History Main / AppropriatedTitle

* The original ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries SoulCalibur]]'' was actually a sequel to another Namco game titled ''Soul Edge''. However, a trademark dispute over the use of the word "Edge" led to the console version being retitled ''Soul Blade'' outside Japan. The sequel was titled differently to avoid having [[MarketBasedTitle two different names]] for the same game and the ''[=SoulCalibur=]'' name stuck from that point on.

** The third time cames from ''Dragon Slayer VI'', that had subtitle ''The Legend of Heroes''. The sequel, ''Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II'', StoppedNumberingSequels, and the ''VideoGame/GagharvTrilogy'' stopped using "Dragon Slayer" altogether. ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' still uses ''The Legend of Heroes'' title, but ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfNayutaBoundlessTrails Nayuta no Kiseki]]'' dropped it, if only for one game and in Japanese version.

* ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' was originally the American title of what was known in Japan as ''Ninja Ryūkenden'' ("The Ninja Dragon Sword Story") and in Europe as ''Shadow Warriors''. When Tecmo revived the series with the 2004 Xbox version by Team Ninja, they used the ''Ninja Gaiden'' title over the two in every region in order to have the franchise under one worldwide name.
* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' is known as ''Akumajō Dracula'' (''Demon Castle Dracula'') in Japan. During his tenure as producer, Koji Igarashi tried to rebrand Japanese version of the series under the ''Castlevania'' banner in order to have one name for the franchise in every region. As a result, ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDissonance Concerto of the Midnight Sun]]'', ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow Minuet of Dawn]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence Lament of Innocence]]'' (simply titled ''Castlevania'' in Japan) were all released under the ''Castlevania'' brand instead of the usual ''Akumajō Dracula''. This rebranding didn't last long due to [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks negative feedback]] from longtime Japanese fans and the series went back to the ''Akumajō Dracula'' name with the Nintendo DS entries.
* The original ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' was titled ''Hyrule Fantasy: Zelda no Densetsu'' in Japan. Presumably Nintendo intended for "Hyrule Fantasy" to be the title of the franchise rather than "Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda", but that was dropped in the sequels.

* {{Inverted|Trope}}}} with the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle''. The series always had that title (well, except for [[TrilogyCreep originally being a "Trilogy"]]) but used ''Inheritance'' as the title of its final book.

* The English-translation titles for ''Literature/TheMillenniumTrilogy'' books are all structured like the title of the second book, translated as ''The Girl Who Played With Fire''. The first book, whose Swedish title means ''Men Who Hate Women'', was retitled ''The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo''; the third book, literally translated as ''The Air Castle That Was Blown Up''[[note]]"air castle" is analogous to "pipe dream",[[/note]] was retitled ''The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest''. The whole series is also colloquially known as the "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" books.
* Thomas Harris's series of books featuring Hannibal Lecter began with ''Red Dragon'', but it's known as the ''[[Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs Silence of the Lambs]]'' series due to the [[AdaptationDisplacement popularity of that film]].

* Creator/JudyBlume's ''Literature/{{Fudge}}'' books actually started with ''Literature/TalesOfAFourthGradeNothing''. Of course, since Peter Hatcher constantly focuses on the antics of his brother Fudge, it makes sense.
* {{Inverted}} with the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle:'' the series always had that title (well, except for [[TrilogyCreep originally being a "Trilogy"]]), but used ''Inheritance'' as the title of its final book.

* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series took a while to establish its name. The very first game was called ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' in 1981, a case of AntagonistTitle. This game would be followed up by two direct sequels, ''Donkey Kong Jr.'', and ''Donkey Kong 3''. It would take until 1983's ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' for Mario to feature in the name of one of his games, and another two years for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'' to introduce the title that the series has been known by ever since.

* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'' (a.k.a. ''GTO'') was a spinoff of an earlier work by the same author titled ''Manga/ShonanJunaiGumi'' (''The Pure Love Gang from Shonan Beach'') and later had its own spinoffs titled ''GTO: 14 Days in Shonan'', ''GTO: Paradise Lost'', and ''Shonan Seven''. When ''Shonan Jun'ai Gumi'' was adapted into English, it was retitled ''Manga/GTOTheEarlyYears'' (in French, it was subtitled ''Young GTO'').

* The first release in the ''Franchise/{{The Chronicles of Riddick}}'' canon was called ''Film/PitchBlack''. This goes along with the complete change in tone and focus the series underwent after the first installment (so much so that when the movie the re-released, it was retitled ''The Chronicles of Riddick: Pitch Black'').

