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* ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': From the second run onwards, it's possible to choose Sol's favorite childhood toy from a handful received as presents on their fourth birthday. The choice becomes a gear card and provides a small stat boost when equipped that will help with a specific career path. The options are a gardening trowel (Geoponics, centered around growing food), a second-hand captain's hat (Command), a doll (Living Quarters, which includes childcare), a learning tablet (Engineering, which has the classrooms and research labs) and a sportsball (Garrison, which has playing sports as its first available activity).

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* ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': From the second run onwards, it's possible to choose Sol's favorite childhood toy from a handful received as presents on their fourth birthday. The choice becomes a gear card and provides a small stat boost when equipped that will help with a specific career path. The options are a gardening trowel trowel, an animal book (Geoponics, centered around growing food), food and domesticating the local fauna), a second-hand captain's hat (Command), a doll (Living Quarters, which includes childcare), a learning tablet (Engineering, which has the classrooms and research labs) and a sportsball (Garrison, which has playing sports as its first available activity).
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General clarification on work content


* ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': From the second run onwards, it's possible to choose Sol's favorite childhood toy from a handful received as presents on their fourth birthday. The choice becomes a gear card and provides a small permanent stat boost that will help with a specific career path. The options are a gardening trowel (Geoponics, centered around growing food), a second-hand captain's hat (Command), a doll (Living Quarters, which includes childcare), a learning tablet (Engineering, which has the classrooms and research labs) and a sportsball (Garrison, which has playing sports as its first available activity).

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* ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': From the second run onwards, it's possible to choose Sol's favorite childhood toy from a handful received as presents on their fourth birthday. The choice becomes a gear card and provides a small permanent stat boost when equipped that will help with a specific career path. The options are a gardening trowel (Geoponics, centered around growing food), a second-hand captain's hat (Command), a doll (Living Quarters, which includes childcare), a learning tablet (Engineering, which has the classrooms and research labs) and a sportsball (Garrison, which has playing sports as its first available activity).
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* ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': From the second run onwards, it's possible to choose Sol's favorite childhood toy from a handful received as presents on their fourth birthday. The choice becomes a gear card and provides a small permanent stat boost that will help with a specific career path. The options are a gardening trowel (Geoponics, centered around growing food), a second-hand captain's hat (Command), a doll (Living Quarters, which includes childcare), a learning tablet (Engineering, which has the classrooms and research labs) and a sportsball (Garrison, which has playing sports as its first available activity).
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* An adult who still plays with toys is almost always a ManChild. At the very least, an adult who keeps childhood toys around without necessarily playing with them likely holds sentimental feelings about bygone days.
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* ''Fanfic/MetalGearGreen'': Miller has the R&D department create a Snake plushie for Izuku shortly after his rescue from an HPSC experiment lab. When Snake inquires further into this, Miller explains that Snake is a comforting presence to Izuku, which after all the kid had been through for five months, was needed.
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* A SpoiledBrat might have an awful lot of toys, and get grumpy that any new toys they receive don't match their very picky desires.
* A child who plays with toys meant to simulate a job (e.g. a toy doctor's kit, or a toy tool set) might later grow up to have that job.
* A child who makes dolls or plushies kiss ([[RealMenHateAffection most often a girl]]) is usually a budding romantic.
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* ''VideoGame/{{Octodad}}'':
** Tommy is a big fan of Sports Johnson, and as a result has a large collection of balls from various sports to the point that the fill up the majority of the shed.
** [[spoiler:Stacy is particularly attached to her stuffed octopus doll, hinting at the fact that [[SecretSecretKeeper she's the only member of the family that knows the truth about her father]].]]
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* In ''Literature/KiciaKocia'' childreen book series, the titular's Kitty Kotty's (Kicia Kocia) two favorite toys are a doll Policeman and a stuffed Crocodile, showing that Kitty Kotty despite a girly look is much more tomboyish than the first impression lets us believe.

