Line #83 Main/SavedByCanon


1	->'''Yoda:''' Kill you, I cannot! But kill me, YOU cannot!\
2	'''Emperor Palpatine:''' Because we are equally-matched opponents on opposite sides of the same almighty Force?\
3	'''Yoda:''' No, because already released have the sequels to this movie been! And in them we ''both'' appear! Problem this is with prequels - no suspense can there be when already we know which characters live!
4	-->-- ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' Magazine's parody of ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''
5
6	In that last movie you watched, or the last game you played, there're maybe some epic and great battles between two or more characters fighting to the death and one of them seems to be on their last leg, or maybe one of them seems to about to die by being poisoned by something, or maybe they're about to fall of a cliff and hit the ground below, or maybe they're about to crash in the middle of a carchase. Whatever the case, you know that they'll survive because if they died, the fictional works that take place chronologically after it wouldn't be able to exist in the first place.
7
8	This trope usually exists in {{Prequel}}s and {{Interquel}}s, due to them being set earlier in the story's chronology. Fittingly, characters from the original work usually appear as their younger ages, and like the new characters, they usually are forced to fight deadly battles against the enemy; many of those battles are as nasty and brutal as they come, and many of them seem to result with the old characters dying and the villain laughing their ass off in triumph. But you know that however convincing these scenes may be, their ultimate outcome is predestined by the original stories that preceded them -- or you may be looking at a CanonDiscontinuity.
9
10	Compare DoomedByCanon, the grim counterpart in which the fate of a prequel character is death (or at least being PutOnABus) because the original works established them posthumously (or not at all). Compare InterfaceSpoiler, and PlotArmor (the supertrope).
11
12	Common in HistoricalFiction. If something features a historical figure [[YoungFutureFamousPeople in their youth]], you don't have to worry that they'll die (unless it is an AlternateHistory story where they might be killed off).
13
14	----
15	!!Examples:
16	[[foldercontrol]]
17
18	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
19	* Because ''Anime/CyberpunkEdgerunners'' is a prequel to ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'', many of the characters introduced in the series are DoomedByCanon... with the exception of [[spoiler:Falco, who survives his encounter against Adam Smasher and, in the game proper, contacts V in order to give them David's shirt as a present. Similarly, since Smasher is the FinalBoss of 2077 he is guaranteed to survive the events of the series.]]
20	* The DistantFinale of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' shows the Digidestined living successful lives, still being with their Digimon, and having families of their own 25 years later. This means that they were guaranteed to survive ''Anime/DigimonAdventureTri'', ''Anime/DigimonAdventureLastEvolutionKizuna'', and ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02TheBeginning'' in spite of the danger they faced and any separation they experience with their Digimon partners won't be permanent.
21	* ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' takes place during the TimeSkip between the defeat of Majin Buu in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' and the DistantFinale ten years later. As such, any characters that die in ''Super'' but appear at the end of ''Z'' are guaranteed to be resurrected, including [[spoiler:Piccolo and Goku]]; as well as any sort of world-ending threat being guarenteed to be solved without destroying the Earth or if it does, it gets rebuilt.
22	* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
23	** Mavis Vermillion, Precht Gaebolg, Zeref Dragneel and Warrod Sequen will survive the events of ''Manga/FairyTailZero'', since it takes place a century before ''Fairy Tail''.
24	** The ''Manga/FairyTailIceTrail'' spinoff ensures that Gray Fullbuster, Juvia Lockser, Cana Alberona and Gildarts Clive will end up alive and well in the main series.
25	* {{Subverted}} in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion.'' During the flashback episode, we meet a younger version of Rei... who is then murdered, setting up the reveal that [[spoiler:"Rei" is a series of clones]].
26	* ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'':
27	** ''The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms'' is set before and during the [[VideoGame/SakuraWars1996 original game]], so Ayame Fujieda, Aoi Satan and the Hive of Darkness will survive the events of the OVA.
28	** In the first episode of ''The Radiant Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms'', we know that Ayame will also survive the events of the first episode since it also takes place during the first game.
29	** The ''École de Paris'' OVA, which is set during the first half of ''[[VideoGame/SakuraWars3IsParisBurning Is Paris Burning?]]'', ensures that Salu is going to end up alive and well.
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Comic Books]]
33	* Any tale of ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'s past will have the same prepared answer to the question of whether Wolvie's going to make it.
34	* Similar to the Wolverine example, ''ComicBook/MagnetoTestament'' ensures us that Magneto will survive the events of World War II.
35	* Subverted by the ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' comic, which killed off [[spoiler:the Seventh Doctor's companion Ace]], despite the character living to a much older age in the [[Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures novel range]] and in several of the magazine's own earlier comics that tied in to the novels.
36	* It's a simple matter of fact that the characters in ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'' aren't in any real danger, given the supplementary nature of the comic.
37	* The ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' spin-off comics[[note]]''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderThePromise The Promise]]'', ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSearch The Search]]'', ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheRift The Rift]]'', ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderSmokeAndShadow Smoke and Shadow]]'' and ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderNorthAndSouth North and South]]''[[/note]] are {{Interquel}}s set between [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender the original cartoon]] and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''. Thus we already know that Katara, Zuko and Toph from the original Team Avatar will survive, and there won't be another major war. And while Aang and Sokka are dead in the SequelSeries, we know Aang can't die until shortly before Korra's born (about fifty years from the comics' setting), while Sokka survives at least until she's a toddler.
38	* ''Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos'' set during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII became less suspenseful after the ''Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' series which was published a few years later had shown Fury, Dum Dum Dugan and most of the Howlers had survived the war.
39	* PlayedForLaughs in ''Comicbook/{{PS238}}''--[[MuggleBornOfMages Tyler]] experiences a series of {{Pensieve Flashback}}s about Principal Cranston's life [[spoiler:back when he was President]], and is annoyed when one cuts off right as he was about to get shot.
40	-->'''Tyler:''' ''Aw, come on!'' I sat through the ''boring'' stuff! I ''know'' he doesn't get ''shot'' or he wouldn't be a principal now! (BeatPanel) Unless...they made a ''robot'' that ''looks'' like him...[[note]]Given that Tyler knows two [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot androids]], one of whom is on the school's staff, this isn't that far-fetched.[[/note]]
41	* Despite having literally ''hundreds'' of comics telling adventures of his time as a young wanderer, Conan the Barbarian's comics, by virtue of being part of the ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' franchise, ''need'' to line up with the rest of the franchise. Namely, no matter what trouble young Conan gets into, he has to survive and live long enough to become King Conan of Aquilona, as established in the very first ''Conan'' story, ''The Phoenix on the Sword''.
42	* Since ''ComicBook/JohnWick'' is a prequel to the [[Film/JohnWick first film]], we know that John and Charon, as well as any other movie characters, will make it out relatively unscathed, anyone else though is [[AnyoneCanDie fair game.]]
