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* ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'':
** In the first scene in the series, Shiro, along with Sam and Matt Holt, is abducted off of Kerberos, one of Pluto's moons. In the TimeSkip between this and the scene a year later, he has been enslaved, separated from his companions, experimented on, and forced to become a gladiator for the amusement of TheEmpire. The entire ordeal cost him his right arm and severely traumatized him.
** After waking up from a 10,000 year cryogenic sleep, one of the first thing Allura finds out is that her entire planet was destroyed along with her entire species, including her parents. So...yeah...
** And then there's Keith, who grew up [[GiveHimANormalLife believing his mother had willingly abandoned]] him, lost [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest his father]] at a young age, and spent much of his childhood [[FriendlessBackground alone and unloved]]. When he finally made one friend, he later received word that he had died on a space mission (see first example for what really happened). And then he got expelled from SpaceCadetAcademy and lived alone in the desert for a year. DeusAngstMachina, indeed.
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* In ''Film/DeathGrip'', Kenny and Mark lost their mother in a house fire. They both have unresolved guilt over it. The fire was started when Kenny was playing flammable material outside and the mother died because Mark locked the door behind him due to his AmbiguousDisorder, trapping his mother in the burning house.
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** Ozpin admits to Ruby that he's made more mistakes than anybody in Remnant, though it isn't specified what he's actually done.

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** Ozpin admits to Ruby that he's made more mistakes than anybody in Remnant, though it isn't specified what he's actually done.done (until Volume 6, that is).
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!The root effects are usually:

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!The !!The root effects are usually:



!Usually involves one or more of the following:

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!Usually !!Usually involves one or more of the following:
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* In Morgan Ray Hess's ''Literature/{{Rainbow}}'', both of the main leads had [[UpToEleven very]] tragic and traumatic childhoods.

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* In Morgan Ray Hess's ''Literature/{{Rainbow}}'', both of the main leads had [[UpToEleven very]] ''[[UpToEleven very]]'' tragic and traumatic childhoods.
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* In Morgan Ray Hess's ''Literature/Rainbow'', both of the main leads had [[UpToEleven very]] tragic and traumatic childhoods.

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* In Morgan Ray Hess's ''Literature/Rainbow'', ''Literature/{{Rainbow}}'', both of the main leads had [[UpToEleven very]] tragic and traumatic childhoods.
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* In Morgan Ray Hess's ''Literature/Rainbow'', both of the main leads had [[UpToEleven very]] tragic and traumatic childhoods.

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*** Luffy’s backstory part 1, the climax of which provided the current TearJerker’s picture of the manga.
*** Coby’s. Though short and mostly played for laugh, it provided the starting point for his CharacterDevelopment much later.
*** Zoro's past, following the otherwise generic "my best friend/rival died" past but adding in the mix that his friend didn't die honorably; she died falling down the stairs. No epic sword fight, no sacrifice, she was just tired and slipped down some stairs. First “recruitment backstory”.

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*** Luffy’s Luffy's backstory part 1, the climax of which provided the current TearJerker’s picture of the manga.
*** Coby’s. Coby's. Though short and mostly played for laugh, laughs, it provided the starting point for his CharacterDevelopment much later.
*** Zoro's past, following the otherwise generic "my best friend/rival died" past but adding in the mix that his friend didn't die honorably; she died falling down the stairs. No epic sword fight, no sacrifice, she was just tired and slipped down some stairs. First “recruitment backstory”."recruitment backstory".



*** Buggy’s “tragic” past was mostly played for laugh. But the crew that he and Shanks started their careers with would be important hundreds of chapters later.
*** Chouchou’s past played homage to UsefulNotes/Hachiko. It’s a simple but both tearjerking and heartwarming story about the UndyingLoyalty of a CanineCompanion.

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*** Buggy’s “tragic” "tragic" past was mostly played for laugh.laughs. But the crew that he and Shanks started their careers with would be important hundreds of chapters later.
*** Chouchou’s Chouchou's past played homage to UsefulNotes/Hachiko. It’s a simple but both tearjerking and heartwarming story about the UndyingLoyalty of a CanineCompanion.



*** Usopp’s past
*** Also Captain Morgan (a minor antagonist of previous arc)’s backstory was revealed, retroactively adding depth to his character.

