Tagalong Kid - Television Tropes & Idioms

Typically the youngest member of a Five Man Band, the Tagalong Kid is usually the Hero's or the Chick's younger brother. He gets to save the day about once per season, but in the worst case scenarios he'll end up being The Load or Designated Victim in every other episode.

If the kid is an actual teammate instead of just a tag-along, the kid might sub in for just about any role but The Hero, with the proper tropes behind him or her.

The Chick — Children Are Innocent. A Cheerful Child can operate as the team's moral compass and emotional center. At worst, they serve as the designated kidnap victim. Might be the least likely Team Kid to be the Bratty Half Pint, though it does happen.
- If given combat ability, they tend to use their youthful energy and small size to fight as a Fragile Speedster. Alternatively, they may use some form of ranged weaponry to strike from a safe distance as a Glass Cannon. Slingshots and other throw weapons are more common than relying on archery or firearms, but subversions happen.
- Older kid Chicks in older Five Man Bands may instead be a Hot Blooded teenager. He's still the most idealistic guy on the team, but his combat ability tends to be a Kid Samurai or a Young Gun.
The Smart Guy — Teen Genius, or maybe preteen. The Bratty Half Pint can also fill the "smartass" variation of this role.
The Big Guy — Stronger than he first appears, the kid is a Cute Bruiser capable of benchpressing ten adult men.

Not to be confused with a child who's just part of an ethnolinguistic group of people of a certain southeast-Asian country.

Examples

Anime and Manga

Chibi-usa of Sailor Moon is one of the Bratty Half Pint variety.
Mokuba Kaiba and Rebecca Hawkins of Yu-Gi-Oh!
Akira of the Shiseiten in Samurai Deeper Kyo.
Clare is Teresa's Tagalong Kid in Claymore, and Raki becomes hers.
In Bleach, Zaraki Kenpachi has Kusajishi Yachiru, his vice-captain (and it's hinted that she may be deadlier than him).
- In later arcs, we also have Nel.
In Yotsubato, Yotsuba is everyone's Tagalong Kid.
Goku of Saiyuki has the personality and the relationship to the group, but he's actually the closest thing the series has to a genuine hero, and it's his relationship with Sanzo/Konzen that is the impetus of... well, pretty much every thing that happens in the plot? Something like that.
Scar has Mei-chan in Fullmetal Alchemist.
Shiro in Ouran High School Host Club.
Mamoru in Gao Gai Gar, although it's quite necessary that he tag along.
Max from the Advance seasons of Pokemon.
Conan Edogawa of Detective Conan was first considered by the Detective Boys as such, but, well... his intelligence could hardly be covered.
Chiru from Xabungle ...by that show's standards.
Antonio from Romeo X Juliet, though he's quite Genre Savvy and competent as well.

Film

Woody in Sky Blue. He suffers.

Literature

Ponyboy of The Outsiders. He's only considered a "member" of the gang because of his older brothers.
Lupine Wonse was a literal Tagalong Kid in Guards! Guards! The skipping run he developed to keep up with the big boys in his gang is how Vimes recognizes him as an adult leaving the scene of a crime.

Live Action TV

River Tam on Firefly, although she has a much bigger role in the movie.
Justin in Power Rangers Turbo is literally a kid who tagged along and was given Ranger Powers. For reasons that are never adequately explained in the series, he morphs into a fully grown adult blue Ranger.

Video Games

Vaan in Final Fantasy XII — a bit unusual in that he's the viewpoint character. Also, his eventual role in the group is dependent on how the player develops his skills (though it's easiest to send him along the Fragile Speedster route).
In The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, winning all Arena matches saddles you with the "Adoring Fan", a small boy who follows you around gushing about your deeds. Due to his catchphrase of "By Azura, By Azura, By Azura!", amoung other things, he's almost universally considered The Scrappy. In fact, it's become popular to take him to high ledges and make him fall to his death, though he (un)fortunately respawns.

Web Comics

Gordito in Dr McNinja. A 12-years-old Mexican GunSlinger... with a full-grown mustache. At one point, the good Doctor highlights that Gordito does not merely "tag along".
Dr McNinja: Do you think I run around with a twelve-years-old boy just because I like his inferior grasp of girls and higher level math? Do you think I left him with my psychotic parents because I wanted him to die? No, you undead pale ponce! Gordito is the effing badass kid.

Western Animation

Tommy (alias Number T) of Codename Kids Next Door — almost promoted to Sixth Ranger.
Dil of Rugrats. One episode revolves around the older babies giving him an initiation into "the big babies".
Hiroki and Johnny in the later seasons of Code Lyoko.
Enzo in Re Boot, at least the first few seasons.
Ray Thompson, in the episode 'Justice' from Justice League. For the most part, he's simply a useless sidekick who cheers on the heroes featured in that episode, the Justice Guild. Of course, Ray is not what he seems to be.
Tails on Sat AM Sonic The Hedgehog, which provides for some Character Development as he trains under his Big Brother Mentor to become a more effectual Freedom Fighter.
Sheila's younger brother Bobby, from the animated Dungeons And Dragons.

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