History Main / WiseBeyondTheirYears

* Famous pop singer Music/BillieEilish has always been mature for her age, even before she became famous. She has a nihilistic point of view on life, especially being well-spoken and eloquent for her age.
* Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg is even more sensible than most well-known world leaders, as she tears into them for not doing anything about climate change. They call her a realist for a reason.

* Eleven year old Ken Amada from ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is another, largely due to a combination of his mother being killed in an accident some years prior and overcompensating to better fit into a group ranging in age from fifteen to eighteen. [[spoiler: Said "accident" is later revealed to have been caused by another Persona-user, thus prompting Ken to join SEES to seek his revenge]]. It's less obvious but still present in Mitsuru as well, as she turns eighteen a month into the game but has the emotional maturity of a woman in her twenties. [[spoiler: Like Ken, this is due in large part to a traumatic childhood where she was trained to fight Shadows from the age of eight after watching them kill multiple people in front of her and gouge out her father's eye; in addition to being groomed to take over a major corporation.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': Mr. Cat may be a mere preteen, but he's well versed in advanced sciences, [[GadgeteerGenius can repair and build machines, gadgets and robots]] and thinks more like an adult than a kid.

* The Franchise/{{DCAU}} brings us [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Kai-ro]], the ten-year-old Green Lantern from Tibet. A ten-year-old wielding a willpower-based weapon, who was easily the most level-headed member of his incarnation of the Justice League. ''Badass''.

* In Steven Spielberg's 2005 ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', Rachel Ferrier has shades of this. When she's not in immediate danger, she alternates between being the voice of reason and LittleMissSnarker. At one point, she inadvertently foreshadows how [[spoiler:the Earth will eventually force out its invaders]] by refusing to let Ray remove a small splinter from her hand that her body can deal with it on its own. She's also observant, recognizing the presence of danger before most of those around her, and seems to have a firmer grasp on the situation than Ray gives her credit for (after [[spoiler:Ray is forced to kill Ogilvy to protect her, she seems to understand that a fatal fight has occurred and seeks to comfort him, despite his best efforts to shield her from it]]). [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome When she's threatened with a serious crisis, though, she still behaves just like any frightened child]].

%%* Milli and Geo of ''WesternAnimation/TeamUmizoomi'', [[JustifiedTrope who are Math Heroes]]

%%* Rachel in ''Film/FiveHundredDaysOfSummer'', played by Creator/ChloeGraceMoretz.

%%* Miette in ''Film/TheCityOfLostChildren''.

%%* [[TheChosenOne The Golden Child]] from ''Film/TheGoldenChild'', being [[DepartmentofRedundancyDepartment The Golden Child]] and everything.

%%* Huey from ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks''.
%%-->"He speaks so well."

%%* Arnold from ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' in spades.
%%** Every kid in Arnold's class, actually. There's no way that's a group of fourth graders. No way.
%%*** But Arnold is the one they go to when they are in over their heads. Even the adults did this eventually.
%%*** And he was once asked to be a best man. He's ''nine''.
%%*** So is Helga, and she was the maid of honor in that same wedding.

* Rachel in ''Film/FiveHundredDaysOfSummer'', played by Creator/ChloeGraceMoretz.
* Parodied in the coffee scene in ''Film/{{Airplane}}''.

* Another Natalie Portman example is Marty in ''Film/BeautifulGirls''.
-->'''Willie:''' How old are you?
-->'''Marty:''' Thirteen. But I'm an old soul.

* Miette in ''Film/TheCityOfLostChildren''.

* Peter and George (to a lesser extent) in ''Film/FindingNeverland''
* [[TheChosenOne The Golden Child]] from ''Film/TheGoldenChild'', being [[DepartmentofRedundancyDepartment The Golden Child]] and everything.
* ''Film/TheHunter'': It's never explained [[spoiler: who damaged Martin's trap or who set up the camera trap.]]
* The precocious little brat Rupert in ''Film/AKingInNewYork''.

* Blitz, in VideoGame/BalmungCycle, especially relative to the people around him.

* Shinra from ''Videogame/FinalFantasyX2''.

* Roan from ''VideoGame/GrandiaII'' is one of these. [[spoiler:Being raised to rule a country partly explains it.]]

* Prince Jarvan Lightshield IV from ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''.

** According to trophy information in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', his mature, adultlike demeanor can be quite unsettling to actual adults.

* Nona from ''Webcomic/TheGoodCrook''.

* ''Webcomic/OzyAndMillie'', as one of the central themes of the strip.

* Huey from ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks''.
-->"He speaks so well."
* Jérémie Belpois of ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'' is not just the leader of the FiveManBand, but devises all the planning and strategies in the fight against XANA, sometimes even keeping ahead of the malevolent A.I. Hence, even for a TeenGenius, he proves much more mature and serious that could be expected from any 11/12-year-old. At least, as long as Aelita isn't directly involved... then he can get emotional and show his true age.

