Line #22 Main/SirCameosALot


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4	[[quoteright:340:[[VideoGame/RoboticOperatingBuddy https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rob_collage.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:340:Meet R.O.B -- Robotic Omnipresent Buddy.[[note]]L-R, top to bottom: ''VideoGame/FZeroGX'', ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS'', ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3'', ''VideoGame/StarTropics'', ''VideoGame/Pikmin2'', ''VideoGame/WarioWareSmoothMoves'' (minigame based on ''VideoGame/StarFox1'').[[/note]]]]
6	%%
7	->''"Hello, I'm Troy [=McClure=]! You might remember me from such celebrity funerals as "Andre The Giant, We Hardly Knew Ye" and "Shemp Howard: Today We Mourn A Stooge."''
8	-->-- '''Troy [=McClure=]''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
9
10	Plenty of characters appear in {{crossover}}s and [[CrossoverCameo cameos]]. Sometimes, however, a character will have more cameo appearances than otherwise. This is where this trope comes into play. A non-PublicDomainCharacter appears more in crossovers than they do in their own series (assuming they even have a series to begin with).
11
12	This trope can easily invoke MarthDebutedInSmashBros, AdaptationDisplacement and IconicCharacterForgottenTitle. A character might only have one or two titles to their resume, so most people first learn of them from their cameos. {{Mascot}}s have a good chance of becoming this, especially if they hail from long dead franchises or are not interesting enough to carry a series on their own.
13
14	Compare to WolverinePublicity, for cameos driven by character popularity, PublicDomainCharacter, for those who can cameo freely due to not being owned by anyone, and ContinuityCameo, if this guy's purpose is to establish continuity between different works. Also compare AdamWesting. If someone used to be a major character before being reduced to lots of cameos and hardly anything else, they've been DemotedToExtra.
15
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
22	* The {{Space Pirate\|s}} Emeraldas has been this character in the Anime/{{Leijiverse}} for decades, appearing repeatedly but only briefly in various ''Manga/CaptainHarlock'' and ''Manga/GalaxyExpress999'' media. It wasn't until the late 1990s that she got [[Manga/QueenEmeraldas her own series]], and the 2000s that she gained roughly the same spotlight time privileges as the other mainstays of TheVerse.
23	* Plue, one of the first {{Series Mascot}}s created by Creator/HiroMashima, has made minor appearances in ''Manga/FairyTail'' and ''Manga/EdensZero'' since his starring role in ''Manga/RaveMaster''. Interestingly enough, ''Rave'' isn't Plue's debut appearance; that distinction goes to one of Mashima's first one-shots, ''Magician'', where Plue also had a central role.
24	[[/folder]]
25
26	[[folder:Comic Books]]
27	* ''ComicBook/SevenSoldiersOfVictory'': The original Shining Knight made a number of cameo appearances, including Creator/GrantMorrison's ''ComicBook/SevenSoldiersOfVictory2005'' maxiseries, but never had a series of his own.
28	* ''ComicBook/WednesdayComics'': Aquaman shows up in one scene of both the ''Hawkman'' and ''{{ComicBook/Supergirl\|Wednesday Comics}}'' stories to assist the titular heroes, and is mentioned by Batman in the ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' story, but he does not get his own story in this collection.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
32	* The Tick-Tock Crocodile of the Disney version of ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'' keeps showing up in miscellaneous Disney properties: the short ''WesternAnimation/GoliathII'', the ''WesternAnimation/JungleCubs'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Marsupilami}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' TV series; all while he ironically was left out of the actual ''sequel'' to the movie, ''WesternAnimation/ReturnToNeverLand'' (aside for a cloud formation at the opening).
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
36	* Creator/StanLee had a contractually-obligated CreatorCameo in every Marvel production for years up until his death, [[TheCameo/StanLee and even a few non-Marvel works]].
37	* Creator/AlfredHitchcock had a cameo in every movie he directed, but in a non-obvious way so people would try to find him. To the point that after a while he decided to always have his cameo during the first minutes of the movie so people would not waste time searching for him.
38	* Creator/MNightShyamalan cameos in nearly every film he has been involved in.
