History Main / DemotedToComicRelief

** Asuka Kazama was introduced rather seriously, with her being Jun Kazama's niece, being shown to have anti-Devil Gene powers, and her arc involving her hunting down Feng Wei for hospitalizing her father. As soon as her SitcomArchNemesis Lili de Rochefort was introduced though, Asuka's relevancy and seriousness quickly evaporated, and the vast majority of her appearances since then have been limited to rather comical interactions with Lili heavily playing both of them up as AmbiguouslyGay.

** K' and Kula Diamond, the duo at the heart of the NESTS Chronicles story arc, have also fallen into the comic relief territory. The former's debut in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters99'' had him on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge while simultaneously coming to terms with his CloneAngst, while the latter's DefusingTheTykeBomb storyline running through both ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2000'' and ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2001'', culminating in her witnessing the attempted murder of her mother figure at the hands of her own allies, was also treated rather seriously. Once the NESTS Chronicles ended and they made way for future main characters, both K' and Kula have been treated far more comedically, with their arc in ''XV'' being a FeudEpisode stemming from the latter wanting to spend time at an amusement park and the former's refusal to do so, that is mostly PlayedForLaughs.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': Drax the Destroyer. While he did have a few comedic moments in ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'', he was still played mostly seriously, and his goal of getting {{revenge}} for his family's death is a major plot line. By the time of ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', he's pretty much the go-to comic relief character, with most of his scenes having him doing something stupid or rattling off a funny line. He does still have the occasional moment of drama in this film (Mantis feeling the depths of his sorrow over losing his family) and those that follow, but they are fewer and fewer as time goes by.

* While they were always comedic characters, Crash and Eddie, first introduced in ''WesternAnimation/IceAgeTheMeltdown'', had some common sense and their relationship with Ellie was important to the plot. In the three sequels, they are DemotedToExtra and are only there to make a few jokes from time to time.

* In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'', Buzz Lightyear is not the {{Deuteragonist}} as he was in the first three movies (Bo Peep takes the role instead) and mainly acts as comic relief, with several jokes about him being hapless to the point of relying on his randomly-generated voice box phrases to accomplish anything of note.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': Drax the Destroyer. While he did have a few comedic moments in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'', he was still played mostly seriously, and his goal of getting {{revenge}} for his family's death is a major plot line. By the time of ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', he's pretty much the go-to comic relief character, with most of his scenes having him doing something stupid or rattling off a funny line. He does still have the occasional moment of drama in this film (Mantis feeling the depths of his sorrow over losing his family) and those that follow, but they are fewer and fewer as time goes by.
** Thor, ever since ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' took a LighterAndSofter tone, he became some kind of hybrid of Star Lord and Drax.

* In the Franchise/IndianaJones trilogy, Marcus Brody goes from being Indy's serious superior who was implied to have gone on many adventures in the past with him and on his own in the first film to a complete buffoon in the third film who is out of his depth in fieldwork.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'':
** Paul Phoenix was once considered TheRival to Kazuya Mishima, the only one to ruin his perfect victory streak with a draw. While he had some humorous, unfortunate events for his endings, it's generally accepted that he's still a gruff and serious force to be reckoned with. The 4th game, being considered DarkerAndEdgier, saw Paul to have been a bit enlightened with his experience and matured up... but by the 5th game, which tried to lighten the mood again, it was considered non-canon and Paul ended up receiving a {{Flanderization}} into a boisterous idiot obsessed with trying to be the toughest of the universe while never missing to participate in goofy events, and his rivalry with Kazuya is never mentioned again. Even in any cases they interact (including spin-offs), Kazuya just noted that he's disappointed at what Paul has become and treats him like a non-factor on his overall plan.

* In the first two seasons of ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', the Dinobots, while relatively dim-witted, are powerful warriors [[TheDreaded feared by the Decepticons]] and capable of turning the tide of battle with their presence. Season 3[[note]][[WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie The movie]] introduces some of their silly {{Manchild}} traits, but still treats them as serious fighters[[/note]] [[TookALevelInDumbass plays up their stupidity]] and plays down their strength, especially in the case of their leader Grimlock, who also takes a dip in maturity, turning him into a Humungous {{Manchild}}.

* Potsie on ''Series/HappyDays'' was originally Richie's best friend and second lead, with most of the stories focusing on them [[ZanyScheme getting into trouble]] together. When [[BreakoutCharacter Fonzie]] took over as Richie's co-lead, Potsie TookALevelInDumbass and was paired with the existing comic relief character, Ralph Malph, as a ThoseTwoGuys duo.

