Anime & Manga
Reader: I know this is sudden, but I have a question for Odacchi. Why is it that there is an abnormally extensive number of characters in One Piece who have unknown or already deceased mothers?
Oda: I see. Well. The answer is simple. That's because "Mother" is the antonym for "Adventure".
Oda: I see. Well. The answer is simple. That's because "Mother" is the antonym for "Adventure".
— One Piece, SBS volume 78.
Film — Live-Action
Vesper:...and since your first thought about me ran to orphan, that's what I'd say you are.
Bond: (just smiles)
Vesper: Oh, you are? Hm. I like this poker thing - and that makes perfect sense, since MI6 looks for maladjusted young men who give little thought to sacrificing others in order to protect Queen and country.
Bond: (just smiles)
Vesper: Oh, you are? Hm. I like this poker thing - and that makes perfect sense, since MI6 looks for maladjusted young men who give little thought to sacrificing others in order to protect Queen and country.
"Orphans always make the best recruits."
— M, Skyfall
Live-Action TV
Stanton: You know why Beale really picked you over the other recruits?
Stanton: It was where you came from. You had no family, at least no real family. And after losing your adoptive mother, you were on your own. Beale knew that you'd give everything to the Agency, because you didn't have anyone or anything to go back to. Except the girlfriend, and you didn't hesitate to walk away from her.
Reese: Only because I had to.
Stanton: That's right, because we don't get normal lives, and you can't miss what you never had. That's why Beale picked us and why we're so good at our jobs.
— Person of Interest, "Truth Be Told"
"You're 'Arry now, hear me? 'Arry the orphan boy. No one asks an orphan too many questions 'cause nobody gives three shits."
— Yoren to Arya Stark, Game of Thrones, "Fire and Blood"
Theatre
Samuel: For he is an orphan boy!
Chorus: He is! Hurrah for the orphan boy!
General: And it sometimes is a useful thing
To be an orphan boy.
Chorus: It is! Hurrah for the orphan boy!
Hurrah for the orphan boy!
Chorus: He is! Hurrah for the orphan boy!
General: And it sometimes is a useful thing
To be an orphan boy.
Chorus: It is! Hurrah for the orphan boy!
Hurrah for the orphan boy!
Webcomics
Elia: So what are we going to do with her? You did just murder everybody she's ever known or loved.
Sebastian: Well...
Mia: Oh, no! My parents have been dead for years!
Sebastian: Oh— I uh—
Mia: My friends too. I never really had many friends, but the few I did have all died off in unnecessarily tragic ways. One of them was eaten by a wolf!
Sebastian: Well...
Mia: Oh, no! My parents have been dead for years!
Sebastian: Oh— I uh—
Mia: My friends too. I never really had many friends, but the few I did have all died off in unnecessarily tragic ways. One of them was eaten by a wolf!
Web Video
"Dete's taking Heidi to live with her grandfather since her parents died of a tragic case of not-explained-in-the-slightest."
— Obscurus Lupa, Heidi 4 Paws review
"Elena's parents are already dead when the series starts because if your protagonist is a teenager and you want them to go have adventures, it's just a lot easier if their parents are dead."
"Every young author knows the single most easy way to give a character the illusion of depth is to give them a sad 'I accidentally killed my parents as a baby because I was so powerful' backstory. Plus, as a bonus, there were no stinky parents to get in the way of your cool teen character going on magical adventures by themselves for months or years at a time!"
