INSTANTLY likeable characters? [Archive]

The Creation

07-31-2007, 08:29 PM

this is not a recommendation thread!

anyway i've seen many shows, and there are a few shows that i consider extraordinary just because the characters are SO MUCH fun. they are all non-generic (which goes for their designs as well), non-stereotypical, and well-defined with subtle quirks that can put a smile on my face everytime.

a list of shows that i consider valuable and highly replayable:

the FIRST DISC of ROD: simply incredible opening 4 episodes. the way the sisters interact with each other and their colorful personalities and mannerisms are SO MUCH FUN to watch. lost count of how many times i've rewatched just the first disc. sadly the rest of the show just isn't as great imo.

his and her circumstances: wonderful female lead truly makes the show as great as it is, enhanced by amazing english voice acting.

nodame cantabile: again the wonderful female lead is the biggest reason why i love this show so much.

magic user's club: just about every character in this show is likeable. i am rewatching this show at the moment. still freaking awesome. love the dub too.

kamichu: characters are very human. thank god no mini skirts for junior high schoolers. instant likeable leads.

heat guy J: at first i didn't expect much based on the cover art, but man this show is a BLAST to watch. none of the main characters are 1 dimensional. they actually think instead of "destroy the world," or "want to become STRONGER." stupid brainless villains ruin shows for me. thankfully this is not one of them. J has a great personality for an android too. ah good times.

so after seeing my examples, regardless whether you agree or not, care to list some shows or maybe just certain characters you find very enjoyable to watch?

Splitter

07-31-2007, 08:35 PM

Kamina from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

"Believe in me who believes in you!"

something

07-31-2007, 08:41 PM

Oh man, I fall in love instantly with a LOT of characters. Pretty much anything cute gets the benefit of the doubt from me. By no means the most significant example, but one of the most recent, is Mei Mei in Nagasarete Airantou. Soon as I saw her, I know I'd love her. But that kind of goes for the whole cast of that show.

Still, your thread is suuuuuper broad, and I could probably name like 70% of the shows I've ever seen, really :sd:

EmperorBrandon

07-31-2007, 09:00 PM

I think for me, in many of my favorite series, it goes without saying that there will be characters I instantly take a liking too (or otherwise get hooked on over time), since it is indeed one thing that keeps me coming back.

magic user's club: just about every character in this show is likeable. i am rewatching this show at the moment. still freaking awesome. love the dub too.

Oh, I definitely agree here for the most part. I took a liking to all of the characters in the Magic Club (Sae particularly). I never really found Miyama to be very likeable, but that doesn't particularly bother me since that seems to be the point with her character.

Serial Experiments Nobue

07-31-2007, 09:01 PM

Hmm... some characters that I liked right away, in no particular order. I'm sure I forgot a few.

Misaki Suzuhara (Angelic Layer)
Impossible not to root for her, and she's just so cute when she says naa!

Mikiko "Kuromi" Oguro (Animation Runner Kuromi)
Go go Kuromi-chan!

Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga (Azumanga Daioh)
I've always liked quirky characters, and Osaka's one of the best.

Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)
It's Sakura! Do I need a reason? :neko:

Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)
Cool, aloof, and a great anti-action hero.

Tsubasa Shiina & Hikaru Shiina (Figure 17)
Tsubasa is so cute in her shyness, and Hikaru is a blast.

Rakka (Haibane Renmei)
She's inquisitive, naive, and cute.

Duo Maxwell (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing)
The pilot with the least amount of issues, just don't tick him off.

Mayuko Chigasaki (NieA_7)
I've got a soft spot for down-on-their-luck characters. She's also my favorite character in all of anime (that I've seen, of course).

Skuld (Oh My Goddess)
When a 12 year old (sorta) girl builds robots and is a computer genius, what's not to like?

Ai Tanabe (Planetes)
Why didn't I know her in college?! :sweatdrop:

Wakaba Shinohara (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Genki genki genki!

Li Kohran (Sakura Wars)
She builds machines and speaks with an Osaka accent.

Yohko Yamamoto (Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko)
Why didn't I know her in high school?! :sweatdrop:

Matsuri Sakuragi (Strawberry Marshmallow)
So... cute... must... resist... awwwwww :neko:

Robin Sena (Witch Hunter Robin)
She wears black so well. :D

The Creation

07-31-2007, 09:14 PM

hmm maybe you've seen a lot more shows than i do. out of the 300 or so shows i've seen, only these few qualify as the gems, for me anyway. for example, i love azumanga diaoh, but i wouldn't say its characters are instantly likeable, and some aren't terribly interesting by themselves, some are just too over the top for me, except for Osaka.

another show which i love is melancholy of haruhi suzumiya. with haruhi's bossy attitude, i would be surprised if people find her instantly likeable. there are tons of other shows i like, such as ah my goddess, samurai champloo, GitS, gungrave, eureka 7, FMP, slayers... but their characters don't stand out to me as instantly likeable.

The Creation

07-31-2007, 09:25 PM

i've seen every show you listed here except for utena, yohko, and robin. how could i forget about strawberry marshmallow? i love that show man. and Eromanga really exists in Australia. ha. so yes that show is now added to my list of gems, thanks for reminding me.

