AnimeSuki Forums

Knuckles · 2004-04-12, 11:01

I was thinking, what makes cute anime girls cute. What is the definition of cute ?

Some are stupid/naive but Chiyo~chan is a genius/naive but still cute
so maybe being naive is cute.

Also, flat chested is almost a must, otherwise the stop being cute and become
"sexy" for lack of a better term.

The voice of the character matters alot too, Tama~chan and Mie~chan and
nurse witch Komugi seiyuu is Momoi Haruko, and they are all super cute.

Outfit matters, for instance I think Chiyo in the Penguin outfit or Warukiyure
in here bunny, outfit show that.

Some strange quirks or characteristics help also, like cat ear on Koboshi Uematsu
or the muteness of Sayo.

Not human is a positive trade, for example robot, angel or an alien.

So what are my findings, Naive, flat chested robot girl in an animal outfit with a funny
voice and some quirk.

Now I ask, what do you think are the key elements in making a cute anime girl?
Also what is the target audience ? girls or boys.
The pole is more for fun, but please vote.

Slade xTekno · 2004-04-12, 11:35

I think the word you are looking for is "moe."
This term is used to describe the likeable younger girls in anime [I believe].

I see you're point, though. What makes an anime girl "moe?"
However, I don't think your poll fits your question. Instead of listing specific girls, you should have polled on aspects [like the cat ears or voice talent].
I think it is the general likeableness [is that a word] of the girl. Most young anime girls in general look relatively alike. I think it's the personality...

Knuckles · 2004-04-12, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slade xTekno

I think the word you are looking for is "moe."

Masters of entertainment, in general is to much about fanservice.
For that reason I don't think moe is the definition of cute.
Unless fanservice is cute, and I do not think so.

I am sorry I thought moe was Masters of entertainment. hehe

Yeah, maybe the poll should have been about characteristics
but by choosing an anime you get the general idea I think

Izzy · 2004-04-12, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knuckles

Masters of entertainment, in general is to much about fanservice.
For that reason I don't think moe is the definition of cute.
Unless fanservice is cute, and I do not think so.

no, that not what he means......the japanese otakus use the word "moe~" in replacement of cute and/or "kawaii"

Mr_Paper · 2004-04-12, 11:53

It all depends of the type of cute you want.

In the most general sense of it I'd say you're looking for someone young, it just doesn't seem to work as well if they're older. Although, I suppose if the character looks young it acomplishes the same thing (ie: Mika-sensei(25?) from Senesi no Ojikan) but older characters sometimes work.

Naivity is a must, raw intelligence isn't a factor, so long as the character is somewhat unaware of the social norms and/or accepted practices of society it is all good (ie: Chiyo-chan not understanding the 'sex' talk).

Being flat chested is extremely subjective.

I don't consider this one of those defining charactistics of cuteness. There are plenty or busty characters that I consider cute, for example Aoi from Ai Yori Aoshi, Yurika from Martian Successor Nadesico (Yes, I found her cute somehow o.O) or Kokone from Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (she isn't exactly flat).

If the voice doesn't suit the character or the outfit is unsuitable then that can ruin a potentionally cute character. I don't think having a costume or being a non-human has any relavance to cuteness. Ultimately, you have to decide what's cute to you.

Thany · 2004-04-12, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzy

no, that not what he means......the japanese otakus use the word "moe~" in replacement of cute and/or "kawaii"

Izzy is right, you're confusing with a corporation which has the name of moe... It's just a coincidence I guess

Slade xTekno · 2004-04-12, 12:17

Sorry for the confusion.
My post at first only had the first line. Then I edited it to add the rest.
Knuckles must have seen the unedited one [it seems like he edited his post, also].