39	* Creator/PeterJackson inserted himself playing a hapless, briefly-seen character in all his Middle Earth films, namely: as [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing a man eating a carrot]] at the village of Bree; as [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers a Rohan soldier]] throwing a spear towards the Uruk-hai who were assaulting the Fortress at Helm's Deep; as [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing one of the Corsairs of Umbar]] briefly seen walking on deck (in the extended edition, the character gets accidentally shot by Legolas as a "warning" shot); as [[Film/TheHobbitAnUnexpectedJourney a Dwarf running from Erebor]] after the dragon Smaug invaded the mountain; as [[Film/TheHobbitTheDesolationOfSmaug the carrot-eating man again]] walking from a pub looking drunk in Bree; and as [[Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies the father of Bilbo Baggins]] on Bilbo's picture in Bag End.
40	[[/folder]]
41
42	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
43	* Sarah Lysander, British fashion model and close friend of Dua Lipa has appeared in Channel 4 series ''Location, Location, Location'' {{As H\|imself}}erself in two episodes during 2017. She's also made two uncredited cameos in 2016 in BBC consumer series ''Watchdog''.
44	* Although not an actor ''per se'' (making this a case of NonActorVehicle), model Yelena Noura Hadid (known by her StageName Gigi Hadid) has appeared in a few BBC productions: ''Series/SilentWitness'' (uncredited, 10 episodes). However, no actual pictures of her cameos ever have been found online, although this is on IMDB.
45	* Detective John Munch of ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' and later ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' has had cameos in ''Series/LawAndOrder'' (while ''Homicide'' was airing, before his move to the ''SVU'' series), ''Series/TheXFiles'', ''The Beat'', ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'', ''Series/LoisAndClark'', ''Series/TheWire'', ''Series/ThirtyRock'', ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt'' and even ''Series/SesameStreet''.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Music]]
49	* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Leisz Greg Leisz]] got his start touring with John Stewart (formerly of the Kingston Trio) and was a member of the Funky Kings, who only put out one album before breaking up. Since then, he's bounced from band to band, sometimes touring with them and sometimes just recording in the studio. He's credited as a guest musician on hundreds of albums by dozens of different artists.
50	* [[https://www.discogs.com/artist/260412-John-Mark-Painter John Mark Painter]] has just four albums to his name (two as the duo Fleming & John, and an album and EP as a member of [[Music/SteveTaylor Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil]]), but has played as a studio musician on over a hundred other albums.
51	* Music/BillyRayCyrus is more known for being Music/MileyCyrus's dad and his collaboration with Lil Nas than his own music career. To be fair he was a one hit wonder, his big claim to fame before Miley Cyrus's career took off was being "The achy breaky heart guy"
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Video Games]]
55	* Creator/{{Nintendo}}:
56	** ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'': Rick, Kine and Coo only appeared as characters in 3 games so far: ''Dream Land 2'', ''[=DL3=]'' and ''Star Allies''. But in between them, they also have made many cameos, such as part of Kirby's Stone forms, background cameos, or as collectable icons
57	** The VideoGame/RoboticOperatingBuddy was released with only two compatible games (''Gyromite'' and ''Stack-Up'') and was swiftly forgotten as the Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem took off in popularity. Nowadays, R.O.B. is best known for his cameos in multiple Nintendo games, including his playable appearances in ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros.''
58	** Takamaru from ''VideoGame/TheMysteriousMurasameCastle'' only appeared in one game of his own in 1986, which was exclusive to Japan and only localized in 2014. In ''VideoGame/Pikmin2'', the floppy disk of his game appears as one of the treasures, and it kickstarted his career of cameos, like an important role in ''VideoGame/CaptainRainbow'', his own game mode in ''[[VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors Samurai Warriors III]]'', a mini-game in ''VideoGame/NintendoLand'', and small appearances in ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2''. But most appearances are in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series, where his game got content like a Sticker, a Trophy, a Spirit, two music tracks, and he appeared two times as an Assist Trophy; there is a modest, but growing fanbase asking for him to become a playable character in ''Smash''.
