first update since November
Courage is not the absence of fear, it is acting in spite of it.
A nice quote attributed to Mark Twain, and misattributed to Shakespeare by General Donald Doyle in Red vs Blue Season 13.
So here is my take on why Jaune Arc is such a popular character.
Just to be straight up honest about it Jaune is the Player Character. If the series were an RPG like Final Fantasy team RWBY would be the image characters and he is the clueless newbie that gives reasons for everyone else the chance to explain the rules of the game system.
He is also the easiest character for a large portion of the audience to identify with. Not because his is male or because he is a lovable idiot. But because he is the one completely out of their depth but still determined to do their best, also he not only admits to being a goofball he totally owns it.
I think what really endears him to myself and a lot of others is that he is brave.
In situations where it is obvious he is terrified, anyone remember "Some girl is in trouble!", he still finds the determination to act.
Even if the only thing he can do is hold on for dear life. If he hadn't neither of them would have made it out of the cave alive as all even the "Invincible Girl" could do in the situation was run.
Just for fun let me introduce you to the character I think inspired Jaune Arc
From Final Fantasy VIII Squall Leonhart (or Leon from Kingdom Hearts)
Switch out the jacket for a hoody and chest armor on Squall and you have Jaune's outfit. And they show he is also quite a dancer.
Cardin Winchester would be Siefer Almalsy