History Main / ChangingOfTheGuard

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': By way of {{reincarnation}}, Korra is this to [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender previous series]]' protagonist Aang, with Katara (another protagonist and the elderly wife of said character) noting this in a PassingTheTorch speech in [[Recap/TheLegendOfKorraS1E1WelcomeToRepublicCity the first episode]]. While Korra and her group of friends run around as the new leads, Katara remains in the South Pole as a healer, Zuko is retired and ceded the throne to his daughter, and Toph became a hermit after raising her children to adulthood. So, and Sokka was a councilman who [[SequelNonEntity died at some unspecified point when Korra was a child]].

Compare with {{Legacy Character}}s. When done for the right reasons, an excellent way to avoid PlotLeveling. Then, it may be [[RealLifeWritesThePlot dictated by real life]], if an actor refuses to return, or even to increase merchandizing opportunities. These are generally less fortunate. Can lead to GenerationXerox, which is usually ''not'' done for the right reasons. Contrast OldHeroNewPals. Not to be confused with DecoyProtagonist, which happens mid-story and does not necessarily need to resolve the previous focus character's story. Compare BTeamSequel, which is where the ''creators'', but not necessarily the characters, change between installments.

See also RotatingProtagonist, DemotedToExtra, and AscendedExtra.

* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' introduces Indy's son Mutt, who was seemingly being set up to take his father's place. Even so, the film ends with a pointed subversion of passing the torch as Indy's trademark hat is blown off its rack and Mutt picks it up. He's about to try it on when Indy snatches it back. And in 2016, a fifth ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' film was announced, with Creator/HarrisonFord still in the lead.
* ''Film/RockyBalboa'' had a perfectly good opportunity to pass off his Best Boxer EVAR mantle to a young man named Steps (who did not have any other purpose to the story). He doesn't, although ''Film/{{Creed}}'' shows him training the son of his old rival.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' focuses on Amuro Ray and Char Aznable as the main protagonist and antagonist, respectively. The sequel, ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'', picks up 7 years later, with new protagonist Kamille Bidan taking over as the main character, with Amuro and Char moving to supporting roles. Also spawned a few more Changing of the Guards later in the franchise.
** Ultimately subverted in the timeline of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED''. In the sequel, ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'', new character [[HotBlooded Shinn Asuka]] was intended to take the main role, with previous protagonist [[AllLovingHero Kira Yamato]] as a secondary antagonist/supporting character. But flagging ratings led to Kira and a majority of the cast from the original ''SEED'' to [[SpotlightStealingSquad return to the starring roles]], where [[DecoyProtagonist the new "heroes" conveniently became the main antagonists in the final leg of the series.]] Due to this subversion, BrokenBase reactions have ensued for more than a decade after the end of ''Destiny''.

* VisualNovel/ApolloJustice takes over from Phoenix Wright in the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' games. Well, he ''technically'' does - the fact that the entire Apollo Justice game centres on what happened to Phoenix left some fans unconvinced. Still, Phoenix's pals were absent, to allow for a new cast. Probably as a response to this, later games fleshed out Apollo's personality and backstory to make him more distinct from Phoenix. It actually was supposed to be a whole new set of characters but ExecutiveMeddling caused it to include Phoenix and the writers had to make it so that Phoenix couldn't just swoop in and save the day.

** * In ''Literature/WarlockSeries'', the hero of ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'' is the LoveInterest of ''Literature/OrdealInOtherwhere''.

* Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/WitchWorld'' started with two books about Simon Tregarth. Then she wrote them about his children, or about other characters in the same world.

* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/WarlockSeries'', the hero of ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'' is the LoveInterest of ''Literature/OrdealInOtherwhere''. In ''Literature/ForerunnerForay'', the LoveInterest is the son of the first two protagonists.

** The ''first'' Jack-in-the-Box was killed in action, although his family knew only that he vanished without a trace. It wasn't until years later that his son discovered a hidden cache of his costumes and equipment, and decided to become the second Jack-In-The-Box and avenge his father's death.

