History Main / ConvenientColorChange

* In the {{Tron}} universe, vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or {{deprogram}}med) may change color.{{Justified}} in that a Program's circuitry indicates its alignment and job within the system.

* In ''Film/TronLegacy'', vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or {{deprogram}}med) may change color.

Video games, movies, and other media action can be fast paced and potentially confusing. Telling apart TheCavalry from the EliteMooks they're engaging is complicated by the camera moving and lack of good lighting; this is why factions are DressCodedForYourConvenience and everyone on the SuperTeam is ColorCodedForYourConvenience. If there's energy attacks, so are they. {{Ray Gun}}s will have the color of the faction, and even normal guns [[EveryBulletIsATracer tracer rounds]] will also be the same color.

Which works fine until the hero or a villain picks up the opponent's costume, weapons, or vehicles. Going a step further, what about characters who switch sides like the henchmen pulling a MookFaceTurn? What ends up happening is a [[TitleDrop Convenient Color Change]]. The clothing, weapon, vehicle, character, building or even ''city'' will change their default color to the one they're now aligned with. In the case of an infiltrator, The "how" for this color change is usually glossed over, but if a reason is given it's that the colored areas are kind of like a high tech/magical mood ring.

* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS'', Subaru receives her sister's magical Device from her for the FinalBattle. At first, it remains purple (her sister's signature color) but when she is preparing a powerful spell, it turns blue (Subaru's color), just like her own twin Device.

* Magic weapons in ''{{Goblins}}'' are explicitly said to glow with the [[AuraVision aura color]] of their wielder, and change depending on who wields them.

* The security bots in ''{{Bioshock}}'' change from red-light to green-light when you hack them. Likewise Big Daddies' helmet lights will turn green when hypnotized, and red when aggro'd.
* When buildings are captured in ''CommandAndConquer'' games (or when soldiers are mind-controlled), they change to the color of the team that captured them. GarrisonableStructures also get instant sandbags, flags and color-coded paint job.

* ''ElShaddaiAscensionOfTheMetatron'' has the weapons change color as soon as you steal (and purify) them from enemies from black to white.

* [[color:red:(Please confirm)]] The [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms laser guns]] of ''GIJoe'' act like this.

* In ''TransformersAnimated'', when Mixmaster and Scrapper [[FaceHeelTurn change their allegiance to the Decepticons]], their [[UnusualEuphemism optics]] go from blue to red, as Autobots have blue eyes while Decepticons have red ones.

* In TransformersAnimated, when Mixmaster and Scrapper [[FaceHeelTurn change their allegiance to the Decepticons]], their [[UnusualEuphemism optics]] go from blue to red, as Autobots have blue eyes while Decepticons have red ones.

* In TransformersAnimated, when Mixmaster and Scrapper [[HeelFaceTurn change their allegiance to the Decepticons]], their [[UnusualEuphemism optics]] go from blue to red, as Autobots have blue eyes while Decepticons have red ones.

* In ''CodeLyoko'', Ulrich's katana usually glows blue when striking or parrying, but in the hand of a XANA-controlled warrior (like a polymorphic clone, a brainwashed Aelita, or [[TheDragon William]]), it glows red instead.

[[caption-width-right:330:[-Well, at least no one can accuse Flynn of [[WorldwidePunomenon turning]] [[DirtyCoward yellow!]] [[hottip:*:(His [[EvilTwin evil]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot cyber]] [[EnemyWithin duplicate]], on [[TronLegacy the other hand...)]] ]]-] ]]

* In ''TronLegacy'', vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or {{deprogram}}med) may change color.

This tends to be a staple of strategy games if different players have the same units and structures at their disposal, because you ''do'' need a way to tell your forces apart from your opponents', hence the use of ColorCodedMultiplayer. In this and other settings, a unit/character that can change color ''without'' changing alliances serves as an infiltrator.

** [[StarCraftII The sequel]] also does this, with the color of mind controlled units changing to the controller's side as long as they are being controlled.

* Though not universally true, Fire Emblem characters will often switch their outfits to blue instead of green (NPC) or red (enemy) upon joining the player's army.

* The security bots in ''{{Bioshock}}'' change from red-light to green-light when you hack them.

* In ''{{Nanoha StrikerS}}'', Subaru receives her sister's magical Device from her for the FinalBattle. At first, it remains purple (her sister's signature color) but when she is preparing a powerful spell, it turns blue (Subaru's color), just like her own twin Device.

* In ''TronLegacy'', vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or [[DeProgramming deprogrammed]]) may change color.

* ''{{Starcraft}}'' has it for mind-controlled units in the ''Brood War'' extension, but averts it for "rescuable" units in missions (usually heroes).
** [[StarcraftII The sequel]] also does this, with the color of mind controlled units changing to the controller's side as long as they are being controlled.

[[caption-width-right:330:Well, at least no one can accuse Flynn of [[WorldwidePunomenon turning]] [[DirtyCoward yellow!]] [[hottip:*:(His [[EvilTwin evil]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot cyber]] [[MesACrowd duplicate]], on [[TronLegacy the other hand...)]] ]]]]

!Examples:

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

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* In ''[[TronLegacy Tron: Legacy]]'', vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or [[DeProgramming deprogrammed]]) may change color.

[[AC:WebComics]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* [[color:red:(Please confirm)]] The [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms laser guns]] of ''GIJoe'' act like this.

[[AC:VideoGames]]

----

[[caption-width-right:330:Well, at least no one can accuse Flynn of [[WorldwidePunomenon turning]] [[DirtyCoward yellow!]][[hottip:*:(His [[EvilTwin evil]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot cyber]] [[MesACrowd duplicate]], on [[TronLegacy the other hand...)]] ]]

[[caption-width-right:330:Well, at least no one can accuse Flynn of [[WorldwidePunomenon turning]] [[DirtyCoward yellow!]]]]

Which works fine until the hero or a villain picks up the opponent's costume, weapons, or vehicles. Going a step further, what about characters who switch sides like the henchmen pulling a MookFaceTurn? What ends up happening is a [[TitleDrop Convenient Color Change]]. The clothing, weapon, vehicle, character, building or even ''city'' will change their default color to the one they're now aligned with. The "how" for this color change is usually glossed over, but if a reason is given it's that the colored areas are kind of like a high tech/magical mood ring.

There's a lot of variations on this. MechaMooks that get [[HackingMinigame hacked]] will spontaneously change the color of any lights on their chassis, even if they were solid state bulbs rather than screen. Characters under MindControl or the effects of TheVirus may have this happen to them as well.

This tends to be a staple of strategy games if different players have the same units and structures at their disposal, because you ''do'' need a way to tell your forces apart from your opponents', hence the use of ColorCodedMultiplayer.

* ''{{Starcraft}}'' has it for mind-controlled units in the ''Brood War'' extension, but averts it for "salvageable" units in missions (usually heroes).

* When buildings are captured in ''CommandAndConquer'' games, they change to the color of the team that captured them.