History Main / AdaptationalAngstUpgrade

* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'': [[Film/TheLastAirbender Movie!Aang]] spends most of his time angsting over his job as the [[ChosenOne Avatar]] and being the [[LastOfHisKind last Aibender.]]

* In the ''{Poirot}}'' adaptation of ''MurderOnTheOrientExpress'', Hercule Poirot agonises a lot more over whether to turn in the person or persons responsible for the murder than he does in the novel.

* AvatarTheLastAirbender: [[Film/TheLastAirbender Movie!Aang]] spends most of his time angsting over his job as the [[ChosenOne Avatar]] and being the [[LastOfHisKind last Aibender.]]

** According to the Talmud this was because he had a stutter from an injury.

* '''[[DragonBall Goku]]''' in DragonBallEvolution suffered this trope. In the movie, he has zero self-confidence and feels that he "can't get the girl", a far cry from his actual personality.

* Peter in ''TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' films, especially Prince Caspian, is far less confident and kingly than his book counterpart.

May result in AdaptationDecay or CharacterDerailment to some, but [[YourMileageMayVary YMMV]]. Compare and contrast with TrueArtIsAngsty.

* AvatarTheLastAirbender: [[Film/TheLastAirbender Movie!Aang]] spends most of his time angsting over his job as the [[ChosenOne Avatar]] and being the [[LastOfHisKind last Aibender.]] This is a [[CharacterDerailment massive contrast]] to the cartoon, where one of Aang's defining traits was his [[ThePollyanna ability to stay happy despite horrible circumstances.]] (That said, Cartoon!Aang could get pretty angsty at times. He just never let it dominate his life.)

Sometimes when Hollywood decides to [[TheFilmOfTheBook do a movie adaptation]] they'll try to make a character more interesting by giving him some angst not present (or not discussed) in the book. Reasons vary: it makes the character easier to empathize with, it is an attempt to avert a BoringInvincibleHero, it adds more conflict to the story, etc. Often used to add more CharacterDevelopment.
It may be caused by historical ValuesDissonance. Many of the examples below are from older works, or even OlderThanDirt. In the past, TheHero of the Monomyth was expected to accept his destiny as a great hero and leader, but modern ideals would rather support the character of a Cincinnatus-style humble everyman.

May result in AdaptationDecay or CharacterDerailment to some, but [[YourMileageMayVary YMMV]]. Compare and contrast with TrueArtIsAngsty.

* Surprisingly inverted in the ''{{Slayers}}'' franchise in regards to [[JerkassWoobie Zelgadis']] [[CursedWithAwesome chimeric state]]; despite being used as a ButtMonkey ploy several times in the anime, he's actually less prudish in regards to his appearance, and even ''embraces'' the awe and nicknames that he recieves from strangers (i.e "The Heartless, Mystical Swordsman); if for nothing else, he gets upset when he's being used for a silly ploy (such as being used as an anchor.). In the original novels, he is far more sensitive about his appearance and not frivolous at all; a side-story featuring him emphasizes this angst in which [[{{WallBanger}} he broods over the fact that he made friends who see beyond his appearance in the first place.]]

* Surprisingly inverted in the ''{{Slayers}}'' franchise in regards to [[JerkassWoobie Zelgadis']] [[CursedWithAwesome chimeric state]]; despite being used as a ButtMonkey ploy several times in the anime, he's actually less prudish in regards to his appearance, and even ''embraces'' the awe and nicknames that he recieves from strangers (i.e "The Heartless, Mystical Swordsman); if for nothing else, he gets upset when he's being used for a silly ploy (such as being used as an anchor.). In the original novels, he is far more sensitive about his appearance and not frivolous at all; a side-story featuring him emphasizes this angst in which [[WallBanger he broods over the fact that he made friends who see beyond his appearance in the first place.]]

* The first FullmetalAlchemist anime had this happen on a few occasions. Ed had a TenMinuteRetirement from being a State Alchemist after hearing about Nina's death and Tucker's execution [[spoiler:which actually turned out to be a cover-up]]. Later on, when Al thinks that Ed may have fabricated his entire personality when binding his soul to the armor, it only takes Winry telling him that the question Ed was scared to ask was whether Al hated him to bring him to his senses in the manga. In the first anime, he parts ways with Ed, but realizes the truth when helping a pair of Ishvalan refugee brothers.

* {{Merlin}} in the series of the same name. May be justified by being about a younger version than in the myths.

* Aragorn in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' films reveals his inner conflict more often than in the books, and is not convinced that he should return as king until the last movie. The DVD commentary for the film outright admits this was done as a way to give him a character-building arc, although it is easier to rationalize considering the opinion the film's Elves hold about the will of Men in general during the story.

* [[TheBible Moses]] in ''ThePrinceOfEgypt'', compared to other films such as ''TheTenCommandments''. In the original source however he's arguably even more angsty, to the point where he has to have his brother do the speaking for him.

