A Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a stock character type in films, coined by film critic Nathan Rabin. The term refers to a female character who exists solely to provide spiritual or mystical help to the protagonist, with no discernible inner life of her own. The MPDG is often portrayed as "different" and "not like other girls," with colorful hair and whimsical philosophies about life. She tends to read books and listen to indie or older bands, and is often associated with some form of trauma in her life. The defining characteristic of the MPDG is that she helps the male protagonist discover important life lessons and embrace lifes mysteries and adventures. Some popular examples of MPDGs in movies and television include Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim Versus the World, Summer from 500 Days of Summer, and Alaska Young from Looking for Alaska. The trope has been criticized for being sexist and clichéd, and for not allowing female characters to have their own inner lives. Despite this, the MPDG continues to be used in films and media, although some filmmakers are striving to create more well-rounded, three-dimensional female characters.