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* ''Manga/SailorMoon'': A very... [[NightmareFuel eerie]] example with Hotaru during the 90's anime's third season. While possessed by the parasitic entity [[EldritchAbomination Mistress 9]], she grants audiences to Professor Tomoe from a throne room full of dolls and stuffed toys. Even more strangely, this seems ''unique'' to Mistress 9 since whenever Hotaru is back in control, she resides in a perfectly normal bedroom with few toys visible, making Mistress 9's lair come off as more of a RoomFullOfCrazy.
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** When he was a baby, Harry loved flying around on a toy broomstick that was a birthday present from his godfather Sirius. Later in his life, he discovers his natural aptitude for Quidditch, a sport played on broomsticks.
** As a young orphan, Tom Riddle (the future Voldemort) would steal toys from the other children and hoard them in his room, including a thimble, a yo-yo and a mouth organ. As an adult, his obsession shifted to collecting bigger and more impressive things--namely, artifacts of Hogwarts history to make into [[SoulJar Horcruxes]] for himself.

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** When he Harry was a baby, Harry he loved flying around on a toy broomstick that was a birthday present from his godfather Sirius. Later in his life, he discovers his natural aptitude for Quidditch, a sport played on broomsticks.
** As a young orphan, Tom Riddle (the future Voldemort) would steal toys from the other children and hoard them in his room, including a thimble, a yo-yo and a mouth organ.harmonica. As an adult, his obsession shifted to collecting bigger and more impressive things--namely, artifacts of Hogwarts history to make into [[SoulJar Horcruxes]] for himself.
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** ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean'': From childhood, Anasui had an unexplainable obsession with taking things apart and would disassemble his toys, pocket watches, and whatever else he could find. As an adult, when he caught his girlfriend cheating on him with another man, he tore both of them apart so they could "never come back together again".

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** ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean'': ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean'': From childhood, Anasui had an unexplainable obsession with taking things apart and would disassemble his toys, pocket watches, and whatever else he could find. As an adult, when he caught his girlfriend cheating on him with another man, he tore both of them apart so they could "never come back together again".
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* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': In the episode "Bob Fires the Kids", Bob finds a box of his old toys. They consist of a spatula ("my fighter plane!"), a scouring pad ("scouring ''pal!''"), and a bar of soap that had been shaped into a dog ([[FormallyNamedPet "Mr. Doglevitch!"]]). As a kid, Bob's family was just as broke as [[PerpetualPoverty Bob is now]], so he spent all his free time working in his father's diner and he never had any actual toys to play with.[[note]]Bob also has a tendency to [[CompanionCube talk to inanimate objects]] and [[ConsultingMisterPuppet supply their voices in response]], and [[FriendlessBackground this]] may [[FreudianExcuse explain that too]].[[/note]] Bob then looks around and sees his kids playing in the restaurant the same way. Tina is "marrying" two napkin dispensers--the one with the napkin "veil" is the bride--because she has a lot of romantic fantasies. Gene and Louise are pretend-duelling each other with the loser (Gene) spurting ketchup "blood" everywhere, which showcases Louise's TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior and Gene's [[AttentionWhore need to be dramatic]]. Bob then sends the kids outside to have a normal childhood.
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* ''Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'': Link’s first weapon is a slingshot that he makes himself, marking him as more creative than the Kokiri he grew up with.

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* ''Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'': ''Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime1999'': Link’s first weapon is a slingshot that he makes himself, marking him as more creative than the Kokiri he grew up with.
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* ''Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'': Link’s first weapon is a slingshot that he makes himself, marking him as more creative than the Kokiri he grew up with.
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* Showing a character playing with a toy different from their peers' preferred toys means they're unusual or special. This can include gender roles i.e. [[InTouchWithHisFeminineSide a boy playing with dress-up dolls]] or a girl playing with action figures.

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* Showing a character playing with a toy different from their peers' preferred toys means they're unusual or special. This can include gender roles roles, i.e. [[InTouchWithHisFeminineSide a boy playing with dress-up dolls]] or a girl playing with action figures.