* The ''{{VideoGame/Starsiege}}'' series is infamous for this, in combination for [[OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo no two games sharing the same naming scheme.]]. The first game was ''[=MetalTech: EarthSiege=]'', which then became ''[=EarthSiege 2=]''. After that came ''[=Starsiege=]'', then ''[[{{VideoGame/Tribes}} Starsiege: Tribes]]'', ''then'' came ''Tribes 2''. The two most recent games follow the ''[[{{VideoGame/TribesVengeance}} Tribes: [Verb] ]]'' naming scheme. ''[=Starsiege=] Tribes'' itself is often simply called ''Tribes'' or ''Tribes 1''.

* ''VideoGame/MarvelAvengersAlliance'' features about fifty different playable Marvel superheroes and the story mostly focuses on ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}. Many of the heroes were never members of ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' or are not current members but due to the popular [[Film/TheAvengers2012 movie]], the game uses Avengers in the title.

* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series took a while to establish its name. The very first game was called ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' in 1981, a case of AntagonistTitle. This game would be followed up by two direct sequels, ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongJr'', and ''Donkey Kong 3''. It would take until 1983's ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' for Mario to feature in the name of one of his games, and another two years for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'' to introduce the title that the series has been known by ever since.

* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series took a while to establish its name. The very first game was called ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' in 1981, a case of AntagonistTitle. This game would be followed up by two direct sequels, ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongJr'', and ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong3''. It would take until 1983's ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' for Mario to feature in the name of one of his games, and another two years for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'' to introduce the title that the series has been known by ever since.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' originated with ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' in 1981, a clear case of AntagonistTitle. It would take until 1983's ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' for Mario would feature in the name of one of his games, and another two years for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'' to introduce the title that the series has been known by ever since.

* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'' (a.k.a. ''GTO'') was a spinoff of an earlier work by the same author titled ''Manga/ShonanJunaiGumi'' (''The Pure Love Gang from Shonan Beach'') and later had its own spinoffs titled ''GTO: 14 Days in Shonan'' and ''Shonan Seven''. When ''Shonan Jun'ai Gumi'' was adapted into English, it was retitled ''Manga/GTOTheEarlyYears'' (in French, it was subtitled ''Young GTO'').

* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'' (a.k.a. ''GTO'') was a spinoff of an earlier work by the same author titled ''Manga/GTOTheEarlyYears'' (''The Pure Love Gang from Shonan Beach'') and later had its own spinoffs titled ''GTO: 14 Days in Shonan'' and ''Shonan Seven''. When ''Shonan Jun'ai Gumi'' was adapted into English, it was retitled ''GTO: The Early Years'' (in French, it was subtitled ''Young GTO'').

** The third time cames from ''Dragon Slayer VI'', that had subtitle ''The Legend of Heroes''. The sequel, ''Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II'', StoppedNumberingSequels, and the ''VideoGame/GagharvTrilogy'' stopped using "Dragon Slayer" altogether. ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' still uses ''The Legend of Heroes'' title, but ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfNayutaBoundlessTrail''' dropped it, if only for one game.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' was initially titled as such because it was a [=3D=] version of the original ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' games, but also to indicate its placement as the third canonical game in the series, following the [=MSX2=] versions of ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake''.[[note]]The Solid is a reference to three-dimensional geometry.[[/note]] The game was a bigger success than Konami expected and the name stuck on for all the sequels, from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' and all the way up to the latest ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain''. Only a few of the odd spinoffs, namely ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'' and ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance Metal Gear Rising]]'', were released without the ''Solid'' branding.

* The ''VideoGame/SuperMonkeyBall'' series started with a [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] arcade game called ''Monkey Ball''. The title ''Super Monkey Ball'' was introduced with the UpdatedRerelease of ''Monkey Ball'' for the [=GameCube=], and every subsequent game in the series has used the latter title.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' originated with ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' in 1981, a clear case of AntagonistTitle. It would take until 1983's ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' for Mario would feature in the name of one of his games, another two years for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'' to come out, introducing the title that the series has been known by ever since.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' started with the two ''Literature/DigitalDevilStory: VideoGame/MegamiTensei'' games on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom]] but since the release of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' on the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]] most subsequent games in the series have used the latter title. Fans will still sometimes refer to the series as ''Megami Tensei'', or [=MegaTen=] for short.

