If you think there's a pattern to being cute and adorable in bishoujo (gal) games and anime/manga, you're probably right. Yamazaki mentions the childhood friend, the maid, and the robot girl in NHK ni Youkoso! as three popular gal game stereotypes. But as fans will tell you, there's more, plenty more. And it's not just character types but personality traits as well.

Popular 'moe' (it's "mo-eh", not some bartender from The Simpsons) heroines--female characters that drive guys crazy--are often a combination of several types, but I thought I'd just do a simple round up of the more basic ones out there.

In this first part of our "Moe Characters 101", we deal with the character types, while in the second, we'll look at the common personality traits that these girls share. Lastly, we'll explore a few existing bishoujo series, and see how these stereotypes fit in.

I've kept the examples to a minimum few (and from a few selected titles), but I'm sure you can easily make your own list from your favourite game or anime/manga titles.

CHILDHOOD FRIEND	Whether it's the girl-next-door or that distant cousin whom you spent your childhood with, expect to find one of them in almost every story.
FRENCH MAID	The otaku's endless love-affair with that white apron and frilly dress....
ROBOT GIRL	The female embodiment of the modern-day Pinocchio. Japan's obsession with robots looking for a soul--and a soulmate.
KID SISTER	Like waking up every morning to the sweet voice of a kid sister? The otaku could die just to have one to dote on.
BIG SISTER	Want someone older to watch over you like a big sister? Meet the "onee-chan" types that the otaku dreams of.
TEACHER	Nothing beats a lesson in love from the very woman responsible for your education.
MIKO	This uniquely Japanese girl in red and white has a unique place in the otaku's heart.
NEKOMIMI	Forget the whip and leotard. This feline damsel can boost a thousand sales with a mere purr and pose.
UNIFORMS / COSTUMES / HAIRSTYLES / ACCESSORIES	Japanese and their fetish with uniforms and costumes. How she looks matters too.