Line #546 Main/DisappearedDad


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11	[[quoteright:280:[[ComicBook/XMen https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/disappeared_dad.png]]]]
12	[-[[caption-width-right:280:"Dad was always good at providing... {{Freudian Excuse}}s, [[TragicBackstory tragic backstories]], [[SingleIssuePsychology abandonment issues...]]"]]-]
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17	->''"What you taught me was that I was less important to you than people who had been dead for 500 years in another country. And I learned it so well that we've hardly spoken for 20 years."''
18	-->-- '''Franchise/IndianaJones''' to his father, ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade''
19
20	A subtrope of ParentalAbandonment: The father of a character or characters is missing or absent.
21
22	Perhaps he's dead, or maybe he was [[YouKilledMyFather murdered]]. Perhaps he's run out on them and there's bitterness involved. Perhaps he's off fighting evil. Or maybe it's psychological absence -- he's physically there, but is completely negligent in his fatherly duties. Regardless of what happened -- and regardless of whether or not the viewers find out what happened -- Mom seems to have raised her children on her own, or with the help of a father substitute.
23
24	There's a bit of a DoubleStandard in fiction regarding single parents. A Disappeared Dad is far less likely to have his absence explained than a MissingMom. When he's not in the picture, it's often taken for granted that he's either dead or a deadbeat and the story just keeps moving along with no thought to his whereabouts. But if he ''is'' alive, he is more likely to return and reconcile, or be a non-entity who sporadically appears just to remind the hero that Daddy doesn't care about them.[[note]]The flip side is that if both parents are absent, the character is ''far'' more likely to be obsessed with their lost father. Characters who have lost both parents often do not mention the lost mother at all, or she doesn't play nearly as large a role in the backstory.[[/note]] It is also possible for the Disappeared Dad to not know he's a dad at all. Unlike the Missing Mom, he doesn't actually have to be present during childbirth. The mother could very well be [[ChildByRape justified]] in keeping the father [[EvilParentsWantGoodKids out of the loop]]. When this type of Disappeared Dad is actually an established character, you get LukeYouAreMyFather.
25
26	Compare and contrast this with MissingMom. Combine the two, and you get ParentalAbandonment. Sometimes, though, DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou. If Dad is dead, we may see a HappierHomeMovie. If he is simply too busy to be with his child, it's WhenYouComingHomeDad. If he doesn't have a lot of time but is willing to spend money on gifts and trips for the kids, it's DisneylandDad. If he's wanted by the authorities, then he's a NotoriousParent. If he had some excuse to leave in the short term and then never returned, it's ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore. NoFathersAllowed is this on a societal level. See also TellMeAboutMyFather, SoProudOfYou, TurnOutLikeHisFather, GlorifiedSpermDonor, and AmbiguouslyAbsentParent. Contrast WellDoneSonGuy.
27
28	----
29	!!Example subpages:
30
31	[[index]]
32	* DisappearedDad/AnimeAndManga
33	* DisappearedDad/FanWorks
34	* {{DisappearedDad/Film}}
35	* {{DisappearedDad/Literature}}
36	* DisappearedDad/LiveActionTV
37	* {{DisappearedDad/Music}}
38	* DisappearedDad/VideoGames
39	* {{DisappearedDad/Webcomics}}
40	* DisappearedDad/WesternAnimation
41	[[/index]]
42
43	!!Other examples:
44	[[foldercontrol]]
45
46	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
47	* ''Animation/HappyHeroes'': When Doctor H. was a little kid, his father got kidnapped by aliens. It is revealed in [[spoiler:season 13 episode 39 that he got brought to Planet Qiyuan for experiments, but he later escaped and got stranded in the Star League, where he joined to gather information about the nuclear powers from the five planets to prevent any planets from ending up like Kalo's home planet did]].
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Comic Books]]
51	* ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight'': Shaman abandoned his daughter to learn magic. Technically, she kicked him out of her life (angry that he'd failed to save her mother/his wife as promised); but given she was maybe 12 at the time, most of the blame lies with him.
52	* ''ComicBook/{{Amulet}}'' has an extreme version: we actually see Emily's father die before our eyes, and his death is a large part of her current personality.
53	* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Dr. Bertram Garneau was a neurophysiologist who abandoned his wife and child to spend more time fighting for liberal causes. Even after his wife died from cancer, he left his daughter to fend for herself, occasionally sending money to support her.