Thany · 2004-04-12, 12:37

I can't remember where I happened to learn this (must be here actually) but anime characters which you call "moe~" are supposed to give friendly feelings towards them

7thMethuselah · 2004-04-12, 13:03

my definition of cute (or moe or kawaii or whatever (who cares

) )would be

1. young but not kids
2. good looking
3. innocent
4. naive
5. sad looking eyes at times

, yeah the eyes are a BIG factor in the cuteness
6. voice (important as well

So to me Chii is the very definition of a cute character, the chicks of bottle fairy are cute in their own way but look too young.

Btw you should've added the digi charat characters in your poll, they have a huge cuteness factor as well.

PS didn't we have a very similar thread like this recently?

http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=10612

***relentlessflame*** · 2004-04-12, 13:16

Let's see...
Personality + Looks + Mannerisms + Voice = Cute???

Generally speaking, the more assertive/aggressive a girl is, the less cute she is. That's not to say they can't have cute moments or cute looks, but they're not "cute". That's why younger characters are more likely to be cute; older characters are more likely to be assertive. Obviously this isn't something that's limited to just anime - it's exactly the same in the Real World. (I suspect, but have no proof, that one of the things that makes anime popular to guys is that the girls tend to be less assertive than in real life and thus seem easier to relate to, even if it is fiction. Even the girls that are assertive in anime tend to have flaws that end up revealing their softer side.)

Anyway, it would seem to me that there are also (at least) two kind of cuteness. There's the type of cuteness that would apply to a baby or a child (pretty much every parent thinks their kids are cute up to a certain age when they begin getting aggressive/assertive), and then there's the type of cuteness that could be applied in a romantic sense. For example, Aoi in Ai Yori Aoshi (as Mr_Paper mentioned) is intended to be cute - one of the things Koaru is most attracted to in her is her cuteness. That's the same kind of cute that applies to Karen in Onegai Twins, Kotori in Da Capo, Mitsuki in Yumeria, etc. But I don't think this kind of "cute" is the same as the cute you'd apply to the likes of Chiyo-chan in Azumanga Diaoh, Shinobu in Love Hina, Mone-chan in Yumeria, etc. Maybe it is, but to me there's a difference in the type of cute you see in a child, and the type of cute you might see in someone who is portrayed as a romantic interest to the main character in the show you're watching. Part of that, though, is just due to the extremely vague definition of the word "cute".

P.S. 7thMethuselah, I was thinking the same thing! It's déjà-vu!

Knuckles · 2004-04-12, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thMethuselah

my definition of cute (or moe or kawaii or whatever (who cares

) )would be

1. young but not kids
2. good looking
3. innocent
4. naive
5. sad looking eyes at times

, yeah the eyes are a BIG factor in the cuteness
6. voice (important as well

So to me Chii is the very definition of a cute character, the chicks of bottle fairy are cute in their own way but look too young.

Btw you should've added the digi charat characters in your poll, they have a huge cuteness factor as well.

PS didn't we have a very similar thread like this recently?

http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=10612

I am sorry but I did not notice that thread, anyway I was more thinking
about what made these character cute then maybe specific anime.

The poll was more for fun, and I have not seen Di Gi Charat otherwise
I might have put it in. (also other anime like Tiny Snow Fairy Sugar and
Chrno Crusade - Asmaria~chan)

The problem with Bottle Fairys in the pole is there are to many moe's
and they are different so it dose not help in defining cuteness.

And you are right about the eyes they are a big factor.
Also being kind of helpless helps in being cute.

CerealKiller · 2004-04-12, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thMethuselah

my definition of cute (or moe or kawaii or whatever (who cares

) )would be

1. young but not kids
2. good looking
3. innocent
4. naive
5. sad looking eyes at times

, yeah the eyes are a BIG factor in the cuteness
6. voice (important as well

I think you named it, but i'd like to add one more thing, cute charas don't have to be unatractive.

