Horrible description: Cool Big Sis

This trope's description suffers from a bad case of "Just tell me what the trope is" syndrome. The first thing the description does is start comparing it to other character archetypes and then goes into analysis territory.

So what exactly is this trope supposed to be?

...What?

This description makes no sense at all. Is this supposed to be an anime trope?

Based on the examples that I'm familiar with, it appears to mean "Cool big sister".

Rhymes with "Protracted."

Which examples? because I'm seeing a lot of zero content examples.

There's definitely a legit trope in there, but yeah, the description is terrible. A Cool Big Sis is someone who is "above" the main characters (in terms of age, experience, rank, power, etc) but "below" whatever authority figures exist in the work. They're a source of benevolent wisdom, offering help and advice garnered from their greater experience without having to be a disciplinarian like an actual authority figure.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

So it doesn't even have to be an actual older sister?

So a Big Brother Mentor, except a sister. Eh, okay, I guess. *shrug*

edited 5th Jan '12 4:10:30 PM by troacctid

Rhymes with "Protracted."

It's a character who is a Cool Big Sister or acts like one towards the heroes.

SPATULA, Supporters of Page Altering To Urgently Lead to Amelioration (supports not going through TRS for tweaks and minor improvements.)

Huh. Uh, yes. I always get that one confused with Aloof Big Brother, which is definitely not this trope.

Maybe Cool Big Sis and Big Brother Mentor should be merged?

edited 5th Jan '12 4:24:03 PM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

It's not that they're always a mentor. There's kind of two kinds: The one that is 'too cool' to hang out with the younger kids, but isn't mean, and the really nice version that treats them sweetly like a little kid, either way they are sort of role models or someone the heroes want to be like, or look up to or rely on, even if sort of sometimes its sort of secretly while acting like they're annoying. Sometimes their mentors but they don't have to be.

edited 5th Jan '12 6:11:14 PM by NoirGrimoir

SPATULA, Supporters of Page Altering To Urgently Lead to Amelioration (supports not going through TRS for tweaks and minor improvements.)

I'm not seeing that much of a problem with the description.

I think it could probably use a bit more rigor and organization, but it's not that hard to figure out.

The character is (almost always) a woman, slightly older then the main cast.

She takes on a "big sister" role to the main cast. But she's not the "regal", "perfect, "model" sister that you try to live up to. She's the "cool" sister. The one who knows about worldly things (like boys, and makeup, and sex, although that last one probably stays at the innuendo level) and will actually talk to you about these subjects. (The actual subjects can be different, in a more epic, less mundane story it will be things like death, deception, and defeat).

She's become cynical (because she's lost her innocence) but she likes to pretend she's still innocent. Which is probably why she's hanging out with the main cast despite them being younger then her.

That's all pretty much in the description, although it could be organized better.

Additionally this implies that she's a vaguely protective figure standing between the innocent main cast and the more hostile cynical "real" world. While on the other hand also a bit of a guide to this fallen world, and thus vaguely threatening to the main casts innocence. If the latter is in play, then she's likely a Trickster Mentor.

Those last should probably be added.

edited 6th Jan '12 6:07:50 PM by Sackett

Is this part really a constant? If not, I'd change to "She might have become cynical (...)".

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.

Does this trope always have to be female, or can there be a male version of this trope.

Furthermore, is there a difference between this trope and Big Brother Instinct?

"Think like a man of action, act like a man of thinking, and don't be a dumbass."

Generally, the male version is Aloof Big Brother isn't it?

Fight smart, not fair.

I don't know. Aloof Big Brother implies, to me, a character whom the younger brother (and it's usually a brother, not a sister), is jealous of, sets an ideal, is in a rivalry with, etc. They're more or less a goal or an obstacle. They are distant and disapproving of their younger sibling. Cool Big Sis would be the role model/protector/inspiration. She, most likely, doesn't look down on the younger sibling (but perhaps thinks she's unworthy of being a role model). She'd be a positive force.

Also, Aloof Big Brother is mostly used for actual big brothers. Cool Big Sis is used just as often for non-relatives.

I feel Cool Big Sis is a character that truly fills a sisterly role, whereas Aloof Big Brother pulls away from it. It's also important that the younger sibling feel like she's a Cool Big Sis, not just fans really like this character and think she's cool.

The male version of this trope is Big Brother Mentor. Big Brother Instinct is about an older/stronger male reflexively acting as a Big Brother Mentor to a younger/weaker female, while Cool Big Sis is an older/wiser female acting as a mentor/role model for a younger/less experienced female.

Aloof Big Brother is about a big brother figure who is distant and possibly something of a jerk (and may even be outright evil), while Cool Big Sis is about a big sister figure who is closer and generally more supportive. The Spear Counterpart of Cool Big Sis is Big Brother Mentor.

What I'm not sure of is whether Cool Big Sis and Big Brother Mentor should be a) merged, b) kept as the Spear Counterpart / Distaff Counterpart of each other, or c) differentiated so that they're independent of gender (eg, the Big Brother Mentor is the one who watches over the younger sibling and keeps them in line before they get themselves in trouble, while the Cool Big Sis is the one who the younger sibling goes to when they need advice or support) and allow examples of both genders in both tropes.

edited 26th Feb '12 11:02:04 PM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

Support keeping Big Brother Mentor and Cool Big Sis the Spear/Distaff counterparts.

Hmm... the thing is that I'm not seeing much of a difference in how the tropes are used. I mean, I'd be okay with it if Big Brother Mentor and Cool Big Sis were treated differently from the creators perspective and are perceived differently by the audience... but I'm not seeing much of a difference... other than the fact that she's, well, a sis, in which case it'd be just Double Standard-ed to have a separate trope for it.

This also seems to have the same problem that Tall, Dark and Bishoujo has in that people put examples up that are really just tangentially connected at best, or just stuck on by some... person who didn't read the article.

For example, take Yoko from Gurren Lagann. She's not much older or more mature than Simon, and matures with the Time Skips as he does... and yet she's listed... probably because she's a young, friendly, attractive woman.

edited 22nd Mar '12 1:23:15 PM by TropeEater

   Evil is my favorite color.   

I always felt the trope was between female Big Brother Mentor and Team Mom. Someone who isn't quite a mentor or a parental figure but acts as kinda the cool female not quite older older role model that the protagonists like or look up too, no matter their own gender.

edited 31st Mar '12 2:21:33 PM by Vyctorian

Rarely active, try DA/Tumblr Avatar by pippanaffie.deviantart.com

Clocking due to lack of activity.

Waiting on a TRS slot? Finishing off one of these cleaning efforts will usually open one up.

Clock long since expired. Locking.

"If you aren't him, then you apparently got your brain from the same discount retailer, so..." - Fighteer