History Main / AscendedExtra

* Once upon a time, there was a game called ''TriangleHeart3SweetSongsForever''. This game had a TokenLoli who had little role to the plot aside from being the adorable little sister of the main character Kyouya. This little sister would later get a [[{{Omake}} mini-scenario of her own in the game's fandisc]] where she becomes a MagicalGirl, and said mini-scenario would eventually [[TheAnimeOfTheGame get turned into a full-fledge anime]]. The name of the little sister and her show? ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', who ascended so much, [[MorePopularSpinoff she displaced the entire series she originated from]].

* In the stage musical of Film/BeautyAndTheBeast, the feather duster and the wardrobe are given bigger roles, more developed personalities, and names, Babette and Madame de la Grande Bouche, respectively.

* Paul from Cheers.
* Frasier from Cheers.

* {{Discworld}} has numerous {{Ascended Extra}}s, from Detritus, who started out as a Splatter (like a Bouncer, but he used more force) who didn't even get a line in ''Guards! Guards!'' and eventually worked his way up to being a Seargant in the City Watch, to Ponder Stibbons, who started out as an inconsequential student at Unseen University and managed to become a senior faculty and later the Archchancellor's right hand man (and by virtue of being the only one of this select group that ever does any actual work, de facto ruler of the University).

* Franz in ''{{Gankutsuou}}''. In ''TheCountOfMonteCristo'' he's a minor character who [[TheWatson receives exposition]] in one short section of the story and serves as an easily overcome roadblock to the OfficialCouple. In the anime he becomes integral to the two main characters relationship.

* The {{Unreal}} universe has a lot of this. First are Malcolm, Brock and Lauren, who were simple skins a player could choose on the first ''UnrealTournament''. Then, ''UnrealTournament2003'' showed that Malcolm was the winner of the Tournament, with Brock and Lauren as part of his team. Since that moment, Malcolm is considered the face of the Unreal series. ''UnrealChampionship II: The Liandri Conflict'' also ascended Gorge and Arclite, (and later, many others, through a patch) from the same game, giving Gorge a BadAss status.

* 21 and 24 from The Venutre Brothers were minor characters early on in the first season, but became a bit more important as the season went on, and then starting with season 2 they were part of the main cast. Same could probably be said of the Monarch who went from a recurring character to getting equal screen time to the Venture family.

A minor character who is given a greatly expanded role in a new adaptation of a story, or in the ExpandedUniverse. It is usually safer to do this with an otherwise obscure character without mstuch depth, since the likelihood of creating plot contradictions is lower. On the other hand, the character may or may not be allowed to have a huge effect on the plot depending on how much the writer is trying to follow source material. Can lead to some bizarre incongruities in planning (e.g. OvertookTheManga, RestrictedExpandedUniverse). Sometimes the minor character becomes an AscendedExtra just so the writers can immediately turn them into a SacrificialLion.

** It's not widely known, but Steve Urkel was originally supposed to be a one-shot character. For anyone even remotely familiar with ''FamilyMatters'', one can understand how this is a '''major''' example of this trope.
*** ...''That's'' not widely known? It seems like any time the Internet ''mentions'' Steve Urkel, the story of how he was only supposed to be a one-off character is thrown in.

A minor character who is given a greatly expanded role in a new adaptation of a story, or in the ExpandedUniverse. It is usually safer to do this with an otherwise obscure character without much depth, since the likelihood of creating plot contradictions is lower. On the other hand, the character may or may not be allowed to have a huge effect on the plot depending on how much the writer is trying to follow source material. Can lead to some bizarre incongruities in planning (e.g. OvertookTheManga, RestrictedExpandedUniverse). Sometimes the minor character becomes an AscendedExtra just so the writers can immediately turn them into a SacrificialLion.

* In Pokémon [[PokemonDiamondAndPearl Platinum]], [[PokemonGoldAndSilver [=HeartGold=], and [=SoulSilver=]]], Caitlyn just sat in a throne in the Battle Castle, never even battling you. In PokemonBlackAndWhite, she's the third member of the [[FinalBoss Elite Four]]!

* In the {{Ys}} series, Dogi the Wallcrusher was at first a minor character who busts Adol out of jail at one point in the first game and disappears until the end of the second game. However, his bravado and infamous wallcrushing skill instantly turned him into a fan favorite and Dogi became the constant companion of Adol who follows Adol in his later adventures, always busting wall at one point to save Adol in each game. Most recently in {{Ys Seven}}, he is a playable character.

* Danny Trejo's character from the ''SpyKids'' movies, Machete, is set to star in an action film called...''Machete''. [[DarkerAndEdgier It's a lot less innocent than your average family film.]]

* Discworld has numerous {{Ascended Extra}}s, from Detritus, who started out as a Splatter(like a Bouncer, but he used more force) who didn't even get a line in ''Guards! Guards!'' and eventually working his way up to being a Seargant in the City Watch, to Ponder Stibbons who started out as an inconsequential student at Unseen University and managed to become a senior faculty and later the Archchancellor's right hand man(and by virtue of being the only one of this select group that ever does any actual work, defacto ruler of the University).

* [[HidamariSketch Sae]]'s sister Chika is arguably important in the anime, but you won't be able to find her in manga-- she is only referenced to and not given a name there.

** Many bit characters from the ''StarTrek'' shows have become major players in the tie-in novels, even starring in some of the book-only spinoff series. ''New Frontier'' made regulars out of one- or two-shot ''Next Generation'' characters Shelby, Selar, and Lefler. ''Corps of Engineers'' features guest engineers like Sonya Gomez, Duffy, and Stevens. A major character in the ''[[StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'' novels (Vedek Yevir) is based on an extra who appeared in one scene and was only seen from behind. ''Ex Machina'', a sequel to StarTrekTheMotionPicture, bases most of its supporting crew characters on faces (and alien masks) in the crowd from a crew-assembly scene in that film.