History Main / EccentricMentor

* Master Oogway in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda''. He may seem an old senile turtle, but [[spoiler: he is blindingly fast when necessary with a ''[[TouchOfDeath multiple nerve strike pattern]]'' guaranteed to take anyone down... and of course his selection of Po the Panda for the Dragon Warrior was on the money.]]

** Iroh is this, especially in Book 1, to Zuko. In Book 2, also briefly becomes this to Toph and, at the end of the season, [[spoiler:Aang]]. Part of it seems to be part of a SadClown act, as he's been through a lot, and is watching his nephew head down the same evil path as the rest of his family. His eccentricity notably declines as the series goes on, but for good reasons, mostly.

** [[GodEmperor Princess]] [[BigGood Celestia]] is an unusual case. Unlike most other examples, whose eccentricity often causes other characters to unfairly discredit them, Celestia is [[UniversallyBelovedLeader highly regarded by all of her subjects]] -- too highly, in fact, as it leads them to frantically worship the ground under her hooves while feeling terrified that any tiny mistake on their part will provoke her royal fury. In reality, Celestia is not only the most easy-going character in [[SugarBowl the whole series]] despite her position (to a point: [[BewareTheNiceOnes she's nice]] but can be [[GoodIsNotSoft utterly merciless]] when need be. [[spoiler:Cozy Glow]], a child, [[DraggedOffToHell learned that the hard way]], [[TakenForGranite twice]]), but enjoys pranks and despises formality to such a degree that [[spoiler:the Season 1 finale has her inviting the Mane Six to the illustrious Grand Galloping Gala purely to enjoy the chaos [[BatmanGambit she knew their presence would wreak]]]]. Then in Season 4, it's revealed that the old castle that she and Luna used to inhabit is ''full'' of secret passages, trapdoors, an organ (that controls the secret passages and trapdoors), and numerous other oddities (the hallway with legs sticking out of the walls) that are pretty much solely designed to turn the place into a gigantic funhouse.
** Then there's ''Discord'' of all people taking on this role (briefly) in the Season 4 premiere and afterward.

* R.J. from ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'' is like a surfer dude, who can do kung fu, and is genuinely wise as well.

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', should you choose to join [[TheClan Great]] [[CorruptCorporateExecutive House]] [[ProudMerchantRace Hlaalu]], your sponsor will be Crassius Curio, a LoveableSexManiac CampGay (though technically [[DepravedBisexual bisexual]]...[[AnythingThatMoves and then some]]) Councilor who writes a pornographic play in his spare time. Despite his...eccentricities...he is very much a ReasonableAuthorityFigure actively working against the corruption in the House and he deeply cares for the PlayerCharacter.

** [[GodEmperor Princess]] [[BigGood Celestia]] is an unusual case. Unlike most other examples, whose eccentricity often causes other characters to unfairly discredit them, Celestia is [[UniversallyBelovedLeader highly regarded by all of her subjects]] -- too highly, in fact, as it leads them to frantically worship the ground under her hooves while feeling terrified that any tiny mistake on their part will provoke her royal fury. In reality, Celestia is not only the most easy-going character in [[SugarBowl the whole series]] despite her position (to a point: [[BewareTheNiceOnes she's nice]] but can be [[GoodIsNotSoft utterly merciless]] when need be. Cozy Glow, a child, [[DraggedOffToHell learned that the hard way]], [[TakenForGranite twice]]), but enjoys pranks and despises formality to such a degree that [[spoiler:the Season 1 finale has her inviting the Mane Six to the illustrious Grand Galloping Gala purely to enjoy the chaos [[BatmanGambit she knew their presence would wreak]]]]. Then in Season 4, it's revealed that the old castle that she and Luna used to inhabit is ''full'' of secret passages, trapdoors, an organ (that controls the secret passages and trapdoors), and numerous other oddities (the hallway with legs sticking out of the walls) that are pretty much solely designed to turn the place into a gigantic funhouse.

* Genshitenson from ''Manga/SoulHunter''.

* Coriakin from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', who is believed by Dufflepuds to be evil, but turns out to be a wise magician with a sense of humor. [[DoesNotLikeShoes Always walking barefoot]] is among his idiosyncrasies.

* He might be evil, but otherwise Aro of ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' is just your average vampire Dumbledore. Creator/CleolindaJones calls him Dumblevamp at one point. He's just not as smart.

* UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} was also this: for instance, when asked if an adulterer should be stoned, Jesus wrote or drew something in the dirt with His finger instead of answering. Some writers tend to make this into JesusWasWayCool.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7140785/11/The-Little-Prince The Little Prince]]'', a ''Literature/HarryPotter''/''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' crossover fanfic, Dumbledore and Grindelwald were both students of Coriakin (an eccentric sage from Chronicles of Narnia), and it is implied that Dumbledore got many of his quirks from Coriakin (for instance, his love of music).

