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3%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thank you!
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6This material is separated from the main continuity, usually in the form of special episodes, a NonSerialMovie, or even BonusMaterial. It's not out of {{canon}}icity, but it's not treated as if it was fully in canonicity either. Its continuity status is not quite accepted, and not quite rejected. None of this will be referenced in the canon, but it will not be contradicted outright either. In other words, it's a standalone episode.
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8As opposed to the CanonDiscontinuity which was explicitly removed from canonicity later, this "Optional Continuity" implicitly was not firmly tied into canonicity to begin with. Unlike BigLippedAlligatorMoment, it's not just a random throwaway gag that pops up unexpectedly only to sink forever, it's a complete piece of continuity not thrown away, but still set aside. While it [[ExiledFromContinuity cannot participate]] in [[StoryArc overarching storylines]], it serves to highlight characters or setting that ''do'' belong to the canonical continuity without interrupting the main story flow with {{exposition}}s, up to becoming dedicated {{Exposition}} BonusMaterial.
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10If the events are not inconsequential, such an episode may contain ResetButton, OrWasItADream or PerspectiveFlip to UnreliableNarrator, forming a weakened link with the {{Canon}}. If every installment in a franchise is Loose Canon, then you get NegativeContinuity. If the main continuity or WordOfGod eventually acknowledges this material as canonical despite previously labeling it as this, then you have a case of RetCanon. Compare BroadStrokes, where specific bits from a previous story are accepted as canonical in later installments. Unrelated to CowboyCop.
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12Related to SchrodingersCanon, where the material ''IS'' meant to be canonical to some extent, but is frequently at odds with the actual canon because it's not really made by the author or some other reason.
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14!!Examples:
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16[[foldercontrol]]
17
18[[folder:Advertising]]
19* The ''Advertising/UFOKamenYakisoban'' ads, game, and movie don't outright contradict each other for the most part, but since the ads are short and the game and movie are standalone stories, it doesn't really matter.
20[[/folder]]
21
22[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
23* The ''Franchise/{{Bleach}}'' anime: While the Bount, Forest of the Menos, and several other filler arcs do fit in to the anime's timeline where they're set and the former is even referenced in later episodes, "The New Captain Shūsuke Amagai" and "Zanpakutō Unknown Tales" arcs are separated from the anime's main continuity and the ambiguous place of the former in the timeline is even {{lampshade|Hanging}}d. Despite not being referenced after their conclusions, they are not removed from the anime's continuity either.
24* ''Manga/CaseClosed'' has an ongoing [[SpinOff spin-off]] manga series called ''Detective Conan Special.'' It's not drawn by the original creator (hence OffModel being the norms) And while it starts off relatively close to the source materials. Eventually, it moves away from that and now doing its own thing with story and characters. As such, it has no bearing on the main series in any capacity. [[note]]However, two cases from ''Special'' were adapted into the anime series. And the fact Conan hate raisins originated from this spin-off.[[/note]]
25** The anime also features original episodes wrote by the team. While they are not part of the manga canon. Later original episodes might have a call-back to an earlier one. Some are a direct sequel, even!
26* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'''s OVA is a DeconstructiveParody of the series... with a ResetButton at the end.
27* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
28** The franchise has [[Manga/DragonBall the core manga]] by Creator/AkiraToriyama, which all other works are inherently connected to that expand the story without contradicting the manga (even the anime can be considered this with the amount it expands on things). However many of these extra stories contradict ''each other'', and it's simply impossible to avoid ContinuitySnarl without keeping Loose Canon in mind for all of them.
29** The NonSerialMovie ''Anime/DragonBallZSuperAndroid13'' creates Androids 13, 14 and 15, which never appeared in the manga besides a [[DiscontinuityNod small nod]] about them being unfinished.
30** ''Anime/DragonBallPlanToEradicateTheSaiyans'' and ''Anime/DragonBallGT'' depict the wars between the Tuffles and the Saiyans led by King Vegeta, which doesn't really contradict the main series as the Tuffles are never referenced by name beyond the Saiyans taking over their planet.
31** The fighting game ''VideoGame/DragonballFighterz'' introduces the character of Android 21, who is based on Android 16's human counterpart's mother. Not only is this the first material to state 16 is based on Gero's son, but Android 21's human counterpart doesn't contradict anything about Doctor Gero, although the relationship between them is vague.
32** The mobile game ''VideoGame/DragonBallLegends'' introduces Shallot, an ancient Saiyan wearing an armor similar to what the Saiyans wore before Freeza took over Planet Vegeta. While the events of the game cannot have happened, Shallot himself and his attire don't contradict the series.
33* The ''Music/EvilliousChronicles'' franchise has four comedy bonus stories that were e-mailed with the ''Waltz of Evil'' databook, each of them too [[BreakingTheFourthWall self-referencing]] to actually be considered canonical. Even so, nothing contradicts that the events of the stories happened and fans tend to take the world-building assertions in them as true.
34* A tie-in game for ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' was promoted as containing secret answers that explained the [[MindScrew often-obscure worldbuilding of the series]]. At the time, [[WordOfGod it was promoted as being overseen by the director of the series]], Creator/HideakiAnno. However, this is pretty uncharacteristic for a guy like Anno, who generally balks at the idea of giving solid answers one way or the other. While the {{worldbuilding}} isn't really contradicted by the series proper or [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion its remakes]], it also is so divorced from the main story that it might as well not exist.
35* ''Franchise/OnePiece'': [[Anime/OnePieceFilmStrongWorld Shiki]] and [[Anime/OnePieceFilmRed Uta]] are unique among movie-only characters in that while their films are non-canon, the characters themselves are, having been mentioned or introduced in the manga. Their whereabouts in the current story, however, is completely unknown, which is the most interesting for Uta, as [[spoiler:she dies at the end of ''Film: Red'']].
36* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'':
37** Many of the movies -- while a few of them are shown to be part of the canon, one wonders how the Victini movies would fit in, due to them being the same movie, but with different twists.
38** The 2006 ''[[Anime/PokemonTheMastermindOfMiragePokemon Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon]]'' special is a more straightforward example. It was made by a different studio than the main anime, debuted in the U.S. before Japan, and features some discrepancies from the main series. For example, it shows Pikachu using Volt Tackle when he had not yet learned the attack in the dub (although this may simply mean that the special takes place sometime after he learned it), and gives Professor Oak a Dragonite which is never mentioned in the main series.
39[[/folder]]
40
41[[folder:Comic Books]]
42* Any comic book that is a tie-in to something else usually receives this treatment, due to there being no guarantee that consumers of the original will read or even know about the comics. This includes the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse tie-in comics, as well as many of the tie-ins for ''Franchise/MassEffect'', ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'', ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' and ''Franchise/{{Predator}}'' universes, and of course, the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse. They can't affect the original's plot because it would frustrate people who don't want to cross mediums to enjoy their story, so they are written to be as self-contained as possible.
43* IntercontinuityCrossover stories between companies are usually ignored as alternate versions of characters interacting with each other rather than the true versions of the characters from the main continuity (we have [[FakeCrossover a trope on this]]). But you'll never know for sure unless you directly ask one of them and they remember the crossover having occurred. Even so, there is dimensional amnesia and other factors to consider, such as rebooted characters who wouldn't even know if they had a crossover because the context of the older crossover represents a past that doesn't quite exist any more for the present version of the character.
44* Creator/DCComics:
45** When the DC multiverse was defined as fifty-two worlds, the {{Elseworld}} stories that were not explicitly assigned a world were considered just stories, and not alternate realities. With the infinite multiverse restored and expanded, these stories are likely still realities in the DC multiverse, as some have been revisited and expanded.
46** This is the status of the Creator/VertigoComics line of DC: it started as part of Franchise/TheDCU, with most if not all characters simply being mature-reader takes on existing characters, but has grown progressively more separate (and also began introducing new titles with no connection to the DC Universe). Basically, a Vertigo story featuring a DC character ''only'' applies to the main universe IF a story in a DC comics says it did. For example, we know that [[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 Dream of the Endless]] exists in the DC Universe because he (or rather [[LegacyCharacter his replacement]]) has appeared in issues of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' and ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica''. However, the versions of Hell from those universes do not match.
47*** Though even those interpretations of hell remain as Loose Canon due to the fact that the ''Sandman'' series posits that there are multiple parallel afterlifes. In addition, for the most part, Vertigo depicts Hell as subjective; DC depicts Hell as objective.
48** Similar to ''ComicBook/GodLovesManKills'' (see below), there's ComicBook/{{Batman}}'s 1986 ''Son of the Demon'' story: it was written to be canonical, but editorial decided Bruce Wayne having an illegitimate child made it non-canonical. Several [[ContinuityReboot reboots]] later when writer Grant Morrison introduced Damian Wayne, it became more BroadStrokes.
49* The ''ComicBook/DisneyMouseAndDuckComics'' have always operated on loose canon, as opposed to the more interconnected American comics from DC and Marvel. While there might be individual storylines or runs of the comic that keep their story mostly consistent, like ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'' or ''ComicBook/WizardsOfMickey'', every time you pick up a Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse comic you should expect the writers to pick and chose what they want to be canonical, if anything, and the story might take place in space or in medieval Europe for all you know.
50* ''ComicBook/GravityFallsLostLegends'' {{lampshade|Hanging}}s its status in one of the [[EasterEgg cryptograms]]:
51-->A fandom's work is never done\
52So here's some tales just for fun\
53You wanted more?\
54You got your wish!\
55Don't stress--it's only canon-ish.
56* Creator/MarvelComics:
57** Marvel used to write a lot of licensed comic books. Some of these licenses were even ones that didn't even have a story before Marvel came up with one, so they were free to cross them over or integrate them into their own universe as they saw fit. In later years, Marvel would [[WritingAroundTrademarks write around trademarks]] to bring these characters back, although some were easier than others. ComicBook/{{Godzilla}} and [[ComicBook/US1 U.S.1]] became the legally-distinct "Leviathan" and U.S.Ace[[note]]which, given that the character's real name was [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Ulysses Solomon]] ''[[StevenUlyssesPerhero Archer]]'', might actually make ''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools more]]'' [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools sense]][[/note]]. ComicBook/{{Rom|SpaceKnight}} is referred to only as "the greatest of the spaceknights" in further appearances (that never show his face), whereas ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'' had already been ExiledFromContinuity even when they were being published by Marvel. There's also a coy reference to the adventures of a [[Franchise/DoctorWho certain space alien who lives in a phone booth]] in Creator/PaulCornell's ''ComicBook/CaptainBritainAndMI13''. In general, the writers like letting their readers headcanon that the stories are ''still'' canonical; it's just that they never come back up for some reason.
58** ''ComicBook/BlazeOfGlory'' treats any western-based Marvel comic like this. Every detail that was a little too out-there is implicitly given the CanonDiscontinuity treatment. The idea is that those stories are [[DirectLineToTheAuthor in-universe fiction]] made to cash in on the main characters' fame. The miniseries itself has a tenuous place in the larger Franchise/MarvelUniverse, but all of its events are still considered part of [[TheVerse Earth-616]]. Which means that the ''Blaze of Glory'' version of the ComicBook/TwoGunKid must have also [[ComicBook/TheAvengers traveled to the future at some point]]; it's just not mentioned in this series so as to not break WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief. Why he never decided to bring his futuristic weapons with him to defend Wonderment [[FridgeLogic is anyone's guess]].