54	* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
55	** Despite being a ParentalSubstitute to several characters, Batman doesn't actually meet his biological son, Damian Wayne, until he is about 10 years old. This is because Damian's mother Talia put a lot of effort into making sure Bruce had no idea the kid existed.
56	** ''ComicBook/Robin1993'': Tim Drake's biological father was always out of town on business or pursuing his hobby as an AdventurerArchaeologist giving Tim plenty of time to follow Batman & Robin before he ever approached them, train to become Robin, and work as Robin with his father none the wiser.
57	** It has been implied in several continuities that [[TheDon Carmine "The Roman" Falcone]] might be this to ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}.
58	* Vera's father in ''ComicBook/BePrepared'' divorced her mother a few years ago—recent enough that she has a toddler sister. He doesn't contact them or send money, and she hasn't seen him in several years. This results in her [[OpenMouthInsertFoot saying something hurtful]] later when she learns she has to stay at her [[SummerCampy Russian summer camp]] for two more weeks she didn't plan for and pleads with her StrugglingSingleMother to take her home--and when angry and upset, she yells that she can just go stay with her ''dad.'' Her mom gets a hurt, wounded look, and Vera immediately regrets what she said and meekly says she can endure two more weeks of camp.
59	* ''ComicBook/BlackMoonChronicles'': Wismerhill doesn't know who his father is, although he's later told that he was a dark elf prince. [[spoiler:He pulls an appearance in the end, though, to congratulate his son and to see his grandkids (among other things). It turns out that he is actually a Prince of Hell who has been playing a game of DivineChess with Lucifer, as he reveals Haazheel Thorn's [[HellOnEarth true plans for the world]] and how he has manipulated Wis.]]
60	* Though previous incarnations implied it, the latest retcon of ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'s backstory implicitly reveals this about his father.
61	* ''ComicBook/DisneyKingdoms'':
62	** In ''[[ComicBook/FigmentDisneyKingdoms Figment]]'', Blair Mercurial/The Dreamfinder is working to support his mother and siblings due to his father being absent for unknown reasons.
63	** ''Figment 2'' shows Capri Harmony living with her single mother Jess, but no information is given as to why her father is out of the picture.
64	* ''ComicBook/{{Elfquest}}'':
65	** Two-Edge's father was killed by his mother Winnowill.
66	** One-Eye's left lying in a coma for years after he's struck on the head by a human, before finally dying, leaving his son Scouter behind.
67	** Rayek fathered Venka with Kahvi, but then she told him the baby died and wasn't his. Until they meet years later, he doesn't know she exists.
68	** Skywise fathered Yun with a Go-Back woman during the orgy on the night before the Palace War and he didn't know about her for years.
69	* ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'': [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Elissa Megan 'Emp' Powers]] knows exactly what happened to her father. [[TheWoobie She watched him drop dead of a brain hemorrhage one fine morning while she was eating her favorite breakfast cereal]].
70	* ''ComicBook/{{Hound\|2014}}'': Cú Cullan leaves Eva pregnant to return to Erin after they carry on an affair for months. The only time he sees his son, [[spoiler:she sends the boy away to Erin to fight him and neither of them realises who the other is until the boy dies by the Gae Bolga.]]
71	* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': Bruce Banner had once realized that he himself became one, as two or more of his Hulk personas have made children under contrived situations; Bruce in one self-introspecting moment felt he should be responsible for them, awkwardly attempting to connect with his estranged children. It didn’t quite work as none of them felt a connection to Bruce Banner and he didn’t try to push things much further, just accepting it as one of the many things that never works out in his life.
72	* As with the ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Jem}} original cartoon]]'', the women in the IDW ''ComicBook/JemAndTheHologramsIDW'' comic recently lost their father. He left Jerrica a present though: A supercomputer who can turn into a hologram named Synergy [[spoiler:who is based somewhat on his deceased wife.]]
73	* ''ComicBook/JupitersLegacy'':
74	** Skyfox to Hutch. He was absent for most of Hutch's life, even when not in prison.
75	** Walter it turns out also has a daughter, Raikou, he never knew about from a one-time tryst.
76	* For many years, ComicBook/PlasticMan is this to his son, Luke. He doesn't man up until [[spoiler: he has some time to think during Obsidian Age after being shattered and left on the ocean floor for a few thousand years.]]
