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Description
I've done a similar list like this before, but this one has more categories and is updated to include characters from the new stuff I've watched this year. I also go into more detail about why I chose each character for each particular category. Keep in mind, not all of the characters shown here are necessarily my most favorite character in the franchise they're from, just ones that most aptly fit the description, though of course I did try to include as many of my most favorite characters wherever I could.
Also this list contains characters from cartoons, live action shows and movies, anime and manga, games, and Homestuck.
Original template by

First row:
Because He's Interesting: Patrick Jane (from The Mentalist)
He's smart and cheeky but absolutely hopeless with guns. He's an expert at reading people but is not always easy to read himself. And he's cheerful and has got an irresistible smile, but possesses a deeper darkness borne from a tragic and horrifying past. He's exactly the kind of character I'm interested in finding out more about.

Because He's Cool: Snufkin (from Moomin/Tanoshii Muumin Ikka)
He may wear shabby clothes, but Snufkin is the one people trust, admire, or go to for advice or comfort. He's always calm and frank, he loves nature, he’s always chill and friendly, and he doesn't believe in owning material things. He's just... cool.

Because His Character Makes Sense: Bakugo (from My Hero Academia)
So, yeah, Bakugo is a huge bastard and a bully, and normally I can't stand bully characters because they just don't make sense to me - why exactly do they seem to make it their life's mission to harass the main character when there isn’t any apparent reason to hate them other than because the creators want them to? But with Bakugo, I was sold on his motives and backstory from episode 7, because it was believable, even understandable, and he only got better from then on.

Because He Has Flaws: Tony Stark (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Tony has made lots of mistakes, most of which he really beats himself up over, and that's exactly what I love about him.

Because of His Actions: Gilbert Nightray (from Pandora Hearts)
Almost all the times I shouted for joy while reading this manga was because of something Gil did (the rest of the time was because of Break XD). Gil is such a fantastically loyal friend, never letting any obstacle break his spirit or stop him from proceeding and pushing the others forward.

Because of His Beliefs: Steve Rogers (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Okay, I'll admit, I mostly put Steve here because he was the one character I liked that I could think of who I knew definitely believed in God. Aside from that, he's a complete gentleman, very polite as Tony once said, and always staunch in his beliefs and doing what's right.

Because of Subtext: Sans (from Undertale)
It's how most of the things we find out about Sans is through subtext that makes him one of the most interesting characters in the game - things like Papyrus saying he "never tells anybody anything", how the player notes that he "looks happy" in an old photograph even though you never see him not smiling, his lost Soul text quavering when no other character's does, and of course the dialogue itself - "just give up - I did". Coupled with his much bigger role in the Genocide Route, he became ideal fuel for fan theories and angsty fanart, and that’s probably not gonna stop for as long as Undertale exists.

Second Row:
Because He's Smart: Conan (from Detective Conan/Case Closed)
Conan is like the non-evil version of Light Yagami - for all the geniuses and smooth operators in this show, you gotta laugh with glee and satisfaction when you realize in the end that everything was actually going according to his plan all along.

Because He's Misunderstood: Bucky Barnes (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
None of it was his fault, he's a good boy and a good friend and he doesn't deserve all the shit that happened to him!

Because He's a Well-Done Archetype: Hiccup (from How to Train Your Dragon)
When I hear about a main character who's "different" and a "loser" and basically "not like the others", I immediately lose interest and decide to pass, but Hiccup, like this movie, manages to still be interesting despite holding such a clichéd mantle. Part of it's just the great pacing of the film, but I think it’s also because Hiccup isn’t different because he’s “special” or the “chosen one” or even misunderstood – rather he's more of an ordinary person born in a village where everyone is supposed to be extraordinary, and he has to do things differently in order to compensate. His story arc isn’t about making the village recognize him either; he grows and adapts and learns on his own, and eventually is able to show the villagers the truth about dragons.

Because She's Amiable: Moominmama (from Moomins/Tanoshii Moomin Ikka)
She is the absolute most patient, sweetest, precious, kindest, most motherly mother in fiction I've ever seen! If you enter her house you are basically her child now.

