History Main / RediscoveringRootsTrip

* ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'': In "How Cleveland Got His Groove Back", a depressed Cleveland is inspired by a ''[[Series/Roots1977 Roots]]'' sequel to take the family on a trip Africa to get in touch with his peoples' culture. However, when their plane lands for a layover in Hawaii, Cleveland decides to stay and vacation there and convinces Rallo that they're ''in'' Africa to avoid disappointing him.
* The ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' special ''Shanghai, the Legend of Ladydragon'' reveals that Marinette's parents have been saving up money since she was born to take a family trip back to China (where her mother was born) whenever Marinette was ready to connect with her heritage, and they're moved almost to tears when Marinette tells them she wants to do so. {{Subverted}}: Marinette only wants to go to China to continue [[StalkerWithACrush stalking Adrien]], because he's in Shanghai for business.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': In "Going Native", Butters starts acting unusually hostile, and his parents take this as a sign that he must return to his birthland: Hawaii. He goes there, bringing Kenny along, and joins the white "natives" (tourists who decided to stay on the islands) for his coming-of-age ceremony.
* ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'': The appropriately named "Static in Africa" sees the Hawkins family travel to Ghana to get in touch with their roots. Virgil himself teams with an African superhero called Anansi as they work to stop a villain named Osebo from looting an archaeological site.

* Subverted in the ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' episode "The Dog Days are Over". The second-generation Vietnamese-American Diane travels to Vietnam ostensibly to find herself and reconnect with her roots (as framed by the listicle she's supposed to be writing), but as the episode progresses, it becomes clear that her Americanized upbringing and life only makes her feel more alone and alienated from the people in Hanoi, and that she's really only there because she's trying to deal with the emotional fallout of her divorce.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'': In "How Cleveland Got His Groove Back", a depressed Cleveland is inspired by a ''Series/{{Roots}}'' sequel to take the family on a trip Africa to get in touch with his peoples' culture. However, when their plane lands for a layover in Hawaii, Cleveland decides to stay and vacation there and convinces Rallo that they're ''in'' Africa to avoid disappointing him.

* During The90s and the TurnOfTheMillennium, a lot of Western couples who couldn't have children naturally would adopt babies (usually female babies) from UsefulNotes/{{China}} who had been abandoned due to the country's [[PopulationControl one-child policy]]. However, because they grew up outside of China and had no Chinese relatives to learn about their culture from, a lot of Chinese adoptees end up feeling disconnected from their cultural heritage. As such, there are many programs that allow Chinese adoptees to go on trips to China and learn about their roots.

''(the birds whistle [[CatchPhrase "I tawt I taw a putty tat!"]] and start attacking Sylvester)''\\

What spurs this trip varies. It could be a FamilyDisunion, a time of personal upheaval, a well-intentioned effort by the parents, HeritageDisconnect, or a more general feeling of unhappiness or dissatisfaction are common causes, but the trip will always be treated as an incredibly important and formative one. They'll see all the sights, meet friendly locals or relatives, unearth old family secrets, and immerse themselves in the traditions and cultures of the old country. By the end, they will almost always have a greater love and understanding of their bicultural identity and an appreciation for their family's journey, although sadder takes on this trope may focus more on how they continue to feel alienated from this culture due to their mixed background. StrangerInAFamiliarLand may result.

Compare and contrast ImmigrantPatriotism, where immigrants wholeheartedly embrace the culture of their new country. See also JourneyToFindOneself.

* ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'' laces this plot in with superhero fare. Shang-Chi has spent ten years building up a normal life in San Francisco to escape his ArchnemesisDad -- Xu Wenwu, aka "The Mandarin" -- but is soon abducted and brought back to China for his plans. However, Wenwu genuinely doesn't want to fight his son, and simply needs his help for [[CrusadingWidower a quest to reclaim his lost wife]], treating the experience more like this so that Shang-Chi can better understand what's at stake before rescuing and reuniting with his MissingMom. Considering Wenwu's history as a criminal overlord and [[TykeBomb raising of Shang-Chi to be an assassin]], [[FamilyDisunion this reunion is naturally very fraught]]. [[spoiler:It takes a journey into the HiddenElfVillage his mother originated from, understanding ''her'' roots and why she chose to leave to be with Wenwu does the whole picture of his family -- in its loving past and fleeting present -- come together.]]

* In ''Film/{{Sarvann}}'' produced by Creator/PriyankaChopra, a Canadian-Indian young man returns to India in an effort to find himself.