77	* In the original ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'', the former Guardian would leave his son to guard the island by his lonesome. This would really backfire on Knuckles, especially since his time as Guardian coincided with Robotnik's rise to power. And let's not get into all of the Disappeared Dads caused by Robotnik and Eggman.
78	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' became a crime fighter after his uncle Ben, who acted as a father, was killed by a burglar.
79	* ''ComicBook/StarWarsTales'': One tale has Boba Fett revealed as having had a wife and child whom he was separated from in the past. This was later [[Literature/LegacyOfTheForce expanded upon]], showing that he was exiled for murdering his wife's rapist and their marriage then fell apart, with Fett estranged from her along with their daughter (who hated him). Fett later revealed he'd always felt guilty for abandoning his daughter, and tried to make up for it by bonding with his granddaughter (after his daughter died).
80	* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
81	** Since [[ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber1 his first story]] until the 1986 reboot, Superman's birth father died when Kal-El was a baby/toddler, and his adoptive father Jonathan Kent died of disease when Clark Kent was a teenager.
82	** In most of [[ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton1959 her]] [[ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton2004 origin]] [[ComicBook/LastDaughterOfKrypton stories]], ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'s father Zor-El dies shortly after sending his daughter to Earth where she becomes a superhero.
83	** In ''[[http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com.es/2013/12/back-issue-holiday-box-dcu-infinite.html DCU Infinite Holiday Special issue #1]]'', Kara has to reunite a little girl with her absent father. It turns out that the man is a jerkass drunk who refuses to be around his daughter because he doesn't want her to realize her father is a screw-up. Supergirl convinces him maybe he can get his act together and be a good dad, if he stops trying to run away.
84	** In ''ComicBook/TheUntoldStoryOfArgoCity'', Dar-Lin's father Zan-Tor disappeared three years before the beginning of the story while exploring the caves of Kandor together with his wife.
85	** ''ComicBook/TheGirlWithTheXRayMind'': Jules Luthor died in a road accident when his daughter Lena was a little girl. Lena does not even remember his name.
86	* In ''ComicBook/{{Violine}}'', this drives much of the early plot. Later, [[spoiler:this also applies to her mother]].
87	* ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}'' starts with Wesley Gibson discovering his disappeared father was a recently killed assassin. [[spoiler:In the movie, the one who had supposedly killed him is Wesley's actual father.]]
88	* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
89	** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': It is all but outright said that Ursula Keating's "aunt" Abigail that raised her is actually her mother, making her father Abigail's long since runaway fiance John Hunter.
90	** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Cassie]] has been given conflicting information as to whether or not her father is alive over the years, and doesn't even meet him until she's already in high school. He's Zeus, so the fact that he was waffling on whether to meet or acknowledge her and goes against her mother's wishes the first time he encounters her while maintaining his lie to Cassie by claiming not to be her father for years afterwards is par for the course.
91	* ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'': Teddy never knew his father. Cassie's was murdered.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
95	* In ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'', the title character's father, who never appears in the comic, has been living in an all-you-can-eat restaurant in the mall since Christmas 1992; he won't leave until he's literally had all he can eat. When Dilbert's girlfriend Liz expresses astonishment that neither he nor his mother have so much as visited him in all this time, Dilbert replies, "We're waiting for a sale." The joke is recycled for the [[WesternAnimation/{{Dilbert}} animated series]], where the father, still living in the restaurant (since [[ExaggeratedTrope 1979]] in this version), does appear, but [[TheFaceless his face isn't shown]].
96	* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'':
97	** Garfield's mother appeared in a few strips early on, and has been referenced many times. His father has never received so much as a mention.[[note]]Of course, it's pretty realistic, as male cats take no part in caring for kittens-they just mate and leave. So his identity would most likely be unknown. Females also generally mate with multiple males. Then again, Garfield is hardly strictly "realist" in regards to cats.[[/note]]
98	** Also, Jon's cousin Judy appears to be a single mother to Tammy and Stevie.
99	* In the Maybonne/Marlys storylines by Creator/LyndaBarry, the family's father isn't around due to his alcoholism making him a bad father/partner. When he temporarily sobers up, his kids get to meet him, but he leaves soon after.
100	* ''ComicStrip/HeartOfTheCity'': Heart's father left right after she was born to pursue a career in acting.
