Line #58 Main/SavedByTheFans


1	->'''Annie:''' You dirty bird, how could you? It can't be! ''Misery Chastain cannot be dead!''\
2	'''Paul:''' Annie, in 1871 women often died in childbirth, but her spirit is the important thing, and Misery's spirit is still alive.\
3	'''Annie:''' I don't want her spirit! I want HER! AND YOU MURDERED HER!!
4	-->-- ''Literature/{{Misery}}''
5
6	So there's a character in a work, but they end up leaving the cast roster. Maybe they got killed, maybe they got PutOnABus, maybe the writers just lost interest in them. And maybe if they are the main character they may drop the curtains on the whole franchise along with themselves, but wait, what's this? The fans have begun clamouring for the character's return. The writers, either because they're moved by the dedication to the character or another reason like being moved by their producers demands and/or the buyer power, decide to grant the fans' wish and [[TheBusCameBack bring back the character]]. This is how a character gets saved by the fans.
7
8	When this happens to an entire franchise or show, it's been UnCancelled. This may be because the fans told each other to KeepCirculatingTheTapes.
9
10	Compare with BreakoutCharacter. May result in an AuthorsSavingThrow. See also SendingStuffToSaveTheShow.
11	----
12	!!Examples
13	[[foldercontrol]]
14
15	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
16	* Jeremiah Gottwald from ''Anime/CodeGeass'', who was originally meant to be killed off early in the series. However, he proved popular enough (with both the fans ''and'' the staff) that the creators not only had him survive, but made him a more important character than originally intended.
17	* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'': [[CommonKnowledge Contrary to popular belief]], this was ''not'' the reason why [[spoiler: Muhammad Avdol]] was brought back after seemingly being killed off early into the series. It's been claimed that Creator/HirohikoAraki only had him survive because he was a fan favorite, but Araki himself has stated in the series' ''[=JoJonium=]'' rereleases that he always intended to bring him back regardless of audience reaction, and that [[spoiler: Avdol]] was never an especially popular character with the readers, who were mostly [[JustHereForGodzilla just there for Jotaro's fights]]. [[spoiler: Either way, Avdol would later be [[KilledOffForReal definitively killed off]] right before the final battle]].
18	* Priss from ''Anime/BubblegumCrisis'' was going to die in Episode 6 and be replaced by Vision, until the fans changed Artmic's mind.
19	* This is suspected to be the reason that Bunbee of ''Anime/YesPrecure5'' was not only allowed to survive the first season, but had a major role in the next. Being a middle-aged man and therefore unmarketable, he's the only member of any QuirkyMinibossSquad to survive a finale and not join the Cures (although [[Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar the Kiryuu twins]] did both and were cute girls, and Toei [[DemotedToExtra hates them]]), but he was surprisingly popular and allowed to live, [[spoiler:and his final HeelFaceTurn is what allows Milky Rose and the mascots to save the titular heroines before the final battle. He even got to make a cameo in the CrisisCrossover two-part episode in ''Anime/HugttoPrettyCure''.]]
20	* ''Anime/GoLion'' had an odd case of this. Takeshi Shirogane's death in ''Go Lion'' was {{bowdlerized}} to [[DubNameChange Sven]] simply being badly injured and taken to a hospital planet in ''Anime/{{Voltron}}''. Later on, outcry from Japanese fans of the character prompted the makers of ''Go Lion'' to bring in Shirogane's [[RememberTheNewGuy previously unknown identical twin, Ryou]] for a few episodes before sacrificing himself. Since he never died in the American version, the ''Voltron'' writers could say that had Sven simply finished healing up, then cutting out Ryou's sacrifice in a bizarre, accidental subversion of the DubInducedPlotHole.
21	* The original ending of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' would have killed off the entire main cast except for Athrun, but even he would not have gotten out of the finale unscathed. This ending was only averted because of the immense popularity of the Seed characters among the viewers.
22	** There was still plenty of death in the actual ending...but then ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' came along and the most popular of the dead characters was retconned back to life. Which was one of the many [[BrokenBase divisive elements]] of the sequel, as that character's HeroicSacrifice had been so well-done in the first place.
23	* Although [[TheChessmaster Kurama]] was always supposed to join the main cast, [[FragileSpeedster Hiei]] was supposed to be [[Manga/YuYuHakusho Yu Yu Hakusho's]] StarterVillain, but people kept asking when he was going to show up again.
