History AscendedExtra / WesternAnimation

*** Of course, this lead to a massive case of DoubleStandard when people wrote in, complaining that a girl should ''never'' be like how Derpy was and that she was supposedly highly offensive to the mentally disabled. Her name was cut out of the dialogue because it was assumed by the complainers to be some sort of slur, her wall-eyes were "fixed" in some shots, and her voice was changed [[hottip:*:in the original version of the episode, her voice actor had gotten confused and [[ViewerGenderConfusion thought she was a colt]], so that last one was a legitimate correction]] Granted, there was a WordOfGod moment where one of the writers expressed regret over doing it like that because of how her own child was. Didn't placate the fans and, even today, they fight to make their beloved Derpy whole again.

*** Of course, this lead to a massive case of DoubleStandard when people wrote in, complaining that a girl should ''never'' be like how Derpy was. Her name was cut out, her wall-eyes "fixed" in some shots, and her voice was changed [[hottip:*:in the original version of the episode, her voice actor had gotten confused and [[ViewerGenderConfusion thought she was a colt]], so that last one was a legitimate correction]] Granted, there was a WordOfGod moment where one of the writers expressed regret over doing it like that because of how her own child was. Didn't placate the fans and, even today, they fight to make their beloved Derpy whole again.
** Applejack's brother Big McIntosh was a fairly minor character who rarely spoke more than a simple [[CatchPhrase "Eeyup" or "Nope"]] and appeared in only a handful of episodes in Season 1, usually as just a cameo whenever Applejack is involved. Once the second season came around they showrunners started putting him on more scenes and giving him more to do [[TheQuietOne (although he still rarely speaks)]] and he's starting to get episodes written around him.

Eventually, the show's creators caught on. Derpy slowly gained more acknowledgement throughout Season 1 and the first half of Season 2, first by the animators going back and [[FishEyes derping]] her eyes in every scene she was in, then by placing her somewhere in the background of every new episode, then by giving her her own {{Funny Background Event}}s, until finally it climaxed in the fourteenth episode of Season 2, where she was referred to by her FanNickname, given a voice actor, and interacted with a main character. Not bad for a animation error.
*** Of course, this lead to a massive case of DoubleStandard when people wrote in, complaining that a girl should ''never'' be like how Derpy was. Granted, there was a WordOfGod moment where one of the writers expressed regret over doing it like that because of how her own child was. Didn't placate the fans and, even today, they fight to make their beloved Derpy whole again.
** Applejack's brother Big Macintosh was a fairly minor character who rarely spoke more than a simple [[CatchPhrase "Eeyup" or "Nope"]] and appeared in only a handful of episodes in Season 1, usually as just a cameo whenever Applejack is involved. Once the second season came around they showrunners started putting him on more scenes and giving him more to do [[TheQuietOne (although he still rarely speaks)]] and he's starting to get episodes written around him.

** Applejack's brother Big McIntosh was a fairly minor character who rarely spoke more than a simple [[CatchPhrase "Eeyup" or "Nope"]] and appeared in only a handful of episodes in Season 1, usually as just a cameo whenever Applejack is involved. Once the second season came around they showrunners started putting him on more scenes and giving him more to do [[TheQuietOne (although he still rarely speaks)]] and he's starting to get episodes written around him.

* The ''AllGrownUp'' character Harold appeared in only one ''{{Rugrats}}'' episode ("Preechool Daze").

* The inmates in ''WesternAnimation/{{Superjail}}'' were mostly interchangeable minor characters, aside from a few that were given distinct designs or personalities. With the second season, some of these inmates had their roles greatly expanded, speaking more often and having more to do with the plots. The third season continued this sort of development. The creators have stated that if they come to like a particular inmate design, they'll do what they can to reuse them.

* A stated goal of ''WesternAnimation/BewareTheBatman'' is to utilize obscure Batman villains who haven't been as heavily exploited as his A-list rogues. This means unknown (to the general public) villains like Magpie, Anarky, and Professor Pyg are getting their moment in the limelight, with Ra's al Ghul as the only remotely-recognizable villain confirmed for now.
* ComicBook/BlackWidow only appears in a hand full of episodes of ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', and never actually joins the team. She's now slated to be one of the leads in the sequel show, ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'', thanks to her big role in [[Film/TheAvengers the movie]]. Likewise, TheFalcon was only in three episodes of the original, but is not only one of the leads in the sequel, but the AudienceSurrogate as well.

* ComicBook/BlackWidow only appears in a hand full of episodes of ''TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', and never actually joins the team. She's now slated to be one of the leads in the sequel show, ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'', thanks to her big role in [[Film/TheAvengers the movie]]. Likewise, TheFalcon was only in three episodes of the original, but is not only one of the leads in the sequel, but the AudienceSurrogate as well.

