History Sandbox / Expy

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: Two or more creators (typically rival companies) have the "same" character in ongoing stories. While one may have debuted earlier, there's so much mutual borrowing that they managed the impossible task of becoming Expies of one another. This is only possible when both characters are in ongoing storylines that are published around the same time.

An Expy (short for "exported character") is a character from one series who is unambiguously and deliberately based on a character in another, older series. A few minor traits may change, such as age or hair color, but there's no doubt that they are almost one and the same. The two characters must be substantially similar and it must be clear that the creator intended to imitate the existing character.

Some creators reuse/imitate existing characters because they really enjoying a certain combination of character archetypes. They like it so much that we have a number of more specific flavours of this effect: \\

** SimilarSquad: An {{Ensemble|s}} of characters that are based on another, pre-existing, ensemble within the same story. Typically will involve the duplicates meeting one another, but not always.

Remember that Expies are always a deliberate attempt to reuse a character on the part of the author; superficial or random coincidental similarities (even very striking ones) do not qualify. Merely sharing some traits or being "inspired by" isn't enough to make two characters with the same [[ArchetypalCharacter archetypes]] the ''same'' character. Many trope-based characterizations that compose characters are universal, making it easy for readers to fall into the assumption that a particular character, who shares a few archetypes with another from their favorite show or novel, might be an intentional reference. Especially when SmallReferencePools lead readers to overestimate the cultural impact of their favorite characters. One character can be a reference or inspired by many other characters/people, but cannot be an ''intentional copy'' of more than one. If a character borrows traits from multiple other characters, then the influence of each source of inspiration is diluted to the point where it doesn't count as this trope anymore.

Compare to FountainOfExpies (trivia about the original character; they've spawned dozens of imitations), MirrorCharacter (two characters who are identical in most respects, but opposite in one or more significant details), SpiritualSuccessor (when the entire work is copying a pre-existing work), as well as SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute and TemporarySubstitute (new or existing characters replace a pre-existing character's role; the Substitute may not even be an Expy).

TransplantedCharacterFic.

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: Two or more creators (typically rival companies) have the "same" character in ongoing stories. While one may have debuted earlier, there's so much mutual borrowing that they managed the impossible task of becoming Expies of one another. This is only possible for ongoing storytelling.

Compare to FountainOfExpies (trivia about the original character; they've spawned dozens of imitations), SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute and TemporarySubstitute (new or existing characters replace a pre-existing character's role; the Substitute may not even be an Expy), MirrorCharacter (two characters who are identical in most respects, but opposite in one or more significant details),

WritingAroundTrademarks and ProductDisplacement.
SpiritualSuccessor is a similar trope scaled up to an entire work, and thus as a result often features Expies of characters from the original work.


Contrast InNameOnly (where the minor details are the only similarity between the two characters/story that are supposed to be the same), and TransplantedCharacterFic.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: An Expy with only a {{Cameo}} appearance.

Compare to FountainOfExpies (trivia about the original character; they've spawned dozens of imitations), SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute and TemporarySubstitute (new or existing characters replace a pre-existing character's role; the Substitute may not even be an Expy),


, RomanAClef, , SameStoryDifferentNames, , EvilCounterpart, , WritingAroundTrademarks and ProductDisplacement.

+++


** MeetTheNewBoss: When said new boss is exactly the same as the old one.
** ReplacementScrappy: Fans don't appreciate the new character taking the place of another character.

BleachedUnderpants, NamesTheSame, RomanAClef, , SameStoryDifferentNames, , EvilCounterpart, , WritingAroundTrademarks and ProductDisplacement.

Remember that Expies are always a deliberate attempt to reuse a character on the part of the author; superficial or random coincidental similarities (even very striking ones) do not qualify. Merely sharing some traits or being "inspired by" isn't enough to make two characters with the same CharacterArchetypes the ''same'' character. Many trope-based characterizations that compose characters are universal, making it easy for readers to fall into the assumption that a particular character, who shares a few archetypes with another from their favorite show or novel, might be an intentional reference. Especially when SmallReferencePools lead readers to overestimate the cultural impact of their favorite characters. One character can be a reference or inspired by many other characters/people, but cannot be an ''intentional copy'' of more than one. If a character borrows traits from multiple other characters, then the influence of each source of inspiration is diluted to the point where it doesn't count as this trope anymore.