24	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'':
25	** Brock, after multiple allegations of him being a racist Asian caricature for his EyesAlwaysShut design, was planned to be phased out of the series after the events of ''[[Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries Master Quest]]''. However, [=TPCi=] looked at how much he was adored by the fandom on both the eastern ''and'' western hemisphere, and ultimately decided to bring him back, leading to him staying as the tertiary protagonist for both ''[[Anime/PokemonTheSeriesRubyAndSapphire Advanced Generation]]'' and ''[[Anime/PokemonTheSeriesDiamondAndPearl Diamond & Pearl]]'', and even making a comeback in ''[[Anime/PokemonTheSeriesSunAndMoon Sun & Moon]]'' alongside Misty.
26	** The famous TerribleTrio of Team Rocket (Jessie, James and Meowth) were being planned to get written out of the anime in ''[[Anime/PokemonTheSeriesBlackAndWhite Best Wishes]]'' according to [[WordOfGod Kunihiko Yuyama, the anime's director]], but they still had a sizable fanbase, including on the show's staff, and so they're still here.
27	*** To cement they were there to stay, a Japanese podcast during what was advertised as their GrandFinale[[note]]It wasn't and was never going to be, it was actually the big test to see if fans wanted Team Rocket to stay on the show beyond ''Best Wishes''[[/note]] gave fans a telephone poll asking which of the trio's earlier Pokemon they'd like to return. Wobbuffet returned in ''[[Anime/PokemonTheSeriesXY XY]]''.
28	** A strange indirect example in ''Anime/PokemonHoopaAndTheClashOfAges'': after the backlash of a second Mewtwo in ''Anime/PokemonGenesectAndTheLegendAwakened'', there was a deliberate effort to imply that every [[OlympusMons Legendary]] that made in appearance in this movie is the same one from their own original movies, including Latios of ''Anime/PokemonHeroes'' who died at that movie's climax. [[UnexplainedRecovery It's never explained how]], but now he's alive and well just in time for the "[[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny big reunion]]" of the Legendaries.
29	* [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Sasha Braus]] of ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' was planned to be a SacrificialLamb very early on in the story, but with her hilarious introduction in the anime, she very quickly became a fan favourite. Seeing the overwhelmingly positive fan reaction she caused, the idea was scrapped in favour of keeping her on as PluckyComicRelief. [[spoiler: [[AnyoneCanDie Subverted unfortunately]] as she was killed in Chapter 105, nearly 70 chapters after her intended death and only a few chapters after her first appearance after the Time Skip]].
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Comic Books]]
33	* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'': Fan reaction ended up causing the writers to change plans or reveal certain deaths as fake-outs. Most notably was Antoine's injury near the end of the pre-reboot run. The explosion was actually supposed to have killed him, but his popularity amongst fans had the author, Ian Flynn, reconsider. Nic the Weasel was a character that Flynn considered killing off, but her fans convinced him otherwise. Though Nic would ultimately never come back as Creator/KenPenders, her creator, sued Archie and had all of his characters removed.
34	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
35	** Fans were called on to decide the fate of a key character and voted via 1-900 number. [[spoiler: They voted 5,343-5,271 to kill off Jason Todd's ComicBook/{{Robin}}. Jason would later be resurrected by DC, meaning he was [[InvertedTrope saved by the Editor]]]]. According to urban legend, there was one disgruntled fan who set up an auto-dialer that contributed 200 of the votes to kill Jason. If this is true and we eliminate the excess votes, then the fans would have spared and saved Jason.
36	** Played straight with Stephanie Brown, Spoiler, who had multiple fan groups dedicated to having her either honored or returned. Within a few years, she was back and eventually gained the ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} mantle and a solo series. After being ignored by the ''ComicBook/New52'' reboot in 2011, she eventually returned to the comics in 2014.
37	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson has several times been written out, killed off, and magically divorced. Each time she has returned because, to put it simply, they are ''the'' FanPreferredCouple. It also helped that the co-creator of the web-head Creator/StanLee continued to keep them married in his own Spidey project.
38	* ComicBook/CaptainAmerica was created during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, and it was a huge success back then. However, his comic book was cancelled when the whole superhero genre lost popularity after the end of WWII (a crisis that only Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman survived, out of dozens and dozens of characters and titles). Superheroes eventually returned during UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, and Marvel started a good number of new heroes. Cap "returned" in ''Strange Tales'' #114 (by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers) as a villain, and fought against the Human Torch; it turned out to be just the acrobat wearing his costume. At the end of the issue Johnny wonders about the fate of the actual Cap, and the text made things explicit: "You guessed it! This story was really a test! To see if you too would want Captain America to return! As usual, your letters will give us the answer!". Let's just say that ''Avengers'' #4 was released some months later, and the rest, as they say, is history.
