Line #185 Main/PositiveFriendInfluence


1	%%%
2	%%
3	%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!
4	%%
5	%%%
6
7	[[quoteright:1000:[[Webcomic/MobPsycho100 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/8c578709_7d2e_4a7a_aa7e_3a8501404ed6.jpeg]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:1000:''[[CentralTheme Everyone grows because of their encounters with other people. People need other people.]]'']]
9
10	->''"She'd tell me I'm perfect the way I am and I would believe her, because, that sweet dummy, if she loves us, there must be something good about us.[...] You gotta admit, she makes us better people. I mean look at you, two months without her, you poison a [[MediaNotes/GrammyAward Grammy]] winner."''
11	-->-- '''Lillian''' to Titus about Kimmy, ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt''
12
13	A Positive Friend Influence is a character that helps others within their social circle, be it their friends, family, or RagtagBunchOfMisfits, to start making their way in overcoming their issues and becoming better people. They often play TheHeart to the group or even the MoralityPet. More often than not, the character that is being helped genuinely never experienced being on the receiving end of such kindness or is simply amazed at how this positive friend's actions bear results or simply by the friend being a genuinely nice person who shows heroic attributes.
14
15	It's also very much possible for this to be a two-way street. If a character that is nice is also basically an ExtremeDoormat, a more selfish character might teach them to stand up for themselves and become more assertive, while also receiving lessons on being nicer and kinder to others.
16
17	Different than TheParagon, a Positive Friend Influence can't help anyone in their CharacterDevelopment if they aren't close by, while a Paragon might influence entire societies in their development. If the one being helped changed after falling in love with their positive friend influence, then this is LoveRedeems and likely SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan, a Positive Friend Influence is a platonic trope, though they can eventually fall for said friend way later in the plot. If the CharacterDevelopment was not completed or the friendship ended terribly, then it's possible for that friend to revert to their old ways instead of staying as a healthier person if their positive influence isn't around.
18
19	TruthInTelevision, there really is such a thing as a positive influence when it comes to people, and hanging out with good people can help you become better as well.
20
21	A character with this trope often has traits of AllLovingHero, IdealHero, TheHeart, and often EndearinglyDorky.
22
23	See also ThePowerOfFriendship. Compare ContagiousHeroism, where the traits passed from one to another aren't just good, but outright heroic and the characters themselves are heroes. Compare also LivingEmotionalCrutch, a more perpetual, personal version of this; this trope is a step up from that one, where the friend outright cures as opposed to merely being a crutch. This can also overlap with more optimistic variants of RudeHeroNiceSidekick.
24
25	Contrast ToxicFriendInfluence.
26	----
27	!Examples
28	[[foldercontrol]]
29
30	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
31	* [[PluckyComicRelief Puck]] from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' is this trope in spades to TheProtagonist [[MeaningfulName Guts]]. Someone like [[ThePollyanna Puck]] who is always cheerful and happy no matter what truly pulls Guts away from the [[SociopathicHero worst]] [[{{Sadist}} aspects]] [[TheBerserker of his]] [[VillainProtagonist personality]].
32	* ''Manga/BlueFlag'': Despite being a ClassicalAntiHero, Taichi's kindness and willingness to help others end up being a huge support in Futaba's attempts at becoming Touma's dream girl.
33	* ''Manga/ChainsawMan'': [[TheHero Denji]]'s inherent good nature is not always at the forefront, as mostly everyone sees his rude and perverted side, but whenever it's shown it's quite obvious that he has a very positive effect on his closest friends.
34	** Both Aki and Power are changed for the better and the two that originally started off fairly selfish [[spoiler:end their respective journeys having learned to love Denji and become willing to sacrifice themselves for his and others' happiness.]]
35	** Kobeni, despite being cowardly (for understandable reasons) decided to risk her life to save Denji from Katana Man out of remorse for her earlier behavior, and [[spoiler:defies Makima and helps Denji and Pochita despite her being scared of Makima]].
36	** Denji's kindness earned him the love, affection, and loyalty of the Chainsaw Devil who becomes a pet he names Pochita. While already remarkable due to Pochita being a Devil, [[spoiler:Denji's effect on him takes on much bigger meaning once it's revealed that Pochita is in fact TheDreaded Chainsaw Man, who is responsible for [[RetGone erasing]] some of the most dangerous Devils and their respective fears from history. While Pochita had always wanted a hug he was still AmbiguouslyEvil, but Denji's influence has led Pochita to try to be more heroic towards others, TakingTheBullet for Kobeni and even encouraging Denji to adopt Nayuta despite all that the Control Devil had done.]]
37	** Kishibe looked genuinely taken aback by Denji's promise to spare him as thanks for training him if Public Safety ever decided to turn on him. [[spoiler:Based on his meeting with Makima not too long after, there's implications that this made Kishibe realize Denji was ultimately just another innocent life under Makima's thrall, making him more determined to retaliate against her if she ever showed her true self and turned on humanity, and actually follows through and assists Denji in defeating Makima after hearing how she broke the boy for her own selfish needs, despite Makima being an extremely important asset to the government.]]
38	** [[spoiler:Hanging out with him also seems to have given Reze enough courage to make a try for abandoning her mission and life as the Bomb Devil just to be with him.]]
39	** [[spoiler:After Makima is reincarnated into Nayuta with all of her previous personality wiped, Denji is entrusted with raising her so she doesn't become another monster like Makima. With his track record, it's very likely Nayuta will grow up having the friends and family Makima had yearned for, and while Nayuta ''does'' possess controlling tendencies, she is also ''far'' more nicer and cheerful than her past self]].
40	** Asa Mitaka [[spoiler:starts [[InLoveWithTheMark falling for him]] after seeing past his crass and greedy exterior and learning about his [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold capacity for earnest kindness]], and falls so hard that even [[SharingABody Yoru]] can feel it.]]
