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Here are several characters from animated shows that I didn’t exactly expect to like and/or sympathize with the way I did. Some share a spot if they come from the same show.

-Ezekiel & Scott (Total Drama)

Both are basically farm boy weirdos with lousy social skills in different ways. However, we were later given reasons to feel pity for them as they suffered underserved cruel fates. Ezekiel tried to be a better contestant only to be the first to get booted off again and then turned into a cheap Gollum knockoff which is about as unnecessary and nonsensical as it gets. In Scott’s case, he was mauled and traumatized by Fang the mutant shark even though he already lost the game. Originally a villain, he was obviously going to end up in defeat but they went way overboard with it. And though he recovered, he was left with a fear of sharks and still had to put up with his personal nemesis. He also transitioned from villain to antihero and became a more entertaining and captivating character. It doesn’t erase his bad deeds, but it’s enough to make me pity him. I honestly wish they had Ezekiel be turned back to normal and for Scott to stand up to Fang and improve as a person. I think they could’ve been friends not just because of their lifestyles and personalities, but also because of what they went through.

-Max (Camp Camp)

Though he does his role well as the pessimistic straight man in a cast of quirky comedy characters, he was eventually made into a multidimensional character in a surprisingly deep way. His pessimism and rebellious tendencies were likely a result of his parents’ negligence and were likely a coverup for his depression and anxiety. Plus, over the course of the series, he realizes that he actually values his friendships with the other campers and that they made his time at summer camp worthwhile. He can be appropriately described as a “bad but sad boy”.

-Varrick (The Legend of Korra)

Already an entertaining fella if a bit shady, but it was in the show’s last season that actually made him a surprisingly complex character. With him second guessing his decision to follow Kuvira and showing that he actually knew right from wrong. Then he felt lost when Zhu Li seemingly abandoned him which brought out his humanity even more and helped him realize how much she meant to him and decided to settle down with her.

-Andrias (Amphibia)

In spite of all his crimes, you can’t help but feel a little sorry for him upon seeing his backstory. It’s easy to see how the conflict of the show wasn’t entirely his fault after he was controlled by his father and the Core. And in the end, he was able to salvage whatever good was still in him. Though he’s irredeemable in several ways, he still ends up no longer being a threat and undos the destruction he causes as best he can. You don’t see too many dictator characters like that. It’s what made him such a compelling villain.

-Blitzo & Stolas (Helluva Boss)

Both characters started out as quirky, dirty, self-entitled boys and they very much still are. But once the series goes into serious territory, it comes as a surprise at how they’re masking just how troubled their lives really are. They still have their faults, but one can only hope they overcome their internal and external conflicts and better themselves.

-Sunset Shimmer (Equestria Girls)

I can’t say I ever actually hated her, but I didn’t really care for her at first. She wasn’t that compelling as a villain and when she reformed, I only sort of expected to like her more. Of course the way her character was handled for the rest of the series defied my expectations. Her remorse for her past actions and determination to turn herself around was very well done and really made me feel for her. She set a new standard for redeemed villains as many more followed. Even though several of them weren’t handled that well, a few such as Tempest Shadow still were. Her role as the original Equestria Girls antagonist hasn’t aged well but only because of how far she’s come at being the hero of the series.

-Pacifica Northwest (Gravity Falls)

A very similar case like Sunset. Initially a rich snob stereotype and not that interesting, I was obviously taken aback as much as the next person with how much she improved in the second season. Being forced to live a lifestyle she didn’t want and wanting to do the right thing, she needed all the support from both characters in the show and fans in real life. Her turnaround also helped me keep an open mind about mean girl characters that came after her, such as Amity Blight, Sasha Waybright and Andrea Davenport, and consider the possibility of them becoming nicer which they did.

-Gloria Sato (Big City Greens)

Though initially seeming like just a typical short tempered person, you can’t blame her too much given she has to put up with Cricket. She definitely gains likability and sympathy when you see how hard her life is and when she warms up to the Greens and starts to see them as family. She’s come a long way and deserves to be rooted for.

-Lori, Lynn & Lola (The Loud House)

I never believed in the useless mean sister trope especially since I actually started liking the so-called “mean sisters” before I knew it was an actual trope. It’s easy to see how these three can be considered the worst Loud sisters and it took some time for me to warm up to them myself. But as far as I’m concerned, they’ve all gotten more entertaining and interesting overtime and have shown struggles and insecurities that I think are realistic and relatable. I will not label them (or any Loud siblings for that matter) as actual bad people. The way I see it, they’re generally good characters who have had bad performances at times.

-Lilith, Hunter & Alador (The Owl House)

While it was also kind of a surprise with how likable and sympathetic Amity became, the signs were still there and became more clear during her screen time. It was the other redeemed antagonists of the show that caught me off guard due to them all regretting their actions of backing up the wrong people.

With Lilith, I had a feeling she’d switch sides, but I couldn’t have seen how endearing she’d become as a good guy in the second season and her struggles of trying to make the right decisions in her life felt real.

With Hunter, him being created and raised by Belos proved that he was practically forced to be a villain, you couldn’t help but root for him to break free of Belos’ control and become his own person which he thankfully did once he was influenced by the right people.

With Alador, once it was clear that Odalia was the real villain while he was basically just a dopey henchman who blindly follows orders, it seemed possible that he could come around. And he did, given that he too realized he was badly influenced by Odalia and managed to break free just like Amity. He’s not a better parent yet, but he can still get there.