43	* The ''[[ComicBook/Transformers84 Transformers: Secrets & Lies]]'' miniseries ends with the Dinobots deactivated and the ending narration implies that their leader Grimlock isn't coming back, but the fact that the comic is a prequel to the [[ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel Marvel Comics continuity]] makes it clear that the Dinobots are destined to eventually be uncovered and revived by Ratchet.
44	* PlayedForLaughs in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' #141. The Off-Panel strip has Knuckles think he has this due to being in the "Mobius 25 Years Later" storyline until editor Mike points out it could end up being "an imaginary tale from a dream sequence set in a parallel universe of another dimension". Knuckles suddenly finds himself very concerned after that.
45	** For a more straight example, ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'' cannot kill off any characters that originate from the games, in part due to its supplementary status.
46	* ''ComicBook/AdventuresOfSupermanJonKent'' had a storyline where Jon Kent went to the Franchise/{{Injustice}} universe during the time frame leading up to ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs''. Therefore, Injustice Superman's regime cannot be stopped yet, since it is still in power at the start of the game.
47	* ''ComicBook/{{Figment\|DisneyKingdoms}}'': Both the first and second series act as a prequel to the original version of ''Ride/JourneyIntoImagination'' so Dreamfinder and Figment have to overcome the antagonists of each series and survive.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Fan Works]]
51	* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': "The Survivor" may [[DownerEnding end with one hell of a downer]] given that Mittens is left off unhappy and abandoned in Manhattan -- but it's stated to take place before the movie, meaning the cat will survive to meet Bolt and Rhino, finding a better life with them and Penny.
52	* {{Discussed}} In-Universe in the ''Fanfic/{{Dangerverse}}''. Early in the fourth book (of five) Draco Black receives a vision showing, among other things, his own grave with the date he will die on it. He wonders later on if, since he knows that he will die on that ''specific'' date, whether that means he could jump off the Astronomy tower and land safely at the bottom since it's not yet time for him to die.
53	* Multiple times in the ''Fanfic/LoyaltyToLuke'' series, Luke attempts suicide. Since this is a prequel to ''WesternAnimation/BlueMountainMystery'', none of them succeed, or else canon won't be able to happen.
54	* Just about the only thing that takes the edge off of the terrifying and heartbreaking ending of ''Fanfic/TheVerySecretDiary'' is knowing that, as ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'' shows us, Harry will defeat Tom shortly after the story ends, and Ginny will be just fine.
55	* Three of the ''Fanfic/RubyAndNora'' stories; ''Pyrrha's Past'', ''Kuroyuri'', and ''STRQ'' happen to be flashbacks involving certain characters, dictating that such characters will survive. For the first, Pyrrha is guaranteed to survive since she's the one telling the story. For the second, we know Nora and Ren will be okay since Nora is still alive at this point in the series, [[spoiler: and Ren dies in ''Field Trip'', which is years after the events of ''Kuroyuri'']]. For the third, Qrow, Raven, and [[spoiler: Summer]] are going to live, although we also know [[spoiler: Taiyang]] [[DoomedByCanon won't]].
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Films — Animation]]
59	* In ''WesternAnimation/BambiII'', it looks like Bambi has been killed when he fell of the cliff after the dogchase, but you already knew he survived since the first movie has him grow up to an adult. Still a [[TearJerker pretty effective scene though]].
60	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham'' is an interquel, so as they played roles in later chronological installments in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'', the Joker, Harley Quinn, the Riddler, and Two-Face were sure to survive.
61	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaidArielsBeginning'' gives Ariel a DisneyDeath. Since it's a prequel, it's a given that she's not dead.
62	* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch2StitchHasAGlitch'' has Stitch appear to die, but given that it takes place before ''WesternAnimation/StitchTheMovie'' and ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'', the latter of which was still airing episodes at the time of the film's release, it was clear that the death wouldn't stick.
63	* Since ''WesternAnimation/{{Minions}}'' is a prequel to ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1'', we know that the Minions will survive many near death experiences [[spoiler: and eventually find Gru as their boss. Sure enough, he shows up- as a child, no less- at the end of the film]].
64	** In the sequel ''WesternAnimation/MinionsTheRiseOfGru'', it’s likewise obvious that Gru will survive all of the dangerous encounters in the film.
65	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie'' is meant to be an OriginsEpisode for the girls, showing when they were first created as well as [[BigBad Mojo Jojo's]] start of villainy. As a result, we know that the girls will survive, defeat (but not kill) Mojo Jojo, and go on to become Townsville's resident superheroes.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
69	* Since ''Film/CaptainMarvel2019'' is a prequel, Fury, Coulson, Ronan, and Korath (who all appear in chronologically later movies) all have to survive the events of it.
70	* Since the ''Film/FantasticBeasts'' series is a prequel to ''Literature/HarryPotter'', there are several characters who have to survive. From the first film, [[spoiler:Porpentina Goldstein and Newt Scamander]] given that they go on to get married, have at least a baby - and a grandson, Rolf, who will go on to marry none other than Luna Lovegood - and retire in 1979 with three Kneazels (not to mention that the canonical publication date for [[spoiler: Newt's ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' is one year after the film takes place]]). They are both still alive as of 2017. [[spoiler: Dumbledore, Grindlewald, and Nagini]], who don't play an important role until the second film, all have to survive as well since they all live another seventy-odd years and die in the original book series. The third film also introduces at least one character who will have to survive, [[spoiler:Aberforth Dumbledore]], who manages to survive the books as well.
71	* ''Film/TheHobbit'':
72	** ''Film/TheHobbitAnUnexpectedJourney'' has Bilbo contemplate killing Gollum, though the audience knows he won't due to it already being established in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' that he spares him.
73	** In ''Film/TheHobbitTheDesolationOfSmaug'', it's hard to worry too much when it looks like Bilbo, Legolas, or Gandalf are going to die, as we know the film is a prequel, and all three survive to the ''The Lord of The Rings'' trilogy. In particular, the film's framing device is that it's a story Bilbo is recounting to Frodo before the events of ''[=LoTR=]''. Balin also has to survive the Quest for Erebor since ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'' established that he died much later attempting to retake Moria, as do Ori and Óin. On the flip side of coin, the trap that the dwarves set for [[spoiler: Smaug]] is doomed to fail because [[spoiler: Smaug must live long enough to be killed by Bard.]]
74	** ''Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies'' has Galadriel, Saruman, and Elrond fight Sauron and the Nazgul, all of whom on both sides having to survive in order to be in the ''Lord of the Rings'' films.
75	* ''Film/TheHungerGamesTheBalladOfSongbirdsAndSnakes'': Given the movie's nature as a prequel, both Coryo and Tigris Snow are guaranteed to survive thanks to appearing in the earlier films which are set after this.
76	* ''Franchise/IndianaJones'':
77	** ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' takes place in 1935, while the previous film ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' took place in 1936, so it is obvious that Indy will survive the many near death experiences he faces.
78	** Since the framing device of each episode of ''Series/TheYoungIndianaJonesChronicles'' features a nonagenarian Indy recounting his adventures in his youth, he was guaranteed to survive ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' and ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheDialOfDestiny'', despite many close calls.