Because She Subverts a Despised Cliché: Shiina Mayuri (from Steins;Gate)
I automatically dislike moe characters in anime - I hate most things about them, from their airheadedness to their childish behavior to their babyish voices. But despite her having all those traits, I absolutely love Mayuri. She was the main character's emotional anchor, and she often showed a deeper understanding and intelligence when it came to people's feelings, not to mention the psychological effects of time travel (like in one conversation with Okabe where she immediately recognized how much sadder it would be for the time traveler who remembers previous timelines). In other words, not just another stupid moe character whose only purpose is to look cute.

Because of His Dedication: Hachiken Yuugo (from Silver Spoon)
He's a hard worker who'll see a thing through even if he doesn't necessarily want to do it, and he genuinely wants to help his friends with their problems even when, realistically, there's nothing he can do.

Because I Can Relate: Handa Seishuu (from Barakamon)
Handa is me as a male anime character, like almost to a T. He's sensitive, he’s more comfortable around kids, he hates bothering himself to do things he doesn't want to do, to the point of being rude in social situations, and he gets lonely even though he likes his solitude.

Third Row:
Because He Has Redeemable Qualities: Spike (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Even before he got a soul, Spike was one of the best characters on the show - not only was he hilarious, but he actually made a conscious effort to do good things even though it was against his very nature.

Because He Makes Me Laugh: Max (from Camp Camp)
Self explanatory I think - I can't think of a Max line that ever failed to make me laugh. (Although so far the fourth season in general has not been half as funny as the show used to be.)

Because He's Polite: Sal Fisher (from Sally Face)
Considering what he's been through and his unconventional, somewhat creepy appearance, I didn't expect this faceless teen to be so gosh darn good at talking to people, or to be so friendly and respectful, and I love that he's like that because most teen characters I can think of would act more sarcastic or pretentious.

Because He's Honest: Angel (from Angel the Series)
I didn't think much of him in Buffy, but I definitely fell in love with him by Angel. As another character in the show put it, he doesn't have an insincere bone in his body, and it's true. Angel genuinely wants to help people, not just because it's the right thing or because he wants to make amends. He truly sympathizes with his clients and wants to do right by them. He's so honest he's almost childlike sometimes.

Because He Puts Others First: Luffy (from One Piece)
Luffy has a goal and would definitely do anything to get it, but when he sees someone is upset or in trouble he will drop everything to kick the asses of the people responsible no matter what the risk to himself.

Because He's Hot: Son Hak (from Akatsuki no Yona)
I mean... he is. And if I say anymore I'll just embarrass myself.

Because He's Responsible: Woody (from Toy Story)
Woody is practically the father - heck you could even say grandfather - of the Toy Story gang, and he lives up to that role. He even treats his owners as if they were his real kids even though they aren't aware he's alive.

Fourth Row:
Because He's a Leader: Senku (from Dr. Stone)
Senku is arguably just as much of a genius as Conan, if not more so, but it was his natural ability to lead that made him become one of my favorite characters.

Because She's Crazy in a Good Way: Aradia (from Homestuck)
I love the juxtaposition of her being one of the most optimistic and cheerful characters in the comic (in the second half anyway) and also being a fangirl of morbidity, death, doom and destruction. She’s not even crazy in a psychopathic way either, like she’s not actively looking to make people’s lives miserable for her own enjoyment, she’s just enjoying being alive and experiencing existence in all its forms.

Because He's a Good Companion: Toby (from Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia)
Normally I’m pretty apathetic to the “best friend” character in cartoons – I neither particularly like or dislike them, they’re just kinda there. But in Trollhunters I found myself loving Toby almost as much as Jim. Maybe it’s because Tobes was never used for any of those clichés you see best friend characters used in other similar cartoons, like “turning evil because they’re jealous of the main character”, or “taking advantage of the main character's powers for their own gain/to become popular”. Toby doesn’t do any of that; he genuinely loves Jim, would do anything for him, supports him throughout the show, and even becomes a trollhunter in his own right. It’s not just Jim that he’s a good friend to either, he gives the same kind of dedication to his newfound friend Aaarrrgh!!, and Eli and the others in 3 Below (though he has more of a supporting character role there).