101	* ''ComicStrip/ForBetterOrForWorse'': Lawrence's father wasn't shown in the comics for most of its run. At first readers likely assumed he was his mom's ex-husband Pete. It turned out this wasn't true however. His father came from Brazil, but went back there before he was born. Much later, this was expanded on. Lawrence revealed that he tracked his father down on finding out he was visiting the US, and they finally met. It turned out his parents had been in a very brief relationship when they both worked at a medical relief mission in Central America. While his parents had planned after this to meet up in Canada, his father never arrived. Lawrence learned he had two half-brothers from a later marriage his father had. Lawrence's father apologized for never contacting him or his mother, and it seemed they were going to build a relationship. However, he was not shown again or mentioned.
102	[[/folder]]
103
104	[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
105	* "Literature/{{Cinderella}}": Depending on the version, Cinderella's father dies or leaves.
106	* In "Literature/MotherHolle", the main character's father dies, leaving her in the care of her abusive stepmother who (mis)treats her as a maid.
107	* In Creator/AsbjornsenAndMoe's "Literature/TheOldDameAndHerHen", the three sisters' father passed some time before the beginning of the story.
108	* In "Literature/SnowWhiteAndRoseRed", the girls' mother is introduced as a widow, but it is not mentioned how their father died.
109	* "Literature/{{Tattercoats}}": It is not revealed what happened to the main character's father, but her only living relative is her abusive grandfather.
110	* Creator/FranzXaverVonSchonwerth's "Literature/TheTurnipPrincess": The main character's father has been missing since the prince was born.
111	-->The King had gone out hunting the day the prince was born and never returned. It was as if he'd vanished into thin air or been turned into a wild beast in the forest.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Podcasts]]
115	* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'' has [[spoiler: Merle, who walked out on an unhappy arranged marriage and at least one child that he hardly ever sees. His relationship with his son and stepdaughter is friendly, or at least civil, and Merle's trying to make amends now.]]
116	* The advice podcast ''PodCast/IfIWereYou'' features one email from a young teen whose father was never around to teach him to shave. In the letter, he asked if he should wait until his father decided to make more time for him, or just "Website/YouTube that shit" (that is, look up an online tutorial).
117	* The bonus comics for ''Podcast/{{Sequinox}}'' that GM Shannon drew reveal that Ethan's parents are divorced and he lives with his mom. Judging by Shannon's bonus comics, it was not very amicable. [[spoiler: Judging by his appearance in episode 11 (which is in another dimension, but based on the main reality), he is rather abusive and willing to exploit his son to torment Caroline]].
118	[[/folder]]
119
120	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
121	* Invoked by Brian Pillman Jr.[[note]]not actually a "Jr."; see later note[[/note]] in the video in which he announced his impending arrival in Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} as Lexis King. He pointed out that he was only 4 years old when his father, the legendary Wrestling/BrianPillman,[[note]]middle name William; the son's middle name is Zachary[[/note]] died.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
125	* Based on the evidence available, certainly true for Treelo on ''Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse'', and almost certainly true for all of the other main kid characters on the show (save Ojo, who, according to WordOfSaintPaul from Bear's performer Noel [=MacNeal=], is raised by a single mother who lets her hang out at Bear's house when she's not home as a form of free babysitting). Bear seems to be raising them all and in one episode remembers taking care of Treelo when he was a baby. It is never, ever talked about, though.
126	* ''Series/SesameStreet'': The special "When Families Grieve" shows Elmo's whole family dealing with the death of his Uncle Jack, but in particular highlights Jack's daughter Jesse dealing with the loss of her dad.
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Roleplay]]
130	* ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'':
131	** Zia's father committed suicide prior to the events of the story, which left her with some long-running mental trauma.
132	** Finn's father was the previous Mayor of Oldport until it was discovered that he was embezzling city funds. He has since been arrested, with Finn all but disowning him.
133	** All that's mentioned about Benjy's father is that his mother offered him a way to skip out of town after she became pregnant with their child.
134	** Nothing has been said about Emmanuel's father, besides an offhand mention in Emmanuel's biography that his mother is divorced.
135	** Jessica was the result of a string of one-night stands during a dark period in her mother's life. As a result, the true identity of her father is unknown to her.
136	* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', Omaroch vanished from the lives of his sons Refan and Kareth but later returned to guide them. It turns out he was kidnapped by his brothers who then tortured and brainwashed him to serve the dark god Mardük, and he returned only to use the sons for fulfilling an ancient prophecy about Mardük. He eventually snaps out of it, but by that time it's too late; the damage has already been done, and he has not only lost the trust of his sons but also indirectly causes the Cataclysm and the birth of the Godslayer.
