No.9645
Out of the 3 subjects below, which one do you think is "cute"? Or which one fits your definition of "cute"?
I urge you to choose either one of the three, but I added the mixed options for when it can not be helped.This Bisque Doll ED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75WraMAZ0LoTeoritta:
https://x0.at/x--A.webm https://x0.at/jxFf.webmDu:
https://x0.at/kxX6.webmMy personal pick is Teoritta.
Despite "Kawaii" (cute) being in the song title, the ED is more seductive than it is cute, and I feel like Du tries too hard to be cute.
In my opinion, Du has fallen victim to the anime's own concept of being about cuteness; her anime doesn't exist without either her, or the concept that she is cute. She has to be portrayed as the cutest there is. However, in doing that, it becomes less "cute"; the more intentional something seems, the less cute it becomes.
In contrast, Teoritta's story isn't "Teoritta cute" first, it's a fantasy story first and Teoritta just happens to be the cutest character in it. The writers aren't desperate to have Teoritta be the cutest there is.
Rirui (from 29 yo adventurer) is another character who's essentially the same as Du (in that they're both toddlers who're supposed to awaken some parental instinct in you), but is cuter than Du. I believe this also stems from the fact that Rirui's anime isn't "Rirui's cute!" first, it's an adventure anime first, and Rirui just happens to be a cute character in it.
So, I ask you, what is your "cute", Anonymous?
No.9646
Although I'd say both Teoritta and Doux are both 'cute', they're very different kinds of cute. Doux is the same cute I'd say when looking at a rabbit or something, not necessarily being attracted to her, but more an 'awwww' type of cute. Whereas Teoritta is the kind of cute where I feel she is both 'cute', as well as attractive both regularly and sexually. It's times like this where words like 'moe' come in handy, because they represent those feelings pretty well without a blanket term like 'cute' (that being said, the definition of moe has changed over time and had rather vague definitions even during the peak of its use).
an aside
I've seen various Japanese sources say part of the rise in usage of the word 'moe' came from the need for a word that deviates from how the average norm (perhaps riajuu in this case) would use 'kawaii' - i.e. a highschool girl describing a sanrio character as 'kawaii' isn't necessarily the same emotion that you feel when looking at, say, an ichigo marshmallow character, despite being able to describe them as 'kawaii' too. Hence, moe.[det]
and that's even ignoring the potential sexual connotations moe can have too! Moe is very interesting.
No.9647
>ED
girlycute
>Teoritta
erocute
>Du
KAWAISUGIIIII
No.9648
>>9645there are multiplechoice polls btw
No.9649
On a scale where 1 is a completely neutral response and 10 is a heart attack, none of your examples score above a 5. I would give an edge to Teroitta because her energy and hippyhops are cute and make it seem like she might have more to offer.
They all have aspects that are objectively cute, but none of them are particularly cute to me due to a lack of context. I need to grow accustomed to a character and her personality in order to develop an attachment that allows me to experience feelings of moe. Within the <10 second clips and the vague ED, no such attachment exists or could exist. It's all just meaningless chibi blobs, like how seeing a random baby or puppy doesn't make me feel anything even if I know it, in and of itself, is cute. In contrast, if you take a character I'm familiar with, understand, know to be multi-faceted, and am invested in, I will feel either extreme fuwafuwa if I see her happy, or a desire to comfort and protect if I see her sad.
No.9650
>>9645On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being maximum cuteness:
Bisque Doll:
1 out of 10. There is zero moe value here. This is cute as an "aesthetic" or fashion trend which makes it
very uncute as it invokes real life parallels. Fits the theme of the show, though so it's good, just not in this way.
Teoritta: 7 out of 10. She's great, very endearing and you want to protect her. Her show is quite grim so you want to see her happy and it inspires those classic 'desire to protect' instincts. Needs headpats.
Doux:
6 out of 10. Doux is very cute, but in a very boilerplate way. Nina's VA does the heavy lifting here. It does inspire moe feelings, but there's something about it that's very generic that takes away from it.