41	* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', that's actually Tanjiro's greatest power in the series, he only grows stronger as a demon slayer - and his companions follow suit - because the guy is a great friend and a fantastic judge of character; Tanjiro can see the good in people who have it, no matter how unperceived by others at first, and he can see those who really are beyond redemption, mostly demons who really have completely given in to darkness, rejecting any sliver of goodwill they have had once as humans. Some examples include:
42	** Tanjiro is the primary reason why Nezuko remained a good person even after turning into a demon, even with Urokodaki's hypnosis precautionary method it is Nezuko's bond with her brother that instigated her to develop into a demon that does not need human blood to live by, and preserved as much of her conscience as she could, turning into a simple-minded demon who can't do too much thinking out of Tanjiro's good guidance.
43	** Zenitsu only starts growing out of his self-deprecating hell after finding Tanjiro, the second person after his master Jigoro, who saw anything of worth in him; Tanjiro honestly believed Zenitsu was a strong demon slayer from the start to the point he found out Zenitsu has a trance mode at all to truly become an efficient slayer actually comes off as a surprise to Tanjiro later on; Zenitsu himself recognizes how much of a great friend Tanjiro is, admitting he truly is one of a kind after tragically being informed [[spoiler:his master died, via seppuku]].
44	** Inosuke is the poster wild warrior early in the series, completely insensitive to any conventional social empathy towards others, he actually prided himself in nothing caring about anything other than fighting strong individuals, Inosuke didn't even care about demons, he just wanted to fight the strongest beings, demons just happened to be what matched his target goal; still, slowly watching Tanjiro, seeing how stronger Tanjiro gets by being such an empathetic person, and in turn how hasty and short-sighted Inosuke was when he encounters a true challenge he cannot overcome, pushes him to actually grow nicer and more cooperative towards others.
45	* [[AllLovingHero Goku]] from ''Manga/DragonBall'' tends to have this effect on others. In fact, nearly all of his friends started off as enemies or rivals, before a DefeatMeansFriendship occurs and Goku wins them over. It took an especially long time for [[AntiHero Vegeta]] to come round, but the Saiyan prince later admits Goku's kindness had infected him and he had become a better person.
46	** Seems like a case of LikeFatherLikeSon, as Gohan also displays this tendency. He was able to help Piccolo turn over a new leaf, where he goes from the world-enslaving Demon King to an HonoraryUncle who thinks of Gohan [[LikeASonToMe like a son]].
47	* ''Manga/FoodWars'' has the titular Yukihira Soma as the trigger to Megumi's development, as he teaches her to have confidence in herself, never give up, and face challenges head-on. By the Autumn TournamentArc, she has learned to stand up for herself as she faces the very threatening Kurokiba without trembling.
48	* Tohru Honda from ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' has had a positive influence on just about everyone she's befriended, being able to see their best qualities and encouraging them to overcome their issues. [[spoiler:In the end, she even manages to be a positive influence on ''Akito'', the abusive BigBad of the story.]]
49	* ''Manga/{{Haikyuu}}'': Hinata is kind, energetic, and easily believes the best in others. He's a major driving force in Kageyama's development from tyrannical, aloof prodigy to team player, helps asocial and introverted Kenma open up to others, and drives insecure, anxious Yachi to stand up for herself.
50	* ''Manga/HidokuShinaide'': Because he wants to be around the very studious and future-minded Nemugasa as much as possible, Maya dyes his hair back to black, removes his piercings, stops hanging out late with his friends and underage drinking, starts taking his studies seriously, and goes to college. This is acknowledged in-universe by both Maya, who thanks Nemugasa directly for setting him on the right path, and Akira (Maya's cousin), who informs Nemugasa's mother as much when she assumes Maya is a ToxicFriendInfluence to Nemugasa.
51	* ''Manga/MyDressUpDarling'': Marin Kitagawa becomes this to Wakana Gojo, helping him overcome his self-imposed isolation and enjoy his youth with her cheery and bubbly personality.
52	* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'':
53	** Midoriya has traits of TheParagon in training, since he intends to succeed the current one to Japan, he plays this to Class 1-A and to Shinso. In Class 1-A, his influence forces Iida to [[HeelRealization notice that being driven by revenge is no action for a hero]]; Todoroki confronts his [[AbusiveParents father's controlling ways]] as well as the unhealthy way he had been dealing with the trauma; Mineta work harder towards being a hero after watching Midoriya try his best in USJ; and his battle with Shinso ends with the latter deciding to work towards being a hero even if he can't get in the hero course, with implications he started training under Aizawa. His relationship with Uraraka starts as this, up until she starts falling for him.
54	** Uraraka also plays this role to Midoriya early on in the Battle Trial Arc, where being pitted up against [[TheBully Bak]][[TheRival ugo]] causes Izuku's self-doubt to start breaking his spirits. But Uraraka just being a nice and friendly person to him and reframing Katsuki's childhood insult of 'Deku' into something positive for him leads to him to take the once-insult as his hero name and take on Bakugo in the trial, ultimately winning.
55	** The resident BloodKnight, Bakugo, is immune to Midoriya's attempts at rebuilding their friendship, so his positive influence mostly comes from Kirishima being his loving self and getting a position as his MoralityPet.
56	* The cast of the game '' Fortune Lover'' in ''Literature/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'' were originally a DysfunctionJunction, but most of them are significantly better people in the story proper due to Katarina having befriended them when her PastLifeMemories lead her to throw the story OffTheRails (Mary's manipulative streak notwithstanding).
57	* Nodoka Miyazaki in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' is this for her BestFriend Yue Ayase. A brief flashback shows what Yue was like before she became friends with Nodoka: Coming off the death of her beloved grandfather, Yue was a bitter young woman uninterested in making friends or anything else in her life. Yue admits to herself that thanks to Nodoka, she rediscovered that life is worth living and as the series progresses Yue becomes a hard-working, mature character.
