History ThrowTheDogABone / WesternAnimation

** Asami has [[TheWoobie suffered alot]], getting her heart broken twice by [[spoiler:Mako]], having her dad [[spoiler:turn out to be an equalist]], and losing her family wealth. While by the time the {{grand finale}} rolls around shes rebuilt her family's business, [[spoiler:her father who she had just reconciled with performs a {{heroic sacrifice}}, seemingly as a final screw you from the universe. On the plus side, she has a {{relationship upgrade}} with [[PhysicalGod Korra]]]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' had one instance of the usual {{Jerkass}} and ButtMonkey Squidward actually leading a band to an awesome glam-rock superbowl show that made his SmugSnake rival Squilliam ''have a heart attack''.
** And another episode has [=SpongeBob=] destroy Squidward's house while he's trying to make it more fancy than Squillam's... only for the [[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible resulting rubble]] to indeed beat Squilliam's house.
** A third example has Squidward managing to compose a musical piece for a competition, and having that piece selected to be played despite [=SpongeBob=]/Patrick's general annoyingness. When the composition is actually played , it's revealed that he actually wrote the annoyingness into the piece, you'd expect this to be a YankTheDogsChain where everyone goes nuts over [=SpongeBob=], but then the people start cheering... for Squidward.
** The Tiki Island episode is pretty much dedicated to this. Even when it looks like it's undone in the end, it turns out that it's not.
** Another example occurs in an episode where he falls in love with a female octopus named Squilvia. Squidward turns to [=SpongeBob=] for advice, but it goes wrong. When Squidward finally has enough, he starts yelling at [=SpongeBob=] right in front of his girlfriend. At first, Squid thinks she's going to break up with him for said outbursts, but it ends up making her more attracted to him.
** In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'', he wants [[IChoosetoStay to stay on land in his Sour Note form]], but [=SpongeBob=] wants to bring the whole gang back home. He's dismayed to be just an ordinary cashier again, but [=SpongeBob=], via page from magical book, made him keep his "rock-hard abs".

** "Plankton's Pet" has Plankton get a pet [[AllAnimalsAreDogs water bear/ameoba]] he names Spot to cheer himself up after yet another failed attempt to get a Krabby Patty at the suggestion of [=SpongeBob=]. It shows him love and he loves it, and the episode ends with Spot rescuing Plankton from trouble and showering a happy Plankton with love

** The series finale has Waspinator, TheChewToy [[CosmicPlaything of Fate]], is be left on Earth after leaving the Predacons where he becomes the leader of a village of Protohumans. It's obviously more significant if you [[FanonDiscontinuity ignore]] ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'', though he wasn't nearly TheChewToy there that he was in ''Beast Wars'', as he spent most of the time sharing a body with Thrust, and was one of the only three characters to survive the entirety of both series.

* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': The main characters [[spoiler:despite losing Prowl]]. After having spent the entirety of the show either being put down upon or having to give up a chance of a good life for themselves by [[BeingGoodSucks doing the right thing]], they ''finally'' get the chance to return to Cybertron as true heroes, having defeated Megatron

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "The Six Million Dollar Mon", Zoidberg stops Hermes from turning himself into a robot by reminding him of his family (and by having saved Hermes' discarded body parts). Afterwards, Hermes' wife orders him to thank Zoidberg.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'', Tom actually has managed to one-up Jerry a few times (13, in fact). Even outside of these, there were many shorts where he was granted some sort of truce or happy outcome from Jerry.

* Kenny of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' [[TheyKilledKennyAgain died]] in most episodes from the [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first five seasons]], but occasionally there would be an episode where it seemed like he was going to die, but ends up surviving, such as the first Christmas episode, the first episode where he ''didn't'' die. The show teases his demise several times be forcing him through pointlessly dangerous situations, but he comes through unscathed each time. When the episode ends, Kenny cheers in triumph. Another episode where this happens is in the Season 3 opener, "Rainforest Shmainforest," where he is struck be lightning, but is saved by his then-girlfriend before he could succumb to the lightning blast. He also survives Season 4's "Fat Camp," though, he ends up being sent to jail for giving Creator/HowardStern oral sex.

* Kenny of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' has the first Christmas episode, the first episode where he ''didn't'' die. The show teases his demise several times be forcing him through pointlessly dangerous situations, but he comes through unscathed each time. When the episode ends, Kenny cheers in triumph.

** The episode "Setting a President" ' is this for Frankie, who not only manages to win an election to be in charge of the eponymous house, but then enforces regime changes everyone likes, punishes Bloo and emphatically doesn't find out that it was harder than her old job. It's seemingly subverted when seeing Herriman suffering and struggling with a bagging job at the supermarket, and while she feels guilty for him, she's more put off by how her new job pays less than her old one. She then returns the job to its previous incumbent (also brought back to the house), and looks like a saint in doing it, with him claiming that he now owes her one.