If you want another seasonal addition:
Suzuki:
8 out of 10. A rare high score for anything from me, much less a romcom. While it's easy to say Suzuki gets points from the excellent production values that give her 20 well animated reaction faces per episode, she's also a very endearing person with an empathic and kind personality that endears her to you. The excellent writing fills out her personality and makes you want to cheer for her every step of the way. Her weaknesses are highlighted like her inability to smile for pictures (relatable) or the insecurity she feels in trying to avoid offending that dork Tani. I'm sure many would scoff at the very suggestion that a 2D girl with a boyfriend could be this cute, but she is! The way she encourages him and feels second-hand pride at his social gains really makes me smile. You also see her being scared of being seen with her hair undone or without makeup and that's the kind of thing that is very cute!
SUZUKI CUTE! No.9652
>>9651This is interesting because I actually didn't find her design cute in the slightest and didn't watch her show because of it, but since you're giving it such high praise I might have to...
No.9653
>>9652Well, it's a different kind of cute, I suppose. I didn't mention moe at all because I don't think it implies. It's a more mature, social kind of cute, but in a thread about a "theory of cute" I think it deserves a mention since it's currently airing. It hits a different part of the brain, but releases happy feelings all the same.
She does have lots of cute faces, but a lot of it is contextual.
Like this image, why is it cute? It probably doesn't look notably cute by itself.
The cuteness is enhanced because it's a scene of her glancing at her new dorky has-trouble-talking boyfriend talking to her friends and getting along, which makes her feel giddy. It's really cute how she fidgets over it.
There's a pureness to her reactions that is very, very cute.
No.9655
Interesting poll. Just in general the only things I personally perceive as cute are adult men behaving like kids (most prominently the mentally handicapped, but also the type of "normal" men that doesn't take itself so seriously that they can't display genuine wonder and enjoyment for things anymore) and animals. It feels a little bit out of character for me to vote here at all, but I do genuinely think the little demon girl is cute, so I voted for her. Her and Koupen are currently the two cutest characters on Kissu to me, and her case I think it's because I think of her type of innocence to be relatively close to that of mentally handicapped adults, which I don't mean to sound negative at all. I will also never understand why the term "cute" seems to so often get used for erotic things, a genre I think of as the exact opposite.
No.9663
>>9654PaParuParu~ please let me taste your love chocolate!
No.9664
anyone who thinks doux is "too cute" or "tries too hard" is suffering from slanderous cute aggression and needs to purify themselves through internal alchemy until they have shed away all intolerance to megacute or they'll be kicked out of the mansion like the frog in a well they truly are
No.9669
It bothers me how small Suzuki's pupils always are.
No.9670
>>9645Kawaii ≠ moe.
Moe is a feeling/attitude towards 2D characters, but kawaii is broader than that.
3D kittens are kawaii. An apple with a smiley face drawn on it is kawaii. Abstract designs can be kawaii. Something can be kawaii regardless of how you feel about it, which also makes it narrower than moe in a way.
>>9646>an asideI think that captures something pretty essential: sublimated sexual attraction might be an important part of moe. In other words: to feel "moe" for a character, they must signal enough sexual agency to make you think "I'd tap that" (even if it's only subconsciously on both ends), but also enough vulnerability to make you want to sublimate that into "I'd protect that" to invert that power dynamic. Hence the daughterwife memes. That's also why mascot animals can be kawaii, but not moe.
>>9649>I need to grow accustomed to a character and her personality in order to develop an attachment that allows me to experience feelings of moe.I agree, and I think this goes a long way to explain the difference.
>>9650Seihantai is an interesting example. On a Sanrio to Marin scale, Suzuki's gyaru look is closer to Marin, but her personality is closer to a Sanrio character (except more grounded). The dynamic between Suzuki/Marin and their love interest in both shows is on the cute-and-innocent end of the scale. If you feel differently about them,
why is that?