Compare to FountainOfExpies (trivia about the original character; they've spawned dozens of imitations), SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute and TemporarySubstitute (new or existing characters replace an existing character's role),


BleachedUnderpants, NamesTheSame, RomanAClef, SimilarSquad, SameStoryDifferentNames, JustForFun/SurprisinglySimilarStories, EvilCounterpart, WholePlotReference, WritingAroundTrademarks and ProductDisplacement.

Contrast InNameOnly (where it is supposed to be the same character/story, but they act wildly different), and TransplantedCharacterFic.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: A character gets replaced by another character who is essentially the other character in all but name.

Compare to FountainOfExpies (trivia about the original character; they've spawned dozens of imitations),
There are a whole bunch of characters who are imitations of this specific fictional character.

*
** OverusedCopycatCharacter

* SailorEarth

* SimilarSquad: An {{Ensemble|s}} of characters that are based on a pre-existing ensemble. May overlap with CastOfExpies if the group is also the main characters.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: A work features a {{Cameo}} by a copyrighted character, but they partially obscure the character, alter their appearance a little and/or avoid calling them directly by name to avoid getting sued by the company that owns the rights to the character.
* SpiritualCrossover: Two properties "crossover", except that at least one of the properties is made of Expies instead of the actual characters.

* SimilarSquad

* CorruptedCharacterCopy: A character is substantially similar to a pre-existing character from another work, except they are meaner/eviler than the original.
* ExpyCoexistence: An Expy and the character (including a fictionalized real person) that they're based on both exist in the same universe.

* DistaffCounterpart: The pre-existing character is male, and the imitation is female. The [[InvertedTrope reversal of this]] would be called a Spear Counterpart and is also listed on the article.

* FountainOfExpies: There are a whole bunch of characters who are imitations of this specific fictional character.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: A work features a cameo by a copyrighted character, but they partially obscure the character, alter their appearance a little and/or avoid calling them directly by name to avoid getting sued by the company that owns the rights to the character.

Compare to BleachedUnderpants, NamesTheSame, RomanAClef, SimilarSquad, SameStoryDifferentNames, JustForFun/SurprisinglySimilarStories, EvilCounterpart, WholePlotReference, WritingAroundTrademarks and ProductDisplacement.

* CopyCatSue: When a MarySue character is a CanonSue, but the canon character is still around to interact with. Because of their status as FlameBait, only InUniverse examples can be cited.
* CorruptedCharacterCopy: A character is a pastiche of a pre-existing character from another work, but is notably a worse person than the character they are based on.

* DistaffCounterpart: The female equivalent of a pre-existing male character. The reversal of this would be called a SpearCounterpart.
* ExpyCoexistence: An Expy and the character, person, or thing they're based on both exist in the same universe.

* CopyCatSue
** SailorEarth
** CorruptedCharacterCopy: A character is a pastiche of a pre-existing character from another work, but is notably a worse person than the character they are based on.
* DistaffCounterpart: The female equivalent of a pre-existing male character. The reversal of this would be called a Spear Counterpart.

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: A character who can be considered this company's equivalent to a character from a competing company.
* CaptainErsatz: The copy isn't just inspired by the original, it's a {{Pastiche}}; there are multiple elements that reference the original version. They may even be visually identical.

* CastOfExpies: Just about every character in the story is based on a fictional character from another work.

** SpiritualCrossover: A crossover done with Captain Ersatzes instead of the actual characters.

Note that you cannot have an Expy of a RealLife person. That would be NoCelebritiesWereHarmed or NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed, instead. Or FictionalCounterpart, if you broaden beyond just characters. An Expy is ''always'' a fictional character that was intentionally based on another fictional character, with minimal changes. Countries, companies, and other concepts cannot be an Expy because they aren't a character (well, [[GenusLoci usually]]).

Imitating existing characters often happens due to a creator (or group of creators) really enjoying a certain combination of character archetypes. It is so common that we have a number of subtropes that focus on more specific narrative uses of the broader "reusing a pre-existing character, with minor changes" concept:\\

* CaptainErsatz: The imitation is so concrete that pastiche character is blatantly the character they're copying in all but name.

** SendInTheClones

An Expy (short for "exported character") is a character from one series who is unambiguously and deliberately based on a character in another, older series. A few minor traits may change, such as age or hair color, but there's no doubt that they are almost one and the same. It isn't sufficient for a character to merely be "inspired" by an older character, this is the intentional re-use of the older character.

This often happens due to a creator (or group of creators) really enjoying a certain combination of character archetypes. If the creators wanted to use an existing character, but were forbidden from doing so by copyright or trademark infringement issues, it only takes a few small changes to make them more "[[OriginalCharacter original]]". Positive examples often overlap with {{Homage}}, while more negative portrayals may overlap with {{Pastiche}}.