58	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'':
59	** Brock plays this role with Ash, Misty, May, Max, and Dawn as his skills of being a former Gym Leader helped them be better Trainers. Also, they look up to him like a big brother figure as Brock has many brothers and sisters that he takes care of.
60	** Ash even plays the role of positive influence towards many people who are closest to him, his traveling companions, and some of his rivals.
61	* ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'':
62	** Kirito was this for his would-be friends and party members, such as Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica, and Sinon. Prior to meeting Kirito they tended to keep to themselves, lacked confidence, or both. But hanging around Kirito would inspire them to open up and feel safer.
63	** Asuna has also displayed this during the "Mother's Rosario" arc, helping Yuuki to feel happier and want to get the most out of life.
64	* Yugi Muto of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' might as well have the word "redeemer" tattooed on his forehead, as his IncorruptiblePurePureness redeems former bullies like Joey (now HeterosexualLifePartners with Yugi), former villains like Marik, and even his own SuperPoweredEvilSide (the Pharaoh within the Millennium Puzzle). It also works both ways, as Yugi's friends help him grow stronger and more assertive to the point that he eventually surpasses the Pharaoh himself.
65	* In ''Manga/Zom100BucketListOfTheDead'', Akira's honest, carefree, and relentlessly optimistic personality quickly rubs off on the people who get to know him. Kencho overcomes his past regrets over his work as a salesman and joins Akira on his road trip to finish his bucket list thanks to Akira's encouragement. Akira's honesty convinces Shizuka to lower her guard and enjoy her life rather than trying to live it completely rationally. When Beatrix loses confidence upon seeing the zombie horde between her and the sushi she dreamed of eating, one RousingSpeech from Akira is enough to get her back on her feet.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Fan Works]]
69	* ''Fanfic/TheBridge'': Twilight Sparkle winds up being this to the unified Sirens and Dark Hunters, despite being taken as a hostage due to a misunderstanding. It helps the sirens had already gone through a minor HeelFaceTurn on their own into a neutral party and the Hunters were a group of PunchClockVillains and were receptive to her once the misunderstanding was quickly cleared up. By the end of the arc, the group all basically got a case of LimaSyndrome from her and changed for the better.
70	* ''Fanfic/CodeGeassPaladinsOfVoltron'': Bonding with the other Paladins has had a positive effect on Lelouch, Kallen, and Suzaku.
71	** Lelouch having people he can completely trust has made him far nicer than he was in canon, while also allowing him to grow as a leader. Additionally, he's sorted through a fair amount of his family issues that, in canon, cost him dearly. He's also lost many of his negative character traits (his tendency to deceive his allies and act impulsively when Nunnally is in danger being the most obvious) and made efforts to open up more to his companions and actually ''be'' a person.
72	** Kallen's FantasticRacism towards Britannia has been tempered a bit, and her temper has calmed, though it is still there.
73	** Suzaku has changed the least, but the results are noticeable - his DeathSeeker tendencies have started to abate ([[NotAfraidToDie but it will be a while before they are truly gone]]), and [[HeelRealization he's finally started to realize he may have made the wrong choice siding with Britannia]].
74	* ''Fanfic/CodePrime'':
75	** Throughout the story, [[TheParagon Optimus Prime's]] influence starts to rub off on Lelouch, slowly turning him from a vengeful young prince into a stalwart and good-hearted revolutionary leader. A lot of Lelouch's changes can be traced back to the fact that Optimus is a moral anchor whom Lelouch can [[ThePowerOfTrust trust]] wholly and unconditionally, something he lacked in canon.
76	*** In canon after dealing with the [[spoiler: Refrain, Lelouch didn't intervene in the circumstances involving Kallen's mother. Here, he uses his Geass to not only make sure she doesn't serve jail time but to arrange for her and Kallen to live in an apartment, away from Kallen's cruel stepmother.]]
77	*** [[spoiler:Instead of Bulkhead using himself as bait to lure out the Scraplets, Lelouch uses his Sutherland instead which earns the trust and respect of the other Black Knights as well as the previously distrustful Ironhide, Arcee, and Ratchet.]]
78	*** He allows the Autobots to warn the city of Narita of the upcoming battle and get them to evacuate, allowing much of the civilian casualties in canon to not happen.
79	*** And in a ''massive'' deviation from canon, [[spoiler:after his first encounter with Mao, he does not erase Shirley's memories of him with his Geass. Instead, he comes clean with her about who he is and why he's fighting. He even introduces her to the Autobots, which soon leads to Shirley joining the Black Knights.]]
80	*** This all eventually culminates in Chapter 27 when [[spoiler:Lelouch reveals his true identity and his heritage to the Black Knights, who still put their trust in him nonetheless.]]
81	*** A less noticeable change at first is how Lelouch refers to the Black Knights. In canon, he referred to them with chess terms (Q1, R1, etc.) signifying how he viewed them as pawns on a board. While he still did at the start of the fic, he eventually stopped doing so, signifying how Lelouch instead views them as people.
82	*** This is further shown in the first chapter of R2. [[spoiler:After Lelouch uses his Geass on a Vehicon to make him help the Black Knights free the slaves at Mt. Fuji, he tells the Vehicon to leave the base and consider the choices he has made in life, instead of simply telling him to commit suicide. Optimus himself notices this change in Lelouch, and is [[SoProudLfYou proud of him for it]].]]
83	** Contrast this with [[ToxicFriendInfluence Megatron's influence on Suzaku]].
84	** While it takes longer than with Lelouch, C.C.'s negative traits, particularly her cynicism, have dampened as well from being with the Autobots. [[spoiler:She begins opening up to them in Chapter 20, telling them about V.V. and Charles's Geass. She even goes so far as to terminate her contract and telepathic connection with Marianne in Chapter 23, but not before declaring that she will tell Lelouch and the Autobots about Ragnarok once the Decepticons are dealt with, and they will stop her and Charles. By the final chapter of R1, C.C. admits to the original Primes when she's giving a Geass to Optimus that instead of her former DeathSeeker behavior, she now wants to help her new friends and not lose them.]]
