History Main / TookALevelInCheerfulness

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** Shamal noted in episode 6 of ''A's'' that all of the Wolkenritter changed significantly for the better after Hayate became their master.

* ''Manga/FinalFantasyLostStranger'': After suffering from years of burnout after not achieving his dreams of working on game development at Square-Enix, Shogo's adventures in the fantasy world make him happier than he's been in a long time. [[spoiler:But then it's inverted when Yuko dies to the Mist Dragon, giving him a HeroicBSOD that nearly spirals him into the DespairEventHorizon. After he avenges her by killing the Mist Dragon, this trope is once again played straight, as knowledge that Raise might be real motivates him to keep moving forward, becoming much more cheerful, lively, and decisive in the process.]]

* Ai Haibara from ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' was raised and ForcedIntoEvil by TheSyndicate, but managing to flee from them and being influenced by newfound friends like her ParentalSubstitute [[BigFun Hiroshi Agasa]], Conan Edogawa, The Detective Boys, and Ran Mouri has begun to help her heal. She's not likely to become a GenkiGirl in a long time, but she has stopped to wish for death and is now able to live the normal life she never had...

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', [[MysteriousWaif Lil]][[ShrinkingViolet lie]] [[spoiler:takes a level in cheerfulness after the [[WhamEpisode second visit to the Aether Foundation]], changing her hairstyle and outfit to show her {{Character Development}}.]]

* Ai Haibara from ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' was raised and ForcedIntoEvil by TheSyndicate, but managing to flee from them and being influenced by newfound friends like her ParentalSubstitute [[BigFun Hiroshi Agasa]], Conan Edogawa, and Ran Mouri has begun to help her heal. She's not likely to become a GenkiGirl in a long time, but she has stopped to wish for death and is now able to live the normal life she never had...

* [[AnIcePerson Queen Elsa]] of ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' grew up highly reserved because she was afraid being emotional would cause her powers to act up. The first time she opens up is when she sings her iconic ''Let It Go'' solo. She's still very anxious in "For The First Time In Forever (Reprise)" but at the end seems to have opened up more thanks to ThePowerOfLove, and has mastered her ice powers. ThePowerOfLove is strongly hinted at Elsa finally understanding how to love her own self.

* Hermit Milon from ''Manga/EdensZero'' becomes significantly livelier following her [[HealTheCutie mental recovery]] ([[UsedToBeASweetKid though it was technically regaining lost levels rather than taking new ones]]). She goes from a bitter, somber, [[IneffectualLoner reclusive]] DeathSeeker who didn't want to do anything with humans after the horrible thing they have done to them to a PlayfulHacker eager to help others and enjoys playing games and dressing up. Although, she didn't lose her cynical streak.

** Along with her, {{Manga/Boruto}} shows that Hiashi has also mellowed out from the original series, showing a much softer side with his family and especially his grandkids.

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'':

* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'':

[[folder:Web Comics]]

Compare DefrostingIceQueen and TookALevelInKindness. Lots of LoveRedeems stories fall under this trope. ThePowerOfFriendship, ThePowerOfLove, and ThePowerOfTrust may be involved, in that the character may feel the need to reciprocate those gifts. A sudden change might be a PreludeToSuicide.

* [[AnIcePerson Queen Elsa]] of ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' grew up highly reserved because she was afraid being emotional would cause her powers to act up. The first time she opens up is when she sings her iconic ''Let It Go'' solo. She's still very anxious in "For The First Time In Forever (Reprise)" but at the end seems to have opened up more thanks to ThePowerOfLove, and has mastered her ice powers. ThePowerOfLove is strongly hinted at Elsa finally understanding how to love her own self.

* Thanks to the fact ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' is a full-on comedy and is DenserAndWackier, Raven has gotten this treatment in comparison to ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''. In many episodes, she isn't even remotely stoic or reserved.

* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
** Meredy started out as a serious and angry child who rarely showed emotions. After the TimeSkip, she has become more cheerful and relaxed.
** Juvia went from gloomy in her debut to cheerful after joining the titular guild.
** Also Erza Scarlett herself as she showed more of her softer side, especially after the Tower of Heaven arc.
* [[EvilFormerFriend Siren/Ellen]] from ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'' started out as cold and hostile towards [[CuteKitten Hummy]], however after her HeelFaceTurn as [[SixthRanger Cure Beat]], which resulted in her being [[ShapeshifterModeLock trapped in her human form]], she has become a GenkiGirl.
* Ai Haibara from ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' was raised and ForcedIntoEvil by TheSyndicate, but managing to flee from them and being influenced by newfound friends like her ParentalSubstitute [[BigFun Hiroshi Agasa]], Conan Edogawa, and Ran Mouri has begun to help her heal. She's not likely to become a GenkiGirl in a long time, but she has stopped to wish for death and is now able to live the normal life she never had...

* [[AllThereInTheManual In the novelizaton]] of ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', Hinata Hyuga notes that her younger sister Hanabi has changed since [[spoiler:Neji's death]]. What brought on the change is unknown, but Hanabi acts more childish and outgoing now than she did in the main series.
** Along with her, {{Manga/Boruto}} shows that Hiashi has also mellowed out from the original series, showing a much softer side with his family and especially his grandkids.
* Saori from ''Manga/WanderingSon'' has a FriendlessBackground but when she met Nitori she began making friends. She however regressed when she became jealous of Takatsuki's friendship with Nitori, not helped when Nitori told her she confessed to Takatsuki, and TookALevelInJerkAss that lasted most of middle school. Eventually they all made up and Saori is noticeably less moody come high school. She smiles more and is quite friendly with Takatsuki.

* Hermit Milon from ''Manga/EdensZero'' becomes significantly livelier following her [[HealTheCutie mental recovery]] ([[UsedToBeASweetKid though it was technically regaining lost levels rather than taking new ones]]). She goes from a bitter, somber, [[IneffectualLoner reclusive]] DeathSeeker who didn't want to do anything with humans after the horrible thing they have done to them to a PlayfulHacker eager to help others and enjoys playing games and dressing up. Although, she didn't lose her cynical streak

* Fluttershy in ''Fanfic/RoyalBusiness'', as Spike notices when he runs into her in mid-air. She's friendly, smiling and even ''mischievous'' with Rainbow Dash after they re-bonded and became friendlier than ever before with Rainbow Dash in ''Fanfic/{{Dragonshyness}}''. This is Fluttershy's ''normal'' reaction to discovering that somepony loves her, as we also see (four years later) regarding Bulk Biceps in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E24EquestriaGames Equestria Games]]".
* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'':
** After going through a war, the end of the world, and surviving in a wrecked world, Asuka was mentally broken, exhausted, bitter, and angry with everyone and everything. When she arrived on Avalon, people cared about her, offered counseling, and helped her to set several things right, and as a result, Asuka's mood improved ''considerably''. When Shinji saw her again after several hours he was shocked because she was acting more like the bold, cheerful girl she was when he met her.
** Shinji, too. Hooking up with his life's love, getting [[spoiler:his mother, family, and friends]] back, and fighting for a worthy cause -for once- cheered him up tremendously.

* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': Developing powers and becoming a super-heroine made Asuka a happier, more cheerful and more positive person who did not need to pilot a giant robot to feel her life was not worthless.
* In ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'', Rei becomes more joyful and more upbeat after meeting Shinji and becoming a ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Nurgle follower]]''.

* ''Fanfic/TheBlackEmperor'': Thanks to his relationship with Milly, Lelouch has largely recovered from the TraumaCongaLine he had when he was ten.
* ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'': Izuku has a very noticeable uptick in cheer and optimism after finishing his QuestForIdentity and finding out who and what he is. While he's still a NervousWreck, he's fully resolved himself to chasing his dreams of becoming a Hero when he was hellbent on not becoming one at the start of the story.
* ''Fanfic/ResurrectedMemories'': After being saved by Danny and realizing that he and the others truly see her as their friend, Ember becomes happier and less conflicted.
* In ''Worm''/''DC'' crossover ''Fanfic/EchoesOfYesterday'', Taylor Hebert is saved from her bullies right when she's reaching her breaking point. Although her psychological issues obviously aren't gone, and she doesn't get [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} her new friend's]] cheerful disposition, she has been befriended by someone who fits with her idea of a hero, her father is now doing something about the bullying, and she's spending time away from her school and her tormentors. Because of all this, Taylor is feeling happier than she's been in a long, long time.
* ''Fanfic/BeforeMyBodyIsDry'': In "First Comes Love", Akio becomes much more pleasant and carefree.