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* Showing a character playing with a toy different from their peers' preferred toys means they're unusual or special. This can include gender roles i.e. a boy playing with dress-up dolls or a girl playing with action figures.
* A child taking good care of their toys means they are caring and gentle while playing roughly with or destroying toys (beyond the standards of normal child's play) [[TroubledToybreaker can be a sign that they're having issues at home]].

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* Showing a character playing with a toy different from their peers' preferred toys means they're unusual or special. This can include gender roles i.e. [[InTouchWithHisFeminineSide a boy playing with dress-up dolls dolls]] or a girl playing with action figures.
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* A child taking good care of their toys means they are [[NiceGuy caring and gentle gentle]] while playing roughly with or destroying toys (beyond the standards of normal child's play) [[TroubledToybreaker can be a sign that they're having issues at home]].home]] or a BrattyHalfPint, CreepyChild, or EnfantTerrible.



* A particularly imaginative, artistic, or inventive child might create their own toys from things they find lying around.

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* A particularly imaginative, [[MrImagination imaginative]], artistic, or inventive child might create their own toys from things they find lying around. around.



* EmpathyDollShot: Showing an abandoned toy to either imply that [[DeathOfAChild a child died]] or emphasize a loss of innocence.
* GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals: Girls love to carry around or store stuffed animals.
* LonelyDollGirl: Her only friends are dolls.



* EmpathyDollShot: Showing an abandoned toy to either imply that a child died or emphasize a loss of innocence.
* GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals: Girls love to carry around or store stuffed animals.
* LonelyDollGirl: Her only friends are dolls.



* In ''[[https://theloudhouse.fandom.com/wiki/User_blog:AnimationFan15/Fanfiction_-_Pony_Up Pony Up]]'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse''), Lincoln and Lana are the only siblings whose pony toys don't say something about their owners' personalities -- Lori's is described as [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold bossy but sweet]], Leni's likes making people happy, Luna's is a party animal (and is even named Lunar Love), Luan's is an entertainer, Lynn's is active, Lucy's is TheStoic, Lola's can dance, and Lisa's is brainy, which is exactly how their owners behave.



* An interesting example in ''Film/GhostbustersII'': Dull, deadpan MadScientist Egon claims to have grown up without toys, instead having a collection of various molds.

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* An interesting example in ''Film/GhostbustersII'': Dull, deadpan MadScientist Egon claims to have grown up without toys, instead having [[CollectorOfTheStrange a collection of various molds.molds]].


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* ''Literature/TheGirlWhoNeverMadeMistakes'': When Beatrice is seen as a baby, she's made a perfect line of building blocks, which ties in to the fact that she never makes mistakes.


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** Abby has a prince doll, befitting her fairy tale persona.
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* AbnormalPlushies
* NeverHadToys
* EmpathyDollShot
* GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals
* LonelyDollGirl
* RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol
* SentimentalHomemadeToy
* TroubledToybreaker
* WeaponJr

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* AbnormalPlushies
AbnormalPlushies: Stuffed toys that are utterly bizarre. Someone who has one of these is probably just as bizarre.
* NeverHadToys
NeverHadToys: Someone is shown or mentioned to have never had toys, even as a kid, which says something about them or their parents.
* EmpathyDollShot
EmpathyDollShot: Showing an abandoned toy to either imply that a child died or emphasize a loss of innocence.
* GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals
GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals: Girls love to carry around or store stuffed animals.
* LonelyDollGirl
LonelyDollGirl: Her only friends are dolls.
* RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol
RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol: Being able to solve the Rubik's Cube is a sign of exceptional intelligence.
* SentimentalHomemadeToy
SentimentalHomemadeToy: A homemade toy symbolizes the emotional connection between two characters, usually a parent and child.
* TroubledToybreaker
TroubledToybreaker: An abused, neglected or otherwise troubled child vents their anger by destroying toys.
* WeaponJrWeaponJr: Children have kiddy versions of an adult's weapons.
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* A [[SentimentalHomemadeToy homemade toy]] made by a parent can serve as a point of connection between them and their child, or even an OrphansPlotTrinket. Conversely, the parents of a LonelyRichKid might buy them expensive toys they don't really like, as a sign that they [[DoesntKnowTheirOwnChild don't know their own child that well]].