Because He's a Good Relative: Donald Duck (from Ducktales 2017)
Even though he’s got the most terrible luck and just wants to live a peaceful and quiet life, Donald will stare danger in the face without hesitation in order to protect his boys.

Because He Feels Human: Yabuki Joe (from Ashita No Joe)
I fell in love with Joe from episode 1 because of how real he felt to me. I could easily imagine meeting someone like him in real life.

Because He Learns from His Mistakes: Edward Elric (from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Aside from being traumatized enough to never want to attempt to bring people back from the dead again, Ed matured and learned a lot from his failures throughout the course of FMAB. One particular moment I think demonstrates this well is when Monster!Envy tries to distract him by calling him short, and when at first it looks like he's fallen for it, the attack he sends is really aimed at the more significant enemy he’d had his sights on from the first, much to Al's surprise.

Because I Strongly Pity Him: Dib (from Invader Zim)
He is just constantly getting shit on in the show and it’s really unfair even if it is funny – especially since he usually is right in the end.

Fifth Row:
Because He's Creative: Reigen (from Mob Psycho 100)
You never know what he’s got up his sleeve or how he’ll get himself out of a bind, but he’ll always manage it in a way as ridiculous as it is awesome.

Because He's Rebellious: Loki (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
I love a wildcard, and Loki is a particularly funny and endearing example. He went from being a villain to being the annoying brother who's only contrary for the sake of being contrary.

Because He Has Potential: Dark Danny (from Danny Phantom)
I kept waiting for Evil Dan to make a comeback in the show and I was severely disappointed that he didn't, especially since we got a tease of him returning. A lot could’ve been done with him, along with the implications he brings in regards to Danny himself.
I would also put Clockwork and Danni in this spot too, since they were also great characters that could’ve been used in more episodes.

Because of His Role in the Group: Karkat (from Homestuck)
Karkat was the glue that held his team together – not all of them got along, heck some of them outright hated each other, but all the trolls liked Karkat in some way and trusted him. He was the most compassionate of them despite his belligerent façade, and it’s doubtless they got as far in the game as they did because of his pulling everyone together.

Because He Appeals to a Demographic: Ishigami Yuu (from Kaguya-sama: Love is War)
He’s the lazy otaku who always speaks what’s on everyone’s mind. It’s not hard to see how he became the fan favorite from the first moment he showed up.

Because He's a Spoof/Satire: Caliborn (from Homestuck)
It’s hilarious reading Caliborn’s parts thinking of him as the author's grossly exaggerated representation of Homestuck’s haters.

Because He's Charming: Dale Cooper (from Twin Peaks)
I was charmed by him pretty much from his introduction. He’s so pleasant and just the right amount of strange, and he’s got such a nice smile. In a word, he’s a gentleman. And I can’t think of many other characters I could use that word for.

Last Row:
Because Not Enough People Like Him: Jim Lake Jr. (from Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia)
This applies to the whole show as well, but I also would love it for Jim himself to become more known and loved as a cartoon protagonist. He’s a chef, he’s a loyal friend, he's such a good son to his mother, and the way he reacts to situations is relatable. He’s a patented Good Boy.

Because He Has Nostalgic Value: Sonic (from Sonic the Hedgehog)
I’ve only ever played one Sonic game in my life, but I was a fan of Sonic X for awhile and developed what I guess you could call a preteen crush or admiration for the character during that time, such that I still go through random bouts of interest in anything Sonic related.

Because Gold Comes Out of His Mouth: Okabe Rintaro (from Steins;Gate)
I remember when watching the first episode I did a little double take whenever Okabe spoke, like “wait, what is he talking about?” Once I got used to his shtick, I would just burst out laughing every time he spoke (at least until the show took a more depressing turn).

Because She Changed For the Better: Cordelia Chase (from Angel the series)
Cordelia changed from being my most hated character in Buffy to my most favorite character in Angel. Comparing how she was in her introduction to her final appearances, she hardly seems like the same person, and the best thing about it is that the change was gradual and happened before I even knew it. I can’t think of many other characters where my opinion took such a 180 degree turn.

Because I Can!: Xerxes Break (from Pandora Hearts)
Break was unequivocally the best character in Pandora Hearts. He was a bit like the Roy Mustang of the series.

