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[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/TheIncredibles https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kk_5.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Amazing what can happen after [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1 a few days]]... [[WesternAnimation/Incredibles2 or 14 years]].]]
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The world can seem like such a joyless, gray, dark place, empty of hope, where dreams are ephemeral lifelines, where joy and passion seem pointless and fake, and pain is the only thing that's authentic. Yet, sometimes, meeting the right person, witnessing the right moment, can teach some people that there's more to life than suffering—can teach those people to smile again. This doesn't mean that they've acquired better morals, or even that they gained hope: they may instead be ConditionedToAcceptHorror, [[Film/DoctorStrangelove stop worrying, and love the bomb.]]

This character type, either a BrokenBird, an IceQueen, a ShrinkingViolet, TheStoic, or any other kind of less cheerful character, becomes more cheerful over time. Can be due to CharacterDevelopment, or a HeelFaceTurn.

Compare DefrostingIceQueen and TookALevelInKindness. Lots of LoveRedeems stories fall under this trope. ThePowerOfFriendship, ThePowerOfLove, and ThePowerOfTrust may be involved, in that the character may feel the need to reciprocate those gifts. Contrast with TookALevelInCynic and JadeColoredGlasses. A sudden change might be a PreludeToSuicide.

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* Ai Haibara from ''Manga/CaseClosed'' was raised and ForcedIntoEvil by TheSyndicate, but managing to flee from them and being influenced by newfound friends like her ParentalSubstitute [[BigFun Hiroshi Agasa]], Conan Edogawa, The Detective Boys, and Ran Mouri has begun to help her heal. She's not likely to become a GenkiGirl in a long time, but she has stopped wishing for death and is now able to live the normal life she never had.
* ''Anime/DarlingInTheFranxx'': Zero Two is initially introduced as an arrogant, conceited, apathetic, borderline nihilistic, and unruly AntiHero who would prioritize searching for her "Darling" (who is later revealed to be [[spoiler:Hiro]]) above all else and has a [[BecomeARealBoy desire to be human]] but after her long and fateful ordeal during the events of Episodes 13-15, she becomes a lot more cheerful, compassionate, and socially open towards Squad 13. In other words, her personality went [[CharacterDevelopment from a "violent wild animal" to an "affectionate domestic pet"]].
* Hermit Mio from ''Manga/EdensZero'' becomes significantly livelier following her [[HealTheCutie mental recovery]] ([[UsedToBeASweetKid though it was technically regaining lost levels rather than taking new ones]]). She goes from a bitter, somber, [[IneffectualLoner reclusive]] DeathSeeker who didn't want to do anything with humans after the horrible thing they have done to them to a PlayfulHacker eager to help others and enjoys playing games and dressing up. Although, she didn't lose her cynical streak.
* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
** Meredy started out as a serious and angry child who rarely showed emotions. After the TimeSkip, she has become more cheerful and relaxed.
** Juvia went from gloomy in her debut to cheerful after joining the titular guild.
** Also Erza Scarlett herself as she showed more of her softer side, especially after the Tower of Heaven arc.
* ''Manga/FinalFantasyLostStranger'': After suffering from years of burnout after not achieving his dreams of working on game development at Square-Enix, Shogo's adventures in the fantasy world make him happier than he's been in a long time. [[spoiler:But then it's inverted when Yuko dies to the Mist Dragon, giving him a HeroicBSOD that nearly spirals him into the DespairEventHorizon. After he avenges her by killing the Mist Dragon, this trope is once again played straight, as knowledge that Raise might be real motivates him to keep moving forward, becoming much more cheerful, lively, and decisive in the process.]]
* This is very common among characters who perform [[HeelFaceTurn Heel-Face Turns]] in ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' (usually thanks to the introduction of GoodParents). Some specific examples:
** [[DarkMagicalGirl Fate Testarossa]] starts off as a girl who deliberately represses her emotions as a defense mechanism for [[AbusiveParents her mother's abuse]]. By the time of ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers StrikerS]]'', she actually smiles more often than not when she isn't on duty (being befriended by Nanoha and adopted by Lindy did ''wonders'' for her emotional well being).
** Shamal noted in Episode 6 of ''A's'' that all of the Wolkenritter changed significantly for the better after Hayate became their master.