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* A [[SentimentalHomemadeToy homemade toy]] made by a parent can serve as a point of connection between them and their child, or even an OrphansPlotTrinket. Conversely, the parents of a LonelyRichKid might try to buy their affection by showering them with expensive toys they don't really like, as a sign that they [[DoesntKnowTheirOwnChild don't know their own child that well]].



** ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStone'': During his time in 4 Privet Drive, Harry is shown playing with some toy soldiers in his cupboard, looking bored and miserable. While his cousin Dudley is dreadfully spoiled and given mountains of toys, Harry himself is treated as a nuisance and given almost nothing, his only toys being whatever's left over around the house.

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** ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStone'': During his time in 4 Privet Drive, Harry is shown playing with some toy soldiers in his cupboard, looking bored and miserable. While his cousin Dudley is dreadfully spoiled and given mountains of toys, more toys than any child could ever play with, Harry himself is treated as a nuisance and given almost nothing, his only toys being whatever's left over around the house.
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* In ''Literature/{{Cookie}}'', one of Beauty's favorite toys is a ragdoll her mother handmade for her; she calls her PJ, short for Plain Jane. PJ is a bit lopsided-looking, but Beauty loves the doll because her mother took the time to make it for her and tends to hug her for comfort. In contrast, Beauty's father splurges on a giant pink rabbit from Harrod's for her birthday; Beauty finds it hideous and it's far too big to play with or hold close, showing how her father doesn't really know her and cares more about flashing his money around than getting something his daughter really likes.

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* In ''Literature/{{Cookie}}'', one of Beauty's favorite toys is a ragdoll her mother handmade for her; she calls her PJ, short for Plain Jane. PJ is a bit lopsided-looking, but Beauty loves the doll because her mother took the time to make it for her and tends to hug her for comfort. In contrast, Beauty's father splurges on a giant pink rabbit from Harrod's for her birthday; Beauty finds it hideous and it's far too big to play with or hold close, showing how her father [[DoesntKnowTheirOwnChild doesn't really know her her]] and cares more about flashing his money around than getting something his daughter really likes.

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* A child taking good care of their toys means they are caring and gentle while playing roughly with or destroying toys (beyond the standards of normal child's play) can be a sign that they're having issues at home.

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* A child taking good care of their toys means they are caring and gentle while playing roughly with or destroying toys (beyond the standards of normal child's play) [[TroubledToybreaker can be a sign that they're having issues at home. home]].


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* TroubledToybreaker

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* Showing a character playing with a toy different from their peers' preferred toys means they're unusual or special.

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* Showing a character playing with a toy different from their peers' preferred toys means they're unusual or special. This can include gender roles i.e. a boy playing with dress-up dolls or a girl playing with action figures.


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* ''Fanfic/TheSunWillComeUpAndTheSeasonsWillChange'': Mary owns several stuffed animals (including her rabbit Mimi) and is a friendly young girl who takes good care of her belongings. Her classmate, Greg, is more rough with his toys and games and his mother Edith has to supervise him when going on a field trip.
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* A CreepyChild is likely to have a CreepyDoll or some other scary-looking toy, preferably one that scares the daylights out of other children.

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* A CreepyChild is likely to have a CreepyDoll or some other scary-looking toy, preferably one that toy. The more it scares the daylights out of other children.children, the better.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Ming playing with Mei's Toys/{{Tamagotchi}} shows how Ming has changed and no longer bottles up her feelings.
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* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': In "Transitions", Hailey is a trans girl whose father, Mark, is not accepting of her gender identity. He keeps a photo in his wallet of a 5-year-old Hailey (then named Henry) holding a toy truck. When the detectives ask Hailey about the photo, she tells them that she asked for a Barbie that Christmas, but her father yelled at her, "No son of mine will ever play with dolls!"
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* ''Franchise/ToyStory'': Because the movies take place from the point of view of LivingToys, human children are judged by how nicely (or meanly) they play with their toys.