* In the first two seasons of ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', the Dinobots, while relatively dim-witted, are powerful warriors [[TheDreaded feared by the Decepticons]] and capable of turning the tide of battle with their presence. Season 3[[note]]In [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie the movie]] introduces some of their silly {{Manchild}} traits, but still treats them as serious fighters[[/note]] [[TookALevelInDumbass plays up their stupidity]] and plays down their strength, especially in the case of their leader Grimlock, who also takes a dip in maturity, turning him into a Humungous {{Manchild}}.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': Drax the Destroyer. While he did have a few comedic moments in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'', he was still played mostly seriously, and his goal of getting {{revenge}} for his family's death is a major plot line. By the time of ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', he's pretty much the go-to comic relief character, with every scene having him doing something stupid or rattling off a funny line.

** Paul Phoenix was once considered TheRival to Kazuya Mishima, the only one to ruin his perfect victory streak with a draw. While he had some humorous, unfortunate events for his endings, it's generally accepted that he's still a gruff and serious force to be reckoned with. The 4th game, being considered DarkerAndEdgier, saw Paul to have been a bit enlightened with his experience and matured up... but by the 5th game, which tried to lighten the mood again, it was considered non-canon and Paul ended up receiving a {{Flanderization}} into a boisterous idiot obsessed with trying to be the toughest of the universe while never missing to participate in goofy events, and his rivalry with Kazuya is never mentioned again.

* In the first two seasons of ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', the Dinobots, while relatively dim-witted, are treated like powerful warriors [[TheDreaded feared by the Decepticons]] and capable of turning the tide of battle with their presence. Season 3[[note]]In [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie the movie]] introduces some of their silly {{Manchild}} traits, but still treats them as serious fighters[[/note]] [[TookALevelInDumbass plays up their stupidity]] and plays down their strength, especially in the case of their leader Grimlock, who also takes a dip in maturity, turning him into a Humungous {{Manchild}}.

* Potsie on ''Series/HappyDays'' was originally Richie's best friend and second lead, with most of the stories focusing on them [[ZanySchemes getting into trouble]] together. When [[BreakoutCharacter Fonzie]] took over as Richie's co-lead, Potsie TookALevelInDumbass and was paired with the existing comic relief character, Ralph Malph, as a ThoseTwoGuys duo.

* Potsie on ''Series//HappyDays'' was originally Richie's best friend and second lead, with most of the stories focusing on their ZanySchemes together. When [[BreakoutCharacter Fonzie]] took over as Richie's co-lead, Potsie TookALevelInDumbass and was paired with the existing comic relief character, Ralph Malph, as a ThoseTwoGuys duo.

* If you are a pre-existing Creator/{{SNK}} protagonist and you end up becoming playable in ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'', then expect to get sidelined in the plot and eventually have most of your team endings be a joke. Take for instance Nakoruru; her ending in ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown II'' has her slay Mizuki and then [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice her mortal form to reverse the damage that Mizuki had caused]], whereas her ending in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV'' ends with her [[GoKartingWithBowser dragging Mizuki along to participate in a modern-day shopping spree]].

* Roman Pierce from ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' was introduced in ''Film/TwoFastTwoFurious'' as a main character alongside Brian, and is an overall rather competent character who spouted the occasional wisecrack. When he's reintroduced in ''Film/FastFive'', his wackiness was turned up a bit and his contributions to the story become a lot more minor. Now we see him trading quips with Tej, panicking at being dropped from a plane (in a car), and complaining that he didn't [[spoiler:make the FBI's ten most wanted list with the rest of the crew]].

And so the character that used to tag along with the [[MainCharacters main cast]] has faded into the background, and is only brought back into the spotlight to be treated as a ButtMonkey. Alternatively, they might be an antagonist who was a threat when they were introduced, but return as [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain comedic failures]] because the heroes [[TookALevelInBadass have outgrown them]] or because [[EvilerThanThou they just can't keep up with the main antagonists]].

[[BrokenBase You can expect the fandom to be divided on this]]. Sometimes it's generally seen as [[CharacterDerailment the character being re-written]] to justify stripping them off their dignity, other times it seems to make the character much more charming and likeable. The later is more likely if it's treated as a natural progression of their personality, or if the character was already seen as [[FlatCharacter flat]] or [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap disliked by a large majority]].

This is a SubTrope of DemotedToExtra and ComedicReliefCharacters. May overlap with BadassDecay. Compare to DemotedToSatelliteLoveInterest and AdaptationalComicRelief. Compare ShooOutTheClowns where the already comic relief character gets pushed out for more dramatic moment/storyline.

** Puck originally started out as [[AntiHero Guts]]' MoralityChain, while also providing some much needed levity for the story. However, as the story progresses and Guts gains more and more TrueCompanions, his status as the moral compass has been given to other characters while his comedic traits have taken the forefront.