* Azjel in ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries''. When seen in book two of the series, he's a dour, emotionless {{tykebomb}}. Thanks to Dora {{Care Bear Star|e}}ing him by accident, by the time of short story ''Eternal Pen'', taking place a year after the book, he's positively a GenkiGuy.

* On ''Series/TeenWolf'', Jackson is a JerkJock who is actually very insecure because he is adopted. In the first two seasons during which he was a main character, he was aggressively competitive, egotistical, a bully, and often mean even to his girlfriend. Then he was PutOnABus because his actor took a role on ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. When he next appears in the final episodes of the show, he is almost a completely different person because during his time away he came out as bisexual and fell in love with NiceGuy Ethan. This results in him being much more friendly and prone to banter even during deadly situations.

* In ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'', Geo begins as a mopey shut-in after his father, who he idolized, vanishes after a mission in space goes awry. After meeting Omega-Xis, Geo is forced to socialize with his peers and gradually becomes friends with them, becoming far more emotive and cheerful as the series goes on.

* In ''VisualNovel/FateHollowAtaraxia'', [[LadyOfBlackMagic Caster]] is much more relaxed than she ever was in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' since she no longer needs to worry about the Holy Grail War or leaving her beloved Master.

** Blake Belladonna goes from being a deeply stoic and broody young girl with a DeadpanSnarker attitude in Volume 1 to being rather positive and sociable (though she's still quite reserved by comparison to her teammates) by Volume 3. [[spoiler: Then [[{{InvertedTrope}} inverted completely]] at the end of Volume 3 with the return of [[{{Yandere}} Adam Taurus]], which leaves her traumatized, prone to sudden bursts of shouting and irrationality, paranoid, and easily embarrassed. She starts to get over it over the course of Volume 4 with help from DoggedNiceGuy Sun, though.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
** Gwen started out as a pessimistic {{Goth}}. By later episodes, she has become a PerkyGoth.
** Noah from ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' starts out as a DeadpanSnarker. After he [[spoiler:falls in love]], he still snarks but is overall a lot more cheerful.

* Charmcaster was [[BrokenBird one of the most depressed (and depressing) characters]] in ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien''. In the DenserAndWackier ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'', she seems to have used magic as a stimulant and is now an AffablyEvil GenkiGirl.

* In ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'', Geo begins as a mopey shut-in after his father, who he idolized, vanishes after a mission in space goes awry. After meeting Omega-Xis, Geo is forced to socialize with his peers and gradually becomes friends with them. He becomes far more emotive and cheerful as the series goes on, becoming downright {{Adorkable}} at times by the series' end.

This character type, either a BrokenBird, an IceQueen, a ShrinkingViolet, TheStoic or any other kind of less cheerful character, becomes more cheerful over time. Can be due to CharacterDevelopment, or a HeelFaceTurn.

Compare DefrostingIceQueen and TookALevelInKindness. Lots of LoveRedeems stories fall under this trope. ThePowerOfFriendship, ThePowerOfLove and ThePowerOfTrust may be involved, in that the character may feel the need to reciprocate those gifts. A sudden change might be a PreludeToSuicide.

** [[DarkMagicalGirl Fate Testarossa]] starts off as as a girl who deliberately represses her emotions as a defense mechanism for [[AbusiveParents her mother's abuse]]. By the time of ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers StrikerS]]'' she actually smiles more often than not when she isn't on duty (being befriended by Nanoha and adopted by Lindy did ''wonders'' for her emotional well being).

* [[EvilFormerFriend Siren/Ellen]] from ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'' started out as cold and hostile towards [[CuteKitten Hummy]], however after her HeelFaceTurn as [[SixthRanger Cure Beat]], which resulted her to be [[ShapeshifterModeLock trapped in her human form]], she has become a GenkiGirl.
* Ai Haibara from ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' was raised and ForcedIntoEvil by TheSyndicate, but managing to flee from them and being influenced by newfound friends like her ParentalSubstitute [[BigFun Hiroshi Agasa]], Conan Edogawa and Ran Mouri has begun to help her heal. She's not likely to become a GenkiGirl in a long time, but she has stopped to wish for death and is now able to live the normal life she never had...

