Character Redesign

A character redesign, also called canon redesign or just redesign, is when a fan takes the design of a canon character and redesigns aspects of them. Character redesigns are more common in animation fandom than live action fandom. 
==History==
Character redesigns have likely existed for as long as characters have existed. However one of the first instances of a character redesign online is "Knuckls redesign" on Furaffinity, a redesign of Knuckles from Sonic the Hedgehog posted on May 11, 2006 by the artist shadowravyn.Knuckls redesign {old}, Furaffinity. May 11, 2006 (Accessed 9/22/2022) Another is a redesign of Sally Acorn posted on July 15, 2007 by mayathehedgehog.Sally Acorn redesign, Furaffinity. Jul 15, 2007 (Accessed 9/22/2022)
An early mention of a canon character redesign from DeviantART comes from a 2012 journal entry Redesign Contest! I need your Help!, DeviantART. Feb 16, 2012 (Accessed 11/15/2022) hosting a redesign contest for the artist's Kingdom Hearts fanfiction. Another comes from a 2011 group contest for Transformers, where the challenge was to redesign a canon character to fit within a different Transformers series.August challenge!, DeviantART. Jul 31, 2011 (Accessed 11/15/2022)
Character redesigns may have potentially been popularized by My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic from 2010. On DeviantART, "Canon Redesign" sorted by "popular this century" is almost entirely composed of MLP:FiM redesigns. However, many of the MLP redesigns are between the years 2017-2020. This may coincide with concept art leaks which occurred in 2018.MLP G5 Redesigns, DeviantART. Jan 12, 2018 (Accessed 11/15/2022)MLP G5 LEAKS - MANE 6 DESIGN CONCEPT, DeviantART. Jan 10, 2018 (Accessed 11/15/2022)
==Opinions and Reactions==
Fans redesign canon characters for a variety of reasons that sometimes reflect opinions towards canon held by the redesigner. This can be wanting to put a personal spin on the design, or wanting to include more diversity in the design that was not present in canon. For example, adding intricate details to a design that specifically appeal to the redesigner, such as changing Applejack from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic to be piebald. Or, changing a character's skin color or body type for increased representation, such as changing Dr. Coomer from HLVRAI to be fat with a darker skin tone. Or, the redesign may be making a statement that the redesigner believes the original design is "objectively bad."Fnaf security breach sucks ass so I’m redesigning, Twitter. Jan 4, 2023 (Accessed 1/5/2023) For example, changing the color scheme of a character with purposeful statements about the "poor design skills" of the character designers, such as Steven Universe Critical artists changing Lapis Lazuli to have gold highlights due to the belief that, without the highlights, the design is objectively bad.
===Redesign v.s Style===
Some fan designs may not be considered "redesigns" because the artist did not intend for their design to be an intentional redesigning of the canon character. Instead, some designs that do not adhere closely to canon may be considered the "style" of the artist rather than a character redesign. This means for a design to be considered a canon character redesign, purposeful intent has to be stated by the artist.
===Comments===
==Popular Redesigns and Examples==
*My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic characters, particularly the "Mane Six," are popular for fans to redesign. MLP redesigns often add many intricate details that are not easily replicated in animation, such as adding extra colors in the mane/tail, adding coat details such as piebald/freckles/gradients, and additional fur details such as flared legs/fluffy faces.i used to wonder what friendship could be, Aug 31, 2022 (Accessed 9/23/2022)
*Half Life VR but the AI is Self Aware characters often have redesigned body types, hair styles, and skin colors. These align with headcanons, such as Dr. Coomer being shorter and fatter than Bubby.I cant get myself to do Benrey, Feb 27, 2021 (Accessed 9/23/2022)
*Monster High
*Steven Universe redesigns often change character colors schemes and outfits, sometimes as a criticism of the show's design.redesign out of boredom. and also for fun? oh worm!, Tumblr. Apr 15. 2020 (Accessed 9/23/2022)
*Five Nights at Freddy's characters often have fan redesigns; for Security Breach this typically expresses as fans designing the glamrock animatronics to be more glamrock.
*Genshin Impact characters are commonly redesigned on Tiktok and other social medias, often the characters redesigned are from the regions Sumeru, Inazuma or Liyue
==Gallery==
File:Runkpori zecora MLP.jpg|Zecora from MLP by runkpori
File:Hellciforgs naruto.png|Naruto by hellcifrogs
File:Pink diamond redesigns by dongoverlord.jpg|Steven Universe's Pink Diamond by dongoverlord
==References==