* Arnold from ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' in spades.
** Every kid in Arnold's class, actually. There's no way that's a group of fourth graders. No way.
*** But Arnold is the one they go to when they are in over their heads. Even the adults did this eventually.
*** And he was once asked to be a best man. He's ''nine''.
*** So is Helga, and she was the maid of honor in that same wedding.

* Tommy Anybody from ''WesternAnimation/MrBogus'' appears to show shades of this.

* Milli and Geo of ''WesternAnimation/TeamUmizoomi'', [[JustifiedTrope who are Math Heroes]]

** Damian Wayne, son of Bruce and Talia al-Ghul, starts out as your average BrattyHalfPint. Slowly, beginning in ''Batman and Robin'', under the constant tutelage of Dick Grayson and after being given a couple of lessons in teamwork by Tim Drake, sheds his brash cockiness, evolving into an overtly serious, competent but gloomy hero. Basically, a little clone of his daddy. Stephanie Brown, the third ''Batgirl'' (not counting Helena Bertinelli) comes actually to pity his utter inability to act his age anymore, being a ten-year-old kid unable to play or interact with other children, but deadly competent in crimefighting and investigation, with snarker-tendencies.

* Huey, Dewey and Louie, the nephews of WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, frequently come across this way in the stories of Creator/CarlBarks. Of course, next to ill-tempered, irresponsible, immature "Unca Donald" and even greedy, miserly, tunnel-visioned [[ComicBook/TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck Uncle Scrooge]], it doesn't take much to be the most responsible ones in the room, especially when aided by a HiveMind and a GreatBigBookOfEverything.

** Another offender would be Victor Vonfogg, who is just about as smart (but more prone to stereotypical EvilGenius behavior).
** Tom Davidson, the time- and space-traveler, is another example of this trope as his abilities allows him to see things other people can't (and never will). His description as having a "[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf the Grey]] vibe" pretty much fits like a glove.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11138597/ Cave Story vs IM Meen]]'': Jack. Probably one of the smartest fictional characters in years, yet also one of the saddest and funniest. Not to mention the most [[BadassAdorable badass and adorable.]]

** Just like in canon, Chief Riju of the Gerudo is a 12-year-old girl who is the Chief of her people. She's actually quite good at it, and rules with a regality, formality, and a decent efficiency. But Link doesn't think that this is a good thing. In his eyes, this little girl is losing her childhood innocence far too early in life. Link believes that children should get to be immature and childish. In his eyes, Riju isn't mature for her age, but rather, she's adopted intense coping mechanisms to survive her current situation, in which she is a child leading an entire race of Amazonian Gerudo women.

* ''Fanfic/ALoudAmongDemons'': For a 12-year-old, Lincoln is easily the most mature one of I.M.P, surpassing even [[TokenGoodTeammate Moxxie]], and offers good wisdom to just about everybody he encounters when they need it. Partially justified, as Lincoln is trapped in Hell where everybody is a cynical {{jerkass}} ''at best''.

* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'' has ChildProdigy Ami Mizuno being turned into [[ADungeonIsYou Keeper]] [[BadPowersGoodPeople Mercury]], forcing her to become the leader of several scientific projects, military ventures and diplomatic struggles while having adults and even immortal beings working for her as her subordinates and employees.

* In ''Worm'' crossover ''Fanfic/EchoesOfYesterday'', [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] is eighteen, but she talks like an experienced adult, and her advice is usually wiser and more insightful than what you expect from someone who has barely reached adulthood. Of course, losing your planet and almost everyone who you've cared for at the age of fifteen before being dumped into an alien world forces you to mature fast.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Brave}}'': The triplets are almost instantly able to recognize the bear as their mother, and even give their sister a look demanding an explanation.

* Aside from being physically the [[YoungAndInCharge youngest]] Avenger (early twenties), Captain America in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' has the experience of a soldier and it allows him to see the best way to handle just about any battlefield. It makes him the greatest and most competent field leader to serve under, age be damned.

** Of course, he's also [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation a bit of a sociopath and rather smug.]]

* ''Film/{{Matilda}}'': Matilda can multiply large numbers in her head (13 times 379, for example) in seconds, and says she likes to read just about anything. It's strongly implied that the only reason she isn't in an enrichment or advanced placement program by now is because her parents don't believe in the value of education, as implied by their reaction to her teacher's point that with private instruction she could get to college years early.

* In ''Film/TheYoungMessiah'', a rabbi tests Jesus' knowledge of the Torah with a series of trick questions, and Jesus easily sees through them all, and even offers the rabbi a few insights of his own.

---> "I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know ... But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. It is not only the old who are wise ... Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know."

** Also of note is [[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Leif]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Faris Klaus]]. He starts at the same age that Roy does, and while initially a lot more naive than Roy, he becomes a very effective leader in fighting for the liberation of the people of [[CrapsackWorld Judgral]].