39	* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel was published for 15 years, and ceased publication after the ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'' crossover, that destroyed all alternate Marvel universes. Many fans complained about it, so almost all Ultimate characters were eventually reused in the main continuity, and the universe returned at the end of ComicBook/SpiderMenII.
40	* The sixth (and final issue) of ''ComicBook/AdventureTimeSeason11'' was originally going to include a scene where Finn was going to talk to Aunt Lolly about [[spoiler:the giant robotic ant that attacked Humantown]]. However, months after the finale ended, fans started asking on social media to include Huntress Wizard in the comic since [[spoiler:her relationship with Finn was left open ended]]. The Aunt Lolly scene was then replaced with a scene with Finn talking to Huntress Wizard about where he belongs on Ooo. Even WordOfGod admitted that the final scene is better.
41	* Creator/DCComics killed off the original ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} in the ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' event, believing she was diminishing Franchise/{{Superman}}'s "uniqueness", and replaced her with several non-Kryptonian substitutes. Nonetheless, Kara Zor-El fans spent eighteen years campaigning for her return until DC finally gave way and [[ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton2004 brought her back in 2004]].
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:Fan Works]]
45	* {{Fix Fic}}s like ''Fanfic/KaraOfRokyn'', ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'' or ''Fanfic/XMen1970'' are built around the idea of saving certain characters and plot threads that most fans felt weren't given proper respect in the original canon.
46	* Fan outcry is what spared Zander and Scoria from [[AbsurdlyHighStakesGame Nezumi's fatal Colony Raiders game]] in ''Webcomic/NepetaQuest2011''.
47	* Ash's Primeape in ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' gets PutOnABus in Chapter 18 [[spoiler: when [[TheRival Paul]] sends him blasting into the sky before Ash can reach him, possibly fatally]]. The readers called for his return, and it eventually stuck: [[spoiler: he was found by Sabrina and used as bait to get Ash to come and challenge her gym.]]
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
51	* Scrat was originally going to be killed off after his brief scene in the opening of the first ''WesternAnimation/IceAge1'' movie, but the overwhelming response to advance footage led the filmmakers to add more scenes with him, and he continued to appear throughout the franchise, becoming not only the de-facto mascot of ''Ice Age'', but of Creator/BlueSkyStudios as well.
52	* ''WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer1964'': After the first airing of the special, fans were quick to note how [[EnsembleDarkHorse the Misfit Toys]] didn't end up [[OnlyTheLeadsGetAHappyEnding getting a happy ending]], and sent in tons of fan mail to Creator/{{NBC}} asking them to revise this slight. They listened, and the next year, they rebroadcast the special with a new ending showing Rudolph and Santa finally making it to the Island of Misfit Toys and providing them with new homes.
53	[[/folder]]
54
55	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
56	* [[spoiler:Agent Coulson]] in ''Film/{{The Avengers\|2012}}'' got this. The fans started a project called [[spoiler:Coulson Lives]] in denial of his death, insisting that he was simply ''too awesome to die''. They got his actor on board, and eventually, he really did come back ''[[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD in his own TV show]]''.
57	* Darth Maul from the ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' survived [[RasputinianDeath getting cut in half and falling down a]] BottomlessPit due to how popular he was despite the little screentime he received outside of [[OneSceneWonder his duel against Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon]]. [[spoiler: Though he finally dies for good at the hands of Obi-Wan in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels''. And yet it still doesn't stop him from making more appearances after such as in ''Film/{{Solo}}'', which was released after his death, but chronologically takes place some years before ''Rebels'']].
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Literature]]
61	* Possibly the [[OlderThanRadio oldest example]] of this is Pinocchio from ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio'', alongside ExecutiveMeddling. The novel was originally meant to end with Pinocchio killed via hanging by the Cat and the Fox, but a lot of children sent letters to the newspaper it was originally published to revive Pinocchio, and the editor of ''Giornale per il bambini'' essentially forced Collodi to keep writing more episodes and to wrap up the story with a happy ending. In fact, about two thirds of the book were actually written ''after'' the original ending, and a great deal of its most iconic scenes and characters (the Blue Fairy, the growing nose, the Dogfish, the donkey-turning...) come from there.