EmperorBrandon

07-31-2007, 09:26 PM

Misaki Suzuhara (Angelic Layer)
Impossible not to root for her, and she's just so cute when she says naa!

Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)
It's Sakura! Do I need a reason? :neko:

Got to agree with the lovely CLAMP heroines. Misaki makes even angsty rivals the best of friends with her superior charm. :) And Sakura is one character which I can say without reservations that her adorability knows no bounds.

The Creation

07-31-2007, 09:35 PM

Got to agree with the lovely CLAMP heroines. Misaki makes even angsty rivals the best of friends with her superior charm. :) And Sakura is one character which I can say without reservations that her adorability knows no bounds.

for me though they are only decent female leads. it's just that they aren't very interesting to see. they lack something special. of course imo.

something

07-31-2007, 09:39 PM

another show which i love is melancholy of haruhi suzumiya. with haruhi's bossy attitude, i would be surprised if people find her instantly likeable.
Even Itsuki was instantly likable for me. So yeah, Haruhi definitely made the 'instantly likable' cut :sd:

masterpez

07-31-2007, 09:50 PM

Even Itsuki was instantly likable for me. So yeah, Haruhi definitely made the 'instantly likable' cut :sd:

I don't think those who are faithful followers of the Haruhism religion are considered part of the people that The Creation was talking about. :sd:

As for me, with my new found love of Shizuka Itou, I'm almost instantly drawn to any of the characters she plays. And with this season alone, there's no shortage of them: Chikage (Nagasarete Airantou), Darry & Boota (Gurren Lagann), Hinagiku (Hayate no Gotoku), Lenalee (D. Gray-man), Shari (Nanoha StrikerS), Nadie (El Cazador), Ichijo (Sky Girls), & Hasekura Rei (Marimite). Her elegant and sexy voice does well to add to the diverse array of characters she plays (and turns my spinal cord into mush at the same time). My favorite of all of them is probably Alice Malvin from Pumpkin Scissors.

EmperorBrandon

07-31-2007, 09:51 PM

for me though they are only decent female leads. it's just that they aren't very interesting to see. they lack something special. of course imo.

Well, IMO being the point here generally, since "likability" is something that is highly subjective. I doubt there are any anime characters that are instantly likable to everyone.

something

07-31-2007, 09:58 PM

I don't think those who are faithful followers of the Haruhism religion are considered part of the people that The Creation was talking about. :sd:
He just said "people", nothing more, and I think I'm still a person =P Haruhi has not quite yet assumed me into her heavenly realm. Yet!

Besides, I couldn't have been a Haruhi fanatic before I had any idea what it was, could I? That's... impossible :sd: My first impression of the show and characters was by definition an initial exposure, coming sight into a show I knew absolutely nothing about.

Sean_Connolly

07-31-2007, 10:07 PM

There are a great many, but I'll keep it to recent memory.

Mai Tokiha (My-Hime)
Hiroyuki (To Heart)
Nono (Aim for the Top 2)
Ryo Saeba...again (been watching Angel Heart)

Tons more, but just quickly off the top of my head.

LelouchLamperouge

07-31-2007, 11:09 PM

As everyone knows, I'm a rabid D.Gray-man fanboy. Obviously this list will have the 4 (out of 30+) characters from DGM. I consider DGM to one of the best series I've ever seen - because it's so dark and everyone has a burden they must carry.

I warn you extensively, that this will spoil almost everything that has happened in D.Gray-man practically. However, it gets across that I enjoy watching these characters and they are practically instant likeable - I'm not spoiling any of the battles, just the personalities of each character and qualities I like that makes them instantly likeable, if you get my drift.

The anime is taking a more interesting side than the manga, however the character personalities are quite the same! :)

!!!!!MAJOR SPOILER WARNING!!!!!

1. Allen Walker (D.Gray-man)
His loyalty, love and care for his fellow friends. He is truly admirable in that regard. His desire to rid the world of The Millennium Earl, The Clan of Noah and the Akumas, is just great. His personality and character is also quite pure, fun and innocent. Allen's burden is that he attempted to bring back his foster father, Mana, who was, as conspiracy theorists believe, a Noah, as a result, he was cursed practically be the Millennium Earl - but he gained his Innocence Weapon - and now fights as an Exorcist against the Earl and his allies.

2. Lenalee (D.Gray-man)
She carries an unnecessary burden in her dreams, that she hides from others, she puts on a brave front -- knowing her dreams could be coming to fruition. I admire and like her dedication and the front she puts on so others aren't aware of her burden. She worries about Allen constantly, she fears something bad will happen to him, all her friends and family. She is very unstable giving her past, when her parents were killed by Akuma, her only living family member being Komui. Given her dreams of a destroyed Black Order because The Millennium Earl, Allen's apparent dead body and other bodies scattered about, it won't end happy.

3. Komui (D.Gray-man)
The way he is connected to Lenalee is truly spectacular. He gets a feeling everytime, he'll know if Lenalee is doing well, doing bad - whatever shes feeling, he'll feel - this was obvious when Lenalee was knocked unconscious by akumas and Komui's favorite glass broke without warning. The connection is just amazing. I admire his dedication to Lenalee. He may goof off very Maes Hughes-like, but clearly, he has a deep connection to Lenalee, being her brother after all.

