History Main / ArcHero

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': While Ash is the show's constant protagonist, each new region after Johto switches up the team he travels with -- after Misty and Brock in Kanto and Johto, it's May, Max, and Brock in Hoenn, Brock and Dawn in Sinnoh, Iris and Cilan in Unova, and Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena in Kalos. Each new {{Deuteragonist}} has their own arc, personality, and motivations, and more relationships with the natives of each region.

** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'' Sonic and Tails, plot wise a new sidekick, gameplay introducing two player mode.
** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3'' Sonic and Knuckles, plotwise a new rival, gameplay introducing characters with different abilities.
** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' Sonic and Shadow, plot-wise another new rival who was directly related to Space Colony Ark and Gerald Robotnik's experiments. Also introducing the idea of seeing the plot from different perspectives with Hero Mode and Dark Mode.
** ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' Sonic and Tails and Knuckles. Plotwise the PowerOfFriendship on full display and gameplay wise the StanceSystem of changing the leader on the fly.
** ''VideoGame/SonicRush'' Sonic and Blaze, who had a direct relationship with new ArcVillain Eggman Nega.
** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' Sonic and Silver, who came to stop Sonic from becoming the Iblis Trigger and creating his BadFuture.
** ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' Sonic and Chip, a new sidekick also directly related to the new ArcVillain. Gameplay was more about the contrast between default Sonic and his new werewolf-like form.
** ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' Sonic and Yacker, or the Wisps generally, a new powerup system.
** ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' Sonic and Sonic bringing it full circle for the anniversary, combining new gameplay with classic gameplay.
** ''VideoGame/SonicForces'' Sonic and Avatar, giving fans a chance to make a customizable self insert, who has personal beef with new antagonist Infinite (who Eggman 'modified' as well making the custom character thing meta.) The avatar represents a third style of gadget and wisp based gameplay separate from modern or classic Sonic.

** ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'': In addition to letting Yoshi be TheHero and basing most of the game around his abilities, it also introduced Baby Mario who directly tied into the plot, some power ups, and the unique take on the health meter.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'': Introduced FLUDD as Mario's assistant to help take care of ArcVillain Shadow Mario's paint, and personified the water cannon gameplay additions and powerups.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'': Brought Rosalina and Luma as the force opposing Bowser throughout the galaxy, and personifying/granting Mario the new gameplay mechanics of everything from his all-purpose Spin Move, to shooting Star Bits, to the Launch Stars and other environment features throughout the levels. The sequel also brought Lubba as the pilot of Star Ship Mario, the new worldmap/hub world hybrid system.

* On the Franchise/DonkeyKong side of things. The second DKC game made Diddy TheHero, and introduced Dixie his girlfriend to personify to new gliding mechanics. The third followed formula by making Dixie TheHero, and introducing Kiddy her cousin to personify the new power based mechanics.

** ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' did this with the Arbiter, whose plot starts out being separate from the Master Chief's, but then they come together at the end of the game. The Arbiter is also the second player character in ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}''.

* In many Disney world in most of the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series, the player character, whether it be the main trio of Sora, Donald and Goofy, or one of the protagonists in ''Birth by Sleep'', are joined by one (or two in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'') GuestStarPartyMember appropriate to the film, such as Aladdin in Agrabah, Jack Sparrow in The Caribbean and Mulan in the Land of Dragons. With very rare exceptions, none of these party members can be used outside of their worlds.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': Since ''Ocarina'' the new FairyCompanion tends to be the main supporting character for each game, partially due to having to be the VoiceForTheVoiceless since Link is the HeroicMime.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' has a truly bizarre version that could only have been a parody in the episode [[SouthParkS4E16TheWackyMolestationAdventure "Wacky Molestation Adventure."]] After a standard first half following the boys on a comedic setup (Cartman convinces every kid in town to accuse their parents of molesting them so the police will take them away, resulting in a town bereft of adults), the second half abruptly transitions to two new characters, Mark and Linda. They [[GenreRefugee look and act like the main characters of a standard horror thriller film]], with the second half of the episode playing out as a very abridged version of ''Film/ChildrenOfTheCorn1984'' or ''Film/LogansRun'' as Mark and Linda explore the AfterTheEnd setting of South Park as the absence of adults has caused a collapse into anarchy among the child residents. Mark has a relatively detailed backstory (recently married, doesn't want children, on his way to a job interview in Breckenridge), solves the whole conflict, and even has a coherent JerkToNiceGuyPlot character arc. After he gets the job and the two presumably move to Breckenridge, they're never seen again.
* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'': WordOfGod stated that the show's seasons will revolve around a character beside [[TheHero Uncle Scrooge]]. Season 1 focuses on Dewey, and Season 2 will revolve around Louie.

** Season 2 has Adira, a warrior from the Dark Kingdom who goes against King Edmund's wishes to help Rapunzel make her way there, believing that the Sundrop is the only thing that can neutralize the threat of the Moonstone, the source of the Black Rocks.

* In every Disney world in most of the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series, the main trio of Sora, Donald and Goofy are joined by one GuestStarPartyMember appropriate to the film, such as Aladdin in Agrabah, Jack Sparrow in The Caribbean and Mulan in the Land of Dragons. With very rare exceptions, none of these party members can be used outside of their worlds.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', each season has a story arc focusing on one specific Titan. In order, season 1 is Robin, season 2 is Terra, season 3 is Cyborg, season 4 is Raven, and season 5 is Beast Boy. Starfire gets screwed over.

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' has this dynamic in all of its arcs, usually with Kirito forming an AdventureDuo with someone else in each new virtual world he explores: Asuna in the Aincrad arc, Leafa in the Fairy Dance arc, Sinon in the Phantom Bullet arc, and Eugeo in the Alicization arc. The only exception is the Mother's Rosario arc, which focuses on Asuna and Yuuki.

