History Main / IJustWantToBeYou

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Creator/JossWhedon's ''Comicbook/AstonishingXMen'' run suggested that deep down in his subconscious, Comicbook/{{Cyclops}} desperately wants to be Comicbook/{{Wolverine}}, [[WolverinePublicity who is far more popular]] [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall and memorable than him]].

* In ''FanFic/EquestriaAHistoryRevealed'', all the Celestia-bashing aside, it becomes pretty clear later on that the LemonyNarrator wants to be like Princess Celestia. To an extent, she also acts this way to Princess Twilight too, and lashes out at both of them due to her [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex issues of self-worth and her desire to prove herself]].

* It's been hinted that in ''Series/DoctorWho'', Rory Williams wanted to be more like the Doctor. Growing up, his friend Amy (later fiancé, later wife) always made him dress up and play as her [[NotSoImaginaryFriend imaginary friend]] 'The Raggedy Doctor'. Creator/StevenMoffat revealed that the only reason he became a nurse was him ''trying'' to be a doctor. When the Time Lord actually returned, Rory found himself competing with him. Eventually, though, Amy chose him anyway, and he's become far more comfortable with himself.
** No doubt the fact that, since becoming a companion, he's [[TookALevelInBadass taken so many levels in badass]] [[MemeticBadass he's broken the scale]] has helped his self-esteem.

* The ''Series/FraggleRock'' episode "I Want to Be You" is all about this. Red gets jealous of Mokey for being (so she thinks) more popular than her and spends the episode trying to imitate Mokey's hairstyle, voice, touchy-feely new-age poetry, etc.
** Interestingly, Karen Prell has stated that she originally was disappointed that she wasn't cast as Mokey, but that this was the episode that taught her how to be Red.

--> '''[[spoiler: Clone!Shepard]]''': Look at you! What makes you so damned special? Why you and not ''[[IJustWantToBeSpecial me?!]]''

* The Envy Demon in ''Videogame/DragonAgeInquisition'' has already taken on the identity of a very powerful and important person [[spoiler:Lord Seeker Lucius, leader of the Templars]]. The moment it learns about the Herald of Andraste (the player character), it becomes obsessed with becoming the Herald.

* This is part of what's going on between Kuchiki Toko and Mizuhara Toko in ''VisualNovel/KaraNoShoujo''.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

** The main motivation for Danzo. Despite loving his village and doing what it on to protect him, his ultimate goal was to [[spoiler:match the same level of power and respect as the Third Hokage Hizuren Sarutobi, to the point he did his damn hardest to become Hokage himself through underhanded means]].

* "Brutus" by The Buttress is sung from the point of view of a female Brutus as she grapples with feeling both admiration and gratitude for Caesar and all he's done for her alongside vicious envy and rage that he has the position she covets. She even specifically says, "I don't want what you have, I wanna be you."

** A more [[PlayedForDrama depressing]] take is Wakaba, [[TheAce Utena's]] MuggleBestFriend. While Wakaba blatantly [[IJustWantToBeSpecial wants to be "special"]] and blatantly attempts to emulate Utena, it's mostly PlayedForLaughs until the [[DarkerAndEdgier Black Rose Arc]]. [[spoiler: When Wakaba gets hit with MindRape at her [[DespairEventHorizon lowest point]], her transformation into a [[TragicMonster Black Rose Duelist]] reads less as garden-variety BrainwashedAndCrazy and more a total LossOfInhibitions via MoreThanMindControl. During their duel, Wakaba bitterly rants about how Utena and other "special" people take their privilege for granted and trample the dreams of their less lucky peers. While she does [[BeatTheCurseOutOfHim save Wakaba]], learning the AwfulTruth about her friend [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome leads to Utena drifting apart from Wakaba for the rest of the show]].]]

* ''Fanfic/FateHaremAntics'': In an omake, all of Shirou Emiya's male classmates, except Issei, say they want to be Shirou because he has a harem of 23 gorgeous girls. They eventually get turned off when [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome Shirou explains the logical consequences of trying to maintain a harem]].

[[quoteright:312:[[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lifeenvy.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:312:[-They look like the same girl right? Except they're not. (Hint: Look at their eyes.)-] ]]

->''"You had the existence I could only dream of.\\
Every pleasure at your disposal and you wasted it.\\
You don't deserve this life, [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark]], but I do."''
-->-- '''Bizarro''', ''Series/{{Smallville}}''