** And of course, we have the titular princess. Whether as a child, a teenager or a young adult, she is far wiser than her age would imply. This trait is the very reason why she was granted the Triforce of Wisdom.

* Not to mention six-year-old Nanako from ''VideoGame/Persona4'' who pretty much takes care of herself, and does all the housework, and is the pride of her elementary school. She basically stepped into her mother's role after her death, [[spoiler:and both her Social Link and her TV dungeon make it clear that she's never quite gotten over that.]]

* ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'' gives the main character, the Prince of the Queendom of Falena, and his sister, the Crown Princess [[spoiler: And eventual Queen.]] The Prince is between 16 and 18, and he's already a badass WarriorPrince with political savvy and commands the respect of his entire army. Lymsleia is all of 10, and she's a masterful politican who [[spoiler: engineers a plan to escape house arrest that only fails due to a defection.]] They get it from their mother Arshtat and aunt Sialeeds, both political geniuses.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' has multiple cases of this due to various factors. Anise is thirteen but usually acts much older and is firmly in the position of Fon Master Guardian; said Fon Master is ''fourteen'' and yet is basically [[YoungAndInCharge ruling the world]] due to the power the Order of Lorelei holds, not to mention is an effective ReasonableAuthorityFigure. All replicas they meet fall under this as the majority are ''very'' young [[spoiler: including said Fon Master who is actually ''two'' and TheHero Luke who is a mere seven years old which makes him the ''oldest'' seventh fonon replica in the entire game.]]

* Rika from ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' at times exhibits a mental capacity far beyond that of a child. Of course, that [[FridgeBrilliance makes sense]] when you find out that [[spoiler: due to the GroundhogDayLoop she's been stuck in, and being the only one who retains her memories, mentally she is actually hundreds of years old.]]

* Deena in ''WebVideo/TheGuild'' seems much more mature than her older brother. Of course, considering that her brother is Bladezz that's not very difficult.

* The kids in ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' often act far older than most 8 and 9-year-olds would act. They [[FreeRangeChildren roam freely around their home city]] and get involved in many activities most kids their age don't even consider, such as taking Czech courses or practicing kendo. [[Main/ChildProdigy Brain]] seems to be a Main/{{Flanderization}} of this, even having a mini science-laboratory in his room and constructing his own machinery. For all intents and purposes, they act pretty much like high schoolers unless the plot requires otherwise.

** Just about every kid in Arnold's class, actually. There's no way that's a group of fourth graders. No way.

* This appeared to be the entire premise of FOX's animated series ''WesternAnimation/AllenGregory''. Unfortunately, the kid was also an unlikable twerp, so the show didn't last.

* ''Fanfic/VowOfNudity'': Haara has a very high Wisdom stat for someone in her early twenties, largely due to her monk training and growing up a slave in the extremely unforgiving Genasi Empire. One story contains flashbacks to her childhood, with almost no change in her vocabulary, problem-solving skills, or ability to outthink those who pick fights with her.

* ''Fanfic/ALoudAmongDemons'': Even putting aside the fact that everybody in Hell is a lunatic to some degree, Lincoln is a fountain of wisdom and maturity for someone that just barely started middle school compared to the damned souls around him.

* Ken Amada from ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is another, largely due to the fact that his mother was killed in an accident some years prior. [[spoiler: Said "accident" is later revealed to have been caused by another Persona-user, thus prompting Ken to join SEES to seek his revenge]].

** Griffin's little sister (about ten) reads social media posts about the WildTeenParty's and knows someone nearly choked on a beer bong about one. She also charges baby-sitting money to make sure her brother doesn't do anything when there parents are left alone.
** The younger brother of Christine Purdy (about the same age as Foster's sister) can tell that Foster is trying to seduce his sister (a virgin and a Christian) and tells him man to man that it won't work, as she doesn't even kiss.

* The 10 year old Leia Orana in ''Series/ObiWanKenobi'' shows signs of being this.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', all of the students with the exception of [[CheerfulChild Butters]] have shown to be consistently more intelligent than the adults especially in the later episodes and understand many complex things. The basis of the main plot of the episode "Cartman Joins NAMBLA" is Cartman feeling too mature for his friends ([[IgnorantOfTheirOwnIgnorance He isn't.]]) and attempting to make friends with adults. It worked far too well.

* In Steven Spielberg's 2005 ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', Rachel Ferrier has shades of this. When she's not in immediate danger, she alternates between being the voice of reason and LittleMissSnarker. At one point, she inadvertently foreshadows how [[spoiler:the Earth will eventually force out its invaders]] by refusing to let Ray remove a small splinter from her hand that her body can deal with it on its own. She's also observant, recognizing the presence of danger before most of those around her, and seems to have a firmer grasp on the situation than Ray gives her credit for (after [[spoiler:Ray is forced to kill Ogilvy to protect her, she clearly understands what happened and seeks to comfort him, despite his best efforts to shield her from it]]). [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome When she's threatened with a serious crisis, though, she still behaves just like any frightened child]].