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'':
** Had a two-issue story arc on this trope. ComicBook/SpiderMan {{Expy}} Jack-In-The-Box is confronted by [[EnfanteTerrible nightmarish futuristic versions of his son,]] who blame Jack for their fate (in their AlternateHistory, Jack died before they were born, and was therefore [[ParentalAbandonment unable to be a father figure in his life]]). When Jack later discovers his wife is pregnant with the as-yet-unborn son, he [[SadisticChoice has to decide]] between giving up his super-hero identity or risk leaving behind a [[FetusTerrible twisted offspring.]] The problem is resolved when [[spoiler:Jack passes his super-hero identity to an acrobatic [[StreetUrchin gang member,]] whom he aids from [[MissionControl his home basement]] with remote-control spy cameras and microphones.]]
** This is actually about the second Jack-In-The-Box passing the torch to the third. The ''first'' Jack was the father of the second and was killed in action, although his family knew only that he vanished without a trace. It wasn't until years later that his son discovered a hidden cache of his costumes and equipment, and decided to become the second Jack-In-The-Box.

** Played with in the case of Quarrel, a male villain whose daughter inherits his title and equipment, but ends up becoming a hero instead - just as he wanted.
** Comes up in the story of Starfighter as well, in a different way. [[spoiler:As his powers begin to fade, he wonders what he's done wrong - only for the entity that grants said powers to explain it just wants him to have a peaceful retirement. It then presents him with a list of several worthy candidates to take on the mantle, one of whom is his daughter.]]

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' focuses on Amuro Ray and Char Aznable as the main protagonist and antagonist, respectively. The sequel, ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'', picks up 7 years later, with new protagonist Kamille Bidan taking over as the main character, with Amuro and Char moving to supporting roles. Also spawned two more Changing of the Guards later in the franchise.
** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeed'' has Kira Yamato as the protagonist. In the sequel, ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'', new character Shinn Asuka takes the main role, with Kira as a secondary antagonist / supporting character. Eventually subverted when flagging ratings caused Kira and a majority of the cast from the original ''SEED'' to return to the starring roles, with the new heroes becoming the main antagonists.

* The main ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series has had 11/22/23 heroes so far (depending on how you count); [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red/Leaf]], [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Ethan/Kris/Lyra]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Brendan/May]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Lucas/Dawn]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Hilbert/Hilda]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Nate/Rosa]], [[VideoGame/PokemonXandY Calem/Serena]], [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Elio/Selene]], [[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndEevee Chase/Elaine]], [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Victor/Gloria]], [[VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus Rei/Akari]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet Florian/Juliana]]. In the Orre games, there's Wes in ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and Michael in ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness''. [[VideoGame/PokemonRanger Ranger games]] have 3/6 heroes (Lunick/Solana, Kellyn/Kate, and Ben/Summer). Then there's Mark/Mint from the [[TabletopGame/{{Pokemon}} TCG games]], an unnamed hero from ''Pokémon Conquest'', Todd Snap from ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap'' and Lucy Fleetfloot from ''Pokémon Troizei/Link''. In a series that revolves around "gotta catch 'em all", this was probably the best way to avoid continually invoking BagOfSpilling.

* The main ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series has had 11/22/23 heroes so far (depending on how you count); [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red/Leaf]], [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Ethan/Kris/Lyra]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Brendan/May]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Lucas/Dawn]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Hilbert/Hilda]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Nate/Rosa]], [[VideoGame/PokemonXandY Calem/Serena]], [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Elio/Selene]], [[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndEevee Chase and Elaine]], [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Victor/Gloria]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus Rei/Akari]]. In the Orre games, there's Wes in ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and Michael in ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness''. [[VideoGame/PokemonRanger Ranger games]] have 3/6 heroes (Lunick/Solana, Kellyn/Kate, and Ben/Summer). Then there's Mark/Mint from the [[TabletopGame/{{Pokemon}} TCG games]], an unnamed hero from ''Pokémon Conquest'', Todd Snap from ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap'' and Lucy Fleetfloot from ''Pokémon Troizei/Link''. In a series that revolves around "gotta catch 'em all", this was probably the best way to avoid continually invoking BagOfSpilling.

Story's over. TheHero and the LoveInterest have [[TheyDo married]], settled down, have no further interest in adventures - and, besides, who would look after the kids while they saved the world? Or maybe he was PutOnABus or perhaps - gasp - he [[TheHeroDies died]] and ''[[KilledOffForReal stayed dead]]''.

* The ''Litetature/TalesOfTheMagicLand'' cycle is divided into two parts: Ellie–Toto–Fred/Charlie era and Annie–Arto–Tim era. The third book ends with Ramina the Mouse Queen predicting that Ellie would never return to the Magic Land, but it didn't stop the fans from crying for more. The writer then quickly introduced Ellie's little sister Annie and Toto's grandson Arto to throw them into a new adventure.

