History Main / LongBusTrip

** Eiji Kisaragi, originally from ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting 2'', was integrated into ''KOF'' for ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters95'', joining forces with [[VideoGame/FatalFury Billy Kane]] and newcomer Iori Yagami to form the Rival Team. [[KickTheDog Iori thrashes them]] [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness for their failure to defeat the Japan Team]] and, save for background cameos and showing up in Billy's intros against Iori in ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters98 '98]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2002 2002]]'' to join his old teammate in cursing Iori, Eiji wouldn't return until ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXI'' -- nearly nine years later. One of his win quotes even [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall lampshades his long absence]].

** When Geese Howard was KilledOffForReal in 1995's ''[[VideoGame/FatalFury Real Bout Fatal Fury]]'', few were expecting him to show up in ''KOF'' the following year, even accounting for the series being an AlternateContinuity operating on the principle of SchrodingersCast. Since then, Geese usually sends [[TheDragon his right-hand man]], Billy, to KOF in his stead and only personally joins the tournament on occasion. So far, we have the console ports of ''2002'', ''[='98=]: [[UpdatedRerelease Ultimate Match]]'', ''2002: [[UpdatedRerelease Unlimited Match]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIV XIV]]''. His Nightmare form also appears in ''KOF: Maximum Impact 2'', with the ''Maximum Impact'' games being another AlternateContinuity where Geese is dead yet again.

** Larry Butz, Phoenix's childhood friend, stopped appearing by the time of ''Apollo Justice'' with no explanation at all. Due to Larry being the CloudCuckoolander and greatly annoying everyone, it could be assumed that Phoenix didn't want to be near him. Larry returns in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'' in an DLC episode and plays an important role.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' series has Kaoru Sayama, who was introduced in [[VideoGame/Yakuza2 the second game]] as a love interest for Kiryu only to leave for the States at the beginning of the third game and never be heard from again.

* In ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'', the character [=DoytHaban=] is a former UNS SuperSoldier candidate with a powerful personalized AI implanted in his brain. He ends up temporarily taking a job with the main characters, [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-12-29 which brings the UNS' wrath down on them]]. Doythaban [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-02-23 was last seen having been "debriefed" by the UNS military]], with the implication that [[HeKnowsTooMuch he died during his subsequent incarceration]].

** A very interesting example with K9999. Introduced in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2001'', the first entry of the series where Creator/{{SNK}} was forced to pair up with Eolith due to their 2000 bankruptcy, K9999 was one of that saga's many [[OpeningACanOfClones "Kyo clones"]] created by the NESTS cartel but was not well-received due to being a blatant CaptainErsatz of [[Manga/{{Akira}} Tetsuo Shima]] -- right down to [[Creator/NozomuSasaki the voice actor]]. K9999 would make one more appearance in ''2002'' before SNK [[ExiledFromContinuity seemingly retired the character completely]], replacing him in ''2002: Unlimited Match'' with Nameless, a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute who was far more original in terms of design and powers (and depicted in a sympathetic light). Then along came ''KOF XV'', which introduced Krohnen, a blue-haired, yellow-wearing former NESTS operative who's incredibly similar to K999... and that's because he ''[[CharlieBrownFromOuttaTown is]]'' K9999, having adopted a new alias to evade his former employers (with the Tetsuo traits being toned down considerably and Krohnen [[CompositeCharacter adopting aspects of K' and Nameless for his revamped design and moveset]], all to avoid any possible grounds for a lawsuit).

** Before ''Pokémon Bank'', Brigette's last appearance was in ''Pokémon Box [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby and Sapphire]]'' three generations prior.

** Speaking about Pokémon species, some Pokémon stayed in only one regional Pokédex without any possibility in returning, aside adaptations. Shinx's family was one of the offenders, being exclusive to Sinnoh Pokédex and has never appeared in any regional Pokédex afterwards.
** Venonat and Venomoth haven't appeared in a regional Pokédex since ''Johto'' and are in fact the '''only''' Gen I Pokémon to have this distinction as of [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Gen VIII]].

* On the final episode of WebVideo/JonTron's ''Starcade'' series, it was revealed that Darth Vader was [[spoiler:actually Jon's former co-star on WebVideo/{{Game Grumps}}, Creator/{{Egoraptor}}. This was two years after Jon abruptly left Game Grumps, as many fans made several theories as to why he left by assuming the two weren't on good terms.]]

