As a male gamer, thank you for not oversexualizing every female NPC

[Zyrusticae]

Samcaesar was replying to me, we had been discussing FFXIV. I replied in the context of the discussion I was already having. if the dIscussion shifted, I'll leave it there.

Well, that was the impression I was under. At some point we weren't even discussing FFXIV but trends in character design in general.

I'm not entirely sure of what you are implying when talking about a "moe craze", or saying that moe culture has taken over aspects of anime/games in Japan. I'd have to point out that kawaii has very much been a part of japanese pop culture for decades. It's hardly a recent 'craze', I'll refer you to Kimba the White Lion (Disney really should be sued) which dates back to the 50's, and there are numerous examples of anime - aka 'japanimation' shown on westerm TV in the 70's and beyond. Speed Racer, Marine Boy, Gatchaman (aka Battle of the Planets), etc... have multiple examples of kawaii, and/or moe characters. Hello Kitty is 40 this year....this isn't a recent trend.

Oh, come on! Now you're just playing dumb.

Yes, you can throw a handful of really old examples of what would serve as precursors to modern 'moe', but 'moe' as we know it today didn't become as crazy-ubiquitous in Japan until the mid-90s/early 00's. I'm talking hundreds and hundreds of series designed specifically to pander towards the otaku demographic with girls styled in that ever-so-recognizable moe fashion. The anime industry in particular exploded with this stuff, and to this day you see it EVERYWHERE. There was a definite and recognizable shift towards this style of design. That's what I mean when I say 'the moe craze'.