4.General Cross (D.Gray-man)
Not a big player in the manga or anime just yet, but he's proven to be a great "father" figure to Allen. For example, he has trained Allen to resist alcohol - quite possibly because he wants Allen to be pure in soul and heart and to resist drugs in general. He also, oddly enough, beat Allen if he ever did drink or do drugs. If Allen ever does, Cross promised he'd kick Allen's rear, hard.

I really like D.Gray-man, don't I? :sd:

Merr

08-01-2007, 01:34 AM

Ai Tanabe (Planetes)
Why didn't I know her in college?! :sweatdrop:

Seriously :D

Although, it'd probably take a miracle for someone as idealistic and unjaded as Ai to make it through the 18 years of life leading up to college. But I guess that's what makes her so damn endearing!

Lego

08-01-2007, 05:18 AM

Onizuka from GTO rings a big, big bell. The guy is just fun to watch and he has a heart of gold. I'd also have to go with a dark horse and say Ein from Bebop :>

The Great Bear

08-01-2007, 08:23 AM

I guess I would agree with a lot of the characters already mentioned here.

I think one show where I instantly liked most of the characters was Azumanga Daioh (the one I didn't really like is Tomo, but people who are like Tomo simply annoy me, but that's okay, she's supposed to be annoying).

Another one would be AIR, where I did have an instant liking for Misuzu Kamio, with her klutzy cuteness. Gao.

And I'll mention the girls of Galaxy Angel. While I'm not the huge fan of the franchise that I know many others are, it's a perfectly good way to spend some relaxation time with likeable characters doing silly things.

TalonG4

08-01-2007, 09:08 AM

There are a lot of instantly likeable characters in anime for me that are too many to mention, some have already been mentioned in this thread. What works for me is a great entrance, two come to mind.

1.)Shayla-Shayla: El Hazard OAV - Appearing at the top of a cliff and charging up her powers and seriously kicking Jinnai's and the Bug's collective behinds was awesome. I fell in love with her character design on the VHS box and this made me like her more.

2.)Kris Kristopher: Battle Atheletes OAV - Especially in the OAV, coming to Akari's rescue and almost coming to blows defending her from Mylandah was awesome.

Those are just a couple examples.

Speedy Boris

08-01-2007, 09:55 AM

Haruhi Suzumiya. She's so unique in a sea of generic anime protagonists that it's refreshing. Even in her most underhanded, "do anything to get what I want, no matter how morally wrong it is" moments, she's still engaging and fun to watch.

I'd also cast a vote for the Azumanga Daioh cast. They all have unique personalities and quirks, which makes it really easy to get into their stories.

Lain Of The Net

08-01-2007, 10:20 AM

In no real order:

Lavie and Claus from Last Exile. Two kids on their own in a nasty world. These two remind me of any number of characters out of some of Heinlein's "youth" novels.

Reki and Rakka from Haibane Renmei. Actually I liked pretty much anyone in this series from the moment I started watching.

Chihiro from Spirited Away. She didn't fold and curl into a little ball when most adults would. Tough kid.

Van from GUNxSWORD. I know he is a bit of a stereotype but I liked this grumpy old guy.

Mayuko Chigasaki from NieA_7. This lady doesn't quit either and her world is more reality based. Too poor to eat properly but generous and thankful for what she does have. Class Act.

Suwako Moriya

08-01-2007, 10:23 AM

Well, IMO being the point here generally, since "likability" is something that is highly subjective. I doubt there are any anime characters that are instantly likable to everyone.

That much is certainly true. All I know is there have been quite a few characters in anime that have been instantly likable for me. Mainly because part of what motivates me to stick with a series is finding a character that I can become attached to pretty quickly. I become motivated to watch in part because she (usually) exists.

I'm too lazy to make a list right now because I'm not sure who to include, but one person that definitely comes to mind is Ayumu Kasuga of Azumanga Daioh. She looked just so pretty in her entrance. Also her personality and voice won me over. Her Japanese voice to be exact since that's how I first experienced the show.

08-01-2007, 11:26 AM

Haruhi Suzumiya. She's so unique in a sea of generic anime protagonists that it's refreshing. Even in her most underhanded, "do anything to get what I want, no matter how morally wrong it is" moments, she's still engaging and fun to watch.
Perhaps from an entertainment standpoint, but if I met her in real life I'd be scared of her..... not instantly taking a liking to her. Wouldn't you? :)

Spirit Of The Stage

08-01-2007, 11:40 AM

Being a Sato fanboy, I'm gonaa get all my biased picks quickly and then go onto the quirky ones, so basically Ahiru(Duck) from Princess Tutu due to her quirky cuteness, her energy, her wish to helo another so desperately even though her own love cannot be returned, Sora from Kaleido Star with her endless energy, charm to turn pretty much everyone around (I echo peoples thoughts with Misaki from AL as well) and sheer awesomeness, Keroro from Geroro Gunsou - come on, he's a gundam loving alien frog, (also Koyuki - beautiful ninja with her 'crush' on Natsumi (and making Giroro jealous, Giroro is pretty awesome as well) and pretty much the entire cast from Aria from Alicia's ara ara, to Aika's embarrassing remarks are not aloud (and Akari's Sakura esque 'ehhhhh?'), Alice's stubborness, Athen'as cluminess and Akira's toughness, they are definitely hard to beat.