* The Nerevarine from ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' seems to have disappeared on a trip to Akavir sometime before ''Oblivion'' and only ever mentioned again in the context of having a biography written about them (which doesn't appear in-game to be read), despite their seeming importance as leader of most of Morrowind and an immortal godlike being.

** The [[VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex elemental masks]], [[VideoGame/CrashNitroKart Zem, Zam]], [[VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity Rusty Walrus]], [[VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing Pasadena O'Possum and Von Clutch]]. Eventually averted with Zem, Zam, Pasadena and Von Clutch, who all [[TheBusCameBack returned]] for ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'', while the elemental masks would have their turn in ''VideoGame/CrashOnTheRun''.

* Largo [=LaGrande=] is [=LeChuck=]'s second in command and was last seen in ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland2LeChucksRevenge'' in a blown-up evil lair that... wasn't even really that blown up. He has not been seen at later points in the series despite [=LeChuck=]'s constant appearances.
** He did show up in an AprilFoolsDay "teaser" of ''Monkey Island 5'', perhaps in recognition of this trope.

** Before ''Pokémon Bank'', Brigette's last appearance was in ''Pokémon Box Ruby and Sapphire'' three generations ago.

** Venonat and Venomoth haven't appeared in a regional Pokédex since ''Johto'' and are in fact the '''only''' Gen I Pokémon to have this distinction as of Gen VIII.
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''
** [[OneShotCharacter Marine the Raccoon]] from ''VideoGame/SonicRushAdventure'' is one of the few characters that's most likely to come back. Yet as of 2011, we haven't heard from her since her [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries first game appearance]]. However, she was briefly mentioned in the DS version of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' as well as a costume in ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames Mario & Sonic at The London 2012 Olympic Games]]''.
** [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble Fang the Sniper/Nack the Weasel]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bean the Dynamite, and Bark the Polar Bear]]. The first debuted in a handheld side-game and was a recurring character in spin-off titles. Bean and Bark however only appeared in one game. At least they got cameos as figurines or on [[LampshadeHanging wanted and missing posters]] in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' and Bean, Bark and Nack/Fang appeared as optical illusions in the boss fight against the Heavy Magician in ''VideoGame/SonicMania''.
** [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog Ray the Flying Squirrel]] and [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix Mighty the Armadillo]] were on the bus for around 20 years before returning as playable characters in 2018 via the "Encore" [=DLC=] for ''Sonic Mania''.
** Tikal only appeared in ''Adventure'', and nowhere else but side-content. Tikal can be excused by the fact that [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence she's off with Chaos at... wherever it is they went off to at the end of]] ''[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Adventure]]''. That being said, Tikal didn't reappear alongside Chaos [[VideoGame/SonicBattle in his only other canonical appearance]], and she did not show up (but was referenced on movie posters) in ''Generations'', which features Perfect Chaos as a boss fight.
** Despite his redemption, Gemerl from ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 3]]'' has never appeared in any game afterward.
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' brings back each and every playable character who ever appeared in the series. For characters such as [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Pichu]] and [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Young Link]], who have not been seen since ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee Melee]]'', this marks their first appearance in the series in ''sixteen years''.

* Examples from ''Manga/OnePiece'':

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'':
** Ash promised that he'd come back for Pidgeot when he returned. Eighteen seasons later (including four returns to Kanto), he still hasn't come back for it.
** Maybe an even more ridiculous one would be Ash's Primeape, which was PutOnABus less than five episodes after Ash caught it, left in the care of somebody who promised to turn it into "a true champion". It was never seen again. [[DubInducedPlotHole The promise to return was only in the dub; the original dialogue had no such comment.]] Yet, the openings ''Spurt!'' (the final opening of ''Advance Generation'') and ''Yajirushi ni Natte!'' (the second opening of ''Best Wishes'') still count Primeape and Squirtle as Pokémon who still are in his ownership.
** Almost everyone Ash meets, he promises to see again. Only a fraction of those end up being recurring characters.
** Speaking of returns to Kanto, Ash travels to the cities where Sabrina and Koga hold court in the ''Battle Frontier'' season to fight in the facilities of the eponymous organization, but neither makes an appearance.