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*** Usopp’s past
Usopp's past.
*** Also Captain Morgan (a minor antagonist of previous arc)’s arc)'s backstory was revealed, retroactively adding depth to his character.



*** Sanji’s backstory took the standard “stranded on an island with an enemy” story and turn them into something unique. Everyone knows being stranded on an island sucks, but this is hardly an island: it's a mushroom rock that's too far above sea water to fish and incapable of sustaining any life...because it's a ROCK. Not to mention, he realizes that the only other person on this island has a big ol' bag of, what he thinks is, food, much bigger than the one he gave to Sanji. However, it turns out that other guy just had a bunch of money and absolutely NO food, and that instead of keeping any for himself, gave ''all'' the food he recovered to Sanji and ''broke off and ate his own leg'' to survive. And on top of all ''that'', the food that Sanji got was barely enought to last 20 days (though it lasted 25 days). It took ''eight-five days'' for a ship to find them. One can only imagine how hellish the last 60 days (''two months'') must have been. No wonder Sanji considers wasting food to be a horrible offense.
** Logue Town arc:
*** Roger’s execution, which is the backstory of the whole series was revealed in depth here. Notable in that though this is an execution, it’s hardly portrayed as “tragic”. In fact the one detail we’re meant to take away as Roger’s smile before his death and how Luffy mirrors him in that regard.

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*** Sanji’s Sanji's backstory took the standard “stranded "stranded on an island with an enemy” enemy" story and turn them into something unique. Everyone knows being stranded on an island sucks, but this is hardly an island: it's a mushroom rock that's too far above sea water to fish and incapable of sustaining any life...because it's a ROCK. Not to mention, he realizes that the only other person on this island has a big ol' bag of, what he thinks is, food, much bigger than the one he gave to Sanji. However, it turns out that other guy just had a bunch of money and absolutely NO food, and that instead of keeping any for himself, gave ''all'' the food he recovered to Sanji and ''broke off and ate his own leg'' to survive. And on top of all ''that'', the food that Sanji got was barely enought to last 20 days (though it lasted 25 days). It took ''eight-five days'' for a ship to find them. One can only imagine how hellish the last 60 days (''two months'') must have been. No wonder Sanji considers wasting food to be a horrible offense.
** Logue Town arc:
*** Roger’s execution, which is the backstory of the whole series was revealed in depth here. Notable in that though this is an execution, it’s hardly portrayed as “tragic”. In fact the one detail we’re meant to take away as Roger’s smile before his death and how Luffy mirrors him in that regard.
offense.



*** Nami’s past was told here. Her backstory arguably set the formula for “recruitment backstory” which almost all of the Straw Hat’s later followed: Tragic backstory was caused by the current arc villain, after which Luffy was so pump up and delivered a well deserve beatdown to the ArcVillain.

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*** Nami’s Nami's past was told here. Her backstory arguably set the formula for “recruitment backstory” "recruitment backstory" which almost all of the Straw Hat’s later followed: Tragic backstory was caused by the current arc villain, after which Luffy was so pump pumped up and delivered a well deserve well-deserved beatdown to the ArcVillain.ArcVillain.
** Loguetown arc:
*** Roger’s execution, which is the backstory of the whole series was revealed in depth here. Notable in that though this is an execution, it’s hardly portrayed as "tragic". In fact the one detail we’re meant to take away as Roger’s smile before his death and how Luffy mirrors him in that regard.



*** Laboon the Whale’s story was told. It will be important much later.

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*** Laboon the Whale’s Whale's story was told. It will be important much later.



*** Chopper’s TragicBackstory was told.

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*** Chopper’s TragicBackstory Chopper's [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer tragic backstory]] was told.



*** There’s one for Vivi, Kohza and the entire Alabasta Kingdom. In short: Crocodile need a beatdown.
*** Also Robin provided a very brief, very neutral version of her backstory to the Straw Hat when they snuck abroad their ship. Some tantalizing hints to her full backstory was dropped during the conversation with Cobra as well.

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*** There’s There's one for Vivi, Kohza and the entire Alabasta Kingdom. In short: Crocodile need needed a beatdown.
*** Also Robin provided a very brief, very neutral version of her backstory to the Straw Hat when they snuck abroad their ship. Some tantalizing hints to her full backstory was were dropped during the conversation with Cobra as well.



