「最初嫌いやったけど大好きになったキャラ」っておる？
This phenomenon is often driven by 'gap moe' (unexpected charm) or compelling character development.
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Character Arc
"Character Arc" is a crucial concept in screenwriting and narrative theory, referring to the internal transformation and growth trajectory a character undergoes within a story. It's often set not only for protagonists but also for major supporting characters and antagonists, forming a core element in understanding the "initially hated but later loved character" phenomenon. The initial stage where readers or viewers dislike a character often corresponds to them being immature, engaging in misunderstood actions, or simply serving as an antithesis within the narrative. However, as the story progresses and characters overcome trials and conflicts, they mature psychologically, or their hidden pasts and true motivations are revealed, leading to a shift in their values and principles. This process of change is the character arc; for instance, an arrogant character learning humility, an antagonist awakening as an ally, or a villain's tragic background coming to light. Through this entire process, viewers and readers re-evaluate the character's humanity and charm, ultimately developing strong empathy and affection. A reversal from an initial negative impression, in particular, tends to create a greater emotional impact, leading to a deeper attachment to the character.
Dere Types (e.g., Tsundere, Yandere, Kuudere)
"Tsundere," "Yandere," and "Kuudere" are colloquial terms used in Japanese subculture, especially in anime, manga, and games, to describe character personality types, and they are deeply connected to the phenomenon of "hating to loving" a character. As their names suggest, characters with these "dere" attributes draw their charm from a dual nature or a gap between their initial impression and their true self. For example, a "Tsundere" refers to a character who typically acts high-handed and cold ("tsun") but shows kindness and affection ("dere") in specific situations or towards certain individuals. While the "tsun" part gives an initial impression of dislike or discomfort, the occasional "dere" captivates viewers with this gap, making them more likely to develop affection. Similarly, "Yandere" describes a character with a pathologically obsessive love, and "Kuudere" represents a character who is calm, collected, and expressionless but holds deep emotions internally. All of them attract fans by displaying emotional shifts and actions that are unimaginable from their initial impressions. These attributes concisely express a character's multifaceted and complex nature, fostering the expectation in the audience that "perhaps this character has a hidden good side?" and creating a culture of enjoying character development within stories. As a result, these "dere" attributes have become important elements in character design, generating many voices of "I used to hate them, but now I love them."
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is a concept in social psychology referring to the uncomfortable psychological state that arises when a person simultaneously holds two or more conflicting cognitions (beliefs, feelings, attitudes, etc.), and the mental effort to resolve this discomfort. The phenomenon of "initially hating a character but later loving them" is closely related to this process of resolving cognitive dissonance. Specifically, imagine holding a strong negative cognition (feeling) of "dislike" or "aversion" towards a character early in a story. However, as the story progresses, the character's unexpected good qualities, tragic past, or charming actions are depicted, leading to a new positive cognition, such as "maybe this character isn't so bad" or "I might actually like them." At this point, a contradiction arises between the initial "dislike" cognition and the new "like" cognition, creating unpleasant "cognitive dissonance" in the mind. Humans strive to resolve this uncomfortable state by, for instance, emphasizing and accepting positive information about the character, reinterpreting past negative actions as "unavoidable," or acknowledging that their initial judgment was mistaken, thereby attempting to maintain emotional consistency. As a result, they actively explore the appeal of the character they once disliked, eventually developing strong affection and attachment. This psychological phenomenon is crucial for deeply understanding the mechanism of emotional change within the recipient and is also applied by creators as a strategy to intentionally reverse character impressions.