59	** Lip, the heroine of ''VideoGame/PanelDePon'', has similarly appeared in just one game of her own that was given the DolledUpInstallment treatment with characters from ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' and released internationally as ''Tetris Attack'', the original game not being brought over until 2020--''25 years'' after its initial release date. Despite that, she has a surprisingly broad range of cameos: Lip not only appears alongside Takamaru in ''Captain Rainbow'', but features as an unlockable costume in ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewLeaf'' as a reward for the ''Animal Crossing Puzzle League'' minigame. Again like Takamaru, it's in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' where she gets the most representation by far, receiving an item, a music track, a Mii costume, and a spirit to her name (the latter marking the character's first-ever genuine appearance outside of Japan). Like Takamaru, she's picked up a burgeoning group of fans hoping to see her get PromotedToPlayable in the ''Smash'' series.
60	** Due to the first ''VideoGame/Splatoon1'''s runaway success, the series quickly received a number of crossovers with other Nintendo franchises. By the time ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' released, Inklings have been playable in ''[[VideoGame/MarioKart8 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', got Toys/{{amiibo}} costumes in ''VideoGame/YoshisWoollyWorld'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'', DLC costumes in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'', and a lot of miscellaneous content in the ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' series (from ''Splatoon''-themed furniture and clothing items, villagers based on the Squid Sisters, to a full-on ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' Fishing Tourney in ''[[VideoGame/AnimalCrossingPocketCamp Pocket Camp]]'' to celebrate that game's release). That's to say nothing of it becoming a frequent target of [[LawyerFriendlyCameo Lawyer-Friendly Cameos]] in anime, manga, and even Western animation.
61	* Creator/{{Sega}}:
62	** ''VideoGame/AlexKidd'': Alex hasn't had a new title for himself since the Mega Drive days. This doesn't stop him from appearing in several titles such as ''VideoGame/{{Segagaga}}'', ''VideoGame/SegaSuperstars Tennis'', and ''Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing''.
63	** ''VideoGame/SambaDeAmigo'': Despite there being only one ''Samba De Amigo'', a MissionPackSequel, and a remake, the characters appear or are referenced in many Sega titles.
64	** There are only two ''VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams'' games (not including remakes and ports). It doesn't stop the game from being referenced in numerous other SEGA games, such as several ''VideoGame/SegaSuperstars'' games, ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.
65	** ''VideoGame/FantasyZone'' protagonist Opa Opa has made many ''many'' cameos in SEGA games. His first cameo was appearance in ''Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars'', which came out the same year ''Fantasy Zone'' released. One of the craziest Opa Opa cameos is a hidden Fantasy Zone mini game in, of all games, ''Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf'' for the SEGA Genesis.
66	* Creator/{{SNK}}:
67	** Ryo Sakazaki from ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' series is known as this for SNK, having more appearances in other titles than his own series (not counting ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' of course): as a SecretCharacter in some ''Videogame/FatalFury'' games: in ''[=FF2/Special=]'' and in ''Wild Ambition'' (here as [[LegacyCharacter Mr. Karate II]]), as the only known character in the OriginalGeneration roster in ''VideoGame/BurikiOne'' also as Mr. Karate II (and retuned in ''Videogame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum''), and even just mentioned as part of Marco's background story from ''Garou: Mark of the Wolves'' (Marco is one of Ryo's students, also appearing in some artworks).
68	** Ryuhaku Todoh was Ryo's very first opponent in ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', and only returned as a playable character once for ''VideoGame/CapcomVsSNK2MarkOfTheMillennium.'' However, SNK has fully embraced this trope for him, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9BW4Escgww giving him background cameos in almost every fighting game they've made.]] ''Art of Fighting 3'', ''Fatal Fury Special'', ''Real Bout 2'', almost ''all'' of ''The King of Fighters'', half the ''Samurai Shodown'' series, the ''VS Capcom'' games, even ''SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy''... Seriously, it'd be easier to list the SNK fighters that he ''doesn't'' appear in.
69	** G-Mantle was a former mascot of SNK before Terry Bogard that only appeared in SNK's old ads and in-game in ''Blue's Journey''. Cameos are seen in multiple games like ''Art of Fighting'', ''Fatal Fury'', ''The King of Fighters'' (as an AssistCharacter in ''KOF 2000'') and even having his own card in the ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomCardFightersClash'' series.