But here are a few of others which may be surprising...

Chika Ogiue (Genshiken) - I hate otaku...you look like a bunch of...I spat milk out when I read that and then later saw it...you think a supposed anti-otaku would be a hated character...quite the opposite...I fell in love with her from the moment I saw her.

Sara Adiemus (School Rumble) - Everyone loves Yakumo and Eri (and rightly so) but they have their moments - Yakumo is too withdrawn at times and Eri can be bitchy. However, from the moment I saw the OVA, and she's barking back at the dog, and then collapses (I was so scared...) she became my favourite. Cute, smart, keeps the boys off Yakumo and actually is sane. Little screentime sadly...bah.

Ruri Hoshino (Nadesico) Baka. Really, that's all that needs to be said...and pretty much all she does say, but who cares...

Chikaru Minamoto (Strawberry Panic) Another side character pick, but unlike Sara, Chikaru is immensly popular, and for good reason - another sane one in a hyper bunch...or is she? With her club stuff, her yuri harem and her comedy gold, she is just a top character all round. Now she needs to get Nagisa and Hikari in her clutches... :>

I'm sure there are a ton of others, but I've just picks my odd ones out of my warped mind combined with the Sato fanboyism...as you do...

Garasharp K7

08-01-2007, 11:45 AM

Sunako Nakahara (Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge)
She's introverted, has weird hobbies, prone to violent mood swings and has such an aura of morbidity and decay about her that her very humanity is brought into question. And yet despite all that, she seems like the only character on the show that has a good head on her shoulders. (she's also the only one who does any of the housework too) Not to mention she's depicted in some super-deformed style for most of the series - she's cute as a button even when she's juggling skulls or poking bodies to see if any blood comes out. :)
What I liked most about her was that no matter how many times the other characters try to get her to change her ways, she always reverts back to her old self. She does come out of her shell in small ways, but she still remains this adorable litte nutcase. And folks eventually come to accept her for who she is, weird hobbies and all. (well, it looks that way. I've not seen the last few eps of the show, so she couuld've completely changed by the end - it doesn't look likely though! :) )
(I'm hiding that last bit for those who haven't watched the show. To be honest, I don't think it warrants obfuscating, but ya can't be too careful. Someone might consider that bit spoilerific)

Gai Daigouji (Martian Successor Nadesico)
GAI SUPER UPPER! :D He fancies himself as Ryouma Nagare from Getter Robo, but comes off more like Boss from Mazinger Z. Class. "Give me back my Gekiganger!"

Sumiyoshi (Excel Saga)
Simply put, the man's got a great way with words. As great as he was in the show, I thought he was even funnier in the manga, with his geordie accent and all.

Kamina (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
A strong sense of justice, a passionate soul and his refusal to give up no matter what is what makes this guy so cool. That, and the shades. Gotta love the shades.

Yurika Misumaru (Martian Successor Nadesico)
She's not a unique character by any means, (she's pretty much a walking stereotype as it happens) but I can't help but like her anyway. It's that cheerful personality of hers, not to mention her wide-eyed expression, that wins me over every time. :) Heck, I liked her before I'd even seen the show itself. She's just too cute for words, IMO.

Those anime store clerks from Lucky Star
These guys are just godlike. I love the way they go about their work with such PASSION and GUTS. :D

Osaka (Azumanga Daioh)
Liked her for pretty much the same reasons as Yurika - saw a pic of her first, thought "she's cute" and then eventually caught a few clips of the show. It was one of her dream sequences that won me over - when that cat-thing appears and starts speaking english. Never mind yer 'gao' or yer 'uguu' or whatever - nothing can compare to Osaka's "Oh my Gaah!" :D

Now giant robots aren't really known for the personalities - in fact, most don't have any. (save for those that hail from Cybertron) But as a mech fan it's often the robots themselves that first catch my attention when watching a show, so even a mute titan of steel or a marauding mechanical beast can be likeable from the start.
So with that, here's two of my favourites:

Black Ox (Tetsujin 28)
From the moment you first see him, Ox has this air of menace that tells you straight off he means business. I loved his first appearance in the show - the fog, the ominous metallic footsteps, the glowing eyes, and when he emerges from the mist he lets out a thunderous roar - that just kicked all kinds of arse right there.

Dolores (Zone of the Enders: Dolores, i)
Well, first off, she's a giant robot, so that automatically makes her instantly likeable in my book. :) But what really makes her downright loveable is her personality. She sees everything with a sense of wonder, and she'll go out of her way to help her 'Sir Uncle' to get his family back together. :) Great singing voice too.

I'd list more, but this damn thing has taken me ages to write as it is. I'd be here all night if I listed any other favourite robot characters. (not to mention I can't remember all of their names anyway. :) )

EmperorBrandon

08-01-2007, 01:13 PM

raistlinmajere

08-01-2007, 01:14 PM

-Pretty much the entire student council from Manabi Straight
-Nayuki from Kanon (either)
-Several of the girls from Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
-Tsukasa from Lucky Star
-Tsukino from Yakitate!! Japan
-Yurie from Kamichu

...and the list goes on...