Description
I've done a similar list like this before, but this one has more categories and is updated to include characters from the new stuff I've watched this year. I also go into more detail about why I chose each character for each particular category. Keep in mind, not all of the characters shown here are necessarily my most favorite character in the franchise they're from, just ones that most aptly fit the description, though of course I did try to include as many of my most favorite characters wherever I could.
Also this list contains characters from cartoons, live action shows and movies, anime and manga, games, and Homestuck.
Original template by

First row:
Because He's Interesting: Patrick Jane (from The Mentalist)
He's smart and cheeky but absolutely hopeless with guns. He's an expert at reading people but is not always easy to read himself. And he's cheerful and has got an irresistible smile, but possesses a deeper darkness borne from a tragic and horrifying past. He's exactly the kind of character I'm interested in finding out more about.

Because He's Cool: Snufkin (from Moomin/Tanoshii Muumin Ikka)
He may wear shabby clothes, but Snufkin is the one people trust, admire, or go to for advice or comfort. He's always calm and frank, he loves nature, he’s always chill and friendly, and he doesn't believe in owning material things. He's just... cool.

Because His Character Makes Sense: Bakugo (from My Hero Academia)
So, yeah, Bakugo is a huge bastard and a bully, and normally I can't stand bully characters because they just don't make sense to me - why exactly do they seem to make it their life's mission to harass the main character when there isn’t any apparent reason to hate them other than because the creators want them to? But with Bakugo, I was sold on his motives and backstory from episode 7, because it was believable, even understandable, and he only got better from then on.

Because He Has Flaws: Tony Stark (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Tony has made lots of mistakes, most of which he really beats himself up over, and that's exactly what I love about him.

Because of His Actions: Gilbert Nightray (from Pandora Hearts)
Almost all the times I shouted for joy while reading this manga was because of something Gil did (the rest of the time was because of Break XD). Gil is such a fantastically loyal friend, never letting any obstacle break his spirit or stop him from proceeding and pushing the others forward.

Because of His Beliefs: Steve Rogers (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Okay, I'll admit, I mostly put Steve here because he was the one character I liked that I could think of who I knew definitely believed in God. Aside from that, he's a complete gentleman, very polite as Tony once said, and always staunch in his beliefs and doing what's right.

Because of Subtext: Sans (from Undertale)
It's how most of the things we find out about Sans is through subtext that makes him one of the most interesting characters in the game - things like Papyrus saying he "never tells anybody anything", how the player notes that he "looks happy" in an old photograph even though you never see him not smiling, his lost Soul text quavering when no other character's does, and of course the dialogue itself - "just give up - I did". Coupled with his much bigger role in the Genocide Route, he became ideal fuel for fan theories and angsty fanart, and that’s probably not gonna stop for as long as Undertale exists.

Second Row:
Because He's Smart: Conan (from Detective Conan/Case Closed)
Conan is like the non-evil version of Light Yagami - for all the geniuses and smooth operators in this show, you gotta laugh with glee and satisfaction when you realize in the end that everything was actually going according to his plan all along.

Because He's Misunderstood: Bucky Barnes (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
None of it was his fault, he's a good boy and a good friend and he doesn't deserve all the shit that happened to him!

Because He's a Well-Done Archetype: Hiccup (from How to Train Your Dragon)
When I hear about a main character who's "different" and a "loser" and basically "not like the others", I immediately lose interest and decide to pass, but Hiccup, like this movie, manages to still be interesting despite holding such a clichéd mantle. Part of it's just the great pacing of the film, but I think it’s also because Hiccup isn’t different because he’s “special” or the “chosen one” or even misunderstood – rather he's more of an ordinary person born in a village where everyone is supposed to be extraordinary, and he has to do things differently in order to compensate. His story arc isn’t about making the village recognize him either; he grows and adapts and learns on his own, and eventually is able to show the villagers the truth about dragons.

Because She's Amiable: Moominmama (from Moomins/Tanoshii Moomin Ikka)
She is the absolute most patient, sweetest, precious, kindest, most motherly mother in fiction I've ever seen! If you enter her house you are basically her child now.

