why-is-this-not-moe-001.jpg

A newspaper is recruiting writers by asking whether they can give three reasons as to why the above character isn’t moe.

Those capable of giving the “right” answer could find themselves with a chance of landing a position at the Kobe Shimbun as an online contributor, although due to government “job creation” conditions attached to the post they have to be unemployed to begin with.

Fortunately there are plenty of unemployed otaku on 2ch ready to offer opinions:

“Because it’s rubbish. As a result it doesn’t look cute.”

“The eyes are too big, the character is too blue, and it looks like a crude rip off of Hatsune Miku.”

“The colours are dull and too uniform, there’s no life to the eyes and the pose is weird.”

“The drawing is rough, I’m sure I’ve seen it somewhere before, and it’s all blue.”

“The moetards aren’t going to shut up about this. Nicely done, Kobe Shimbun.”

[Innumerable opinions follow, almost all criticising some combination of rough drawing, excessive blueness, huge eyes, obvious Miku similiarities and awkward posing.]

“Give three reasons why this character is cute.”

why-is-this-not-moe-002.png

“The situation, her blushing and the fact she is wearing nothing but an open shirt.”

“Bed, Y-shirt, breasts.”

“Cute, breasts, I’m hard.”

[Thread denizens decide to take matters into their own hands:]

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“You managed to turn it into an ordinary moe character – you guys are amazing…”


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    124 Comments
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    Avatar of garturo62
    Comment by garturo62
    14:08 15/01/2011 # ! Quality (+0.9)

    she's not moe because it's badly drawn.

    Comment by flood
    14:18 15/01/2011 # ! Quality (+1.0)

    ^this

    yes

    exactly

    Avatar of tyciol
    Comment by tyciol
    15:51 27/03/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    Pretty sure there's a lot of badly drawn moe, does not disqualify.

    Comment by Tenno Seremel
    18:15 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    ++

    The one and sufficient reason.

    Comment by คภєк๏
    13:59 15/01/2011 # ! Good (+0.7)

    The correct answer is: moe is subjective.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:03 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's not really all that subjective, actually. Understanding the points of moe is crucial, even if one does not like a particular character itself.

    Comment by คภєк๏
    14:27 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    You are welcome to your opinion, with which I do not agree. <.<

    Comment by flood
    14:26 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    The artist just sucked. I think it really isn't moe to all.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:31 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    I've seen moe described as "cute", and I've also seen it to describe things which are more sexualised. So which is it? Or is it both?

    Comment by คภєк๏
    14:54 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    It depends on what gives you a certain feeling which is unfortunately difficult to describe.

    Avatar of Imyou
    Comment by Imyou
    08:58 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    Neither. Moe was originally supposed to be a sort of feeling you'd get like you wanted to protect the character, hug them, be like a big brother or parent/etc. Nowadays, it seems synonymous with kawaii, which makes it redundant.

    But saying "moe = cute" is like saying "umami = salty."

    Avatar of Yuuki
    Comment by Wisteria Berlitz
    20:11 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    Moe can mean many stuff
    萌え~

    Avatar of SOTER
    Comment by SOTER
    16:01 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    There's a certain feeling I have when I see weapons especially cold weapons and medieval armours. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. ^_^

    Avatar of Moga
    Comment by Moga
    15:57 15/01/2011 # ! Good (+0.6)

    Why is she not moe?
    Why because she has no backstory!
    Allow me to remedy this:
    She was a lowly, clumsy schoolgirl at a reputable 24-hr. a day attendance highschool where she was kidnapped by a newspaper and forced by the awful hands of the Flatworlders to become a picture whored around until a newspaper decided to troll 2ch which is where her adventure begins...

    Avatar of Syobon
    Comment by Syobon
    Comment by Anonymous
    16:17 15/01/2011 # ! Good (+0.6)

    IMO it's actually pretty cute that someone draws like this... ~~'

    The actual drawing though...*blergh*

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:18 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.4)

    Translators note: kowai means こわい

    Avatar of Zwars
    Comment by Zwars
    14:38 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    Kowai indeed

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:11 15/01/2011 # ! Drivel (-0.7)

    I guess you meant "kawaii", right?

    Comment by flood
    14:18 15/01/2011 # ! Quality (+1.0)

    I'm just glad anon didn't spell it as "kawai"

    and I think Syobon really meant "kowai"

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:29 15/01/2011 # ! Good (+0.6)

    Not weaboo enough Anon.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:28 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.4)

    Just one: My otaku sense aren't tingling.

    Avatar of AVEN
    Comment by AVEN
    14:00 15/01/2011 # ! Good (+0.4)

    Abstract Moe art!!!

    Jackson Pollock will be proud

    Avatar of Shizu's Waki Obsessor: MaidNiac
    16:07 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    Give the artist at least 4 more years. Remember the Practice Makes Perfect article..

    Comment by Anonymous
    18:32 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    it's so hideous it is kind of moe to begin with.
    like some sort of 2D busukawaii.

    Comment by Anonymous
    18:37 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    dissapoint this is not like those vipper threads. I kinda hoped the would made an awesome version of that one.

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:45 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    it's definitely the art...
    improve the art a bit, and moetards will follow

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:27 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Dunno why, but I find miserable poorly made things whom no one likes... moe.

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:29 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    heck it either has 3 legs or it has a huge dick. it's a monster.