62	* This is why Literature/SherlockHolmes was brought back (although [[MoneyDearBoy it wasn't the only reason]]). Even UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria herself was a fan, and urged Doyle to bring him back.
63	* ''{{Literature/Misery}}'' is one of the most known fictional examples - and surely the [[NightmareFuel scariest one]]. Paul Sheldon has been writing a series of romance novels based on the exploits of the Victorian airhead Misery Chastain for years, and loathes the character, so he wrote a final book which ended with Misery dying of childbirth. Unfortunately, he's badly injured in a car crash and left crippled and in the not-so-capable hands of the [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] BattleaxeNurse[=/=]LoonyFan Annie Wilkes, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrRSo3a1ZYU when she finds out about Misery's character death]], Annie threatens his life unless he writes a brand new novel which brings Misery back to life.
64	* Referenced in the ''Literature/ThursdayNext'' books - in this case, it isn't that the fans want Emperor Zhark to not be KilledOffForReal, but Zhark himself visits the author from the fictional universe and... persuades him not to do it.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
68	* Helo from ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' was only supposed to appear in the pilot episode and get left behind on Caprica. Fan response to the character ensured that he began a main character in the series, to the point of being part of one of show's most important [[StoryArc Story Arcs]].
69	* The first character to be killed off in ''Series/BlakesSeven'' was originally supposed to be Vila, but his popularity with viewers saved him (polls ranked him the second favourite after Avon). So, the axe fell on Gan, who was the least popular.
70	* In the second season of ''Series/{{Bones}}'', Camille "Cam" Saroyan, Bones's and the squints' new boss at the Jefferson, was poisoned by SerialKiller Howard Epps. She was originally intended to die from the poison, but the fans and showrunners alike loved her, so she survived the incident and went on to remain a main character for the rest of the 12-season series.
71	* Spike from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' was going to last only five episodes, but proved so popular that he was spared and went on to become the show's BreakoutCharacter.
72	** This actually happened quite a few times on ''Buffy'', because Creator/JossWhedon is an evil bastard. Several characters were going to appear for a few episodes and then die, but were instead saved (Oz and Faith are the shining examples), some were killed off much later than intended (Joyce Summers and Tara), some were even revived from the dead. Fan reaction to the characters was the deciding factor every single time.
73	* ''Series/CriminalMinds'' had two straight cases of this and an inversion. During the sixth season, JJ is forced to take a promotion at the Pentagon to make her boss look better, and is written out of the series as a main character, only making a few guest appearances, while a new BAU member, Ashley Seaver, was introduced to take her place. Later in the same season, Emily Prentiss was given an arc revolving around a backstory and ArchEnemy that, until then, was not hinted to exist at all; this arc ended with her faking her death and going into hiding, also being written out of the show. These were both cases of ExecutiveMeddling done by the studio rather than the writers themselves: in order to budget the spinoff series ''Suspect Behavior'', actress AJ Cook (JJ) was dismissed at the beginning of the season, and then Paget Brewster (Prentiss) had her number of episodes shortened, with Rachel Nichols (Seaver) serving as a cheaper replacement due to being new to the show. However, the studio received a staggering number of complaints from the fans about this, and as a result, once Season 7 began (and ''Suspect Behavior'' failed after one season), JJ and Prentiss were both brought back, and Seaver (who was a huge case of ReplacementScrappy for JJ) was written out.
74	* Barnabas Collins from ''Series/DarkShadows'' was brought in only as a temporary villain to attempt a revival of the show's ratings. He became incredibly popular with fans, went from {{Jerkass}} to [[TookALevelInBadass badass]] (or sometimes {{Woobie}} or even JerkassWoobie) and is essentially now the face of all permutations of the franchise.
75	* Methos from ''Series/{{Highlander}}: The Series'' was only supposed to be around for part of season 3, but the fans liked him so much he was kept.
76	* Zack in ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' was originally supposed to be killed off, but his popularity with fans led him to survive the series.
77	* Inverted by ''Series/{{Lost}}''. [[spoiler: Nikki and Paolo]] were loathed by fans. The writers were very much aware of this, and soon had them killed off with extreme prejudice.
78	** Desmond Hume and Benjamin Linus were only going to appear in three episodes each. The audience reacted so well to their characters that they were promoted to main cast from Season 3 onwards.