70	* Creator/{{Konami}}:
71	** Sparkster from ''VideoGame/RocketKnightAdventures'' has had a total of four games; ''Rocket Knight Adventures'' ([[Platform/SegaGenesis Genesis]]), ''Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2'' (Genesis), ''Sparkster'' ([[Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]), and ''Rocket Knight'' (Platform/Xbox360, [[Platform/Playstation3 PS3]], PC), but he has made cameos in numerous Creator/{{Konami}} games, including the Sega CD version of ''VisualNovel/{{Snatcher}}'', ''VideoGame/GanbareGoemon 2'' (Super Famicom), ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'' ([[Platform/PlayStation PS1]]), ''VideoGame/ContraShatteredSoldier'' ([[Platform/Playstation2 PS2]]), ''[[VideoGame/KonamiKrazyRacers Krazy Kart Racing]]'' (IOS and Android), and ''New International VideoGame/TrackAndField'' (Platform/NintendoDS), where he appears as an unlockable character.
72	** Getsu Fuma, protagonist of ''VideoGame/GetsuFumaDen''. After his then-single game, he has seen playable appearances, cameos and references across several titles for the company, such as the ''VideoGame/WaiWaiWorld'', ''VideoGame/{{Otomedius}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Castlevania}}'' and ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' franchises. Even after getting a sequel over ''3 decades'' later, ''Getsu Fuma Den: Undying Moon'', he ended up having far more cameos in other series than games in his own.
73	** Pyramid Head of ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' has become the ''de facto'' mascot of the franchise, being referenced in later installments as either himself or the "Bogeyman" as well as a major figure in both film adaptations; playable roles in ''Krazy Kart Racing'', ''New International VideoGame/TrackAndField'', ''VideoGame/SuperBomberman R'', and ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight''; and he even had an avatar costume available in ''VideoGame/PlayStationHome''. Impressive for a demon who is only supposed to represent the repressed anger/desires of the protagonist of ''2''.
74	* Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment:
75	** Don-chan, the main character of Namco's ''VideoGame/TaikoNoTatsujin'' series, is very popular in his home country but very obscure everywhere else. This didn't stop him from appearing in dozens of Namco games, as well as non-Namco games like ''VideoGame/MarioKart'', ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'', ''VideoGame/YokaiWatch'', and even ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''.
76	** VideoGame/{{Klonoa}} only had two mainline games released on Sony platforms and some spinoffs, but he became something of an unofficial mascot for Namco when VideoGame/PacMan wouldn't be appropriate to use. He and Guntz joined the cast of ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'', he appears in ''several'' sports titles, and he's a surprisingly common sight in the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries''.
77	** KOS-MOS from ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'' is a lot more well-known from her appearances in other games like ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier'', ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'', and ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'' than her home game. Her EvilCounterpart, T-elos, comes just as close.
78	* ''VideoGame/TheLostVikings'' haven't had a game since 1997, but are the most referenced characters across Blizzard's library. Every one of their games from 2004 onward has featured them or a reference to them in some capacity, including some Creator/{{Interplay}} games like ''VideoGame/ClayFighter'' series, as well as becoming playable in Blizzard's crossover MOBA ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm''.
79	* There are only 3 ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'' games so far (excluding rereleases), but Morrigan Aensland appears a lot in crossovers involving Capcom, such as the ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' games, ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'', ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' and a few others. Demitri Maximoff is not far behind, but surprisingly, he’s beaten by Felicia, Hsien-Ko, B.B. Hood, Jedah and even [[CreatorsFavorite Anakaris]], despite being the actual main character.
80	** Other Darkstalkers who have yet to make a playable appearance in crossovers get this treatment in the background as well, such as [[EnsembleDarkHorse Lord Raptor and Jon Talbain]].
81	* ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'''s eponymous knight made numerous cameo appearances in other works before ''Plague of Shadows'', the first bonus campaign, was even released. Here's the [[https://www.yachtclubgames.com/blog/official-shovel-knight-cameo-list official list of all the appearances he's made]].