137	[[/folder]]
138
139	[[folder:Theatre]]
140	* ''Theatre/{{Anastasia}}'':
141	** When regaling his childhood to Anya, Dmitry mentions that his father was exiled to Siberia for being an anarchist when he was a child, and Dmitry hasn't seen him since. Since his mother was already dead, this effectively [[ParentalAbandonment orphaned Dmitry]].
142	** Anya [[spoiler: turns out to be the [[DidAnastasiaSurvive Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov]], so her father Tsar Nicholas II along with her mother, sisters, and brother [[RomanovsAndRevolutions died at the hands of the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg]]]].
143	* In ''Theatre/AnythingGoes'', [[SpoiledSweet heiress]] [[TheIngenue Hope Harcourt]] is traveling aboard the ''S.S. American'' with her mother. Her father was mentioned to have been DrivenToSuicide after the stock market crash in 1929.
144	-> '''Elisha Whitney:''' You know, if it's any consolation, I was just coming out of the Stock Exchange when he took off from that ledge. He jumped like a Yale man.
145	* In ''Theatre/{{Carousel}}'', Billy Bigelow [[spoiler: was DrivenToSuicide after seemingly being UnableToSupportAWife and their unborn child. Later in the story, we see the consequences of Billy's suicide and reputation as a domestic abuser when the town ostracizes his daughter Louise for SinsOfTheFather]].
146	* In ''Theatre/{{Chess}}'', Florence's missing father, who may or may not have been killed by [[UsefulNotes/RedArmy the Soviets]] in the 1956 Budapest Revolution, is brought up many times, in most versions eventually becoming a an important part of the plot when it's revealed that he may, in fact, be alive in a prison in Russia... but Florence will have to give up her Soviet defector boyfriend if she wants him released. (Meanwhile, her mother is rarely mentioned.)
147	* In ''Theatre/AChorusLine'', Maggie's father left the family sometime after her birth when he became unable to raise her.
148	* In ''Theatre/DearEvanHansen'', Evan's father abandoned the family sometime before the start of the story.
149	* In ''Theatre/{{Fangirls}}'', Edna is being raised by her StrugglingSingleMother Catherine. Her father is never mentioned, and it is obvious that he has never had a role in his daughter's life.
150	* In ''Theatre/TheGlassMenagerie'', Mr. Wingfield abandoned his wife and children long ago [[spoiler: and son Tom is likely to follow in his footsteps]].
151	* In ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' by Creator/WilliamShakespeare, Hamlet's father was murdered by his [[SpareToTheThrone uncle Claudius]] as a power grab for the throne of Denmark (complete with marriage to the now-widowed Queen Gertrude to add insult to injury). Hamlet learns of this when his father's ghost appears to him in the first scene.
152	* ''Theatre/IAndYou'': Caroline's parents are separating due to the stress her illness put on their marriage, and she hasn't seen or heard from her dad in months. She's fairly bitter about it, though mostly because she can see how much her mom misses him.
153	* Just like many characters have a MissingMom in ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'', active fathers are scarce as well:
154	** The Baker's father deserted him after stealing beans for his wife from their neighbor The Witch's garden forced the couple to hand over their newborn daughter to her, and his wife dying from guilt and grief shortly after. [[spoiler: However, it is revealed in Act Two that he has been watching over The Baker under the guise of [[MysteriousParent The Mysterious Man]], and convinces The Baker not to abandon his son like his father did to him after The Baker's Wife dies]].
155	** Cinderella's father is emotionally absent and neglectful, allowing the WickedStepmother and stepsisters to abuse Cinderella, and even rebuking Cinderella when she says goodbye to him as he leaves the house.
156	** Jack's father is only mentioned in passing by his mother in the opening number with the line "your father's not back".
157	** Little Red's mother and grandmother are around [[spoiler: until they get killed by a rampaging giant]], but her father and grandfather are never seen nor mentioned.
158	** The Witch has a mother (mentioned as the reason why The Witch was cursed to be ugly after failing to protect the magic beans), but no father is spoken of.
159	* In the musical version of ''Theatre/LesMiserables'', we are told that Cosette's father abandoned her and her mother when she was very young, although without most of the detail that's in the original novel.
