Moe as an Insult
So this website I need to do this project is down so I decided to post on here instead about something that is bothering me. Lately I have been seeing more and more people call cute/sweet natured charactes Moe as an insult (and admittedly I am probably guilty of this myself.) I am talking about characters like Nia, Hagu, Ranka, etc. Okay don't get me wrong maybe these characters do have some Moe attributes to them and you can't help that some fans will like them for these attributes but that is not all there is to these characters. My dislike of Moe is not because I dislike sweet natured characters it is when these attributes are only used to attract a male audience and there is nothing more to the character. I dislike the "fanservice" aspect of Moe. And yes I know real Moe is not meant to be sexualized but I feel in some cases it has become this. If a character is only popular because they are "cute" and not because they are a well written character this is what bothers me. Because you can be "cute" and well written and I actually think these 3 characters (especially Nia and Hagu) are examples of this.
But my problem is when Sheryl and Yoko fans bash Ranka and Nia for Moeness and don't realize that these characters are also a type of fanservice. Don't get me wrong I do think there is more to both Sheryl and Yoko too and they are both well written characters that is why I can look past the "fanservice" for them too. But the fact remains that Moe/Girls with big boobs are really two sides of the same coin. They might attract different types of fans but they are still meant to "attract".
But my problem is when Sheryl and Yoko fans bash Ranka and Nia for Moeness and don't realize that these characters are also a type of fanservice. Don't get me wrong I do think there is more to both Sheryl and Yoko too and they are both well written characters that is why I can look past the "fanservice" for them too. But the fact remains that Moe/Girls with big boobs are really two sides of the same coin. They might attract different types of fans but they are still meant to "attract".