Moxie!

The Yuri Lowenthal Teen Heroes With Moxie Database

Okay, I just thought it would be funny. Also, people kept submitting any ol' teen hero to the compendium, and really, guys, some of those entrants would not be classified under a teen genius, okay? But I do appreciate the thought.

So may I now present the YLTGC partner site, the Yuri Lowenthal Teen Heroes With Moxie Database. You see, I noticed that while Mr. Lowenthal (who, again, I think is an awesome voice actor) does play a lot of teen geniuses, he may play even more heroes with moxie. But wait, you cry! What's moxie?

mox·ie [mok-see] –noun Slang.
1. vigor; verve; pep.
2. courage and aggressiveness; nerve.
3. skill; know-how.

Here are a few heroes with more than a standard dose of moxie; in fact, they might have "MOXIE!", all caps and exclamation point necessary.

It would be some kind of International Crime if I didn't mention Haseo from .hack//G.U. here, especially considering this is a website devoted to him. Verve? Check. Nerve? Check. Courage and aggressiveness? Check and check. This kid had more chutzpah than -- well, someone with a lot of chutzpah. In the end, Haseo's moxie is part of his charm, primarily because it's a grumpy sort of moxie. It's not sunshine and roses, oh no, it's a snippy moxie, a sarcastic outlook that somehow -- God knows how -- translates to leadership skills. Keep wakin' up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning, Haseo!

Next is Luke fon Fabre from Tales of the Abyss. After a dramatic plot twist, Luke develops from a spoiled brat to a certifiable Hero with Moxie. I've thought long and hard about this, and I'm pretty sure the fact that Luke had enough moxie to cut his hair in the style of a country club socialite ready for a day on the courts is what carried him through to the end. I'm not sure anything can sway me from this belief. And honestly, knowing Tales, there's an unlockable outfit that matches just that scenario.

Luke is followed by Yuuri Shibuya from Kyo Kara Maoh! I only remember a few things about Yuuri: 1. a lot of people made "urine" jokes out of his name and 2. he had moxie in spades. So much moxie, in fact, I think the entire cast was in love with him. Apparently this was the point of the show; I'd like to point out that Haseo suffers from the same plight. Remember, being a hero with moxie isn't all fun and games when everyone wants in your pants.

Suzaku Kururugi from Code Geass is one of those kids who has so much moxie you almost want to slap him. He's athletic! Charmingly adorable! Devoted! Thank God he has a bad case of Athrun Zala Syndrome (known informally as "Wears the Dorkiest Sunglasses in Existence" Disease) or else he'd have a little too much moxie. Those poor Sunrise heroes with moxie, Athrun Zala Syndrome is especially contagious among their kind.

Cornelius from Odin Sphere will always stand out in my mind as a good example of moxie with a British accent. Sort of an overseas, whut whut, cuppa tea? kind of moxie that you don't see in just any production. He also turns into a bunny rabbit, which means he's a bunny rabbit with moxie. Talk about talent: not only does he have moxie, he could totally substitute for the Easter Bunny in a pinch, sort of like that Tim Allen movie about Christmas. Roger Rabbit, eat your heart out. (P.S. He also has a hotter wife, Rog.)

Reks from Final Fantasy XII is most notable for wearing even less clothes than Haseo. Also, he dies really soon into the game, but not before he can showcase his incredible ability to retain moxie in the face of disaster. Sure, his country is being invaded and he's about to get stabbed in the back by the very man he trusted. But you know what? That boy handles his imminent and untimely death with class and moxie. What more could a teen hero ask for?

This list wouldn't be complete if I didn't include a little All-American Boy-of-Steel moxie. Superman/Clark Kent from the Legion of Superheroes cartoon is based off of the classic comic book character that totally invented moxie. No, really, one day Clark Kent sat down and was like, "Great Rao! What word can define the sheer nerve and vigor with which I save the day?!" And thus moxie was born. True story.

Ryoji Mochizuki from Persona 3 isn't really the hero, per se, so I almost left him off. But he is kind of a hero, and he certainly has spunk. However, even more amazing is the fact he keeps his verve in the face of a reason to totally not be peppy. No, really, he could totally revert to goth wear and funeral dirges, but he doesn't! Oh no, not our Ryoji! He just asks out more girls and probably karaokes Don't Fear the Reaper. Carry on, Ryoji-kun, carry on!

I put Sasuke Uchiha on every Yuri Lowenthal list. It makes me laugh.

Finally, we have Haru Glory from Rave Master. Okay, I'm gonna level with you: I think I've seen maybe one episode of this show all the way through, and that was a few years ago. I forget what came on after it -- Teen Titans maybe? -- but I'd sort of leave it running in the background while I did other things. So I don't remember much about Haru Glory other than "moxie! moxie! moxie!". Also, looking at a picture of him, he just sort of reeks of moxie. Really, check out those clothes, that smirk, that strange furry thing hanging off of his shoulder. Any kid with a "furry thing" on his shoulder is definitely a candidate for moxie.

And that concludes The Yuri Lowenthal Heroes with Moxie Database 1.0. Do you know a Yuri Lowenthal hero with moxie that I missed? Send him on over to my e-mail and I'll review his credentials!