Spirit Of The Stage

08-01-2007, 01:27 PM

also Koyuki - beautiful ninja with her 'crush' on Natsumi (and making Giroro jealous, Giroro is pretty awesome as well)

Oohh... that sounds cool. Don't think I had seen far enough of Keroro Gunsou to see her (only 7 eps. way back when). I really can't wait until ADV finally starts to get this series out, as this one will surely be a fun one to collect.

The fact three characters in that list are voiced by the same seiyuu (Sora, Koyuki and Alice) is not a coincidence...but Koyuki is pretty damn awesome. Not only is she a ninja to put pretty much all of Naruto's kunoichi to shame, but her naivety, friendship with Dororo, and her so obvious crush on Natsumi that makes Giroro realises she's a bigger threat than Mutsumi is absolutely hilarious.

I'm sure she turns up soon in the first ten eps so you'll meet her soon enough (she appeared a lot earlier in the anime than she did in the manga).

EmperorBrandon

08-01-2007, 01:37 PM

The fact three characters in that list are voiced by the same seiyuu (Sora, Koyuki and Alice) is not a coincidence

Ah yes, Ryo Hirohashi. I've made preparations to check out Aria already - should be watching some of that soon. :)

Definitely looking forward to any awesome kunoichi.

Mint Chocolate

08-01-2007, 01:43 PM

Here's a few characters I found intantly likeable:

Hideki, Sumomo (Chobits) Hideki's cluelessness is really endearing to see. Sumomo is just too cute in every single way.

Karin (Karin) Sorta the same reason as Hideki (see above)

Belldandy (Ah! My Goddess) Beautiful, pure, with a heart of gold. And I loved her English voice.

Michelle (R.O.D TV) Her dizzy yet warm personality shone through right from the beginning. My favorite of the 3 sisters.

something

08-01-2007, 03:43 PM

Perhaps from an entertainment standpoint, but if I met her in real life I'd be scared of her..... not instantly taking a liking to her. Wouldn't you? :)
I think that goes for most anime characters. The more awesome they are, generally the weirder it would be to know them in real life :sd:

something

08-01-2007, 03:44 PM

Sara Adiemus (School Rumble)
Horribly, horrrrrrrrribly underused character. Sort of a given with how big SR's cast is, but Sara is too much LOVE to ignore.

Njr Scrawl

08-01-2007, 06:35 PM

Misato Katsuragi in Evangelion. She was my first instant anime "friend" & is mainly why I'm still a fan of the series 10 years on. From when she first met Shinji in episode 1, tried to chat him up & make him feel welcome, I felt instant affinity for her. Then getting them to safety & her car fixed. Capable & knowledgable yet pally.

Miyuki & Natsumi in You're Under Arrest OVAs. Miyuki slightly more, for her friendliness & warmth.

Belldandy in Oh! My Goddess OVAs. Perfect, just perfect, she pushes all the right buttons. :)

Ami in Sailor Moon. Kind, cool, clever & a contrast to Usagi's scattiness.

Mai & Midori in My-Hime. Mai is another sweetie, while Midori is another Misato liking thrills with a serious side & maturity.

Mutsume & Shinobou in Love Hina. Mutsume is gorgeous & Shinobou is cute, both have endearing personalities which show in their faces.

Akane in To Heart. To see her is to love her. To hear her is to love her more.

touma

08-01-2007, 06:54 PM

I took an instant liking to Shipon (Shima Katose) in Stellvia. I mention her because I don't think that anybody else has. I am not going to repeat all of the others that have been mentioned, except:
I do have to say that you must count me among those who immediately fell in love with the world's only Cardcaptor and the miracle rookie of Angelic Layer (Go! Go! Misaki-chi!) :P .

StudioZEL

08-01-2007, 07:09 PM

The Matsuura and Koishikawa Parents (Marmalade Boy)

Belldandy (Ah! My Goddess)

Taishi (Comic Party)

Kamina (Gurren Lagann)

Ryoko (Tenchi Muyo: Ryo-Ohki)

Harima Kenji (School Rumble)

Deedlit (Record of Lodoss War)

Masamichi Fujisawa-sensei (El Hazard)

Misato Katsuragi (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Kaito Kid (Detective Conan)

Lina Inverse (Slayers)

Justy Ueki Tylor (The Irresponsible Captain Tylor)

Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)

Lime (Saber Marionette J)

Ginrei (Giant Robo)

Giroro and Natsumi (Keroro Gunso)

Konata (Lucky Star)

Mai (Kanon 2006)

LimePie

08-01-2007, 07:18 PM

Yotsuba from Yotsuba&. Everybody loves Yotsuba!

