History PromotionToParent / WesternAnimation

** [[ShapeShifting M'gann]] and [[{{Animorphism}} Gar]] consider themselves "[[BloodBrothers blood siblings]]" after she saves his life with a SuperHumanTransfusion. After his mom dies during the TimeSkip he moves to Mount Justice with her.
** "Misplaced" is sort of a worldwide temporary example: all the adults in the world disappear and we see teenagers rounding up and trying to care for all the younger kids.

* The ''{{WesternAnimation/Daria}}'' [[AllThereInTheManual website]] describes Casa Lane as the house where siblings [[CoolLoser Jane]] and [[TheSlacker Trent]] "were raised. By each other." It's not entirely true, but [[HandsOffParenting their parents are usually off in some foreign country]] and their older siblings (all moved out by the time the show takes place) are all dysfunctional in some way, leaving Jane and Trent alone to try to stabilize each other. (Trent is older, but Jane is probably the more responsible of the two.)

* In ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'', Dot takes this role to Enzo. Naturally it ends after Enzo's YearInsideHourOutside TimeSkip, rendering him physically older than Dot. Enzo's {{clon|ingBlues}}e gets the original and Dot as surrogate parents, but later gets his real dad back ([[AndIMustScream sort of]]).

* In TheSeventies' SaturdayMorningCartoon ''WesternAnimation/{{Devlin}}'' by Creator/HannaBarbera, the main character and local BadassBiker Ernie Devlin has had to raise his teenage brother Todd and pre-teen sister Sandy in [[CircusBrat the circus they live and work in.]] According to some flashbacks, their dad was a highway motorcycle patrolman who was killed in the line of duty.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':

* In the late seasons of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)'', after Splinter has been oddly distant for a few days, he tells Leonardo he knew since he was small that he would one day be the leader of his brothers, and when Splinter passes on, he'd be "like a father as well." [[spoiler:He's then promptly murdered by Shredder that same episode.]] Leo is already fairly parentified by this point, so his attitude towards his brothers doesn't really change, but it becomes a bit more official.

* In the late seasons of ''WesternAnimation/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)'', after Splinter has been oddly distant for a few days, he tells Leonardo he knew since he was small that he would one day be the leader of his brothers, and when Splinter passes on, he'd be "like a father as well." [[spoiler:He's then promptly murdered by Shredder that same episode.]] Leo is already fairly parentified by this point, so his attitude towards his brothers doesn't really change, but it becomes a bit more official.

** [[spoiler:During "Thanks to Them", it's revealed that the Wittebane brothers were orphaned at a young age, and Caleb ended up raising his younger brother Philip on his own. It's a scenario ''full'' of RealismInducedHorror -- Philip remembers his childhood with Caleb very fondly, but that's primarily because Caleb shouldered most of the burden of living as orphaned children in a town of NewEnglandPuritan [[TheWitchHunter witch hunters]]. In the few glimpses we see of Caleb without Philip's RoseColoredGlasses, he looks exhausted, half-starved, and ''miserable'', which likely informed his decision to run away to the Demon Realm with a witch.]]

* Combined with SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome in ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish''. Confirming that the Warners are homeless orphans living in a classic example of a rundown house with broken boards and cloths draped over ropes to serve as doors, it's clear that Yakko, despite still managing to be his playful, upbeat self, has taken on huge responsibility for his rambunctious little brother and DelicateAndSickly little sister]]. Interestingly, the 2020 reboot plays up Yakko's role as the responsible authority figure more frequently then the old show did, and he is shown [[BigBrotherInstinct taking quite good care]] of Wakko and Dot when they need it.

* During the first season of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', Bulkhead and Bumblebee seemed to have a sibling relationship with Sari. After her father disappeared, they started moving into more of a parental role -- or at least they tried.

* In WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog, Sonic is this to Tails, as the latter said that the former is his “mom, dad, and white picket fence”.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', Finn was adopted by Jake's parents, who later died, and Jake watches out for Finn, although Jake is the FunnyAnimal version of a ManChild (a Dog Puppy?) and they mostly act like best friends and equals rather than a younger brother and a much older brother. In one episode, Jake makes an odd comment that his ability to sense when Finn is going to cry is like a "mother-daughter" thing.
** [[spoiler: Simon Petrikov]] as well, after he found a young [[spoiler: Marceline]] in the ruins of a city in the aftermath of the [[WorldWarIII Mushroom War]].

* [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Peter and Lois Griffin]] are still alive, but they're also emotionally and physically AbusiveParents who are as likely to be the source of their children's problems as they are to be the solution. In an unusual subversion, it's the ''youngest'' child, Stewie Griffin, who acts as a parental figure to his older siblings Chris and Meg. He's shown more interest in their welfare and tried to help them with their problems than their parents ever did.

* Combined with SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome in ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish''. Confirming that the Warners are homeless orphans living in a classic example of a rundown house with broken boards and cloths draped over ropes to serve as doors, it's clear that Yakko, despite still managing to be his playful, upbeat self, has taken on huge responsibility for his rambunctious little brother and [[IllGirl sickly little sister]]. Interestingly, the 2020 reboot plays up Yakko's role as the responsible authority figure more frequently then the old show did, and he is shown [[BigBrotherInstinct taking quite good care]] of Wakko and Dot when they need it.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Katara took on this sort of role in looking after her family after her mother Kya was murdered. A notable case, since Katara is actually the younger sibling. Even when she and Sokka leave the South Pole, she becomes the TeamMom. Her brother Sokka even highlights this at one point in Book 3, talking to Toph about how whenever he tries to picture his mother's face, Katara's is the face he sees.