79	* ''Film/IngloriousBasterds'' has an epic ''aversion'' of this trope with [[spoiler: UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, who ends up being [[MoreDakka riddled with bullets]] from the Basterds, [[AlternateHistory thus bringing an end to World War II earlier]]]]!
80	** ''Film/OnceUponATimeInHollywood,'' also by Creator/QuentinTarantino, pulls a similar trick: [[spoiler:the heroes kill the Manson cultists [[SparedByTheAdaptation before they can murder Sharon Tate]]]].
81	* In ''Il Primo Re'', a story based on the legendary founding of Rome, we know that Romulus will survive to found Rome, no matter that he's gravely wounded early on. As a counterpart, we don't know who among the would-be sacrifice victims and the Velientes will survive, and [[DoomedByCanon Remus will die at the end]].
82	* ''Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoning'': Due to this being the first part of a two-film plot, Ethan, Luther, Benji and Gabriel all have to survive -- Luther has [[PutOnABus left for parts unknown]] to check his equipment by the beginning of the third act, while Benji is safely away from the action the entire time (providing tech support while acting as MissionControl). Luther even outright tells Ethan not to kill Gabriel on the train as either Ethan killing Gabriel or Ethan dying on the train will result in the Entity [[TheBadGuyWins winning]] regardless. [[SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome Ilsa, on the other hand...]]
83	* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
84	** Due to [=McCoy=] making an appearance in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' pilot episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E1EncounterAtFarpoint Encounter at Farpoint]]" it's a bit hard to worry about his safety starting with ''[[Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier The Final Frontier]]''.
85	** Similarily, with Creator/LeonardNimoy having appeared as Spock in ''The Next Generation'' episodes "Unification" Parts [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E7Unification1 I]] and [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E8Unification2 II]] about a month before the release of ''[[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry The Undiscovered Country]]'', audiences went in knowing that whatever happened in the film that at least both [=McCoy=] and Spock would survive. Spock's father Sarek also appeared in the ''TNG'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E23Sarek Sarek]]" before [[spoiler:passing away in "Unification I"]], so audiences knew he would survive as well.
86	** Audiences went in to ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'' knowing Scotty would survive since he had appeared in ''The Next Generation'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E4Relics Relics]]" just over two years before the film was released.
87	** It was inverted with Kirk in ''[[Film/StarTrekGenerations Generations]]'', who [[spoiler:is absorbed into the Nexus and is presumed dead]], even though in Scotty's TNG appearance he implied Kirk was still alive when Scotty left his own time period.[[note]]Of course Scotty had just emerged from a 75 year trip through a transporter pattern buffer while nursing a broken arm so he may have been a bit confused and disoriented.[[/note]]
88	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
89	** Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Palpatine in the prequels, given they all show up alive in the original trilogy. As exciting as their climactic duels in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' are, it loses some of the impact when you know neither of them kills their opponent. C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, Bib Fortuna, Owen and Beru Lars, Mon Mothma, Captain Antilles, and Tarkin are also guaranteed to survive, as is Bail Organa, who is mentioned as still being alive before Alderaan is destroyed.
90	** In an odd aversion, dialogue in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' [[note]]namely, that Leia remembered her mother[[/note]] indicated Padmé would survive the movie and die offscreen during the timeskip between ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''Film/ANewHope''. Instead, she dies at the end of ''Revenge of the Sith''.
91	** ''Film/RogueOne'' was fairly sparse with its cameos from other movies, but you still know that Mon Mothma, Tarkin, Darth Vader, General Dodonna, Hurst Romodi, Dr. Evazan, Ponda Baba, [[spoiler:Red Leader, Gold Leader, Wedge (who is heard via intercom), the droids, Captain Antilles, and Leia]] are going to survive. [[spoiler:Don't worry; they make up for it by killing [[EveryoneDiesEnding EVERYONE ELSE]]]].
92	*** Specifically inverted in the case of the Rebel pilot with the call sign "Red 5". As soon as we hear that sign, we know this pilot has to die, because that call sign is available for Luke to use in ''Film/StarWarsANewHope''. Also an almost-{{Subversion}}: Bail Organa. He survives... but the last thing he says is that he's heading for Alderaan, so we know he's going to live for, you know, a week at most.
93	*** Interestingly, this movie also "saved" some characters from the then-ongoing ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels,'' as listed below.
94	** Being a prequel focusing on a young Han Solo, it was obvious going into ''Film/{{Solo}}'' that not only Han but also Lando and Chewbacca would survive the film.
95	* In ''Film/TerminatorSalvation'', we already knew that Kyle Reese would survive Skynet because without him, no ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' movies. Likewise John Connor has to survive in order to send Kyle back in time. The original, unused ending would've subverted this trope, however: [[spoiler:John Connor was originally going to die, and his skin would be grafted onto Marcus' frame, [[ElCidPloy who would carry on as leader of the resistance.]]]]
96	* In ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', it look like Wolverine is about to slam his claws right in Sabretooth's throat. Granted, he just knocks him unconscious, but you already know that he wouldn't kill Sabretooth anyway since he appeared in ''Film/XMen1'', that takes many years after this movie.
97	** Then in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', when the future is altered for the better, we see that all the X-Men are still alive, meaning Apocalypse has to be defeated somehow in ''Film/XMenApocalypse'' (which is set in the past), and the only major characters in danger of dying are Magneto, Mystique, Stryker, Psylocke, and Warren. Of particular note is Storm who is brainwashed as one of Apocalypse's Horsemen yet is seen as a teacher at the X-Mansion in the good future.
98	* In ''Film/TheYoungMessiah'', Jesus is being hunted down by a Roman soldier intent on killing him, but anyone with even a passing familiarity with [[Literature/TheFourGospels the Gospel story]] knows he will live to adulthood.
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Literature]]
102	* In the prequels of Creator/{{Glen Cook}}'s ''Literature/DreadEmpire'', much of the suspense is derived from the conflict between Haroun bin Yousif and El Murid, and especially whether one of them will get to kill the other. Given that they both are alive in the original cycle of books, there really is only one answer. Character background and development is still very well executed, however.
103	* Subverted in the Literature/EighthDoctorAdventures novel ''[[Recap/EighthDoctorAdventuresInterferenceBookTwo Interference]]''. It's a multi-Doctor adventure with the Third and Eighth Doctors. We know how the Third Doctor meets his end, so he can't get killed in this book. He still does though.
104	* Lindsay Buroker's ''Literature/FallenEmpire'' sci-fi series has this in its own prequel era: In the short story "Remnants" and the Kindle Worlds novella "Discovery and Flight", both of which take place before the main series, [[spoiler:heroine Alisa Marchenko is not in any danger. In "Remnants", neither is her friend Mica Coppervein. "Discovery and Flight" also features Alisa's friend Brad Tomich, who plays a major role in the primary series. Sufficient to say he comes home alive too.]]