85	** [[spoiler:Cornelia becomes a better person herself in ''R2'' upon joining the Autobot/Black Knight alliance, and reuniting with Lelouch and Nunnally.]]
86	* ''Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsAFairlyOddFriendship'': Gradually, the Rainbooms help Timmy become a kinder and more empathetic person. [[spoiler: Despite being angry enough at their duplicity to push them away, he still finds their influence and the lessons they sought to instill into him to be helpful on his personal journey to save Cosmo and Wanda]].
87	* In ''Fanfic/{{Icarus}}'', this goes both ways with Lelouch & Lloyd, Cécile, and ASEEC. Suzaku ended up walking into a tighter group that loves and supports Lelouch to the point they disliked Schneizel for nearly killing Lelouch and Suzaku. Lelouch, having a support system he can trust and rely on, started to lean on his friends and family more and made mentally healthier choices - including not killing Clovis as he realized Clovis and Cornelia still loves and misses the vi Britannias and accepting his identity as a prince, returning to the royal family - as they gently admonished him they are here to help as his trust issues are tackled as a result.
88	* In ''Fanfic/IncarnationOfLegends'', Bell's admiration for Kojiro and pure, honest desire to learn from him and become a hero embarrasses Kojiro to the point that he decides to act more like the hero Bell envisions him as, defending Bell and those he cares about from harm, giving him genuinely good advice, and beginning to care more about his image so he won't bring shame on Bell.
89	* ''Fanfic/JannaVsTheForcesOfEvil'': This goes both ways with Janna and Marco. After the two start regularly hanging out together, Jackie observes that Janna hasn't been getting into as much trouble as she used to, while Marco's parents point out that he's grown more confident and outgoing.
90	* ''Fanfic/TheKarmaOfLies'':
91	** PlayedWith when it comes to Chloé and Marinette's relationship. Specifically, Chloé sees Marinette as [[HonestAdvisor somebody who can help her stay on the straight and narrow path]] as she seeks to [[MustMakeAmends make amends]] for how much of a SpoiledBrat she used to be. Notably, one of her first takeaways is that she shouldn't [[WantsAPrizeForBasicDecency expect to be rewarded for basic decency]], resulting in her doing good things ''without'' Marinette's knowledge...something that deeply impresses Marinette when she finds out through other means.
92	** Juleka serves as this for her girlfriend Rose, influencing her to break away from the rest of the class when they keep acting like {{Entitled Bastard}}s towards Marinette and [[NeverMyFault refuse to acknowledge]] how much they hurt her.
93	* In ''Fanfic/KonohasFatalJoke'', Naruto inspires the rest of the Konoha Twelve to follow in his footsteps and better themselves to the point of becoming {{Adaptational Badass}}es. After all, ''he'' refused to give up on his dreams despite all of the odds stacked against him, so what could ''they'' achieve if they really put their minds to it?
94	* In ''Fanfic/TheLineBetweenMidoriyaIzukuAndBakugoKatsuki'', Masaru is highly impressed with the positive influence the rest of Class 1-A is having on his son, especially when compared to the toxic cronies who followed him around throughout his time at [[SuckySchool Aldera]]. As a result, he decides to [[spoiler:let Katsuki continue attending Yuuei so he can stay with his friends]].
95	* Twilight and Rainbow have this on each other in ''Fanfic/LittleGlimpses'', since it's an AlternateTimeline where they grow up together. Rainbow discovers her love of reading from a much younger age and it extends far beyond just pulp adventure novels, being familiar with both law and medicine due to reading up on it on her free time. Celestia also notes that after a few months of knowing Twilight she's a lot more organized and tidy than she used to be. For Twilight, having an outgoing and social friend from such a young age means that she comes out of her shell much earlier and is overall a lot more social and well-adjusted than she was at the start of the show.
96	* ''Fanfic/LostInTheInfiniteLights'':
97	** Thanks to Izuku Midoriya becoming friends with Yuugi Muto since childhood, he grows up developing a healthier mindset on how he can be a hero without excessively hurting himself, especially since he has a support system that can talk him out of doing so. Compared to canon where he grew up friendless until he reaches Yuuei and had a self-destructive approach towards heroism. His friendship has also influenced Yuugi who was ostracized because of his autism while inspiring him to be more proactive in standing up for himself and his friends.
98	** Their friendship with Katsuya Jounouchi also applies since the two boys gain another trustworthy friend they can rely on for emotional support and protection. Jounouchi in turn gains friends who like him for him and help him leave behind his past as a street punk who's only good at winning gang fights. Especially since this contrasts [[spoiler:his ex-best friend Hirutani who still wanted him to stay in his gang]].
99	* ''Fanfic/ALoudAmongDemons'': Lincoln has a knack for bringing out the better aspects of the various demons he meets, either because they recognize he doesn't actually ''deserve'' being stuck in Hell or due to being won over by his sincere kindness.
100	* ''Fanfic/IzukuMidoriyaTheRabbit'': Izuku turns out to be such a MagneticHero that when he's [[spoiler:kidnapped by the League of Villains]], all eighteen of his classmates are eager to help him out in his time of need, with the whole lot [[spoiler:heading to Kamino Ward]]. Later on, when he thwarts the Hero Commission's attempt to groom Eri into another Hawks, their attempt to take revenge results in [[spoiler:full-on ''revolt and revolution'']].
