Obviously, this has not happened to me, or I wouldn't have asked the question. But I am capable of obsessing over fictional things to the point where I've had to step back and ask myself if this was the case. I get emo if I even think about the end of Code Geass, for example, and all in all probably occupy my head more with people that don't exist than people that do. I know that I'm probably a special case, as few people are as introvert as I and need something more real in their lives not to feel like zombies. But the question stands:
Is it possible to obsess over a character in an anime (or cartoon or other) to such a degree that the brain confuses the unreal for a viable mate and then does whatever it does when you fall in love?
It's not unheard of for people to fall in love with others that they have only seen in a movie. Granted, these are "real people", as far as Hollywood stars go :-). But what we see is only what we interpret through our eyes and brain - only a representation of the real world, much like animation. And if an artificial human likeness can arouse you, can it not be said to fool the brain already?
What do you think? Is it possible, or do you know if it has actually happened to someone?

Man I fall in love with chicks from the screen at least twice a day. :) Yeah I think it's possible, because very often these characters represent attitudes or ideas we search for in other people, but cannot find them. And this goes both for personalities and looks. No character in particular comes to my mind right now, but I'm sure it's possible to be intoxicated by a character to the same degree as with an actual person. Because the only difference between real people and anime/cartoon characters is that the latter are drawn, whilst the former do exist (well, let's just say they do and not get into this). But they both have looks, personalities, individual characteristics. So if it's possible to fall in love with a person it is obviously possible to fall in love with a character.

*nod*

I do feel it is possible to fall in love not just with anime characters but with any fictionalized character. My reasoning is that in fiction the author can create an idealized person. In fact in many animes (I'm thinking harem and reverse harem here) the author often creates many idealized characters to fit many tastes. Just look at Ouran High School Host Club, that show really explains and even does a bit of self ridicule on the subject. Now whether falling in love with idealized people is a good thing, is a completely different question.

It's definitely possible, the very idea of shows in general, for the most part, is to make the characters and settings real enough within your mind that you will emote in response to events that never happened to begin with. If you feel any emotions directed towards their characters, whether it be love, hate or respect (etc.) it merely means the project was a success. People fall in love with characters in books, those people are only letters on a page, which by your logic of the actor playing a character making the character more real than one that has been drawn, would make them even less real than a drawn character. Yet it happens, ask any of the real bookworms you know and most of them will have a character or two. Well, that's my two cents on the matter.

flyleafus

. Now whether falling in love with idealized people is a good thing, is a completely different question.

It's almost romantic, isn't it? There's huge potential for drama here. The search of an individual for a perfect person, action revolves around that for a little bit, and then BANG! In love with a comic book girl and happy with it. Actually, there is a movie called "All about Lily Chou-Chou" which deals with this... If I remember correctly all the main characters in that movie are in love with, or with the music of, a completely synthetic pop star (by synthetic I mean that she's not a real person, she's virtual, somebody makes the records and does the interviews, but the actual Lily does not exist). They find all they are looking for in her, the answers to all the questions, etc. And it makes them feel happy.

Find real girl @~AlsoSprachOdin

LukaszPOLAND

Find real girl @~AlsoSprachOdin

Look up "indefinite article".

Well, I guess it really depends from individual to individual.

For me, it's rare. I'm a guy and there are tons of male anime characters that I absolutely admire and give respect to, like Kamina in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. As far as the opposite sex goes, it's rare but it may have happened to me sometimes. I say "may" because whenever I get obsessed over a certain female anime character, I have to come back to reality and think for myself whether or not I'm romantically attracted to that character. I question what criteria must be met before you know you're falling in love with a character.

There have been times where I'm watching an anime, and I find a certain character attractive, I think to myself, "If that girl ever existed in real life I would totally ask her out." I think for me that's pretty much where it stops because I know there's no way in hell that specific character will somehow magically pop out of my screen and start interacting with me. Looking at it now, this is how I perceive all of my favorite anime characters. You know there's no way that exact character will appear in front of you, yet I wish for it. I mean, I guess it's possible to meet someone like her in real life, but once the character starts to get really extravagant then the possibility just drops like a ton of bricks. What are the chances of someone meeting a tsundere girl?

In the far past, several years ago, I definitely had the mindset of falling in love with an anime character. I would try to imagine what it would be like talking to her in front of me. As time went on that just started to disappear without me knowing it. To me, it's more of wishing a character to come to life than anything else, because I know I'll never meet, say, Yoko from Gurren Lagann, ever. There may be the slight chance that I'll meet someone that resembles her personality or even looks like real life (minus the Barrett .50 cal, perhaps, lol). If it's not romantic infatuation with a character, it's mostly respect or, in really sad animes, sympathy that gets me liking a particular character.

"I question what criteria must be met before you know you're falling in love with a character."
That's where I'm not sure myself, since it's been quite a long time since it last happened to me (fortunately - very unpleasant experience...). When I'm talking about the "falling in" kind of love, I mean that clinically psychotic infatuation that can leave just about anyone a fine resemblance of a drug-abuser (either in serious need of a fix or stoned to high heavens). Some have described it as hardly being able to think of anything or anyone else at all.

It's hard to come up with a criteria for that, because love is an ambiguous and abstract concept to begin with. Not only have people been trying to define love for seemingly all recorded history, the definition itself seems to change with the times. Right now our society is at a crossroads where we are trying to see if the definition should be altered to include same sex relationships. Even outside of large and controversial things like that, it is evident that some societies have viewed love as a protective emotion, like one would feel towards someone to weak to defend themselves, or just someone who needs you. Other societies have viewed love as a strong bond of respect where each participant retains a great deal of independance due to their mutual competance in life, while still having an understanding that they have bound their fates together and will always compensate for eachothers flaws, almost like some form of tag team. Many societies have believed that love will come naturally to a couple together for long enough, that it can be manufactured. Just as many societies have believed that love was mystical and uncontrollable, like the wind, that it would surprise you and send you towards your soulmate regardless of what your interests were. Our modern democracy has a little bit of each belief scattered through its' residents, and even some who do not believe in love at all. To say it simply, love is an ever-evolving puzzle. Every generation pics it up, moves the pieces around as they try to solve it before eventually passing it down to the next generation. Have fun.

MrsStrife

now Cloud etc, etc (dorky I know).

Are you kiddin, Cloud is so sexy!! And he knows how to handle a sword. That's all a man needs you know. :)

Sure why not? I mean anime characters are normally designed to represent humans :P so i think its natural that you grow a bond with them if you like their looks and personality. Personally... I think some anime characters are just too ideal. Lets say the perfect girl or w/e its tough to find those characteristics in real people so I think it may be easier to fall for some of the characters in the animes. at least thats how I see it.

hm. possible. i think most guys and gals had somewhat imagine what it would be like to be with them...or even make out...coz... i did XD
well, maybe "fall in love" is too deep, just a crush might be sufficient >_>

I think you can, but then, the love is not responded back... As a matter of fact, I think I'm in love with lightning from ff13, but more like a fans "love", she is cool, handsome, independent and all the good staff, but no I wouldn't put myself into the obsession category, because I can still discern a figure from a real character and I don't think about her 24/7, I'm a big fan, that is true, but obsession is something else, I can continue my life without her. I think there are worse cases than mine, with true obsessions. I think you then have to stop watching more anime, at least for a while, everybody has a hobby they like, but we must also face the reality and not always live in our fantasy world.