105	* Much of the plot of the fourth ''Literature/JohannesCabalTheNecromancer'' book features Horst Cabal telling his brother a story. Cabal interrupts the story frequently and at one point mentions that the danger Horst faced in the past loses any sort of drama because Horst lived to tell the story. Horst simply replies that he can't help that.
106	* The ''Literature/{{Noob}}'' novels cause this for several characters of its SpinOff ''Literature/{{Neogicia}}'', that is set earlier but focuses on a set of characters that were briefly shown in the former.
107	* ''Literature/TheLicaniusTrilogy'': Due to a combination of prophecies and time-travel, Davian knows several things that are going to happen to him, including the exact nature and circumstances of his death. When captured by the villains, he points out that he knows they aren't going to kill him, because he already knows how he ''is'' going to die and it doesn't involve these particular villains killing him.
108	* ''Literature/MagicalGirlRaisingProject'' has a SpinOff arc named Breakdown, which takes place between JOKERS (4th arc) and ACES (5th arc), and started being published after QUEENS (6th arc). The thing here is, since some characters who appear in Breakdown ([[spoiler: Mana and Clantail]]) appear in ACES and QUEENS, is clear they are going to survive.
109	* In an interesting example of a character being Saved By Canon for the moment, but DoomedByCanon in the long run, T'Prynn in the ''Literature/StarTrekVanguard'' novels can't die, even when she's in a coma due to MindRape ... because she's going to die in a transporter accident eighty years later, as shown in a FlashBack in the ''Literature/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineRelaunch'' novels.
110	* ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'': Many works are set between the films, so any characters appearing in chronologically later films are largely safe.
111	** The novel ''[[Literature/StarWarsAftermath Aftermath]]'' offhandedly reveals that [[spoiler:at the very least, [[WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels Sabine Wren]]]] will survive past ''Film/ANewHope'', [[spoiler:as do Hera, Chopper and the ''Ghost'' as of ''Film/RogueOne''.]]
112	* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': As the original ''Star Wars'' EU, the same rules as above apply for works set between and before the original six films. No, [[Literature/ShadowsOfTheEmpire Xizor will not kill Darth Vader]], and no, [[Literature/{{Shatterpoint}} Mace Windu will not fall to the dark side]]. Much of the books from ''Literature/NewJediOrder'' onward, however, show why this trope is [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools sometimes a good idea]], as the writers used the freedom of no later canonicity to [[DarkerAndEdgier kill off lots of beloved characters]].
113	* {{Defied}} in ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive''. The series consists of ten books, each of which has a specific character who is the "focal character" for that book and gets a flashback sequence outlining their backstory. However, Sanderson has repeatedly stated that just because a character is the focus of a particular book, that doesn't mean they'll make it ''to'' that book, as it's entirely possible to give the flashback sequence posthumously and focus on that character's impact on the plot after their death.
114	** This is demonstrated in the fourth book, ''Literature/RhythmOfWar''. The focal character for that book, Eshonai, actually dies at the end of book 2.
115	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': The Iron Warriors characters in ''[[Literature/HorusHeresy Angel Exterminatus]]'' had already appeared in the ''Literature/IronWarriors'' series, so any reader familiar with those books would know they had to survive. Similarly, Lucius survives a fatal wound because his whole schtick is that he doesn't stay dead.
116	** The ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' [[note]] '''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!!!''' [[/note]] is [[FramingDevice framed by]] Inquisitor Amberley Vail reading his post-retirement memoirs, so he obviously [[UndeadAuthor lived to write them]]. Other characters guaranteed to live include Jurgen (who retires alongside Cain in ''Cain's Last Stand''), and Sulla (eventually becomes Lady General, the highest rank in the Imperial Guard).
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
120	* ''Series/AgentCarter'', a prequel to the rest of the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, guarantees that ComicBook/PeggyCarter will live to her 90s, Howard Stark won't die until 1991, Edwin Jarvis will live long enough to inspire the JARVIS AI, and in a villainous example [[spoiler:HYDRA will rebuild itself inside S.H.I.E.L.D. to the modern day.]]
121	* In ''Series/BetterCallSaul'', Jimmy aka Saul, Mike, Gus, [[spoiler:Tuco]], [[spoiler:Hector]], [[spoiler:The Cousins]], [[spoiler:Hank]], [[spoiler:Gomez]], [[spoiler:Lydia]], [[spoiler:Bolsa]], [[spoiler:Eladio]], [[spoiler:Schuler]], [[spoiler:Gale]], [[spoiler:Walt and Jesse]], [[spoiler:Emilio]], Victor, Tyrus, Krazy-8, Huell Babineaux, Ira (later of Vamonos Pest), and Francesca are safe at least until the series reaches the events of ''Series/BreakingBad''.
122	** In addition, Jimmy will never suffer any permanent consequence for his illegal actions because he's still a lawyer during ''Breaking Bad''.
123	* Played with in ''Series/{{Caprica}}''. The young William Adama is a main character, and it's obvious to the audience that he will survive the entire series to become a main character in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica 2003}}'', [[spoiler:except he doesn't. He's shot and killed near the end of the series, and a montage reveals that his parents had a second son whom they named after his deceased brother, and he is the William Adama that the audience knows from ''Battlestar''.]]
124	* In ''Series/DadsArmy'' the [[ExecutiveMeddling executive-mandated]] cold open to the first episode managed to save one of the characters from being killed off. The scene was set in the sixties during the I'm Backing Britain campaign and had Alderman Mainwaring making a speech about how he and his Home Guard platoon (who were also present at the speech) had backed Britan during the war. This included Joe Walker, who seemed to have become a well-off businessman post-war. We last see him in the series leaving a letter to the platoon saying he was going to 'The Smoke' (London) to do a deal, which was the show's way of writing him off as his actor had died. Clearly, he survived.
125	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
126	** Any and all multi-Doctor stories ([[Recap/DoctorWhoS10E1TheThreeDoctors "The Three Doctors"]], [[Recap/DoctorWho20thASTheFiveDoctors "The Five Doctors"]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS22E4TheTwoDoctors "The Two Doctors"]], [[spoiler:"Dimensions in Time"]], [[Recap/DoctorWho2007CiNSTimeCrash "Time Crash"]], [[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor "The Day of the Doctor"]] and [[Recap/DoctorWho2017CSTwiceUponATime "Twice Upon a Time"]]) have this baked in. Obviously, the previous Doctors are not going to die in the episode, as they have to survive to regenerate into whomever the current Doctor is... However, as a result of the TimeyWimeyBall, [[DoomedByCanon they won't remember it ever happening...]]
127	** 2013 ChristmasEpisode [[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor "The Time of the Doctor"]] reveals that the Eleventh Doctor [[spoiler:is actually on his final life and cannot regenerate]], and does not expect to survive the events of the episode. However, in the previous episode, [[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor "The Day of the Doctor"]], [[spoiler:the Twelfth Doctor]] makes an EarlyBirdCameo.
128	* {{Subverted}} by ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', as while the majority of the cast do survive the series, [[spoiler:[[Characters/GreenLantern1941 Solomon Grundy]]]] does not.
