History Main / PromotionToParent

* Cody in ''Webcomic/FiveNightsAtFreddysLostSouls'' has become a parental figure to his little sister Bridget, as unlike their mother, their father is often out of town, and ''also'' unlike their [[MissingMom mother]], their father is still '''alive'''.

* In ''Film/EyesOfAStranger'' Jane looks after Tracy as a child, and becomes her caretaker in adulthood after her failure to protect her sister as a child leaves her disabled, even though their parents are merely [[InvisibleParents invisible]], not dead or neglectful. Her failures in this role allow her Tracy to be sexually assaulted in the prologue and in the film's climax.

Compare to BigBrotherInstinct, FamilyMan, ExtremelyProtectiveChild, AndYourRewardIsParenthood. If this trope is a KlingonPromotion to parent, the promoted will also be a SelfMadeOrphan. Contrast with DisappointingOlderSibling when the first born proves to be too immature, irresponsible, or ineffectual to be a parental substitute. PlayingHouse is when it's just a game kids play.

* Yakko in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' movie ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish''. He leans toward this trope in the series too, but since the movie takes place in an {{Alternate Universe}} where the Warners are actual orphans - unlike in the series, where they never had parents, but [[ArtInitiatesLife were created by an animator drawing them]] – it's especially visible there.

* Elsa in ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' goes through this with Anna after their parents die. Even though she's barely present in Anna's life for the three years between their parents death and her coronation, isolating herself out of fear of her ice powers, she still takes her responsibility as Anna's legal guardian seriously, as shown when she vetos her marriage to Hans.

This trope can also apply to adults. For instance, when someone childless (likely a man) finds out of the blue that he has a child he didn't know about. This usually can range from the traditional accidental conception ("I'm your daughter/son.") to the [[CloningBlues scifi clone]]. Another way would be when a woman finds out she is pregnant and has to step up to being a parent whether or not she is ready for it yet. Still another, when a [[ReallyGetsAround swinging bachelor/bachelorette]] uncle/aunt is unexpectedly [[{{Nephewism}} saddled with guardianship of a nephew/niece]].

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname Dave's Bro]] plays it straight while John's Dad is simply a [[MissingMom Single]] [[AvertedTrope Parent]], with no insight into the rest of their respective families. Later, thanks to a lot of complicated [[CloningBlues Ectobiology]] [[TimeParadox Shenanigans]] and [[StableTimeLoop Weird]] {{Time|yWimeyBall}} [[RunningGag Shit]], we learn that [[spoiler:[[InvertedTrope Dave's Bro is his biological clone-father,]] [[DoubleSubversion John's Dad is his genetic half-brother and his grandmother is actually his biological clone-mother,]] [[RuleOfThree and]] [[TrulySingleParent John is unwittingly responsible for cloning both the parents and the kids]] [[ZigZaggingTrope just before they all got launched throughout time and space to become those very people]]]].

* In ''Raising Helen'', the main character Helen gets custody of her sister’s children after the children’s parents die in a motor accident.

* In ''Film/SuperMarioBros1993'', Mario briefly mentions he had to raise his brother Luigi after their parents died. This isn't the case in the [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros games]] where they're twins and their parents are never mentioned.

* In ''Webcomic/DubiousCompany'', [[ElegantGothicLolita Gary]] is this to his "[[HeroicBuild little]]" brother Marty, from [[DemotedToExtra what little]] is known about them. Nonspecific Evil Mage #157675 learned the [[ManOnFire hard way]] what {{k|nightTemplarBigBrother}}inds of {{p|apaWolf}}owers Gary gained from the role.

* Barley and Ian's father in ''WesternAnimation/{{Onward}}'' died of an unspecified illness before Ian was even born. Their mother is still around, but near the end Ian comes to realize how much his big brother has been like a father for him. [[spoiler:So much so, that Ian gives up his one chance to speak to their dad so Barley can say goodbye instead, because while he never had his dad, he always had Barley.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6'': Although Tadashi and Hiro live with their Aunt Cass, Tadashi makes a special effort to fulfill the role of big brother and father figure. It's most obvious when he's distressed over Hiro's botfighting hobby and wonders what their dad would say in that situation. This trope also applies to Aunt Cass who took both boys in when their parents died.

Compare to BigBrotherInstinct, FamilyMan, and ExtremelyProtectiveChild. If this trope is a KlingonPromotion to parent, the promoted will also be a SelfMadeOrphan. Contrast with DisappointingOlderSibling when the first born proves to be too immature, irresponsible, or ineffectual to be a parental substitute. PlayingHouse is when it's just a game kids play.