** Nove goes from being grumpy to a CoolBigSis thanks to the influence of her adopted family.
** [[TheBeastmaster Lutecia Alpine]] is an EmotionlessGirl in ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers StrikerS]]'' but falls squarely into the GenkiGirl category by the time of ''[[Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid ViVid]]'', thanks to having been removed from control of the evil [[BigBad Dr. Jail Scaglietti]] and reunited with her adoring mother [[ActionMom Megane]].
** Rinne Berlinetta from ''Anime/VividStrike'' gets notably more cheerful after reconnecting with [[ChildhoodFriends Fuka]] and overcoming her self-loathing.
* ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'':
** [[AllThereInTheManual In the novelization]] of ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', Hinata Hyuga notes that her younger sister Hanabi has changed since [[spoiler:Neji's death]]. What brought on the change is unknown, but Hanabi acts more childish and outgoing now than she did in the main series.
** Along with her, ''Manga/{{Boruto}}'' shows that Hiashi has also mellowed out from [[Manga/{{Naruto}} the original series]], showing a much softer side with his family and especially his grandkids.
* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'':
** Setsuna started as cold as ice due to seeing herself as a FailureKnight, but after the events of the Kyoto Arc, she opened up a lot more and became friendlier and happier. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Evangeline]] during their match in the Mahora Festival TournamentArc, where she told Setsuna to give up her newfound happiness because it made her boring and weak.
** Asuna was originally a smart-mouthed EmotionlessGirl typical of {{Mystical Waif}}s like her, but frequent, violent interactions with her UnknownRival [[ClassRepresentative Ayaka]] turned her into the FieryRedhead {{Tsundere}} of today.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'': After [[spoiler:resigning from the position of Fleet-Admiral in protest of the World Government covering up the Impel Down breakout to save face]], the previously dour and stoic [[AntiVillain Sengoku]] becomes ''a lot'' more laidback and cheerful, with the implication that his whole grumpy attitude seen previously was born from the stress of his job rather than his own personality.
* [[EvilFormerFriend Siren/Ellen]] from ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'' started out as cold and hostile towards [[CuteKitten Hummy]], however after her HeelFaceTurn as [[SixthRanger Cure Beat]], which resulted in her being [[ShapeshifterModeLock trapped in her human form]], she has become a GenkiGirl.
* Takeo starts out ''Manga/TakeoChanBukkairoku'' distant and disinclined to open up to people. This is largely due to the curse that causes her to be BornUnlucky and makes her TheJinx to everyone around her. The youkai she lives with discover that the key to surprising her, and thus causing her to expel the negative energy within her for them to devour, is ''happiness'' because she's felt it so rarely that it's a genuine shock to her system when she experiences it. As a result, they dedicate themselves to making her happy so they can feed off her energy and, despite this being completely counter-intuitive for the majority of them, they are successful and Takeo eventually reaches a point that she can declare she will not give in to despair ever again.
* Saori from ''Manga/WanderingSon'' has a FriendlessBackground but when she met Nitori she began making friends. She however regressed when she became jealous of Takatsuki's friendship with Nitori, not helped when Nitori told her she confessed to Takatsuki, and TookALevelInJerkAss that lasted most of middle school. Eventually they all made up and Saori is noticeably less moody come high school. She smiles more and is quite friendly with Takatsuki.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}:
** [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Post-Crisis]] Kara felt confused, irascible, and pretty miserable upon arriving on Earth. Several months later she'd adapted to Earth and learned to be a hero, and she was pretty happy with her life.
** [[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 Her Post-Flashpoint self]] found out that Krypton, her family, her friends, her old life... were gone right after crash-landing on Earth. For a long time, she was an upset, lonely, angsty teenager struggling through her abandonment and anger issues and her inability to fit in with humans. After undergoing character development, which ironically involved a [[ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton Red Lantern stint]], she let her anger and confusion go and become a happier and more optimistic person.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'':
** Shinji and Asuka became happier and less gloomy after getting together. Shinji even stopped needing his headphones to escape from reality because he was glad and at peace.
** Rei stopped taking her feeling-numbing medication per advice of Asuka. Afterwards, she started bonding with her fellow pilots and she also became happier and smiling more often (covertly so that she did not clue Gendo or Ritsuko in on her changes).
