they can be just characters but they´r real in the virtual world and why u asck? because even if they'r not real they provoque feelings in the most anime lovers. u can look at a drawing and say that its very preety but that thing that your seeing doesnt realy exist ( if your looking at a draw of a boom for example). its just a drawing and not something that moves of u can touch it like it was a real boom (on this case). do u understand now? even if he is a character we can see the art on it, the beuty of the personality and phisicaly aspect.Simple as this!! ho and my favotire is absolutly naruto XD