101	* ''Fanfic/ARabbitAmongWolves'': After accidentally killing Adam Taurus, Jaune finds himself in charge of a group of White Fang members. While he seeks to reform them for mostly self-serving reasons, his kindness and optimism gradually convince them to moderate. [[spoiler:He later does so to Adam's spirit haunting him as well, after the ghost of Taurus is forced to see Jaune's peaceful methods and kind leadership are honestly better than his. Adam eventually repents and assists Jaune.]]
102	* In ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' fanfic ''Fanfic/ResurrectedMemories'': [[spoiler:Befriending Danny, Sam, and the others is what truly makes Ember go from being TheMole to BecomingTheMask and undergoing a HeelFaceTurn. Despite the fact that it was slow, their friendship and kindness towards her causes her to come to truly care for them as her friends and she becomes happier, friendlier, and generally a better person as a result.]]
103	* ''Webcomic/ScarletLady'':
104	** Mme. Caline Bustier attempts to {{Invoke\|dTrope}} this with her teachings. Not even ''she'' can deny that Chloé is a SpoiledBrat; however, she's convinced that punishing her bad behavior will '''never''' convince Chloé to change... so instead, she expects the rest of the class to [[EasilyForgiven forgive every slight]] and treat their tormentor like she's a dearly beloved friend. In practice, all this has accomplished is enabling Chloé to become ''even worse'' and [[TheUnapologetic completely unrepentent]], smugly secure in the knowledge that she never has to face any consequences for her actions... at least, [[KarmaHoudiniWarranty not at Bustier's hands]]...
105	** Alix provides a much straighter example, as she reaches out to both [[BetaBitch Sabrina]] and [[ManipulativeBitch Lila]] while each of them are going through hardships, offering them genuine friendship that results in the trio becoming a tight-knit GirlPosse. The change is especially noticable in Lila, who becomes ReformedButNotTamed.
106	* ''Fanfic/SliceOfVelvetAndPear'' has Spike forge a friendship with [[AlphaBitch Diamond Tiara]] and [[BetaBitch Silver Spoon]]. While the two initially just think that having a baby dragon for a friend would be cool and want to show him off, he becomes a proper MoralityPet for the two over time, to the point that [[spoiler:he and Diamond Tiara wind up dating]].
107	* Referenced but {{Averted\|Trope}} in ''Fanfic/TwoLetters'': According to [[SketchySuccessor the new Ladybug]], many residents of Paris secretly [[TheResenter resented]] her predecessor because they didn't want to ''try'' following her example. Of course, the new Ladybug has plenty of reasons to be a UnreliableExpositor here, but given how one of the main reasons Marinette [[TakeThisJobAndShoveIt retired]] was because she was convinced everybody was expecting ''her'' to [[HoldingOutForAHero solve all of their problems for them]]...
108	* ''Fanfic/UnfairRule'': Bloo is this to Mac. Bloo is not only a supporting friend who protects Mac from his bullying older brother Terrence, but Bloo encourages Mac to stand up for himself and not obey the rule that Terrence is left in charge that allows him to abuse Mac.
109	* ''Fanfic/WereNotFriendsKacchan'': After the extent of Katsuki's {{Barbaric Bully}}ing is revealed, Izuku's friends Ochako, Tenya, Tsuyu and Shouto rally around him, doing their best to counteract all the years of abuse by convincing him that he's [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre more than just Katsuki's favorite victim]], and is in no way responsible for Bakugou's horrible behavior. With their support, Izuku is able to stand up for himself at last.
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
113	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys2022'': Governor Diane Foxington has this influence on gang leader Mr. Wolf, as she sympathizes with him and motivates him to change his and his friends' lives for the better by turning good [[spoiler:like she did before him]], and the new relationship between the two is one of the main reasons Wolf finally [[spoiler:turns good for real. Once he reforms, he has this influence on the rest of the gang, who he convinces to turn good with a BatmanGambit]].
114	* ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'': Hiccup was this to Astrid. Hiccup got her to be more open and empathic and cause her to become a more cheerful and happier person. {{Lampshade\|Hanging}}d in ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragonTheHiddenWorld''. Astrid tells Hiccup that she credits him with making her the person she is today.
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
118	* ''Film/KnivesOut'': Hanging around [[IntergenerationalFriendship his personal nurse]] Marta made Harlan into TheAtoner; seeing her genuine kindness, work ethic, and selflessness contrasted against the behavior of his BigScrewedUpFamily is part of what made him realize ''he'' was at least partially to blame for how they all turned out. Most of his actions the night he died were taken in the hopes of fixing some of the damage he caused, and force his family to be better.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Literature]]
122	* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels, Carrot is this for the RagtagBunchOfMisfits that is the City Watch. One of his friends observes that he always assumes the best of you, and is so darn likeable that you can't bear to hurt his feelings by proving him wrong.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
126	* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' has Peralta and Holt playing this to each other. Peralta learns with Holt to take his own job and life more seriously and start growing out of his adoration for the CowboyCop trope and his {{Manchild}} tendencies, while Holt learns with Peralta about not taking everything that seriously.
127	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
128	** In her first proper conversation with Willow, Buffy encourages her to seize the moment and ask out a boy. Hell, she directly and indirectly inspired her friends to come out of their shells (Willow and Tara), unlock their hidden potential (Xander), or become better people (Cordelia, Angel, and Spike).
129	** Xander can sometimes be relied on to get people on the right track with some wise words, getting Buffy out of her crisis of confidence and helping her through her Spike infatuation, giving Willow some male perspective on her relationship with Oz, and telling Dawn that just because she has no superpowers doesn't mean she's not special.
130	** Tara helps Buffy through her breakup with Riley, her mother's death, and her relationship with Spike. Really, she's the glue of the group.
131	* Ever since Ga-on from ''Series/TheDevilJudge'' has stepped foot into the Kang family mansion he literally added cheerfulness to the somber mansion which their housekeeper points out. He made sure they eat healthy, full meals and made Elijah and Yo-han have more fun and Elijah even warmed up to him after initially disliking him.