Personally, I want to protect both of them. No.9672
>>9670>to feel "moe" for a character, they must signal enough sexual agency to make you think "I'd tap that" >mascot animals can be kawaii, but not moeYou have no idea how much hello kitty porn there is
No.9673
>>9672If someone faps to Hello Kitty, they're clearly not sublimating the sexual aspect of their emotional attraction.
No.9675
>>9670>I think that captures something pretty essential: sublimated sexual attraction might be an important part of moeWhat the heck? Cute, sure, people can find many things cute including things that are also sexy. But moe? No. Moe and attraction are contradictory. Moe is a feeling of something precious you want to protect and nurture, a purity of essence that you would die to protect. The very idea of corrupting it with sexuality is unforgivable to an celebrator of moe. I feel like this is part of 2D culture that has died over the years.
The Precures are a good example of something celebrated as cute that many also see as sexy at the same time.
>daughterwife memesKimo!
No.9677
>>9675This post is moe...
No.9679
>>9675>Moe and attraction are contradictoryMentally addled thought. I'm not trusting your rewrites of history ever.
No.9681
>>9675>Moe and attraction are contradictory.>The Precures are a good example of something celebrated as cute that many also see as sexy at the same time....
>>9677You can't just sexualize posters like that!
No.9683
>>9675sadly NOT true if you consult the writings of the nipponic fathers you will see that galge are moe yet routinely contain ero and vns considered moege will do so as well this has been the case for decades and it's well established within the moeist body that this presents no contraction but is rather a consummation of pure love
source: just look at this
https://moepedia.net/game/ No.9684
>>9675The idea of moe and sexuality have been linked by many since 'moe' became a thing, despite many people insisting they are only ever possible separately (not saying you're wrong to feel that, it's your opinion). Perhaps that idea was more prominent amongst westerners?
But I don't feel something like sexuality is inherently filthy or dirty, therefore in my mind 'moe' doesn't really contradict with any sort of lewd act. Something can evoke 'moe' feelings, and at the same time think 'this is a character I'd like to feel close to and treasure through having sex'. Sex can be just another, albeit stronger, expression of love, a way to feel close to someone and express those moe feelings of wanting to protect them towards them. It's not necessarily an act just for fulfilling some filthy desire, and I've struggled with thoughts that any sort of sexuality is filthy for a long time, but I don't think so anymore. If a character is clumsy and falls over, showing their panties, the ドジっ子 aspect can be interpreted as 萌え要素, and yet at the same time the display of panties is clearly there for sexual satisfaction, it's meant to be arousing (or at least stimulating). Hell, what do you think almost every single eroge or dating simulator or whatever has functioned on? That's where moe thrived and flourished for years and yet at the same time sex is present throughout.
No.9686
>>9685doomed moe meganesadofag........
No.9688
>>9685Stop making glasses girls cough up blood and start introducing them to me before they end up in tragic situations.
See? I'm trying to protect them. That makes them moe.
No.9689
whoops wrong thread heh
No.9690
>>9687
What does this relate to MOE or cuteness?
No.9694
>9687
dumb deletard post it again so i know what you said
No.9696
I wish I'd posten'd
No.9697
>>9694It was just a post I meant to post in seasonal thread.
No.9700
>>9650>This is cute as an "aesthetic" or fashion trend which makes it very uncute as it invokes real life parallels.This kind of aesthetic has always felt offputting to me but I could never put my finger on why. I think this is it though!
No.9703
i dont know who moe is but if you like cute animals please visit the hamster thread it has a hamster as picture you can find it on the /qa/ board
No.9706
>>9703Do they like headpats? This is important.
No.9708
A lot more "none of the above" than I'd anticipated. I'm guess it's from people that haven't watched either of the shows.
>>9646>Du ... rabbit or something>Teoritta ... attractive both regularly and sexuallyInteresting, because for me Teoritta is the rabbit or something, I don't feel sexually attracted to her, in story at least. The image accompanying your post may arouse some sexual attraction but that's different from the Teoritta in the anime. The Teoritta in the anime I want to protect.
