History Main / MentorMascot

Part TalkingAnimal and part [[TheMentor enlightened teacher]], the mentor mascot plays the dual role of teaching the protagonist about their destiny and powers, while at the same time adding that little bit of comic relief and cuteness (if the show in question is already cutesy, it might start to [[TastesLikeDiabetes become sickeningly sweet]]). Even so, the Mentor Mascot takes its job [[SeriousBusiness seriously]], and tends to accompany TheHero everywhere just in case the {{Mooks}} or the QuirkyMinibossSquad show up.

Generally an anime/manga trope (especially common in MagicalGirl anime) but still present in other media. In MagicalGirl shows, this critter is usually the one who initially gives the girl her powers, and is known as a companion or a {{familiar}}.

!!Examples:

* Every ''Franchise/PrettyCure'' series has at least one:
** ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure'': Mipple and Mepple
** ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'': Flappy and Choppy
** ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'': Coco and Nuts (more Coco)
** ''Anime/FreshPrettyCure'': Tarte
** ''Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure'': Chypre and Coffret
** ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'': Hummy
** ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'': Candy and Pop
** ''Anime/DokiDokiPrecure'': Sharuru, Raquel, Lance and Davie
** ''Anime/HappinessChargePrettyCure'': Ribbon and Glasan
** ''Anime/GoPrincessPrettyCure'': Puff and Aroma
** ''Anime/KiraKiraPrecureALaMode'': Pekorin

* In ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' they're called Kwamis, little fairy things that resemble [[AnimalMotifs various animals]]. Each [[TransformationTrinket Miraculous]] has a Kwami that flies inside of it when its bearer [[HenshinHero transforms]]; otherwise they offer advice. The main ones are Tikki (Ladybug) and Plagg (Cat Noir), though it's eventually revealed that there are more: Nooroo (butterfly), Trixx (fox), Wayzz (turtle) and presumably a fourth for the Peacock Miraculous.

* Arks and Karks, a duck and a cat from ''{{Moetan}}'' fill this role, when not otherwise [[DirtyOldMan distracted]]

* The Suicide Plushies in LightNovel/{{Kampfer}}.

* Disney/{{Mulan}} has Mushu as her guide.

* ''Film/StarWars'': Yoda, anyone? Not in the prequels, but in the original trilogy where he was this manic muppet hiding in a swamp and mostly just provided a training montage. Oh, yes.

%% * Nibbler from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''.
* Tikki and Plagg from ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' are tiny fairies that, in addition to giving [[TheHero Marinette]] and [[TheLancer Adrien]] their powers, offer advice and encouragement for both their superhero and civilian lives. This is later revealed to be true of the kwamis in general, with [[spoiler:[[OldMaster Master Fu]] and [[BigBad Hawk Moth]]]] being revealed to also possess Miraculouses.
[[/folder]]

* [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter Kyubey]] from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' appears to be this at first because he delivers the call and gives magical girls advice. However he has a habit of [[YouDidntAsk withholding crucial information]] from his charges, along with [[ExactWords wording things in misleading ways]] and his motives for creating and mentoring [[MagicalGirl Magical Girls]] are amoral. [[spoiler: He uses them as disposable energy generators to prevent entropy. Homura implies he's a straighter example in the AlternateUniverse created in the GrandFinale]].

* [[Franchise/SailorMoon Helios]] serves as this to Mamoru in the ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/collections/CardinalKing Cardinal King]]'' series.

Part TalkingAnimal and part [[TheMentor enlightened teacher]], the mentor mascot plays the dual role of teaching the protagonist about their destiny and powers, while at the same time adding that little bit of comic relief and cuteness (if the show in question is already cutesy, it might start to [[TastesLikeDiabetes become sickeningly sweet]]). Even so, the MentorMascot takes its job [[SeriousBusiness seriously]], and tends to accompany TheHero everywhere just in case the {{Mooks}} or the QuirkyMinibossSquad show up.

In a show (or other medium) where the {{Masquerade}} is of significant importance, the MentorMascot will simultaneously be the strictest enforcer and the greatest threat to said facade, since talking animals are usually ''not'' normal. This can usually be solved with [[NobodyHereButUsStatues pretending to be a stuffed animal]], after all, GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals, but will still be used for comedic effect at times, especially if the mascot is mentoring a grown man.

* Teddie starts as this in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' since he's the only character who understands anything about the TV world, unlike how in P3 you had experienced senpai who had been fighting in the Dark Hour for years. However, he eventually becomes a {{subversion}} as he [[spoiler:begins to question just what exactly he is]] and knows nothing about who the killer is.
** Morgana in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' fills a role similar to Teddie, as he understands the Palace better then anyone else in the group and is the one who leads them into becoming thieves of hearts. He also does this on a more personal level for the main character, offering him advice in his everyday life whilst accompanying him everywhere in his tote bag.

* Yurusen in ''Series/KamenRiderGhost''.

