Lolicon

Lolicon (Lolita Complex) is a term used to describe either the sexual attraction of the prepubescent female form (13 years old or younger) in fiction and/or an individual (male or female) possessing such a sexual attraction and/or desire. The term is also the name of a genre of manga/anime that contains and caters to such interests. The term is derived from Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel Lolita, which details a man's obsession with a twelve-year-old girl.

The prominent rise of "Lolicon" material in Japanese media (and by direct association; lolicon individuals) began during the mid-1970's when young female characters with innocent personalities began receiving more notice amongst fanbases when compared with the more violent and brash "pro-feminist" personalities of the elder female characters of the time. Borrowing design cues from the Shoujo genre, where character designs feature an inclination for "cuteness" to appeal to their readership/viewership, the lolicon genre exponentially grew with the introduction of the "Magical Girl" genre; where young female characters take central roles in shonen-esque storylines.

While a prevalent genre and character stereotype in manga and anime today, lolicon (as well as other erotic fetish genres in the industry) have come under scrutiny numerous times in relation to sexual crimes and resulting media censorship in Japan.

Trivia

 * Characters like Lilith, Papi (and Harpies in general), Suu and Kii (normal forms), Doppel, Cott and Ton, and Ils Nineta are considered "Lolicon Characters" as they possess traits that would be deemed attractive for readers with Lolicon desires (eg. short stature, flat chest, cutesy behaviours, young appearance, etc).
 * Lilith believes that deep down all men are Lolicons.
 * While a Lolicon is dominantly portrayed as a male trait, women can also be considered lolicons if they demonstrate the same interests.
 * The term "Lolita complex" may have first been introduced to Japan when Russell Trainer's book The Lolita Complex (1966) was translated.
 * Mangaka Wada Shinji was the first to actually use and explain the term "Lolita Complex" in his 1974 manga Stumbling Upon a Cabbage Field.
 * Mangaka Azuma Hideo created the doujinshi White Cybele in 1979; the first recorded Lolicon-themed manga in Japan.
 * The male-counterpart of Lolicon is the term Shotacon (Shotaro Complex); which refers to the sexual attraction of the prepubescent male form (13 years old or younger) in fiction and/or an individual (male or female) who possesses such a sexual attraction and/or desire. Like Lolicon, the term Shotacon is also the name of a genre of manga/anime that contains and caters to such interests. The term derives from the character Shotaro Kaneda of the series (1956).