<p>Not all terms need to have a meaning. Moopie are referred to as ムーピー in Japanese, which can be &quot;Moopy&quot; or &quot;Moopie&quot;. So it's to say it's a nonsense word chosen by the author.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-22T03:53:00.060Z
Thanks, I am not suggesting it "needs" to have a meaning, just wondering if it does and more specifically if the translation made up a nonsense word or if the original Japanese author, Tezuka, made up the word and the translator converted it phonetically. From your answer it seems you are suggesting the latter, but I think to answer this we would need confirmation that the original text in jaanese included "ムーピー"
Drai
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-22T08:50:51.540Z
@Drai yes, Tezuka also uses ムーピー in the original Japanese manga. [The official website](https://tezukaosamu.net/jp/manga/398.html) also mentions this name.
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-22T00:07:04.820Z
2022-06-22T00:07:04.820Z
кяαzєя
<p>If Osamu Tezuka made up the word Moopie or Moopy combining two words, I guess
&quot;Moo&quot; is from movie, motion, move.</p>
<p>And &quot;py&quot; is from copy.</p>
<p>And in terms of Bouba/kiki effect, for me the pronounciation of &quot;moopie&quot; just corresponds to the original appearance of Moopie.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-16T04:29:05.913Z
2022-11-16T04:29:58.137Z
2022-11-16T04:29:58.137Z
user70594
<p>I’m reading Tezuka’s Phoenix, Yamato book and in it there is a species of shapeshifter called “Moopie” in the English translation. Is this just a nonsense word picked by the translator or does it have some meaning phonetically in Japan (or elsewhere)?
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/dQp1Q.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dQp1Q.jpg" alt="moopie: Tezuka Phoenix " /></a></p>

<japanese-language><phoenix>
What is a Moopie?
# What is a Moopie?
Posted by: username_0 on 2022-06-21
I’m reading Tezuka’s Phoenix, Yamato book and in it there is a species of shapeshifter called “Moopie” in the English translation. Is this just a nonsense word picked by the translator or does it have some meaning phonetically in Japan (or elsewhere)?
[![moopie: Tezuka Phoenix ](https://i.sstatic.net/dQp1Q.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/dQp1Q.jpg)
**Tags:** japanese-language phoenix
---
## 2 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2022-06-22. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
Not all terms need to have a meaning. Moopie are referred to as ムーピー in Japanese, which can be "Moopy" or "Moopie". So it's to say it's a nonsense word chosen by the author.
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2022-06-22): Thanks, I am not suggesting it "needs" to have a meaning, just wondering if it does and more specifically if the translation made up a nonsense word or if the original Japanese author, Tezuka, made up the word and the translator converted it phonetically. From your answer it seems you are suggesting the latter, but I think to answer this we would need confirmation that the original text in jaanese included "ムーピー"  
> **username_2** (2022-06-22): @Drai yes, Tezuka also uses ムーピー in the original Japanese manga. [The official website](https://tezukaosamu.net/jp/manga/398.html) also mentions this name.  
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2022-11-16. Score: 0
If Osamu Tezuka made up the word Moopie or Moopy combining two words, I guess
"Moo" is from movie, motion, move.

And "py" is from copy.

And in terms of Bouba/kiki effect, for me the pronounciation of "moopie" just corresponds to the original appearance of Moopie.
---
