Lolicon or shotacon are terms for a particular type of pedophilic character (a lolicon targets girls, and a shotacon, boys) most commonly found in
Japanese Media. The names are derived from
Lolita and the main character from
Gigantor respectively, while "-con" is short for "complex"; the term "lolicon" entered the Japanese lexicon by way of Russell Trainer's pseudopsychological work,
The Lolita Complex.
Sometimes, a work's creator wishes to overlook the damaging aspect of pedophilia and use a pedophile character for comedic purposes. Therefore, rather than being played to repulse the audience, a lolicon or shotacon in mainstream works is normally treated as being a little creepy, but ultimately harmless.
Because of Western media views, you are highly unlikely to see a lolicon or shotacon outside of Japan-derived works - while Western media can and will use pedophilia for jokes, it tends to contain stronger elements of
Black Humor. Note that the terms do not refer to
any pedophile regardless of portrayal, nor does the existence of this trope imply that the Japanese are more approving of pedophilia.
Compare/contrast
Pædo Hunt for portrayals of pedophilia as a villainous trait, and
Mistaken for Pedophile for
false allegations of pedophilia being
Played for Laughs. The
Japanese fashion style
called "Lolita" and our trope
Elegant Gothic Lolita are only tangentially related. Lolicon and shotacon may also refer to the actual paraphilia of pedophilia, as well as works with lolicon/shotacon themes or fanservice, which are not what we are looking for on this wiki.