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': After willingly going SealedEvilInACan after her final fight [[spoiler:to avoid being interrogated]], [[spoiler:Annie Leonhart]] was out of action for not only four years in-story but ''five years in real time'' without a present appearance, and after that she was still trapped in crystal, only to become BackForTheFinale with [[spoiler:Eren accidentally breaking her out as a side-effect once he wakes up the Wall Titans.]]
* At the end of the first arc of ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', Theresia, the daughter of the Apostle Count, swears to kill Guts as revenge for her father's death. She has yet to be mentionned over 300 chapters later.

* Dr. Andrew, a DeliveryGuy [=OC=] who helps the Mistress deliver [[spoiler: [[UntoUsASonAndDaughterAreBorn mixed-gender twins]]]] in Chapter 13 of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Superjail}}'' fanfic [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8803490/1/Extended-Stay Extended Stay]], appears in this chapter only to never be seen again for the rest of the fanfic. The only thing that hints at his return is when he tells the new parents to call him back in when they're ready for him.

* Alex (who literally gets on a bus), Darcy, Mia, Ashley, and many other characters on ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'' end their runs on the show this way.
** It's actually pretty funny that Peter's last two girlfriends, Mia and Darcy, both took long bus trips straight to The CW to star in other teen dramas.
** The Execs are not unaware of this bit of humor, and commented when 18 To Life got an airtime on The CW, it was the first time a Degrassi Alum got a CW series without dating Peter. Then talked about doing a Degrassi Mini where [[RetCon Peter and Ellie date]].
** Alli's older brother Sav graduates from Degrassi and is never seen again, not for any holidays, or Alli's birthdays, or even when she is a victim of DomesticAbuse. Although most of the Degrassi cast members GraduateFromTheStory at some point, Sav's absence was notable because his sister remained on the show for some time after he left.

** [[Recap/DoctorWho20thASTheFiveDoctors "The Five Doctors"]] notwithstanding, Sarah Jane was left on Earth for 30([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNIT_dating_controversy ish]]) years before [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E3SchoolReunion resurfacing in 2006]] and getting her own [[Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures spinoff show]]. The reason that it was a bus trip rather than simply being written out was that [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E2TheHandOfFear Sarah Jane was forced to leave]] because [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E3TheDeadlyAssassin the Doctor was summoned to Gallifrey]].

** As New Who progresses more characters come back from a long Bus Trip (not counting the Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse). Series 1 had the Autons after 34 years, Series 3 had the Macra after 40 years, Series 7 had the Great Intelligence after 44 years and the Ice Warriors after 39 years, and the 50th Anniversary had the Zygons after 38 years. The 2022 Easter Special has Sea Devils returning for the first time since 1984.

** The classic Cybermen were absent from the revived series for over twenty-five years until making a grand reappearance in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E12NightmareInSilver Nightmare in Silver]]" (while Cybermen did appear before then, those were a different breed from a parallel Earth, and supposed appearances of the Mondasian Cybermen [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E12ThePandoricaOpens in other episodes]] looked identical to their Cybus counterparts). The ''classic'' classic Cybermen from "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS4E2TheTenthPlanet The Tenth Planet]]" wouldn't come back until Series 10: over ''fifty'' years later!

* This was done to Brooke Smith's character Erica Hahn on ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' for no apparent reason whatsoever: they spent several episodes building up her relationship with Callie, including an excellent scene where she tearfully declares that Callie "[[ComingOutStory is glasses]]," only to randomly fire her because the writers stopped liking their own story. Erica and Callie get in a fight about the Izzie LVAD-cutting debacle and about how Callie "[[NoBisexuals can't be]] ''[[NoBisexuals kind of]]'' [[NoBisexuals a lesbian]]," and she walked off into the parking lot... ''forever.'' She was then more or less replaced with perky LipstickLesbian Arizona Robbins. Further proof of Shonda Rhimes' ridiculous and fickle casting habits.
* ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'': After Creator/JonPolito was fired, his character Steve Crosetti was said to be on vacation in Atlantic City. The characters actually lampshade that he's been on his vacation for too long and wonder what's going on. In the same episode, [[spoiler:[[BusCrash Munch and Bolander report to the scene of a suicide and identify the body as Crosetti.]]]]

* ''Series/{{Neighbours}}'': Marlene Kratz went on a three month cruise in 1997. She's due back any day now.