*** Montblanc Cricket’s backstory revealed that he was the descendant of “Noland the Liar” and he was locked into a battle with his own ancestor’s legacy ever since. A ‘’fictional’’ version of Noland’s TragicPast was also told.

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*** Montblanc Cricket’s Cricket's backstory revealed that he was the descendant of “Noland "Noland the Liar” Liar" and he was locked into a battle with his own ancestor’s legacy ever since. A ‘’fictional’’ "fictional" version of Noland’s TragicPast Noland's Tragic Past was also told.



*** Noland’s ‘’real’’ tragic past was told. Also the backstory of the Shandoran and Skypean’s ForeverWar, and Sky Knight Gan Fall’s personal history were told.

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*** Noland’s ‘’real’’ "real" tragic past was told. Also the backstory of the Shandoran and Skypean’s ForeverWar, and Sky Knight Gan Fall’s personal history were told.



*** Aokiji dropped some vague hint about Robin past. Namely, every organization associated with her was eventually destroyed.

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*** Aokiji dropped some vague hint hints about Robin Robin's past. Namely, every organization associated with her was eventually destroyed.



*** Franky, Iceburg, Kokoro and Tom mutual history was told. It is simultaneously awesome, tearjerking and heartwarming.

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*** Franky, Iceburg, Kokoro and Tom Tom's mutual history was told. It is simultaneously awesome, tearjerking and heartwarming.



*** Robin’s long MysteriousPast was revealed in detail. It’s arguably the most tragic backstory revealed thus far and is the most important to the entire series MythArc bar none.

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*** Robin’s Robin's long MysteriousPast was revealed in detail. It’s It's arguably the most tragic backstory revealed thus far and is the most important to the entire series MythArc bar none.



*** Moria and Dr Hogback had one. It only make them more disgusting and despicable.
*** On the other hand, Brook’s story was so good that it brought Franky and Brook himself to tears. It also fire off the Chekov gun setup hundreds of chapter earlier.

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*** Moria and Dr Dr. Hogback had one. It only make them more disgusting and despicable.
*** On the other hand, Brook’s Brook's story was so good that it brought Franky and Brook himself to tears. It also fire fired off the Chekov gun setup ChekovsGun set hundreds of chapter earlier.



*** Roger Pirates story was told by none other than the Pirate King’s first mate himself. Like a good story teller, he encouraged the Straw Hat to seek out their own answers and adventures.
*** In what could only be described as the DarkAndTroublePast of an entire species, the history of racism against Fishman and Merfolk was revealed. It retroactively provided a backstory for Arlong and every villainous Fishmans the Straw Hats encountered.

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*** The Roger Pirates Pirates' story was told by none other than the Pirate King’s King's first mate himself. Like a good story teller, he encouraged the Straw Hat Hats to seek out their own answers and adventures.
*** In what could only be described as the DarkAndTroublePast dark and troubled Past of an entire species, the history of racism against Fishman and Merfolk was revealed. It retroactively provided a backstory for Arlong and every villainous Fishmans Fishmen the Straw Hats encountered.



** Impel Down Arc: There’s no new backstory here but there’s one humorous example that deserved special mention. And that is:
*** Buggy the Clown’s history with the Pirate Kings Crew come back to bite him as the Marine labels him the mastermind. To Buggy this is tragic but to every prisoners he rescues, this is the ultimate badass confirmation of their saviors and they pledge their life to him immediately. Buggy decided to go with the flow and led them all to Marineford

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** Impel Down Arc: There’s There's no new backstory here but there’s there's one humorous example that deserved special mention. And that is:
*** Buggy the Clown’s Clown's history with the Pirate Kings King's Crew come comes back to bite him as the Marine labels him the mastermind. To Buggy this is tragic but to every prisoners prisoner he rescues, this is the ultimate badass confirmation of their saviors savior and they pledge their life to him immediately. Buggy decided to go with the flow and led them all to MarinefordMarineford.



*** This arc devote entirely to the story of a young Ace, Luffy and Sabo, especially. This will be important later.

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*** This arc devote devotes entirely to the story of a young Ace, Luffy and Sabo, especially. This will be important later.