The Creation

08-01-2007, 07:57 PM

wow you guys take a liking to characters WAY too easily (no offense, just surprised.) as i went through more and more new anime i somehow lost interest in a lot of them simply because the characters aren't as unique or endearing as those i've listed.

for example, belldandy, yeah she is nice and kind and the embodiment of near perfection, but somehow perfection doesn't interest me as much. it's too easy to make characters like her. case in point, Alicia in Aria is just another belldandy to me. her constant "Alla alla" gets grating. another belldandy example is Raquel in Scrapped princess. many of the motherly type would fit the bill just fine.

characters like Sora from Kaleido Star (another show i like) is also generic in my view with her usual "i won't give up, i will try harder next time!" too many characters behave in this mindset.

to sum up: CLONES EVERYWHERE!! i am indifferent to clones.

i have to agree with Cowboy Bebop, an AWESOME show with a very AWESOME character named Ed. now that's the kind of characters that make me think: "man i love this guy." i guess i am just attracted to people that possess originality/uniqueness that clearly defines who they are.

some people mentioned Keroro from Sgt. Frog, NOW how could i forget about that one. an invader frog who loves gundam models. a curious hobby but humorous in its own way and i love it. the character design is simple yet cute, and most importantly, original

EDIT: another new show i am loving right now is Oh! Edo Rocket, but i've only seen the first 2 episodes.

EmperorBrandon

08-01-2007, 08:05 PM

for example, belldandy, yeah she is nice and kind and the embodiment of near perfection, but somehow perfection doesn't interest me as much. it's too easy to make characters like her. case in point, Alicia in Aria can is just another belldandy to me. her constant "Alla alla" gets grating. another belldandy example is Raquel in Scrapped princess. many of the motherly type would fit the bill just fine.

In other words, many characters voiced by Kikuko Inoue or Sayaka Ohara. :) Heh, well, can't really say anything on the others (I know Raquel but it's been a while since I've seen Scrapped Princess), but I will say Belldandy's character did seem pretty dull to me. I've only seen the OVA's and movie, though.

something

08-01-2007, 09:15 PM

to sum up: CLONES EVERYWHERE!! i am indifferent to clones.
I feel sort of sorry for people who are so prone to see clones everywhere. If you ask me, there are almost no "clones". Every show provides a mixture of plot, character types, relationship dynamics, designs, voices, and backgrounds that is unique in at least some small way. No one show is exactly the same as another. The little differences are what make a show for me. A character might be "similar to" a character in another, maybe even a direct homage/rip/parody thereof, but they still are not the same person.

I enjoy characters just like I enjoy shows: in their own individual context. I don't care if someone else was similar in another show. "Rei-clone" is perhaps the most annoyingly overused label in anime. Yuki is not Rei, Tabitha is not Yuki. Alicia is not Belldandy. Miyako is not Tomo is not Himeko. I'm interested in how they react in certain situations, why they're doing it, what led up to that point, what music is playing, how it's animated... I am definitely not thinking "Oh man, episode x of show y did something like this." Because it's simply not important. If I only liked the first significant incarnation of any given character type, anime would have worn thin for me in no time. I wouldn't be able to watch pretty much anything new, and the hobby would shrivel up and die like a salted slug on a summer sidewalk. If I like a certain type of character, I want to see *more* of them, not less. I want to see the basic building blocks of anime rearranged in fun new patterns. I don't care that elements are being reused, I care that they're being reused well.

In short, I find the extreme emphasis on absolute novelty and the ease with which people level the "clone!" accusation to be very unfortunate. I'd rather just sit back and enjoy the show for what it is, on its own terms. I'm very glad I'm able to do that.

StudioZEL

08-01-2007, 09:15 PM

Different people like characters for different reasons dude, it's that simple. Look at my list, it's quite varied in terms of character types.

I guess in my list, I'm not talking about characters I love in a "I want them to bear my children" sort of way, but characters who immediately stole the show for me as I was watching it.

Just my 2 cents.

StudioZEL

08-01-2007, 09:18 PM

In short, I find the extreme emphasis on absolute novelty and the ease with which people level the "clone!" accusation to be very unfortunate. I'd rather just sit back and enjoy the show for what it is, on its own terms. I'm very glad I'm able to do that.

I feel exactly the same way dude. Exactly.

The Creation

08-01-2007, 10:06 PM

To Something,

you misunderstood me. i still very much enjoy shows like ah my goddess and kaleido star and the rest. it's just that after so much anime, i am starting to get tired of the same old stereotypes, but with different appearances only. shows like Hayate and Zero's Familiar and Moon Phase are good examples. see the female leads' similarities? of course they are not the same, but to me they may as well be reincarnations of the same person. don't get me wrong i still enjoyed those shows greatly, but i would never go as far as calling those characters instantly likable.

i am just looking for those special characters who are so rare to appear in recent shows. the shows they appear in are what i'd consider worth collecting. i'd love to see something different, something like Denno Coil and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei instead of Polyphonica or Kaze no stigma or Seto no Hanayome or Shining tears or the like. why? because the characters are what make the former shows that much more interesting.

of course i still like plenty of shows airing right now (guardian of the sacred spirit is awesome.) i am not as close minded as you might think.

something

08-01-2007, 10:10 PM

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Zetsubou is an incredible show but I don't think there's a single "completely unique" character in that show. Each one is a one shot gag character. Amazing gags, and I love them all, but nothing groundbreaking. Nor are the characters in Dennou Coil (again, amazing show) themselves unique. The show as a whole is, but not the cast really. See, it's just such a subjective thing. You said that Nagi and Louise and Hazuki are "reincarnations of the same", but that's just such a shallow way of looking at it. They provide three entirely different situations, so why get hung up on the fact that broadly speaking they're "all tsunderes" or whatever?

