Gap moe is a Japanese pop-culture and anime term that describes the charm or cuteness (moe) a character radiates when there is a sharp, unexpected contradiction between their outward appearance, reputation, or usual demeanor and their actual hidden personality

• The Contradiction ("Gap"): The distance or contrast between how the world perceives a character and what they are actually like.

• The Charm (Moe): The sudden reveal of a soft, clumsy, affectionate, or vulnerable side that makes the character feel more human, endearing, or surprising

Gap Moe

There is a concept in Japan known as "gap moe" (JP) that refers to the idea that moe can come as a result of a gap between two seemingly opposite personalities. If the gap is in a beautiful direction it creates an unexpected surprise of satisfaction which leads to moe. It is also sometimes referred to as "surprise moe" (JP).

This concept is the basis for many "dere types" which rely on this gap as the main appeal for these characters. The two most popular examples of having a gap for appeal are tsundere and kuudere. With tsundere the gap moe derives from the idea of a character who comes across normally as quite harsh, strong and confident on the surface, but who is actually very loving, caring and filled with emotional turmoil or insecurities which causes people to want to protect them. With kuudere the gap moe derives from the idea of a character who appears completely emotionless on the surface, but is actually more passionate and loving than most on the inside which causes a very appealing dynamic. Having sides to a person that are different to your first impression, sides that only you know about, also has the effect of making you feel closer to them.

Both of these "dere types" have a large gap between two seemingly opposite personalities that results in a large amount of satisfaction when these characters finally show their deredere side. It can make the audience feel like they watched that character grow as a person and feel large amounts of pride in them for finally making it to that point.