>>11191318its not about having someone to look up to, its about having a relatable avatar you can identify with. when this is your character selection, a kid is more likely to gravitate towards the little rascal and think "thats me" or "that's the hero" instead of the men in mustaches
the modern kid protagonists "feel like another person" because they are tv show characters first and foremost so every aspect of their personality is telegraphed and set in stone so its harder to project your own ideas and creativity, it has nothing to do with them being kids