History Main / RidiculouslySuccessfulFutureSelf

* Accidentally subverted by Cartman himself in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. A successful and healthy man appears, claiming to be the future Cartman, and tells his younger self that he's just started on the path to wealth, success, and happiness as long as he becomes nicer, goes on a diet, works hard, and stays away from drugs. However, because the episode focused on parents trying to scare their kids with actors posing as FutureLoser versions of themselves, Cartman doesn't believe a word of it and says he'll start acting even ''worse'' and do drugs just to spite him. The instant Cartman walks away, the future Cartman transforms into a poor, fat slovenly mechanic.

** Happens AGAIN with Cartman, in the flash-forward future where...he's a successful rabbi who is happily married. would be downplayed, but it's CARTMAN. However, after the heroes SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong it results in everyone else being largely happier with the exception of Cartman, who is now an alcoholic hobo constantly screaming at everyone.

* The kids' [[ImagineSpot Imagine Spots]] on ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' are often [[FlashForward Flash Forwards]] to their adult lives, and they're almost always a professional at whatever their current hobby is (Arthur is a virtuosic piano player, Muffy is a successful fashion designer, etc.). In addition, pretty much every kid in the main cast has had at least one FlashForward to being the President of the United States, to the point where it could probably be part of a DrinkingGame.
** In the DistantFinale it's shown that they went on to become more modestly successful. Rather than being President Muffy became the town's mayor while ''Francine'' became a fashion CEO, and Arthur himself became a successful children's author.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}'' finale "Chowder Grows Up," [[spoiler:Gorgonzola]] goes from an impoverished [[spoiler:candleholder]] to the CEO of a large candle corporation. However, even though he's successful, he's still unhappy because he wants Chowder to be his rival.

** Luan is a famous comedian, and is married to an actor of Broadway (that may or may not be Benny).

* ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'': In "History", Kira Ford, Conner [=McKnight=], and Ethan James from ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' are brought to the future and help the S.P.D. Rangers against their enemies. They wish to stay and continue helping, but are persuaded to go back to their time because they become famous as civilians: Kira becomes a great singer who still has fans far in the future, Conner opens a worldwide soccer camp that still trains the youth, and Ethan designs software that is still in use at the S.P.D. base. If they stayed, their accomplishments would be erased and history would drastically change.

* During ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'', Shiki is revealed to be insecure and shy about her appearance as her appearance in the game is actually that of her much better looking best friend. Three years later in [[VideoGame/NeoTheWorldEndsWithYou the sequel]], she and that best friend are world-reknown fashion designers who are THE leaders of the incredibly competitive Shibuya street fashion scene. Even her old missapen cat plushie Mr. Mew has become their company's "Gatto Nerro" iconic logo.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MeetTheRobinsons'', HeartwarmingOrphan and [[BunglingInventor unsuccessful inventor]] Lewis actually travels to the future, which has become a Utopian place thanks to the inventions of scientific genius Cornelius Robinson. Later we find out that [[spoiler:Cornelius is actually Lewis' future self.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw'': It's revealed that Doofenshmirtz will one day invent time travel, and be regarded as the hero "Professor Time". However, he has no idea how he will do all that, and he feels a lot of pressure from having to measure up to his future self. He vents this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZWH5qJML8c in song]] with Orton Mahlson, who is a case of a Ridiculously Successful ''Present'' Self as he's from the past. He was taken from 1965 right as the pilot of his TV Show "The Dr. Zone Files" has started shooting, with no idea that his creation will be far greater than what he has planned, and far more popular than he has expected. Just like Doofenshmirtz, he feels a lot of pressure from having to figure out what he will do, and measuring himself to his future self.

** Bart's future career path in the several flashforward episodes goes from a garage band member to unemployed stoner to demolition man to law school student to (down the road) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Apparently the Simpsons become the next Kennedy family.