79	* During Season 5 of ''Series/MissionImpossible'', the producers tried to write out the strongman character Willy (who had been around since Season 1 but was increasingly out of place on the cerebral show) and replace him with a doctor named Doug, played by Creator/SamElliott. Fan outcry resulted in Doug going away and Willy not only remaining but getting a bigger role.
80	* In 1996, ''{{Series/Neighbours}}'' made the decision to axe stalwart character Lou Carpenter. When the news broke, there was outcry from fans in both Australia and the UK. The producers hadn't realised how popular Lou was and ended up reversing the decision: Lou was given a big sunset exit as planned but returned only two months later, having not even been taken off the opening credits.
81	* According to rumors, ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' have tried to off Tommy in the same fashion as his predecessor [[Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger Burai]]. However, the combination of this trope and the fact that Power Rangers is LighterAndSofter most of the time, they just depowered Tommy, enabling him to come back [[GotTheCallOnSpeedDial many, many times]]. This was actually used to try and save Burai, but Toei refused, trying to instill the Aesop of "Even heroes CAN die."
82	* Carson Beckett from ''Series/StargateAtlantis''. So much that fans [[TorchesAndPitchforks mounted a protest outside the studio]] near Vancouver, BC and ended up making the local news. And it worked.
83	* Klaus from ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'' was initially supposed to be a temporary villain appearing in a handful of episodes, but due to positive fan response he was kept on the series long term, receiving a huge amount of character development, and becoming integral to most of the show's storylines. He was eventually granted [[Series/TheOriginals his own spinoff series]].
84	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
85	** According to Creator/MishaCollins, his character Castiel was only originally slated to appear in six episodes early on in season 4, before being killed off. But such was his popularity that he remained a constant part of the show for twelve years, with Collins being promoted to series regular and developing as much of a devoted following within the fanbase as the show's actual lead actors. In fact, he was saved again in Season 7, after Castiel was villainized and killed off in what was supposed to be a permanent death. Ratings went down, fans were angry and Castiel was back by the end of the season.
86	** Zigzagged with Creator/JimBeaver and Bobby Singer. The Winchesters' beloved father-figure was killed off for real in a heart-wrenching Season 7 storyline. However, fans missed the character so much that the writers found plenty of reasons to bring Bobby back, and he [[spoiler: appears in the SeriesFinale in Dean's Heaven.]]
87	** Though Abbadon was always planned to come back in season 9, after Jim Michaels announced via Twitter that they were planning to [[TheOtherDarrin recast her]] due to her meatsuit's destruction in the season 8 finale, fans immediately began a campaign to get original actress Creator/AlainaHuffman back, citing her performance as the reason the character had become [[EnsembleDarkhorse unexpectedly popular]] in the first place. Eventually the writers relented and came up with a HandWave ritual that restored Abbadon's original body, allowing Alaina to continue playing the character.
88	** Charlie's death in Season 10 was not well-received by fans or some members of the cast and crew. Given the show's habit of killing off female characters, the fact that it was a classic BuryYourGays moment and served little purpose but to give male characters' angst, it received furious backlash and the writers found a way to bring Charlie back.
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Video Games]]
92	* The GoldenEnding of ''VideoGame/SamuraiJackBattleThroughTime'' erases [[spoiler:Ashi's death]] from the [[WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack orginal show's]] GrandFinale after enough complaints from the fanbase.
93	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': If he hadn't been so wildly popular, VideoGame/{{Shadow\|TheHedgehog}} would still be dead by now. He showed up in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' as a CriminalDoppelganger and became a DragonWithAnAgenda to [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]]. He was also a badass who pulled a HeelFaceTurn and sacrificed himself to [[HeroicSacrifice save the world]]. Then, Sega [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes brought him back]] and [[BrokenBase split the fanbase again]].
94	* Axel from the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series was supposed to die at the end of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'''s prologue. But he had a lot of fans (including many members of the development team) and he wound up surviving and taking a [[DemotedToExtra small role]] in the main storyline of the game.
95	** And then a [[TookALevelInBadass big]] role in ''VideoGame/{{Kingdom Hearts 3D\|DreamDropDistance}}''. [[spoiler:As in, Keyblade-wielder big.]]
96	* In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIIShadowsOfAmn'', Bioware originally planned for [[spoiler:Imoen to become BrainwashedAndCrazy due to Irenicus' torture in ''Shadows of Amn'', forcing CHARNAME to MercyKill her.]] When this information was leaked, fan outcry convinced them to spare [[spoiler:her]].
