Repurposing: Difference between revisions

From MediaWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Starfield (talk | contribs)
Examples of official repurposing: IDW Goldbug doesn't look anything like the toy. Also, I think consensus was that IDW Gold bug *is* the character on the box.
Starfield (talk | contribs)
Moved unofficial stuff to "notes". Removed Category:Fandom since this is an official thing.
Line 2: Line 2:


'''Repurposing''' is the practice of using an existing toy to represent a different character than originally intended.  A very early example is the [[Walmart|Wal-Mart]] [[exclusive]] "blue" [[Rattrap#Transmetal1|Transmetals Rattrap]], which represented a [[Transmetal]] form for [[Packrat]] in the ''[[Universe (2003 comic)|Wreckers]]'' comic book series.  In many cases, this means a single toy can represent more than one distinct character.   
'''Repurposing''' is the practice of using an existing toy to represent a different character than originally intended.  A very early example is the [[Walmart|Wal-Mart]] [[exclusive]] "blue" [[Rattrap#Transmetal1|Transmetals Rattrap]], which represented a [[Transmetal]] form for [[Packrat]] in the ''[[Universe (2003 comic)|Wreckers]]'' comic book series.  In many cases, this means a single toy can represent more than one distinct character.   
Individual fans may do this on an unofficial level within their [[personal canon]], especially with toys that [[homage]] earlier toys without being the same character.  Popular examples include using ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] as [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Movie (toyline)|Movie]] [[Big Daddy (Movie)|Big Daddy]] as Generation 1 [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]]. 


Official repurposing happens when a character in a fiction uses the character model and color scheme of someone else's toy. The repurposed character has no official toy release of his own, but the toy can take on double-duty representing both the character he was originally released as (the character on the box) and the repurposed character established later on in fiction.
Repurposing happens when a character in a fiction uses the character model and color scheme of someone else's toy. The repurposed character has no official toy release of his own, but the toy can take on double-duty representing both the character he was originally released as (the character on the box) and the repurposed character established later on in fiction.


==Examples of official repurposing==
==Examples of official repurposing==
Line 66: Line 65:


For a full list, see the main toyline page.
For a full list, see the main toyline page.
==Notes==
*Individual fans may repurpose on an unofficial level within their [[personal canon]], especially with toys that [[homage]] earlier toys without being the same character.  Popular examples include using ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] as [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Movie (toyline)|Movie]] [[Big Daddy (Movie)|Big Daddy]] as Generation 1 [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]]. 


==See also==
==See also==
Line 73: Line 75:
<references />
<references />


 
[[Category:Reassigned toys| ]]
[[Category:Reassigned toys]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Revision as of 01:50, 28 May 2010

Pay no attention to the "Rattrap" tattoo on his ass!

Repurposing is the practice of using an existing toy to represent a different character than originally intended. A very early example is the Wal-Mart exclusive "blue" Transmetals Rattrap, which represented a Transmetal form for Packrat in the Wreckers comic book series. In many cases, this means a single toy can represent more than one distinct character.

Repurposing happens when a character in a fiction uses the character model and color scheme of someone else's toy. The repurposed character has no official toy release of his own, but the toy can take on double-duty representing both the character he was originally released as (the character on the box) and the repurposed character established later on in fiction.

Examples of official repurposing

  • McDonald's Panther as Ravage; also as General Jaguar, father of Metals Jaguar (in the Comics Bon Bon Manga). Yes, this means he's both Ravage and Ravage's father. Don't ask.
  • Wal-mart exclusive Transmetal Rattrap as Packrat.
  • Beast Machines Deployer Rav (blue redeco) as Chro.

e-Hobby

Similar to Megaplex's situation detailed above, e-Hobby has released several Diaclone and Microchange-only color variants never before used in the Transformers line as new Transformers characters.

Shattered Glass

The Shattered Glass timeline of events has allowed for Autobots and Decepticons with typically uncharacteristic color-schemes and questionable places in their canon of origin to be placed as various characters in this one. Such notable examples include:

For a full list, see the main toyline page.

Notes

See also

References