*** The History of racism against Fishman and Merfolk was told again, this time from a more personal perspective of Jinbei, a Fishman who at one time and another support both Otohime and Fisher Tiger, the two major equal right leaders. Also, Koala’s story was told.

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*** The History of racism against Fishman and Merfolk was told again, this time from a more personal perspective of Jinbei, a Fishman who at one time and another support both Otohime and Fisher Tiger, the two major equal right leaders. Also, Koala’s Koala's story was told.



*** King Riku Royal Family’s story was told fairly early in the arc.

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*** King The Riku Royal Family’s story was told fairly early in the arc.



*** The Donquixote’s backstory was very dark and tragic but with an unique twist. [[spoiler: Doflamingo and his brother Rocinante both experienced the same tragic past but only one turn into a monster.]] Perhaps the only time in the series that Oda took Nature side in the NatureVsNurture debate. [[note]]This is before Doflamingo met Trebol, Diamante, Pica and Vergo who would then nurture his evil side even more.[[/note]]
** Totland arc
*** The abovementioned “stranded on an island” example turns out to actually mark the rough ''end'' to Sanji's horrible past. [[spoiler:He was born part of the Vinsmoke family, a family of assassins whose head, Sanji's father Vinsmoke Judge, leads a massive army with ambitions of reconquering North Blue. To that end, Judge had his children genetically modified and subjected to TrainingFromHell, to draw out their hidden potential and turn them into {{Super Soldier}}s. However, unlike his siblings, Sanji failed to make any progress, instead remaining a regular human being, causing his father and brothers to brutally abuse him mentally and physically while his sister just laughed (Though to be fair, she had no choice but to do so to avoid being bullied herself). Eventually, Judge got too fed up with Sanji's lack of progress to bother continuing to raise him, and instead faked his son's death before locking him in a dark room and forcing him to wear an iron mask. Keep in mind that this happened ''before'' that aforementioned traumatic example with Zeff! No wonder Sanji hates his family's guts.]]
*** Lola, but more importantly her twin sister Chiffon DarkAndTroubledPast was revealed during the Straw Hats meeting with [[spoiler: Bege]]. Basically, Lola ran away from the wedding with the Giant Prince, Chiffon was forced to take her place but couldn’t fool them. This lead to Elbaf and the Giant army virtually out of Big Mom’s reach and Chiffon was severely mistreated by her as a result. Lola seemed fairly oblivious to her mother nature and the trouble she caused her sister; to the point she asked Nami to tell Big Mom that she’s still OK.

to:

*** The Donquixote’s Donquixote's backstory was very dark and tragic but with an unique twist. [[spoiler: Doflamingo and his brother Rocinante both experienced the same tragic past but only one turn into a monster.]] Perhaps the only time in the series that Oda took Nature side in the NatureVsNurture debate. [[note]]This is before Doflamingo met Trebol, Diamante, Pica and Vergo who would then nurture his evil side even more.[[/note]]
** Totland arc
Whole Cake Island arc:
*** The abovementioned “stranded "stranded on an island” island" example turns out to actually mark the rough ''end'' to Sanji's horrible past. [[spoiler:He was born part of the Vinsmoke family, a family of assassins whose head, Sanji's father Vinsmoke Judge, leads a massive army with ambitions of reconquering North Blue. To that end, Judge had his children genetically modified and subjected to TrainingFromHell, to draw out their hidden potential and turn them into {{Super Soldier}}s. However, unlike his siblings, Sanji failed to make any progress, instead remaining a regular human being, causing his father and brothers to brutally abuse him mentally and physically while his sister just laughed (Though to be fair, she had no choice but to do so to avoid being bullied herself). Eventually, Judge got too fed up with Sanji's lack of progress to bother continuing to raise him, and instead faked his son's death before locking him in a dark room and forcing him to wear an iron mask. Keep in mind that this happened ''before'' that aforementioned traumatic example with Zeff! No wonder Sanji hates his family's guts.]]
*** Lola, Lola's, but more importantly her twin sister Chiffon Chiffon's DarkAndTroubledPast was revealed during the Straw Hats meeting with [[spoiler: Bege]]. Basically, Lola ran away from the wedding with the Giant Prince, Chiffon was forced to take her place but couldn’t fool them. This lead to Elbaf and the Giant army virtually out of Big Mom’s Mom's reach and Chiffon was severely mistreated by her as a result. Lola seemed fairly oblivious to her mother nature and the trouble she caused her sister; to the point she asked Nami to tell Big Mom that she’s still OK.
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** Sarah Lynn: She had a [[StageMom manipulative mother]] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [[ICouldaBeenAContender becoming an architect]] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [[ParentalSubstitute father by proxy]] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [[PaedoHunt sexually abusive,]] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [[ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer]], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left. She winds up a depressed, nihilistic, narcissistic, [[AddledAddict addict.]]

