History Main / TokenAdult

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheMagicSchoolbus https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_msb2.png]]]]

They may be [[FireForgedFriends a stranger]] that joins because they happen to have the same or a similar goal as the heroes. Or an experienced veteran who joins the group. Could also be intended as an aversion, or subversion to ThereAreNoAdults by the author, by making the character a [[ParentalSubstitute substitute parent]] that acts as the [[TeamDad team's]] [[TeamMom guardian]] in their parent's absence. They may even literally be a trusted friend or relative of one of the team member's parents, or a [[OldMaster team member's]] [[CoolTeacher teacher]]. Often times he's also TheMentor, or just a wiser grownup in non-action works who guides the characters in the right direction, or MrExposition, who, because he's older and more experienced, explains how the world works.

They may be [[FireForgedFriends a stranger]] that joins because they happens to have the same or a similar goal as the heroes. Or an experienced veteran who joins the group. Could also be intended as an aversion, or subversion to ThereAreNoAdults by the author, by making the character a [[ParentalSubstitute substitute parent]] that acts as the [[TeamDad team's]] [[TeamMom guardian]] in their parent's absence. They may even literally be a trusted friend or relative of one of the team member's parents, or a [[OldMaster team member's]] [[CoolTeacher teacher]]. Often times he's also TheMentor, or just a wiser grownup in non-action works who guides the characters in the right direction, or MrExposition, who, because he's older and more experienced, explains how the world works.

A story that centers around a group made up of children, teenagers, or just younger adults, introduces an older character who decides he wants to join the youngsters. He's the oldest character in the group. That's the Token Adult.

In adventure stories especially in video games or {{Role Playing Game Verse}}s the group is often made up of children or teenagers with one "adult" exclusively allied to them. His age could be anywhere from being old enough to drink (if the other group members are just kids) to someone who is middle aged or over 50. Also sometimes TV shows will have older characters help the heroes once per episode, or for only one episode.

Also occasionally the Token Adult will stick out in a group of adults ''because'' he's a BunnyEarsLawyer. See Si from ''Series/DuckDynasty'' in the examples.

He may be [[FireForgedFriends a stranger]] that joins because he happens to have the same or a similar goal as the heroes. Or an experienced veteran who joins the group. Could also be intended as an aversion, or subversion to ThereAreNoAdults by the author, by making the character a [[ParentalSubstitute substitute parent]] that acts as the [[TeamDad team's]] [[TeamMom guardian]] in their parent's absence. He may even literally be a trusted friend or relative of one of the team member's parents, or a [[OldMaster team member's]] [[CoolTeacher teacher]]. Often times he's also TheMentor, or just a wiser grownup in non-action works who guides the characters in the right direction, or MrExposition, who, because he's older and more experienced, explains how the world works.

Tends to be TheBigGuy, because he's older, taller, and stronger, at least in the beginning. He could also be the SmartGuy based on his years of experience. You can expect YearsTooEarly comments in either case. If he's a badass most of the time he's a CoolOldGuy but he could be a ColonelBadAss or TheCaptain depending on the setting, or a BadAssBookworm. If he was TheLeader of TheTeam at one point, but isn't TheHero, he's probably the BigGood. If he's the {{Foil}} to the TheHero he might end up becoming TheLancer. If played for [[PluckyComicRelief comedic effect]], he might be a DeadPanSnarker who employs [[InsultComic Insult humor]] on his younger peers. He could also be OneOfTheKids, might be a CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, or if [[AdultsAreUseless Adults really are useless]] he may be used by the author to [[ButtMonkey drive that]] [[CompetenceZone point home]].

Sometimes, he starts out as their adult in the beginning of the story, and more older characters are included in the group later, in which case, the original character who took up the role still counts.

If hurting his friends is his BerserkButton, expect him to be the PapaWolf or the MamaBear.

* ''VideoGame/Persona2''

* ''VideoGame/Persona4''

* ''VideoGame/Persona5ScrambleThePhantomStrikers'' has Zenkichi Hasegawa, an adult assistant police inspector who teams up with the teenage Phantom Thieves to solve the latest crisis. The Phantom Thieves repeatedly poke fun at his age as a RunningGag.

* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': Splinter, in all incarnations, is the Turtles' OldMaster and ParentalSubstitute who teaches them the art of the ninja, and stealth to hide from the cold eyes of the world. The Turtles are always teenagers.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' Ruel Stroud, an elder to the rest of the team, joins because he's asked to watch over Yugo by his old friend Alibert who is Yugo's adoptive father. He agrees since he's become fond of Yugo. All of the other characters are younger than 19. Yugo is 12.
* ''WesternAnimation/ClassOf3000'' has Sunny Bridges, who is the only adult of the main eight characters, the other seven being in the 12-13 bracket. It's [[JustifiedTrope justified]], as he's a teacher and they're students.

* Though most enemies and secondary characters in ''Manga/OnePiece'' are adults, for a while Nico Robin was the only one of the main protagonists who was more than 19 years old - 28 years to be exact. Later, 34-year-old Franky and 88-year-old Brook join, but since they're both [[ManChild Man Children]] of dimensions, Robin still keeps her place as the only Straw Hat who is both adult and ''acts'' like an adult. Following the TimeSkip, the Straw-Hats are joined by Fishman and former Warlord Jimbe

* Though most enemies and secondary characters in ''Manga/OnePiece'' are adults, for a while Nico Robin was the only one of the main protagonists who was more than 19 years old - 28 years to be exact. Later, 34-year-old Franky and 88-year-old Brook join, but since they're both [[ManChild Man Children]] of dimensions, Robin still keeps her place as the only Straw Hat who is both adult and ''acts'' like an adult.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' Jake the Dog, is the closest thing to this in the show, being in a serious relationship, which makes him more of an adult than Finn is, and being old enough to give Finn advice about growing up. Being a dog his age goes by dog years so he matures faster than Finn does. Them being technically adoptive brothers also gives Finn a reason to trust him with a lot of things.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' has Grandpa Max Tennyson, an [[ParentalSubstitute authority figure]] to Ben and Gwen on their trip, and an OldSoldier [[spoiler: since he was a member of "The Plumbers" who even BigBad Vilgax is scared of]].

* ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'': For once in ''Literature/TheCampHalfBloodSeries'', the trio of heroes this time get a tagalong guardian, 100-year old Coach Gleason Hedge, to supervise them on a journey that most half-bloods die screaming in failure. Unfortunately, his persona in the mortal world is "Alumninum Bat" abusive coach and his real persona is an inattentive, gluttonous hippie. He does have his uses.

* Percy Jackson and The Olympians Book 6, ''Literature/TheLostHero'': For once in the series, the trio of heroes this time get a tagalong guardian, 100-year old Coach, to supervise them on a journey that most half-bloods die screaming in failure. Unfortunately, his persona in the mortal world is "Alumninum Bat" abusive coach and his real persona is an inattentive, gluttonous hippie. He does have his uses.

* Wedge Antilles in the ''Literature/XWingSeries'' novels, particularly the ''Wraith Squadron'' trilogy, isn't chronologically that much older than his pilots -- but he's vastly more experienced and way more emotionally stable than the DysfunctionJunction that is Wraith Squadron (to say nothing of his [[BunnyEarsLawyer Bunny Ears XO]], Janson). He directly compares the squadron to his children several times, and his much-put-upon lament that "Wes, [[HereWeGoAgain they're doing it to me again...]] becomes a notable running gag.

!!Examples

-->'''Wedge''': I'm leading children, and I'm getting them killed.\\
'''Janson''': That's true.\\
'''Wedge''': What did you say?\\
'''Janson''': It's true. ''[shrugs]'' Wedge, you asked for [[MilitaryMaverick misfits]]. You had to know that even with the ones that made the grade, they were going to take losses that were heavier than in a normal unit. So many of them are carrying around these weights of emotional problems. It makes it tougher for them to hop in the right direction at the right time.
* In ''Literature/{{The ColSec Trilogy}}'', [[spoiler:thirty-something Bren Lathan]] becomes a SixthRanger for a central cast with an average age of about seventeen otherwise.

* ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'': Tommy Oliver is the only one of the Dino Rangers who isn't a teenager. As this [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers is not]] [[Series/PowerRangersZeo his first]] [[Series/PowerRangersTurbo time]] battling the forces of evil, he is the perfect mentor for the team and can understand what they are going through more than anyone else. It also helps he is their high school teacher.