** The second-to-last episode of the series "Fools and Regulations" was yet another for Frankie. Bloo's ridiculous antics, established as a major source of grief for Frankie, actually help her in the end by earning some badly-needed fundraising donations for the house. Funny enough, Frankie punishes Bloo anyway for being such a jerkass.

** As of season 6 he has arguably fully grown out of his ButtMonkey position. While he is still nebbish and snively, by the end of the season he's gone viral as a cool dad, briefly became a space super hero, goes on a serious adventure with Rick, gets to watch a 2 hour longer cut of Miracle on 34th street with his family, and has a second wife. [[CloningBlues Kind of.]]

** "Destination Imagination" is also a bone for Frankie. After years of cooking, cleaning, taking care of numerous imaginary friends, and pretty much running the house single-handedly without a bit of gratitude from anyone or an ounce of respect from her slave driving anal stuck-up bunny boss, she is rewarded when Mr. Herriman acknowledges her importance to the home and has the chores split up amongst everyone. Whether the change sticks in the last episodes of the series remains to be seen.

* At the end of the WesternAnimation/RoadRunner short ''WesternAnimation/ZoomAndBored'', the Coyote purchases an Ahab Harpoon Gun, but unfortunately, he gets caught in the rope attached to it, and goes on a wild ride. By the end of the short, he is a blubbering mess. The Road Runner appears right behind him, and you'd expect him to go "Beep beep!", but instead, [[NoFourthWall he looks to the audience]] and [[TalkingWithSigns holds up a sign]] saying, "I just don't have the heart!", and zips away, flipping the sign over saying, "'Bye!"

** The [[AcceptableTargets Mime]] still got the shaft though. In fact, dropping a safe on him was ''Yakko's'' wish.

** Notably ''not'' employed in the comics themselves, though, where any and all triumphs Charlie Brown achieves are ''always'' dragged down or retconned, such as an example where he hit a home run and won the baseball game, yet it later turned out this was only because the female pitcher had a crush on him. Another time, a winning run was walked in because the pitcher couldn't pitch strikes to Linus' toddler brother Rerun (who thought they were [[ComicallyMissingThePoint playing for the Stanley Cup]]). Sadly, a "youth sports commission" [[AcceptableTargets not unlike the Mafia]] forces Charlie Brown to forfeit the victory after it's revealed Snoopy had money on the game.

** In fact, a lot of Zoidberg's appearances as of late have him doing better in a number of ways. One episode focuses on his relationship with the Professor, cementing their friendship, showing he's actually a brilliant doctor when not treating humans, and has the respect of ''Mom'' of all people. Another episode shows he's largely come to terms with his financial situation (something he's shown a few times before), manages a zen-like outlook on both a windfall fortune and losing it almost immediately, and ends the episode having formed a connection with Amy over her temporary poverty and dancing with her to his own theme tune.
** And a final bone throwing came in "Stench and Stenchability" (The next last episode ''ever'') where old crabcakes was given a love interest. And unlike Edna, no last second dumping and death from mating. And thanks to being born without a sense of smell, getting a nose transplant, and never knowing a good smell from bad, she even loves his stank.

* In the original storyboards of the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Too Young," the writers threw Lemongrab (who was punched in the stomach and pushed onto the floor by the protagonists) a bone, by having him take a rice cake (he really likes bland foods) out of his pocket and eat it, and actually enjoy himself for once, much to the puzzlement of his pranksters. Averted in the final cut of the episode, as the scene ends with Lemongrab slumped over on the ground crying, and the pranksters running away happily.
** He gets one for real in "You Made Me" when Princess Bubblegum introduces him to a clone of himself to reduce his psychotic loneliness over having a castle with no one else to keep him company.

** [[spoiler:Comic Book Guy finding true love and getting married in season 25's "Married to the Blob".]]

* Charlie Brown from ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' achieved this trope in two of the animated specials: ''It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown'' (where, in spite of [[NeverMyFault being blamed for causing his team to lose a football game]], he actually gets to kiss [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen The Little Red-Haired Girl]]) and ''WesternAnimation/ItsMagicCharlieBrown'' (where he takes advantage of being turned invisible and actually kicks Lucy's football. Lucy is not amused.).

* Literal Dog: The ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' movie ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish'' actually subverted FailureIsTheOnlyOption for everyone, including [[BadlyBatteredBabysitter Buttons]], who was finally rewarded when Mindy called her mom "Mommy" and instead of losing a meal, and getting chewed out, was given a huge pile of steaks.