* The inmates in ''{{Superjail}}'' were mostly interchangeable minor characters, aside from a few that were given distinct designs or personalities. With the second season, some of these inmates had their roles greatly expanded, speaking more often and having more to do with the plots. The third season continued this sort of development. The creators have stated that if they come to like a particular inmate design, they'll do what they can to reuse them.

** Applejack's brother Big Macintosh was a fairly minor character who rarely spoke more than a simple [[CatchPhrase "Eeyup" or "Nope"]] and appeared in only a handful of episodes in Season 1, usually as just a cameo whenever Applejack is involved. Once the second season came around they showrunners started putting him on more scenes and giving him more to do [[TheQuietOne (although he still rarely speaks)]] and he's starting to get episodes written around him.

* The inmates in ''{{Superjail}}'' were mostly interchangeable minor characters, aside from a few that were given distinct designs or personalities. With the second season, some of these inmates had their roles greatly expanded, speaking more often and having more to do with the plots. The third season continued this sort of development. The creators have stated that if they come to like a particular inmate design, they'll do what they can to reuse the

* Amanda Waller had more to do with the plot of the AnimatedAdaptation of ''SupermanBatmanPublicEnemies'' than her comics counterpart did in the original.

* Angel (aka, experiment #624) from ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'', to the point where in Japan she is featured with Stitch in most merchandise, overshadowing Lilo.

** Don't forget Azula who was seen briefly in two Season 1 episodes later became the main villain for Season 2 and a major character for the series

** 21 and 24's ascension is actually [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] a couple times, once by 21 himself ("We're like [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall main characters]]!") and later by the Monarch ("They have that weird mix of expendable and invulnerable that makes for a perfect henchman!"). Later on in the latter episode, 21 and 24 reiterate their status to a new character, claiming he's the RedShirt on their mission.

** 21 and 24's ascension is actually [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] a couple times, once by 21 himself ("We're like [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall main characters!") and later by the Monarch ("They have that weird mix of expendable and invulnerable that makes for a perfect henchman!"). Later on in the latter episode, 21 and 24 reiterate their status to a new character, claiming he's the RedShirt on their mission.

* Angel (aka, experiment #624) from ''Disney/LiloAndStitch TheAnimatedSeries'', to the point where in Japan she is featured with Stitch in most merchandise, overshadowing Lilo.

* ''HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'' gives expanded roles to several Birdman villains, including Mentok, Reducto, Birdgirl (who started off brainwashed) and X. All had originally appeared in only one episode each.
* ''{{Daria}}'' started as a minor background character on ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead''. She's mostly just seen in the classroom and we never meet her family (though her surname Morgendorffer is established and surprisingly remembered by the writers, even if the spelling isn't). The episodes where she speaks can be counted on one hand and even then, no episode revolved around her. Her interaction with the boys was mostly just her [[DeadpanSnarker snarking]] at their stupidity and Beavis using his nickname for her, "Diarrhea," before she writes them off as morons and walks off.

* In the original ''USAcres'' comic strip, Orson's nasty brothers only briefly appeared in the first three weeks, and they didn't have names then. ''GarfieldAndFriends'' turned them into recurring villains and gave them the names Mort, Gort, and Wart.

* WoodyWoodpecker's girlfriend Winnie Woodpecker was only shown in one classic Woody Woodpecker cartoon called ''Real Gone Woody'', but she was mainly shown in comic books as a recurring character. It wasn't until later in ''The New Woody Woodpecker Show'' that she became an active member of the series, with a personality similar in silliness to Woody, though showing a more developed sense of dignity.
* Ixis Naugus was poised to team up with Snively after WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehog and friends defeated Robotnik, but he (and the show) got ScrewedByTheNetwork (and the PowerRangers). He ''did'' get a much more expanded role in [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog the comic]] based on the show.

* Some one-shot villains on ''WesternAnimation/WordGirl'' might qualify. For example, Ms. Question, a villain previously seen as a student of the Coach, (another villain), has recently had two episodes where she was the main villain (after gaining the power to confuse people), as has [[HonestJohnsDealership smooth-talking game show host]] Seymour Orlando Smooth, who had previously only appeared in one episode. In fact, the only ''Wordgirl'' villain who hasn't returned at least once is the Masked Meat Marauder (although he's probably enjoying his time in that other city with lots of butcher shops and no superhero girls or monkey sidekicks).

* Filburt the turtle was initially a minor recurring character in ''RockosModernLife'' who served as a nerdy employee for various jobs. He would go on to become one of Rocko's friends and have larger roles later on in the cartoon.
* 21 and 24 from ''TheVentureBrothers'' were minor characters early on in the first season, but became a bit more important as the season went on, and then starting with season 2 they were part of the main cast. Same could probably be said of the Monarch who went from a recurring character to getting equal screen time to the Venture family.

* Charles Foster Ofdensen of ''{{Metalocalypse}}'' was just the routinely ignored voice of reason, and general straight man during early episodes. Then came the season 1 finale, where we learn he's [[spoiler: [[BadassNormal a secret asskicker.]] ]] Since then, he's become one of, it not, ''the'' most popular character on the show.

