>>108978169This trope has existed longer than 3DCG, kid. It's a similar principle, but with narrative and screentime constraints. Why does the opposite gender friend in all of the old Disney/Nickelodeon kid sitcoms end up the love interest? Because they ended up being around the longest and had the most characterization. The bully slowly becoming less of an asshole and even a friend is the same thing. Their role in the character dynamics has them keep showing up, and eventually they'll acquire enough actual character that having some sort of "Redemption" shift is too juicy a story opportunity to ignore.
