History Main / SpecialEffectBranding

* In [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime adaptation]] of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', the Transmutation circles vary depending on what's being transmuted, whether the alchemist has seen the Gate, and other factors.
** Justified; different circles are designed to do different things.

** Also, ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise'' has each of the characters having one of a set of identical {{Morph Weapon}}s called Decepticon Hunters. Each team member has a different [[WeaponOfChoice favored mode]] but can change it to another form if needed.

[[folder:{{Film}}]]

* ''Film/StarTrek2009'': In the new AlternateTimeline films, phasers have red and blue emitters for Kill and Stun settings, respectively. Apparently, it's an entirely different technology fired from the same weapon, requiring you to switch barrels, rather than simply a lower setting of the same weapon.

** This trope is avoided in most cases: for instance, both Klingon and Romulan ship-mounted disruptors use green effects, and both Cardassian and Federation phasers are the same yellow/orange color. (despite their similarities, "phasers and "disruptors" are different technology) However, transporters generally follow this trope, having similar but distinct special effects: blue transporters for Star Fleet, red transporters for Klingons, green transporters for Romulans, and so forth. ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' made a special point of this, as the titular station, though operated by Star Fleet, was of Cardassian origin and used Cardassian transporter effects.

* ''Film/StarWars'':

** The Shivans... well their ships are [[GoodColorsEvilColors painted black, red and silver and fire off red lasers]]. They also have the tendency to have [[SpikesOfVillainy random spikes]] sticking out, and be asymmetrical with an off-center engine. God knows how Shivans manage to balance their ships. Maybe that's why the captured Terran-modified asymmetric [[GoddamnedBats Dragon]] in [=FS1=] was crippled, while the captured (symmetrical) Mara you flew in [=FS2=] was awesome. But I digress. This, of course, shows that the Shivans are just plain weird (and evil).

* In the ''Film/HarryPotter'' films, Death Eaters and Order members have different Apparating effects for no reason. Death Eaters turn into menacing clouds of smoke while Order members turn into blazes of white light. It looks [[RuleOfCool rather cool]], though.

** Terran vessels are [[ISOStandardHumanSpaceship boxy, grey and decidedly 'military']] in aspect to reflect their 'utilitarian' attitude. In ''VideoGame/FreeSpace2'' they become more streamlined due to tech-sharing and Vasudan influence, although this process [[PunyEarthlings doesn't seem to work in reverse]].
*** The early Vasudan ships, especially freighters such as the ''Bast'' and ''Ma'at'' classes, are as clunky and boxy as their Terran equivalents, but they seem to have crossed the starship BishonenLine much faster than the Terrans. Even the [[StarfishAliens Shivans]] are going this way, from the harsh, severe, jagged asymmetrical contraptions of the first game to the insectile designs of the second.

*** [[SpaceIsAnOcean Space is not an ocean]]. They wouldn't need to have their ships balanced; the engine placement has no effect, aside from pointing where the craft is going.
*** Incorrect. An off-center engine would impart rotational force on the ship whether on water or in space--in fact, this is the principle behind the maneuvering system of any practical spacecraft--numerous small thrusters distributed at specific points on the craft to turn it on any axis desired. A Nephilim-class bomber ought to spin like a top with its main thruster off to one side.

* Ships and weapons in the ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' follow this. Every faction that builds ships does it differently. For example, Teladi love ballistic weapons and have yellow, junkyard-esque ships,while [[HumansAreSpecial Terrans]] fire brilliant white electromagnetic plasma bolts from their [[ShinyLookingSpaceShips blindingly white ships]]. Each race has their own set of ships, and as of ''Terran Conflict'', their own unique weapon set, which typically only usable by their own ships and their allies - [[HumansByAnyOtherName Argon]] and [[FishPeople Boron]], [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Paranid]] and [[ProudWarriorRace Split]]. [[ProudMerchantRace Teladi]] buy their stuff from everyone, so they can mount schizophrenic loadouts. [[PlanetTerra Terrans]] are independent, and cannot use any non-Terran weapons in their ships. However, there are generic weapons that can be used by any race, such as plasma throwers or [[WaveMotionGun photon pulse cannons]].

* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, standard biotics (PsychicPowers) are blue for every species except Protheans, who are green. Prothean holograms are also green instead of the blue or orange that other species use.

* ''Film/StarTrek'': In the new AlternateTimeline films, phasers have red and blue emitters for Kill and Stun settings, respectively. Apparently, it's an entirely different technology fired from the same weapon, requiring you to switch barrels, rather than simply a lower setting of the same weapon.

* In the ''[[VideoGame/FreeSpace Descent: Freespace]]'' series, apart from the fact they all use engines, lasers and subspace drives, It's hard to tell that Terran, Vasudan and Shivan ships are even from the same universe. The factions' laser cannons all have distinct colors. The [=MediaVPs=] take this further with the shields being different colors.

* ''VideoGame/ChampionsOnline'' uses this trope where it can - the ships of the alien enemy Qulaar are insectile and highly organic, while the ships of the froglike Gadroon are sleek, shiny, have no visible engine or thruster, and apparantly BiggerOnTheInside - a cruiser large enough for a full terraforming force with dozens of Gadroon is barely half again larger than an F-22. On the other hand, player characters have a huge variety of armor, weapon, and even jetpack styles to choose from, and many will mix and match.