* Aozaki Touko from ''LightNovel/TheGardenOfSinners'' is very quirky and friendly, but as [[AssholeVictim Cornelius Alba learned the hard way,]] ''do not fuck with Touko if you value your life''.

** [[GodEmperor Princess]] [[BigGood Celestia]] is an unusual case. Unlike most other examples, whose eccentricity often causes other characters to unfairly discredit them, Celestia is [[HundredPercentAdorationRating highly regarded by all of her subjects]] -- too highly, in fact, as it leads them to frantically worship the ground under her hooves while feeling terrified that any tiny mistake on their part will provoke her royal fury. In reality, Celestia is not only the most easy-going character in [[SugarBowl the whole series]] despite her position (to a point: [[BewareTheNiceOnes she's nice]] but can be [[GoodIsNotSoft utterly merciless]] when need be. Cozy Glow, a child, [[DraggedOffToHell learned that the hard way]], [[TakenForGranite twice]]), but enjoys pranks and despises formality to such a degree that [[spoiler:the Season 1 finale has her inviting the Mane Six to the illustrious Grand Galloping Gala purely to enjoy the chaos [[BatmanGambit she knew their presence would wreak]]]]. Then in Season 4, it's revealed that the old castle that she and Luna used to inhabit is ''full'' of secret passages, trapdoors, an organ (that controls the secret passages and trapdoors), and numerous other oddities (the hallway with legs sticking out of the walls) that are pretty much solely designed to turn the place into a gigantic funhouse.

* Rafiki in Disney's ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'' always seems a bit insane, but has all the answers... and knows how to kick some serious hyena tail.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Kibayashi is Akira’s FriendOnTheForce (the [[AdventureGuild Hunter’s Office]]) who lives as a ChallengeSeeker and ThrillSeeker, sponsoring talented hunters in hopes of enjoying their battle footage. Government employees who hear that Akira is being sponsored by him feel pity due to how he gets those he sponsored killed with their impossible assignments. He’s also quite willing to bend the rules to help those who do succeed under him. As for his HiddenDepths, Kibayashi actually has shades of a SocialClimber: He’ll exaggerate how volatile and unreasonable Akira is, and then sell favors for ‘talking him down’, raising his own influence.

* Though introduced with some foreboding, Fa'lina of ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' is RareFemaleExample #4 (but as a [[HornyDevils succubus]] she [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld doesn't exactly show her age]]). She [[SilverFox does look older than most of the cast though]]. Hell, she even has the biggest bustline in the comic!

Combines aspects of CoolOldGuy, TheMentor, OldMaster (sometimes), CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, BunnyEarsLawyer, often {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, and ZenSurvivor into one cranky, tough old biscuit. If they are an authority figure, they are TheWonka. May overlap with LoonWithAHeartOfGold, if they are not villainous. They may fill any of a number of mentor roles, such as TricksterMentor or ReasonableAuthorityFigure, related to their personality and their role in the story. As such, no matter how much power they have, they want the heroes to solve the problem. MentorOccupationalHazard will likely happen at some point. Compare SimpleMindedWisdom, when a "simple" (uneducated or mentally handicapped) character [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin displays uncommon wisdom]].

** As the series goes on, the eponymous Harry Dresden becomes this to his student, Molly Carpenter. To Molly, he's just her kooky, slightly grumpy teacher who often quotes ''Star Wars'' and can't function without coffee in the morning. A person who'd never seen him in battle would never guess that he's defeated two of the aforementioned Outsiders and ''obliterated'' an entire vampire species when they threatened his family.

** Also from the Discworld, a RareFemaleExample: Nanny Ogg.

* Bayaz in ''Literature/TheFirstLaw'' is introduced as the typical grumpy, eccentric old wizard who interacts with the protagonists. Since the series is a DeconstructorFleet of traditional fantasy, it turns out that [spoiler:he's a cruel TautologicalTemplar of a megalomaniac who is the closest thing the series has to a BigBad.]

* Bayaz in ''Literature/TheFirstLaw'' is introduced as the typical grumpy, eccentric old wizard who interacts with the protagonists. Since the series is a DeconstructorFleet of traditional fantasy, it turns out that he's a cruel TautologicalTemplar of a megalomaniac who is the closest thing the series has to a BigBad.

* Makarov from ''Manga/FairyTail''.

* In ''Theatre/PokemonLive'', Professor Oak's eccentricity is taken up to eleven.

* UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} was also this: for instance, when asked if an adulterer should be stoned, Jesus wrote or drew something in the dirt with His finger instead of answering. Some writers tend to take this UpToEleven, resulting in JesusWasWayCool.