“Bishojo” is a Japanese term that literally means “beautiful girl” and generally refers to anime and video game genres that focus on them. What is considered bishojo is subjective for its artists and public; Such characters may have, but are not limited to:

• Big and endearing eyes to convey your emotions, a characteristic of the anime art style.
• An Ideal Female Body Shape: The Hourglass Figure
• An emphasis on the breasts making them large, giving them a sex appeal.
• A wide range of hairstyles, even those that seem impossible in real life.
• Have a wardrobe that includes skirts, blouses, and dresses.
• Moe Characteristics

“Moe”, pronounced “mo-eh”, literally referring to a budding plant, is an informal Japanese term that means a type of feeling towards female characters in anime. Moe’s character exudes an aura of innocence, through his quirky appearance and personality; We might be attracted to her so much that we want to be with her, protect her, be her boyfriend, be her father, because in our minds she represents the ideal woman.

Take the anime series, “K-On!” for example, it can be considered bishojo and moe anime. Mio Akiyama, among fans of the series, is a popular character because she displays moe characteristics. Although she is serious, we also see her ashamed and scared; generates the desire of her audience to comfort her and protect her from her friend Ritsu Tainaka, who teases her frequently. Mio can also be a bishojo due to her hime (hii-may) cut hairstyle; however, all the female characters of K-On! it may be bishojo because the school uniforms they wear make them look cuter (subjective).

Visual novels (VN) are a popular game genre in Japan and are another important source of bishojo and moe characters in addition to anime series. Most VNs involve a romance between a male lead and various female romantic perspectives. Typically, the male lead is portrayed as a young Japanese or Asian, as the one who plays these VNs is assumed to be a man of Asian descent, giving him someone to identify with. A player sees the world from his point of view and looks at a girl whom he considers bishojo and moe. He wishes to be with her perhaps because of her beautiful long black hair and awkward personality, or he identifies her with a girl he has met in real life; therefore, he plays the game to have an indirect relationship with her. In the end, you can have sex with her (in adult-oriented VNs) and / or marry and have children with her.

It could be argued that the bishojo and moe characters are objecting to the female sex primarily due to the nature of anime art style. However, others argue that it is not: she offers herself for him to protect her, offers herself to him to be with her, and, most importantly, offers him her undying love and support, not as an object, but as if was a true human woman. She can represent a girl that a boy has loved and offer him a second chance with her, giving him a fantasy that he might not otherwise achieve in real life.

The world is an imperfect place and it is full of many broken hearts and loneliness. Bishojo and Moe’s characters offer a perfect fantasy for male and female audiences to escape the harshness of the real world. It’s a potent concoction that can elicit feelings of nostalgia and nostalgia.