59** The ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' stories are a strange case, since the events are meant to depict what would happen in different timelines based on a different set of choices. Any new elements introduced in those stories should still be there in mainstream continuity, or at least in the background. But more often, unless those elements are explicitly mentioned or depicted in the main continuity (such as Jane Foster being worthy of wielding the hammer of ComicBook/TheMightyThor), the stories are considered alternate realities that do not have to affect the main Marvel continuity.
60** The ''ComicBook/XMen'' graphic novel ''ComicBook/GodLovesManKills'' was originally treated in this way: although it was not contradicted by the main ''Uncanny X-Men'' series, and generally reflected the state of the team at the time it was published, it didn't fit comfortably into any point during or between issues. The story wasn't directly referred to in canonicity until years later.
61* With ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'', while the non-Insomniac games are generally not referenced, this trope is {{averted|Trope}} in regards to the [[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic comic books]], which were written by the main writer of the games and has certain elements either referenced or present in ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankAll4One All 4 One]]'', such as Captain Qwark being president of Polaris, or the characters Zogg and Vorn.
62* Given how most ''[[ComicBook/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam & Max]]'' comics usually only last three pages and how most stories (including the cartoon and video games as well) are mostly standalone, an official canon for the overall franchise is a really hard thing to decipher. The only time continuity really comes into play these days is in the Creator/TelltaleGames ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam & Max]]'' series and tiny references to past cases (like Jesse James' severed hand from ''Sam & Max: Hit The Road'' appearing in recent episodes of the Telltale Games ''Sam & Max''.
63* ''ComicBook/TheSimpsons'' comics could be canonical to [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons the TV series]], not that the show would tell you.
64* The ''[[ComicBook/SaturdayMorningAdventures Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures]]'' comic is made entirely of episodic standalone adventures that can more or less take place at some random points of the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 '87 cartoon]], given that its continuity is pretty loose anyway. Issue #1 is the easiest one to determine when, [[ContinuityCavalcade since villains from all the pre-Red Sky seasons are referenced there]], but that's the extent of it.
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66
67[[folder:Fan Works]]
68* ''Fanfic/GettingBackOnYourHooves'': The sidestory "Another Happy Mother's Day" is said to be this by WordOfGod, being one valid possibility as to the fate of [[spoiler:[[BigBad Checker Monarch]]]]. Ironically, it's actually a RecursiveFanfiction written by Alexwarlorn, the writer of the below ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'', the two authors being good friends.
69* ''Fanfic/ManehattansLoneGuardian'': The story's 1st Anniversary chapter, which takes place months after the main story ends, features an illusion-based stageplay about Neo Arcadia; Leviathan interacting freely with Caramel Mocha, whom she hasn't met yet and has expressed thanks for assisting her with something; and Levi having a sleepover at Gray's apartment, with Ebony having sufficiently overcome her pediophobia. According to the author, whether or not any of this takes place in the story's canon is dependent on how events turn out from the battle with Glintlock onward, as he has not decided what Leviathan's ultimate fate in the story will be.
70* ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'' has the spinoff ''New Adventures: Mature Edition''. It's loosely set in the same universe as the main series, but the human characters have been [[AgeLift aged up]], and NegativeContinuity is in play, as opposed to the solider continuity of the main series.
71* ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'':
72** The series has several chapters which WordOfGod has specifically said are optional for readers to consider canonical or not, depending on their personal preference. This includes Luna's sidestory and the "Battle Pros" chapter. The former is referenced somewhat in the actual canon, but never truly confirmed.
73** Then there's [[spoiler:Pinkie Pie]]'s Side Story, detailing [[spoiler:the end of the G3 universe through her witnessing the CosmicRetcon that must be done or the universe ends]]. WordOfGod has pretty much left it up to the readers rather it's a prequel, a non-canonical standalone story, or just a fever dream of [[spoiler:Pinkie Pie]].
74* ''WebAnimation/ReturnToKrocodileIsle'': With the previous animated short, ''DKC: Curse of the Crystal Coconut -- Animated Short'' as Skurvy has the Crystal Coconut (or perhaps a replica) [[spoiler:and a news ticker in TheStinger mentions Bluster Kong's gone missing as the short had him being made to WalkThePlank]] but King K. Rool appeared in that short while, in this one, he's been missing for a decade and the Kremlings think he's dead.
75[[/folder]]
76
77[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
78* The three live-action ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' TV movies, ''Film/AFairlyOddMovieGrowUpTimmyTurner'', ''Film/AFairlyOddChristmas'', and ''Film/AFairlyOddSummer'', have this distinction when it comes to the series proper for reasons such as depicting Tootie as the only potential love interest Timmy ever had, Sparky not being present (not even after the character was introduced in the series proper), and most of all, contradicting the DistantFinale of ''WesternAnimation/ChannelChasers'', especially since [[spoiler:the ending of the third movie has Timmy turn into a fairy]].