160	* In ''Theatre/TheMusicMan'', Marian and Winthrop Paroo's father died sometime before the start of the story.
161	* In William Inge's ''Theatre/{{Picnic}}'' (as well as in the 1955 film adaptation), the father of the Owens family has long since abandoned them.
162	* Elphaba's biological father in ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'' is [[spoiler:the Wizard]], who ran off after a one night stand with her mother.
163	[[/folder]]
164
165	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
166	* Because of the strong female influence on the Fey clan in the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' games, the fathers of prominent characters, sisters Mia and Maya and their cousin Pearl, are never mentioned, and explained to have either died or left the family for financial or personal reasons. The clan itself has an abnormally high divorce rate, and seeing all these divorces is why Pearl [[ShipperOnDeck wants Maya and Phoenix to get together.]]
167	** This also seems to be the case with the ''Apollo Justice'' game on [[spoiler: Apollo himself]] after [[spoiler: Lamiroir is revealed to be his birth mother, with only a passing mention that his father died in an accident a long time ago]].
168	** In ''Investigations'', Lauren Paups's father left before she was old enough to even remember his face, [[spoiler: which is why she never noticed that the butler Oliver Deacon actually was her father. He was in hiding from the law and thus couldn't reveal his identity to her.]]
169	** It's unclear whether her mother is alive or not due to her vague mention of going to live with her 'mother's family', but [[spoiler: Kay Faraday's father dies very dramatically when she's ten. A young Edgeworth solves the case but the killer isn't brought into custody until seven years after the murder.]]
170	** The entire plot of Case 1-4 centers around the death of Edgeworth's father, and how he was affected by it.
171	* In ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', during Chiaki Nanami's Free Time Events she mentions her father in the past tense, making Hajime wonder if he died. [[spoiler:It turns out Chiaki's "father" is Chihiro Fujisaki, the Ultimate Programmer who died back in ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc''; Chiaki is an ArtificialIntelligence that he created, based on the real Chiaki who [[DeadAllAlong was killed by Junko Enoshima before the events of the game]]. We have no clue on what happened to the actual Mr. Nanami, but with [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Tragedy]], his chances of survival are slim.]]
172	* In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', Amy’s father doesn’t appear; only her mother does. However, this may just be due to the limited time that her home life is shown (Amy’s mom isn’t even revealed until the final episode).
173	* ''[[VisualNovel/{{Ever17}} Ever 17: The Out of Infinity]]:'' You's father was a researcher at Leiblich Pharmaceutical, and disappeared under mysterious circumstances a year after You was born.
174	** [[spoiler:Rare protagonist example: Takeshi becomes one to Hokuto and Sara, though in his case, at least he had [[HeroicSacrifice his]] [[HumanPopsicle reasons]] (not to mention he didn't know they existed.]]
175	* Emiya Kiritsugu in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' for Shirou [[spoiler:and also Ilya]]. Tohsaka's father, Tokiomi, died in the [[Literature/FateZero last holy grail war]], [[spoiler: at the hands of Kotomine Kirei]]. Both are fairly important due to their absence, the former more so than the latter.
176	* Kyle briefly explains to Louie during ''VisualNovel/HotelDuskRoom215'' that his dad was a safe cracker who got himself killed during his OneLastJob. The sequel, ''VisualNovel/LastWindow'', is about Kyle learning more about his dad and why he died.
177	* In ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'':
178	** We have [[spoiler: Emi Ibarazaki]]'s father. [[spoiler: He died eight years ago, either in the same accident where Emi lost her legs, or few days afterwards. His death mentally scarred Emi a LOT, but she [[StepfordSmiler hides it]].]]
179	** [[spoiler: Lilly Satou]]'s father lives abroads, [[ParentalAbandonment and so does her mother.]] [[spoiler: Lilly's sister Akira [[PromotionToParent pretty much raised her]], and she's not exactly happy about it; she loves Lilly very much but clearly knows that she cannot replace their parents.]]
180	** [[spoiler: Hanako Ikezawa]]'s father [[spoiler: died in the fire that left her scarred and fully orphaned.]]
181	* In ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}'', the title character's father left her as a baby, and Melody doesn’t seem to have any sort of feelings about him, positive or negative.
182	* ''VisualNovel/MinotaurHotel'': Storm never met his dad, although Storm is pretty certain that he was human, which P doubts.
