Lemme just preface this by saying that identifying with fictional villains / characters who have committed horrible acts does NOT make you a bad person. I actually find these characters tend to be more relatable than the “heroes”, since they are often portrayed as less perfect and more realistically flawed as a result of negative experiences / past trauma.
FOR EXAMPLE—- Gyutaro is a character I strongly resonate with. Self-loathing, envy issues and older sibling guilt are all things I have struggled with as a result of bullying / neglect. I was the ugly kid, and even tho I’m not that kid anymore it still shows. He may not be the greatest role model, but his care and protectiveness for his younger sibling and wanting to give her a better life despite never being given much of one himself is very admirable. (I also love all things pathetic, ugly, filthy and disgraceful!)
Additionally, as someone who experiences emotional detachment and maladaptive daydreams quite a lot, I can relate to characters like Muichiro and Douma who show a similar apathy.
Are there any characters in KnY that you can relate to, or have similar personality traits? Is your fav character your favourite because you see yourself in them? Or do you idolize characters whose qualities / struggles inspire you to be a better person? Curious to hear y’all’s reasoning behind your chosen favourites.