Kyuven · 2004-04-13, 00:13

i'd definately have to go with Mone from Yumeria...i have a weird thing about cute female characters that repeat words a lot (Mone: "Mone!" Digiko: yadda yadda-nyo" Puchiko: "Yadda yadda-nyu", Chii: "Chii", Neneko: "Yadda Yadda no da!")
sometimes i catch myself saying "pyoro"(Pyoro from Vandread) every now and then...>_<

Kamui4356 · 2004-04-13, 00:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Paper

Yurika from Martian Successor Nadesico (Yes, I found her cute somehow o.O)

So I'm not the only one.

Yurika's great, she's a tactical genius, yet she acts like a complete ditz all the time. The best was when she was hoping Akito comes back safe from his mission and accidentily fires the Nadesico's gravity blast cannon.

Anyway to get on topic, I don't think there's one single way to define what makes a character cute. If you try to make a list of all the female anime characters that are considered cute, in the end the only common trait they'll share is that they are all female anime characters.

Kerensky18 · 2004-04-13, 04:51

Hmm for me it would be chibbi characters I think that they are just freaking cute not sexy as in well you know but cute as in I want a plushie or a key chain thing of them. My definition of cute is basicly well I dont know :-(

+BakuretsuNavi · 2004-04-13, 06:51

Actually, anything I see in an anime girl is cute. Its because they are so well drawn!!

Thany · 2004-04-13, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by +BakuretsuNavi

Actually, anything I see in an anime girl is cute. Its because they are so well drawn!!

I think that isn't what people are talking about actually, they're talking about 'moe~' characters, which gives a feeling of sympathy toward them

kj1980 · 2004-04-13, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thany

I think that isn't what people are talking about actually, they're talking about 'moe~' characters, which gives a feeling of sympathy toward them

So is using an avatar from the ero-game "Hajimete no Orusuban" like you do. It is very moe~....

useless info: "Hajimete no Orusuban" is an ero-game where you are a baby-sitter for your next-door neighbor's twin sisters....who look like they are in elementary school, but are supposedly over the age of 18. Those girls are "moe~."

As for "moe~," I put up a definition somewhere on this board from the Japanese online dictionary "Goo."

synomyms include: (*´Д`)ﾊｧﾊｧ

While the actual definition of 萌え is "to sprout, to bud," the recently added definition (many thanks to otakus) is "to inspire immense love for a fictional character or thing." In a sense, it can be used as a verb or an adjective.

Verb usage: もえたんに萌える - I "moe~"(d) to Moetan
Adjective usage: もえたんは萌えなキャラだ - Moetan is a very "moe~" character
("Moetan" is a character in an English learning book - she is supposedly a high school student, but looks like an elementary school student, and is a magical shoujo who teaches English by using anime/manga related examples)

The adjective form is used heavily often in replacement of "kawaii." But then, the word "kawaii" is still used. hmm, if I think about it, the usage of this word is very hard to explain in English. While not entirely the case, the best idea how to use "moe~" is when you like a character that is "cute, young, childlike, and the theme of the anime is adult-oriented." ugh, bad example as always.

hobobaggins · 2004-04-13, 13:08

specify: Yuuna from Maburaho

Quote:

it would be chibbi characters

*flinch

Quote:

i catch myself saying "pyoro"(Pyoro from Vandread) every now and then...>_<

kero kero!!!

7thMethuselah · 2004-04-13, 13:09

I suggest a forum to discuss the difference between moe~ and kawaii but judging from kj1980's definition I'd say

moe~ : adult themed liking of the character
kawaii : she's cute but no physical attraction (for lack of better terms)

this also seems to discern the difference between the 2 types of cute someone mentioned earlier in this post, and solves the "how young" issue