* The departure of David Caruso from ''Series/NYPDBlue'' was an example of this trope. Detective John Kelly doesn't even resign from the force. He simply moves to another precinct, leaving the option open for potential guest appearances in the future. There were even some hints later in the same season of his character coming back to be the best man at Detective Sipowicz's wedding, but a handwave was used to explain why it doesn't actually happen (in real life the actor simply would not have agreed to return, even as a one-shot guest appearance, nor would producer David Milch have wanted him back).
** Implausibly, Kelly doesn't even ''visit'' his best friend Andy Sipowicz even when Andy gets married, no matter how badly Sipowicz obviously misses him. (WordOfGod says that the NYPD Blue producer kept a ''picture'' of Caruso on his desk whenever any actor came to discuss a raise.)
* Peyton Sawyer from ''Series/OneTreeHill''. Both she and [[spoiler: her husband]] Lucas and [[spoiler: their daughter]] were PutOnABus after Season 6. However, only [[TheBusCameBack Lucas returned]] in the final season.

* ''Franchise/PowerRangers:''
** What became of Trini and Zack after that trip to Switzerland is unknown, and is especially mysterious since Jason came back for ''Zeo'' and two guest appearances after.
** A better example would be Rocky: he didn't even leave Angel Grove, he just stopped hanging with the Rangers. Per WordOfGod, they tried to get Steve Cardenas to come back for "[[MilestoneCelebration Forever Red]]", but he didn't respond in time -- and even if he had, Rocky would have just been Tommy's butler, rather than being given the unused-in-America ''Series/GoseiSentaiDairanger'' costume as fans believed.
** And though bringing them all back would naturally be problematic production-wise, there are many past Rangers whose powers still exist, so you'd think they'd drop by for certain global catastrophies. In particular, Countdown to Destruction could've benefitted from a few "stock footage shoots at other stock footage" type scenes from the Zeo Rangers and the (never stated to be in continuity, but why not?) [[Series/BigBadBeetleborgs other]] [[Series/MaskedRider Saban]][[note]]while Masked Rider does technically exist in PR continuity, since "A Friend in Need" was a PoorlyDisguisedPilot for the aforementioned ''Masked Rider'', no elements from Masked Rider are referenced in Power Rangers after that 3 parter, nor does Masked Rider reference any of the events of ''Power Rangers''[[/note]] [[Series/VRTroopers shows]].

* ''Series/ShiningTimeStation'' wrote out Ringo Starr's Mr. Conductor by having him accompany Santa Claus to the North Pole. A relative, also called Mr. Conductor (and bearing a resemblance to Creator/GeorgeCarlin) took his place, and the original Mr. Conductor was never seen or heard from again afterward.

* Alice from ''Series/{{Soap}}''. [[spoiler:She moves out of Jodie's apartment when Carol's mother said she wasn't happy with her granddaughter (Jodie's child) growing up with a lesbian - the show was made in the 70s. She chose to move out so Jodie didn't have to make that choice but she never turns up even as a friend again]].
* ''Series/SpinCity'' had a knack for dumping characters [[BrotherChuck without acknowledging this]]. So when, towards the end of season three, Mike gets a temp secretary assisted to him because Stacey Paterno was sick, you'd expect the character to return. Cue episode two of season four, in which James becomes Mike's new assistant because he still hadn't got a new one and James would be out of a job otherwise. In between, no statement whatsoever is made about Stacey.
* Fer(r)etti in ''Series/StargateSG1''. Kawalsky's death in the first regular episode leaves him the only surviving member of the original ''Film/{{Stargate}}'' team other than O'Neil(l) and Daniel, and he was shown to be leading an SG team of his own in his several-second cameo in the first season finale. He was mentioned once more in season three, then permanently and entirely forgotten, though as a team leader, you'd think he'd at least be seen or mentioned around the SGC every so often. (Meanwhile, via flashbacks, {{time travel}}, and {{parallel universe}}s, ''Kawalsky'' has returned ''plenty'' of times.)
** Of course, the really weird thing about this is that Ferretti was made leader of [=SG2=] at the end of his last appearance, and [=SG2=] is never shown or mentioned again. [=SG3=] are recurring characters, and teams with numbers up to 25 are mentioned sometimes, but [=SG2=] is never spoken of. It's almost as though the writers were planning to have him make an appearance at some point, but never got around to it.
** Jonas Quinn, after being a regular cast member in Season 6, hasn't been even ''mentioned'' in the Stargate universe since Season 7, even when his planet was invaded by the Ori. Even a ''Series/StargateUniverse'' episode involving said planet shows no sign of him.

