I had forgotten to say this:
Julian is awesome, sure, but his awesomeness wouldn't mean as much if he wasn't part of such a sundry cast.
The characters bounce well off of each other. The dialogue, the setting, the characters' struggles, theirs hopes, and dreams, as well as their fears and dislikes, bring out their idiosyncrasies. They are fleshed out and utilized dazzlingly! This sentimental mosh pit engenders some believable and yet absurd encounters that elevate the experience.
They might be character sprites, but... How could one refuse to fall head over heels for them?