In a show (or other medium) where the {{Masquerade}} is of significant importance (and when is it not?), the MentorMascot will simultaneously be the strictest enforcer and the greatest threat to said facade, since talking animals are usually ''not'' normal. However, due to cleverness and selective possession of the IdiotBall, this is generally just for comic effect rather than an actual problem.

* Perhaps the queen (and king) of this trope is ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', in the guises of Luna and Artemis, also their daughter Diana. In the Manga is revealed that Rei's crow pets Phobos and Deimos play a similar role.

* ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful'', being a MagicalGirl game set in the TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness setting, naturally has the rules for this kind of set up, drawing on the people within the dream world. Interestingly enough, they don't come to guide the awakened Nobles but instead will come at ''their'' call if suitable preparations are set up. Also, they tend to have minor vices like massive a massive SweetTooth in regards to their state as spirits now with a physical form.

* Kerberos from ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' (pictured above), a.k.a. the glutton-stuffed animal who is also Sakura's most faithful guide in capturing the cards.

* Yoruichi from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', in the early-but-not-the-beginning episodes wherein she was impersonating a tomcat for incognito purposes. She was grouchy and uncommunicative and seemed to be something of a riff on Luna from ''Franchise/SailorMoon''.

* Koyemushi from ''Manga/Bokurano'' wants you to think he's one of these. [[DeconstructedTrope He is not.]]

TheHero is, in the beginning, just a normal boy/girl (or at least relatively normal, anyway). However, this character has a [[BecauseDestinySaysSo powerful destiny]], completely unaware of the role they will play in the grand scheme of things. Someone has to break the news, and turn this {{Muggle}} [[TookALevelInBadass into the hero he/she is meant to be]]. And that someone is... [[Franchise/SailorMoon a talking cat]]?

** Morgana in the upcoming ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' fills this role as she introduces the party to The Palace and also tells the player the purpose of certain activities to do in the city.

[[quoteright:285:[[Manga/CardcaptorSakura http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kerochan_8613.gif]]]]
[[caption-width-right:285:Yep, this is your all knowing guide.]]

* Every ''Anime/PrettyCure'' series has at least one:

* Yuuno from ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' is a mage boy posing as a telepathic ferret in order to keep things normal. She quickly outpowers him.

* A less obvious example, but at the end of the manga Mokona from ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' [[spoiler: [[GodWasMyCopilot turns out to have been God all along]].]]

* Chamo from ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' is less of TheObiWan and more of a DirtyOldMan in ermine form. He does a bit of mentoring about a particular aspect of the local magic system (a special form of partnership), but mostly so he can collect a hefty paycheck from somewhere or other every time Negi gets a partner.

[[AC:AnimatedFilms]]
* Jiji from ''Anime/KikisDeliveryService''
* Disney/{{Mulan}} has Mushu as her guide.

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC:FanFiction]]
* [[Literature/TheHobbit Smaug]] plays this role to Bilbo (albeit for selfish reasons) in ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1470613/chapters/3099160 I'll make a dwarf out of you!]]'' - appropriate, since it ''is'' a fanmake of ''Disney/{{Mulan}}''.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:Live-Action Films]]
* ''Film/StarWars'': Yoda, anyone? Not in the prequels, but in the original trilogy where he was this manic muppet hiding in a swamp and mostly just provided a training montage. Oh, yes.
* Arguably, Fin Raizel from ''Film/{{Willow}}''. She's a powerful sorceress who spends much of the movie in the form of a possum (not to mention a raven and a goat).

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:TabletopGames]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* Jubei to Ragna in ''VideoGame/{{BlazBlue}}''.
* [[PeterDinklage Ghost]] is this to the player in ''VideoGame/{{Destiny}}''. Granted he's a robot instead of a lil' animal (abit a magical robot), but he's still a textbook example of a mentor/exposition giver that follows the player and guides then through their quests (which usually involve him being a glorified door key.)
* The Owl Sage in MyWorldMyWay . Doesn't follow Elise constantly, but keeps showing up to give her advice.
* The cat in the fangame Memories of Mana
* The owl in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening''.

[[AC:WebComics]]
* [[Webcomic/{{Megatokyo}} Boo]] is something of a subversion in that he really does try his best to help Largo, but unlike most of the other examples on this list he has something of a language barrier to overcome. In effect, Boo ends up just squeaking while Largo goes off and causes havoc.
** Actually it seems that Erika can understand Boo just fine, implying that his ineffectiveness is less due to a language barrier and more to do with Largo being a hyperactive CloudCuckooLander who doesn't listen to anyone's advice if he doesn't need to.
* Miya from ''Webcomic/AngelMoxie'' is a sendup of Luna from ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', but is a good deal snarkier.
** Then there's the whole really-a-CatGirl and [[spoiler: exchanging her life for Alex's]] thing

* Carl from ''SoulSymphony'' is this. He's a mystical spirit who looks like "a cross between a rat and a kangaroo", and while he is very wise in the workings of magic, he's [[SnarkyNonHumanSidekick not the most helpful mentor.]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

* Kunapipi, of ''[[{{Literature/MGP}} Magical Girl Policy]]'', is not a Kangaroo Rat, but in fact a Wallaby working for Fate.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]