* During the first season of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', Bulkhead and Bumblebee seemed to have a sibling relationship with Sari. After her father disappeared, they started moving into more of a parental role--or at least they tried.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': Mako took care of his younger brother Bolin while the two of them were growing up on the streets, and is still fiercely protective of him.
** Ghazan [[TheUnreveal may or may not]] have been raised by an older sister.
** It’s also implied that Lin had to take responsibility for Su as kids. Toph was a “hands off” parent and neither one knows her dad. Lin is also about six years older than her. In their flashback episode, Lin acts like her dad, trying to be a tough disciplinarian. The scene with the three of them arguing comes off like Toph and Lin are arguing about what to do with their kid.
* A unique example in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse''--the title character is the HalfHumanHybrid son of an alien MagicalGirlWarrior, being trained by his mother's old teammates. [[ParentsAsPeople Their attempts are spotty but loving]]. Steven's father, Greg, did raise him until recently and is still involved in his life, but decided that he needed to stay with the Gems in order to learn how to use his powers. (The fact that Greg LivesInAVan may have also contributed.)

* On ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim,'' Dib sometimes seems to feel this way towards Gaz, since their father is always working and their [[MissingMom mom may or may not have ever even existed]]. {{Fanon}} tends to exaggerate this a bit, however; for the most part, Gaz is self-sufficient, and Dib seems to know it.
* When Goliath in ''{{WesternAnimation/Gargoyles}}'' (the [[AFatherToHisMen "rookery father"]] of the Manhattan Clan) goes missing, his NumberTwo Brooklyn, is forced to take up Goliath's [[TheLeader leadership responsibilities]].
* Though it's never mentioned what happened to their parents, Sue Storm on ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFourWorldsGreatestHeroes'' is definitely this to [[HotBlooded Johnny]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'', Dot takes this role to Enzo. Naturally it ends after Enzo's YearInsideHourOutside TimeSkip, rendering him physically older than Dot. Enzo's {{clon|ingBlues}}e gets the original and Dot as surrogate parents, but later gets his real dad back ([[AndIMustScream sort of]]).
* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', Finn was adopted by Jake's parents, who later died, and Jake watches out for Finn, although Jake is the FunnyAnimal version of a ManChild (a Dog Puppy?) and they mostly act like best friends and equals rather than a younger brother and a much older brother. In one episode, Jake makes an odd comment that his ability to sense when Finn is going to cry is like a "mother-daughter" thing.
** [[spoiler: Simon Petrikov]] as well, after he found a young [[spoiler: Marceline]] in the ruins of a city in the aftermath of the [[WorldWarIII Mushroom War]].
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic:'' The Apple siblings were technically [[RaisedByGrandparents raised by Granny Smith]], but she's a bit senile. It's implied that Big Macintosh has taken on the "dad" role for his sisters (with WordOfGod adding that he's probably the farm's legal owner), with Applejack also trying to be a BigSisterMentor for Apple Bloom.
* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':
** [[ShapeShifting M'gann]] and [[{{Animorphism}} Gar]] consider themselves "[[BloodBrothers blood siblings]]" after she saves his life with a SuperHumanTransfusion. After his mom dies during the TimeSkip he moves to Mount Justice with her.
** "Misplaced" is sort of a worldwide temporary example: all the adults in the world disappear and we see teenagers rounding up and trying to care for all the younger kids.
* Somewhat similar its live action counterpart, the animated WesternAnimation/PunkyBrewster becomes a de facto parent to Glomer, the magical creature who is stranded from his homeland within a rainbow.

* Combined with SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome in ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish''. Confirming that the Warners are homeless orphans living in a classic example of a rundown house with broken boards and cloths draped over ropes to serve as doors, it's clear that Yakko, despite still manageing to be his playful, upbeat self, has taken on huge responsibility for his rambunctious little brother and [[IllGirl sickly little sister]]. Interestingly, the 2020 reboot plays up Yakko's role as the responsible authority figure more frequently then the old show did, and he is shown [[BigBrotherInstinct taking quite good care]] of Wakko and Dot when they need it.

* Combined with RealityEnsues in ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish''. Confirming that the Warners are homeless orphans living in a classic example of a rundown house with broken boards and cloths draped over ropes to serve as doors, it's clear that Yakko, despite still manageing to be his playful, upbeat self, has taken on huge responsibility for his rambunctious little brother and [[IllGirl sickly little sister]]. Interestingly, the 2020 reboot plays up Yakko's role as the responsible authority figure more frequently then the old show did, and he is shown [[BigBrotherInstinct taking quite good care]] of Wakko and Dot when they need it.

* Combined with RealityEnsues in ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish''. Confirming that the Warners are homeless orphans living in a classic example of a rundown house with broken boards and cloths draped over ropes to serve as doors, it's clear that Yakko, despite still manageing to be his playful, upbeat self, has taken on huge responsibility for his rambunctious little brother and [[IllGirl sickly little sister]]. Interestingly, the 2020 reboot plays up Yakko's role as the responsible authority figure more frequently then the old show did, and he is shown [[BigBrotherInsict taking quite good care]] of Wakko and Dot when they need it.

* [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Peter and Lois Griffin]] are still alive, but they're also emotionally and physically AbusiveParents who are as likely to be the source of their children's problems as they are to be the solution. In an unusual subversion, it's the ''youngest'' child, Stewie Griffin, who acts as a parental figure to his older siblings Chris and Meg. He's shown more interest in their welfare and tried to help them with their problems than their parents ever did.

* In TheSeventies' SaturdayMorningCartoon ''WesternAnimation/{{Devlin}}'' by Creator/HannaBarbera, the main character and local BadassBiker Ernie Devlin has had to raise his teenage brother Todd and pre-teen sister Sandy in [[CircusBrat the circus they live and work in.]] According to some flashbacks, their dad was a highway motorcycle patrolman who was killed in the line of duty.