History Main / IJustWantToBeFree

If characters have to obtain the ability to be free, compare EarnYourHappyEnding. If TheMasquerade blocks freedom, it may be obtained by TheUnmasquedWorld.

If characters have to obtain the ability to be free, compare EarnYourHappyEnding. If TheMasquerade blocks freedom, it may be obtained by TheUnmasquedWorld. Contrast HappinessInSlavery and FreedomFromChoice.

If characters have to obtain the ability to be free, compare EarnYourHappyEnding. If TheMasquerade blocks freedom, it may be obtained by TheUnmasquedWorld.

** [[{{Trickster}} Hong Kong]] declares that he wants to live on his own in one strip, much to his brother [[ImmortalImmaturity China's]] horror. China begs and pleads with him to change his mind, and ''does'' get him to stay...under [[EmbarrassingAnimalSuit one condition]].

* And of course, [[{{Roots}} Kunta Kinte]].

* Rapunzel in Disney's ''Disney/{{Tangled}}''.
* Jewel from {{WesternAnimation/Rio}} has this big time.
* The chickens in ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun,'' especially the heroine Ginger.
* This is Scamp's motivation in ''Disney/LadyAndTheTrampIIScampsAdventure''.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' is a series that is about dreams and freedom,, expressed through piracy. This is especially apparent with the [[MagneticHero transformative qualities of the protagonist]]. Of course, for ''major'' characters, this seems to translate to "leave whatever the hell you're doing and [[RuleOfCool do something unexpected]]". The emphasis on dreams goes both ways: with villains, the protagonist doesn't kill them, but leaves them alive [[AFateWorseThanDeath to watch their hopes and dreams crumble around them.]]

* ''Film/DeepBlueSea'': Despite all the deaths they caused, the sharks' main goal originally was simply to escape from the aquarium and return to the sea, their home. Carter {{lampshades}} this later.

* An important theme in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' for Armin and Eren since TheWorldIsJustAwesome to them, though the rest of humanity seems to have forgotten about the world outside. Best exemplified in Episode 13.

* A running theme of the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series. The villains in each series are trying to win their freedom from some kind of "system", be it genetics, cultural oppression, or government demands, or the AI that winds up secretly ruling the world.

If characters have to obtain the ability to be free, compare EarnYourHappyEnding. If TheMasquerade blocks freedom, it may be obtained by TheUnmasquedWorld

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

* Runaways Shasta, Bree, Aravis, and Hwin in ''TheHorseAndHisBoy'' -- Shasta and the horses are running away from slavery, Aravis from an ArrangedMarriage.

* ''OnePiece'' is a series that is about dreams and freedom,, expressed through piracy. This is especially apparent with the [[MagneticHero transformative qualities of the protagonist]]. Of course, for ''major'' characters, this seems to translate to "leave whatever the hell you're doing and [[RuleOfCool do something unexpected]]". The emphasis on dreams goes both ways: with villains, the protagonist doesn't kill them, but leaves them alive [[AFateWorseThanDeath to watch their hopes and dreams crumble around them.]]

* In ''ShamanKing'', many characters seek the power of the greatest spirit in order to fulfill their dreams, though Yoh, the protagonist, seeks it in order to not be bothered by having to work for anything anymore. To him, it's logical to work himself to death (literally) if it means freedom later in life. Some characters are so caught up in the concept of needing the Great Spirit to accomplish their goal that they forget they could do it anyway.
* Some of the [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan Tailed-Beast Hosts]] from ''{{Naruto}}'' seek freedom from the stigma of being the hosts of demons, and thus the requirement of being war machines. Killer Bee, host of the Eight-Tails, fakes his death so he can get away from his responsibilities.

-->--'''Genie,''' ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''