@LilNerdyGingerKitsune
Quick context. I am writing an anime inspired slice-of-life graphic novel/manga. If you have seen shows like Fairy Tail or My Hero Academia, it is similar in the way where I have my main characters, but I also have a large supporting cast that throughout the narrative all get some screen time and are fleshed out a little bit here and there. Because I have such a large cast, many of my side characters are characterized by a single personality trait (or shtick if you will) to start off with, so that when the audience is reading they can remember roughly what their main deal is when it comes the time for that character to get more development. The shows I mentioned above also use this tactic: In Fairy Tail Cana loves drinking, Laxus is cocky, and Elfman loves being manly, then in My Hero Iida is strict, Momo is smart, and Kirishima loves being manly.
However, I recently realized I might have a problem with one of my side characters… Yuki.
So, my protagonist is an unrelenting optimist, and so when creating Yuki I thought it would be fun to make her "shtick" being a pessimist to contrast. She is gloomy, and always sees the worst in everyone and everything. She is constantly anxious about what could go wrong, and generally never happy. Think Eeyore from Winnie the Poo. But on the topic of Eeyore… I'm worrying she is starting to feel like a bad caricature of depression: upset all the time, never happy, barely any personality outside of her gloominess.
I didn't intend for her to be an actual representation of someone dealing with depression, but instead just an over-the-top character foil to my protagonist. However, I feel that it's inevitable people will read her as a depressed individual, and I don't want to feed into any harmful stereotypes. I'm also especially worried people might think I'm poking fun at depression, when that is absolutely not I am trying to do.
Anime/manga by itself is a very "exaggerated medium." Emotions, interactions, and character traits are often overly dramatic in such a way that it obviously isn't "realistic." That's often why anime appeals to people, (me especially) because there are so many moments and characters that who'll never find in live-action/western media. I don't know if someone who watches and enjoys anime (which is my target audience) may look and Yuki and not take her as a serious depiction of depression, because they are familiar with the way the medium works.
My story is mainly light-hearted and goofy, although I do delve into some serious topics, and those I try to play as realistically as possible and research thoroughly. In fact, I do actually have a main character that deals with depression, apathy, and dissociation, all of which are portrayed solemnly, although we don't learn about what she's been dealing with until further along in the story.
I did ask my brother about this topic (as he himself has dealt with depression) and he told me that it would probably be fine as long as Yuki was written as over the top as possible, and that having another character that deals with actual depression realistically and seriously helps. My only worry is that since we don't really find out about the other character's struggle until later (because depression isn't always obvious to spot), my readers will first have to experience Yuki.
Soooo, I guess what I'm asking is, what are your thoughts? I don't want to change too much about her, because then I lose my character foil, but at the same time I don't want cause any harm.
Also, if you'd like to let me know, what are some things common in characters suffering with depression that you don't like, or are sick of seeing?
Thank you!