** Derpy Hooves is an excellent example of this. She was so unimportant that she almost didn't exist all together. She was present, with a normal appearance, among dozens of other background ponies in a longer sequence in the opening episode, but in one brief "blink and you'll miss it" cutaway shot, she was shown [[FishEyes wall-eyed]] with goofy grin. WordOfGod admits her momentary appearance was either an animation error or [[FunnyBackgroundEvent a joke by one of the artists]]. Despite that, the [[PeripheryDemographic Fans]] loved her. No, that's an understatement. They ''[[EnsembleDarkHorse adored]]'' her. Story after story and cameo after cameo were created for her. Fans fleshed out her job, her personality, and even how she talked.\\

* Valerie Grey originally appeared briefly in the second episode of ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', but after her popular life was ruined by ghosts (or rather, unintentionally by Danny), she became one of the most BadAss humans in the series, as well as one of Danny's toughest antagonists (though, in light of the SeriesFinale, she may now be an ally).
* Cousin Mel, the money-grubbing villain of the ChristmasSpecial GrandmaGotRunOverByAReindeer, is a very minor character in the original song.
* Cornchip Girl from ''{{Recess}}'' started out as a nameless background character. Around season four or five, she became a more prominent member of the cast, and became the unnoficial seventh member of the gang.

* Grune from ''{{Thundercats}}'' was a minor, though [[EnsembleDarkHorse popular]], villain, only appearing in three episodes as a ghost. In ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}} [=ThunderCats (2011)=]]]'' he is SparedByTheAdaptation, made more [[AdaptationalAttractiveness attractive]], given an expanded {{backstory}} and promoted to TheDragon for the series BigBad.

* Angel (aka, experiment #624) from LiloAndStitch TheAnimatedSeries, to the point where in Japan she is featured with Stitch in most merchandise, overshadowing Lilo.

* [[CanonImmigrant Harley Quinn]] from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' was originally just to be a one-time DistaffCounterpart [[TheDragon Dragon]] of TheJoker, but proved to be an interesting character in her own right.

** Also Norm. Started out as one of Doof's inventions (after learning "the enemy of the platypus is man" so he [[LiteralMinded built a robot man]]), and then began making more appearances as Doof's lovable but bungling henchman, and even had 2 episodes centered around him ("A Real Boy" & "Norm Unleashed").

* Valerie Grey originally appeared briefly in the second episode of ''DannyPhantom'', but after her popular life was ruined by ghosts (or rather, unintentionally by Danny), she became one of the most BadAss humans in the series, as well as one of Danny's toughest antagonists (though, in light of the SeriesFinale, she may now be an ally).

** Comicbook/{{Robin}} was featured infrequently in the first season of ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', with the [[http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/backstage/wbible/ series bible]] even stating that he was not intended to be Batman's full-time partner like in the comics. Thanks to some ExecutiveMeddling, the show was renamed ''The Adventures of Batman and Robin'' in its second season, and Robin appeared in nearly every episode.
** Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} also appeared relatively infrequently throughout the original series, but was promoted to lead character status when the show was retooled as ''The New Batman Adventures''. BruceTimm claims her increased prominence was requested by network executives, who felt adding a woman to the main cast would win over [[AffirmativeActionGirl female viewers]].

* ComicBook/BlackWidow only appears in a hand full of episodes of ''TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', and never actually joins the team. She's now slated to be one of the leads in the sequel show, ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'', thanks to her big role in [[Film/TheAvengers the movie]]. Likewise, TheFalcon was only in three episodes (one of which was a silent cameo) and is not only one of the leads in the sequel, but the AudienceSurrogate as well.

* ComicBook/BlackWidow only appears in a hand full of episodes of ''TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', and never actually joins the team. She's now slated to be one of the leads in the sequel show, ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'', thanks to her big role in [[Film/TheAvengers the movie]].

* ComicBook/BlackWidow only appears in a hand full of episodes of ''TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', and never joins [[ComicBook/TheAvengers the team]]. Thanks to her large role in [[Film/TheAvengers the movie]], she's slated to be one of the lead characters in the sequel show, ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble''.

** Don't forget Azula who was seen briefly in a Season 1 episode later became the main villain for Season 2

** Don't forget Azula who was seen briefly in a Season 1 episode later became a major character and the secondary villain in Season's 2 and 3

* One could also make the case for Stacy Hirano of ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb''. In the early episodes, she appeared only infrequently, if at all (she was originally just an unheard voice on the other end of Candace's cell phone conversations). As the series progressed, she appeared much more often, and has actually played a role in the plot of some episodes ("Put that Putter Away", "Elementary my Dear Stacy", "Phineas & Ferb-busters", "The Lemonade Stand"). In fact, it's almost rare to see a current episode where she doesn't appear, even if it's only for a scene or two.