* ''Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' passes the torch to a different [[BadassFamily Joestar]] every new series, although they usually wind up in conflict with [[BigBad Dio]] (even indirectly) at some point. It's also common for supporting characters in one series to show up in another, like Polnareff's involvement in Part 5.

* The ''Roleplay/RecordOfLodossWar'' OVA switches halfway through from Parn to Spark as the main character. Of course, [[spoiler:he's actually just being badass offscreen, and returns just in time for the FinalBattle.]]

* ''Franchise/DragonBall'': Creator/AkiraToriyama intended to switch the focus from Goku to his son Gohan at the end of the Cell Saga, but switched the main focus back to Goku because he decided that Gohan wasn't fit for the role.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'' skips 17 years after its halfway point, so pretty much your entire army will be replaced by the children of your units.
** This trope works backwards in the Elibe games. ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]'' (or just ''Fire Emblem'' outside Japan) was a prequel to ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]'', so it naturally starred the parents of several of that game's characters.

* Apollo Justice takes over from Phoenix Wright in the ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'' games. Well, he ''technically'' does - the fact that the entire Apollo Justice game centres on what happened to Phoenix left some fans unconvinced. Still, Phoenix's pals were absent, to allow for a new cast. Probably as a response to this, later games fleshed out Apollo's personality and backstory to make him more distinct from Phoenix.
** It actually was supposed to be a whole new set of characters but ExecutiveMeddling caused it to include Phoenix and the writers had to make it so that Phoenix couldn't just swoop in and save the day.
* The son of the main characters from the previous game is implied to the new hero in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'' and the game also focuses a good deal on the other children of the previous heroes as well, but the old heroes are quite active in the story themselves as well.

* All the games in ''VideoGame/TheTaleOfAlltynex'' trilogy does this.
* At the end of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX,'' Tidus [[spoiler:ceases to exist due to the fact that Jecht's existance as Sin was the only thing keeping him alive]]. Obviously, ''Creator/SquareEnix'' couldn't make him the protagonist of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2 the sequel]], so the story centers around Yuna instead and her quest to bring him back.
* At the end of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', [[spoiler:Vanille and Fang all die as a result of the plot and Lightning is gone for story reasons, so they're out.]] Bring in Lightning's sister, Serah. Conveniently, Lightning, while in Valhalla[[spoiler: (Heaven if you will)]], is able to summon Noel to give her some help. Hope, Vanille, Fang, [[GuestStarPartyMember Snow]], and Sahz also make appearances, not counting DLC.

* Each new main entry in the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series features a new group of heroes; ''VideoGame/Persona2'' is the only main series game where party members from the previous one still play a major role in the plot, though ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' reveals that the cast of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' haven't given up on the hero business just yet.
** The first ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'' plays this almost literally by having the female protagonist of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' pass down her sword to the PlayerCharacter.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Yakuza}} Yakuza 6]]'' is the final part of Kazuma Kiryu's story arc. The next game, ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'', follows a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, as he makes shockwaves through the Japanese criminal underworld.

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny2'' has Kyle, the son of Stahn and [[spoiler:Rutee]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny'', taking the role of protagonist after [[spoiler:Stahn's death]].
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'' focuses on new character Ludger one year after the events of ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' but still brings back the original cast as playable characters while the previous final bosses, Gaius and Muzet, get ''PromotedToPlayable''.

* The ''{{VideoGame/Borderlands}}'' games do this between each main entry. Each group of vault hunters in one game become key side characters in the next. The first generation that was Roland, Lilith, Mordecai, and Brick couldn't take on the threat of Hyperion in the second game, and the Crimson Raiders were scattered and complacent by the time the Children of the Vault emerged in the third.

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* The ''Film/{{Tremors}}'' series passes the "hero torch" from Val (gets married) to Earl (opens a theme park) to Burt (stays at it until [[spoiler:his heroic sacrifice in movie 7]].

* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' would periodically write off and replace members of its small cast, which would be reflected by [[EvolvingCredits changes to its title sequence]]. In order: Dr. Eckhardt was PutOnABus between Seasons 1 and 2 and replaced by TV's Frank; Joel escaped the Satellite of Love midway through Season 5 and was replaced by Mike; Frank died at the end of Season 6 and was replaced by Pearl; Dr. Forester was KilledOffscreen between Seasons 7 and 8, with Pearl [[DragonAscendant taking over]] as BigBad and bringing in Professor Bobo and Brain Guy as her assistants; and as the Bots are the only characters brought back in the Season 11 revival, Mike and Pearl's group are all replaced respectfully by Jonah, Kinga, and Max.

