Ask John: Is Moegaku a Moetan Rip-off?

Question:
Is Moegaku a rip-off of Moetan?

Answer:
Whether or not “Moegaku” – either the 2005 PC language learning software program or the upcoming 2008 Moegaku 5 anime television series – constitutes a “rip-off” of Moetan depends upon your personal definition of rip-off. For example, there are countless “harem” anime series, but they’re widely considered parallel entries within a genre rather than subsequent copies of a single original inspiration. The original Moetan parody language learning book debuted in March 2005. Its phenomenal success has inspired a number of similar descendants.

The Moegaku – the name, an abbreviation of “Moe Gakuen” or roughly “Adorable School” – Windows software from Askk went on sale in November 2005. Its mascot character design of a pink haired girl and small, pudgy mascot seem obviously intended to replicate the design of Moetan’s protagonist Ink Nijihara. In the summer of 2006 Hobby Japan magazine followed suit by introducing its own variation on the cute little girl teaching English formula, Pixel Mari-tan. Unlike Moetan and Moegaku that used a magical girl and school themes, Pixel Mari-tan took cues from the American Marine Corps and introduced the drill instructor Mari-tan who taught Japanese readers humorous English language lessons with chauvinistic, racist, and obscenity filled military jingoism and select salty quotes from famous American war movies like Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket.

(Moetan eventually spawned an anime, and Moegaku is soon to follow, but with adorable little anime girls shouting sample English phrases including “I like you. Come over to my house and f*ck my sister,” and “I am a smart mother f*cker yeah!” I don’t expect to see a Pixel Mari-tan anime any time soon.)

The blockbuster success of Moetan inevitably lead to imitators. The Moegaku 5 anime is significantly varying the Moetan formula by focusing on multiple languages in addition to just English and Japanese. Pixel Mari-tan varied the formula by introducing vulgarity and a military theme. Whether these descendants of Moetan are “rip-offs” or just new entries in a slowly developing new sub-genre of anime is a decision that you’ll have to make for yourself.