129	* {{Subverted}} by ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' with [[spoiler:ComicBook/JimmyOlsen]]. They're presumably destined to live until such time as Clark "really" becomes Superman...but they don't, at which point we find out that they have a little sibling who's the real canon character! You just have to deal with the FridgeLogic of two siblings with [[OneSteveLimit very similar names, using the same nickname]].
130	* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
131	** The ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS3E2Flashback Flashback]]" features Tuvok reliving a memory of his time on the ''USS Excelsior'' during the events of ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry''. Not only are Sulu and Rand guaranteed to survive given that they survived the film, but so is Kang, who returns from the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove Day of the Dove]]", as he had previously appeared in the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E19BloodOath Blood Oath]]", which chronologically takes place about 80 years later.
132	** ''Series/StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds'': Due to the series taking place in the prime reality before James T. Kirk took command of the USS ''Enterprise'', viewers already know Pike, Spock, Kirk, Uhura, M'Benga, Chapel, Scott, Kyle, Sam Kirk, and the ''Enterprise'' herself will survive the series. In fact, in-series, Pike tries to weaponize this throughout the first season since he knows his fate is to be horribly scarred once he leaves the ''Enterprise''.
133	** ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'': with the later seasons taking place in the late 32nd century, it means that regardless of what happens in other active series the Federation and Starfleet will survive as they were both confirmed to still exist in the 32nd century, although by then the Federation is a VestigialEmpire. Its earlier seasons being a prequel to the original series also meant a few characters, such as Sarek, Harry Mudd, Christopher Pike, and Spock, were also guaranteed to survive whatever situations they encountered.
134	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
135	** ''Series/TheMandalorian'' and ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' both feature [[spoiler:Luke Skywalker and R2-D2, who, regardless of anything that might happen in those series, will survive since they're still alive at the time of ''Film/TheForceAwakens'']].
136	** ''Series/ObiWanKenobi'': Regardless of what happens, Obi-Wan, Owen, Beru, Bail Organa, Darth Vader, C-3PO, R2-D2, Palpatine, Luke, and Leia will all survive the events of the series since they all appear or are mentioned in ''Film/ANewHope'' (though in Bail's case, he instead survives to ''Film/RogueOne'' and is confirmed to have been destroyed with Alderaan in ''A New Hope''). Also, the Grand Inquisitor and Fifth Brother will survive due to their appearances in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', which takes place four years after this series. [[spoiler:The Grand Inquisitor was stabbed in the gut by the Third Sister at the end of Part II, though he returned alive at the end of Part V.]]
137	** ''Series/{{Andor}}'': Cassian Andor, Ruescott Melshi, Mon Mothma, and Saw Gerrera undoubtedly survive the events of this prequel show, due to appearing in the chronologically-later ''Film/RogueOne'', as does Wullf Yularen, who appears in ''Film/ANewHope''.
138	** ''Series/{{Ahsoka}}'': C-3PO also makes an appearance in this show, which he will survive due to his appearance in later films.
139	* In the prequel season of ''[[Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand Spartacus]]'', the suspense of whether a downed gladiator will receive the [[FinishHim Thumbs Down]] is removed when they are a recognizable main character from the first season.
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	[[folder:Role-Playing Games]]
143	* ''Roleplay/DinoAttackRPG'':
144	** Canon Franchise/{{LEGO}} characters could not be killed for this reason.
145	** After November 2005, the Dino Attack had a ForegoneConclusion that the Dino Attack Team would ultimately defeat the Mutant Dinos.
146	* The [[Roleplay/AirlockedRoundFour fourth]] round of ''Roleplay/{{Airlocked}}'' is a prequel (out-of-universe; in-universe, it's just the first season of the eponymous ImmoralRealityShow gone into reruns). Thus, while it wasn't this way for the in-universe viewers, for those of us in the real world reading along, we knew Bolton and Jamie would be the only Champions left alive and Rox would escape as a KarmaHoudini, but everyone else would die.
147	[[/folder]]
148
149	[[folder:Toys]]
150	* The 2004 and '05 Metru Nui series of ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' was a two year prequel, so all characters from the preceding years would make it through and [[BigBad Makuta]]'s 2004 defeat and imprisonment would be undone. This goes double for the 2005 arc, which [[{{Interquel}} took place during the last scene]] of the 2004 story. However, [[DoomedByCanon this also meant the heroes couldn't score a full victory]], they'd abandon Metru Nui and the city's Matoran people had to lose their memories to explain why they hadn't mentioned Metru Nui in previous years.
151	[[/folder]]
152
153	[[folder:Video Games]]
154	* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateSiegeOfDragonspear'':
155	** The game takes place in between ''Baldur's Gate'' and ''Baldur's Gate II'', therefore whatever recurring character we meet both here and in the sequel is destined to live. It is particularly anti-climatic for [[spoiler:Imoen]], who is poisoned at the beginning but must necessarily survive in order to play a pivotal role after the events of the campaign. This led the developers to exclude her from the recruitable companions, as she will spend the whole time practicing magic in order to complete the dual class transition she is expected to have for the sequel, only showing up in the finale to set up the premises for a new story.
156	** A certain mysterious figure is blatantly an important character in the original sequel, so even if you want to do something you can be assured that nothing will touch this character.
157	* ''VideoGame/DarksidersII'' takes place at the same time of the first game, while ''VideoGame/DarksidersIII'' is a prequel. Therefore both the main characters necessarily need to be in condition of being summoned at the end of ''VideoGame/{{Darksiders}}''. Lampshaded in the epilogue of the second game which directly refers to this connectioon:
158	-->'''Crowfather:''' [[spoiler:On the shattered Earth, War had broken the Seventh Seal, summoning the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. And the number of the riders shall ever be... four.]]
159	* Since ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' takes place ten years before the first game, you know that most of the bosses will survive after you defeated them, especially Maleficent and Xehanort.
160	* ''VideoGame/GameOfThronesTelltale'' has a number of characters from the [[Series/GameOfThrones show]] appear, such as Cersei Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Margaery Tyrell and Jon Snow. This, of course, means that you cannot affect their actions in a way that would contradict the show's canon. This is especially infuriating in the case of Ramsay Snow, who [[spoiler:threatens to rape Talia, murders Lord Ethan, kidnaps Ryon, ''flays'' Arthur Glenmore and generally causes the Forresters no end of grief. There's even a moment where Ramsay holds a knife to his own throat and dares Rodrik to kill him; if you try to do so, he dodges back and applaudes your gall, but remains unharmed.]]
161	* In ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed'', you already knew that neither Darth Vader or Emperor Palpatine would die in their duels with Galen Marek, or that none of the rebel leaders would be executed by the Imperials since the game takes place two-six years before the original trilogy. ''Unleashed'' also saves Shaak Ti (at least until [[spoiler: Galen kills her]]), who was originally intended to die in ''Revenge of the Sith'' but whose death scenes were deleted.
162	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'':
163	** In ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'', Sephiroth, Aerith and Cloud are going to survive no matter what, since if they died, then it means that the series' most successful game well might not have existed in the first place. [[spoiler:Zack]], however, is DoomedByCanon.
