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What, or WHO is a Loli?

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Ukonkivi Over 10,000 dead.:< Since: Aug, 2009
Over 10,000 dead.:<
#1: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:09:19 PM

The age old discussion of 'what' exactly qualifies as a loli. Due to where the direction the other is going, I wanted to make this thread to get a better idea.

We can never have enough controversial loli threads anyway, can we?

There seems to be more than one definition.

  • 1. An ill-defined Neotenous aesthetic
  • 2. A minor
  • 3. A prepubescent

Tell me, do all of these definitions seem relevant to you? What seems relevant, and why?

edited 11th Jun '11 7:09:39 PM by Ukonkivi

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Sabbo Since: Jan, 2001
#2: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:12:15 PM

"Loli" is as far as I am aware generally defined by what the character looks like. Hence the potential for characters who are Really 700 Years Old to be loli.

Ukonkivi Over 10,000 dead.:< Since: Aug, 2009
Over 10,000 dead.:<
#3: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:14:43 PM

So, mostly an aesthetic?

If so, what are the most important key aspects of the aesthetic?

  • Height?
  • Chest size?
  • Hip size?
  • Body hair amount?
  • Skull size?
  • Skull shape?
  • Eye size?

edited 11th Jun '11 7:15:11 PM by Ukonkivi

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Signed Always Right Since: Dec, 2009
Always Right
#4: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:19:57 PM

The skull size/shape work since anime doesn't put too much attention to age difference when it comes to skull shape/sizes...

Eyes...not too sure as well.

edited 11th Jun '11 7:20:53 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."
cancerlad Lord of Flapdoodle from Kentucky Since: Nov, 2009
Lord of Flapdoodle
#5: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:20:25 PM

As I am NOT a lolicon, I can't give you specific... uhm... parameters. Lack of bust is important. So is lack of height. Basically, anyone that looks like they haven't begun puberty. If you feel like a pedophile looking at them, they're a loli.

the pronoun system in Cherokee is just better. Need Scion GM.
Arilou Taller than Zim from Quasispace Since: Jan, 2001
Taller than Zim
#6: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:22:51 PM

Lack of bust, lack of hips/thighs, also a certain type of behaviour/personality is likely (although there are a few variants of that)

"No, the Singularity will not happen. Computation is hard." -Happy Ent
SakurazakiSetsuna Together Forever... Since: Jun, 2010
Together Forever...
#7: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:28:29 PM

Like I said in the other thread, there are three main physical features that usually describe a pre-pubescent body

  • Flat chest
  • Lack of a figure
  • Torso length

There is some interplay between them, and you can't just go and call every flatchested girl a "loli", there are plenty of characters who have essentially no breasts, but are still clearly teenage or above. Black Rock Shooter is a good example of this, off the top of my head.

edited 11th Jun '11 7:29:04 PM by SakurazakiSetsuna

Thenamelesssamurai from Atlanta, Georgia Since: Nov, 2010
#8: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:29:46 PM

[up][up][up] What about Taneshima from Working? She's been noted as looking like an elementary student, while being 17 and having a ample bust.

edited 11th Jun '11 7:30:08 PM by Thenamelesssamurai

Imagine Rakan applying Calling Your Attacks to doing paperwork.~Anarchy Rakan for the hell of it COMMISSION THIS BRIDGE!~EHK
Ukonkivi Over 10,000 dead.:< Since: Aug, 2009
Over 10,000 dead.:<
#9: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:29:59 PM

As I am NOT a lolicon, I can't give you specific... uhm... parameters.
So you have to be a lolicon in order to understand what qualifies as a "loli"? I highly doubt that.
Basically, anyone that looks like they haven't begun puberty. If you feel like a pedophile looking at them, they're a loli.
I'm sure a lot of people are going to find this inane, but that's too vague and ill-defined. Certainly for the purposed of this thread.

The skull size/shape work since anime doesn't put too much attention to age difference when it comes to skull shape/sizes...
So basically, most adult and child anime characters share the same facial characteristics.

This would be a good thing to find examples of and verify.

Lack of bust, lack of hips/thighs
Are these things particularly important to the loli aesthetic? If so, I can't say the aesthetic is necessarily very neotenous. As this simply sounds like androgyny.

also a certain type of behaviour/personality
What are some important behavioural characteristics of a "loli"?

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SakurazakiSetsuna Together Forever... Since: Jun, 2010
Together Forever...
#10: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:31:40 PM

[up][up]

She's what known, in the advanced, technical parlance, as "short"

cancerlad Lord of Flapdoodle from Kentucky Since: Nov, 2009
Lord of Flapdoodle
#11: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:31:54 PM

[up][up][up] I've often wondered about that... She was never called a loli though. When Takanashi first met her, she had a heavy winter coat on, so he couldn't tell she had a bust. As for the little girl who wanted to be a waitress... she's naive?