Because She Subverts a Despised Cliché: Shiina Mayuri (from Steins;Gate)
I automatically dislike moe characters in anime - I hate most things about them, from their airheadedness to their childish behavior to their babyish voices. But despite her having all those traits, I absolutely love Mayuri. She was the main character's emotional anchor, and she often showed a deeper understanding and intelligence when it came to people's feelings, not to mention the psychological effects of time travel (like in one conversation with Okabe where she immediately recognized how much sadder it would be for the time traveler who remembers previous timelines). In other words, not just another stupid moe character whose only purpose is to look cute.

Because of His Dedication: Hachiken Yuugo (from Silver Spoon)
He's a hard worker who'll see a thing through even if he doesn't necessarily want to do it, and he genuinely wants to help his friends with their problems even when, realistically, there's nothing he can do.

Because I Can Relate: Handa Seishuu (from Barakamon)
Handa is me as a male anime character, like almost to a T. He's sensitive, he’s more comfortable around kids, he hates bothering himself to do things he doesn't want to do, to the point of being rude in social situations, and he gets lonely even though he likes his solitude.

Third Row:
Because He Has Redeemable Qualities: Spike (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Even before he got a soul, Spike was one of the best characters on the show - not only was he hilarious, but he actually made a conscious effort to do good things even though it was against his very nature.

Because He Makes Me Laugh: Max (from Camp Camp)
Self explanatory I think - I can't think of a Max line that ever failed to make me laugh. (Although so far the fourth season in general has not been half as funny as the show used to be.)

Because He's Polite: Sal Fisher (from Sally Face)
Considering what he's been through and his unconventional, somewhat creepy appearance, I didn't expect this faceless teen to be so gosh darn good at talking to people, or to be so friendly and respectful, and I love that he's like that because most teen characters I can think of would act more sarcastic or pretentious.

Because He's Honest: Angel (from Angel the Series)
I didn't think much of him in Buffy, but I definitely fell in love with him by Angel. As another character in the show put it, he doesn't have an insincere bone in his body, and it's true. Angel genuinely wants to help people, not just because it's the right thing or because he wants to make amends. He truly sympathizes with his clients and wants to do right by them. He's so honest he's almost childlike sometimes.

Because He Puts Others First: Luffy (from One Piece)
Luffy has a goal and would definitely do anything to get it, but when he sees someone is upset or in trouble he will drop everything to kick the asses of the people responsible no matter what the risk to himself.

Because He's Hot: Son Hak (from Akatsuki no Yona)
I mean... he is. And if I say anymore I'll just embarrass myself.

Because He's Responsible: Woody (from Toy Story)
Woody is practically the father - heck you could even say grandfather - of the Toy Story gang, and he lives up to that role. He even treats his owners as if they were his real kids even though they aren't aware he's alive.

Fourth Row:
Because He's a Leader: Senku (from Dr. Stone)
Senku is arguably just as much of a genius as Conan, if not more so, but it was his natural ability to lead that made him become one of my favorite characters.

Because She's Crazy in a Good Way: Aradia (from Homestuck)
I love the juxtaposition of her being one of the most optimistic and cheerful characters in the comic (in the second half anyway) and also being a fangirl of morbidity, death, doom and destruction. She’s not even crazy in a psychopathic way either, like she’s not actively looking to make people’s lives miserable for her own enjoyment, she’s just enjoying being alive and experiencing existence in all its forms.

Because He's a Good Companion: Toby (from Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia)
Normally I’m pretty apathetic to the “best friend” character in cartoons – I neither particularly like or dislike them, they’re just kinda there. But in Trollhunters I found myself loving Toby almost as much as Jim. Maybe it’s because Tobes was never used for any of those clichés you see best friend characters used in other similar cartoons, like “turning evil because they’re jealous of the main character”, or “taking advantage of the main character's powers for their own gain/to become popular”. Toby doesn’t do any of that; he genuinely loves Jim, would do anything for him, supports him throughout the show, and even becomes a trollhunter in his own right. It’s not just Jim that he’s a good friend to either, he gives the same kind of dedication to his newfound friend Aaarrrgh!!, and Eli and the others in 3 Below (though he has more of a supporting character role there).