* On ''Series/TheWestWing'', Sam Seaborn left the White House in order to run for Congress, which would have made him an excellent candidate for future cameos in the series. Although [[spoiler: it is revealed at the end of the series that he lost the race]] there seems to be little good in-universe reason for why he completely vanished.
** Especially since they decided in the episode "Inauguration" to promote him to Senior Counselor to the President if he lost. This was just another subplot that was dropped entirely when Creator/AaronSorkin left.

* The elemental masks, Zem, Zam, Rusty Walrus, Pasadena O'Possum and Von Clutch from the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' series. Eventually averted with Zem, Zam, Pasadena and Von Clutch, who all [[TheBusCameBack returned]] for ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'', while the elemental masks would have their turn in ''VideoGame/CrashOnTheRun''.
** All of the above pale in comparison to Mr. Crumb, who wouldn't avert this until his unexpectedly triumphant return in ''On the Run'', '''23 years''' later.

* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': Adrian Shepard hasn't made an appearance in quite some time. Nor have the enemies that originated from his game, which were completely different that the ones Freeman faced.
** Likewise, Valve is directly invoking this trope for [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} Chell]], so as to stick to their desired plan of using a different protagonist in future games. Chell was only brought back for VideoGame/{{Portal 2}} by playtester demand.
** However, [[WordOfGod Gabe Newell]] has said that Chell will have some importance in the Half-Life universe, so who knows?
** [[{{Vaporware}} Half-Life itself]] has been on rather long bus ride for over a decade that has no sign of ending soon, so pretty much all of the above examples are moot, regardless. [[TheBusCameBack And then Valve decided to call the bus home with the release of]] ''VideoGame/HalfLifeAlyx''.

** Despite his redemption, Gemerl from ''Videogame/SonicAdvance3'' has never appeared in any game afterwards.

* The ''Videogame/{{Yakuza}}'' series has Kaoru Sayama, who was introduced in the second game as a love interest for Kiryu only to leave for the States at the beginning of the third game and never be heard from again.

* Happens a few times in Webcomic/GirlGenius.

* On the final episode of WebVideo/JonTron's Starcade series, it was revealed that Darth Vader was [[spoiler: actually Jontron’s former co-star on WebVideo/{{Game Grumps}}, Creator/{{Egoraptor}}. This was 2 years after Jontron abruptly left Game Grumps, as many fans made several theories as to why he left by assuming the two weren’t on good terms.]]

** See also The Earth King, who takes off on his own at the beginning of Season 3 and is never seen again. ''Presumably'' he comes back after Ba Sing Se is liberated, but he's never shown in the series, appearing only much later in the follow-up comics.

* Amazo in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' teleports himself away from Earth in the middle of a battle, after seeing the monster of the week absorb his attack and become more powerful for it. Though the foe is defeated mere minutes later, Amazo never returns. In the commentary the creators say that they wanted to add a gag at the end of the final episode (a year or whatever later) where [[OffscreenInertia Amazo is sitting on an asteroid somewhere wondering if it's okay to return to Earth yet.]]
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'' introduced a character named "Derek The Diesel" who suffered from "teething troubles" . At the end of the episode he was sent off to have the "troubles" repaired, but aside from a cameo (from the back) during a music video in the special "Calling All Engines" he has not been seen since. Considering that his model was [[ShownTheirWork based on a locomotive design that really was that unreliable]] (details [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_17 here]]), it's entirely possible they're still not there yet.

* The title character of the newspaper comic ''ComicStrip/RobotmanAndMonty'' was written out of the strip, at the request of the comic's syndicate (tired of fielding complaints from readers confusing the absurdist humor strip with the [[TastesLikeDiabetes much more kid-friendly "Robotman & Friends"]] toys and books). It would be easy to bring Robotman back (he's alive and well in space), but that's unlikely.

