History Main / LongBusTrip

* The elemental masks, Zem, Zam, Rusty Walrus, Pasadena Possum and Von Clutch from the ''Franchise/CrashBandicoot'' series.

[[folder:Films]]

[[/folder:Film]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In John Bunyan's ''Literature/PilgrimsProgress'', Christian (or Pilgrim, depending on which version you're reading) has to fight the beast Apollyon. When he's defeated, Apollyon swears vengeance on Christian, but aside from a couple of name-drops, Apollyon is never mentioned again.

** [[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 ''Sonic Mania's'' "Encore" DLC.

** [[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 ''Sonic Mania's'' "Encore" DLC.

** Also on the ''Sonic'' bus: [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog Ray the Flying Squirrel]], [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix Mighty the Armadillo]], [[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''.

** [[{{Vaporware}} Half-Life itself]] has been on rather long bus ride for nearly a decade that has no sign of ending soon, so pretty much all of the above examples are moot, regardless.

[[folder:Film]]
* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', [[spoiler: The Red Skull touched the Tesseract and dissolved into light which then disappeared into a celestial portal, but [[NeverFoundTheBody his death was never officially confirmed.]]]] Those who believed he was still alive would [[IKnewIt have their faith rewarded]] when [[spoiler: he reappeared in ''[[Film/AvengersInfinityWar Infinity War]]'', seven years and '''fourteen''' movies later.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In John Bunyan's ''Literature/PilgrimsProgress'', Christian (or Pilgrim, depending on which version you're reading) has to fight the beast Apollyon. When he's defeated, Apollyon swears vengeance on Christian, but aside from a couple of name-drops, Apollyon is never mentioned again.

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

CharacterOutlivesActor is a form of this enforced by RealLife. When it's the result of AuthorExistenceFailure, that's TheCharacterDiedWithHim.

** 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 11: over ''fifty'' years later!

* The character Gin from the East Blue Saga of ''Manga/OnePiece'' stated that he wanted to see the Straw Hat Pirates again on the Grand Line. Over 800 chapters, half of the Grand Line, and a two year time skip later, Gin still has yet to be so much as mentioned again--not even in the various covers that show characters worlds away from the main cast. And this is in a series where the author seemingly [[ChekhovsGunman never forgets about characters]]. Then again, Gin was suffering from Don Krieg's [=MH5=] poison at the time, and coughed up blood before he left, meaning [[BusCrash he could have died off-screen]].

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

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Allison Taylor first appeared in "Lisa's Rival" in Season 6. While she was seen in the background in a few episodes (at least a girl was seen in a few that looked like her) she didn't have a speaking role again until "Lard of the Dance" in Season 10.

* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': Adrian Shepard hasn't made an appearance in quite some time.

* The Nerevarine from ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' seems to have disappeared on a trip to Akavir sometime before ''Oblivion'' and is never mentioned again, despite his seeming importance as leader of most of Morrowind and an immortal godlike being.

** 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 is notable because he is the brother of a current cast member.

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

* On the series ''Series/{{Becker}},'' the character "Reggie" (Terry Farrell) was put on a LongBusTrip when Farrell was booted from the series under suspicious circumstances (she has told interviewers that it came as a complete shock to her and that she is unsure of exactly why it happened, although she reportedly led a strike among the show's cast). Farrell was even fired before the episode was filmed, and thus never even ''appeared'' on the episode where she was placed on the long bus trip, but was dismissed in a rather unflattering way where Farrell herself vanished but Reggie's continued presence was inferred (i.e. it was simply ''related'' that she slept with Becker, and it made her realize that she needed a change ''immediately''). This was all done in a ''very'' implausibly slipshod way, obviously trumped up at the last minute: i.e. it was inferred that Reggie was popping in and out without Farrel ever being on-camera during the entire epsisode, and finally Reggie said good-bye to the cast in a phone-call that was ''dictated'' to them all by a complete stranger (don't ask-- I ''said'' it was implausibly slipshod).

* The departure of David Caruso from ''{{NYPD Blue}}'' 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.)

* In ''Series/{{Coupling}}'' (the original British version) Jeff disappears between series 3 and 4 as a result of his actor not wanting to return. His absence is explained by a hilarious one sided phone conversation with Steve "No, Jeff, the name of the island is pronounced Les-BOSS..... well that was fairly over-optimistic of you really wasn't it?". By the end of the show, Jeff is still "trapped" on Lesbos as a result of not being able get a passport... or something; WordOfGod has it that he ultimately decided to live there.

* Alice from ''Series/{{Soap}}''. [[spoiler:She moves out of Jodie's apartment when Carol's mother said she isn'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]].