97	* Once fans of ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' heard that Kazuya had been killed in the third game's backstory (the game hadn't really come out yet at this point, mind you), clamors for his restoration apparently began very quickly, very strongly. Ultimately, Namco acceded to this demand by revealing Kazuya's continued existence in Eddy's ending for the [=PlayStation=] version. Then he returns full blown in ''Tekken 4'' and has been a mainstay again, to the point that he ultimately became his franchise's representative for ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.
98	* VideoGame/MegaManX was going to be the villain of the first ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' game instead of an EvilKnockoff. This concept was scrapped during the last month before release because the developers thought X becoming a villain and being killed by Zero wouldn't sit well with the kids who played his games and thought he was a hero.
99	* The end of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' had Midna return to the Twilight Realm and [[spoiler:break the Mirror of Twilight so the portal can never be opened again]]. But Creator/EijiAonuma was surprised by the fans' love of her, and responded in an interview that if there is a sequel she may somehow come back. She eventually did came back, though only in [[VideoGame/HyruleWarriors non-canon]] [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros games]].
100	* Both Ukyo Tachibana and Mina Majikina from the ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' series were slated to die following their debuts (the first Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown V respectively), but the fans' love for them led SNK to reverse those decisions, the former becoming a mainstay of the series and the latter making her second canonical appearance as a DLC character in the 2019 SoftReboot.
101	* ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'' is a case where the fans actually helped financially. During the process of developing the first DLC character, [[CuteMonsterGirl Squigly]], the ''Skullgirls'' team was laid off by their original studio, [[DevelopmentHell meaning they no longer had the budget to pay the cost for developing her]]. Hoping not to let their work go to waste, they went to the fans for assistance, starting up an Indiegogo campaign in February 2013 to raise $150,000 in donations to fund the development of Squigly. Not only had they reached the goal amount ''in a single day'', the donations kept coming in until the end of the campaign a month later, with the total amount being ''more than five times that of the intended goal''. With $829,829 raised as the final number, the ''Skullgirls'' team not only used it to fund Squigly, but also four more DLC characters (two of whom were fan-voted), story modes and stages for each of those characters, background tracks for each of those stages, and eight GagDub voice packs.
102	* The Materials of the ''VideoGame/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAsPortable'' games were {{Evil Twin}}s of Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate who were supposed to have been destroyed in the first game, with the remnants of the [[DarkIsEvil Darkness of the Book of Darkness]] disappearing with them to show that they were KilledOffForReal. However, the concepts of TheSpock Nanoha, BloodKnight Fate, and CardCarryingVillain Hayate was such a hit with the fans that, not only were they revived for the sequel and given a starring role, but they were also incorporated into other parts of the ''Nanoha'' franchise.
103	* Sega's ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'' (formerly ''Yakuza'') series was modestly successful in the west, but not enough that Sega put a lot of stock in the series outside of Japan. When the zombie-themed GaidenGame, ''VideoGame/YakuzaDeadSouls'', flopped, Sega appeared to pull the plug on ''Yakuza'' in the west, quietly taking down the English-language website and remaining suspiciously silent about the localization of ''VideoGame/Yakuza5''. When Sony polled players on what game they wanted to see released most, ''Yakuza 5'' topped the list, so they localized ''5'' and released it as a digital title. Noticing the hype leading up to the release of ''5'', Sega announced that they would localize the [=PS4=] version of ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'' and release it on-disc. With faith in the series outside of Japan restored, Sega also announced international releases of ''VideoGame/YakuzaKiwami'' and ''VideoGame/Yakuza6''.
104	** It's only gotten better for the series as time has gone on. Not only were ''0'', ''Kiwami'', ''6'', and ''[[VideoGame/YakuzaKiwami2 Kiwami 2]]'' released in the West, alongside spin-off ''VideoGame/{{Judgment}}'', but the series finally became multi-platform with the PC[=/=]Steam release of ''0'' and ''Kiwiami 1'' and ''2''. More good news came about with the re-localization and re-release of ''VideoGame/Yakuza3'', ''[[VideoGame/Yakuza4 4]]'', and ''5'' on [=PS4=]; first as staggered digital releases, then as a physical collection in the West in early 2020. At this point, the main series has entered a golden age worldwide, which paved the way for simultaneous global releases for games like the ''VideoGame/LikeADragonIshin'' remake, ''VideoGame/LostJudgment'', and ''VideoGame/LikeADragonGaidenTheManWhoErasedHisName''.