82	* Before Shovel Knight became an indie game poster boy of sorts, VideoGame/MeatBoy was the closest thing to one and has made a number of cameos for some early indie titles like ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}'', ''VideoGame/BitTrip'', and ''VideoGame/DesktopDungeons''.
83	* And as far as the fairer sex goes, Miriam of ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'' has taken to several outside appearances, namely ''VideoGame/KingdomTwoCrowns''[='s=] "Dead Lands Monarches" update, ''VideoGame/{{Blasphemous}}''[='s=] "Strife & Ruin" update, and as a costume in ''VideoGame/WallachiaReignOfDracula''.
84	* Creator/IdSoftware has the Dopefish, a creature who has appeared in a grand total of one game: ''VideoGame/CommanderKeen Episode IV: Goodbye Galaxy''. However the creature has made cameo appearances in [[http://www.dopefish.com/fishinfo.html a lot of games,]] both created by Id (or Id properties) and not.
85	* Ekoro of the ''VideoGame/GalGun'' series was only a starring character in ''Double Peace'', and even then she wasn't playable. She's remembered more often for her GuestFighter appearances in the ''VideoGame/MightyGunvolt'' series and ''VideoGame/BlasterMasterZero'', where she's considered on par with Creator/IntiCreates' greats.
86	* Asagi, who ''first'' appeared in ''VideoGame/MakaiKingdom'', as a main character for a future title, only to end up attempting to [[SpotlightStealingSquad become the main character]] for every single successive game all the way up to ''VideoGame/Disgaea4''. whereupon Creator/NipponIchi finally threw her a bone and ''actually released Makai Wars, her actual debut game'', '''''14 years late'''''[[note]]As a Japan-only mobile title[[/note]]. Even after that, she continues to appear, now officially as a main character in her own game.
87	* "The Baz" (formerly known as Zubaz) sort of originated in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII''... as a character design [[WhatCouldHaveBeen who didn't make it past the preliminary sketches]]. Years later, the ''WebVideo/TwoBestFriendsPlay'' spinoff series ''Fighterpedia'' featured the Baz in an episode all about rejected ''Street Fighter'' characters, and the Best Friends Zaibatsu were so taken with The Baz that they adopted him as a mascot of sorts. Then they used their influence (and/or financial support) to get The Baz into as many indie games as they could, getting him guest roles in games like ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'', ''VideoGame/{{Divekick}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Indivisible}}'' and ''VideoGame/PetalCrash'', as well as cameos in dozens of other titles. Through sheer luck, the Baz even got a major role in ''WebAnimation/VideoGameChampionshipWrestling''.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Web Animation]]
91	* In ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'', the rapper Peacey P is an InUniverse example, who outright calls himself "the best guest rapper in the music biz" and is better known for his guest appearances than for his original songs. When he actually does put out his own album, he features himself as a guest rapper on it.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Web Original]]
95	* MediaNotes/JennyEverywhere is a PublicDomainCharacter who doesn't even have an original "canon". So her cameos and crossover appearances definitely outnumber the stories where she's a star.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Western Animation]]
99	* WesternAnimation/{{Droopy}} has become one, as most of his appearances after UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation have been cameos in other works, such as many modern ''Franchise/TomAndJerry'' productions, ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'', etc.
100	* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes''
101	** Late ''Looney Tunes'' character Cool Cat only starred in six shorts from 1967 to 1969, but he made countless cameos since ''WesternAnimation/TheSylvesterAndTweetyMysteries''.
102	** The Minah Bird from the Inki series (which only had five shorts) became this during the 1990s, as it continued to appear in many ''Looney Tunes''-related productions of the time (with examples such as various episodes of ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}''), to the point of becoming a BreakoutCharacter of his series.
103	* An in-universe example from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', washed-up actor Troy [=McClure=] plays and/or cameos in practically everything, to the point where it's his catchphrase.
104	* While Creator/CartoonNetwork is no stranger to cameos and crossovers, [[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory Dexter]], the star of CN's first original show, makes the most cameos out of everyone. Dexter's cameos are already a RunningGag in ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', but he also makes appearances or is referenced in several other shows such as ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'', ''WesternAnimation/TimeSquad'', ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', ''WesternAnimation/UncleGrandpa'' and ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'' among others.
105	[[/folder]]

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