164	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' has a strange unusual example. The mysterious ghosts plaguing Cloud throughout the game are revealed to be "arbiters of fate" meant to ensure the destiny plays out as intended (a.k.a,. the plot of the original game stays the same). This is shown when they revive Barrett from a stab wound. [[spoiler:However, the ghosts are destroyed by the end of the game, casting doubts about certain characters' fates in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRebirth''. Furthermore, DoomedByCanon characters Biggs and Zack are shown to have survived, with the latter implied to be alive in an alternate timeline.]]
165	* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'':
166	** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'':
167	*** [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Being a prequel]] set decades before the events of the other ''Metal Gear'' games, the game punishes the player if he [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim kills Ocelot]] (a key character from the chronologically later games) by proclaiming that the player has caused a {{time paradox}}. Killing Ocelot will also net a time paradox in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'' where this time, he's your ally.
168	*** Killing EVA will also cause a time paradox, [[spoiler:probably hinting her mission to retrieve the Philosophers' Legacy. She goes on to become a volunteer for the Les Enfants Terribles project and give birth to Solid and Liquid Snake. Yes, without her, there is no Metal Gear.]]
169	** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', Miller tries to take Big Boss down [[TakingYouWithMe along with himself]] using a grenade, but Big Boss disarms him and saves them both. Miller goes on to become Big Boss' right-hand man and later Solid Snake's mentor, as seen in ''VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake''.
170	** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPortableOps'', all tension of Roy Campbell and Null[[spoiler:/Gray Fox]] dying in the game is removed, as Campbell later serves as Solid Snake's MissionControl, and [[spoiler:Gray Fox]] becomes a member of FOXHOUND.
171	** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'':
172	*** Eli, a stubborn but otherwise unremarkable child soldier that Venom Snake captures and takes to Mother Base for rehabilitation, becomes far more of a threat after gaining control of Sahelanthropus and the Third Child, and would have faced near-certain death when both Diamond Dogs and XOF hunted him down during the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen scrapped]] "Kingdom of the Flies" mission. This seems unimportant but played straight by the fact that [[spoiler:Eli is a [[StartOfDarkness young Liquid Snake]].]]
173	*** In the same game, Huey is outed for all his previous wrongdoings against MSF and Diamond Dogs after [[spoiler:he [[MoralEventHorizon facilitates a second outbreak of vocal cord parasites on Mother Base]]]]. Much ado is raised for his execution, but Venom chooses instead to [[CruelMercy exile him on a raft aboard Seychelles sea]]. Since we find out during ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'' that Huey committed suicide long after the events of ''The Phantom Pain'', it's a given that he wouldn't have been executed.
174	*** Ishmael, the mysterious hospital patient that escorts Venom Snake to safety in the prologue, is also safe from any sort of grisly fate. Letting him die will net a time paradox much like with Ocelot and EVA, [[spoiler:since he's actually Big Boss in disguise]].
175	* Played with and subverted by ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''. The Dilemma Diabolique incarnate trial was released during the [[TonightSomeoneDies "Who Will Die?"]] storyline. As [[spoiler:Statesman]] had already be killed, and the remainder of the Freedom Phalanx was present during the trial, many people thought everyone present would survive through the end of the arc. [[spoiler:Sister Psyche was killed in the next episode, and replaced by Penelope Yin in the current version of the trial.]]
176	* Originally in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsEX'', it's possible for [[Characters/MasouKishin Zashford Zan Valfarbia]] to get KilledOffForReal when he's forced to fight [[spoiler: his father]]. Since he's alive and participating in Part 2 of the remade ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsGaiden Masou Kishin: The Lord of Elemental]]'', which occurs post-''EX'', any events prior to Part 2, such as the ''EX'' scenarios of the ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Second Super Robot Wars Original Generation]]'', guarantees his survival.
177	* ''VideoGame/TheScorpionKingRiseOfTheAkkadian'': Since it takes place before ''Film/TheScorpionKing'', you know that Jesup, Rama and Mathayus survive their encounter with Magus.
178	* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'':
179	** In ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare Remastered'', Vladimir Makarov makes an EarlyBirdCameo in a flashback to 1996 and must survive to become the BigBad of ''Modern Warfare 2'' and ''3''. You can actually defy this trope and blow his head off with a sniper shot; doing so awards you the "Time Paradox" achievement, and unlike ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' doesn't even penalize you with a game over. Playing this straight in the same scene is [[spoiler:Yuri]], Makarov's present-day [[WeUsedToBeFriends good former friend]], who actually does give you a friendly fire game over if you kill him. [[spoiler: Yuri remains a 'friendly fire game over' during the airport massacre in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare2 Remastered''.]]
180	** ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'':
181	*** [[spoiler:Raul Menendez]]. The campaign is split between two sections, one with Alex Mason prior to 1990, and one with David Mason in 2025. [[spoiler:In the final mission of the past arc, you are explicitly told to [[BoomHeadshot snipe-headshot]] a prisoner said to be Menendez. Except it isn't him - quite obvious when you consider that the entire "future" arc is about stopping Menendez...]]
182	*** Also, Frank Woods, considering he's the one telling David about these past events in the first place in the in-universe present-day of 2025 and appears in every "past" mission--the very first level even has it that Mason and Hudson are trying to find him after learning he survived the previous game and fear that he may be dead but, obviously, he isn't since ''he's the one narrating the level''.
183	* ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24: The Game]]'' ends with Jack Bauer heavily wounded after managing to kill [[BigBad Max]] and being rushed to a hospital. Considering the game took place in between the show's second and third seasons, it's safe to say that he eventually recovered.
184	* ''VideoGame/TheWolfAmongUs'' is a prequel to ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'', so since [[spoiler:Snow White]] is alive in the latter, said character must survive even though [[spoiler:her severed head is left on Bigby's doorstep]]. Additionally, many other characters are still around in the books, so that rules them out for being [[spoiler:the SerialKiller.]]
185	* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'', Marcus, Merlinus, Bartre, and Karel must live to become playable characters once again in ''The Binding Blade''; Eliwood, Hector, Bartre, Karla, Rath, Nino, Pent, and Louise must live to become the parents of playable characters in the same game; Eliwood, Hector, and Guinivere must live to become supporting characters; and Zephiel, Murdock, and Erik must live to become enemy bosses. (Hawkeye, Canas, and Rebecca, despite being the parents of playable characters, can still die -- Hawkeye and Canas due to their children already being born, and Rebecca due to [[SeriesContinuityError an oversight]].)
186	* At the beginning ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden 3: the Ancient Ship of Doom'', Irene is apparently killed by a doppelganger of Ryu, but since the game is chronologically an interquel between the first two, and she was alive and well in the latter, canonicity dictated that her death was faked.
187	* In ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/ShadowsOfTheEmpire'', you fight Boba Fett as a boss, but he canonically survives, as the game takes place between ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' and ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''.