>moeHad forgotten about that distinct word. If "moe" is to have sexual connotations then none of the above do anything sexually for me hence none of them are "moe" in that sense.
>>9649>It's all meaningless chibi blobsTrue, a character's character plays a big role in deciding their cuteness. I do think
>fuwafuwa if I see her happy, or a desire to comfort and protect if I see her sadis a good definition of cute.
>>9650>SuzukiMiyu is indeed very cute. For me, rather than Miyu herself being cute, its the "koisuru otome"/"maiden in love" inside her that's cute, and very much so. Not to say she's not a good character if you remove that part of her, of course.
>>9651Perfect example in this clip. My "cute..." awakens the moment she get besides Tani and gives him the side eyes. Everything before/after that is neutral.
>social kind of cuteYeah, her interactions with the people around her and how she feels about them is cute.
>>9655>a genre I think of as the exact oppositeMy thoughts exactly.
>>9675I agree on this definition of moe. But then again, representations of "moe" I've seen in anime have always been accompanied by sexual attraction or sexual depictions. Perhaps there's a better word for the pure feeling of wanting to protect something without wanting to stick a dick inside it.
No.9709
>>9708>My "cute..." awakens the moment she get besides Tani and gives him the side eyes. Yes! The way she backs into him while looking away, as if she's unsure if she'll commit to it is so cute! Tremendously cute! It's a cuteness of spirit, the cuteness within!
Unfortunately I don't have much to say to your post because it's basically what I would write (and some of your comments are agreeing with me) so uhh... great opinions!
I think Shizuka is really cute this season, too, the blind girl in another romcom. Being blind adds a degree of vulnerability to her that certain adds a flavor of moe to it, although I'm not sure I would call her moe despite being cute.
You know, this is a great season for different types of cuteness now that I think about it. This should be an anthropological study in cuteness theory. Kaya-chan for Cute/Horror, Yuusha no Kuzu for Cute Retard, the Laundry Show for Ecchi Cute... no wonder I'm so happy about this season.
No.9718
Kissu is the most moe of them all because it's written right there in kissu.moe
No.9720
Small things are cute.
No.9727
>>9645The two last links don't even open up for me. What is that website, anyway?
No.9728
>>9727It's a file sharing website, but it's down at the moment.
... right after I use it to make a thread, it goes down, talk about bad luck...
No.9729
>>9728I read a bit about it. It seems quite niche, with some more arcane way of uploading stuff. Is that a way to save on resources, so you can upload larger files?
No.9730
You can probably find different synonyms of cute that have significant enough variations from its own connotations to arrive to something closer to what people mean when they something is cute. Endearing, adorable, loveable, all being what comes to mind to me. Loveable in particular is closer to what I think of as cute, something that can be loved or draws in love, but it's closer to a paternal or maternal feeling rather than a sexual one, or a love stemming from admiration. The bisque doll ED isn't cute to me at all in this sense, it's the charm of an adult, much more closer to contrived and intentional than it is the depiction of something vulnerable and innocent. Not that either of these things are inherently cute, I guess the feeling that it lacks either of these things makes it uncute to me. Charming or something meant to feel charming might be a better descriptor for it. The other two links don't load for me so I can't comment on them.
No.9731
>>9718Kissue + Moe = Kimo
No.9732
>>9708>I don't feel sexually attracted to her, in story at least>The Teoritta in the anime I want to protectI don't find these feelings mutually exclusive! Sex is another form of protection and treasuring someone! Lewd things aren't bad, I swear!
No.9735
>>9706if youre friendly and they arent busy i bet they would love and appreciate headpats
No.9744
bumping because the filehost for Teoritta and Du is back online
No.9746
ED: If she was made into a figurine, then it would be cute because it would be small and fragile/easily broken.
But I did not vote this way.