79* In ''Franchise/StarWars'', the films contain elements that are expanded on in the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'', and previously, in ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends''. To some, only the films count, but there are appearances of EU elements like Aurra Sing in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Dash Rendar's ''Outrider'' in the [[GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion Special Edition]] of ''Film/ANewHope'', and C-3PO's red arm in ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', explained in the comic ''Star Wars Special: C-3PO''. Further, the AllThereInTheManual details of aliens, ships and technology suggests the supplementary materials count unless they are contradicted by the films. ''Film/{{Solo}}'' adapts plot points from ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'', but changes other details, and goes out of its way to re-introduce elements from the Legends continuity into the new EU. Much of the Legends material that was set thousands of years prior to the movies (and thus distant enough to not be of much risk of contradiction by any of the new canon content) is implied to be at least partially canon. For example, the "Qel-Droma Epics" are a set of stories that encompass the events of the ''ComicBook/TalesOfTheJedi'' comic books, but in-universe scholars debate how much of the stories are true and how much are embellishments. Characters such as Empress Teta, Sith Lord Naga Sadow, the Krath, Jedi-turned-Sith-turned-Jedi-again Ulic Qel-Droma and Jedi-turned-Sith Exar Kun and events like the Unification Wars, Great Hyperspace War and Great Sith War are all canon, but whether and how much the details differ from the Legends version is unclear. Darth Revan from the ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' video game is also verified to be canon, though whether the rest of the franchise (including the ongoing MMORPG ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'') will be reincorporated into canon is similarly uncertain.
80[[/folder]]
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82[[folder:Literature]]
83* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant'' has ''Gilden-Fire'', a novella consisting of material cut from ''The Illearth War''. It gives information about the Haruchai (the people that the Bloodguard come from) which is found nowhere else in the books. However, the details of the storyline don't quite mesh with the version of events given in ''The Illearth War''.
84* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
85** Spin-off materials (diaries, maps, ''Nanny Ogg's Cookbook'', etc.) are generally loosely canonical.
86** Hell, earlier Discworld books are this to later ones, because [[WordOfGod Terry Pratchett]] admitted he wasn't anything like as good a writer back then as he became. In his own words (paraphrased):
87--->Was the Patrician a fat man, or was I just not as good a writer as I am now?
88* The ''Literature/FineStructure'' story "Marooned" is Optional Canon by WordOfGod. A number of details, mostly AlternateCharacterInterpretation on the BigGood, are left to the opinion of the reader.
89* ''Literature/FiveNightsAtFreddysTheSilverEyes'' expands on the human element of the ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' universe, yet at the same time, it is its own universe. It is this book where the Purple Guy's real name was established as William Afton. The book also introduced Henry, the creator of the animatronics, and his daughter Charlie, with the catch that Henry was a PosthumousCharacter in the book, while in the games, it is instead Charlie who died in the backstory.
90* Elements of lore introduced by the movies and video games are considered canonical to the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' series by some -- as long as they don't contradict elements from higher "tiers" of canonicity, namely the books themselves and WordOfGod. Creatures like the Valcores or the Troll of Nadroj have yet to come up in expressly canonical media, but neither has their existence been jossed.
91* [[Literature/BookOfPsalms Psalm 151]]: Canon, Apocryphal, waste of paper? Depends on if you're Jewish, Roman Catholic, or Protestant.[[note]]And apocryphal is closer to the idea of the trope; read it if you want, but be prepared for evidence towards one of the other two options.[[/note]]
92[[/folder]]
93
94[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
95* To the extent that ''Series/DoctorWho'' has a continuity at all -- given that it's a show about TimeTravel that allows for changing the timeline, the show's writers generally don't tend to be strict about keeping entirely consistent with the show's whole history -- the Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse is treated in this manner. Several characters, events and settings have been introduced in the Expanded Universe and later given the RetCanon treatment. One interesting example is the episode "Boom Town" including a brief reference to the Doctor and Rose visiting the planet Justicia, which happened in a New Series Adventures novel released only two weeks before the episode aired.
96* The ''Series/{{Lost}}'' tie-in books and video game aren't canonical (except for the Incident Room in the game...) but they don't interfere with canonicity by involving background characters and just mentioning the canonical events as happening elsewhere. (The one trip-up spot here is really the part right before the end of the video game where you have to [[spoiler:save Jack and Kate from the Others]]. There's no reason why ''that'' wouldn't come up again in the series...)
97* After the release of ''Film/AvengersEndgame,'' it became unclear if ''Series/AgentsOfShield'' and other Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse shows not released for Disney Plus remained canonical. ''Series/AgentsOfShield'''s sixth and seventh seasons appear to directly contradict the timeline established by ''Endgame,'' and Coulson's death is mentioned in ''Series/{{Loki|2021}}.'' In addition, all non-Disney Plus MCU shows are listed under Disney Plus's ''Marvel Legacy'' banner, next to the likes of Sam Raimi's Film/SpiderManTrilogy and the Fox ''Film/{{X|MenFilmSeries}}-Men'' movies.
98* The third-season ''Series/TheWestWing'' episode "Isaac and Ishmael" was specifically intended to be canonically vague -- it opens with the actors telling us not to worry about where it fits into the show's chronology (which is wise, given that it falls in the middle of a cliffhanger and its resolution), but no one ever actually says that it isn't canonical.
99[[/folder]]
100
101[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
102* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' has a rather intricate [[https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Canon multilayered approach to its canon]], of which two levels are relevant to this trope:
103** Apocrypha, mostly licensed material (like the [[WesternAnimation/BattleTech1994 animated series]] and the ''VideoGame/MechWarrior'' games) whose events are accepted as BroadStrokes canon even if their specific portrayals aren't, unless otherwise contradicted in canon sources.
104** Canon Rumors, urban legends, conspiracy theories, and other stories that exist in-universe as unproven rumors, many of which involve the secret dealings of [=ComStar=] or the mysteries of the Deep Periphery beyond known space.
105** The novel ''Betrayal of Ideals'', which depicts the destruction of Clan Wolverine, also ends up falling into this. It's acknowledged in-universe that the official story that the Clans tell of the demise of the Wolverines is [[WrittenByTheWinners very self-serving]], but the novel itself goes heavy in the other direction and depicts events from a very pro-Wolverine bias (as well as contradicting some out-of-character sources of information by depicting the Wolverines as developing some technologies that were supposed to have already been widespread among the Clans by then).