I just guess I'll never understand that line of thinking, for which I suppose I should be enormously greatful.

The Creation

08-01-2007, 10:16 PM

something

08-01-2007, 10:18 PM

The Creation

08-01-2007, 10:23 PM

yes which is why i didn't include denno coil and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei in my initial post. but i found these shows along with Oh! edo rocket more unique and appealing than many of the shows that's airing right now.
I just think it's really ironic that you specifically note the mature-woman/ara-ara type as an overused sort of character, and then say that you instantly liked the sisters, which includes... Michelle :sd:

what? you think Michelle is similar to Belldandy? as far as i know. Michelle is one of a kind.

EDIT: oh you were talking about Alicia. now that's different. Alicia, iirc, repeats "alla alla" or "ara ara" EVERY SINGLE FREAKING TIME she appears on screen. i was just saying it gets grating for me at least. she is a very dull character, very 1 dimensional, "pure and elegant," not very interesting in other words.

Michelle is MILES away from her. her line about "gladly sacrifice Maggie's life to protect Nenene" cracks me up. the way she dances around thinking up plans to trick Nenene into letting them stay is priceless. ah that's what i love about her.

in some instances i find her more childish than the other two sisters.

something

08-01-2007, 10:29 PM

what? you think Michelle is similar to Belldandy? as far as i know. Michelle is one of a kind.
She has the same kind of broad "ara maa~" big-sis personality. And if in your estimation she's not, then certainly neither is Alicia any more worthy of being singled out. See how supremely vague and subjective this "uniqueness" thing is? That's what I'm getting at. Anyone can take a liking to any character, and see nice little quirks that makes the character unique *to them*, even if others don't see it, and indeed even find the same character to be an utterly cliche bore.

The Creation

08-01-2007, 10:54 PM

Anyone can take a liking to any character, and see nice little quirks that makes the character unique *to them*, even if others don't see it, and indeed even find the same character to be an utterly cliche bore.

of course they can. people are different after all. perhaps i shouldn't have said "uniqueness." for me it's same as "originality." sorry English is not my native language so i can't express as clearly as others.

i know finding a character that lacks any sort of cliche or stereotype is hard. i was just looking for those that are as close to being non-stereotypical as possible (human like.) the examples i gave don't necessarily abide by that condition either. or what i wanted to say was i certainly wasn't looking for characters that MUST be original. take Sae for example, she is clumsy which is sorta cliched. but what i loved about her isn't her clumsiness, but her cluelessness. beginning of 1st episode, her conversation between Nanaka was what made me like this character. plus her voice and her design are just very appealing overall.

i don't think i need to explain why Nodame is unique (she's unique right? at least i don't see many of her type in other shows.)

his and her circumstances. i don't really care about Arima. it's Yukino who made this show so fine (except the later half.) she's obviously not 1d. quite realistic if not a bit over the top.

see Kamichu doesn't have many characters with originality either, but there's not many blatant stereotypes. people act like people, very human which is what i loved about that show. same goes for heat guy j.

Suwako Moriya

08-02-2007, 06:25 AM

i know finding a character that lacks any sort of cliche or stereotype is hard.

Based on this statement and the recent posts I've been reading. It sounds like to me that you're not asking for instantly likable characters, but characters that are for lack of a better term "original" a word I stopped caring about years ago. Since no matter what example one could come up with someone else will point to err for example caveman drawings made thousands apon thousands of years ago. I also got sick of the "I don't care about the differences, since the two share a single trait they're exactly the same" mentality many would have.

Also if we're talking about the term "instantly likable" the more instant you want it to be the more of a superficial level it's going to have to be on. Simply because you're not going to be given that much information from the initial appearance. In fact the very first piece of information one usually gets is going to be character design. Then after that you may get the outer layer of personality. As well as the voice depending on how soon the character speaks.

If anything the deeper (never mind how original because I don't care) aspects of a character usually come later as the character becomes more fleshed out over the course of the series. It's not like they put everything on the table at once. Well ok in the case of the very shallow characters they do, but that's another story.

So for example while I can take a quick liking to a character because she's cute, I like her voice, and so forth. I can't exactly pause the video two seconds after she appears and go aha "She'll be extremely deep, original, and <insert major series spoilers here>" *Waits for someone to complain about unmarked spoilers*

The Creation

08-02-2007, 03:56 PM

well not really. actually it just so happens that when i examined the list of characters that i found instantly likeable, they are all pretty much original in their own ways, at the very least they are not shallow, however some characters can be very human yet unlikeable (Light from death note.)

and i thought i made myself clear that i am not looking for characters that are absolutely original, because that's pretty much impossible in this day and age. oversaturated character designs with almost identical japanese voice acting puts me off a bit. however every now and then there is a capable writer that can make his characters just a little different from the norm. THOSE are the characters i am hoping to see MORE of.

it just gets tiring after seeing many of the same old thing, for me at least. i am certainly hoping someone can list characters with similar personalities as Nodame, Sae, Yukino... etc. it's hard right? it's supposed to be, they are special after all. which is why my list is so short compared to many of yours.

someone mentioned Strawberry Marshmallow before and i agree with him. that doesn't mean characters in Marshmallow are all original or realistic. this is one instance where i just find them instantly likable. maybe it's the designs, the antics, or the jokes. they just clicked with me that's all.

i was hoping to see if there are others here that share the same taste as me, and see what else on their list that i haven't seen before, might discover another one of those gems which i would be very grateful.