** Asami has [[TheWoobie suffered alot]], getting her heart broken twice by [[spoiler: Mako]], having her dad [[spoiler: turn out to be an equalist]], and losing her family wealth. While by the time the {{grand finale}} rolls around shes rebuilt her family's business, [[spoiler: her father who she had just reconciled with performs a {{heroic sacrifice}}, seemingly as a final screw you from the universe. On the plus side, she has a {{relationship upgrade}} with [[PhysicalGod Korra]]. ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'': Lumpus has a mad crush on Jane Doe, but his efforts to get her to realize that always backfire hilariously. Jane frequently misinterprets his motives, leading her to see him either as A) a friend, or B) a jerk. [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption Failure]] is Lumpus' only option, as Jane gets together with and even ''marries'' everyone except Lumpus. The second-to-last episode focuses on the two, and is called "Wedding Bell Blues". They get HappilyMarried and become an OfficialCouple in the end.

** Subverted for [[WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck Donald]] in the second season, [[BornUnlucky naturally]]. When he begins molting from constant stress, and his attempts to relax throughout the episode are repeatedly foiled, his family eventually takes pity on him and books a month-long cruise just for him. Unfortunately, [[YankTheDogsChain this goes horribly wrong]] when he [[spoiler:stumbles upon Della's rocket seconds after she leaves it and accidentally launches it, shooting himself into space and crashing on the moon...[[FromBadToWorse where he is immediately taken hostage by aliens]]. Even upon escape, his attempt to warn of the coming invasion fails, and he spends the rest of the season stuck on a deserted island with his family none the wiser.]]

-->'''Garfield''':New rule of the show Pup, every 9 weeks we do a happy ending. Come on, let's go steal their pizza.

* [[spoiler: The 87th episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'' had [[CosmicPlaything Stumpy]] win for once, without cheating.

--->'''Shauna''': If I make out with you, will you shut up?\\
'''Gil''': Ah, give it a shot.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' had one instance of the usual {{Jerkass}} and ButtMonkey Squidward actually leading a band to an awesome glam-rock superbowl show that made his SmugSnake rival Squilliam ''have a heart attack''.
** And another episode has Spongebob destroy Squidward's house while he's trying to make it more fancy than Squillam's... only for the [[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible resulting rubble]] to indeed beat Squilliam's house.
** A third example has Squidward managing to compose a musical piece for a competition, and having that piece selected to be played despite Spongebob/Patrick's general annoyingness. When the composition is actually played , it's revealed that he actually wrote the annoyingness into the piece, you'd expect this to be a YankTheDogsChain where everyone goes nuts over Spongebob, but then the people start cheering... for Squidward.

** Another example occurs in an episode where he falls in love with a female octopus named Squilvia. Squidward turns to Spongebob for advice, but it goes wrong. When Squidward finally has enough, he starts yelling at Spongebob right in front of his girlfriend. At first, Squid thinks she's going to break up with him for said outbursts, but it ends up making her more attracted to him.
** In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'', he wants [[IChoosetoStay to stay on land in his Sour Note form]], but Spongebob wants to bring the whole gang back home. He's dismayed to be just an ordinary cashier again, but Spongebob, via page from magical book, made him keep his "rock-hard abs".

** "Plankton's Pet" has Plankton get a pet [[AllAnimalsAreDogs water bear/ameoba]] he names Spot to cheer himself up after yet another failed attempt to get a Krabby Patty at the suggestion of Spongebob. It shows him love and he loves it, and the episode ends with Spot rescuing Plankton from trouble and showering a happy Plankton with love

** WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck gets one in "Ducking The Devil", he spends the majority of the short frantically trying to lead the escaped Tasmanian Devil back to his zoo cell for a reward of $5000. He actually succeeds, and on top of that, when Taz swipes a dropped dollar, Daffy charges in to fight him for it ''and wins''. It should be noted this short was made long after Daffy had evolved into a pompous fall guy.

** Excluding ''WesternAnimation/WhatsOperaDoc'', [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone seeing he felt remorse in that one]], there have been only been two cartoons where Elmer Fudd won against WesternAnimation/BugsBunny (''WesternAnimation/HareBrush'', and ''WesternAnimation/RabbitRampage'') and two others (''WesternAnimation/FreshHare'' and ''WesternAnimation/BugsBonnets'') that ended in a draw.

*** An episode set 10 years into the future shows that Candance eventually uses all her busting experience to become a successful lawyer.

-->'''Daffy:''' I'm a coward, but I'm a ''greeeedy'' little coward!

--->'''Randall:''' *After Mikey has just given him a ten while he was depressed* But...how? Why?
--->'''Mikey:''' Because you're really good at being you!

-->'''Shauna''': If I make out with you, will you shut up?
-->'''Gil''': Ah, give it a shot.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' provides examples of this with Ollie. He is treated like the standard {{Mook}} but shriek rewards him by giving him a vibrating fork that was specifically designed to stimulate the pleasure center of the brain. The results are disturbing. He gently presses the fork to the side of his head and within seconds he begins moaning pleasurably. Shriek turns off his [[DisabilitySuperpower suit]] and is unable to hear as result, but seconds after, Ollie stumbles around and falls over. By the time shriek leaves the room Ollie's mouth is wide open [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything and he has a look of euphoric bliss on his face]].