** [[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/DoctorWhoS29E3SchoolReunion resurfacing in 2006]] and getting her own [[Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures spinoff show]]. The reason that it was a bus trip rather than simply been written out was that [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E2TheHandOfFear Sarah Jane was forced to leave]] because [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E3TheDeadlyAssassin the Doctor was summoned to Gallifrey]].

** The Pandorica Opens had a bus with a lot of passengers coming back for the LegionOfDoom from the Classic Series, including the Zygons and Drahvins. However we only see the creatures that have been in New Who, meaning a lot of fans felt this was a missed opportunity.

* ''Series/TheATeam'': Col. Lynch (Bill Lucking) is put on a long bus trip, after appearing in the first season. He's replaced by Col. Decker (Lance LeGault), who in turn was PutOnABus and replaced by General "Bull" Fullbright (Jack Ging). Decker returned for the A-Team's court martial in Season 5.

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

* ''Series/SpinCity'' has 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 Stacy 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.

* Many, Many characters on ''Series/HouseOfAnubis'' were put on some long bus rides...and then never mentioned again. The most notable include [[EnsembleDarkHorse Jason Winkler]], [[ManipulativeBastard Vera Devinish]], and [[LovableJock Mick Campbell.]] [[TheBusCameBack At least Mick got a cameo a the end of season 3...]]

** 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 retconing 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''.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{GIJoe}}'' had a third-party villain called the Gamemaster kidnap Flint, Lady Jae, the Baroness, and Cobra Commander, and put the four of them through a DeadlyGame set in his AmusementParkOfDoom on an island. The episode ended with the villain fleeing while the [[EnemyMine combined forces of both Joe and Cobra]] attacked the island, but while he swore revenge as he escaped, he never reappeared.

* Brian's cousin, Jasper, and Jasper's boyfriend, Ricardo, has been subjected to this trope in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Jasper appeared twice in a CutawayGag and then twice more in two episodes; the first one made Jasper and Ricardo a OneSceneWonder and their next appearance several seasons later sets up the plot over gay marriage in Quahog. Jasper is seen talking to Brian on Skype in "Brian's Play" but otherwise hasn't appeared since.

* The character Gin from the East Blue Saga of ''Manga/OnePiece'' stated that he wanted to see the Straw Hat Pirates again on the Grand Line. Over 800 chapters, half of the Grand Line, and a two year time skip later, Gin still has yet to be so much as mentioned again. And this is in a series where the author seemingly [[ChekhovsGunman never forgets about characters]]. Then again, Gin was suffering from Don Krieg's [=MH5=] poison at the time, and coughed up blood before he left, meaning [[BusCrash he could have died off-screen]].

* The character Gin from one of the earliest arcs in ''Manga/OnePiece'' stated that he wanted to see the Straw Hat Pirates again on the Grand Line. Over 500 chapters, half of the Grand Line, and a two year time skip later, Gin still has yet to be so much as mentioned again. And this is in a series where the author seemingly [[ChekhovsGunman never forgets about characters]]. Of course, the series is not over yet, but each passing arc (and [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil dramatic increase in the power of the villains]]) makes it more and more difficult to imagine Gin ever coming back. Though ''One Piece'' is definitively not a series where a person CantCatchUp, since there have been examples of characters who were weak or even outright noncombatants [[TookALevelInBadass reappearing after long absences as legitimate badasses]], no one has ever done so after ''that'' long. Then again, Gin was suffering from Don Krieg's [=MH5=] poison at the time, and coughed up blood before he left, meaning [[BusCrash he could have died off-screen]].

** 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... in the dub. In the original dialog, there was no line of him returning for the Pokémon. 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.

** The last above would also apply to the Kanto Gym Leaders, as Ash does travel to the cities where Sabrina and Koga hold court in the ''Battle Frontier'' season to fight in the facilities of the eponymous organization. This actually makes those two Gym Leaders, as well as Misty's sisters (as Misty left them at the Cerulean City limits) an inversion, as it would've been easy for Ash to visit them but he didn't. Given that the episodes included some frame-for-frame recreations of the cities in question as depicted in the first season, this comes off as [[TrollingCreator outright trolling by the animators]] of anybody who'd been watching the series long enough to remember Sabrina and Koga.

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

* 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.

* The Creator/JasonAlexander-voiced character Sal from ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''.

* Happens to both Blackarachnia and Waspinator at the end of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' based on the events of the episode "Predacons Rising." Adding to this was the fact that Waspinator's final lines in the show were "Waspinator has plans..."
** Though this was mainly because the fourth season for the show was cancelled.
* Donny, Cobbler and the garden gnomes from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.
** N.E.P.T.R. first appears roughly halfway through season one. He isn't seen again until the season 4 premiere, playing Hide and Seek. Apparently, Finn and Jake [[LampshadeHanging forgot about this]].

** 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]] [[Series/VRTroopers shows]].