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** Sarah Lynn: She had a [[StageMom manipulative mother]] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [[ICouldaBeenAContender becoming an architect]] as early as age six. Mind you, this dream continued into her adult years. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [[ParentalSubstitute father by proxy]] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [[PaedoHunt sexually abusive,]] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [[ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer]], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left. She winds up a depressed, nihilistic, narcissistic, [[AddledAddict addict.]]

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** [=BoJack=] Horseman: His parents were profoundly abusive, to the point of him expressing he was terrified of them in "Free Churro." He was pressured into being 'the best' by his mother, the idea of being 'the best' continuing to haunt him, even after his hit sitcom. In addition, she forced him to smoke an entire cigarette as a punishment for taking one puff after seeing his hero, Secretariat, take a drag on television when he was ~9yrs/o. His father tore down everything he worked hard one and had very backwards ideals. He tore down a treehouse [=BoJack=] built himself while he was at summer camp because he used "wimpy Jewish nails instead of hardy Christian schools" and was constantly having affairs. [=BoJack's=] not leaving Horsin' Around when Herb was fired continues to haunt him.
** Sarah Lynn: She had a [[StageMom manipulative mother]] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [[ICouldaBeenAContender becoming an architect]] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [[ParentalSubstitute father by proxy]] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [[PaedoHunt sexually abusive,]] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [[ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer]], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left.

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-->'''Mr. Peanutbutter:''' The universe is a cruel, uncaring void. [[AntiNihilist The key to being happy isn't a search for meaning.]] It's to just keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually, you'll be dead.
** [=BoJack=] Horseman: His parents were profoundly abusive, to the point of him expressing he was terrified of them in "Free Churro." He was pressured into being 'the best' by his mother, the idea of being 'the best' continuing to haunt him, even after his hit sitcom. In addition, she forced him to smoke an entire cigarette as a punishment for taking one puff after seeing his hero, Secretariat, take a drag on television when he was ~9yrs/o. His father tore down everything he worked hard one and had very backwards ideals. He tore down a treehouse [=BoJack=] built himself while he was at summer camp because he used "wimpy Jewish nails instead of hardy Christian schools" screws" and was constantly having affairs. [=BoJack's=] not leaving Horsin' Around when Herb was fired continues to haunt him. \n He winds up a depressed, nihilistic, narcissistic, alcoholic.
-->'''Beatrice Horseman:''' You ruined my life, you know that?
** Sarah Lynn: She had a [[StageMom manipulative mother]] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [[ICouldaBeenAContender becoming an architect]] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [[ParentalSubstitute father by proxy]] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [[PaedoHunt sexually abusive,]] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [[ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer]], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left. She winds up a depressed, nihilistic, narcissistic, [[AddledAddict addict.]]
-->'''Sarah Lynn:''' [[StepfordSmiler I know I'm smiling right now, but the light inside me is dying.]]
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** Sarah Lynn: She had a [[StageMom manipulative mother]] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [[ICouldaBeenAContender becoming an architect]] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [[SubstituteParent father by proxy]] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [[PaedoHunt sexually abusive,]] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [[ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer]], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left.

to:

** Sarah Lynn: She had a [[StageMom manipulative mother]] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [[ICouldaBeenAContender becoming an architect]] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [[SubstituteParent [[ParentalSubstitute father by proxy]] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [[PaedoHunt sexually abusive,]] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [[ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer]], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left.
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** Sarah Lynn: She had a [StageMom manipulative mother] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [ICouldaBeenAContender! becoming an architect] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [SubstituteParent father by proxy] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [PaedoHunt sexually abusive,] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left.

