Poll: Poll: Is it okay to think anime/comic/video game characters are sexy?

[AsurasEyes]

This question has been pestering me for the longest time but I've never really had anything to say about it. Until recently that is. I was discussing Death Frenzy and the Battle Royale manga with my chums in school, and off-handedly mentioned how I liked that they managed to characterize a beautiful female character as something besides just "sexy". The resident douchebags then proceeded to make fun of us for that, but it did make me wonder.

Am I doing my hobbies a disservice when I say, "I don't like League of Legends very much because the gameplay doesn't interest me and the fans are annoying as hell, but the ladies are hot so I don't mind it" or "I hate Soul Eater with a passion, but Blair and Asura are absolutely mind-blowingly attractive", or even "Peter Parker is the luckiest son of a ***** in existence"?

Of course, maybe it's because I'm a teenage boy and I'd (to quote Louis C.K. for comedic purposes), "Fuck a rusty doorknob nailed to a donkey", but answer me this if you think that there's something wrong with fantasizing about a character from anime or comics. Why?

Why does the fact that she (or he) is drawn, rather than made of actual flesh and blood, matter? Yes, I know it's impossible to be with her, but a man can dream. Most of the people I've met who daydream about Anne Hathaway or Scarlette Johannson will never get the chance to have sex with them, so shouldn't that be wrong too?

Okay, to get off my soapbox, how do you feel about this Escapists, and why?
BONUS GAME: If you're comfortable saying it, name off the sexiest character in a game, manga, anime, cartoon, or comic.

For me: A tie between Asura from Soul Eater, Lelouche from Code Geass, and Morrigan of Dragon Age: Origins fame.

 

[Keoul]

Here's an educational film to answer your question
But if you're lazy, this quote specifically

"It's totally normal to relate to and emotional engage yourself with fictional characters to a degree because on some level we do see them as real people, if we didn't fiction wouldn't even exist, it would just be a bunch of arbitrary crap that means nothing to us, because on some level from some angle, we do see characters as people."

Spoiler: Bonus Answer

Yoko Littner, serioulsy, have you even seen this video?

 

[Angie7F]

Well, most of the characters are made to be a characterization of traits that are attractive in real life, and then made is more extravagant.
So I see no reason why a person cant be or shouldnt be attracted to them.

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

Of course. I mean, it'd probably be for the best if you don't let it consume your life, and remember to focus on the world around you as well. But, I don't see an issue with it in the slightest.

Like people have said, it's worth remembering that characters are often made of exaggerated traits; one of these could easily be an idea of attractiveness, or they could have other traits that appeal to you. So, go ahead, feel attracted to game characters.

 

[TheIronRuler]

I have none off the top of my head but I reckon I could like most of the examples I will see pop up in the thread.

 

[General Twinkletoes]

I don't think it's wrong. They're representations of people, often idealised. Sure not everyone's going to like it, but that doesn't mean it's wrong, just people with different tastes. As long as you don't adopt the "2D women are better than real life and I'm not interested in actual women anymore" attitude. If you've reached that point, you have some stuff you need to sort out :/

 

[Chrono212]

I am the 8.3%.

But why would it not be ok? It doesn't bother people. Unless it does. But then that's your problem.

 

[Vault101]

of coarse....though not if your actually in love with a charachter to the point you consider it some kind of relationship substitute..thats just wrong

 

[Hoplon]

It's not wrong to find them attactive, because other wise the character designers and writers probably aren't doing very well if you don't.

Though not if your actually in love with a character to the point you consider it some kind of relationship substitute..that's just wrong

And this, they are, after all, fictional. It's unhealthy.

 

[Gigano]

Is it OK to invest any sort of emotion in anything fictional?

If yes, that's your answer right there. There's nothing special about sexual feelings that magically sets them apart from everything else in the spectrum.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Yes, but only if you dont let it effect your real life. Kinda the same as being attracted to an actress/actor. Its ok to find them sexy but dont lit it dominate your life so you cant find a real woman/man. I think Angelina Jolie is sexy, but i dont kid myself that i could ever date or meet a woman like her. Its would be unhealthy if i did.

 

[Judgment90]

I see no problem with it, considering a lot of games and anime nowadays usually have that one character that many would consider a sex symbol.

It's just a matter of WHAT attracts you.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Yes, I mean why not? Sure they're not real but they are based on human figure/ proportion. Even then you get pinup of model or other sex symbol so how frictional characters any different when they are post like that aswell.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

I don't have a problem with it... just as long as you don't go too far...

 

[Zantos]

Sure, so long as you don't become one of those "I prefer fictional characters because they don't have the imperfections of real people" types. I really wish any of that was paraphrased and someone hadn't actually said that to me. If you aren't developing an emotional connection to at least some of the characters then somebody isn't doing their job right.

But it's true, people fancy celebrities all the time who they will never meet, and may even not match the sexuality of said celebrity. So it's not like nothing can ever happen thing carries any weight.

 

[Johnny Impact]

To the extent that good-lookin' wimmins are attractive to the eye, more pleasing than average or dumpy ones, absolutely yes. All storytelling uses this device, TV and movies included. We like characters more if they're good-looking, so studios always cast good-looking people (or Steve Buscemi). When I saw Chris Hemsworth shirtless in Thor, I was gay for five seconds. Natalie Portman ain't exactly hard to look at, either. In fiction, everyone is beautiful. That's one of the things that makes it fiction. No harm in feeling a little of the lust the storyteller wants you to feel.

To the extent of "marrying" a pillow with some anime chick's likeness on it, no. That represents Critical Life Failure. We can only be happy those people won't pollute the world with offspring.

I'm not much into anime women. I find the strong ones tend to be cunts, the confused ones tend to be frustrating, and the sweet/cute ones nauseating. Personality counts. Also I don't like the underfed appearance anime chicks often have.

Spoiler: I like strong, athletic types, and I was a comic book kid, so for sexiest I'd have to go with

 

[repeating integers]

Of course it's OK. Why wouldn't it be?

BONUS GAME: If you're comfortable saying it, name off the sexiest character in a game, manga, anime, cartoon, or comic.

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Could it be anything else?

 

[kasperbbs]

I don't see anything wrong with it, unless you marry your pillow with a girl drawn on it.