For me it's all about whether that quality of goodness can feel ordinary, unromantic, have a genuine scuffed-shoes dirty-nails hardworking everyday appeal. Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service is a pretty decent example of a very good kid whose goodness and innocence I could believe in and relate to.
But yeah, what you're talking about works for me as well. Also, when a character is sweet and kind and all but has significant other flaws and failings to offset that - Hetalia's Italy might qualify as a good example of this, being such a slacker and pain in the ass and childish/self-indulgent on top of being a sweet little puppy.
The more a character is treated by the author as sooooo SPECIAL and PRECIOUS and sparkly fancy rarefied untouchable unicorn in a crystal castle, the more I'm repulsed by the whole shebang.
Re: +0,5
But yeah, what you're talking about works for me as well. Also, when a character is sweet and kind and all but has significant other flaws and failings to offset that - Hetalia's Italy might qualify as a good example of this, being such a slacker and pain in the ass and childish/self-indulgent on top of being a sweet little puppy.
The more a character is treated by the author as sooooo SPECIAL and PRECIOUS and sparkly fancy rarefied untouchable unicorn in a crystal castle, the more I'm repulsed by the whole shebang.