Repurposing
Repurposing is the practice of using an existing toy to represent a different character even 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 it was originally released as (the character on the box) and the repurposed character established later on in fiction.
Examples of official repurposing
- The Microchange "MC-04 Mini CAR Robo 02 Familia 1500XG" mold that was sold on Cliffjumper cards was repurposed as Dreamwave Bumper.
- Generation 1 Fasttrack as a Guardminder.
- 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 Wars Shadow Panther as a pre-Transmetal Tripredacus Agent.
- Beast Machines Mega class Tankor as Vehicon drones for Quake.
- Cybertron Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus, redecos of Robots in Disguise toys, as Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus.
- Music Label Soundwave[1] as the leftover bit of an otherwise scrapped Animated Soundwave. Sound and Fury
- Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Bludgeon as Wreckage after changing his colors.
- Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Lockdown as Generation 1 Lockdown in the IDW comics.
- Movie Protoform Optimus Prime as Prima.
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. 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 Downshift as Generation 1 Wheeljack and Movie Big Daddy as Generation 1 Big Daddy.