106* This is the default assumption for things in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' that aren't explicitly tied to a specific campaign setting or story: if a monster book introduces a new monster, that ''might'' exist in any given campaign setting, but it's pretty likely that this monster will never be referenced again, so it's really up to the DM whether it does. For instance, 3rd Edition introduced an entire distinct magic system in the book ''Magic of Incarnum'', with four different races and three distinct classes all tied to it, which was largely ignored by subsequent books and stories. Nothing has ever outright claimed that incarnum doesn't exist in any given setting, but there's also nothing that's referenced it.
107* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'':
108** Adamant Caste Alchemicals were optional in first edition, but were made full canon from second edition onwards.
109** Third edition has three optional Exalted types, the Umbral Exalted, the Hearteaters, and the Dream-Souled. While they get basic writeups in the ''Exigents'' appendix, laying out their themes, concepts and backstories, and giving sufficient detail on their Charmsets for homebrew, the rest of the line does not assume their existence, unlike the other Exalted. In the ''Essence'' companion, the Umbrals and Dream-Souled get playable writeups, and the Hearteaters get an antagonist writeup, but they're still considered optional.
110* In the early days of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', a number tie-in novels were published by [=HarperPrism=] and a comic series was published by Armada. When the Weatherlight saga began and Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast started its own novel line, the continuity was revised (this is commonly referred to as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "The Revision"]]). Any material in the old publications is considered {{Canon}}ical unless new material directly contradicts it.
111* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' have this for almost everything. Major events get {{retcon}}ned all the time, and it's up to individual writers what they consider canonical for their story. Due to the sheer size of the setting and suspect in-universe sources of background info (which is generally presented as propaganda for one faction or another, making its reliability conveniently dubious) things they don't like can usually just be ignored and left ambiguous.
112[[/folder]]
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114[[folder:Theatre]]
115* ''Theatre/TheDrowsyChaperone'': InUniverse, Man-in-Chair never elaborates on the actors playing George and Trix. However, the booklet that comes with the 2006 Cast Recording contains fake liner notes from the record of the ShowWithinAShow, naming both of them.
116[[/folder]]
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118[[folder:Video Games]]
119* The ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' has this with both ''ComicBook/BatmanArkhamUnhinged'' comics that tie into ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' and the self-titled tie-in comics to ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', with many of the comic stories clashing with the events of the games.
120* ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive 4'' introduced a ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' Spartan, Nicole-458, as a bonus character. Given one is contemporary and the other is set in the 26th century, making her non-canonical could already be easy. But she was created in close collaboration with Creator/{{Bungie}} (specially as Creator/{{Tecmo}} wanted Master Chief himself, before Bungie told them an original character could do away with the protagonist's storyline restrictions), so the response from the ''Halo'' side is that there is a Nicole among the Spartans, only her time travelling to go hand-in-hand against busty fighters is certainly not canonical.
121* By and large, ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2''[='s=] impact on the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' franchise's canon has been kept to the barest of minimums. Prior to the timeline re-arrangement around ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5''[='s=] release, ''[=DMC2=]'' was stated to have been set long after the events of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' in such a way that it was deliberately kept out of any ongoing story arcs at the time. Capcom then {{re|tcon}}slotted ''[=DMC2=]'' between ''VideoGame/{{D|evilMayCry1}}MC1'' and ''[=DMC4=]'', but even so, it still has no relevance to the latter game's plot anyway. ''[=DMC5=]'' [[ContinuityNod reuses or recalls]] significant plot threads touched on in ''[=DMC1=]'', ''VideoGame/{{D|evilMayCry3DantesAwakening}}MC3'' and ''[=DMC4=]'' but nothing much from this game aside from minor references (the only major relevance of ''[=DMC2=]'' in anything related to ''[=DMC5=]'' isn't found in the latter game itself, but in its ''Before the Nightmare'' prequel novel).
122* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series has this in the form of "Obscure Texts", [[AllThereInTheManual supplementary items]] written by the series' [[WordOfGod developers]] and [[WordOfSaintPaul former developers]]. They're essentially treated as canonical by most of the fanbase (or at least the equivalent of the series' famous in-universe UnreliableCanon), but Bethesda has no official stance either way. Most prolific is former developer Creator/MichaelKirkbride, who still does some freelance work for the series. Most of what he writes about are the more obscure aspects of universe's cosmology which don't get expanded on in the games, as well as lore figures the games never touch upon or that Bethesda is simply finished with (like Vivec). As of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', some of the concepts in his works have been officially referenced in game (the idea of "[[ViciousCycle kalpas]]," [[LongDeadBadass Ysgramor]] and [[BadassArmy his 500 companions]], and some of the motivations of the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Thalmor]]), moving them to CanonImmigrant status.
123* The ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' storylines in ''VideoGame/MobiusFinalFantasy'' are presumably somewhat canonical, as they are written by Creator/KazushigeNojima and provide background information about the story and characters that are certainly not contradicted in ''Remake'' itself. However, the idea of Midgar and Nibelheim being relocated to an entirely different planet so Cloud can hang out with a faerie does seem outside of the context of the ''VideoGame/{{F|inalFantasyVII}}FVII'' setting and tone.
124* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'':
125** ''VideoGame/HalfLifeOpposingForce'' (note that the expansions were made by a different company than original producers Creator/{{Valve}}) introduced the main character (marine Adrian Shepard) who proved quite popular among the fanbase, and the mysterious "Race X" from another, unknown world who happened to arrive at Black Mesa during the events of ''Half-Life'' and made a weak attempt to conquer Earth. Their canonicity is pretty much a gray area: it was never completely exiled from canonicity, but they did not appear in the series again. Same goes for ''[[VideoGame/HalfLifeBlueShift Blue Shift]]''; though Barney Calhoun made his way into ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', the supporting characters (Dr. Rosenberg) and the exact events are semi-canonical at best. ''[[VideoGame/HalfLifeDecay Decay]]'' is of even further dubiousness, partly due to its obscurity.
