It just has to be art style, then, right?
.......
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if it were just about anthropomorphic animals, I'd expect Bojack to be more popular.
It's probably a mix of that plus how these characters are written and portrayed. Robin Hood and Nala from Lion King are written with very "human" characteristics, they have real (for lack of a better term) personalities? I feel like maybe they are easier to imprint on as a friend, lover, mother, sibling whatever because of their portrayal.
I think a combination is correct. After all, it can't be the art style because an unhealthy amount of people thirst over Bandit Heeler from Bluey and that design is a no-neck rectangle with limbs attached. So I think we have two factors:
1. Character Design/Animation: This is all about the characters design and how they are animated. The better they look, the better they are animated, the highest they rate.
2. Fuckable Personality: Different people like different things, but depressing, stupid, or obnoxiously annoying personalities are a turn off so this score is based on how tolerable the character would be, combined with possible attractive personality traits.
When you combine these two scores, they have to go over some kind of threshold that makes the character be attractive in a way that encompasses both emotional and physical attraction. A really high score in one or the other can get you over the finish line, or mediocre scores in both probably. Really ugly characters or personalities deep six the chances, though.
So for example:
- Robin Hood - His design is classic Disney, easy on the eyes and fluidly animated - moderate to high attractiveness. His personality is very romantic, affectionate, heroic, caring, and fun - just a cool guy to be around and won't piss you off the morning after. Easily passes the threshold.
- Chief Bogo - He has a big brawny design that radiates masculine force, very attractive for people into manly muscles or bara look - high attractive levels. Bogo has a real gruff domineering attitude that appeals to submissive, but also a softer side for that classic 'grumpy guy with a heart of gold' - for people looking for a 'daddy' type he's very appealing. Easily passes the threshold.
- Tiger Dangers - They have a muscular, lithe design, are almost always shirtless and dancing like pro strippers at all times - classic levels of physical attraction, hunky and graceful. Their personalities besides being loyal to Gazelle are pretty much a blank slate that lets people project onto them - weak personalities, but with potential. Overall their lack of personality doesn't help much, but their sheer visual appeal easily pushed them over the threshold.
- Bandit Heeler - His design isn't unpleasant or ugly, but he's a rectangle with a muzzle and he's animated smoothly but not sexily - very low levels of physical attraction. Bandit's personality is the ur-example of a supportive, loving father figure that so many brain broken furries lack, goofy, doting, supportive, etc - for every fucked up person with daddy issues who have a desperate need for a caring masculine figure because they were from a single mother home Bandit's personality is catnip. He is pushed over the threshold from the personal tragedy of fatherless furries combining their need for a father figure and a fuckbuddy.
You'd think that Furries would fall head over heels for Mr. Peanutbutter? The character is such a typical furry stereotype within the Fandom.
Well, if you grade him on the two factors as above, he scores so-so on the aesthetic front. His design is very generic and the animation lackluster. The larger issue is that, from a 30 second clip, you might think he's a stereotype of a 'himbo' that could be very sexy but in the full course of the show he's portrayed as much more depressingly neurotic. Since the writers hate fun, happiness, and positive vibes in all forms its revealed that his himboesque personality is all a front and he's actually a passively suicidal depressed bundle of neurotic ticks that couldn't maintain a relationship to save his life.