188	* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys4'' ends with [[spoiler:the Bite of '87 happening to the child protagonist]]. However, as Phone Guy said back in [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys the first game]], [[spoiler:"it's amazing that the human body can live without the frontal lobe"... [[SubvertedTrope Or perhaps not]], for as the child fades away at the end of Night 6, a distinctive flatlining can be heard and it is further implied that the actual 1987 bite victim is 2's protagonist Jeremy Fitzgerald. There's also an easter egg in ''4'' that heavily implies the game actually takes place in 1982]].
189	* In ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheAzranLegacy'', [[spoiler:Layton and Luke sacrifice themselves to stop [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the golems from destroying all of humanity]] and get killed in the process (along with Emmy, Descole and Bronev). However, you know for a fact that at least Layton and Luke won't die, because ''Azran Legacy'', like the previous two games, takes place before the events of the first three games.]]
190	* Zoey, Francis, and Louis are saved by canonicity in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' during The Sacrifice campaign because they appear later on in the sequel. Bill, however, is DoomedByCanon [[CuttingOffTheBranches no matter who gets sacrificed in The Sacrifice campaign]].
191	* An odd example from ''VisualNovel/ZeroTimeDilemma''. Out of the nine characters who appear in the game, [[spoiler: Akane, Junpei, Sigma and Phi]] ''should'' be guaranteed survival of the DeadlyGame because ''ZTD'' takes place before ''VisualNovel/VirtuesLastReward'' where those characters appear. This seems odd, because ''VLR'' also confirmed that [[spoiler:Diana]] survived and saw ''six'' of the nine characters die, making it seem impossible. [[SubvertedTrope However]], [[WildCard Akane, Sigma and Phi]] [[spoiler: have already changed the past by signing onto the Mars Test Mission in order to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong and avert the ApocalypseWow caused by the Decision Game]] so anyone who was previously guaranteed survival has their fate up in the air. [[spoiler: In the ending leading to ''VLR'', Sigma, Phi, and Diana are the three survivors, with Akane and Junpei dying, but using TimeTravel to make it to the end anyway, unbeknownst to Diana.]]
192	* ''VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls'': Byakuya Togami is captured during the game's prologue and held as [[spoiler:Nagito Komaeda]]'s hostage. However, since this is an {{Interquel}} between ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', we know he ([[spoiler:and his captor]]) will make it out alive. The same applies to the alternate player character, Toko Fukawa. She is mentioned as being still alive in the epilogue of [=DR2=], so any perilous situation that the player may find themselves in is mitigated by the knowledge that she survives.
193	* ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesIII'' takes place at the same time as the [[VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles first game]] and has a number of characters from both the first and [[VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesII second game]] appear [[note]]Welkin Gunther, Alicia Melchiott, Rosie Stark, Largo Potter, Avan Hardins, Cosette Coalhearth, Zeri, Leon Hardins, Juliana Everhart, Baldren Gassenarl, and Audrey Gassenarl, among others[[/note]]. Since these characters are alive by the time of the second game, we already know they'll all survive.
194	* In ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'', one chapter ends with Masaru Sera being introduced, shown as being important and a potential ally for one of the player characters, and then shot and assumed dead. But since this is a prequel and Sera's death kicks off ''part of the plot'' of the [[VideoGame/Yakuza1 first game]], he's pretty safe, [[spoiler:though he is incapacitated until the near the ending of ''Yakuza 0'' as the BigGood]].
195	** Similarly, while Sohei Dojima is the main antagonist of the game, he ultimately has to survive so that he gets killed in the first game.
196	* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'':
197	** John Marston is arrested and seemingly killed at different points in the story, but as he's the protagonist of [[VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption the first game]], set 12 years afterwards, any misfortune that befalls him is guaranteed not to stick.
198	** Similarly, Abigail is captured by the Pinkertons, with Milton promising to eradicate the gang. She also survives the gang's dissolution unscathed.
199	* While the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake'' never outright confirms whether Nicholai escapes in the end or goes up in radioactive smoke, several titles that take place after Raccoon City's destruction explicitly confirm that he did survive the events of that game. To accommodate this, a second helicopter is visible in the background during the last scene he appears in where he is LeftForDead.
200	* Amanda Ripley in ''VideoGame/AlienIsolation'' is ''guaranteed'' to survive the events of the game, as anyone who watched ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' knows, she died a married woman at age 66 from cancer rather than on a doomed SpaceStation 15 years after the events of ''Film/{{Alien}}''. Granted this will not save you from a ''lot'' of [[GameOver non-canon deaths]] at the claws and fangs of [[ImplacableMan the ornery unstoppable Xenomorph]] stalking you on Sevastapol Station...
201	* ''VideoGame/StarWarsJediSurvivor'' has none other than Darth Vader show up as a boss battle late into the game. While it's not a HopelessBossFight, you still know that Vader's going to be OK given that the game takes place before ''Film/ANewHope''. [[spoiler:The one fighting him, however, isn't anywhere near as lucky]].
202	[[/folder]]
203
204	[[folder:Web Animation]]
205	* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'':
206	** Seasons 9 and 10 are partially made up of flashbacks to Project Freelancer's heyday. Since pretty much all of the characters have been at least mentioned before, we know most of them will survive the flashbacks at least. Characters known to survive include Agent Texas (main character in ''The Blood Gulch Chronicles''), Agent Washington (joins the main cast in season 6), Agent Carolina (joins at the end of season 9), Four-Seven-Niner (becomes Recovery Command), the Director (he talks to Wash in season 6), the Counselor (de-briefs Donut in the present).
207	** Several of the stories in season 14 (an anthology) are prequels featuring characters who've appeared earlier, so this is a given. In the trilogy of episodes showing the Blood Gulch Reds' backstories, it's obvious that Grif and Simmons won't die on their mission and Sarge will end up as Red Team's sergeant. The [=FH57=] Reds try to team up with the Blood Gulch Reds around the time of Season 1, so of course they're not going to make any headway. The Mercs Trilogy can't kill off Felix and Lopez, because they're major players in the Chorus Trilogy.
208	[[/folder]]
209
210	[[folder:Webcomics]]
211	* ''Webcomic/MyImpossibleSoulmate'': As this comic is a prequel to ''Webcomic/{{Rain\|2010}}'', we know Chiaki ''will'' eventually return to her world and write ''"Black Wings: Kaminari"''. So it's not really a question of '''if''' she gets back home, it's a question of '''how''' and '''why'''.
212	* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'': Lampshaded when Duane is telling stories of his time in the military, Sette keeps cutting in to say Duane didn't die in this story (he's a zombie), and neither did Lemuel. Ruffles and Siya ask and then yell at her [[https://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic/ch14/ch14_68.html to stop spoiling the story.]]
213	[[/folder]]
214
215	[[folder:Western Animation]]
216	* ''WesternAnimation/AllHailKingJulien'' is set before the first ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' movie, and thus, King Julien is guaranteed to survive the many near death experiences he is involved in.