126** Several of the security guards in ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'', in the opening before the resonance cascade sets off the game, offer to buy Gordon Freeman a beer sometime later. While Barney Calhoun appears in ''Blue Shift'', he comments in ''Half-Life 2'' that he still owes Gordon that beer. Calhoun never directly encounters Freeman during the course of ''Blue Shift'' (he only catches Freeman passing by in a tram at the beginning and witnessing him being dragged away by Marines after he's been captured at the end), though it is conceivable that many guards (perhaps even all guards) owe Gordon Freeman a beer for some reason or other.
127** The only detail from expansions that the writer of ''Half-Life'', Marc Laidlaw, has explicitly declared canonical is Black Mesa's nuclear destruction in ''Opposing Force'''s ending.
128* The whole ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' series is essentially [[https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/03/25/kirby-forgotten-land-features/ treated this way]]; there are ongoing character arcs and plot threads, but the specifics of what happened in each game aren't entirely concrete so as to avoid constraining the potential for future stories. [[https://miketendo64.com/2016/08/26/kirby-planet-robobot-ask-a-thon-round-2/ This especially applies]] to the extra modes like ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot''[='s=] Meta Knightmare Returns; said mode is a WhatIf scenario where Kirby never wakes up from his nap at the beginning of the game and Meta Knight fights the Haltmann Works Company instead. Modes like this may not be the "canon" telling of their stories, but can be considered canon elements that ''could'' have happened if things played out differently, and affect later installments accordingly.
129* It really isn't clear if ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'' is canonical to the rest of the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series. Zero's ending in ''VideoGame/MegaManX6'' establishes that he was set to be asleep for 102 years, presumably leading into the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' series, thus making those games set in 22XX -- the same year that ''Command Mission'' supposedly takes place. [[http://www.themmnetwork.com/2016/11/12/community-question-would-you-want-a-licensed-mega-man-game-for-the-30th-anniversary/?showtopic=502 Statements by Capcom]] imply that ''Command Mission'' is simply non-canonical; however, given the vague continuity placement of ''VideoGame/MegaManX7'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManX8'', which were released after the epilogue scene in ''X6'', it is possible that ''X7'' and ''X8'' are ''also'' non-canonical and thus free to lead into ''Command Mission'' (though this is unlikely, as WordOfGod claims that the ''X6'' epilogue is a DistantFinale after the events of the entire ''X'' series). Fans typically either treat ''Command Mission'' as an AlternateContinuity GaidenGame set sometime after ''X7'' or [[FanWank try to find a way to fit it into the timeline]] after the events of ''X8'', which is a bit difficult considering [[spoiler:''X8'' features both a plot hook involving the BigBad injuring Axl while embedding something in his cracked PowerCrystal and an unlockable armor for Axl in said BigBad's colors (leading many to believe this was setting up a GrandTheftMe situation for a future title), whereas Axl looks no worse for the wear in ''Command Mission'']].
130* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'':
131** ''Metal Gear Solid Mobile'' hits the ResetButton at the end by erasing Snake's memory so it doesn't interfere with canonicity (though that doesn't explain why Otacon doesn't remember any of the events either). It doesn't help that it's so hard to get hold of that it's virtually a MissingEpisode.
132** ''In the Darkness of Shadow Moses'' and ''The Shocking Conspiracy Behind Shadow Moses'', in-universe backstory documents included with ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', were both intended to be canonical at the time, but have been ignored for convenience (particularly the plot point regarding Metal Gear possessing only a dummy warhead, the background information about "the real Naomi" who went missing in the Middle East and the fate of the main Naomi). That said, not much is specifically contradicted between the games and the books and some of the things that are contradicted are likely intentional. The stuff that isn't contradicted (like the background details of Nastasha and Ames' relationship) is presumably canonical.
133** Some of the "Snake Tales" shorts included with ''Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance'' -- the stories are certainly not part of the main continuity, but some fill in background information that is probably canonical:
134*** "Confidential Legacy" is the most obvious one -- the story about Meryl working with Gurlukovich is definitely non-canonical, but it also goes into a lot of detail about Meryl's family situation which is regarded as canonical, [[NamedByTheAdaptation naming Meryl's legal father for the first time]] and delving into his military position and job. It also contains the only real explanation thus far for [[DisposableLoveInterest why Snake and Meryl are not a couple]] in ''Metal Gear Solid 2''.
135*** "Big Shell Evil" shows Snake demonstrating a photographic memory talent to memorise a long computer password. He never actually uses this ability in the canon, but there is still a very sad CallBack to it in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' in a sequence where the player may have him forget a computer password, demonstrating he has lost this ability. In addition to this, it elaborates on Snake and Otacon's friendship circumstances and interpersonal quirks, along with "External Gazer".
136*** "Dead Man Whispers" fills in a lot of detail about Vamp and Scott Dolph's relationship. The canon has Snake mention in an optional radio conversation that "rumour has it" that they were lovers. "Dead Man Whispers" makes it very clear that they both deeply loved each other, as Vamp is shown to sacrifice himself in order to protect Dolph. It also gives some characterisation to Jackson, the original leader of Dead Cell and Fortune's husband, and goes into detail about what exactly the financial corruption scandal he was involved in was.
137*** "External Gazer" is a goofy CrackFic about Philanthropy fighting a {{Kaiju}}, but explains details about Philanthropy's living situation and Mei Ling's role in the organisation.
138** ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' is generally seen as this in relation to the mainline entries. Creator/HideoKojima [[WordOfGod has gone on record to say that if he had more control over the project, he would've handled the story differently]]. That being said, the game is set at the tail-end of the timeline and explores how the war economy would have continued even after [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots the fall of SOP]]. References to events from previous games like ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' are made but never contradicted, [[{{Fanon}} so there's nothing stopping fans from accepting it as canon anyways]].
139** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPortableOps'', not being made by Kojima, is canonical [[BroadStrokes only insofar as it doesn't contradict anything else]].
140** ''VideoGame/MetalGearGhostBabel'' adds some detail to Big Boss's backstory (such as his student Augustine Eguabon) that was presumably supposed to be canonical at the time, and gives a lot of background information and worldbuilding to Galzburg/[[AdaptationNameChange Gindra]], the country where Outer Heaven was located.
141** Meryl's actual parentage, being the result of an affair between her mother and her supposed uncle Colonel Campbell, is only directly stated in the non-canonical bad ending of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' where she dies, but that revelation forms a major crux of both of their involvements in ''Metal Gear Solid 4''.
142* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' has the Ancient Civilization which is features sparingly in the games themselves. Instead most information comes from published books which contain concept art that didn't reach the games, making their canonical status uncertain. The books detail that the ''Monster Hunter'' world is a post-apocalyptic setting after the Ancients triggered a war with ''all'' of the Elder Dragons due to their vile behavior; modern Hunters are descendants of their superhuman soldiers from that war. Of particular note is the [[FleshGolem Equal Dragon Weapon]] which is largely considered to be the least likely to achieve canonical status.
143* The fifth case of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', "Rise From the Ashes", generally stays on the outside of the overall continuity of the original trilogy of games. This is because it was produced for the DS version of the first game -- a release after the [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations then-final game]] originally released in 2004, concluding the original trilogy. It's definitely canon because Ema Skye, the sidekick character from that case, later appears as an adult following the TimeSkip leading into ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'' but this is generally the only element of the case that ever extended to anything beyond its own events (and even she never says anything that directly addresses the events of the case itself during those appearances).
144* The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' spin-off duology of ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'', developed by Creator/GeniusSonority instead of Creator/GameFreak, has this status in the main series's canon. While the main series titles have progressively established that ''all'' of the games take place in a sort of [[TheMultiverse multiverse]] (the Hoenn region in ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'' canonically exists in [[AlternateUniverse its own reality]] separate from the one in the 3DS remakes, ''Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire''), the Orre region is the only region not named anywhere in-text in any of the main games (Pokémon traded from Orre are labeled vaguely as arriving "from a distant land") and no other story elements of the duology (such as Shadow Pokémon) are ever mentioned. That certain big names in Game Freak have reportedly [[DisownedAdaptation spoken disfavorably]] of the games (claiming they don't match the "vision" of the series as a whole) seems to suggest that they're deliberately ignored.
145* The ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' series has a lot of small stories -- both in the various games, as well as in the novels and AudioAdaptation -- that aren't necessarily relevant to the overarching plot, but can come into play again at any time when it comes to the CharacterDevelopment of the cast or minor plot points being developed.
146* In the ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' franchise, this is how Creator/InsomniacGames treats the games not made by them, specifically ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingMobile Going Mobile]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters Size Matters]]'', ''VideoGame/SecretAgentClank'' and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankBeforeTheNexus Before the Nexus]]''. While they fortunately haven't contradicted anything thus far, they aren't seen as being very important to the story at large and are never referenced.
147* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'':
148** The games tend to treat the spin-off games like the ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilGunSurvivor Survivor]]'' series and the ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak Outbreak]]'' series as this, with the main games making little nods to them without directly acknowledging that the events of those games occured. ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7Biohazard'' would later place the events of ''Outbreak'' into definitive canon, as players can find a newspaper article written by one character from that duology[[note]]Alyssa Ashcroft[[/note]] that explicitly features a ContinuityNod to what they experienced, though there's no word on if anyone else survived besides them. ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake'' also mentions a NPC from the ''Outbreak'' games[[note]]Rita Phillips[[/note]], albeit in a manner [[UncertainDoom that makes it unclear if they're currently alive]].
149** [[VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheUmbrellaChronicles The]] [[VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheDarksideChronicles two]] ''Chronicles'' [[LightGunGame games]] feature scenarios that are condensed versions of the first five games in the main series, depicting them in BroadStrokes, while also featuring two original scenarios. The main series, in turn, depicts these two original scenarios as LooseCanon.
150* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' has some Spin Off novels which are loose canon due to the inconsistencies it has with the game. Some of the events of the novels have been referenced in the game and one of the main characters has also shown up in the game. They officially are canon except where contradicted by the game.
151* The Creator/{{Sierra}} adventure games may include lore from tie-in novels, magazine articles, hint books, spin-offs such as Hoyle, and various reality-breaking easter eggs and joke references from other games. And whether or not the sequels to the games made by other creators are canonical depends on one's point of view.
152* According to Ken Eva of Sega Europe, ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' as a whole currently runs on this trope, as he's stated that the canon is in flux and what's canonical and what isn't can and has changed at a moment's notice. Basically, the canon is whatever they need it to be at the time.
153* [[VideoGame/AttackTheLight The]] ''[[VideoGame/SaveTheLight Light]]'' [[VideoGame/UnleashTheLight trilogy]] in relation to ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse''. The games don't contradict any canonicity established by the show and could easily be canonical but by that same token, they don't affect the show's plot at all and the endings for all three games pretty much [[ShooOutTheNewGuy write out any and all the new characters]]. You could watch the show without ever playing the games and not miss anything plot important.
