Have you ever wondered what lolicon is? What is the difference between lolicon, loli, or lolita? These terms have become quite popular in the West due to anime and manga, but there is a long history and culture behind these words, not to mention that they are words with totally different meanings from each other.
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The difference between loli, lolita, and lolicon
These 3 words are completely different from each other. Throughout the article, I will mention the 3 words and address topics related to each other, but before it gets confusing, I want to briefly summarize the meaning of these 3 words.
- Loli – Refers to younger girls or those who try to look younger;
- Lolita – Currently refers to a Japanese fashion;
- Lolicon – Refers to people who like underage girls or those who appear to be younger;
If you want to know more about Lolita, we recommend reading: Lolita Fashion – History, Culture, and Types
I will leave a video below where I talk a little about Lolita, loli, and lolicon:
What is a loli and a lolicon?
The word loli specifically refers to girls between the ages of 9 and 14, with cute and childlike characteristics, and often sensual. Basically, lolis are underage, or also of legal age with childlike aspects and behave like girls under 14 years old.
There is no age to adopt the lolita fashion; you just need to wear doll-like or childlike clothing. Many tend to associate loli with lolita, but not all loli characters are wearing clothes that are part of the lolita fashion.
Some claim that lolis are little girls who are forward and already have an active sex life, a very wrong idea. This is just a generalization created by lolicons and anime. Generally, lolitas only adopt the clothing and do not even act like children.
Girls who adopt the lolita fashion, even if they are of legal age, may end up using the word loli, which is simply an abbreviation of the word lolita. People who adopt this lifestyle also tend to maintain a childlike aspect psychologically.
The big problem lies with lolicons. The term “Lolicon” is the abbreviation of “Lolita complex,” a term used in Japan for crimes involving pedophilia and ephebophilia. In other words, basically, lolicons are the fanatics and enthusiasts of loli.
This term is also used when a minor in an anime is portrayed in an erotic manner or in sensual or even sexual situations. Lolicons outside Japan are people who have a desire for girls who appear to be children or cute schoolgirls.
Animes about loli
The anime in question may only present the style of clothing and not that the anime deals with the fashion or loli as a focus. It may be that the anime does not even address lolita fashion, it just has loli characters that attract attention.
Rozen Maiden – Due to a deep trauma acquired at school, Jun Sakurada refuses to return to studies, as well as to leave the house. Living with his sister, his hobby is buying cursed items online and returning them before the return deadline.
One day he receives an unsolicited package, which contained a beautiful doll that seemed to be sleeping. Curious, Jun begins to investigate her. To his surprise, she shows that she is alive, and soon makes him her servant. Now, both will have to face a murderous opponent to win in the deadly game of Alice.
Other animes focused on loli characters:
- Ryo-Kyu-Bu!
- Astarotte no Omocha!
- Kodomo no Jikan
- Renkin San-kyuu Magical? Pokaan
- Strike Witches;
- Mitsudomoe;
- Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni;
- Black Bullet;
Top loli characters
To conclude, let’s leave a list of famous loli characters. It is worth remembering that what defines a character as a loli is not just their age or childlike appearance but also the clothes they are wearing. Many end up knowing characters but have no idea that the clothes they are wearing are part of the lolita style.
- Suzu Hagimura (Seitokai Yakuindomo);
- Megumin (Konosuba);
- Taiga Aisaka (Toradora);
- Hasegawa Kobato (Boku Wa Tomodachi Ga Sukunai);
- Aihara Enju (Black Bullet);
- Shiro (No Game No Life);
- Nunnally (Code Geass);
- Elizabeth Midford (Kuroshitsuji);
- Irisu Makina (Grisaia no Kajitsu);
- Takanashi Rikka (Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!);
- Celestia Ludenberg (Danganronpa);
- Yui (Sword Art Online);
- Chii (Chobits)
- Rinko Ogasawara (shirobako);
- Minene Uryuu (Mirai Nikki);
- Kaolla Su (Love Hina);
- Ruri Goko – Gothic loli (Oreimo);
- Sumiki Miniwa (Acchi Kocchi);
- Remilia Scarlet (Touhou Project);
- Kuroko Shirai (Railgun);
- Rin Kagamine (Vocaloid);
- Konata Izumi (Lucky Star);
- Yui (Sword Art Online);
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Gothic Lolita Anime Characters
It is common in anime, besides loli characters, to have some alternative Lolita fashions. The vast majority dress in Gothic Lolita fashion, which includes black or dark clothing, lace with ruffles, petticoats, and delicate umbrellas. Here’s a list:
- Kuroneko [Oreimo];
- Victorique [Gosick];
- Kurumi Tokisaki [Data a Live]
- Kobato Hasegawa [Kobato Hasegawa]
- Hildagarde [BEelzebub]
- Rory Mercury [Gate]
- Stocking [Panty Stocking]
- Celestia Ludenberg [Danganronpa]
- Perona [One Piece]
- Beatrice [Re:Zero]
- Anna Kushina [K]
- Sunako Kirishiki [Shiki]
- Shalltear Bloodfallen [Overlord]
- Anju Maaka [Karin]
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