Also if we're talking about the term "instantly likable" the more instant you want it to be the more of a superficial level it's going to have to be on. Simply because you're not going to be given that much information from the initial appearance.

you could be right. but see my initial examples for a second. i got hooked on ROD right away because the opening episodes are EXTREMELY well written and show the 3 sisters' plus nenene's personalities well enough that they actually don't need much development.

and i was attracted to Magic User's club after the VERY 1st episode, because of the same reason. SAME with His and Her circumstances. another EXTREMELY well written 1st episode, you can see exactly what Yukino is all about. Nodame is still the same as ever. loved her mouth =3= from the very beginning. how sloppy yet talented she really is.

JTurner

09-24-2007, 12:23 AM

Instantly loveable characters, hmm...

Deedlit (Record of Lodoss War) -- I really love this high-elf. She's spunky, sassy but very flirty and a lot of fun (plus she's voiced by one of my favorite voice actresses, Lisa Ortiz). I love how she hits on Parn (whom I also am fond of).

Jean (Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water) -- Who wouldn't want to be with a boy as impossibly generous, sweet, resourceful, optimistic, and compassionate as this nerdy but charming 14-year old? His energy and enthusiasm really carries the show as a whole, and it's easy to see why Nadia finds herself falling for him (even if she does not know how to acknowledge/admit/express her true feelings for him). Not only my favorite character from the show, but one of my favorite characters ever. I do admit that it took a while for me to warm up to Nathan Parsons' French accent, but now I can't imagine Jean without it. He's one of my faves.

Mostly everyone from The World of Narue -- With the exception of a nasty voice actress, a few high school bitches, and some villainous space aliens, there is a lot of charm and appeal to the cast from this underseen sci-fi series.

Hitomi from The Vision of Escaflowne -- She may have a hard time deciding who she likes best (Van or Allen?), but you gotta admit that she is a very kind, friendly person with a special ability to tell the future.

Yucie from Petite Princess Yucie -- Bubbly. Energetic. Sweet. Yet spunky. That sums up the title character of this pleasant but not very memorable Gainax show. Rachel Rivera couldn't have played her character much better.

Everyone from Magic User's Club -- Other posts say it all.

Yukino Miyazawa from His and Her Circumstances -- Even if she does start out as a high school snob and gets into a jealous rivalry with Arima (that turns naturally into love), you really gotta love this girl! She matures faster than a majority of Anno heroines that I've seen (Nadia did show some growth in the early episodes and the final five, while Asuka, well, she never changes), making her a credible character to identify with. Plus, Veronica Taylor's vocal performance is spot-on.

Lina Inverse from The Slayers -- Yep, another Lisa Ortiz role. This is the one that catapulted her into fame, and it's not hard to see why. This red-headed, flat-chested sorceress has a feisty attitude and a sense of greed, but is also good-hearted and doesn't hesitate to stand up for what she feels is right. Plus, she nearly sacrifices herself for Gourry: awww!

Jim Hawking from Outlaw Star -- Next to Jean, this is another cool kid role. He's intelligent and likeable, but he also has a smart-guy attitude that contrasts his partner Gene's sometimes lazy, irresponsible nature. The chemistry between the two is terrific, thanks in no small part to every scene Jim is in with him.

That's all I can think of for now.
-Jon T.

kagekimaniac

09-24-2007, 08:34 AM

...

Njr Scrawl

09-24-2007, 09:59 AM

Ryo Saeba...again (been watching Angel Heart)

*waves flag* somebody else in R1 land likes AH :)
I prefer Ryo in AH, than to how he is depicted in a lot of City Hunter. The more I see the more I like the "new" Ryo. And Kaori in Angel Heart, is, is, is worth living for. :blush:

For others;

The very first character I liked instantly was Misato Katsuragi in Evangelion. She is still #1. Theonly humane & truly human character in NGE, Misato's 1st appearance rescuing a wretched boy from a battlefield in what looked like a grim story, being friendly & warm & welcoming, & her positivity, makes Misato the best.

Belldandy in Oh! My Goddess was the 2nd character I instantly liked. Her entrance in the mirror scene in the OVAs was & is another instant addiction to a character & show for me.

Kaoru in Rurouni Kenshin. Its these "big sister" characters that grab me! Kaoru is half tomboy, half romantic, also very warm & friendly in a time when life is cheap.

Mako in Sailor Moon. Mako needs more appreciation because she's the most neglected, least scatty, & most maature of all the senshi. I was unsure of all the other senshi when they were introduced, but Mako was instant "this girl" for me.

Natsumi & Miyuki in You're Under Arrest. Miyuki a little ahead for her extra :neko: factor, but both girls are instantly likeable from the first minute of their meeting each other.
Miyuki is shyer, but clever, knowledgeable, & attractive. Natsumi you can go wilder with, & is a good drinking buddy as well as date. Both girls are winners. :)