1.
character; dramatis personae; cast of characters
A person who appears in a novel, play, film, manga, or other narrative work. Used both for fictional characters and for real people featured in a documentary or biographical work.
登場人物が多すぎる。
There are too many characters.
Usage
A standard term used in literary criticism, film reviews, and everyday conversation about stories. Often shortened informally to キャラ (character) in casual speech about manga and anime.