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:11 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    please do not mock my potato

    Avatar of Ota-Kool
    Comment by Ota-Kool
    04:44 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Some art kind alike with Lucky Star. Does it means Kagami Yoshimizu's art is not Moe?

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:54 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    remember who paid the bill? you owe me 20 bucks

    Avatar of Lunatique
    Comment by Lunatique
    23:56 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    - No expression
    - Weird eyes
    - No blush
    And it's not a K-on! character! [joke]

    But my version is weird too, I'm bad with drawing:
    http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8/whyisthisnotmoe014.jpg

    Comment by Anonymous
    22:56 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    1. Ugly face
    2. Bad proportions
    3. Generally just a really bad drawing style...

    Avatar of DieHardjagged
    Comment by DieHardjagged
    23:52 15/01/2011 # ! Neutral (-0.2)

    Troll more, i like to see what else you got.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:29 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    So, they have to formulate anti-otaku statements, i take it. How very fitting, if we consider the liberal middle-ages we now live in.

    Avatar of Cytryz
    Comment by Cytryz
    00:12 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    The eyes... These eyes really are just awful and would not pass as moe

    Shape of the head moe characters have much smoother and rounder heads

    if it is not adorable its not moe

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:40 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    11 is very cute.

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:39 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    1. Character proportions - To be chibi-like, the head is way too small, the body is way too large. Also, three legs.
    2. Head (not the sex kind) - The eyes are extremely plain and don't fit with the character. I don't mind the puzzled look, but DEM EYES. Also, the hair (to a lesser extent) is boring and an extremely typical choice
    3. Clothing - Her seifuku is horribly disfigured, and everything's the exact same colour (or white).

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:14 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    1. The eyes. They look too dilated, making her look like a zombie.
    2. Overall color. Too much blue and lack of anything else. That's why most Sailor Fuku's are white with a touch of other colors on it. If you want a single color to define the whole subject, I suggest Red (eg Ferrari's trademark color).
    3. Speaking of red, there's also the lack of blush, which also gives the impression that she's emotionless or even dead. Take for instance Saki (the titular character from that mahjong manga/anime).

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:11 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Second to last one is moe imo

    Avatar of nonsensezzz
    Comment by nonsensezzz
    23:20 17/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    yeah, i'm too imo, that's moe

    ..after makeover of the original lol

    Avatar of Gitami
    Comment by Gitami
    10:52 16/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Reason why she is moe.
    She must have awesome story like Yotsuba Sugimoto.

    Avatar of 21149315
    Comment by 21149315
    16:37 17/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    She is now taking over the internet. Having being dubbed "いまいち" (Imaichi)

    Here she is in MMD form
    *Nico - sm13­319739 / sm13320268
    *Youtube - v=WXlqQxl8jxU / v=pTTzDfN-MCc

    Avatar of 21149315
    Comment by 21149315
    17:00 17/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Ah wait full name er... title?
    "いまいち萌えない娘"

    Comment by Anonymous
    07:46 19/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Who was the genius troll who concocted the idea to make people fron 2ch to pivix and net artist to transform a (intentionally) badly done drawing into an internet character/meme? :)

    Avatar of Chen-04
    Comment by Chen-04
    17:25 24/08/2013 # ! Neutral (0)

    Correct answer:

    1) Eyes
    2) Nose
    3) Mouth

    Avatar of RiceDragon
    Comment by RiceDragon
    22:43 14/09/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    I Wonder why there hasn't been anyone who left the picture as is, I know there are moe rules but the eye of the beholder and all that XD

    Comment by Anonymous
    21:03 27/07/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    TL:DR - Bad art will ruin any moe characterization no matter what those moe elements are.

    Seems to be mostly agreed upon that moe is basically the concept of tickling our instincts to protect, cherish, and nurture a character. Every aspect is considered as well: Appearance, background, personality, behavior, voice, etc. What exactly are the details is up to the person though, so it is certainly subjective and time will change what is common.

    Going by static looks alone, there dose seem to be a pattern of physical traits that are appealing. Just being kawaii is too vague, however. Moe seems much more defined. For example, the original Hello Kitty artwork might be kawaii, but wouldn't be moe to many people. But, if you put her in a maid outfit, make her wink and blush a bit, put glasses on her, add a bit of a twinkle in her eye, and pose her standing with one knee bent and waving an arm, suddenly she turns very moe. Presentation makes all the difference.

    In the drawing that started this whole discussion you can see not everyone agrees what traits are moe with the different attempts to improve it. Cheek blush seems to be the most common element people add in. My own analysis of the drawing:

    OK elements: Pigtails, sitting posture, school uniform.

    Negative elements: Eyes too big and dead looking, ahoge too small, face not round enough, no blush on the cheeks, mouth is awkward, nose position too high above the base of the ginormous eyes.

    "Too much blue!" color criticism is less to do with moe and more to do with basic art elements being poorly used (color and value). Its just very boring and somewhat hard to make out shapes at first.

    Comment by Anonymous
    23:40 27/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Looks like something out of Megatokyo...or any other "American Manga."

    Comment by Anonymous
    00:28 17/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Anyone else thinking the "3rd leg" looks more like a foot? maybe it's just me

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:41 17/01/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    Nope. First part of the left leg we see is the area down to the knee. The supposed third part is just the lower leg area.

    Simple to see if you look at the right leg and see that the lower sock has the same pattern as the supposed third part.





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