* ''Fanfic/BeforeMyBodyIsDry'': In "First Comes Love", Akio becomes much more pleasant and carefree.
* ''Fanfic/TheBlackEmperor'': Thanks to his relationship with Milly, Lelouch has largely recovered from the TraumaCongaLine he had when he was ten.
* ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'':
** After finding out she was pregnant, Asuka spent several weeks feeling angrier and more depressed than usual. After that time her mood changed again due to her physical shifts and she started to behave in a more joyful, cheerier fashion.
** Shinji also became happier after he and Asuka got together.
* ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfAnElderGod'': After getting orphaned and abandoned Asuka was a very angry, very hostile little girl. However her foster mother took care of her and helped her with her issues, and when Asuka met the remaining cast she was considerably more cheerful than her canon self.
* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'':
** After going through a war, the end of the world, and surviving in a wrecked world, Asuka was mentally broken, exhausted, bitter, and angry with everyone and everything. When she arrived on Avalon, people cared about her, offered counseling, and helped her to set several things right, and as a result, Asuka's mood improved ''considerably''. When Shinji saw her again after several hours he was shocked because she was acting more like the bold, cheerful girl she was when he met her.
** Shinji, too. Hooking up with his life's love, getting [[spoiler:his mother, family, and friends]] back, and fighting for a worthy cause -for once- cheered him up tremendously.
* ''Fanfic/DoingItRightThisTime'':
** Before the timeline restarted Asuka was so infuriated, hopeless, and fed up with everything she just wanted to die. When she woke up in her room back in Germany, three months before the beginning of the War, and realized she had another chance, she was absolutely giddy.
** So did Rei. Not having her emotions dampened, gaining a decent big sister figure, and developing a closer relationship with her teammates improved her erstwhile somber mood ''a lot''.
** Shinji... Well, he still has a way to go, but he's getting there.
* In ''Worm''/''DC'' crossover ''Fanfic/EchoesOfYesterday'', Taylor Hebert is saved from her bullies right when she's reaching her breaking point. Although her psychological issues obviously aren't gone, and she doesn't get [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} her new friend's]] cheerful disposition, she has been befriended by someone who fits with her idea of a hero, her father is now doing something about the bullying, and she's spending time away from her school and her tormentors. Because of all this, Taylor is feeling happier than she's been in a long, long time.
* ''Manga/Evangelion303'':
** Asuka goes through this several times: at the beginning, she was very distressed and glum because her performance was slipping. Then she met Shinji, after a while -and several fights- they got together and her mood got sunnier to the point that everybody commented on it. Later she fell on very hard times and she became angrier, loathful, and depressed. After getting over her issues she became again happier and bolder.
** Rei became emotionless after an accident and had a hard time reconnecting with her squadmates (and everybody else). After the LoveTriangle tangling Kaworu, Saburo, and herself up got resolved, she started to smile more often.
* ''Fanfic/GhostsOfEvangelion'': After Instrumentality, a lot of therapy and time, Shinji and Asuka are somewhat happier and more emotionally stable.
* [[Franchise/HarryPotter Myrtle Warren]] takes this trope and cuddles it in ''Fanfic/HarryAndTheShipgirls''. Harry forcing Peeves to stop bullying her was one thing. [[spoiler:Learning that the man she loved was related to Harry on his mother's side?]] You could barely recognize her compared to what she was like in canon after that!
* ''Fanfic/{{HERZ}}'': After the war, Asuka was angry, resentful, and gloomy and hated herself and everybody. Twelve years later, she is more mature, has repaired her relationship with Shinji and has married him, has given birth a cute daughter, and is happier than she ever was during her childhood.
* ''Fanfic/HigherLearning'': The three pilots are hit with this thanks to Kaoru's lessons and counseling. Shinji becomes hopeful for the future, Asuka gets less angry and less introvert, and Rei starts enjoying her life.
* ''Fanfic/LastChildOfKrypton'': Asuka became happier and livelier when Shinji showed he cared about her, and later when he confessed.
* ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'': Izuku has a very noticeable uptick in cheer and optimism after finishing his QuestForIdentity and finding out who and what he is. While he's still a NervousWreck, he's fully resolved himself to chasing his dreams of becoming a Hero when he was hellbent on not becoming one at the start of the story.