Due to the relatively simple rules of this trope, we have a number of subtropes that focus on certain narrative uses of the broader "reusing a pre-existing character, with minor changes":\\

* CaptainErsatz: The pastiche character is blatantly the character they're copying in all but name.

Remember that Expies are always a deliberate attempt to reuse a character on the part of the author; superficial or random coincidental similarities (even very striking ones) do not qualify. Merely sharing some traits or being "inspired by" isn't enough to make two ''similar'' characters the ''same'' character. Many character archetypes and tropes that compose characters are universal, making it is easy for readers to fall into thinking that a particular character, who shares a few archetypes with another from their favorite show or novel, might be an intentional reference. Especially when SmallReferencePools lead readers to overestimate the cultural impact of their favorite characters. One character can be a reference or inspired by many other characters/people, but cannot be an ''intentional copy'' of more than one. If a character borrows traits from multiple other characters, then the influence of each source of inspiration is diluted to the point where it doesn't count as this trope anymore.

Contrast InNameOnly, TransplantedCharacterFic.

Not to be confused with [[ExperiencePoints gaming XP]], nor [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windops XP]]. Perhaps you would like to {{SoYouWantTo/Write an Expy}} yourself?

Due to the relatively simple rules of this trope, we have a number of subtropes that focus on certain narrative uses of the broader "reusing a pre-existing character, with minor changes":




Remember that Expies are ''must'' be a clearly deliberate reference on the part of the author'''; superficial or random coincidental similarities (even very striking ones) do not qualify, so if you aren't certain, they probably are not an Expy. Because many character archetypes and tropes that compose characters are universal, it is easy for readers to fall into thinking that a particular character in the same general archetype resembles someone from their favorite show or novel, especially when SmallReferencePools lead readers to overestimate the cultural impact of their favorite characters.

Also, note the insistent use of singular pronouns when referring to the Expy's inspiration in this page's description. This is because an Expy is '''based on ''one'' character'''. If a character borrows traits from multiple other characters, then the influence of each source of inspiration is diluted to the point where it doesn't count as this trope anymore.



Compare to BleachedUnderpants, NamesTheSame, RomanAClef, SimilarSquad, SameStoryDifferentNames, SuspiciouslySimilarSong, DistaffCounterpart, JustForFun/SurprisinglySimilarStories, EvilCounterpart, WholePlotReference, WritingAroundTrademarks and ProductDisplacement.

An expy (short for "exported character") is a character from one series who is unambiguously and deliberately based on a character in another, older series. A few minor traits may change, such as age or hair color, but there's no doubt that they are almost one and the same. It isn't sufficient for a character to merely be "inspired" by an older character, this is the intentional re-use of the older character.

Note that you cannot have an expy of a RealLife person. That would be NoCelebritiesWereHarmed or NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed, instead. Or FictionalCounterpart, if you broaden beyond just characters. An expy is ''always'' a fictional character that was intentionally based on another fictional character, with minimal changes. Countries, companies, and other concepts cannot be an "expy" because they aren't a character (well, [[GenusLoci usually]]).

Due to the relatively simple rules of this trope, we have a number of subtropes that
A SuperTrope of AlternateCompanyEquivalent, CorruptedCharacterCopy, ExpyCoexistence and FountainOfExpies.
For specific characters that tend to inspire expies, see FountainOfExpies. For a series with numerous different expies in its cast, see CastOfExpies. When an expy and the character they are based on are both found in the same universe, then you have ExpyCoexistence.


The [[CanonicalListOfSubtleTropeDistinctions key difference]] between this and CaptainErsatz is that an Expy uses the other character as a starting point before ''going in their own direction,'' while CaptainErsatz is obviously the same character but with the SerialNumbersFiledOff.


'''Remember that an Expy ''must'' be a clearly deliberate reference on the part of the author'''; superficial or random coincidental similarities (even very striking ones) do not qualify, so if you aren't certain, they probably are not an Expy. Because many character archetypes and tropes that compose characters are universal, it is easy for readers to fall into thinking that a particular character in the same general archetype resembles someone from their favorite show or novel, especially when SmallReferencePools lead readers to overestimate the cultural impact of their favorite characters.

Compare to BleachedUnderpants, NamesTheSame, RomanAClef, SimilarSquad, SameStoryDifferentNames, SuspiciouslySimilarSong, DistaffCounterpart, JustForFun/SurprisinglySimilarStories, EvilCounterpart, WholePlotReference, WritingAroundTrademarks and ProductDisplacement. Not to be confused with [[ExperiencePoints gaming XP]], nor [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windops XP]].