* Erza's friends from the Tower of Heaven and [[spoiler:Mystogan]] in ''Manga/FairyTail''. It took until past the first TimeSkip for Millianna to return as a member of another guild, while [[spoiler:Mystogan]] didn't return [[spoiler:until ''[[Manga/FairyTail100YearsQuest the sequel manga]]'']].

** [[OneShotCharacter Marine the Raccoon]] from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' is one of the few characters that's most likely to come back. Yet as of 2011, we haven't heard from her since her [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries first game appearance]]. However, she was briefly mentioned in the DS version of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' as well as a costume in ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames Mario & Sonic at The London 2012 Olympic Games]]''.

** Despite his redemtion, Gemerl from ''Videogame/SonicAdvance3'' has never appeared in any game afterwards.

** As New Who progresses more characters come back from a long Bus Trip (not counting the Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse). Series 1 had the Autons after 34 years, Series 3 had the Macra after 40 years, Series 7 had the Great Intelligence after 44 years and the Ice Warriors after 39 years, and the 50th Anniversary had the Zygons after 38 years.

** As New Who progresses more characters come back from a long Bus Trip (not counting the Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse). Series 1 had the Autons after 34 years, Series 3 had the Macra after 40 years, Series 7 had the Great Intelligence after 44 years, and the 50th Anniversary had the Zygons after 38 years.

* In the ''Manga/InuYasha'' manga, Kouga appears more and more often, even joining the heroes' team for a while, until Naraku finally takes his Shikon shards, then he's gone and never appears again. Despite Kouga having just received his tribe's very powerful ancestral weapon, meaning he's no longer reliant on those Shikon shards to fight at the heroes' level. Even Houjou, Kagome's other HopelessSuitor, gets an appearance in the final volume.

* On ''Series/TheWestWing'', Sam Seaborn left the White House in order to run for Congress, which would have made him an excellent candidate for future cameos in the series. Although [[spoiler: it is finally revealed at the end of the series that he lost the race]] there seems to be little good in-universe reason for why he completely vanished.

** Larry Butz, Phoenix's childhood friend, stopped appearing by the time of ''Apollo Justice'' with no explanation at all. Due to Larry being the CloudCuckoolander and greatly annoying everyone, it could be assumed that Phoenix didn't want to be near him. Larry finally returns in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'' in an DLC episode and plays an important role.

** [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog Ray the Flying Squirrel]] and [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix Mighty the Armadillo]] were on the bus for around 20 years before finally returning as playable characters in 2018 via the "Encore" [=DLC=] for ''Sonic Mania''.

* [[OneShotCharacter Marine the Raccoon]] from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' is one of the few characters that's most likely to come back. Yet as of 2011, we haven't heard from her since her [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries first game appearance]]. However, she was briefly mentioned in the DS version of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' as well as a costume in ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames Mario & Sonic at The London 2012 Olympic Games]]''.
** Also on the ''Sonic'' bus: [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Big the Cat]], [[VideoGame/SonicRiders Jet the Hawk]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble Fang the Sniper/Nack the Weasel]], [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes E-123 Omega]] [[note]]to be fair, Omega is more a supporting character to Shadow and Rouge than he is to Sonic[[/note]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bean the Dynamite, and Bark the Polar Bear]]. At least they got cameos as figurines or on [[LampshadeHanging wanted and missing posters]] in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' and Bean, Bark and Nack/Fang appeared as optical illusions in the boss fight against the Heavy Magician in ''VideoGame/SonicMania''.
*** Nack/Fang is especially bizarre, as he didn't even get a card in the Twitter-based game Sonic Tweet, even though all of the games he made a major appearance in (other than ''Sonic the Fighters/Sonic Championship'') had cards.

