Girls of the Ahoge
A couple of empirical questions: When did hair antennae become part of anime character design? Was Pani Poni Dash! the first anime to actually use the term "ahoge"? In the context of PPD, the term was used as a nickname for Himeko Katagiri by Becky but is also used to refer specifically to the hair antennae itself. How far has this term achieved adoption in anime and in anime fandom?
Definitional points. "Ahoge" combines two characteristics accruing from the two components that make up this invented compound word. One is physical; the single lock of hair on top of Himeko's head which gives the "ge" part of the term. Another is mental; the character is a moron or has done something so incredibly stupid that it changes the way we see her and thus "aho".
The third episode of PPD! centres on how Himeko loses her usual hyper-energy after Becky pulls out her ahoge. There's a view that the ahoge itself is the source of Himeko's energy. But my own view is that the ahoge is a plug that prevents Himeko's hyper-energy (represented as a pink gas) from leaking out and it's the gas, not the ahoge, that gives Himeko her energy - thus chopsticks could be used as a substitute ahoge to plug the hole in her head. It's also fun how the ahoge moved to express emotions especially heart-shaped when Himeko is all akogare about Becky - which one also saw when Arika was going akogare over Shizuru.
Thus criteria for girls of the Grand Order of the Ahoge. They have to have a single prominent lock on their heads and they have to either idiots or have done something extremely idiotic.
Being a Lunamaria fanboy doesn't stop me from inducting her. Her lock of hair has been described as nasty but I think it's quite cute. But she definitely gets major stupid points for kissing Shinn so soon after he supposedly killed her sister and old crush.
Of the series currently running, Saber also gets a nomination. Kabitzin said it best when he described her as being loveably stupid.
I can't think of a specific stupid act or general pattern of stupid behaviour on the part of Shana but Shana-tan probably qualifies more easily. She's incredibly cute in a bratty sort of way but doesn't seem to have anything else on her mind except eating melon-pan and her rivalry with Kazumi. LOL
Am sure that there are plenty more but I'll be relying on commenters to increase the sample population. Tanomuzo!
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June 5th, 2006 - 11:41
No mention of Tenma Tsukamoto from School Rumble? For shame….
June 5th, 2006 - 11:45
You missed out the single most powerful ahoge in the solar system – Buster Machine no. 7!!! Her ahoge commands billions of robots!
Tenma’s doesn’t really qualify since they are pony tails or something.
June 5th, 2006 - 12:17
If Himekos Ahoge was just a plug Becky wouldn’t have had such hard time replacing it (although she didn’t try chopsticks).
June 5th, 2006 - 12:41
It’s only ahoge if there’s no visible means of support. Chiyo-chan =/= ahoge, for example. A true Ahoge stands for itself, and succumbs to neither strong wind nor water. A mighty and mysterious hairdo, indeed.
I actually am in possession of a real life ahoge, ala Alphalpha. Stupid cowlick didn’t show until I got my hair cut, now I have to spend half an hour and a tin of hairspray evey morning trying to tame the damn thing. Stupid bumpy head. *grumble*
June 5th, 2006 - 13:23
Whenever I hear “ahoge”, I recall all of Akamatsu Ken’s works. Lots of airheaded and non-airheaded girls with cockroachesque antennae… just my type.
Okay, I’m a Kentaku, so sue me.
June 5th, 2006 - 15:29
jpmeyer, thanks. Looks like the Jp wiki also defines ahoge as being a single lock rather than ponytails (Tenma xBATSUx) or cockroach feelers (Naru xBATSUx). And it goes back waaaaay longer than I would have guessed – then again, PPD does sample plenty of old skool manga and anime.
June 5th, 2006 - 14:35
The Wikipedia page for “Ahoge” lists ahoge as going back as far as Sazae-san and Princess Knight.
June 5th, 2006 - 15:47
Well, rumour has it if you yank Saber’s ahoge, she turns into -
*is tentacleraped and PH-Bu’d by Dark Sakura.
June 5th, 2006 - 16:33
ZOMG, why isn’t Suzuka on this list?! I sense Honoka is behind this…
June 5th, 2006 - 18:18
There is no such person as Suzuka Asahina.
P.S. Beretta-san also sends his 9mm love.
June 6th, 2006 - 02:34
Nanako-chan from Mahoraba doesn’t count? She has TWO, and she’s loveably cute… if clueless. Heck, she’s part of Kozue, so that’s gotta be a bonus…
June 6th, 2006 - 05:10
Weda from Guu. There’s also the bonus of her ahoge being hereditary and self-multiplying (Hale has 2, and Ame has the beginning of 3 ahoges).
June 8th, 2006 - 12:10
NATSUME MAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
June 15th, 2006 - 16:30
What…? No mention of Mai, Arika, or a young Miss Maria?
August 11th, 2006 - 17:17
Tsukamoto Tenma’s hair bobs are indeed ahoge, they even say it in the series itself. (School Rumble, 2nd Semester, Episode 17, during the sponsor announcement. Click my name to see the screencap.)
September 21st, 2006 - 18:22
I can’t believe you left out Tenma from School Rumble. Here picks up alien radio transmissions…