So judging the girls in the poll we would get

moe~ : Chii
kawaii : bottle fairy girls and PMK mute girl

View Poll Results: What anime has the cutes anime girl(s)
Azumanga Daio: Chiyo (Penguin costume)	5	19.23%
Bottle Fairy: Chiriri(Yellow), Hororo(Black), Kururu(Pink), Sarara(Gray), Tama~chan	4	15.38%
Chobits: Chii(Pantsu Pantsu...) Sumomo(Small PC)	5	19.23%
Nurse Witch Komugi-chan: Komu	0	0%
Pita Ten: Misha(Engel), Shia(Demon), Koboshi Uematsu(cat ear girl)	0	0%
Popotan: Mie	0	0%
Rizelmine: Rizeru	0	0%
UFO Princess Warukyure: Warukiyure(Small Warukyure)	1	3.85%
Peace Maker Kurogane: Sayo (Mute)	3	11.54%
Other, please specify	8	30.77%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

2004-04-12, 11:01	Link #1
Knuckles Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Middle of Atlantic Ocean Age: 44	Cute anime girls and definition of Cute I was thinking, what makes cute anime girls cute. What is the definition of cute ? Some are stupid/naive but Chiyo~chan is a genius/naive but still cute so maybe being naive is cute. Also, flat chested is almost a must, otherwise the stop being cute and become "sexy" for lack of a better term. The voice of the character matters alot too, Tama~chan and Mie~chan and nurse witch Komugi seiyuu is Momoi Haruko, and they are all super cute. Outfit matters, for instance I think Chiyo in the Penguin outfit or Warukiyure in here bunny, outfit show that. Some strange quirks or characteristics help also, like cat ear on Koboshi Uematsu or the muteness of Sayo. Not human is a positive trade, for example robot, angel or an alien. So what are my findings, Naive, flat chested robot girl in an animal outfit with a funny voice and some quirk. Now I ask, what do you think are the key elements in making a cute anime girl? Also what is the target audience ? girls or boys. The pole is more for fun, but please vote. Last edited by Knuckles; 2004-04-12 at 11:33.

2004-04-12, 12:37	Link #8
Thany Unfair Join Date: Nov 2003	I can't remember where I happened to learn this (must be here actually) but anime characters which you call "moe~" are supposed to give friendly feelings towards them __________________

2004-04-12, 11:35	Link #2
Slade xTekno Tekkaman Blade! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bakersfield, CA, USA, Age: 37	I think the word you are looking for is "moe." This term is used to describe the likeable younger girls in anime [I believe]. I see you're point, though. What makes an anime girl "moe?" However, I don't think your poll fits your question. Instead of listing specific girls, you should have polled on aspects [like the cat ears or voice talent]. I think it is the general likeableness [is that a word] of the girl. Most young anime girls in general look relatively alike. I think it's the personality...

2004-04-12, 11:53	Link #5
Mr_Paper Hmm... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Looking for his book...	It all depends of the type of cute you want. In the most general sense of it I'd say you're looking for someone young, it just doesn't seem to work as well if they're older. Although, I suppose if the character looks young it acomplishes the same thing (ie: Mika-sensei(25?) from Senesi no Ojikan) but older characters sometimes work. Naivity is a must, raw intelligence isn't a factor, so long as the character is somewhat unaware of the social norms and/or accepted practices of society it is all good (ie: Chiyo-chan not understanding the 'sex' talk). Being flat chested is extremely subjective. I don't consider this one of those defining charactistics of cuteness. There are plenty or busty characters that I consider cute, for example Aoi from Ai Yori Aoshi, Yurika from Martian Successor Nadesico (Yes, I found her cute somehow o.O) or Kokone from Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (she isn't exactly flat). If the voice doesn't suit the character or the outfit is unsuitable then that can ruin a potentionally cute character. I don't think having a costume or being a non-human has any relavance to cuteness. Ultimately, you have to decide what's cute to you.

2004-04-12, 12:17	Link #7
Slade xTekno Tekkaman Blade! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bakersfield, CA, USA, Age: 37	Sorry for the confusion. My post at first only had the first line. Then I edited it to add the rest. Knuckles must have seen the unedited one [it seems like he edited his post, also].