* The ''VideoGame/SuperMonkeyBall'' series started with a Japan-only Arcade game called ''Monkey Ball''. The title ''Super Monkey Ball'' was introduced with the UpdatedRerelease of ''Monkey Ball'' for the [=GameCube=], and every subsequent game in the series has used the latter title.

* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'' (a.k.a. ''GTO'') was a spinoff of an earlier work by the same author titled ''Manga/ShonanJunaiGumi'' (''The Pure Love Gang from Shonan Beach'') and later had its own spinoffs titled ''GTO: 14 Days in Shonan'' and ''Shonan Seven''. When ''Shonan Jun'ai Gumi'' was adapted into English, it was retitled ''GTO: The Early Years'' (in French, it was subtitled ''Young GTO'').

* The first ''Franchise/{{Rambo}}'' movie was actually called ''Film/FirstBlood''. It wasn't until the sequel, ''Film/RamboFirstBloodPartII'', that the "Rambo" name was used at all, followed by ''Film/RamboIII''. This enabled them to call the fourth film simply ''Film/{{Rambo}}'', since that title was never technically used. In some foreign markets, the original film was called ''Rambo'' from the get-go, so the fourth installment was called ''John Rambo''.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' started with the two ''Literature/DigitalDevilStory: VideoGame/MegamiTensei'' games on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom]] but since the release of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' on the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem}} Super Famicom]] most subsequent games in the series have used the latter title. Fans will still sometimes refer to the series as ''Megami Tensei'', or [=MegaTen=] for short.

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* The [[Film/JasonGoesToHellTheFinalFriday ninth]], [[Film/JasonX tenth]], and [[Film/FreddyVsJason eleventh]] ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' movies went under the ''[[AntagonistTitle Jason]]'' name. However, this was only out of necessity, as New Line did not own the rights to the ''Friday the 13th'' title; once they bought them, the series reverted to its original name.

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* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' started with the two ''Literature/DigitalDevilStory: VideoGame/MegamiTensei'' games on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom]] but since the release of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' on the [[UsefulNotes/{{Super Nintendo Entertainment System}} Super Famicom]] most subsequent games in the series have used the latter title. Fans will still sometimes refer to the series as ''Megami Tensei'', or [=MegaTen=] for short.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' started with the two ''DigitalDevilStory: VideoGame/MegamiTensei'' games on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom]] but since the release of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' on the [[UsefulNotes/{{Super Nintendo Entertainment System}} Super Famicom]] most subsequent games in the series have used the latter title. Fans will still sometimes refer to the series as ''Megami Tensei'', or [=MegaTen=] for short.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' started life as simply the ''Megami Tensei'' series on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom]] but since the release of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' on the [[UsefulNotes/{{Super Nintendo EntertainmentSystem}} Super Famicom]] most games in the series have used the latter title. Fans will still sometimes refer to the series as ''Megami Tensei'', or [=MegaTen=] for short.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'' was originally a OneWordTitle; however, it has always been more well-known as ''Jem and the Holograms'', which is the name of the in-series band that Jem leads. In the early 2010s the series was officially renamed ''Jem and the Holograms''. The [[ComicBook/JemAndTheHolograms comic reboot]], [[Film/JemAndTheHolograms film reboot]], [=DVDs=], and reruns use the title, though all the text in the cartoons still say ''Jem''.

** The third time cames from ''Dragon Slayer VI'', that had subtitle ''The Legend of Heroes''. The sequel, ''Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II'', StoppedNumberingSequels, and the ''VideoGame/GagharvTrilogy'' stopped using "Dragon Slayer" altogether. ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' still uses ''The Legend of Heroes'' title, but ''VideoGame/NayutaNoKiseki'' dropped it, if only for one game.

* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'' (a.k.a. ''GTO'') was a spinoff of an earlier work by the same author titled ''Shonan Jun'ai Gumi'' (''The Pure Love Gang from Shonan Beach'') and later had its own spinoffs titled ''GTO: 14 Days in Shonan'' and ''Shonan Seven''. When ''Shonan Jun'ai Gumi'' was adapted into English, it was retitled ''GTO: The Early Years'' (in French, it was subtitled ''Young GTO'').

* ''Literature/{{Gormenghast}}'' is given a series title taken from its second book (and from the setting of the first two books). However, this was contrary to the designs of the author, who [[AuthorExistenceFailure had intended]] that the series would centre around the doings of the title character of first book, ''Titus Groan'', who leaves Gormenghast Castle to journey the outside world at the end of the second book.