History Main / LoveHungry

* ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}}'': [[Characters/IrredeemablePlutonian The Plutonian]], spurred from a childhood that consisted of being bounced around numerous foster homes. He went on to become the world's most beloved and admired superhero, but his [[CantTakeCriticism inability to handle criticism]] whenever he made a mistake or to deal with SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond situations drives him off the deep end after a tragedy occurs, and he ultimates decides that [[BewareTheSuperman it's better to be feared than loved]].

* ''Manga/CrimsonSpell'': Vald's [[SuperpoweredEvilSide demon side]] calls his LoveInterest, Halvir, "my whole world", and boy, does he stand by it. At one point, he tries to trap Halvir in an alternate dimension with him so he can monopolize Halvir's attention. When Halvir points out that he's acting strange and there's [[LotusEaterMachine obviously something wrong with the world around them]], Vald demands to know why Halvir wants to abandon him and threatens to destroy the world if he leaves. Fortunately for him, Halvir is a CrazyJealousGuy, so the feeling is (mostly) mutual.

* [[EmotionEater Queen Chrysalis]] and her changeling minions are prone to this characterization in some ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' works. Sometimes they are presented as a WoobieSpecies or will feature one out of an otherwise AlwaysChaoticEvil race who can't find true love because ponies fear and percieve them as heartless love-sucking monsters, while other times they are [[ShapeshiftingSeducer Shapeshifting Seducers]] who (ahem) "bribe" ponies to get what they want out of them.
* ''Fanfic/DantesNightAtFreddys 2: Animatronic Boogaloo'': With a backstory that involves being torn apart on a daily basis for for being Foxy's ReplacementScrappy, Mangle is shown to be so desperate for affection in that she [[BlackComedyRape sexually assaults Foxy]] in a simultaneously disgusting and humorous scene.
* Yolei from ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' suffers from this trope in ''FanFic/Digimon02TheStoryWeNeverTold'' as she chose to actively pursue a relationship with Ken just to make her feel special. With Mimi's guidance she changes her habits and her appearance, distances herself from the other children and neglects her responsibilities. [[spoiler: Her efforts fail spectacularly, earning only Ken's contempt for trying to pursue love instead of fighting, and alienates her friends, particularly Davis]].
* This is the hidden root of Xu'ffasch's motive in ''We Are the Night''. He pursues Helena, who is the [[{{Squick}} fourteen year-old half-sister of his alternate self]], because he decided she's his perfect mate. He's beyond relentless because, after offing his whole family, he's LonelyAtTheTop and wants a companion. As Helena spells it out in her TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:

* ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'': Anakin Skywalker for Padme's love. While he was [[GoodIsNotNice kind of a dick and rather aggressive]], he was still undoubtedly ''good,'' and his love for Padme was the only thing he valued more than [[MagicKnight being a Jedi]]. By ''Revenge of the Sith,'' his desperation to save Padme from [[PsychicDreamsForEveryone his visions of her perceived death in childbirth,]] his severely unaddressed trauma over his mother's death, and his growing feelings that the Jedi were stifling his power led to his increasing SanitySlippage and overtly possessive actions towards her. Even more explicit in Matt Stover's novelization, where Anakin reacts angrily and violently towards any perceived threat to his relationship with Padme.

* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' [[CentralTheme explores the universal need for love through many characters]], mostly in the titular character himself. Bojack is [[IJustWantToBeLoved desperate to love himself and be loved by others]], yet due to a [[AbusiveParents lack of]] [[FriendlessBackground experience]] [[DarkAndTroubledPast during his formative years]], [[{{Jerkass}} his]] [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex off-putting]] [[{{Narcissist}} personality]] and [[HisOwnWorstEnemy chronic self-sabotage]], Bojack has no idea [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove how to process love when he does get it]], [[InLoveWithLove let alone]] [[TheILoveYouStigma how to reciprocate]]. (His past as a Sitcom actor doesn't help either, as its led him to an [[WrongGenreSavvy unrealistically simplistic idea of how relationships work]].) The end result is a broken wreck of a (horse)man with [[IdleRich too much money]] and [[LonersAreFreaks no social life]] who's [[WhiteDwarfStarlet trying to recapture his 'glory days']] and who [[{{Tsundere}} both clings to and pushes away his friends and love-interests alike]].
* In the ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' episode "Operation: S.N.O.W.I.N.G.", [[AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil fourth grade president]] [[PresidentEvil Jimmy]] has [[FaceHeelTurn turned evil]] in the hopes of [[VillainousCrush impressing Numbuh 1's girlfriend Lizzie]]. He is infuriated when Lizzie stays loyal to Numbuh 1 and insists that Jimmy can't make her love him. At that he reveals his backup plan of using a mind control helmet on her. The Kids Next Door ultimately are able to stop him with help from his [[IgnoredEnamoredUnderling secretary]] [[WomanScorned Anna]], who decided to sabotage his plan when she learned she wasn't the object of his affections. Anna [[LoveConfession confesses]] her romantic feelings for Jimmy, who responds positively and acknowledges that he needs to learn the true meaning of love.

** A non-romantic version of this (similar to Galadriel's under Lord of the Rings above) serves as the main motivation behind [[MadGod Princess Luna's]] backstory. She wanted to be as loved and appreciated as her sister and wanted her night to be as loved and appreciated as the daytime. Her plan to achieve this? Muck about with dark magics (which may or may not [[GoneHorriblyWrong have possessed her]]) in order to become stronger than her sister, install herself as Equestria's sole ruler, and institute [[TheNightThatNeverEnds everlasting night]] in the hopes that finally her subjects would come to appreciate and love her and her night. Nevermind that most of Equestria's population [[ApocalypseHow would have starved and/or frozen to death]] had she suceeded...

This character may try to gain love through [[RelationshipSabotage sabotaging other's relationships]], [[MaliciousSlander deception]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation]], [[VillainWithGoodPublicity propaganda]], or even ''[[MurderTheHypotenuse murder]]''. If they lack this finesse or get ''really'' desperate, they may [[CaptiveDate kidnap the person(s) that they want to love them]] and try to create StockholmSyndrome. Of course, this TragicDream usually gets the opposite result, with the target becoming angry or fearful and rejecting the Love Hungry. The presence of magic and powers usually means that LoveIsInTheAir, CharmPerson, and {{Glamour}}s will be used to create this forced love.

** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E7MakeNewFriendsButKeepDiscord Make New Friends but Keep Discord]": Discord feels starved of Fluttershy's affection because of her new friendship with Tree Hugger, whom he eventually threatens to [[MurderTheHypotenuse tuck away into an alternate dimension]].

* Rebecca Bunch resorts to all levels of stalking and manipulation to get Josh to fall in love with her on ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend''.

* A platonic version occurs with Azula and her friends Mai and Ty Lee on ''Series/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. Azula is not above threatening bodily harm or death to get them to go along with what she wants. When the latter two eventually get fed up with this treatment [[spoiler: and betray her by letting Zuko and his friends go at the Boiling Rock, Azula orders for them to rot in prison. That she can't use fear to keep them by her side anymore is a big factor for Azula's VillainousBreakdown at the end of the series]].