Why does these MC lack so much in personality? Is it an "Insert yourself here" kinda thing? Do authors deliberately create an MC who is as complex as a cardboard model, in order to make it easier for the viewer to fantasize being the MC of that story?
Yes. It's a common writers technique in any media but it was confirmed some time ago that animes intentionally use bland MC's as it's easier for a viewer/reader to insert themselves into this character position without having to deter from the current show. Bland = relatable to anyone, not because everyone is bland but because we can easily overwrite these elements.
Additionally (though this is just my personal thoughts and dunno if its confirmed), I think they keep it bland or "neutral" might be a more fitting word for this one, simply because sure it's relatable and easy to self insert but additionally as it is a "safe" option. For example, you get a eccentric MC who bases their actions on instinct and not logical deduction, said character might be goofy and make dumb jokes... dad jokes or puns or whatever, the point is, does this appeal to
you? Maybe, maybe not. What I am saying is they have to hope people like a personality created, which of course is a risk, people might love it and it might sell twice of many books or get twice the viewers which is great, but it could equally not be liked and found to be a annoyance to many, putting sales down by half as much again, and of course, first impressions is a lot, sure you
could fix a not so great character as you go but many wont wait around to see if you do, its assumed if by the end of the first few chapters/episodes, the character (especially main) isn't to your liking, it will remain as such and it isn't for you. Some shows prove this wrong but many wont wait around to see.
I'm not defending this mentality of course, but its something i think writers likely do, make something boring and bland but just enough for people to stick around for, maybe not in the MC but the support has just enough character to keep them around, that is good enough.
I suppose fans don't help this mentality though, as seen commonly with harem shows, when they end, you get fans complain about
their favourite girl/boy not getting the ending or the main male/female from the start which was pretty much declared as the winner in the opening actually... wins. People will complain if that one isn't
their favourite. This makes writers more fearful to write what they want. I recall some years ago reading a interview with a light novel author who admitted they no longer write what they want but what the fans "expect", which included never offering a real conclusive ending to harem setups in that it wont upset fans of the character who don't "win". This is sad as its creative shackles fans are putting on creators to please
them, which you can never do as even if 50% of fans want X ending, another 30% will want Y ending and the other 20% might want Z ending, meaning you can and never will win, you will always get hate.
Again, this isn't to defend bad writing, bland MC's are the bane of anime and commonly ruin many shows but i do admit i don't blame the authors at some points, when their audience is so toxic they limit creation, what more can one do? Of course, not everyone is this way but them few bad apples tar the rest with the brush.
This is one reason I generally don't watch many Isekai, other than being 90% the same, the MC is always just some OP person where everyone flocks to them, of course there
are exceptions, many at that but the general setting is this. Now if your MC knows they are OP and maybe turns it into a joke or something, that
can work when done right.
Though i say all this but you will commonly find, some of the lesser spoke about shows are some of the best, these shows usually have MC's with personality, and that is why they aren't spoken about... when they air people judge if they like/hate the characters and thus dropthe show if they don't love them, bland MC however? It's to be expected so everyone continues on... see what i mean? It's a risk to give personality but its normal to expect bland and empty MC's, so everyone gives them much more opportunity. It's the same for gamers who complain about this loot box era thing, they all hate them and post video's online about how trashy they are.... as they read out their credit card statement with hundreds of purchases for them, they fuel the thing they dislike.