* ''Manga/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch Pure'' pulls this on Karen, Coco and Noel. In season 1, Karen had a major arc trying to find her sister Noel while she and Coco were captured by Gaito. Pure doesn't really give them a major role and in the episodes where they appear (outside their [[ADayInTheLimelight focus episodes]], which Noel didn't get, by the way), they're usually just there for either comedy, [[TheMatchmaker matchmaking]], or both.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': When introduced in ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', Hux was an intimidating BadassNormal who was roughly equal to Kylo Ren in the First Order hierarchy -- his most notable scene has him give an angry speech before a Nuremberg-esque assembly as Starkiller Base's superlaser is activated. In ''Film/TheLastJedi'', however, he is largely reduced to being a ButtMonkey at the hands of Snoke and Ren, with his nervousness and submissiveness as he is hurt by their Force powers reinforcing the comedy of the situation. This ends up being deconstructed in ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker''; Hux is so tired to getting tossed about and mistreated that [[spoiler:he [[{{Turncoat}} defects to]] the Resistance just so he can get back at Ren -- and gets executed for it]].
* In the Franchise/IndianaJones trilogy, Marcus Brody goes from being Indy's serious superior who was implied to have gone on many adventures in the past with him and on his own in the first film to a complete buffoon in the third film who is out of his depth in field work.

* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': Deke Shaw. In the first half of Season 5, he is a smart and resourceful LovableRogue who knows the futuristic world very well and is often helpful to the protagonists. In the second half, he becomes a goofy manchild who frequently comes across as an idiot because of his lack of knowledge of the modern world, and serves little purpose in the plot aside from providing comic relief.

* Britta Perry in ''Series/{{Community}}''. In the first season she is essentially the second lead of the show after Jeff and is involved in a LoveTriangle with him and Professor Slater. She's also relatively sane compared to the rest of the cast and is more or less the StraightMan of the ensemble, with very few quirks of her own. As the show goes on, Britta loses her role as Jeff's nominal love interest and primary {{Foil}} to Annie, her goofiness and ButtMonkey status are increasingly mined for comedy, and her flaws and storylines (while not without providing some CharacterDevelopment) are usually PlayedForLaughs. By the final season she's one of the show's go-to comic relief characters next to the Dean and Chang.

* When Yasushi Tsujimoto started his career in Toryumon Japan, his original gimmick was that of a Rastafarian culture enthusiast who also happened to be a skilled amateur wrestler and a skilled llave[[labelnote:note]]Mexican-style submission wrestling[[/labelnote]] grappler as well. At the time of his debut he was considered a serious upper-midcarder. The Rastfarian gimmick [[{{Flanderization}} flanderized]] as he first became Stevie "brother" Tsujimoto, then brother YASSINI, and finally brother YASSHI. During his days as YASSINI he was part of a tag team with Shuji Kondo. The comic relief demotion started when Dragon Gate split from Toryumon, and YASSHI was changed from Kondo's slightly weaker but essentially equal tag partner to Kondo's loud mouthed little buddy who talked mad trash but needed Kondo to back it up for him. Around this same time comedy-based {{Groin Attack}}s became a staple of his offense. By the time Kondo and YASSHI left Dragon Gate for New Japan, YASSHI hadn't gotten a direct pinfall victory in over a year. He flanderized even further in New Japan, becoming a guy who only existed to do comedy spots and get pinned in multi-man tag matches.

** Knuckles the Echidna started off as a rival and later, a serious {{foil}} to Sonic, with some focus on his role as guardian of the powerful Master Emerald. Later games however would downplay those aspects and characterize him as a ButtMonkey who desperately, and unsuccessfully, tries to one up Sonic. In ''VideoGame/SonicBoom'', Knuckles' primary character traits are being a {{cloudcuckoolander}} who drops funny lines.
** Silver is an example of [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools this trope working in their favor]]. He debuted in [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 one of the worst reviewed games in the series]], and was a rather potent BaseBreakingCharacter as a result due to his {{narm}}y lines, being ThatOneBoss, and his [[KnightTemplar self-righteousness]] in trying to kill Sonic. Alternative media like [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics the comics]] gave him more bumbling and comedic traits, as well as a much more [[TookALevelInKindness earnest personality]] and fans became much more accepting of him.

* Hunk from ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'' spent a large amount of season 1 showing his HiddenDepths and going through CharacterDevelopment, learning to become a serious fighter as a member of Team Voltron. During season 2, he pushed to the side while other members of the team take the forefront, with him seemingly only existing to act as a walking [[BigEater food]] joke. Luckily, season 3 has him gaining prominence again and his more serious traits once again being highlighted.

* Many characters from ''Film/TheNeverEndingStory'', notably the Rock Biter and Falcor, becomes bumbling doofuses in the third sequel.

Because stories often only have a limited amount of time to develop their characters, as well as a need to introduce new characters to keep things fresh, certain major characters tend to get pushed to the back burner in favor of others. However, the writer isn't exactly keen on simply [[PutOnABus getting rid of these characters]], but they still would rather focus on others. So what do they do with them? How about turning them into ComicRelief instead?