[up][up] If you can't identify a pre-pubescent, then I think we need to start with defining other things before we get to strange sexual fetishes like Loli.

edited 11th Jun '11 7:34:24 PM by cancerlad

the pronoun system in Cherokee is just better. Need Scion GM.
Ukonkivi Over 10,000 dead.:< Since: Aug, 2009
Over 10,000 dead.:<
#12: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:34:07 PM

three main physical features that usually describe a pre-pubescent body
I wouldn't say these are the three main characteristics of a pre-pubescent body. Breast are an exceptional feature. Likely fewer have them than do. Most adult males and a good portion of adult females do not have them.

Of course, having a "pre-pubescent body" does not appear to be required. So I am not saying that flat chest is not equated with loli. Only that it is not particularly prepubescent.

Genkidama for Japan, even if you don't have money, you can help![1]
SakurazakiSetsuna Together Forever... Since: Jun, 2010
Together Forever...
#13: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:36:13 PM

Its very hard to have a loli character that doesn't have flat chest. Its possible, but highly unusual.

And, as you conveniently ignored, its the interplay between the three features thats important.

Arha Since: Jan, 2010
#14: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:38:17 PM

No, Ukonkivi, it just means that a flat chest ALONE is not enough. The faces are frequently rounder, they will be shorter than other members of the cast and will not have curvy thighs/hips. Apart from that, lolis are frequently dressed differently.

Thenamelesssamurai from Atlanta, Georgia Since: Nov, 2010
#15: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:38:28 PM

Ignore this post

edited 11th Jun '11 8:13:39 PM by Thenamelesssamurai

Imagine Rakan applying Calling Your Attacks to doing paperwork.~Anarchy Rakan for the hell of it COMMISSION THIS BRIDGE!~EHK
Ukonkivi Over 10,000 dead.:< Since: Aug, 2009
Over 10,000 dead.:<
#16: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:38:37 PM

What does "lack of figure" mean?

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SakurazakiSetsuna Together Forever... Since: Jun, 2010
Together Forever...
#17: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:41:30 PM

Small not no Bust-Waist-Hip ratio.

Basically, lacking a "female" figure.

This is probably the number one feature, honestly. Though its possible for a skinny teenager to lack much of a figure, but they'll be significantly taller, with longer legs.

This is why you have to look at a character as a whole, and see how they compare to the rest of the cast.

cancerlad Lord of Flapdoodle from Kentucky Since: Nov, 2009
Lord of Flapdoodle
#18: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:43:49 PM

I was really snarky in my last post. I meant no offense.

the pronoun system in Cherokee is just better. Need Scion GM.
Ukonkivi Over 10,000 dead.:< Since: Aug, 2009
Over 10,000 dead.:<
#19: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:46:12 PM

So apparently, androgyny plays a large part in the loli aesthetic.

I'm sorry if I am offending users here. I merely wish to somehow turn understanding into something exact. As close to a science as such a thing can be.

I was really snarky in my last post.
Yes, I hoped you were joking. I found it a bit crass and unnecessary, though.

edited 11th Jun '11 7:47:52 PM by Ukonkivi

Genkidama for Japan, even if you don't have money, you can help![1]
Spirit Pretty flower from America Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Hooked on a feeling
Pretty flower
#20: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:50:45 PM

No, pre-pubescence or the appearance of such plays a large role in the loli aesthetic.

#IceBearForPresident
Ukonkivi Over 10,000 dead.:< Since: Aug, 2009
Over 10,000 dead.:<
#21: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:53:09 PM

Well then, it is a bit misleading to portray a lack of curvaceousness as particularly important to it.

As a lack of curvaceousness is not particularly prepubescent at all. Not flat chests, or unwide hips, or ect.

edited 11th Jun '11 7:55:23 PM by Ukonkivi

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Sabbo Since: Jan, 2001
#22: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:53:11 PM

I really think it depends on the artist. For example you'd probably call the characters of Lucky Star loli if they were in a more serious-looking anime. The Lucky Star manga shows this in an interesting way by depicting the main characters in more normal ways at the start of every chapter. (Or was it only every volume? I forget. :/)

KousakaKirino Otaku Surrogate Since: Jan, 2011
#23: Jun 11th 2011 at 7:57:35 PM

Except Miwiki-san.

As has been stated, factors like character design come into play as well. For example, in Oniichan No Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara Ne, due to the unconventional designs used, I'm not sure whether Nao can be classified as a loli.

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Ukonkivi Over 10,000 dead.:< Since: Aug, 2009
Over 10,000 dead.:<
#24: Jun 11th 2011 at 8:01:28 PM

So, one poster has said that Black Rock Shooter is not a loli.

Do you agree with this? And why or why not?

Genkidama for Japan, even if you don't have money, you can help![1]
SakurazakiSetsuna Together Forever... Since: Jun, 2010
Together Forever...
#25: Jun 11th 2011 at 8:01:50 PM

So apparently, androgyny plays a large part in the loli aesthetic.

Thats the same thing. The main difference between a loli and a shota is that one has a penis and the other has a vagina.


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