to:

** Sarah Lynn: She had a [StageMom [[StageMom manipulative mother] mother]] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [ICouldaBeenAContender! [[ICouldaBeenAContender becoming an architect] architect]] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [SubstituteParent [[SubstituteParent father by proxy] proxy]] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [PaedoHunt [[PaedoHunt sexually abusive,] abusive,]] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [ThatSoundsFamiliar [[ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer], photographer]], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left.
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None


** Sarah Lynn: She had a [StageMom manipulative mother] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [ICouldaBeenAContender! becoming an architect] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [SurrogateParent father by proxy] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [PaedoHunt sexually abusive,] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left.

to:

** Sarah Lynn: She had a [StageMom manipulative mother] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [ICouldaBeenAContender! becoming an architect] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [SurrogateParent [SubstituteParent father by proxy] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [PaedoHunt sexually abusive,] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left.
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Added DiffLines:

* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman:'' Almost every main character has shades of this, but the majority of them weren't incredibly influenced by it. Princess Carolyn was already an independent, hard-worker, regardless of her mother who'd get so drunk, she'd have to send PC to do her work for her; Diane Nguyen was implied to always having been a determined girl, her dysfunctional family simply amping her anxiety; Todd was already lackadaisical before getting kicked out of his house... for being lazy.
** Mr. Peanutbutter: A very lowkey case, as his upbringing was very happy, but labradors are taught to ignore their problems. This could easily be why he puts on such a cheery demeanor, but has expressed ''deep'' fear of death and endings.
** [=BoJack=] Horseman: His parents were profoundly abusive, to the point of him expressing he was terrified of them in "Free Churro." He was pressured into being 'the best' by his mother, the idea of being 'the best' continuing to haunt him, even after his hit sitcom. In addition, she forced him to smoke an entire cigarette as a punishment for taking one puff after seeing his hero, Secretariat, take a drag on television when he was ~9yrs/o. His father tore down everything he worked hard one and had very backwards ideals. He tore down a treehouse [=BoJack=] built himself while he was at summer camp because he used "wimpy Jewish nails instead of hardy Christian schools" and was constantly having affairs. [=BoJack's=] not leaving Horsin' Around when Herb was fired continues to haunt him.
** Sarah Lynn: She had a [StageMom manipulative mother] who tore down her dreams of going to college and [ICouldaBeenAContender! becoming an architect] as early as age six. She received horrible and fairly frightening advice from [=BoJack=], her father on Horsin' Around and [SurrogateParent father by proxy] due to her unexplained DisappearedDad. Her bear stepfather was heavily implied to be [PaedoHunt sexually abusive,] some hints being her ability to distinguish the taste of bear fur, his homeschooling her and [ThatSoundsFamiliar being a photographer], straight-up being designed in a similar fashion to Terry Richardson, and her ElectraComplex shades. She lived her teenage years in misery, giving all she could to others and not getting anything back, eventually including from [=BoJack=], the only genuine friend she figured she had left.
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* ''Webcomic/PixieAndBrutus'': Downplayed, but Brutus was a military service dog before coming to live with Pixie and her family, and he has clearly seen some ''shit''. (Whatever happened to him, it [[EyeScream cost him an eye]].) In one strip, Pixie innocently asks what war is, and Brutus can't bring himself to tell her.
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* In Creator/DevonMonk's ''Literature/DeadIron'', Cedar's brother Wil dragged him west after the loss of his wife and children. Then they went on the wrong land and were {{curse}}d into {{werewolf}} form. Cedar came to find himself at the end of a bloody trail, and backtracked to find his brother's wolf corpse, its throat torn out by himself.

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* In Creator/DevonMonk's ''Literature/DeadIron'', Cedar's brother Wil dragged him west after the loss of his wife and children. Then they went on the wrong land and were {{curse}}d into {{werewolf}} [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] form. Cedar came to find himself at the end of a bloody trail, and backtracked to find his brother's wolf corpse, its throat torn out by himself.

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* Creator/CharismaCarpenter had a near-rape experience, as she and and two of her friends were [[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20108468,00.html the final victims of a serial rapist back in 1991]].

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* Creator/CharismaCarpenter had a near-rape experience, as she and and two of her friends were [[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20108468,00.html the final victims of a serial rapist back in 1991]].