** [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Eggman]] [[VideoGame/SonicRivals Nega]] and Tikal as well. They didn't even show up in ''Generations''.
*** Tikal can be excused by the fact that [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence she's off with Chaos at... wherever it is they went off to at the end of]] ''[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Adventure]]''. That being said, Tikal didn't reappear alongside Chaos [[VideoGame/SonicBattle in his only other canonical appearance]], and she did not show up (but was referenced on movie posters) in ''Generations'', which features Perfect Chaos as a boss fight.
** Also Shade, who hasn't been referenced at all since [[VideoGame/SonicChronicles her debut]]. This one is more justifiable in that ''Chronicles'' is [[CanonDiscontinuity non-canon]], supposedly the furthest event in the series chronologically speaking, was not received well by fans for being another ObviousBeta game finished to contract requirements (though it got a better critical reception at the time), and earned the makers of the game and comic book publisher Archie a DEFCON-2 to DEFCON-1 backlash from former writer Ken Penders, who accused them of [[TheyCopiedItSoItSucks copying his Sonic character Julie-Su for Shade]]; this backlash and Archie's failure to deal with it properly led to a [[ScrewedByTheLawyers messy legal battle that forced them to reboot their comic without Penders's characters]] and effectively zoned out any ideas of a sequel.
** Out of all the characters who appeared in the other notorious ObviousBeta game ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06,]]'' only one major character, Silver The Hedgehog, has made further appearances due to the game becoming an instant OldShame and near-FranchiseKiller and retconning itself and the other characters [[{{Retgone}} in it out of existence]] due to the backlash against it; Silver's backstory was changed significantly for his other appearances. Several Iblis fire enemies did return for ''Sonic Generations''.
** [[VideoGame/SonicBattle Emerl]] is another offender. Sure, [[spoiler:he gets offed at the end of ''Battle'']], but given his interactions with the rest of the cast and the fact that ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 3]]'' all but outright states that [[spoiler:he's been revived in some fashion as G-mel/Gemerl (who is repaired, reprogrammed, and shown to be playing with Cream in the epilogue)]], you'd think he'd show up again ''sometime''.

** Speaking about Pokémon species, some Pokémon stayed in only one regional Pokédex without any possibility in returning, aside adaptations. Shinx family was one of the offenders, being exclusive to Sinnoh Pokédex and has never appeared in any regional Pokédex afterwards.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' introduced a character named "Derek The Diesel" who suffered from "teething troubles" . At the end of the episode he was sent off to have the "troubles" repaired, but aside from a cameo (from the back) during a music video in the special "Calling All Engines" he has not been seen since. Considering that his model was [[ShownTheirWork based on a locomotive design that really was that unreliable]] (details [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_17 here]]), it's entirely possible they're still not there yet.

CharacterOutlivesActor is a form of this enforced by RealLife. If AuthorExistenceFailure instead results in BackForTheDead or a BusCrash, that's TheCharacterDiedWithHim.

* Creator/BillEverett put [[ComicBook/SubMariner Namora]] on ice ([[LiteralMetaphor literally]]), reportedly with plans to bring her back, but unfortunately, AuthorExistenceFailure happened. ''[[SubvertedTrope But then]]'', ComicBook/AgentsOfAtlas happened...

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' brings back each and every playable character who ever appeared in the series. For characters such as Pichu and Young Link, who have not been seen since ''Melee'', this marks their first appearance in the series in ''sixteen years''.

* Warren T. Rat and his gang in ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail'' are defeated by putting them on a ship headed for Hong Kong. Instead of having them come back for the sequels they instead brought in new villains for each movie.

* Eddie from ''WesternAnimation/RoverDangerfield'' didn't move out to the farm with Rover in the end so his fate is unknown.

The image is of a ''truly'' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bi-articulated_bus long bus]] from the [[http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/ TransMilenio]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_rapid_transit bus rapid transit]] (a rapid transit mode that can be thought of as "the future of transit") system in Bogotá, Colombia. This has since been taken up in other countries: when the "Bendy Buses" arrived in England, at first there were little calamities when drivers who under-estimated their length tried to manoeuvre them around nineteenth century road corners designed for horse and cart. It's also being taken up in UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}, with a planned BRT on Ashland Avenue.

* The elemental masks, Zem, Zam, Rusty Walrus, Pasadena O'Possum and Von Clutch from the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' series. Eventually averted with Zem, Zam, Pasadena and Von Clutch, who all [[TheBusCameBack returned]] for ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled''.

* ''Series/TeenWolf'': A lot of the characters that got put on a bus are BackForTheFinale but a few, notably Isaac and Danny, are never seen again.

* A pretty common way for the unwanted part of a LoveTriangle to be removed from the competition without going straight to DieForOurShip.

* The elemental masks, Zem, Zam, Rusty Walrus, Pasadena O'Possum and Von Clutch from the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' series. Eventually averted with Zem, Zam, Pasadena and Von Clutch, who all [[TheBusCameBack return]] for ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled''.