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* ''Series/DuckDynasty'': Uncle Si is the only person his age (in his 60's) working at the duck call business. He's a BunnyEarsLawyer, who frequently takes naps, snack, hunting, and basketball "breaks", and plenty of other hijinks with the younger guys at work. As much as he'd like to, since no one else will take his job, Willie just can't get rid of him.[[/folder]]

*** 30 years later, Kraden reprises his role, with the teen-aged descendants of the cast of the first game, ''VideoGame/GoldenSun2001''. He still isn't a playable character.

Contrast TagalongKid, this trope's opposite. Compare TheChick, TheMentor, AdultsAreUseless, ThereAreNoAdults.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' Has Grandpa, Max Tennyson, an [[ParentalSubstitute authority figure]] to Ben and Gwen on their trip, and an OldSoldier [[spoiler: since he was a member of "The Plumbers" who even BigBad Vilgax is scared of]].

* WesternAnimation/GravityFalls while Grunkle Stan is Dipper and Mabel's guardian for the summer his [[spoiler: feigned]] ignorance of the supernatural activities in Gravity Falls means that Soos, the Mystery Shack's handyman is the only adult consistently tagging along for Dipper and Mabel's adventures.

* ''Anime/{{Gravion}}'': The titular robot is a five-man piloted and four of them are piloted by teenagers. The last pilot is Mizuki Tachibana, an adult woman and a complete MsFanservice with {{Gainaxing}} GagBoobs to match. [[spoiler:She's also a spy from the EFA, a job that only adults like her could undertake.]]

*** 30 years later, Kraden reprises his role, with the teen-aged descendants of the cast of the first game, ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheBrokenSeal''. He still isn't a playable character.

-->'''Wedge''': I'm leading children, and I'm getting them killed.
-->'''Janson''': That's true.
-->'''Wedge''': What did you say?
-->'''Janson''': It's true. ''(shrugs)'' Wedge, you asked for [[MilitaryMaverick misfits]]. You had to know that even with the ones that made the grade, they were going to take losses that were heavier than in a normal unit. So many of them are carrying around these weights of emotional problems. It makes it tougher for them to hop in the right direction at the right time.

** ''VideoGame/{{Mother 1}}'': Most of the main characters aren't over 12 except for Teddy who is about or over 20 years old.
** ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'': Duster is [[VagueAge most likely]] at least in his mid-20s, while Lucas is about 13 and Kumatora's around 17.
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}''

* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}''
** The game has the protagonist's uncle's partner, Adachi, who isn't in on the secret (as the police were in 3), but works as a FriendOnTheForce for the investigation team, who are all high school students. [[spoiler: Until he turns out to be the one behind the murders]]. Said uncle ends up serving the role (again, without finding out about the supernatural aspects).
** Igor, the old man who serves as the proprietor of the velvet room, and appears in every persona game to date, to contract with the protagonist, and aid him via persona fusion to obtain more powerful personas. He also serves as MrExposition, to explain the mechanics of personas. He's essentially the BigGood of the persona series, [[spoiler: as he's the servant of a [[BigGood Bigger Good]] Philemon]]. He's the, first, and most important ally the protagonist has.

** In the Blue Lions, Mercedes is 22 at the start of the game, and is older than all of her fellow Blue Lions

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' has a downplayed example with Hubert von Vestra if playing as the Black Eagles. Hubert is 20 at the start of the game, while the rest of the Black Eagles are in their teens. It's downplayed because Dorothea is 18 at the start, while Ferdinand and Edelgard turn 18 early into the story.

*** 30 years later, Kraden reprises his role, with the teen-aged descendants of the cast of the first game, ''GoldenSunTheBrokenSeal''. He still isn't a playable character.

* ''Series/PowerRangerDinoThunder'': Tommy Oliver is the only one of the Dino Rangers who isn't a teenager. As this [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers is not]] [[Series/PowerRangersZeo his first]] [[Series/PowerRangersTurbo time]] battling the forces of evil, he is the perfect mentor for the team and can understand what they are going through more than anyone else. It also helps he is their high school teacher.

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[[caption-width-right:322:TheHero, TheLancer, the MysteriousWaif, and their adult supervision.]]