105	** Character-wise example; Goro Majima seemingly looked like he was dying from his injuries after his second battle with Kiryu in ''Yakuza 1'', and played a minor role overall. However, his nutty personality (as well as [[PetTheDog him sparing a hostess that had nothing to do with the conflict]]) endeared him so much to fans that he returned and gained a bigger plot role in ''2''. His popularity grew to the point that he would become playable in ''Dead Souls'' (mentioned above) and eventually the main series, with ''0'' firmly cementing him as [[{{Deuteragonist}} its second main character]].
106	* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' featured three popular veterans as DLC: [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Mewtwo]], [[VideoGame/{{MOTHER3}} Lucas]] and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Roy]], as Sakurai noted the demand from the fans to be brought back. As of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', all three are now series mainstays.
107	* ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' had this with Callie, who initially only appeared during the game's FinalBoss. Beyond that, you could only see the character by using her Toys/{{amiibo}} or by refighting the boss. Upset fans of the character took to the in-game posting feature and flooded it with Callie artwork in a [=#BringCallieBack=] campaign. Evidently, these voices were heard in the end, as one of the additions in the game's 3.0 update had Callie appear next to Marie at Tentakeel Outpost after beating the game, an addition specifically highlighted in the trailer. This doubles as an AuthorsSavingThrow, since a lot of what made her cousin Marie, who ''did'' get a lot of screen time, popular in the first place was the duo's BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine.
108	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' has Jiub, a fellow prisoner of the [[PlayerCharacter Nerevarine]] aboard the prison ship at the beginning of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]''. He delivers a few lines of dialogue before disappearing from the game. His friendliness combined with his badass appearance (a [[EyeScream one-eyed]] WalkingShirtlessScene) made him quite popular. He became a popular character in fan fiction and was added back into the game as a companion by quite a few {{Game Mod}}s. Bethesda took notice and gave him a shout out in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' as having driven the much-reviled [[GoddamnedBats Cliff Racers]] to extinction. He then makes an on-screen appearance in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]''[='s=] ''Dawnguard'' DLC as a spirit in the Soul Cairn and gives you a notable side quest.
109	* ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney Chronicles'': According to [[WordOfGod Shu Takumi]], [[spoiler:Kazuma Asogi]] was supposed to have been killed off in ''TGAA: Adventures''. However, [[spoiler:him returning as an amnesic Masked Disciple in ''[=TGAA2=]: Resolve'' was due to his immense popularity with the fans.]]
110	* Despite being a minor villain, and a rather detestable one at that, Oliver, from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'', was so well-received that they made him return in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn''. Not only that but he can be recruited (though with a GuideDangIt method) and has a battle theme that is arguably one of the best tracks of the game.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Webcomics]]
114	* When the guru of ''Webcomic/KoanOfTheDay'' was [[http://www.koanoftheday.com/37/ put on trial]], fans were asked to tweet to save or kill him. In this case, most fans voted him dead!
115	* After [[spoiler:Black Belt]] died in ''[[Webcomic/EightBitTheater 8-Bit Theater]]'', many fans were demanding him back and speculating how it might happen. But averted in that Brian made it clear that the death would not be undone, and he went so far as to do a strip making the point clear, entitled "Now shut up".
116	* In ''Webcomic/CollegeRoomiesFromHell'', during the Blue Mushroom arc, Dave's soul was stolen by the devil. Fan outcry on the forum was so great that the cartoonist invented the Miraculous Shotgun in order to save him.
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Web Original]]
120	* Mottis, the creator of ''WebAnimation/BunnyKill'', has stated this to be one of the possible ways [[spoiler:Ruby]] can return.
121	* Creator/BradJones created WebVideo/EightiesDan as a one-off gag for his ''Caligula'' ''[[WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob Cinema Snob]]'' review, but fans really took to him, and he ended up appearing in an episode of ''WebVideo/BradTries''. 80's Dan has his own show now.