* ''Creator/SonicTeam'' has done this throughout the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise, to the point you could almost subtitle them based on the Arc Hero. Of course, it eventually became a never ending DebutQueue and lead to some backlash due to LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters.

* ''Creator/SonicTeam'' has done this throughout the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise, to the point you could almost subtitle them based on the Arc Hero. Of course, it eventually became a never ending DebutQueue and lead to some backlash due to LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters.

** In ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', The Future Trunks saga's arc hero is...well, [[CaptainObvious Future Trunks]]. Unusually for ''Dragon Ball'', he is actually [[spoiler: the one who kills Merged Zamasu, not Goku, although technically Zen'o is the one who kills Infinite Zamasu.]]

** The Saiyan Saga heavily featured previous ArcVillain Picollo as the first point of contact with Raditz, the co-founding of the Z fighters with Goku to oppose him, the kidnapping, training, and character development he goes through with Gohan, leading the charge against Nappa and ending in a HeroicSacrifice just in time for Goku to return and take center stage in the final battle.

* ''Franchise/DragonBall'': The first three arcs in Z focused on a new hero or anti hero, mostly because of Goku's extended absences, but he would still come back in time to be the main hero of the final fight.

* ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' has two examples:
** The Future Trunks saga's arc hero is...well, [[CaptainObvious Future Trunks]]. Unusually for ''Dragon Ball'', he is actually [[spoiler: the one who kills Merged Zamasu, not Goku, although technically Zen'o is the one who kills Infinite Zamasu.]]
** The Universe Survival saga has two: Android 17, who was a relatively minor character PutOnABus after the Android Saga but is a major focus here, getting a lot of CharacterDevelopment and eliminations, as well as [[spoiler: winning the tournament.]] The other is, of all people, [[spoiler: ''Frieza'', in an EnemyMine situation. Although he's still evil by the end of the arc, he does soften significantly, gaining VillainRespect for Goku, as well as deliberately ringing himself out to take out Jiren in the process.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': Season 2 adds Ashoka Tano to the cast as a BigGood type figure leading Kanan and Ezra to contrast the new BigBad ArcVillain Darth Vader leading the Inquisitors. She also has history with him as his former apprentice.

** ''VideoGame/OcarinaOfTime'' added Navi to personify the new Z-Targeting system. She was the fairy for 'the boy without a fairy' and his guide as he fulfilled his destiny. Tatl in the direct followup ''VideoGame/MajorasMask'' didn't add anything gameplay wise, but was friends with ArcVillain Skull Kid and the sister of his fairy companion Tael.
** ''VideoGame/TheWindWaker'': The King of Red Lions gave character to the sailing mechanics as a talking boat. Getting deeper into the plot, it's revealed he's actually the King of Hyrule trying to [[TheChooserOfTheOne awaken and reunite this era's Link and Zelda with their Triforce pieces]] to end Ganon and bury old Hyrule once and for all.

** ''VideoGame/TwilightPrincess'': Midna, the titular Twilight Princess, partners with Link and commands his new wolf form, as well as managing teleportation and a few other new twilight abilities. Link's story to save his friends ends about a third through the game, with the rest about her quest to reclaim her throne from Usurper King Zant.
** ''VideoGame/SkywardSword'': Fi, the titular Skyward Sword, personified the new one-to-one motion controls, and various new abilities of the Goddess/Master Sword. She's Link's guide to become Hylia's chosen hero and is the GoodCounterpart to ArcVillain Ghirahim.
** ''VideoGame/ALinkBetweenWorlds'': Ravio and Hilda as alternate universe counterparts of Link and Zelda, to fight against ArcVillain Yuga. Hilda is the traditional guide character. Ravio personifies the new gameplay philosophy of having access to all items early for sequence breaking as a shopkeeper who gives item tutorials.

*** The sub Cell Games Arc looked like it was going to be about Goku,who again takes center stage in the final battle, but he makes a conscious decision to pass the reins on to Gohan.

* ''VideoGame/KingOfFighters'' manages this within each major story arc in the series.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'': Mario and Cappy, personifying the new cotusme and capture mechanics, as well as seemingly tied to Bowser's new hat.

** ''VideoGame/BreathOfTheWild'': The Champions in general, and Zelda herself in particular. The story revealed in flashbacks show how Zelda grew into a worthy bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOddysey'': Mario and Cappy, personifying the new cotume and capture mechanics, as well as seemingly tied to Bowser's new hat.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' Master Chief is the star of the show, but sometimes there's a second protagonist:

** ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'' does this with Jameson Locke and Fireteam Osiris; not coincidentally, ''Halo 5'' is also the second game of a specific saga. Unlike ''Halo 2'', which had you playing as the Arbiter be a plot twist, all of ''5''[='s=] promotional material was very clear about the game having two protagonists, focusing on their contrasting personalities and ideals. The cover art has them glaring at each other, and [[LampshadeHanging a lampshade is hung]] about the fact that, since Locke and his team are hunting the Chief and ''his'' team, the former are going to be hated by everyone.

* ''VideoGame/{{Halo}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' did this with The Arbiter, whose plot starts out being separate from the Master Chief's, but then they come together at the end of the game.
** ''VideoGame/{{Halo 5 Guardians}}'' is pulling a version of this, doing the same thing with a new character, and it's the second game of the new trilogy. Unlike Halo 2, which kept it quiet and had it be a plot twist, all of the promotional material is about the two characters, their contrasting personalities and ideals, the fact one is hunting the other and the differences between them. The cover art has them glaring at each other, and [[LampshadeHanging a lampshade is hung]] about the fact that, since the new protagonist and his team are hunting both the original main character and his old squad, they're going to be hated by everyone.