132	-->'''Ms. Ji:''' What's all this? Master Yo-han. The cheerfulness that doesn't suit this house.
133	* ''Series/DontTrustTheBInApartment23'' has both main characters playing this to each other, despite Chloe being an evil {{Jerkass}}.
134	** Chloe grows into the role of a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, she learns she needs to care better for her friends, that sometimes she needs to tune down her selfishness in other to help others. A few episodes imply she had a near sociopathic LackOfEmpathy, but this slowly changes when she starts feeling sad and guilty after some of her actions due to June's influence.
135	** June learns that she needs to grow out of her NaiveEverygirl status and become more assertive to get the things she wants and that she can't just trust everyone and be nice all the time if she wants to live in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity. Furthermore, she decides to enjoy life more, especially when around Chloe, who knows [[HardDrinkingPartyGirl every bar and cool party in town]].
136	* Barry Allen/The Flash from ''Series/TheFlash2014'' has done this a few times. In a case of ContagiousHeroism, he manages to bring out the good in his former nemesis Leonard Snart/Captain Cold, eventually helping him do a full HeelFaceTurn.
137	* On ''Series/GilmoreGirls,'' the defining feature of Jess and Rory's OddFriendship is their unwavering confidence in each other. Jess is introduced as BrilliantButLazy, and Rory calls him out on it, saying he could and should do more with his life. In season 6, we find out he's written a novel and co-runs a publishing house with friends. He tells Rory he couldn't have done it without her, as she was one of the first people to have faith in him. During this time, Rory is adrift, having dropped out of college to live with her grandparents and date a guy who would rather party than study. Jess calls ''her'' out on it, giving her a CharacterCheck via a WhatTheHellHero, which prompts her to re-enroll at Yale and get her life together. Later, in the 2016 reboot, Rory is adrift again, and Jess once again acts as the ballast to get her back on track.
138	* ''Franchise/KamenRider'':
139	** ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'': Ren takes it pretty bad when he finds out that Shinji is rubbing off on him and he just can't keep the same jerkass facade as before. Having a heart somewhere people can stab it is definitely not desirable in a ThereCanBeOnlyOne conflict. [[spoiler:This even holds true for Shinji himself, who dies before the show ends, but his influence convinces the man running the Rider War to finally give up and bring it to an end.]]
140	** ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'': Emu is essentially the only thing that holds the CR doctors together at the start of the show. When he doesn't succeed at directly convincing them to stop being jerks, he finds much more success at conning them into TeethClenchedTeamwork for long enough that they eventually realize they actually make a good team. Taiga and Nico also serve as positive influences on each other, with Taiga teaching Nico some much-needed lessons in responsibility while Nico brings out the kinder impulses that Taiga buried to protect himself on his self-destructive mission.
141	** ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'': Sento goes from here into ContagiousHeroism as he inspires people to be their best selves and fight alongside him for the sake of love and peace. Kazumi sourly notes that Sento's optimism and ideals are infectious. By the end of the show, he's managed to pass on his ideals to everyone in nascita, two of whom were originally trying to kill him and another one of whom was an enemy spy.
142	** ''Series/KamenRiderZiO'' is entirely an exercise in this, as nothing can stop Sougo from becoming the tyrannical Oma Zi-O, ruler of the BadFuture, and nobody can defeat him. The only thing that actually works to stop him is Geiz and Tsukuyomi's friendship causing him to steadily overcome his worst impulses throughout the show so that he willingly gives up the power once he's used it to dispose of the BigBad instead of keeping it for himself. Along the way, Sougo returns the favor and helps Geiz become his best self, by abandoning his pretenses of being a hard-hearted resistance fighter so he can be the genuine savior of the future he wants to be.
143	* ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'':
144	** Even with [[VitriolicBestBuds the kind of friendship they have]], Abe notes that Stevie became more confident and outgoing from hanging out with Malcolm.
145	--->'''Abe''': You're the one who always pushed him to try new things. Dances. Ski trips. Basketball. Before he met you, that boy could hardly handle a yo-yo!
146	** In one episode, Malcolm and Stevie get their Krelboyne friend Dabney to disobey [[MyBelovedSmother his mother]], in the end turning him from an ExtremeDoormat MamasBoy...to a more confident and assertive MamasBoy.
147	* The page quote above from the third season of ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt'' shows that Kimmy plays this to the rest of the main cast, with Lillian lampshading it when Kimmy and Titus fight. She also plays this to Jacqueline.
148	* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Clark manages to influence Tess into a full HeelFaceTurn by actually inviting her to be a friend and generally supporting her when she is feeling blue.
149	* On ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Jake Sisko is a positive influence on his friend Nog, helping him go from an illiterate troublemaker to a gung-ho Starfleet officer, making him the first [[PlanetOfHats Ferengi]] ever to do so.
150	[[/folder]]
151
152	[[folder:Video Games]]
153	* ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'': The protagonist, Zagreus, is a genuinely nice and kind young man, whose charisma and selflessness inspire others, as well as his active role in helping them through their issues, like reuniting Achilles with his long lost lover Patroclus, mending the issues between Orpheus and Eurydice, and especially, [[spoiler:challenging his family into dealing with their issues.]]
154	* ''VideoGame/LifeIsStrange'':
155	** The plot is kicked off by [[PlayerCharacter Max]] returning to her hometown to attend a private school after moving away 5 years ago, shortly after the death of her best friend Chloe's father (implied to be the reason they slowly fell out of contact). In the present, Max has become withdrawn and lacking in confidence (despite her talent as a photographer) and Chloe has become a rebel without a cause; both to the point of unnamed mental disorder. Chloe's mother, Joyce, hopes that Max will be able to invoke this trope, although it ends up being mutual (Chloe helps Max be more outgoing; Max helps rein Chloe in and gives her emotional support).
