History Main / Deuteragonist

* ''WebAnimation/GoryToons'': [[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants [=SpongeBob=]]] is the protagonist and [[WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends Cuddles]] is the deuteragonist. The tritagonist is [[Franchise/{{Kirby}} Kirby]]. Depending on the era, the tetragonist is either [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark Eric Cartman]] (usually in any episode focusing on the main heroes as a group), Pop, [[WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan Chef Pee Pee]] (in the first few episodes), Toothy, [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Stewie Griffin]], or Patrick Star. Because of the large roster, however, this is prone to varying just to suit an episode. For example, most episodes that focus on Pop will have either Cub or Clara as the deuteragonist, Cartman keeping his tritagonist spot, but now shared with Kirby, Cuddles, and [=SpongeBob=], and finally, Disco Bear as the tetragonist.

* ''WebAnimation/GoryToons'': [[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants [=SpongeBob=]]] is the protagonist and [[WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends Cuddles]] is the deuteragonist. The tritagonist is [[Franchise/{{Kirby}} Kirby]]. Depending on the era, the tetragonist is either [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark Eric Cartman]] (usually in any episode focusing on the main heroes as a group), Pop, [[WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan Chef Pee Pee]] (in the first few episodes), Toothy, or [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Stewie Griffin]]. Because of the large roster, however, this is prone to varying just to suit an episode. For example, most episodes that focus on Pop will have either Cub or Clara as the deuteragonist, Cartman keeping his tritagonist spot, but now shared with Kirby, Cuddles, and [=SpongeBob=], and finally, Disco Bear as the tetragonist.

A third protagonist would be called a "Triragonist" but that's the limit -- anything after that and you're in EnsembleCast territory.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'': Behind [[TheProtagonist SpongeBob]], Plankton's role greatly outweighs that of the other characters, and [[spoiler:he even winds up becoming the {{Big Damn Hero|es}} in the end, no strings attached]]!

* ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'' is primarily about Mei breaking away from her overbearing mother, Ming, but the finale is almost equally focused on [[spoiler: Ming herself overcoming the emotional trauma caused by her troubled relationship with [[VillainOfAnotherStory her own mother]].]]

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014}}'': Even though it's a well rounded ensemble, Gamora is the deuteragonist and Drax is the tritagonist to Quill's protagonist. Gamora because she has more connection with the villains and is a possible love interest for Peter Quill. Drax because he is in a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against the villains responsible for killing his family and his CharacterDevelopment revolves around that. Rocket Raccoon, Groot and Yondu are mostly supporting characters.

** Nino is the tritagonist. While each book has a different tritagonist individually (Rino in Book 1, Stefano in Book 2, Pietro in Book 3, and arguably Nino himself in Book 4), Nino is the only one who has a prominent LoveInterest role in all the books (except maybe the first), and is definitely the third most important of the series as a whole.

** [[spoiler:In Nana's route, Nana is actually the protagonist while Ai becomes the deuteragonist due to the story being told from Nana's point of view]].

* In ''Webcomic/{{Archipelago}}'', Raven. Originally a {{mook}}, he makes a HeelFaceTurn and undergoes more CharacterDevelopment, that is more relevant to the plot, than anyone else, becoming TheLancer and eventually one half of the OfficialCouple with Credenza.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingOneAndAHalf'': While Timon and Pumbaa are the focus of the movie, it's the former who's the protagonist as his perspective is more focused on and receiving CharacterDevelopment, which makes the latter the deuteragonist.

** Roy ([[TheHero Hero]]) is the comic's protagonist, with Haley ([[TheLancer Lancer]]) and Elan ([[TheHeart Chick]]) essentially taking turns as deuteragonist and tritagonist. Generally speaking, Haley is the deuteragonist and Elan is the tritagonist during the ''Dungeon Crawling Fools'', ''Wars and PC's'', and ''Don't Split the Party'' story arcs, while their positions are flipped during the ''No Cure for the Paladin Blues'' and ''Blood Runs in the Family'' arcs.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'': Similarly to the example above, Scar is this as well as the antagonist. While Simba is unequivocally the protagonist, the story is just as about Scar as it is Simba, especially the differences on the leaders they became.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}'': Similarly to the example above, Scar is this as well as the antagonist. While Simba is unequivocally the protagonist, the story is just about Scar as it is Simba, especially the differences on the leaders they became.

** ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'': Even though it's a well rounded ensemble, Gamora is the deuteragonist and Drax is the tritagonist to Quill's protagonist. Gamora because she has more connection with the villains and is a possible love interest for Peter Quill. Drax because he is in a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against the villains responsible for killing his family and his CharacterDevelopment revolves around that. Rocket Raccoon, Groot and Yondu are mostly supporting characters.

* In ''Film/KinjiteForbiddenSubjects'' Hada, the Japanese businessman whose daughter is kidnapped, fills the deuteragonist role to Creator/CharlesBronson's protagonist, filling more than a mere support role as he has his own plot arcs, several of the most important scenes in the film to himself, and the plot is driven (and the film given its emotional shading) by his actions and emotional responses, nearly as much as by the protagonist's.

* ''Literature/TheLockedTomb'': Gideon may be the eponymous, point of view character of ''Literature/GideonTheNinth'', but Harrow's story develops in tandem with hers and is just as important. Tellingly, the book shifts to Harrow's perspective following [[spoiler:Gideon's HeroicSuicide]] near the end, and the second book, ''Literature/HarrowTheNinth'', is named after her. But then it turns out that [[spoiler:the SecondPersonNarration is actually Gideon (still dead, but her soul is partitioned in Harrow's brain) explaining the events of the book to Harrow]]. So it's merely a flipped deuteragonist situation.

* ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' series:

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingOneAndAHalf'': While Timon and Pumbaa are the focus of the movie, it's the former who's the protagonist as his perspective is more focused on and receiving CharacterDevelopment, thus making the latter the deuteragonist.

* In ''WebAnimation/GoryToons'', [=SpongeBob=] is the protagonist while Cuddles is the deuteragonist. The tritagonist is Kirby. Depending on the episode, the tetragonist is either Eric Cartman (usually in any episode focusing on the four Toons as a group), Chef Pee Pee, Pop, Sonic (in early episodes), Toothy or Lumpy. Even so, ''Gory Toons'' features a wide cast of characters, so it can easily vary per episode. For example, most episodes that focus on Pop will have either Cub or Clara as the deuteragonist, Kirby keeping his tritagonist spot, but now shared with [=SpongeBob=], Cuddles, and Cartman, and finally, Disco Bear as the tetragonist.

** Phoenix takes on the role of Deuteragonist in ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney''. Trucy is the Tritagonist, with her original family being one of the main focus of the game.

** Kay Faraday is the Deuteragonist of the first ''Ace Attorney Investigations'' game (the Tritagonist is the Interpol detective Shi-Long Lang). In the second game, that role goes to Yumihiko Ichiyanagi (the Tritagonist here being Tateyuki Shigaraki, Gregory Edgeworth's former assistant).
** Phoenix becomes the Deuteragonist again in ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice]]''. He plays an important role in the story, but Apollo has more CharacterDevelopment and emotional investment in the outcome of the final trials. The final case even has the player, as Apollo, arguing a trial against Phoenix.

** Roy ([[TheHero Hero]]) is the comic's protagonist, with Haley ([[TheLancer Lancer]]) and Elan ([[TheChick Chick]]) essentially taking turns as deuteragonist and tritagonist. Generally speaking, Haley is the deuteragonist and Elan is the tritagonist during the ''Dungeon Crawling Fools'', ''Wars and PC's'', and ''Don't Split the Party'' story arcs, while their positions are flipped during the ''No Cure for the Paladin Blues'' and ''Blood Runs in the Family'' arcs.