Original meme: www.deviantart.com/el-crany-ra…

Description
Here are several characters from animated shows that I didn’t exactly expect to like and/or sympathize with the way I did. Some share a spot if they come from the same show.

-Ezekiel & Scott (Total Drama)

Both are basically farm boy weirdos with lousy social skills in different ways. However, we were later given reasons to feel pity for them as they suffered underserved cruel fates. Ezekiel tried to be a better contestant only to be the first to get booted off again and then turned into a cheap Gollum knockoff which is about as unnecessary and nonsensical as it gets. In Scott’s case, he was mauled and traumatized by Fang the mutant shark even though he already lost the game. Originally a villain, he was obviously going to end up in defeat but they went way overboard with it. And though he recovered, he was left with a fear of sharks and still had to put up with his personal nemesis. He also transitioned from villain to antihero and became a more entertaining and captivating character. It doesn’t erase his bad deeds, but it’s enough to make me pity him. I honestly wish they had Ezekiel be turned back to normal and for Scott to stand up to Fang and improve as a person. I think they could’ve been friends not just because of their lifestyles and personalities, but also because of what they went through.

-Max (Camp Camp)

Though he does his role well as the pessimistic straight man in a cast of quirky comedy characters, he was eventually made into a multidimensional character in a surprisingly deep way. His pessimism and rebellious tendencies were likely a result of his parents’ negligence and were likely a coverup for his depression and anxiety. Plus, over the course of the series, he realizes that he actually values his friendships with the other campers and that they made his time at summer camp worthwhile. He can be appropriately described as a “bad but sad boy”.

-Varrick (The Legend of Korra)

Already an entertaining fella if a bit shady, but it was in the show’s last season that actually made him a surprisingly complex character. With him second guessing his decision to follow Kuvira and showing that he actually knew right from wrong. Then he felt lost when Zhu Li seemingly abandoned him which brought out his humanity even more and helped him realize how much she meant to him and decided to settle down with her.

-Andrias (Amphibia)

In spite of all his crimes, you can’t help but feel a little sorry for him upon seeing his backstory. It’s easy to see how the conflict of the show wasn’t entirely his fault after he was controlled by his father and the Core. And in the end, he was able to salvage whatever good was still in him. Though he’s irredeemable in several ways, he still ends up no longer being a threat and undos the destruction he causes as best he can. You don’t see too many dictator characters like that. It’s what made him such a compelling villain.

-Blitzo & Stolas (Helluva Boss)

Both characters started out as quirky, dirty, self-entitled boys and they very much still are. But once the series goes into serious territory, it comes as a surprise at how they’re masking just how troubled their lives really are. They still have their faults, but one can only hope they overcome their internal and external conflicts and better themselves.

-Sunset Shimmer (Equestria Girls)

I can’t say I ever actually hated her, but I didn’t really care for her at first. She wasn’t that compelling as a villain and when she reformed, I only sort of expected to like her more. Of course the way her character was handled for the rest of the series defied my expectations. Her remorse for her past actions and determination to turn herself around was very well done and really made me feel for her. She set a new standard for redeemed villains as many more followed. Even though several of them weren’t handled that well, a few such as Tempest Shadow still were. Her role as the original Equestria Girls antagonist hasn’t aged well but only because of how far she’s come at being the hero of the series.

-Pacifica Northwest (Gravity Falls)

A very similar case like Sunset. Initially a rich snob stereotype and not that interesting, I was obviously taken aback as much as the next person with how much she improved in the second season. Being forced to live a lifestyle she didn’t want and wanting to do the right thing, she needed all the support from both characters in the show and fans in real life. Her turnaround also helped me keep an open mind about mean girl characters that came after her, such as Amity Blight, Sasha Waybright and Andrea Davenport, and consider the possibility of them becoming nicer which they did.

-Gloria Sato (Big City Greens)

Though initially seeming like just a typical short tempered person, you can’t blame her too much given she has to put up with Cricket. She definitely gains likability and sympathy when you see how hard her life is and when she warms up to the Greens and starts to see them as family. She’s come a long way and deserves to be rooted for.

-Lori, Lynn & Lola (The Loud House)

I never believed in the useless mean sister trope especially since I actually started liking the so-called “mean sisters” before I knew it was an actual trope. It’s easy to see how these three can be considered the worst Loud sisters and it took some time for me to warm up to them myself. But as far as I’m concerned, they’ve all gotten more entertaining and interesting overtime and have shown struggles and insecurities that I think are realistic and relatable. I will not label them (or any Loud siblings for that matter) as actual bad people. The way I see it, they’re generally good characters who have had bad performances at times.

-Lilith, Hunter & Alador (The Owl House)

While it was also kind of a surprise with how likable and sympathetic Amity became, the signs were still there and became more clear during her screen time. It was the other redeemed antagonists of the show that caught me off guard due to them all regretting their actions of backing up the wrong people.

With Lilith, I had a feeling she’d switch sides, but I couldn’t have seen how endearing she’d become as a good guy in the second season and her struggles of trying to make the right decisions in her life felt real.

With Hunter, him being created and raised by Belos proved that he was practically forced to be a villain, you couldn’t help but root for him to break free of Belos’ control and become his own person which he thankfully did once he was influenced by the right people.

With Alador, once it was clear that Odalia was the real villain while he was basically just a dopey henchman who blindly follows orders, it seemed possible that he could come around. And he did, given that he too realized he was badly influenced by Odalia and managed to break free just like Amity. He’s not a better parent yet, but he can still get there.

Original meme: www.deviantart.com/el-crany-ra…