Moetan (もえたん) is a series of English language study aids published by SansaiBooks in Japan. Targeted at otaku, it attempted to teach English words using examples drawn from computer games and anime. In the reprint of the first Moetan book and the bath towel sold during Comic Market 69, "MOETAN" stands for 'Methodology Of English, The Academic Necessity'. The acronym may have been chosen as a play on combining the words moé and -tan, both terms of cuteness used in relation to girl characters in anime, to create a portmanteauic double meaning.

Moeru Eitango Moetan

Moeru Eitango Moetan (萌える英単語 もえたん), also known as The Moetan Wordbook, is the first in the Moetan series, published in 2003. Each chapter consists of a short story, written in pure Japanese, concerning the adventures of "Nao-kun" (a high school student) and "Ink-chan" (a mysterious magical girl who arrives to help him with his studying), followed by a set of word examples. In 2005-3-25, the book was revised with improved grammar, and retitled 'MOETAN Methodology Of English, The Academic Necessity' (もえたん Methodology Of English, The Academic Necessity). This version was published in Korean and Traditional Chinese (Taiwan, Hong Kong). The Chinese version was published by Min-Hsien Cultural Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Characters

Voice cast (CD version)

Moetan II

The sequel of Moeru Eitango Moetan was published in two volumes. It includes 1601 words. Moetan II is available in Chinese (Taiwan, Hong Kong) and Korean (South Korea). This book is targeted towards serious, tutorial readers.

Characters

Moetan subreader

AKA -> (もえたん サブリーダー 〜文法·表現編〜) Based on previous two books in the Moetan series, it teaches English grammar. This book is targeted towards casual, tutorial readers.

Moetan 3

AKA -> (もえたん3 魔法少女の帰還〜Return of the Little Witch〜) This version added poetry and Japanese culture. The book included two stories: Bill and Sam's Excellent Adventure and Return of the Little Witch. Return of the Little Witch was illustrated by POP. This book is targeted towards casual, entertainment readers. Chinese version was published on September 9, 2006 by Min-Hsien Cultural Enterprise Co., Ltd. This book features characters from first Moetan book.

Moetan Online

This is a series of phone applications published by Marvelous Liveware. They are available to i-mode, EZWeb, and SoftBank Mobile users.

Moetan Listening CD

Vol.1

Published in Comic Market 69.

Vol.2

Published in Comic Market 70.

Anime

Bandai Visual, Planet Entertainment, Actas, and Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Incorporated produced a television series based on the book. The TV series premiered on Chiba Television on July 8, 2007, followed by TV Kanagawa, TV Osaka, TV Saitama, and TV Aichi.

Anime characters

Episodes

Takayuki Nagatani, a producer of the Moetan moe anime television series, posted on the official series blog that Episode 6 will be replaced by a highlight clips episode in Japan "for various reasons." Episode 6 will be only available on DVD, while Episode 5.5 "Sumi to Ruriko no Moetan Diary" ("Sumi and Ruriko's Moetan Diary") took over its broadcast slot.

Adaptations

Home page of the TV series hosted 4 square comic strip that are updated daily starting from 2007-07-09. 99 strips had been produced. Beat Net Radio and Lantis web radio hosted Moetan Listening Radio, featuring Sumi and Ruriko. Lantis sold Moetan audio drama CD on September 9, 2007. Lantis sold soundtrack CD for the opening and ending songs of the TV show on July 25, 2007 and August 8, 2007 respectively. Tetsuya Takahashi produced a comic book titled Moetan Magical Busters, please save the world! (もえたん 〜Magical Busters, please save the world!〜), which was serialized in Moetan monthly magazine (もえたん ぷちげっかん) that is bundled with the August 2007 issue of Gamelabo magazine. The cover for the magazine was illustrated by POP. 4 volumes of the comic are planned. The book followed the design and settings of the TV series.

Video games

On August 9, 2007, Techno Quest Inc. published a vertical shooter, based on the Moetan franchise, for Windows XP titled Moetan Shooting (もえたん·しゅ〜てぃんぐ).

Moetan DS

It is a learning video game using design and cast from the TV series. Preorder include DVD video.

Combat picture book

Hobby Japan published Nijiiro Ink (from MOETAN) and Alice (from Nitro+ games?) as part of Queen's Gate combat picture book game series, which is based on the Lost Worlds game rules.