* The main ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series has had 11/22/23 heroes so far (depending on how you count); [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red/Leaf]], [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Ethan/Kris/Lyra]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Brendan/May]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Lucas/Dawn]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Hilbert/Hilda]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Nate/Rosa]], [[VideoGame/PokemonXandY Calem/Serena]], [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Elio/Selene]], [[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndEevee Chase and Elaine]], [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Victor/Gloria]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus Rei and Akari]]. In the Orre games, there's Wes in ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and Michael in ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness''. [[VideoGame/PokemonRanger Ranger games]] have 3/6 heroes (Lunick/Solana, Kellyn/Kate, and Ben/Summer). Then there's Mark/Mint from the [[TabletopGame/{{Pokemon}} TCG games]], an unnamed hero from ''Pokémon Conquest'', Todd Snap from ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap'' and Lucy Fleetfloot from ''Pokémon Troizei/Link''. In a series that revolves around "gotta catch 'em all", this was probably the best way to avoid continually invoking BagOfSpilling.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': After the end of the fifth season, the show was brought back with the miniseries ''Recovery One'', which featured a new protagonist named Agent Washington in the starring role. None of the original main characters reappeared, and the only returning characters were Delta, featured in the first miniseries ''Out of Mind'', and Wyoming, who appears briefly and without any lines. Washington continued as the protagonist into the next season, ''Reconstruction'', where the original cast gradually joined him.

* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/{{Warlock}}'' series, the hero of ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'' is the LoveInterest of ''Literature/OrdealInOtherwhere''. In ''Literature/ForerunnerForay'', the LoveInterest is the son of the first two protagonists.

* ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' was supposed to be this, with only Ryu and Ken being returning characters among a brand new roster (with new character Alex being the main protagonist.) After the game turned out to be a commercial disaster, the updated ''2nd Impact'' and ''3rd Strike'' (the latter of which would eventually become VindicatedByHistory) added Akuma and Chun-li, and Capcom eventually reached a compromise, with future titles being set between ''2'' and ''3'', with both the previous cast and some of the newcomers from ''3''.

* ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' skips 17 years after its halfway point, so pretty much your entire army will be replaced by the children of your units.
** This trope works backwards in the [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Elibe]] games. ''[[Videogame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]'' (or just ''Fire Emblem'' outside Japan) was a prequel to ''[[Videogame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]'', so it naturally starred the parents of several of that game's characters.

* At the end of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', [[spoiler:Vanille and Fang all die as a result of the plot and Lightning is gone for story reasons, so they're out.]] Bring in Lightning's sister, Serah. Conveniently, Lightning, while in Valhalla[[spoiler: (Heaven if you will)]], is able to summon Noel to give her some help. Hope, Vanille, Fang, [[Main/GuestStarPartyMember Snow]], and Sahz also make appearances, not counting DLC.

* Each new main entry in the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series features a new group of heroes; ''VideoGame/Persona2'' is the only main series game where party members from the previous one still play a major role in the plot, though ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' reveals that the cast of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' haven't given up on the hero business just yet.

* ''VideoGame/InfamousSecondSon'' changes the protagonist from Cole [=McGrath=] to Delsin Rowe due to the fact that [[spoiler:the game takes place after the good ending of ''Videogame/InFamous2'', in which Cole sacrifices himself]].
* Season Two of ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'' has Clementine become the hero this time around since Lee [[spoiler:ends up succumbing to the zombie plague by the end of the first season]].

* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo Fever'' was supposedly going to take place in a different universe from the previous games...but lo and behold, former protagonist Arle somehow found her way in, along with Carbuncle. Other classic Puyo characters returned in the sequel, putting them in the same continuity.

* ''Music/ConfessionExecutiveCommittee's'' ''Love Series'' centers around the students of Sakuragaoka High School, but every few years the current cast gets phased out in favor of a newer, fresher group of students. At first it focused on a group of six friends, but after a while focus shifted to the friend group of two of the first generation's younger siblings, and by 2019 focus shifted to ''that'' cast's juniors. the previous groups still do get some focus, but it mostly comes in side material and they are nowhere near the focus of the primary series afterwards.