* ''Fanfic/OnceMoreWithFeeling'': Shinji is taking great pains to prevent Asuka from breaking down again, making sure that she knows that there are people care about her and value her, and will do so even if she stops being a pilot. The result is she is happier and more upbeat than in the original timeline.
* ''Fanfic/TheOneILoveIs'': Rei, Asuka, and Shinji had several setbacks and much angst as the former two fought over the latter, but on the whole, their LoveTriangle made them happier and more emotionally stable.
* ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'':
** At the beginning of the Oak's Summer Camp Gaiden, Serena is ''not'' happy to be left at the titular camp while Grace is busy with a Rhyhorn Racing Cup in Kanto. However, after she meets Ash, she quickly grows to like it and at the end admits she had a lot of fun.
** Misty in the main story as well. When introduced, she has a rather cynical attitude due to her terrible childhood and being kicked out of her home by her sisters. A few months of traveling with Ash help her develop a more positive outlook of life, enough that while aboard the S.S. Anne, she's not above [[TheTease engaging in some playful teasing]] by dragging him into a swimsuit-shopping spree.
* ''Fanfic/ResurrectedMemories'': After being saved by Danny and realizing that he and the others truly see her as their friend, Ember becomes happier and less conflicted.
* Fluttershy in ''Fanfic/RoyalBusiness'', as Spike notices when he runs into her in mid-air. She's friendly, smiling and even ''mischievous'' with Rainbow Dash after they re-bonded and became friendlier than ever before with Rainbow Dash in ''Fanfic/{{Dragonshyness}}''. This is Fluttershy's ''normal'' reaction to discovering that somepony loves her, as we also see (four years later) regarding Bulk Biceps in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E24EquestriaGames Equestria Games]]".
* In ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'':
** After meeting [[spoiler:Aki]], Rei becomes more cheerful and smiles more often.
** After [[spoiler:saving the world and meeting their daughter again,]] Shinji and Asuka are happier and less burdened.
* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': Developing powers and becoming a super-heroine made Asuka a happier, more cheerful and more positive person who did not need to pilot a giant robot to feel her life was not worthless.
* In ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'', Rei becomes more joyful and more upbeat after meeting Shinji and becoming a ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Nurgle follower]]''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Farley Wink's secretary [[SexySecretary Sawyer]] from ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' is a BrokenBird, having come to Hollywood with talent and enthusiasm, but was crushed by Hollywood's humanist hegemony. Likewise for many of the FunnyAnimals sitting morosely in Farley's office. [[AscendedFanboy Danny Cat]] arrives with the same enthusiasm, which ultimately reawakens their performer spirit, and they finish the film glowing in triumph and applause.
* [[AnIcePerson Queen Elsa]] of ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'' grew up highly reserved because she was afraid being emotional would cause her powers to act up, because she accidentally hurt Anna with her powers as a child and the trolls altered her memories so she'd be unaware of her magic, which she tries to keep a secret from her. The first time she opens up is when she sings her iconic ''Let It Go'' solo. She's still very anxious in "For The First Time In Forever (Reprise)", culminating in her striking Anna in the heart, but at the end seems to have opened up more thanks to ThePowerOfLove, and has mastered her ice powers. ThePowerOfLove is strongly hinted at Elsa finally understanding how to love her own self.
* [[ShrinkingViolet Violet Parr]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'' starts out massively introverted and socially miserable, too imploded to even speak to a boy she likes. After embracing her super side to thwart the villainous [[BigBad Syndrome]], Violet emerges from her cocoon and starts making friends.
* The titular kitten [[CuteKitten Oliver]] from Disney's ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'' starts out as a giveaway kitten in a cardboard box. Evening rain, a sewer of doom, feral dogs... life sucks for this kitten. By the end of the story, however, the kitten has a name and a home and [[LonelyRichKid Jenny Foxworth]]... yeah, life is good for Oliver.
* [[spoiler: Anton Ego]], from ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'', in the ending, after having rediscovered his childhood memories with the help of our protagonist's cooking.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Lydia in ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}'' is a very unhappy {{Goth}} teenager. Through forming a bond with a couple of friendly ghosts, she becomes much [[PerkyGoth perkier]] in the end.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* This happens to Scrooge in Charles Dickens' ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'', after he is whipped into shape by three ghosts.