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* Creator/EvanRachelWood revealed that she's been raped twice in her past, and suffers from these experiences. In 2018 she gave testimony before a US Senate subcommittee about this in support of a proposed law.
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* ''Webcomic/TeamRocketOrigins'' turns Jessie's HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood into this. After her mother left on a mission when she was five, she was ''supposed'' to be taken care of by someone. Alas, Jessie almost starved to death because the person failed to do this. Afterwards Jessie ended up in foster care and her canon backstory occured. It all resulted in Jessie having serious AbandonmentIssues.

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* ''Webcomic/TeamRocketOrigins'' ''Webcomic/TeamRocketRoots'' turns Jessie's HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood into this. After her mother left on a mission when she was five, she was ''supposed'' to be taken care of by someone. Alas, Jessie almost starved to death because the person failed to do this. Afterwards Jessie ended up in foster care and her canon backstory occured. It all resulted in Jessie having serious AbandonmentIssues.abandonment issues.
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* The oneshot ''Fanfic/ToTryForTheSun'' gives princesses Celestia and Luna tragic backstories. They grew up in times of war and were orphaned as foals. They were always at risk of starvation and [[PromotionToParent the elder sister]] Celestia worked as a gravedigger at only twelve. One day, Celestia somehow rose the sun herself and this feat is what lead to her ascension.

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* ''Anime/YokaiWatch'': Several yokai had traumatic death, though most don't tend to think of them much. For example, the CuteKitten mascot Jibanyan was hit by a car [[spoiler:committing a HeroicSacrifice for his owner]] while [[YukiOnna Blizzaria]] was a little girl who got lost in the mountains and froze to death.



* {{ComicBook/Starfire}} from ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' (and elsewhere) had spent most of her life as a slave to the Citadel, after being sold into it by her own sister.[[spoiler: She mentions some experiments done on her too, which were all likely horrific.]]

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* {{ComicBook/Starfire}} from ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' (and elsewhere) had spent most of her life as a slave to the Citadel, after being sold into it by her own sister. [[spoiler: She mentions some experiments done on her too, which were all likely horrific.]]


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* ''Webcomic/TeamRocketOrigins'' turns Jessie's HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood into this. After her mother left on a mission when she was five, she was ''supposed'' to be taken care of by someone. Alas, Jessie almost starved to death because the person failed to do this. Afterwards Jessie ended up in foster care and her canon backstory occured. It all resulted in Jessie having serious AbandonmentIssues.
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* ''Manga/VampireKnight'': Zero and Kaname both. Zero witnessed his parents murdered at the hands of a pureblood as an 11-year old, next to being bit and transformed by the same pureblood and seeing his twin brother smiling at the scene. Kaname [[spoiler:is an ancestor of vampires who had been alive thousands of years ago along with an unnamed pureblood woman who ended up sacrificing herself for the creation of the vampire hunters and furnace, leaving Kaname to lead the battle between purebloods and the misery of being alone, after which he decided to enter his slumber that was later interrupted by Rido]].
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* In the 2009 ''Film/StarTrek'' film, Captain James T. Kirk lost his father [[BirthDeathJuxtaposition just minutes after his birth]]. He was [[AbusiveParents frequently abused]] by his stepfather while his mother was working off-planet, his brother ran away when he was still young, and he was already a repeat offender long before enlisting in Starfleet. It is also possible that he survived [[FinalSolution Tarsus IV]] (if future movies keep with [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the original series]]).

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* In the 2009 ''Film/StarTrek'' film, ''Film/StarTrek2009'': Captain James T. Kirk lost his father [[BirthDeathJuxtaposition just minutes after his birth]]. He was [[AbusiveParents frequently abused]] by his stepfather while his mother was working off-planet, his brother ran away when he was still young, and he was already a repeat offender long before enlisting in Starfleet. It is also possible that he survived [[FinalSolution Tarsus IV]] (if future movies keep with [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the original series]]).
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* [[VideoGame/MegaMan Dr. Light]], as told by Music/TheProtomen. His father died in a mining accident, leading him to build robots to do the work instead and "take the death away". Unfortunately, [[FromBadToWorse things do not improve from here]].