156	** Max/the player has the option of being this to other characters. Most notably Kate (assuming you [[spoiler:talk her out of her suicide attempt in episode 2]]) and Victoria (who you can come to an uneasy "not enemies" situation with, if you spend the game making an effort to bury the hatchet). WordOfGod is that if you [[spoiler:sacrifice Chloe at the end of the game, most of the cast is present at her funeral to support Max, because of this trope.]]
157	** Rachel Amber befriended Chloe after Max left, and (if Chloe's anything to go by) helped support her as she and Max drifted apart in the aftermath of William's death. Unfortunately, she disappeared sometime before Max returned; Chloe has not taken it well. The prequel game ''VideoGame/LifeIsStrangeBeforeTheStorm'' explores this in more detail, [[spoiler:but implies that she might have been something of a Toxic Friend Influence, having introduced Chloe to a lot of the bad habits and company she has in the original game.]]
158	* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' trilogy, Commander Shepherd can be this depending on [[VideoGameCaringPotential the player’s choices and certain how certain missions play out across the trilogy.]]
159	* ''VideoGame/NightInTheWoods'': In Bea's route, she will play this to the WomanChild Mae. Because Bea is bitter over Mae getting the chances she could never have and not even caring due to her own immaturity, she will call Mae out on her behavior, how she can't just waltz through life not caring, as well as being a burden for everyone else, her parents and friends especially, to support. In the face of that, and of all Bea suffered between [[spoiler:her father's dismissive attitude, her mother's death, and working with a possible sexual abuser]], Mae is forced into the realization she has to grow up and mature.
160	* In the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series, the Wild Cards help many of their Social Links/Confidants become better people through their influence.
161	* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemptionII'': While he is a criminal as well, Hosea Matthews' position as Dutch van der Linde's best friend and co-leader of the Van der Linde Gang, is the key factor in keeping Dutch's already fragile sanity intact. [[spoiler:Hosea's murder at the hands of Agent Milton]], as well as Dutch's head wound, causes Dutch to completely unravel, to the point Dutch believes Micah Bell ([[spoiler:the actual rat]]) when he claims that John Marston (a man Dutch and Hosea [[PlatonicCoParenting raised together]] since he was 12 years old) is ratting them out to the Pinkertons.
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
165	* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' has, most prominently, Miles' HeelFaceTurn after the first game, largely resulting from rebuilding his friendship with Phoenix.
166	* ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' has the protagonist play this at large to their fellow classmates, who are a bundle of [[DysfunctionJunction emotional and psychological messes with issues from low self-esteem to downright mental disorders]]. Often, they help a classmate through their fears, past traumas, and insecurities in the Free Time Events, and they end up with renewed strength and self-esteem, promising to better themselves once they get off the school[=/=]island. Examples include Makoto giving Leon the strength to try to pursue a musical career and Hinata making Sonia calm down and feel more comfortable in her role as future queen.
167	* In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', Johanna is this for the protagonist and Tamara. And in fact, it’s lampshaded by both the protagonist (who says Johanna is the only functional one of the three) and Tamara (who says that Johanna’s influence makes the protagonist a better person).
168	* The protagonist of ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}'' teaches the title character about the consequences of her actions (for herself and others), and of the importance of taking responsibility for one’s mistakes.
169	[[/folder]]
170
171	[[folder:Webcomics]]
172	* ''Webcomic/DrFrost'': Song says that since Frost came to the counseling center, he's become visibly more human and expressive, and she feels much of that progress is due to Yoon's influence.
173	* ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'': The overarching theme of the series is how people can grow into a better person by making and cultivating their relationships with the people around them. The titular protagonist Mob goes from a shy, emotionless pushover into a more confident, expressive and open young lad thanks to his new friendships with his friends and guidance from his charismatic master. Likewise, his friends and Reigen work hard to become better people that Mob can look up to while reevaluating their own negative vices.
174	* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'': The chilled-out but shy Dale and cranky and abrasive robot May bring out the best in each other. Dale brings out May's kinder instincts, introduces her to new people, and showed her compassion when she really needed it. May gave Dale a solid push toward admitting his feelings to the girl he liked and brings out his more passionate side.
175	[[/folder]]
176
177	[[folder:Western Animation]]
178	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'':
179	** Throughout the first season, it was becoming increasingly clear that the Plantars, Sprig in particular, were having a good effect on Anne Boonchuy, who had started off as a TroubledTeen due to the [[ToxicFriendInfluence toxic influence]] of her friendship with Sasha Waybright and Marcy Wu. The results of her CharacterDevelopment were shown in the first season finale when her eyes were finally opened to how much of a controlling jerk Sasha really was.
180	** [[spoiler:In [[{{Foil}} direct contrast to Anne]], who had friendships that were initially toxic but eventually improved, King Andrias in his youth once had friends that were a good influence on him only to have a falling out with them. When he was the prince of Amphibia, he was under pressure from his father, then King Aldrich, to live up to his family's legacy of being {{Planet Loot\|ers}}ing, multiverse-scale [[MultiversalConqueror conquerors]], but his friends, a frog named Leif and a toad called Barrel, started bringing out his better side by showing him how to actually have fun. It got to the point that Aldrich had to do a little {{Gaslighting}} by sewing seeds of doubt into Andrias in order to prevent him from turning against him, which was compounded by Leif's betrayal and theft of the Calamity Box, resulting in Andrias cutting ties with her and Barrel (who suffered from NeutralityBacklash), believing they were actually {{False Friend}}s. It gives Andrias's character a bit of TragicVillain as it shows how he really could've been TheGoodKing rather than a BitchInSheepsClothing had his friendship with Leif and Barrel not soured]].
