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Okay, I've been thinking about this for a while. I often like yaoi ships from series that don't have any canon BL, so fanfiction and fanart would have to be a little out of the canon just to put them together. For example, FMA. Everyone like RoyxEd, right? But we all know well and good that, no matter how great it would be, they never make out in the series, they don't get together, and their really isn't anything implying that they are GOING to get together in the future. So, if we have them in those situations in fanfics and whatnot, it's going a bit out of canon. That's fine with me. What's NOT fine with me is when the fandom goes so far beyond the canon that I can hardly reconize the characters.

Here's an example: I love Dragon Quest 8, and I loooove MarcelloxAngelo. So, I'm looking for j-fan art on line, and I find a nice site that has really pretty art....but the way the characters are portrayed is really off. Marcello is being sweet and gentle with Angelo, and Angelo is acting like some shy little virgin....wait, what? Are we talking about the same game? Cause in the game I played, Marcello is harsh and cold with pretty much everyone, ESPECIALLY Angelo, and Angelo is a bit of a whore and loves to complain about Marcello. They've got a long, dark, complicated history together, and really, it would be amazing if they were able to stay in the same room for five minutes without fighting. I can't see them being in a happy, sugar-coated relationship. It would be totally out of character for them both.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that in my book, canon and portraying the characters realistically should come before the artists or authors fantasies. And maybe I was especially annoyed with that example because I loved Marcello so much (I would totally go to church if he was the pope. I TOTALLY WOULD. heart )

What do you guys think? Do you like to see characters acting realistic according to how they were in the series/book/movie/game/whatever, or do you not really care as long as it's hot? wink Maybe I'm too picky...I dunno.

I'm not too overly picky when it comes to this but I am picky. I like for the characters to be themselves...just in love with one another. Like Riku/Sora. They'd make a great couple just being themselves and I don't see how anyone would have a hard time putting them together without changing their personalities but I've seen it done. o_O Really. Sometimes I don't understand it. I'm not as picky on this with fanart as I am with fanfics though. It's one of the reasons I don't like rival pairings unless there's hints as well. Like on S-CRY-ED. That's about the only rival pairing I've ever liked. Otherwise I don't like to see people who hate each other portrayed as blushing lovers. XP

I like ones where the characters act like their normal selves, but every once in a while, if there is a fanfiction that was written really well, and is just adorable I wouldn't mind it so much, if they were a little out of character.

I know exactly what you mean, and you're not being picky, picky is prefering a situation where the characters DONT act like themselves.
Like, for example, SasuNaru from Naruto. If I read one more fanfic where Naruto acts like a sweet, innocent little boy, a suicidal emo who cuts himself, or hates Sakura, I'll probably go nuts. I understand that it's cuter if he acts like a traditional uke, and probably the best fanart we have of that couple are the ones where he's submissive in this fashion, but he's NOT like that in canon. AT ALL.
Naruto is loud and brash and crude and he thinks he is in love with Sakura, and he would never insult her or blame her for anything because he appreciates any attention he can get from her. It's in his nature to try and dominate -- his entire goal in the series is to be the best ninja Kohoha has to offer, but he even lowers himself to asking Sakura for help when she conquers her chakra with ease far faster than he or Sasuke does. That's a huge part of his character -- he would never lower himself like that for a lot of people, Sasuke included.
On that note, if Naruto and Sasuke ever entered a romantic relationship, Naruto would not let Sasuke be on top without a struggle. And Naruto can put up a fight. He's not so much weaker than Sasuke that he can be pinned so easily, but for some reason in fanon he gives up very quickly.
And then there's the emo thing. Now I can admit that Naruto is a pretty emotional character when we see the scenes where he introspects. But that's just it, in his mind he's a little depressed, but that's not all the time (in fact it's very rarely), and he doesn't outwardly show it unless he is alone or someone died or something. He doesn't cry often at all, not like he does in fanon. And one of the reasons I like Naruto so much is because he's so enthusiastic and charismatic and makes such a spectacle of himself. And he wouldn't cut himself, in fact the one time he stabbed himself in the palm with a kunai, he does it to prove he's strong enough to handle it, and winds up freaking out two minutes later. Naruto is a strong character mentally. He's not so fragile that he'd disgrace himself by cutting.

I think the problem is that when a person likes a character enough, they try to incorperate themselves into that character or live that character up to the author/artist's ideal. But if you change a character's entire personality, you might as well have just written an original fiction, especially if that story is also an AU. I would never recognize Naruto in fanfiction if they didn't put a name on him.
And that's a shame. =(

I hate that.... grr, that type of Yuki makes me want to bang my head against a stone wall. burning_eyes

Do you like to see characters acting realistic according to how they were in the series/book/movie/game/whatever, or do you not really care as long as it's hot?

Yes i so agree i dont like it wen fan art is like that. It kind make me not get in to the story confused

Mmeeeh. I prefer canon over fanon. Everytime a fandom pairing occurs, it usually gains mass popularity despite the fact there is absolutely no or very little homosexual tendancy to the characters (like in FMA and Kingdom Hearts)

And the characters get screwed up the worst in fanfiction. Like the kid in Kingdom Hearts gets turned into an overdramatic starry-eyed p***y. Especially in my friend's mind. Kills me, just kills me.