2004-04-12, 13:03	Link #9
7thMethuselah Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Antwerp area, Belgium, Europa Age: 48	my definition of cute (or moe or kawaii or whatever (who cares ) )would be 1. young but not kids 2. good looking 3. innocent 4. naive 5. sad looking eyes at times , yeah the eyes are a BIG factor in the cuteness 6. voice (important as well So to me Chii is the very definition of a cute character, the chicks of bottle fairy are cute in their own way but look too young. Btw you should've added the digi charat characters in your poll, they have a huge cuteness factor as well. PS didn't we have a very similar thread like this recently? http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=10612

2004-04-12, 13:16	Link #10
*relentlessflame* 　 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2003 Age: 42	Let's see... Personality + Looks + Mannerisms + Voice = Cute??? Generally speaking, the more assertive/aggressive a girl is, the less cute she is. That's not to say they can't have cute moments or cute looks, but they're not "cute". That's why younger characters are more likely to be cute; older characters are more likely to be assertive. Obviously this isn't something that's limited to just anime - it's exactly the same in the Real World. (I suspect, but have no proof, that one of the things that makes anime popular to guys is that the girls tend to be less assertive than in real life and thus seem easier to relate to, even if it is fiction. Even the girls that are assertive in anime tend to have flaws that end up revealing their softer side.) Anyway, it would seem to me that there are also (at least) two kind of cuteness. There's the type of cuteness that would apply to a baby or a child (pretty much every parent thinks their kids are cute up to a certain age when they begin getting aggressive/assertive), and then there's the type of cuteness that could be applied in a romantic sense. For example, Aoi in Ai Yori Aoshi (as Mr_Paper mentioned) is intended to be cute - one of the things Koaru is most attracted to in her is her cuteness. That's the same kind of cute that applies to Karen in Onegai Twins, Kotori in Da Capo, Mitsuki in Yumeria, etc. But I don't think this kind of "cute" is the same as the cute you'd apply to the likes of Chiyo-chan in Azumanga Diaoh, Shinobu in Love Hina, Mone-chan in Yumeria, etc. Maybe it is, but to me there's a difference in the type of cute you see in a child, and the type of cute you might see in someone who is portrayed as a romantic interest to the main character in the show you're watching. Part of that, though, is just due to the extremely vague definition of the word "cute". P.S. 7thMethuselah, I was thinking the same thing! It's déjà-vu!

2004-04-13, 00:13	Link #13
Kyuven Bishoujo Goodness Galore! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Stuck Between Reality and Fantasy	i'd definately have to go with Mone from Yumeria...i have a weird thing about cute female characters that repeat words a lot (Mone: "Mone!" Digiko: yadda yadda-nyo" Puchiko: "Yadda yadda-nyu", Chii: "Chii", Neneko: "Yadda Yadda no da!") sometimes i catch myself saying "pyoro"(Pyoro from Vandread) every now and then...>_<

2004-04-13, 04:51	Link #15
Kerensky18 ?Sleep? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Earth Age: 41	Hmm for me it would be chibbi characters I think that they are just freaking cute not sexy as in well you know but cute as in I want a plushie or a key chain thing of them. My definition of cute is basicly well I dont know :-(

2004-04-13, 06:51	Link #16
+BakuretsuNavi Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004	Actually, anything I see in an anime girl is cute. Its because they are so well drawn!!

2004-04-13, 13:09	Link #20
7thMethuselah Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Antwerp area, Belgium, Europa Age: 48	I suggest a forum to discuss the difference between moe~ and kawaii but judging from kj1980's definition I'd say moe~ : adult themed liking of the character kawaii : she's cute but no physical attraction (for lack of better terms) this also seems to discern the difference between the 2 types of cute someone mentioned earlier in this post, and solves the "how young" issue So judging the girls in the poll we would get moe~ : Chii kawaii : bottle fairy girls and PMK mute girl