181	* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'': Most prominently, Hollyhock in season 4, [=BoJack=]'s possible illegitimate daughter ([[spoiler:actually his half-sister through the same father]]). While they live together, [=BoJack=] starts noticing more about himself and the way he ''should'' be behaving around her now that he is potentially a father. By the end of the season, [=BoJack=] made large strides in his CharacterDevelopment, becoming more mindful of others, especially Princess Carolyn, Beatrice, Todd, and Diane. This is also partially because of the trauma he suffered the previous season and the events of "The Old Sugarman Place". [[spoiler: Her cutting ties with him, when she later discovers the details of some of his worst treatment of other young women, is a key factor in his final downward spiral in the show.]]
182	* [[Characters/FuturamaPhilipJFry Philip J. Fry]] in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' to both Bender and Leela, as he makes the former slightly less evil (though Bender would probably still describe him as a MoralityPet) and helps the latter to overcome her DarkAndTroubledPast. He's arguably a positive influence on the rest of the [[DysfunctionJunction Planet Express crew]] as well.
183	* In ''WesternAnimation/InsideJob2021'', a flashback showed that as a child, Reagan had a friend who was considered to be a positive influence on her upbringing to the point that her principal advised against letting her skip fourth grade for the sake of her emotional development. Unfortunately [[spoiler:her father Rand saw the friend as a moron who was potentially infecting his daughter with his mediocrity and not only ignored the principal but erased all memory of the friend from Reagan's mind. The result was that Reagan grew up to be incredibly intelligent but emotionally stunted, which her father considers a positive]]. Luckily, she starts to regain her empathy and social skills thanks to her coworker Brett, a naive, optimistic NiceGuy.
184	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has the word "friendship" in the title, so this happens a lot. In particular, it is easier to count antagonists who ''weren't'' made into better people by someone.
185	* ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'' has K.O. playing this to his coworkers, but most prominently Enid, who becomes increasingly protective of him.
186	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Throughout the show, it becomes increasingly clear that [[Characters/TheOwlHouseLuzNoceda Luz Noceda]] has become a good influence on nearly everyone she meets. This is especially prominent with Amity Blight, who mentions in "Escaping Expulsion" that part of the reason why she hangs out with Luz, Willow, and Gus is that they encourage her to be a better person.
187	* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': Jet is a positive influence on everyone he meets and befriends throughout the course of the show. He helps Sean be more open to making mistakes, encourages Sydney to think outside the box, strengthens Mindy's leadership skills, helps Mitchell come out of his shell, and inspires a sense of wonder and childlike joy in the DSA scientists.
188	* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': {{Invoked\|Trope}} by [[Characters/RickAndMortyRickSanchez Rick Sanchez]] and [[Characters/RickAndMortyBethSmith Beth Smith]] in the "[[Recap/RickAndMortyS1E1Pilot first episode]]", them stating that by being around Rick, [[Characters/RickAndMortyMortySmith Morty Smith]], who had a FriendlessBackground, can improve in academics because he has the same genius potential his grandfather; Rick proves it by showing that Morty has gained a large knowledge of advanced physics. This turns out to be a ruse, as Morty acquired a short-lived super intelligence due to an alien seed that dissolved inside him and isn't really more than average intelligence. Long term, [[{{Subverted\|Trope}} this isn't true]], as Morty grows to become cynical, ruthless, and more like Rick in a bad sense as the show goes on.
189	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': The titular AllLovingHero [[Characters/StevenUniverseStevenQuartzUniverse Steven Quartz Universe]] plays this to several characters in the city, but especially to the Crystal Gems, who have a boatload of issues showing up as time goes, ranging from self-loathing to outright undiagnosed PTSD.
190	* ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst'': The titular princess does this throughout the show, her kind and determined nature and high morals, inherited from her mother, and propensity for seeing the good in everyone help her to reform numerous characters throughout the entire run and even prompt numerous villains into making full-fledged HeelFaceTurn. Most notable amongst these are:
191	** Her stepbrother Prince James, who was a bad loser and prone to UnsportsmanlikeGloating and acting without thinking, but became more gracious, humble, and learning to look before leaping.
192	** Prince Hugo, who went from being an arrogant, misogynistic bully desperately seeking his father's approval to a kind, selfless team player willing to do what he loved openly without hiding it.
193	** Cedric the Sorceror, who had been scheming for most of the series to steal her magical amulet in order to take over the kingdom and rule as an evil wizard, but who through the PowerOfFriendship grew to care for her enough to forfeit his ambitions and become a great sorcerer on his own merit and through doing good.
194	** Princesses Hildegard, Clio, and Vivian: a SpoiledBrat, YesMan, and ShrinkingViolet, respectively, under Sofia's tuition they became less selfish, more confident, and less shy.
195	** Her mentor Chrysta learned to be more accepting of humans and willing to open herself up to others rather than be cold, aloof, and haughty.
196	** And finally, Princess Amber, AlphaBitch stepsister to... well, scarcely recognizable as the same person at the end of the show's run.
197	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'':
198	** [[Characters/TeenTitans2003Starfire Starfire]] served as this for the team. Her ever-present kind cheeriness would help the other Titans through dark days. The episode "[[Recap/TeenTitansS2E1HowLongIsForever How Long is Forever?]]" reveals a BadFuture where Starfire's absence [[BreakingTheFellowship caused the team to break apart]], but her return managed to bring them back together again.
199	** In another sense, all the Titans played a part in helping [[Characters/TeenTitans2003Raven Raven]] become less brooding and more attentive and open to others, being more selfless instead of just seeking {{revenge}} against her father or running away from her fate.
200	* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' is an entire show founded around this premise. Wander is an AllLovingHero who consciously tries to befriend the many [[CardCarryingVillain bad guys]] who inhabit his universe in order to bring them to a HeelFaceTurn. His many success stories include [[spoiler:his [[PlatonicLifePartners best friend Sylvia]], originally a bounty hunter who met him when she [[LimaSyndrome captured him]].]]
201	[[/folder]]

Context Main / PositiveFriendInfluence