Perseus has been highly popular in the later mythological tradition, where one can pinpoint various movies and cartoons with the given central character. The main reason is the fact that he is a demigod, which means that Perseus is a half-human (“Perseus,” 2020). In other words, it makes him a more relatable character, whereas gods are perceived as detached and distanced beings. The nature of the appeal is similar to Hercules, who is also a demigod and can be considered a brother of Perseus. Another point of attraction is the notion that such characters can be depicted alongside humans by living a regular life, whereas it is implausible to use full gods for such a demonstration. In addition, Hercules’s story is already well-known and rigid, which leaves little room for creativity, and one might argue he is not as interesting as he used to be.
In order to properly assess the provided mythological character, it is important to give examples. In the recent cinematography, Perseus had two major depictions in Percy Jackson films as well as Clash/Wrath of the Titans. Although there were certain differences in the setting and parental origins of the main characters, both of them were representatives of regular people. Therefore, they had more valid incentives to protect humans from gods or titans, which would not be as appealing if the gods decided to do such actions. For writers, it is more sensible and easier to create a storyline with proper motivational points for demigods rather than gods. They could also use mere humans, but it would undermine the entire uniqueness and power of godly beings, which should be worshiped by the former. Therefore, Perseus became popular because he is a demigod, and he is a fresh alternative to old and boring Hercules.
Reference
Perseus. (2020). Web.