* {{Merlin}} in the series of the same name. May be justified by being about a younger version than in the myths.

* The 2005 ''LittleHouseOnThePrairie'' miniseries, [[AdaptationDecay among many other things]], added angst between Laura and her father about her daredevilishness, with a scene where Ma explains to him in very self-help-book terms how she's really just looking for his approval.
* ''{{Hook}}'', a movie sequel to ''PeterPan'', makes the grown-up Peter into a distant workaholic dad, who has to learn that his kids are more important.

* The title character of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' in TheMovie [[ComicBookAdaptation manga]] continuity. Fans gave this version of Nanoha the FanNickname of "Emoha".
** This is especially noticeable in the part after the movie's events where, in contrast to the anime where she's pleased with the outcome but somewhat worried about Fate, she believes in the movie manga that she failed to help anyone. At the beginning of their mock battle in the manga, Fate believes that since she caused Nanoha trouble, she doesn't deserve to be friends with her.
* One could argue that this trope was the basis for the musical ''JesusChristSuperstar''. In fact, it was precisely this reason that many people initially protested the film -- because the all-powerful Christ isn't supposed to show feelings like the rest of the mortals, dammit.
** Ok, how about ''TheLastTemptationOfChrist'', then?
** They protested that too.

* The first FullmetalAlchemist anime had this happen on a few occasions. Ed had a TenMinuteRetirement from being a State Alchemist after hearing about Nina's death and Tucker's execution [[spoiler:which actually turned out to be a cover-up]]. Later on, when Al thinks that Ed may have fabricated his entire personality when binding his soul to the armor, it only takes Winry telling him that the question Ed was scared to ask was whether Al hated him to bring him to his senses in the manga. In the first anime, he parts ways with Ed, but realizes the truth when helping a pair of Ishvalan refugee brothers.

* SpiderMan in the movies is a lot more somber. Well, Peter Parker was always as angsty as he was in the films, but usually he puts that angst aside when in his Spider-Man personna; not so here.
* VisionOfEscaflowne's DarkerAndEdgier movie adaptation begins with Hitomi attempting suicide, and a huge part of her CharacterDevelopment involves overcoming her depression. In the series she was fairly more balanced, with most of her issues stemming from her [[LovingAShadow romantic]] [[LoveDodecahedron conflicts]] and lack of confidence.
* Film adaptations of Bible stories will typically add this - for example, the book of Exodus never says that Moses [[ChangelingFantasy had no idea of his Hebrew heritage]]. In fact, it implies the opposite, but most versions have his true heritage be a surprise, to up the angst. Other such examples are:
** A film version of the Book/Life of the prophet Joel gives Joel a love interest who is killed (in front of him) by the oppressors, spurring Joel onto his passionate, even frenzied preaching.
** The story of Ruth, already an impressive one in and of itself, is given an extra punch by making Ruth a ''priestess'' of the Moab religion, rather than just a Moabitess, and therefore her conversion to Judaism is much more meaningful.

* [[TheBible Moses]] in ''ThePrinceOfEgypt''.

* VisionOfEscaflowne's DarkerAndEdgier movie adaptation begins with Hitomi attempting suicide, and a huge part of her CharacterDevelopment involves overcoming her depression. In the series she was fairly more balanced, with most of her issues stemming from her [[LovingAShadow romantic]] [[LoveDodecahedron conflicts]] and lack of confidence.

* VisionOfEscaflowne's DarkerAndEdgier movie adaptation begins with Hitomi attempting suicide; a huge part of her CharacterDevelopment involves overcoming her depression. In the anime she was fairly more balanced, with most of her issues stemming from her [[LovingAShadow romantic]] [[LoveDodecahedron conflicts]] and lack of confidence.

* SpiderMan in the movies is a lot more somber. Well, Peter Parker was always as angsty as he was in the films, but usually he puts that angst aside when in his Spider-Man personna; not so here.

* SpiderMan in the movies is a lot more somber.

May result in AdaptationDecay or CharacterDerailment to some, but [[YourMileageMayVary YMMV]].

* Moist Von Lipwig in the TV adaptation of ''Discworld/GoingPostal'' broods much more on his past crimes and their consequences than he does in the book.

* Moist Von Lipwig in the TV adaptation of [[DiscWorld Going Postal]] broods much more on his past crimes and their consequences than he does in the book.

* Moist Von Lipwig in the TV adaptation of GoingPostal broods much more on his past crimes and their consequences than he does in the book.

* AvatarTheLastAirbender: [[Film/TheLastAirbender Movie!Aang]] spends most of his time angsting over his job as the [[ChosenOne Avatar]] and being the [[LastOfHisKind last Aibender.]] This is a [[CharacterDerailment massive contrast]] to the cartoon, where one of Aang's defining traits was his [[ThePollyanna ability to stay happy despite horrible circumstances.]] (That said, Cartoon!Aang could get pretty angsty at times. He just never let it dominate his life.)