183	* This is a running theme in the ''VisualNovel/ParascientificEscape'' series. Hitomi in the first game has this ''twice'' over--she never knew her biological father, and her [[HappilyAdopted beloved adoptive father]] is deceased. Kyosuke in the second game is in a similar boat, as he was an orphan who also tragically lost his adoptive father.
184	* In ''VisualNovel/ScandalInTheSpotlight'', [[spoiler:Kyohei Rikudoh]]'s father Hiromi was a famous pop star, but died at the age of 27, in the height of his fame, rescuing his then five-year-old son from drowning. [[spoiler:Kyohei]] blames himself and is determined to surpass his father's success as a way of making up for cutting his life and career so short.
185	* In ''VisualNovel/ShiningSongStarnova'', Julie’s father left her mother for another woman when Julie first entered high school.
186	* In ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG'', Akira's mother raised him until she passed away, and he never knew who his father was. This becomes relevant when Rosé speculates that he has latent spiritual powers passed down by blood, and questions whether his father could've had the same powers. [[spoiler:She turns out to be correct.]]
187	* In ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', Kiri Nanaya is this to [[spoiler:Shiki Tohno]]. He was killed by [[WorldsStrongestMan Kishima Kouma]], along with the entire rest of the Nanaya clan aside from his six-year-old son, who was forced to watch[[note]]Although mercifully spared watching Kiri himself die[[/note]]. [[EnemyWithin Shiki]] [[EnemyWithout Nanaya]], who doesn't have the LaserGuidedAmnesia that his other self has, is understandably a little bit bitter.
188	** Makihisa Tohno also became this shortly before the Visual Novel begins. Nobody really cared too much.
189	* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'':
190	** Maria's father is nowhere to be seen, having left her mother Rosa before she was born; Rosa claims that he's on a "business trip." Later on, she makes comments about Maria that seem to imply that she was [[HeroicBastard born out of wedlock]]. In [=EP7=] it's revealed that since Rosa violently denied her father's existence every time Maria asked about him, she eventually became convinced that ''God'' was her father and she was conceived the same way UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} was.
191	** To a degree, all the dads become this when they get killed off in different continuities.
192	[[/folder]]
193
194	[[folder:Web Animation]]
195	* ''WebAnimation/{{Anon\|Machinima}}'': Dani's father has never appeared on screen, but it's implied that he lives in a trailer and is outright stated the only time they talk is on her birthday.
196	* Implied in one skit in the ninth ''WebAnimation/{{asdfmovie}}'':
197	--> '''Guy 1:''' Hey, wanna see an impression of my dad?\
198	'''Guy 2:''' Sure!\
199	''(the first guy disappears)''
200	* A RunningGag in ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'' has Boomstick occasionally bring up his absent father, who's whereabouts are currently unknown. The ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' {{crossover}} episode seems to hint that his father is [[spoiler:Sarge, who opted to join the army for the express purpose of getting away from Boomstick, whom he never wanted at all]]. Season 8 of the show has an arc centered around Boomstick trying to locate his dad, with it finally culminating in the series' 150th episode, "[[Wrestling/RandySavage Macho Man]] VS Kool-Aid Man", which [[spoiler:definitively confirms that Sarge is indeed Boomstick's missing father]].
201	* The De Noir family's only son has one in ''WebAnimation/DusksDawn''. It turns out he's an evil sorcerer.
202	* ''WebAnimation/ETUAnimatedStories'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqWFiiT2U7s Angelina]]'s father left her and her mother for another woman. She later came to work at his company to get revenge on him.
203	* A few examples in ''WebAnimation/FreezeFlame'''s series:
204	** ''WebAnimation/{{Carl}}'':
205	*** Carl never met his biological father, as he abandoned his mother before he was born. In the first few seasons, Carl would often imaginate a shadow image of himself dubbed "Carl Sr." who would often try to boost up Carl's confidence and give him advice whenever he needed it. As the series went on, [[CharacterDevelopment Carl has become more confident in himself and thus doesn't need "Carl Sr."]] anymore. The remastered episodes of the first three seasons [[{{Retcon}} completely ommit "Carl Sr." however]].
206	*** Blooper's father was eaten alive by a shark when he was a child.
207	** ''WebAnimation/BowsersKoopalings'':
208	*** Morton is the only one of the Koopalings who still has living biological relatives. Unfortunately, Morton's father abandoned him. ''Twice''.