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* ''Franchise/ToyStory'': Because the movies take place from the point of view of LivingToys, human children are judged shown to be nice or mean by how nicely (or meanly) the way they play with treat their toys.
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* ''Franchise/ToyStory'': Toys enjoy being played with and taken care of by nice children, but don't enjoy being around children who destroy toys and don't care for them.

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* ''Franchise/ToyStory'': Toys enjoy being played with and taken care Because the movies take place from the point of by nice children, but don't enjoy being around view of LivingToys, human children who destroy toys and don't care for them.are judged by how nicely (or meanly) they play with their toys.

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Can overlap with EarlyPersonalitySigns and/or AMinorKidroduction if the character's favorite toys are shown in a flashback. Related to NeverHadToys, AbnormalPlushies, EmpathyDollShot, GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals, WeaponJr, LonelyDollGirl, RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol, and SentimentalHomemadeToy. Compare CharacterDrivenStrategy and SmartPeoplePlayChess.

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Can overlap with EarlyPersonalitySigns and/or AMinorKidroduction if the character's favorite toys are shown in a flashback. Related to NeverHadToys, AbnormalPlushies, EmpathyDollShot, GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals, WeaponJr, LonelyDollGirl, RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol, and SentimentalHomemadeToy. Compare CharacterDrivenStrategy and SmartPeoplePlayChess.SmartPeoplePlayChess.

!!Subtropes:
* AbnormalPlushies
* NeverHadToys
* EmpathyDollShot
* GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals
* LonelyDollGirl
* RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol
* SentimentalHomemadeToy
* WeaponJr
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* A homemade toy made by a parent can serve as a point of connection between them and their child, or even an OrphansPlotTrinket. Conversely, the parents of a LonelyRichKid might buy them expensive toys they don't really like, as a sign that they [[DoesntKnowTheirOwnChild don't know their own child that well]].

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* A [[SentimentalHomemadeToy homemade toy toy]] made by a parent can serve as a point of connection between them and their child, or even an OrphansPlotTrinket. Conversely, the parents of a LonelyRichKid might buy them expensive toys they don't really like, as a sign that they [[DoesntKnowTheirOwnChild don't know their own child that well]].



Can overlap with EarlyPersonalitySigns and/or AMinorKidroduction if the character's favorite toys are shown in a flashback. Related to NeverHadToys, AbnormalPlushies, EmpathyDollShot, GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals, WeaponJr, LonelyDollGirl, and RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol. Compare CharacterDrivenStrategy and SmartPeoplePlayChess.

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Can overlap with EarlyPersonalitySigns and/or AMinorKidroduction if the character's favorite toys are shown in a flashback. Related to NeverHadToys, AbnormalPlushies, EmpathyDollShot, GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals, WeaponJr, LonelyDollGirl, RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol, and RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol.SentimentalHomemadeToy. Compare CharacterDrivenStrategy and SmartPeoplePlayChess.

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* ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStone'': During his time in 4 Privet Drive, Harry is shown playing with some toy soldiers in his cupboard, looking bored and miserable. While his cousin Dudley is dreadfully spoiled and given mountains of toys, Harry himself is treated as a nuisance and given almost nothing, his only toys being whatever's left over around the house.

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* ''Film/HarryPotter'':
**
''Film/HarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStone'': During his time in 4 Privet Drive, Harry is shown playing with some toy soldiers in his cupboard, looking bored and miserable. While his cousin Dudley is dreadfully spoiled and given mountains of toys, Harry himself is treated as a nuisance and given almost nothing, his only toys being whatever's left over around the house.

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