More video game characters for your consideration...
Falco. Back when I was choosing my favourite Ninja Turtle back in the early 90s, I went with Raphael. He was red, and I liked red. He was also an arrogant, angsty son of a bitch who'd just as soon turn on his brother than agree with their opinion. At first, when I played the original Star Fox, I didn't like Falco. He wasn't 'edgy' as they claimed, just plain old bitchy. Whenever you saved him, he told you to mind your own business. Whenever you didn't save him, he died a fiery death. I really didn't care either way. It wasn't until SF64 they fleshed the characters out and gave Falco a much-needed dose of humanity. Finally, he was more like my beloved Raphael; not a complete and utter prick, but still not exactly a team player. His much improved dialogue made him what he was supposed to be; a rebel, but still one of Fox's close friends. I could go on and on about the many wonderful things of Star Fox 64, but I'll close that point now. He continued to rise up the ranks when Smash Bros Melee rolled around, quickly becoming my favourite Melee character. He's since joined the rest of the Star Fox franchise in its downward spiral (or as I call it, 'the Krystal effect'), but I'm hoping Brawl will redeem him a little, and bring him back to his former glory.
I don't want this to become a favourite Pokemon topic, but the Bulbasaur family (esp. Venusaur) remains one of my top sets of characters. Brawl's playable IVYSAUR remains a beacon of brilliance in every conceivable way.