffing his clothes, or talking about her excitement while watching a love story on TV. She is still like a child, only her body is growing up. It is very lucky for her that Yuuta is such a reliable young man. At some point I suppose she will find out though.

I did say she was beginning to understand it, not that she knew it right from the start. She's starting to realize she feels a kind of attraction towards Yuuta, but it'll probably take a little longer for her to fully realize that she's fallen for him.