Because He's a Good Relative: Donald Duck (from Ducktales 2017)
Even though he’s got the most terrible luck and just wants to live a peaceful and quiet life, Donald will stare danger in the face without hesitation in order to protect his boys.

Because He Feels Human: Yabuki Joe (from Ashita No Joe)
I fell in love with Joe from episode 1 because of how real he felt to me. I could easily imagine meeting someone like him in real life.

Because He Learns from His Mistakes: Edward Elric (from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Aside from being traumatized enough to never want to attempt to bring people back from the dead again, Ed matured and learned a lot from his failures throughout the course of FMAB. One particular moment I think demonstrates this well is when Monster!Envy tries to distract him by calling him short, and when at first it looks like he's fallen for it, the attack he sends is really aimed at the more significant enemy he’d had his sights on from the first, much to Al's surprise.

Because I Strongly Pity Him: Dib (from Invader Zim)
He is just constantly getting shit on in the show and it’s really unfair even if it is funny – especially since he usually is right in the end.

Fifth Row:
Because He's Creative: Reigen (from Mob Psycho 100)
You never know what he’s got up his sleeve or how he’ll get himself out of a bind, but he’ll always manage it in a way as ridiculous as it is awesome.

Because He's Rebellious: Loki (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
I love a wildcard, and Loki is a particularly funny and endearing example. He went from being a villain to being the annoying brother who's only contrary for the sake of being contrary.

Because He Has Potential: Dark Danny (from Danny Phantom)
I kept waiting for Evil Dan to make a comeback in the show and I was severely disappointed that he didn't, especially since we got a tease of him returning. A lot could’ve been done with him, along with the implications he brings in regards to Danny himself.
I would also put Clockwork and Danni in this spot too, since they were also great characters that could’ve been used in more episodes.

Because of His Role in the Group: Karkat (from Homestuck)
Karkat was the glue that held his team together – not all of them got along, heck some of them outright hated each other, but all the trolls liked Karkat in some way and trusted him. He was the most compassionate of them despite his belligerent façade, and it’s doubtless they got as far in the game as they did because of his pulling everyone together.

Because He Appeals to a Demographic: Ishigami Yuu (from Kaguya-sama: Love is War)
He’s the lazy otaku who always speaks what’s on everyone’s mind. It’s not hard to see how he became the fan favorite from the first moment he showed up.

Because He's a Spoof/Satire: Caliborn (from Homestuck)
It’s hilarious reading Caliborn’s parts thinking of him as the author's grossly exaggerated representation of Homestuck’s haters.

Because He's Charming: Dale Cooper (from Twin Peaks)
I was charmed by him pretty much from his introduction. He’s so pleasant and just the right amount of strange, and he’s got such a nice smile. In a word, he’s a gentleman. And I can’t think of many other characters I could use that word for.

Last Row:
Because Not Enough People Like Him: Jim Lake Jr. (from Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia)
This applies to the whole show as well, but I also would love it for Jim himself to become more known and loved as a cartoon protagonist. He’s a chef, he’s a loyal friend, he's such a good son to his mother, and the way he reacts to situations is relatable. He’s a patented Good Boy.

Because He Has Nostalgic Value: Sonic (from Sonic the Hedgehog)
I’ve only ever played one Sonic game in my life, but I was a fan of Sonic X for awhile and developed what I guess you could call a preteen crush or admiration for the character during that time, such that I still go through random bouts of interest in anything Sonic related.

Because Gold Comes Out of His Mouth: Okabe Rintaro (from Steins;Gate)
I remember when watching the first episode I did a little double take whenever Okabe spoke, like “wait, what is he talking about?” Once I got used to his shtick, I would just burst out laughing every time he spoke (at least until the show took a more depressing turn).

Because She Changed For the Better: Cordelia Chase (from Angel the series)
Cordelia changed from being my most hated character in Buffy to my most favorite character in Angel. Comparing how she was in her introduction to her final appearances, she hardly seems like the same person, and the best thing about it is that the change was gradual and happened before I even knew it. I can’t think of many other characters where my opinion took such a 180 degree turn.

Because I Can!: Xerxes Break (from Pandora Hearts)
Break was unequivocally the best character in Pandora Hearts. He was a bit like the Roy Mustang of the series.