209	** ''WebAnimation/WarsOfFrozenFlames'':
210	*** Lady Jane Phoenix's son, James Solberg, never met his father because he died after he fell from his mustie while drunk before he was born. This supposes a problem, as Jane will have to remarry in order to be able to financially support herself, but she will be separated from her son when she does so because the law of the time (the year 1475) states that when a woman's husband dies and she remarries, her child will become a ward for someone in the crown. Jane refuses to give James to either her uncle Sigmund or her cousin Blayne [[{{Jerkass}} because they are unpleasant and self-centered]] and she's afraid that they will do something bad to him. Fortunately, Jane's brother-in-law Rodrick offers to take James in as his ward and make sure nothing bad happens to him.
211	* ''WebAnimation/MangaWaido'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huGfK40uVOE Yuuto]] was abandoned by his father because he couldn't accept the fact that Yuuto was dylexic. Yuuto eventually became a successful gamer and his father tried to recruit him for his new online game business, but Yuuto rejects his proposal which led to his business failing.
212	* ''WebAnimation/RevengeFilms'': In the episode "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEDrMR_RW1M I went to my boyfriend's parent's home. Guess who was waiting for me]]," Sarah's father left her mom and left his debts to her after leaving. However, she finds out [[SurpriseIncest he remarried her boyfriend's mother, making them half-siblings]].
213	* ''WebAnimation/SpookyMonth'': Family photos in Skid's house have his father either missing or his picture torn off, and neither Skid nor Lila seem to care or be affected by it despite the troubled implications. If the occult robes and summoning artifacts are any indication, there'd be a chance Skid's family having ties to the occult had something to do with it.
214	* In ''WebAnimation/XRayAndVav'', X-Ray mentions that not knowing his father was one of the two things he would die with (the other was being a virgin).
215	[[/folder]]
216
217	[[folder:Web Original]]
218	* Dr. James Melfton of ''Literature/LightningDust'' is the neglectful variation to his son Klaus.
219	* [[spoiler:Ibrahim Abacar]] was this to Ujjal Singh, in ''Literature/MaleRising''.
220	* ''WebOriginal/ObscuredEyes'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vow7s8Wved4 This edit]] reveals that Catherine's, Chester's, and Sophia's father left them, and the family starved as a result.
221	* Will Scarlett in ''Literature/SherwoodForest'' tells Shaima that he was raised by Robin and Marian; if his biological parents are still alive, it hasn't been mentioned. So you can imagine how well it went over when his only father figure took off to fight in a Crusade for two years, leaving Will to fend for himself after Marian was kidnapped.
222	[[/folder]]
223
224	[[folder:Web Videos]]
225	* ''{{WebVideo/AFK}}'': Brendon's dad "went on a fishing trip" and never came back, leaving him with his mom. Q's partner left her with their daughter after she caught him cheating. [[spoiler: Possibly it's the other way, because her true gender is unclear.]]
226	* Two versions in ''WebVideo/DemoReel'', as Tacoma's dad is in jail, and Donnie's dad left when he was little. Both turn out fairly dark, as the former was exposed by ''Tacoma'', making his family hate him, and the latter leaving was partly the catalyst for Donnie's mom to commit suicide.
227	* While what actually went on is unclear, WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic still lives with his abusive mother. His Dad, who Critic still appears to have scary memories of, is implied to have left the family a while ago and it's also likely that he died before the ''Film/{{Alaska}}'' review. (This is all in-character, of course, Doug's parents are lovely and helpful.)
228	** He mocks this trope in his review of ''Film/AWrinkleInTime2018'' after [[spoiler:Meg's father disappears]].
229	-->'''Critic:''' One gone dad later...
230	* ''{{WebVideo/Grimbeard}}'': Disappeared dads are a common running joke on Grimbeard's reviews.
231	* Parodied in WebVideo/CalebCity's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrMhIQGhDNw Whenever theres ACTUALLY a good dad in ANY show/movie.]], where the loving and supportive dad pretends to be murdered in a SecretTestOfCharacter for the son, in order to ensure that he still has a successor for his farm in case he dies. However, after the dad reveals this to the son, he still proceeds to support the son's dreams of becoming an astronaut. [[spoiler:The dad then promptly gets struck by lightning.]]
232	-->'''Video description:''' I call it every time.
233	[[/folder]]
234

Context Main / DisappearedDad