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* [[VideoGame/MegaMan [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Dr. Light]], as told by Music/TheProtomen. His father died in a mining accident, leading him to build robots to do the work instead and "take the death away". Unfortunately, [[FromBadToWorse things do not improve from here]].
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* Many of the characters in the ''Franchise/MetalGear'' series have them. [[AudienceSurrogate Raiden]], [[TheParagon The Boss]] (kind of), [[AxCrazy Psycho]] [[TragicVillain Mantis]], and [[HeartbrokenBadass Fortune]] (spoofed by Webcomic/{{Hiimdaisy}} above), to name a few. In fact, it's easier to mention the ones who didn't have it: [[MissionControl Mei]] [[TheCavalry Ling]], and.... Okay, maybe just Mei Ling.

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* Many of the characters in the ''Franchise/MetalGear'' ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series have them. [[AudienceSurrogate Raiden]], [[TheParagon The Boss]] (kind of), [[AxCrazy Psycho]] [[TragicVillain Mantis]], and [[HeartbrokenBadass Fortune]] (spoofed by Webcomic/{{Hiimdaisy}} above), to name a few. In fact, it's easier to mention the ones who didn't have it: [[MissionControl Mei]] [[TheCavalry Ling]], and.... Okay, maybe just Mei Ling.
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* Yami's backstory parodies this in ''Manga/BlackClover''. He sums up his backstory as roughly, "I'm from another place. I fell off a boat. I washed up in a foreign land. I beat the crap out of anyone who have me a hard time and adjusted." At least part of this was mocking the {{Big Bad}}'s backstory, which plays this straight. [[spoiler:He was an innocent elf boy who watched everyone he knows and loves get (supposedly) slaughtered by humans at a wedding designed to promote coexistence between them, sparking his centuries-long grudge against humanity.]]
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* In ''WebAnimation/ToBelong'', the siblings were orphaned when Anya accidentally set their house on fire playing with the chandelier. Anya still blames herself for her mother's death and can't [[{{Animorphism}} turn into her lioness form]] without being [[TraumaButton triggered]].
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* ''Fanfic/{{Juxtapose}}'': A few.
** Katsura Kensei was [[spoiler: raised by the villain Tsuchigumo]] and taught to be a criminal; it was only later that he was rescued and re-adopted by Detective Tsukauchi.
** On account of being bullied as a kid, Monoma Neito was obsessed with getting the Quirks of powerful heroes (via their hair) so that he'd always have some form of power on hand, which only got worse after [[spoiler: he accidentally copied a villain's [[TheBerserker Anger Point Quirk]] and went berserk]], culminating in a full-on NeverBeHurtAgain mentality. It comes to a head when he obsessively searches for Izuku after seeing his Quirk [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower take down a Zero Pointer robot]] - only to enter a HeroicBSOD when he finds out [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway what it is]].
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* Literally every character in ''Literature/TheSisterVerseAndTheTalonsOfRuin'', but it's by design. The villain creates their reality for the express purpose of making them miserable.
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* In ''Manga/Brave10'', Anastasia and her family were shipwrecked in Japan, where her family died and she was sold into sex slavery, then later trained to be a ninja. While looking for the last heirloom of her family, [[spoiler:Hanzo appeared to have it. He then coerced her to join the [[FiveBadBand Iga Grotesque Five]] and infiltrate the Braves as TheMole. This is also why the concept of 'family' is a BerserkButton for her and what made her hate the easy bonds between the rest of the Braves.]]

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* In ''Manga/Brave10'', Anastasia and her family were shipwrecked in Japan, where her family died and she was sold into sex slavery, then later trained to be a ninja. While looking for the last heirloom of her family, [[spoiler:Hanzo appeared to have it. He then coerced her to join the [[FiveBadBand Iga Grotesque Five]] Five and infiltrate the Braves as TheMole. This is also why the concept of 'family' is a BerserkButton for her and what made her hate the easy bonds between the rest of the Braves.]]
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* Jung on ''Series/KimsConvenience'' was kicked out of (or ran away from) his house at 16 for stealing money from the FamilyBusiness, which led to him not finishing high school and spending time in juvenile detention. He still has a poor relationship with his father because of this, so much so that they avoid speaking to each other as much as possible.

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