Deuteragonist. The second guy. No, not the {{Sidekick}}, who follows the main character around. Not the SupportingProtagonist, who is a main character but not the focus of the story. Not the DecoyProtagonist either. This is the second person the show revolves around, a character whose actions drive the plot just as much as those of the protagonist.

An important aspect is that we see quite a bit of the story from this character's point of view and that they get a good amount of screen time.

* Old Man Marley in ''Film/HomeAlone'', The Pigeon Lady in ''Lost in New York'', and Mrs. Hess in ''3'', with Kevin as the protagonist in ''1'' & ''2'' and Alex in ''3'', and their parents as the tritagonist.

* ''WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan'' is an interesting case. Back in the series' earlier days, Mario was consistently TheProtagonist, but the exact deuteragonist often changed between eras. It started as Tony being the deuteragonist, but that role later swapped between Black Yoshi or Shrek, Bowser, Chef Pee Pee, Bowser Junior, Rosalina, Jeffy, and then Brooklyn Guy. Speaking of which, [[SpotlightStealingSquad Junior and Jeffy]] sometimes overtake Mario as the lead protagonist, but Mario is the only one who has consistently been with the series ever since the beginning. He's also the man who owns the house, is the SeriesMascot aside from Jeffy, and has to constantly put up with most of the characters' shinanigans.

* ''WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan'' is an interesting case. Back in the series' earlier days, Mario was consistently TheProtagonist. However, the deuteragonist often changed between eras. It started as Tony being the deuteragonist, but that role later swapped between Black Yoshi, Bowser, Chef Pee Pee, Bowser Junior, Rosalina, Jeffy, and then Brooklyn Guy. Speaking of which, [[SpotlightStealingSquad Junior and Jeffy]] sometimes overtake Mario as the lead protagonist, but Mario is the only one who has consistently been with the series ever since the beginning. He's also the man who owns the house, is the SeriesMascot aside from Jeffy, and has to constantly put up with most of the characters' shinanigans.

The deuteragonist (from Greek: second actor) is the second important character in the story; the first is, of course, TheProtagonist. This person can be either ''with'', or ''against'' the protagonist--thus sometimes pulling double duty as a major antagonist or [[TheRival rival]] to the protagonist; though they are rarely the [[BigBad main "villain"]] in this sort of scenario, they may be a [[TheDragon high ranking]] minion. If on the same side as the protagonist, they can be a [[{{Sidekick}} sidekick]], [[TheLancer lancer]], or love interest as long as they are given enough screen time independent of the main protagonist. In case of a GeodesicCast, the Deuteragonist will be the one who corresponds to the first protagonist.

** In the grand scheme of ''ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman'' Damian is the deuteragonist for much of the run. Most prominently during ''Batman and Robin'' (to Dick Grayson) and the second half of ''Batman Incorporated''. He's also firmly the deuteragonist in Peter Tomasi's ''Batman and Robin'' run with Alfred as a tritagonist [[spoiler: up until Damian's death]].

* In PC Hodgell's Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath, Torisen is the deuteragonist to Jame's protagonist from the second book and onwards.

* In ''VisualNovel/YumeutsutsuReMaster'', Kokoro serves as the deuteragonist of the game due to her history with Ai in the past and for being the reason why Ai came to work at Eureka Software. However this can change depending of the route taken :

* ''WEBCOMIC/{{Pupster}}'': Danny is the loyal friend of [[PROTAGONISTTITLe Pupster]] and are almost never separated away.

* Roy Batty’s arc in ''Film/BladeRunner'' is given as much emphasis as Deckard’s despite being the primary antagonist.

* Luv in ''Film/BladeRunner2049'' depending on your perspective. We have a distorted point of view from K that Luv is psychotic and loyal to Wallace, but from Luv's possible perspective, K is a Blade Runner who murders her own kind and has been assigned to kill the child of Rachel and Deckard. She is also clearly disturbed by Wallace's actions and like K has the ability to lie unlike most of the other Replicants. It is possible that she is trying to save the baby from both Wallace and K, and sees herself as the Messiah for the Replicants.