An abbreviation for "manic pixie dream girl," a female character in film and literature who is depicted as a cute, quirky free spirit and who is used solely or primarily to be the love interest of and further the personal growth of the (often disillusioned or depressed) male protagonist, rather than being a fully realized character. Film critic Nathan Rabin first used the term in 2007 to describe Kirsten Dunst's character in the film Elizabethtown. Natalie Portman's character in Garden State is often considered an MPDG.