* Takeo starts out ''Manga/TakeoChanBukkairoku'' distant and disinclined to open up to people. This is largely due to the curse that causes her to be BornUnlucky and makes her TheJinx to everyone around her. The youkai she lives with discover that the key to surprising her, and thus causing her to expel the negative energy within her for them to devour, is ''happiness'', because she's felt it so rarely that it's a genuine shock to her system when she experiences it. As a result, they dedicate themselves to making her happy so they can feed off her energy and, despite this being completely counter-intuitive for the majority of them, they are successful and Takeo eventually reaches a point that she can declare she will not give in to despair ever again.

** [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Post-Crisis]] Kara felt confused, irascible and pretty miserable upon arriving on Earth. Several months later she'd adapted to Earth and learned to be a hero, and she was pretty happy with her life.
** [[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 Her Post-Flashpoint]] self found out that Krypton, her family, her friends, her old life... were gone right after crash-landing on Earth. For a long time she was a upset, lonely, angsty teenager struggling through her abandonment and anger issues and her inability to fit in with humans. After undergoing character development, which ironically involved a [[ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton Red Lantern stint]], she let her anger and confusion go and become a happier and more optimistic person.

** After going through a war, the end of the world and surviving in a wrecked world, Asuka was mentally broken, exhausted, bitter and angry with everyone and everything. When she arrived on Avalon, people cared about her, offered counseling and helped her to set several things right, and as a result Asuka's mood improved ''considerably''. When Shinji saw her again after several hours he was shocked because she was acting more like the bold, cheerful girl she was when he met her.
** Shinji, too. Hooking up with his life's love, getting [[spoiler:his mother, family and friends]] back and fighting for a worthy cause -for once- cheered him up tremendously.

** Rei stopped taking her feeling-numbing medication per advice of Asuka. Afterwards she started bonding with her fellow pilots and she also became happier and smiling more often (covertly so that she did not clue Gendo or Ritsuko in on her changes).

** Shinji also became happier after Asuka and him got together.

** Before the timeline restarted Asuka was so infuriated, hopeless and fed up with everything she just wanted to die. When she woke up in her room back in Germany, three months before the beginning of the War, and realized she had another chance, she was absolutely giddy.

** Asuka goes through this several times: at the beginning she was very distressed and glum because her performance was slipping. Then she met Shinji, after a while -and several fights- they got together and her mood got sunnier to the point that everybody commented on it. Later she fell on very hard times and she became angrier, loathful and depressed. After getting over her issues she became again happier and bolder.
** Rei became emotionless after an accident and had a hard time reconnecting with her squad mates (and everybody else). After the LoveTriangle tangling Kaworu, Saburo and herself up got resolved, she started to smile more often.

* ''Fanfic/{{HERZ}}'': After the war Asuka was angry, resentful and gloomy and hated herself and everybody. Twelve years later she is more mature, has repaired her relationship with Shinji and has married him, has given birth a cute daughter and she is happier than she ever was during her childhood.

* ''Fanfic/TheOneILoveIs'': Rei, Asuka and Shinji had several setbacks and much angst as the former two fought over the latter, but on the whole their LoveTriangle made them happier and more emotionally stable.

** After meeting [[spoiler:Aki,]] Rei becomes more cheerful and smiles more often.

* ''Fanfic/ResurrectedMemories'': After being saved by Danny and realizing that he and the others truly sees her as their friend, Ember becomes happier and less conflicted.

* On ''Series/TeenWolf'', Jackson is a JerkJock who is actually very insecure because he is adopted. In the first two seasons during which he was a main character, he was aggressively competitive, egotistical, a bully and often mean even to his girlfriend. Then he was PutOnABus because his actor took a role on ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. When he next appears in the final episodes of the show, he is almost a completely different person because during his time away he came out as bisexual and fell in love with NiceGuy Ethan. This results in him being much more friendly and prone to banter even during deadly situations.

* In ''VisualNovel/FateHollowAtaraxia'', [[LadyOfBlackMagic Caster]] is much more relaxed than she ever was in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', since she no longer needs to worry about the Holy Grail War or leaving her beloved Master.

** Blake Belladonna goes from being a deeply stoic and broody young girl with a DeadpanSnarker attitude in Volume 1, to being rather positive and sociable (though she's still quite reserved by comparison to her teammates) by Volume 3. [[spoiler: Then [[{{InvertedTrope}} inverted completely]] at the end of Volume 3 with the return of [[{{Yandere}} Adam Taurus]], which leaves her traumatized, prone to sudden bursts of shouting and irrationality, paranoid, and easily embarrassed. She starts to get over it over the course of Volume 4 with help from DoggedNiceGuy Sun, though.]]

