The Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Examining Her Flaws

By Ana Laura Macchiarella

Cover pic from studiobinder.com

The term “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” is often given to that girl who’s not like the others, has quirky interests, impulsively dyes her hair a different color every week; but most importantly, she’s there to make a man better. But behind that eccentric personality, lies a myriad of misogynistic values, neurodivergent traits, and a long line of some of the most beloved female characters in film and TV. Let’s take a deep dive into the origin, characteristics, and issues of the MPDG, and along the way, figure out why it has been captivating audiences and writers for years.

The Origin and the Traits

While this trope has existed for decades, the first to coin the term Manic Pixie Dream Girl was movie critic Nathan Rabin in his 2007 essay on the film Elizabethtown. He directed this at Kirsten Dunst’s character, Claire Coltburn, who soon became the blueprint of the MPDG. He broke down his new term in a 2014 article with Salon, stating “Dunst's psychotically bubbly stewardess seemed to belong in some magical, otherworldly realm -- hence the "pixie" -- offering up her phone number to strangers and drawing whimsical maps to help her man find his way. (...)It's an archetype, I realized, that taps into a particular male fantasy: of being saved from depression and ennui by a fantasy woman who sweeps in like a glittery breeze to save you from yourself, then disappears once her work is done”. Ever since then, this term has consumed media and became somewhat of a cliche. From Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World to The Perks of being a Wallflower, this archetype began to consume film and TV. But truly, what is it that makes up this trope?

The manic pixie dream girl is defined by 3 vital traits: quirkiness, free-spiritedness, and a lack of depth. The first of these often refers to certain interests or unusual senses of style like, for example, Zooey Deschanel’s character in 500 Days of Summer and her obsession with vintage records and playing the ukulele. Next, their impulsivity, which is meant to contrast their male counterparts' often bland or brooding demeanor. Take for instance Ramona Flowers, from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, who when asked why her hair changed, nonchalantly answers “Get used to it. I change my hair like every three weeks”. The last one, is the lack of character development. While they may have backstories or some sort of character depth, they are usually very static and have no other arc apart from “saving” the male lead. This particular aspect of the MPDG is what has led many to question the issues that may lay beneath what seems to just be a whimsical girl.

But what’s the problem?

It goes without saying that this cliche enforces the harmful stereotype that women only exist to serve men and help them grow as people. Manic pixie dream girls make it seem as if these unique, wonderful girls are just tools in the coming-of-age of the most bland men to have ever graced the screen. The idea that women are the only ones who are able to be in touch with their emotions, and that they must seek to aid emotionally disturbed or unavailable men. Furthermore, a lot of the traits presented within these girls reflect that of neurodivergent people. This isn’t inherently negative, but if done badly, this could result in bad representation for people with autism, ADHD, ect. But, the MPDG has still managed to captivate viewers time and time again; and while the trope absolutely has its issues, I believe that writers have the power to rework this archetype to create even better characters.

Take Ramona Flowers, from Scott Pilgrim vs The World. While she does have flaws in her characterization, she has something important that most MPDG don't; a character arc. While it remains simple and still somewhat revolves around the male lead, Scott Pilgrim, it manages to create a richer storyline for her and the movie as a whole. Her's is one of self-discovery, confronting her past, and standing up for herself, which all lead her to becoming a better person. If more writers develop their MPDG based off of this, diving deeper into these girls’ stories, this trope has a chance to redeem itself.

This is not, in no way, shape, or form, supposed to discourage the watcher from enjoying these characters. The purpose of this article is to make watchers aware of the issues of this archetype, which like most tropes, is extremely flawed and overdone. It is paramount nowadays to stay aware of double-meanings and the dark sides of media, and that doesn’t just apply to the Manic Pixie Dream Girl.