History DemotedToExtra / WesternAnimation

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice''

* Cousin Itt only showed up in three episodes of the 1973 ''WesternAnimation/TheAddamsFamily'' cartoon albeit appearing in the opening, after appearing more frequently in [[Series/TheAddamsFamily the 1964 series]].

** When the show began to phase out its political angle around the end of the fourth season/beginning of the fifth, Hayley Smith suffered from this pretty badly. This was due to the show becoming more plot/character driven and her personality initially wasn't developed much beyond strawman liberal. It got to the point where starting in the sixth season there'd be at least one episode per season where she was completely absent. This has been subverted as of the TBS seasons where the show seems to be putting more of an emphasis on her presence; the first TBS season having her play some sort of important role in seven of its fifteen episodes, and her [[ADayIheLimelight spotlight episodes]] exploded after that.

** When the show began to phase out its political angle around the end of the fourth season/beginning of the fifth, Hayley Smith suffered from this pretty badly. This was due to the show becoming more plot/character driven and her personality initially wasn't developed much beyond strawman liberal. It got to the point where starting in the sixth season there'd be at least one episode per season where she was completely absent. This has been subverted as of the TBS seasons where the show seems to be putting more of an emphasis on her presence to the point of the first TBS season having her play some sort of important role in seven of its fifteen episodes.

** Many major characters from the tv series appear in the movie ''WesternAnimation/RecessSchoolsOut''...but most of them appear very briefly, with absolutely no lines. Notably, TJ's arch-rival Lawson shows up for two seconds and gives a mere thumbs up with no dialogue, but he's listed as a speaking role in the credits.

** The entire Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}, since the series focuses on the sidekicks of the team. Creator/CartoonNetwork even touted the show this way in early promos, counting on the audiences familiar with the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' cartoon to cause shock when the protagonists were revealed to be the children.

** ComicBook/{{Zatanna}} and [[{{ComicBook/Icon}} Rocket]] in season 2, both of whom graduated to the Justice League. Ironically, both of them were the last to join the team in the first season.

** Clay got this treatment in both series; [[GentleGiant his calm]] and [[TheStoic rather silent personality]] made it easy for him to be overlooked by his friends' more colorful ones. He received the least amount of attention in terms of spotlight episodes and the least amount of development compared to the other monks.

** As a whole, this happened to the monks in the second series, as most of the attention is focused on Omi and Ping Pong. It wasn't common to see Clay, Kimiko, and Raimundo [[WeAreTeamCannonFodder on the sidelines or easily taken out]] before the former pair came along to do the ''real'' fighting.

* Wally Walrus from ''WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker'' was brought onto the "underdog" cast section when other characters, which can be obviously referred to as bad guys, like Buzz, Dooley and Dirty [=McNasty=] came up. At least not until the ''New Woody Woodpecker Show''.

* This happens to [[Characters/MarvelComicsStorm Storm]], of all people, in ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009''. She is a major character in the comics, one of the most recognizable members of the X-Men, and featured as one of the main cast members of nearly all the previous animated adaptations. In this adaptation, she's portrayed as a background character to give Wolvie a bigger role. In fact, there's no real reason for Storm's presence in this adaptation at all since she doesn't factor into any of the story lines and the episode where she rejoins the team has nothing to do with the overall plot. It's possible that the writers only threw her in because viewers are used to seeing her in the comics and other adaptations.

* In the animated series of ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'', The Oracle has a much smaller role and doesn't even meet the Guardians face-to-face until the second season, probably because Yan Lin is at hand to explain things.

** Roxy, who joined the Winx Club as the seventh member in season 4. The marketing made it clear that she was a new fairy in the Club. The [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170816231939/http://www.michaelsfavorites2.com/winxclub3/newspage_archive2010.html scrapped original description (search "seven")]] for season 5 indicated that all seven fairies would be active members in the season. Roxy was likely written out while the season was heavily reworked into a total relaunch of the show, and the premiere was delayed by a year.

** Griffin in ''[[TheMovie The Secret of the Lost Kingdom]]'' and beyond, though she makes a return in season 6. .

* The Worms in the cartoon of ''WesternAnimation/USAcres''.

* Snarf plays a ''much'' smaller role in ''WesternAnimation/{{ThunderCats 2011}}''. Sometimes halfway through the episode you find yourself remembering he's still in this version and wondering where he is.

