History Main / MentorArchetype

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': [[Characters/TheOwlHouseEdaClawthorne Eda Clawthorne]] is this to Luz right from the start, agreeing at the end of the pilot episode to take her as an apprentice to train her in magic, and does a damn good job of it. They, along with Eda's adoptive son King, become a FamilyOfChoice very quickly.

** [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderGeneralIroh Uncle Iroh]] is a mentor to Prince Zuko and not only helps to protect him but also helps him in his destiny to side with Aang to stop the Fire Nation's conquests. Interestingly, he is also the Obi-Wan to Zuko's Anakin Skywalker.

* Peppy from ''VideoGame/StarFox'', as he is stated to be the oldest one on the team, was a member of the original Star Fox crew with Fox's father and also acts somewhat as a mediator between the more hot-headed Falco and the other teammates.

* Grandpa Max, in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'', was a [[TheMenInBlack Man in Black]] when he was younger, and retired to have some peace and quiet, spend time with his grandkids... Once the ImportedAlienPhlebotinum the show revolves around latches onto his grandson's wrist, Max's experience is invaluable (especially since the sender intended it to go to Max in the first place).

* Shazam (the wizard), from ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}!'' often played this role to Billy, Freddy, and Mary. For a while in the 1970s, Uncle Dudley grew a mustache and, at Shazam's behest, started calling himself Billy's mentor, in order to tie into the then-current Shazam TV series (see Live-Action Television section).
* Surprisingly, ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} is this to several generations of X-Men, being a father-figure to a number of the teenaged female members. He and ComicBook/{{Storm}} are both mentors to ComicBook/KittyPryde, and like Wolverine, Storm is a parental figure to her as well, in this case being a mother figure.

* Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} has Stick, the streetwise pool shark/sensei who trained him.
* I-Ching, a blind old-master martial artist with a deep knowledge of the supernatural, acts as a mentor in his every appearance starting as a teacher to Franchise/WonderWoman in ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'' and going on to mentor [[ComicBook/NewSuperMan Kenan Kong]] and help ComicBook/{{Superman}}.

** Uncle Iroh is a mentor to Prince Zuko and not only helps to protect him but also helps him in his destiny to side with Aang to stop the Fire Nation's conquests. Interestingly, he is also the Obi-Wan to Zuko's Anakin Skywalker.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': In the future, Batman, the ultimate badass (and still an elder badass if forced by circumstances), became a mentor to a new younger Batman, [[MissionControl giving advice by radio]].

* Princess Celestia from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. She located and taught Twilight Sparkle toward her coronation.
** Sunset Shimmer is this as well as TheLeader towards the human counterparts of the main cast in the spin-off ''Equestria Girls'' films and specials, being the only "human" with a deep understanding of the magic that has leaked in their dimension from the main MLP universe.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Eda is this to Luz right from the start, agreeing at the end of the pilot episode to take her as an apprentice to train her in magic, and does a damn good job of it. They, along with Eda's adoptive son King, become a FamilyOfChoice very quickly.
* In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', Anakin becomes this for young initiate Ahsoka Tano, who becomes his Padawan. Unfortunately, [[spoiler:this ends only slightly better than Anakin's own apprenticeship to Obi-Wan, with Ahsoka leaving the Jedi Order after feeling betrayed by the Council's lack of trust, only to later have to cross blades with her former teacher after his fall to the Dark Side.]]

*** The player character him/herself can actually be this as well. There are a handful of party members whom the Exile can train in the ways of the Force. It's most noticeable with Handmaiden, since [[spoiler: Atris herself will call Handmaiden out on jumping ship from Atris's mentorship to the Exile's, and in cut content where Handmaiden has to fight her fellow sisters, she remembers the lessons she learned from sparring with the Exile in order to win.]]

** While [[OldMaster Jolee Bindo]] seems to fit in terms of character, in terms of the role in the plot [[DefrostingIceQueen Bastilla]] actually serves this role. She is the one who shows the PlayerCharacter that they are a Jedi and serves as his/her mentor throughout the game, despite probably being younger. This is justified by both her raw power in the Force as well as the fact that she was [[PsychicLink bonded in the Force]] with the protagonist. [[QuicklyDemotedLeader Though she fails to stay in charge]], it is for a reason as [[spoiler: she was never meant to be in charge. Her purpose was not to act as a mentor but to utilize the protagonist's visions to find the mysterious Star Forge, as he turns out to be the amnesiac former Sith Lord Darth Revan. ]]

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', the golden wolf / hero's shade acts like this to Link, teaching him new sword fighting tactics. He is hinted to be the ghost of a previous incarnation of Link, specifically ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' Link.

'''Tony:''' And definitely don't do anything I ''wouldn't'' do.\\

%%* Chiun mentors Remo Willaims in the ''Literature/{{Destroyer}}''.

* In ''Fanfic/AmazingFantasy'', Izuku runs into Peter Parker, who offers to teach him to become [[Franchise/SpiderMan Spider-Man]], not long after gaining spider powers.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'': [[Characters/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse Peter B. Parker]] ultimately ends up being this to Miles. He's the first other Spider Miles meets [[spoiler:barring the one who died]], he's the most savvy and experienced of the Spider-Gang throughout the movie, and he takes a more direct mentorly role than the others.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', Muzu acted as a mentor to the late Princess Mipha of the [[FishPeople Zora]]. So did Seggin, who is stated to have taught her how to wield a spear.

* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', Master Oogway fills this character trope, being the OldMaster to Shifu. He seems addle-minded [[spoiler:until he dies]], but the heroes realize at the end he knew ''exactly'' what he was doing. Afterwards, [[spoiler:Shifu takes Oogway's place and plays the role of the OldMaster to Po.]]

** Likewise, [[ComicBook/ProfesorX Charles Xavier]] is this to the X-Men as a whole. Particularly Cyclops, who along with the other adult members of the X-Men, goes on to be a mentor in his own right to many young mutants attending the school.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Eda is this to Luz right from the start, agreeing at the end of the pilot episode to take her as an apprentice to train her in magic, and does a damn good job of it. They, along with Eda's adoptive son King, become a FamilyOfChoice very quickly.

* Doc Hudson hates Lightning in Pixar's ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}''. However, [[spoiler:Lightning discovers that Doc was a famous and successful race car in his day. After teaching lessons in driving and humility, Doc eventually becomes his personal racing coach and crew chief and helps him in the final race.]]

** While Riko Aida is the coach of Seirin High's basketball club, her father Kagetora is definitely this trope. Riko is responsible for Seirin's training regimen and devises their strategies and tactics, but Kagetora teaches individual members on their respective strengths. He's the one who teaches Hyuuga, Kiyoshi and Izuki their respective {{Signature Move}}s: Barrier Jumper, Vice Claw and Eagle Spear. Kagetora used to play in Japan's national team in the past.
** Alexandra Garcia, a former WNBA player, serves as Kagami's and Himuro's mentor, as she has taught them how to play basketball properly since their childhood. She would help preparing Kagami for the Winter Cup and teaches him the Meteor Jam right before his match against Yosen, which is Himuro's team.

** The [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Third]] [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority Hokage]], Hiruzen Sarutobi, one of the more notable [[OldSoldier elders]] in his village (and in anime in general). He even dies at the hands of his renegade student Orochimaru.