* Azjel in ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries''. When seen in book two of the series, he's a dour, emotionless {{tykebomb}}. Thanks to Dora {{Care Bear Star|e}}ing him by accident, by the time of short story ''Eternal Pen'', taking place a year after the book, he's positively a GenkiGuy.
* In ''Literature/RebuildWorld'', Akira goes from being wary of everyone and everything to soaking in the luxuries he's now able to afford, demonstrating a level of childish excitement over new things that he couldn't imagine himself experiencing or having at the start of the story. He also wears a huge, goofy smile when Shiori takes him out to an expensive dinner for the second time and has to be reminded to not make a scene.
* Nico di Angelo in ''Literature/TheTrialsOfApollo''. While he's not all puppies and butterflies by any stretch, he's far more cheerful than he was at the end of ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'', likely thanks to his relationship with Will.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* On ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Castiel, since his introduction, was a grim and humorless character, who rarely smiled and was a focused soldier. After a long arc that sees him going dark, going mad and then being reborn as an amnesiac, he becomes TheAtoner by absorbing all Sam's hell memories. This leads to a nervous breakdown, and when he emerges, he's a nature-loving CloudCuckoolander who giggles, makes jokes and is obsessed with evolution. The demon Meg describes him as "the naked guy at the rave, totally useless."
* On ''Series/TeenWolf'', Jackson is a JerkJock who is actually very insecure because he is adopted. In the first two seasons during which he was a main character, he was aggressively competitive, egotistical, a bully, and often mean even to his girlfriend. Then he was PutOnABus because his actor took a role on ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. When he next appears in the final episodes of the show, he is almost a completely different person because during his time away he came out as bisexual and fell in love with NiceGuy Ethan. This results in him being much more friendly and prone to banter even during deadly situations.
* [[spoiler:Cohle]] from ''Series/TrueDetective'', spends the whole season ''this close'' to [[StrawNihilist complete nihilism]], yet he manages to find a sense of hope and optimism by the end.
-->'''[[spoiler:Hart]]:''' ''[looking up at the stars in the night's sky]'' It appears to me that the dark has a lot more territory.\\
'''[[spoiler:Cohle]]:''' You know, you're looking at it wrong, the sky thing... Well, once, there was only dark. If you ask me, the light's winning.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* [[CuteClumsyGirl Merrill]] from the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series. She was very serious in the first game, then became almost a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} in the second.
* Sasha took one between ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon64'' and its AlternateUniverse {{retool}}, ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonBackToNature''. Sasha in ''64'' is a depressed PerpetualFrowner who has to deal with her husband (Gotz) and daughter (Karen) constantly arguing and the lingering threat of their winery failing. In ''Back To Nature'' she is a sociable [[GossipyHens gossip]] who has a thriving grocery store and is married to Jeff.
* In ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'', Geo begins as a mopey shut-in after his father, who he idolized, vanishes after a mission in space goes awry. After meeting Omega-Xis, Geo is forced to socialize with his peers and gradually becomes friends with them, becoming far more emotive and cheerful as the series goes on.
* N, when he returns in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite2'', has taken a major level in cheerfulness, no longer under the thumb of [[AbusiveParents Ghetsis]]. Not only does his battle intro sprite sport a smile, his {{Leitmotif}} went from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uyUgSsSN5E this]] to ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnVSdEKRz3E this]]''.
* In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', [[ShrinkingViolet Lillie]] [[spoiler:takes a level in cheerfulness after the [[WhamEpisode second visit to the Aether Foundation]], changing her hairstyle and outfit to show her {{Character Development}}.]]
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' does this with [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Princess Zelda]]. ''Melee'' uses her ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' iteration, while ''Brawl'' and ''3DS/Wii U'' use her ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' iteration; both iterations are as somber and stoic as they were in the ''Zelda'' games. ''Ultimate'', in contrast, uses her ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinktothePast A Link to the Past]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds]]'' iteration, who is more cheerful and energetic.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* In ''VisualNovel/FateHollowAtaraxia'', [[LadyOfBlackMagic Caster]] is much more relaxed than she ever was in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' since she no longer needs to worry about the Holy Grail War or leaving her beloved Master.