122	* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic was originally [[spoiler:retired by being sent to [[WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee The Plot Hole]] to stabilize the universe]] and IRL, allow creator Doug Walker to focus on other projects that he'd wanted to do for years. However, while ''WebVideo/DemoReel's'' reception was mixed, it got good enough views (mostly from women and queer fans) to carry on... but Doug admitted in the DVDCommentary that the site needed more money so he had to do reviews again. This has led to a BrokenBase in the fandom, as many viewers felt the Nostalgia Critic was worn out, but Doug made his performance less angry and miserable in the revival so it felt like the character had grown a bit.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Western Animation]]
126	* Angel (Experiment 624), a character from ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'', was only intended to be a one episode character. However, once the executives realized she was one of the most popular characters, they brought her back for the last episode and gave her a small scene of her kicking Leroy clone patookie in the GrandFinale ''WesternAnimation/LeroyAndStitch''. She even became a major character of the franchise thanks to [[Anime/{{Stitch}} the succeeding anime]]. Somewhat doubles as an AuthorsSavingThrow, as her episode put the character on a [[PutOnABusToHell bus to Hell]], [[BrokenAesop which goes completely against the core theme of]] ''[[TrueCompanions ʻohana]]'' that the ''Franchise/LiloAndStitch'' franchise is built on.
127	* Kenny from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' after he was supposed to be KilledOffForReal. Additionally, Kyle was originally the one to be killed off.
128	* Waspinator from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', who was slated for death to make room for a [[MerchandiseDriven new toy]]. Online popularity saved him, [[ButtMonkey or alternatively]], ''prolonged his suffering.''
129	** Optimus Prime was killed off in the [[WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie movie]] to make way for [[MerchandiseDriven new toys]]. Fans were saddened and outraged to a level that no one at Hasbro could've predicted. By the end of season 3, the writers specifically made a two-part episode in order to bring Optimus back to life, though his toy was only available via mail-order (at least, that's what Hasbro wanted you to think, as his toy was actually still being shipped to stores due to its popularity).
130	*** This outrage also saved Duke from being killed off in ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeTheMovie''. Originally, Duke was to be killed when Serpentor speared him in the heart. After the backlash against Prime's death, the audio was redubbed to specifically say he was put in a coma, and new dialogue at the end of the film mentions him awakening from it.
131	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
132	** Princess Luna was originally only to last to the end of the pilot and [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome never be seen again]], hence her absence from the rest of Season 1. For the next year, fans took a massive interest in the younger princess, and she finally returned in Season 2. She has ironically gone on to get ''far'' more screen time than her elder sister, as fans would have to wait all the way through most of Season 7, as well as several more episodes starring Princess Luna, before Princess Celestia would get her own episode.
133	** As was Trixie, the one-off antagonist of ''Boast Busters'', who rose to downright absurd popularity with the fans due to her drama-queen MilesGloriosus attitude and fans [[UnintentionallySympathetic sympathizing with her]] rather than seeing her as the villain she was intended to be. So much so that she's the favorite character of the owners of the two largest franchise fan sites on the web, Equestria Daily and Derpibooru, with even the color scheme of the latter being lifted directly from her (and note that these sites are completely unaffiliated with each other). After becoming a mainstay in fandom and frequently being cited as many viewer's favorite she would go on to be the first My Little Pony antagonist ever to get a toy, and eventually be brought back in later episodes and eventually even join the main cast and help save the world as something of a {{sixth ranger}}.
134	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Three Kings" contains a parody of ''Misery'' in which Stewie obliges Brian to bring the character of Snuggly Jeff back from the dead.
135	* The [[EvilKnockoff Rowdyruff]] [[SpearCounterpart Boys]] from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls''. Intended to only be one shot villains. But the fans loved them so the writers eventually brought them back in the fifth season.
136	* Not saved from death, but [[DeadpanSnarker Noah]], [[DoggedNiceGuy Cody]], [[HomeschooledKids Ezekiel]] and [[DumbJock Tyler]] were all brought back for ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama World Tour'' because of their major EnsembleDarkHorse status.
137	* Shiro from ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'', when it was revealed that he was supposed to have been removed from the series after the second season finale, but was brought back by Executives due to his quickly growing fanbase.
138	* In ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'', Morph was the SacrificialLamb. The only X-Man on the team but not in the opening credits (and the only one who was not part of the early 1990s [[Comicbook/XMen comic book team]]), he died in the first episode to show that the series played hardball. However, during his short time in the show he became so beloved that we find out in the second season that Mr. Sinister saved him but put him under MoreThanMindControl. He became an important part of the whole year's MythArc, and made a few appearances after that. This popularity also impacted his comic book counterpart, a relatively obscure 1960s character named Changeling who'd died in his second appearance. While Changeling [[DeathIsCheap surprisingly]] stayed dead, AlternateUniverse versions of him played important roles in ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'' and ''ComicBook/{{Exiles}}''.

Context Main / SavedByTheFans