** Edward in seasons 4-6. Given a bit more screentime later on, at the cost of his classic personality.

** Captain has done ''nothing'' of value since his introduction in ''WesternAnimation/MistyIslandRescue''.

** While he still gets the odd spotlight episode, Hiro’s appearances are more sparse.

** After the transition to [=CGi=], Bertie the Bus's appearances became scarce. When he did show up, he was usually either avoiding an accident or in need of rescue after getting stuck or breaking down. Season 22 even marked the first time in the series where he was completely absent. Since Season 23, Bertie has been given more screentime, serving as the main non-rail vehicle for passengers on Thomas' branchline. Since [[TheBusCameBack Bulgy has also returned to Sodor]], Bertie also serves as the double-decker's [[{{Foil}} foil]].

** After Carter showed up, April was relegated to sitting in her apartment and researching stuff on the Internet for all of Season 9 and the first few episodes of Season 10. Fortunately, she started taking a more active role in the final few episodes once Carter was [[PutOnABus written out]].

Administrivia/ExamplesAreNotGeneral

* In the 2003/2007 version of ''WesternAnimation/StrawberryShortcake'', Honey Pie Pony's final appearance was among the audience in ''It Takes Talent / Playing To Beat The Band'', with no lines and no plot. She was then shoved onto the bus.
* Escher in Season 2 of ''WesternAnimation/StreetFighter''.
* ''WesternAnimation/StreetSharks'':
** Lena Mack rarely shows up in Season 3, and even then only as a non-speaking background character.
** Slash and Slobster also rarely appear in Season 3.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'':
** Pretty much every character who doesn't frequently visit the Krusty Krab.
** For specific examples, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy used to make at least a couple of appearances per season. Since the deaths of [[Creator/ErnestBorgnine their respective]] [[Creator/TimConway voice actors]], they only make non-speaking cameos in the background.

* In the early seasons of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', [[PoliceAreUseless Officer Barbrady]], [[SadistTeacher Mr. Garrison]], [[ButtMonkey Pip]], and [[ThoseTwoGuys Jimbo and Ned]] were major recurring characters. As the series went on they were gradually phased out. Barbrady and Pip were all but replaced by Harrison Yates and Butters (with the later one getting KilledOffForReal in "201"), respectively, Garrison became more of an "occasional ADayInTheLimelight" player and Jimbo and Ned remained as [[TheArtifact Artifacts]]. Subverted, as Barbrady and Garrison became prominent once again in Season 19.

** Bunnie and Rotor are also fairly minor characters in the second season, with Sally and Antoine] played as Sonic's more prominent allies.
** In an example of a character from [=SatAM=] appearing in a special pertaining to a [[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog different series]], Princess Sally makes an appearance in the ChristmasSpecial ''WesternAnimation/SonicChristmasBlast''. However, she gets absolutely no speaking lines, and plays very little role in the plot. Also, her "voice" (read: gasps and groans) [[TheOtherDarrin is provided by]] Creator/TabithaStGermain instead of Creator/KathSoucie (she was busy with ''Film/SpaceJam'' at the time).

** Many major characters from the tv series appear in the movie ''WesternAnimation/RecessSchoolsOut''...but most of them appear very briefly, with absolutely no lines. Notably, TJ's arch-rival Lawson shows up for two seconds and gives a mere thumbs up with no dialogue, but he's listed as a speaking role in the credits. Erik Von Detten's ''other'' character, Captain Brad (who appeared in one episode of the show), has numerous lines.

* Many major characters from ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' appear in [[WesternAnimation/RecessSchoolsOut the movie]]...but most of them appear very briefly, with absolutely no lines. Notably, TJ's arch-rival Lawson shows up for two seconds and gives a mere thumbs up with no dialogue, but he's listed as a speaking role in the credits. Erik Von Detten's ''other'' character, Captain Brad (who appeared in one episode of the show), has numerous lines.

* Many major characters from ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' appear in [[WesternAnimation/RecessSchoolsOut the movie]]...but most of them appear very briefly, with absolutely no lines. Notably, TJ's arch-rival Lawson shows up for two seconds and gives a mere thumbs up with no dialogue, but he's listed as a speaking role in the credits. Erik Von Detten's ''other'' character, Captain Brad (who appeared in one episode of the show), has numerous lines. Some major recurring characters, like Cornchip Girl, don't show up at all.

** In ''Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade'', Miss Grotke only has two lines in the entire movie. Justified, as the main kids were in the fifth grade and weren't in her class anymore.

** InUniverse in "[[OffToSeeTheWizard Wizard of Odd]]:" Candace winds up ignoring the rusted Tin Man and [[AscendedExtra the talking tree, "played" by Jeremy, joins their group instead]].

* ''WesternAnimation/MastersOfTheUniverseRevelation'': Of the Heroic Warriors outside the main cast, only Roboto, Moss Man, Fisto, and Clamp Champ appear and the latter two only have brief cameos in the fist episode battle. Some major characters from earlier series like Stratos and Ram Man are notably absent all together.