217	* Because ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}'' is a prequel to ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', any character who appears as a champion in that game is destined to survive the events of the series. As a result, anyone familiar with the game will know that characters like Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn, Jayce, Viktor, Ekko, Singed, and Heimerdinger will ultimately make it out of the series alive.
218	* ''WesternAnimation/JurassicWorldCampCretaceous'': Lewis Dodgson and Dr. Henry Wu both barely survive the events of the series, since one of them appeared in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' while both of them appeared in ''Film/JurassicWorldDominion'' (which were released before their appearance in the series).
219	* Despite numerous threats of the eponymous team of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' disbanding, the League appearing in the earlier-aired ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' established that it would continue. Likewise, Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent were both guaranteed to survive, while the Joker's fate was already shown to be later in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'' ([[NoOneCouldSurviveThat despite]] [[MindRape having his brain fried]] in his last ''Justice League'' appearance).
220	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'': Although its canonicity is debated, ''Film/AFairlyOddMovieGrowUpTimmyTurner'' shows that Timmy still has Cosmo and Wanda at age 23, indicating that in the main series, any threat of Timmy losing them is mitigated.
221	* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvaniaTheSeries'': Although its canonicity is also debated, given that the series is a prequel to the ''Franchise/HotelTransylvania'' films, we know that Mavis is going to survive many dangers and near-death experiences that happen throughout the series.
222	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'' takes place during the TimeSkip in ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'', so all the characters who appear in the latter half of that film, like Simba, Nala, Kiara, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Zazu, Kovu, Nuka, Vitani, and Zira, are guaranteed to survive.
223	* For ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', WordOfGod has stated that the [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie first movie]] is chronologically the end of the series, which means for the series proper, any attempt at Plankton getting the Krabby Patty formula will fall flat, as he doesn't succeed in [[TeamRocketWins getting the formula]] until the events of the movie.
224	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
225	** ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'':
226	*** The series is set between ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' and there is a huge list of characters who show up in the latter[[note]]Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, C-3PO, R2-D2, Yoda, Mace Windu, most of the Jedi Council (along with most of the rest of the members of the Jedi Order), Bail Organa, some of the clone troopers, most of the members of the Galactic Senate, Chancellor Sheev Palpatine/Sidious, Count Dooku, most of the council members of the Separatist Alliance, General Grievous, and even Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, Sy Snootles, Greedo, and Wullf Yularen (who appear in chronologically later films)[[/note]] that cannot have anything significant happen to them as a result. ''The Clone Wars'' compensates by being ''[[AnyoneCanDie brutal]]'' towards any other characters, throwing out {{Family Unfriendly Death}}s left and right, and still manages to create tension with Ahsoka, who doesn't show up in the films and therefore doesn't have the protection the rest of the cast has.
227	*** Played with some of the b-list characters, who only got characterization in the expanded universe comics. Due to ''The Clone Wars'' having a higher "canon" level than other expanded universe works, along with Disney's eventual sacking of the expanded universe into the non-canon "Legends" continuity (although they have included the six theatrical Star Wars films and ''The Clone Wars'' to be part of their new canon), this actually resulted in some of the characters who people thought would be spared or killed instead having a completely different fate. [[spoiler:The biggest surprise is Barriss Offee, who was originally slated to have been seen in Revenge of the Sith to have died alongside her master only to have it be cut and later depicted in a comic, turn out to be a traitor to the Jedi cause and locked away. This means that she at least dies under completely different circumstances, and far more likely might return somewhere down the line. The Seventh Sister was long believed to be her due to the two being from the same race and the Inquisitors being fallen Jedi (which Barris definitely was).]]
228	*** The long-delayed [[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWarsSeasonSeven seventh and final season]], thanks to coming out after {{Stealth\|Sequel}} SequelSeries ''Rebels'' had completed its run, gave canonical protection to three characters (Rex, [[spoiler:Ahsoka]] and [[spoiler:Maul]]) who appeared in the later show but had lacked this kind of protection in the series' initial run.
229	** ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'':
230	*** The novel ''[[Literature/StarWarsAftermath Aftermath]]'' contains an indirect reference to [[spoiler:Sabine]], more specifically [[spoiler:a recent piece of artwork she made]], guaranteeing her survival past ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''.
231	*** As a result of ''Film/RogueOne'' (which takes place two years after the series' then-present third season), now applies to [[spoiler:Hera]] (due to a ShoutOut), [[spoiler:Chopper]] (due to a cameo), and [[spoiler:the ''Ghost'' itself]] (due to a couple {{Freeze Frame Bonus}}es). Saw Gerrera also appears in the film, guaranteeing his survival in the series, with his episode airing a few weeks later.
232	*** Months later, ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsForcesOfDestiny Forces of Destiny]]'' was announced just before Celebration 2017, and one of the shorts features [[spoiler:Hera]] teaming up with Leia and Han on the Forest Moon of Endor, making her this even more.
233	*** At Celebration 2017, it was announced that [[AscendedFanon a popular fan theory]] that [[spoiler:Captain Rex]] appeared as a member of the Rebel strike team in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' would be canonized, making him this.
234	*** [[spoiler:When Darth Vader would face off against Ahsoka, there is a brief moment where Ahsoka managed to physically crack Vader's shell and get through to Anakin again. You can even see the regret in Vader's eyes as he realizes who Ahsoka is. But we know he cannot be redeemed here, nor even defeated. This trope is actually used by the show to maximum effect to sell how Vader is just as tragic as he is a monster, showing Anakin as being trapped within Vader and the misery he lives in.]]
235	*** In addition to Vader, all the other characters who appeared or are mentioned in the original trilogy will likewise survive, including Grand Moff Tarkin, Princess Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2, Lando Calrissian, Mon Mothma, Jan Dodonna, Wedge Antilles, Bail Organa, Derek "Hobbie" Klivian, Jon "Dutch" Vander, Wullf Yularen, [[spoiler:Palpatine, Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Luke]].
236	** ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheBadBatch'' features Order 66 being issued while Caleb Dume, aka Kanan Jarrus from ''Rebels'' above, was still with his Jedi Master Depa Billaba. Since he has to survive Order 66 to appear in the chronologically later series, the Bad Batch disobey Order 66 and spare him while other clones kill Billaba. Hera Syndulla, also from ''Rebels'', is likewise going to survive the danger she faces. Saw Gerrera, a ''Clone Wars'' character who survives up to the events of ''Rogue One'', also returns, since he cannot be killed either to preserve his role in that film. Other characters who appear like Palpatine, Tarkin, Krennic, Bail Organa, Bib Fortuna, and Hurst Romodi are guaranteed to survive due to their appearances in the original trilogy and ''Rogue One''. [[spoiler:In addition, one of the squad's first major antagonists is Fennec Shand, who was first introduced in ''Series/TheMandalorian'', taking place a good ''twenty-eight'' years after this series, meaning the squad will likely not find a permanent solution to her.]] Ditto for [[spoiler:Cad Bane]], who makes his live-action debut in ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'', which is a spinoff of ''The Mandalorian''.
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Context Main / SavedByCanon