* Barley and Ian's father in ''WesternAnimation/{{Onward}}'' died of an unspecified illness before Ian was even born. Their mother is still around, but near the end Ian comes to realize how much his big brother has been like a father for him. [[spoiler: So much so, that Ian gives up his one chance to speak to their dad so Barley can say goodbye instead, because while he never had his dad, he always had Barley.]]

* The ''Film/StakeLand'' films find the vampire hunter, Mister, taking the orphaned teenager, Martin, under his wing after [[spoiler:the boy's family is killed in a vampire attack]] at the beginning of the first movie. For all of Mister's gruff surliness, he ultimately proves up to the task and devoted to caring for his young charge. As the pair travel through the post-apocalyptic America, Mister trains Martin how to fight vampires and survive in their new lives.
** Mister also becomes one to the feral Lady in the second film, making it even more tragic when [[spoiler: he is forced to kill her after Lady is bitten by a vampire.]]

* In ''TabletopGame/BlissStage'', the Authority Figure is literally the only person over 18 still conscious. Since they usually manage to stay awake through a combination of "drugs, stress, and mental illness," [[spoiler: they're not the ideal parents]].

* Downplayed with Rachel in ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework''. Although Rachel and her younger brother live with their mother after their parents’ divorce, Rachel is taking on a greater share of responsibility in taking care of her brother.

* In VisualNovel/EveryDaysDifferent Katsuki's parents [[ParentalNeglect barely bother to visit home, let alone take care of their daughters]] so Katsuki has to look after her little sister.

** Judge Justine Courtney in ''Investigation 2'' [[spoiler: adopted her cousin's son after he was orphaned.]]
* ''VisualNovel/ShallWeDateNinjaShadow'': Saori's potential boyfriend [[spoiler:Ritsu]] was orphaned at 10 years old and had to take care of his 6-year-old little brother from then on. [[spoiler:Then his brother was killed by the Nagasaki Vigilantes for [[HeKnowsTooMuch learning their secret identitites]], and the deeply hurt Ritsu has come to ''loathe'' them for it.]]
* [[spoiler:Mira Kagami]] in ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial'' is revealed to be unable to join clubs because she's the eldest of five children in a poor household, her father died, and she has to help her mother to take care of her ''much'' younger brothers. [[spoiler: All of the times Mira cancels dates with the PlyerCharacter? One of the kids is sick [[SickEpisode and she must take care of him]]. [[TextileWorkIsFeminine She's good at sewing?]] She fixes the kids's clothes to help her mom. She doesn't let the PlayerCharacter walk her home? She doesn't want anyone to find out she's not the RichBitch she pretends to be at school.]]
* In ''VisualNovel/TrueLoveJunaiMonogatari'', [[spoiler: Ryoko Shimazaki]] was raised by her older brother [[spoiler: Tadaki]] ever since their parents died when she was a child. [[spoiler: He's also her manager, as she's the local IdolSinger; Ryoko notes that Tadaki has dedicated all of his adult life to make her the best idol in Japan, but has become obsessed with her career in the last years. If the MC wants to romance Ryoko, then it's up to him to help her deal with her manager/tutor/brother.]]

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname Dave's Bro]] plays it straight while John's Dad is simply a [[MissingMom Single]] [[AvertedTrope Parent]], with no insight into the rest of their respective families. Later, thanks to a lot of complicated [[CloningBlues Ectobiology]] [[TimeParadox Shenanigans]] and [[StableTimeLoop Weird]] {{Time|yWimeyBall}} [[RunningGag Shit]], we learn that [[spoiler: [[InvertedTrope Dave's Bro is his biological clone-father,]] [[DoubleSubversion John's Dad is his genetic half-brother and his grandmother is actually his biological clone-mother,]] [[RuleOfThree and]] [[TrulySingleParent John is unwittingly responsible for cloning both the parents and the kids]] [[ZigZaggingTrope just before they all got launched throughout time and space to become those very people]]]].

* ''WebAnimation/ImAnton'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLeJMJpQ8oo Tim]] despite being 20 years old, is the size of a baby. As a result, he isn't able to do much on his own.

* ''Film/TheHungerGames'': Katniss Everdeen for her sister, due to her mother's depression and general ineffectiveness.

* In ''Film/SuperMarioBros'', Mario briefly mentions he had to raise his brother Luigi after their parents died. This isn't the case in the [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros games]] where they're twins and their parents are never mentioned.

%%* David in indie horror film ''Film/TheHamiltons''.