* In ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Justice For All'', Adrian Andrews is at best stern and unapproachable, and a psychologically crippled person who needs someone she can look up to for emotional stability. By the next game, ''Trials and Tribulations'', she's cheered up considerably thanks to Phoenix's involvement in the last case in which they met, and is now a cordial and cooperative museum curator.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':
** Weiss Schnee goes from a grumpy, arrogant, slightly self-centered young lady to one that while still quite uppity, cares about her teammates' well-being, will joke around with her teammates (much to their dismay), and has no problem openly fawning over a PreciousPuppy.
** Blake Belladonna goes from being a deeply stoic and broody young girl with a DeadpanSnarker attitude in Volume 1 to being rather positive and sociable (though she's still quite reserved by comparison to her teammates) by Volume 3. [[spoiler: Then [[InvertedTrope inverted completely]] at the end of Volume 3 with the return of [[{{Yandere}} Adam Taurus]], which leaves her traumatized, prone to sudden bursts of shouting and irrationality, paranoid, and easily embarrassed. She starts to get over it over the course of Volume 4 with help from DoggedNiceGuy Sun, though.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', when Aradia first enters the comic, [[EmotionlessGirl she's completely unable to feel emotion]] because [[spoiler:she's actually a ghost]]. She insists that she doesn't mind this state, but everyone else finds her depressing to talk with. Then she gets better. Able to feel emotion again, she chooses to look at the bright side of ''everything'' and becomes unrelentingly happy. So happy that she regularly creeps her friends out.
* ''Webcomic/StickyDillyBuns'' is largely about the process of supposedly supporting character Ruby coming out of her shell, making friends, accepting her sexual feelings, and becoming more cheerful as a result.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Novel]]
* ''Literature/CanYouSpareAQuarter'': When Graham first met Jamie, the boy was very reserved and almost afraid to speak. Since then and thanks to the company with Graham, Jason and the latter's family he has become much more outgoing and happy.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Charmcaster was [[BrokenBird one of the most depressed (and depressing) characters]] in ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien''. In the DenserAndWackier ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'', she seems to have used magic as a stimulant and is now an AffablyEvil GenkiGirl.
* Bender of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' started off as a depressed, sullen robot who wanted to [[DrivenToSuicide kill himself]] out of guilt for building suicide booths. However, after meeting Fry and losing his bending limitations, he becomes much more gleeful and content with life.
* PJ from ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'' starts out depressed and hopeless in the pilot. In the main part of the series and the first movie, he's mainly a world-weary NervousWreck with some despondent moments and relatively frequent contentment. By the end of the second movie, he's the happiest guy around. These changes occurred because of the positive influences of [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe befriending Max]] and [[EarnYourHappyEnding leaving home and finding a girlfriend]].
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicTwilightSparkle Twilight Sparkle]] started off the series as an acerbic recluse, and uninterested in socializing in favor of her studies for [[TheHighQueen Princess Celestia]]. After the events of the pilot, she comes to appreciate the importance of friendship and slowly becomes more cheerful and friendly (if still sometimes snarky). [[CharacterizationMarchesOn It's rather odd to watch earlier episodes compared to those of later on]], where she is sometimes extremely perky and even a bit naïve.
** [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicPinkiePie Pinkie Pie]] used to be a very dour, American Gothic kind of little girl, but then she witnessed something amazing and felt herself smile for the first time. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inHQ4fqThKM Inducing this in others is Pinkie Pie's Life Mission.]]
** The Season 5 episode "Make New Friends but Keep Discord" ends with [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicPrincessCelestia Princess Celestia]] heartily reveling in how much excitement Discord and the Smooze brought to the [[DancesAndBalls Grand Galloping Gala]]. This included [[CoveredInGunge spreading magic-resistant ooze]] all over everypony and threatening to banish one of the guests to another dimension. This is the first time she allows herself to be seen as anything other than a {{Tough Leader|Facade}}.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
** Gwen started out as a pessimistic {{Goth}}. By later episodes, she has become a PerkyGoth.
** Noah from ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' starts out as a DeadpanSnarker. After he [[spoiler:falls in love]], he still snarks but is overall a lot more cheerful.
[[/folder]]
----