** Noah from ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' starts out as a DeadpanSnarker. After he [[spoiler: falls in love]] he still snarks, but is overall a lot more cheerful.
* PJ from ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'' starts out depressed and hopeless in the pilot. In the main part of the series and the first movie he's mainly a world-weary NervousWreck with some despondent moments and relatively frequent contentment. By the end of the second movie, he's the happiest guy around. These changes occurred because of the positive influences of [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe befriending Max]] and [[EarnYourHappyEnding leaving home and finding a girlfriend]].

** [[FishOutOfWater Twilight Sparkle]] started off the series as an acerbic recluse, and uninterested in socializing in favor of her studies for [[TheHighQueen Princess Celestia]]. After the events of the pilot, she comes to appreciate the importance of friendship, and slowly becomes more cheerful and friendly (if still sometimes snarky). [[CharacterizationMarchesOn It's rather odd to watch earlier episodes compared to those of later on]], where she is sometimes extremely perky and even a bit naïve.
** [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Pinkie Pie]] used to be a very dour, American Gothic kind of little girl, but then she witnessed something amazing, and felt herself smile for the first time. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inHQ4fqThKM Inducing this in others is Pinkie Pie's Life Mission.]]

* Thanks to the fact ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' is a full-on comedy and is DenserAndWackier, Raven has gotten this treatment in comparison to ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''. In many episodes she isn't even remotely stoic or reserved.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' does this with [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Princess Zelda]]. ''Melee'' uses her ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' iteration, while ''Brawl'' and ''3DS/Wii U'' use her ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' iteration; both iterations are as somber and stoic as they were in the ''Zelda'' games. ''Ultimate'', in contrast, uses her ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds]]'' iteration, who is more cheerful and energetic.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12290311/1/The-Black-Emperor The Black Emperor]]'': Thanks to his relationship with Milly, Lelouch has largely recovered from the TraumaCongaLine he had when he was ten.

* [[spoiler: Anton Ego]], from ''WesternAnimation/Ratatouille'', in the ending, after having rediscovered his childhood memories with the help of our protagonist's cooking.

* [[AnIcePerson Queen Elsa]] of ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' grew up highly reserved because she was afraid being emotional would cause her powers to act up. The first time she opens up is when she sings her iconic ''Let It Go'' solo. She's still very anxious in "For The First Time In Forever (Reprise)" but at the end seems to have opened up more thanks to ThePowerOfLove, and has mastered her ice powers. ThePowerOfLove is strongly hinted at Elsa finally understanding how to love her own self.
* The titular kitten [[CuteKitten Oliver]] from Disney's ''Disney/OliverAndCompany'' starts out as a giveaway kitten in a cardboard box. Evening rain, a sewer of doom, feral dogs... life sucks for this kitten. By the end of the story, however, the kitten has a name and a home and [[LonelyRichKid Jenny Foxworth]]... yeah, life is good for Oliver.

* In ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'', Rei becomes more joyful and more upbeat after meeting Shinji and becoming a ''[[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Nurgle follower]]''.

* [[spoiler: Anton Ego]], from [[WesternAnimation/Ratatouille]], in the ending, after having rediscovered his childhood memories with the help of our protagonist's cooking.

Compare DefrostingIceQueen and TookALevelInKindness. Lots of LoveRedeems stories fall under this trope. ThePowerOfFriendship, ThePowerOfLove and ThePowerOfTrust may be involved, in that the character may feel the need to reciprocate those gifts.

The world can seem like such a joyless, gray, dark place, empty of hope, where dreams are ephemeral lifelines, where joy and passion seem pointless and fake, and pain is the only thing that's authentic. Yet, sometimes, meeting the right person, witnessing the right moment, can teach one that there's more to life than suffering—can teach one to smile again. This doesn't mean that they've acquired better morals, or even that they gained hope: they may instead be ConditionedToAcceptHorror, [[Film/DoctorStrangelove stop worrying, and love the bomb.]]

The character, either a BrokenBird, an IceQueen, a ShrinkingViolet, TheStoic or any other kind of less cheerful character, becomes more cheerful over time. Can be due to CharacterDevelopment, or a HeelFaceTurn.