Compare FantasticFaunaCounterpart, which is sort of the animal equivalent: a fictional (or extinct) species of animal is clearly meant to be the counterpart of a real-life species, but at the same time is clearly ''not'' the same species.

Perhaps you would like to {{SoYouWantTo/Write an Expy}} yourself?

An expy (short for "exported character") is a character from one series who is unambiguously and deliberately based on a character in another, older series. A few minor traits, such as age or hair color, may change, but there's no doubt that they are almost one and the same. They often turn up in different works by the same writer(s) or production team.

This can simply be the tendency of writers to prefer certain characterizations for important characters (or [[FollowTheLeader knowing which ones are most marketable/popular]]), or the influence of the design process. On the other hand, it may just be a [[WriterOnBoard bad attempt]] to try to revive a character who [[CreatorsPet the writer liked, but nobody else did]] and [[ShooOutTheNewGuy had to get rid of it]]. When by a different author, it may be an {{homage}} to the original creator and/or character or because the author did not have the rights to use the work and wanted to avoid copyright or trademark infringement issues. In the negative sense, an expy can be seen as just a bloated, gimmicky version of a perfectly serviceable past character. In a positive sense, it can refer to an "upgrade" of a two-dimensional or otherwise limited character to one more appreciably complex.

Remember that Administrivia/TropesAreTools; an expy can give an old character concept a new lease on life, take it in a different direction, adapt it to a new medium, or simply do something with it that's as good or better than the original. Iconic characters like WesternAnimation/YogiBear and WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse are obvious clones of [[Series/TheHoneymooners Art Carney]] and WesternAnimation/FelixTheCat, respectively, but that hasn't stopped them from being among the most acclaimed cartoon characters of all time.

Theory: any CharactersAsDevice trope, if taken to the extreme, can result in the character appearing to be a mere expy of the {{Trope Codifier}}s for that trope. Especially if the character is [[{{Flanderization}} Flanderized]] to the point of having few defining characteristics outside of the trope they represent. See FountainOfExpies.

Most often seen in animation and video games, where it's much easier to make a newer character resemble an older one. Occasionally happens when characters from different stories end up sharing voice actors, making or even forcing their personalities to look even more similar, which often leads to [[ActorAllusion jokes based on the voice actor's former role]].

When the character appears in the same series as the previous character, they're often a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute. Contrast this with MirrorCharacter.

The [[CanonicalListOfSubtleTropeDistinctions key difference]] between this and CaptainErsatz is that an Expy uses the other character as a starting point before ''going in their own direction,'' while CaptainErsatz is obviously the same character but with the SerialNumbersFiledOff. Please keep this distinction in mind before adding an example here. Also note that a fictional counterpart to a real-life person would be either NoCelebritiesWereHarmed, NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed, or a ShoutOut, depending on the intent. A quick glance around Website/TVTropes will reveal just how often these mistakes are made on this very wiki.

'''Remember that an Expy ''must'' be a clearly deliberate reference on the part of the author'''; superficial or random coincidental similarities (even very striking ones) do not qualify, so if you aren't certain, they probably are not an Expy. Because many character archetypes and tropes that compose characters are universal, it is easy for readers to fall into thinking that a particular character in the same general archetype resembles someone from their favorite show or novel, especially when SmallReferencePools lead readers to overestimate the cultural impact of their favorite characters.

Also, note the insistent use of singular pronouns when referring to the Expy's inspiration in this page's description. This is because an Expy is '''based on ''one'' character'''. If a character borrows traits from multiple other characters, then the influence of each source of inspiration is diluted to the point where it doesn't count as this trope anymore.

SpiritualSuccessor is a similar trope scaled up to an entire work, and thus as a result often features Expies of characters from the original work.

Compare to BleachedUnderpants, NamesTheSame, RomanAClef, SimilarSquad, SameStoryDifferentNames, SuspiciouslySimilarSong, DistaffCounterpart, JustForFun/SurprisinglySimilarStories, EvilCounterpart, WholePlotReference, WritingAroundTrademarks and ProductDisplacement. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] [[ExperiencePoints XP]], nor [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows XP]].

For specific characters that tend to inspire expies, see FountainOfExpies. For a series with numerous different expies in its cast, see CastOfExpies. When an expy and the character they are based on are both found in the same universe, then you have ExpyCoexistence.