154* In the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'', the ''Tales of Fandom'' games are treated this way, at least by the parts of their audience that don't speak Japanese, due to NoExportForYou. Details may gradually trickle through the fandoms as {{Fan Translation}}s are made, but since these can be unreliable, most fanfic writers consider them optional at best.
155* [[http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=4013 It is somewhat unclearly stated]] whether the ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' tie-in comic ''[[http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/ Loose Canon]]'' is in fact loose canon or not. Later comics and in-game updates build off of this comic as though it was canonical, so it's only an example of InNameOnly.
156* ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' introduces Akuma of ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' fame into [[Franchise/{{Tekken}} the series canon]], where he plays an integral part in the story by fighting and trying to kill Heihachi and Kazuya at the behest of Kazumi Mishima, the late wife of Heihachi and Kazuya's mother. He fights them both at different points in the game's Story Mode, and while his impact on the story is minimal and the outcome of their battles indicates no clear victor, each fight plays a key part in the narrative: Akuma's encounter with Heihachi is what clues him and Kazuya in on Kazumi's intention, and his later fight with Kazuya was part of Heihachi's plan to force him to activate his Devil form and discredit him in the public's eye. At the same time, however, there is no indication that Akuma ''had'' to be in the story, as his role could be filled just as easily by any other fighter.
157* The ''VideoGame/WorldOfMana'' games have no explicitly shared world or timeline, despite recurring themes such as being set in a world with a Mana Tree.
158[[/folder]]
159
160[[folder:Web Animation]]
161* ''WebAnimation/RainTheAnimatedSeries'': The skits and shorts are mostly separate from the [[Webcomic/Rain2010 comic]]'s main continuity, but appear to take place before, and after the comic’s main story.
162* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Certain franchise works are designed to compliment the canon of the main show without being part of it, including expansion novels such as ''Literature/RWBYAfterTheFall'', {{defictionaliz|ation}}ed works like ''Literature/RWBYFairyTalesOfRemnant'', and the canon-adjacent spin-off ''Anime/RWBYIceQueendom''. The soundtrack also includes feature songs with lyrics that hint at character motives and future plot, sometimes incorporated as {{Image Song}}s and {{Leitmotif}}s, but which might not be word-for-word accurate to the detail of what's happening in the show due to symbolism and artistic licence.
163[[/folder]]
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165[[folder:Web Comics]]
166* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', according to [[http://www.egscomics.com/faq.page#general_sections the FAQ page]] EGS:NP stories "generally don't have continuity unless referred to in a later story, and aren't a part of the main storyline unless referred to in the story section." This means unless they involve things that obviously would not fit in continuity (like gratuitous [[BreakingTheFourthWall Fourth Wall breaking]]) or explicitly say they are out of continuity (the [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/?date=2004-06-22 Goonmanji]] storyline is a prime example) the EGS:NP storylines can be considered Optional Canon. This was later changed when the author went back and officially declared which NP stories were canonical (via adding a picture of Grace dressed as a pirate while firing a cannon to the Author's Notes on the first page of each story).
167* The ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' bonus pages at the end of every chapter represent two different varieties. Some of the pages just show brief scenes which are [[WordOfGod officially]] canonical, but are rarely ever mentioned again. Other pages feature a white-haired girl named Tea who pops in to [[{{Narrator}} describe background details to the audience]]. The contents of her exposition are canonical, but Tea has yet to appear in the comic proper, and she has interacted with [[AuthorAvatar a cartoon representation of Tom Siddell]] (a character that the real Mr Siddell insists is non-canonical).
168* After ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' ran an intermission featuring the Midnight Crew from ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'', one member of the ''Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures'' forums began a forum-based adventure serving as a prequel to the intermission and starring the Midnight Crew's rival gang, the Felt. Although the author was eventually forced to cancel it due to accusations of forcing his fan fiction into canonicity, it was generally seen as this, especially due to the author getting permission from Andrew Hussie to use plot points and character designs that hadn't yet been featured in the main comic, and it was even given a ShoutOut by having Hussie slip a necklace resembling one worn by an OriginalCharacter from the forum adventure into the actual intermission. Andrew eventually declared it to be non-canonical, however.
169* Lampshaded in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick:''
170-->'''Haley:''' You told me once that you had skill ranks in Profession (chef), right? So cook some stew quick, we grab ourselves a pair of incapacitated warrior-types and scoot out of here.\
171'''Belkar:''' First of all, I told you that in one of the ''[[Magazine/{{Dragon}} Dragon Magazine]]'' comics, so I'm not even sure that's the same continuity.
172* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' has a handful of characters who show up only in filler strips that the author writes when he doesn't have time to do a regular strip. However, he did write a multi-part New Year's comic with them, and one of them had [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2031 a cameo]] in the comic proper. Oh, and there was also [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1690 the birthday comic]].
173* ''Webcomic/ReBootCodeOfHonor''[='=]s status in ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' canonicity is unclear. It was written entirely by a fan without any input from ''[=ReBoot=]''[='=]s creators, but was officially commissioned and hosted by Creator/RainmakerEntertainment. Furthermore, no other ''[=ReBoot=]'' material has ever resolved Season Four's cliffhanger ending. ''Series/ReBootTheGuardianCode'' is an InNameOnly SequelSeries that has nothing to do with the original series' story whatsoever. Even the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen now-canceled movie trilogy]] that was announced when ''Code of Honor'' was being written was to going to be a SoftReboot itself, so it wouldn't have resolved the cliffhanger either.
174* ''[[http://slapappverb.tumblr.com/ Slapdash Application of Verbiage]]'' alternates between regular comics and [[http://slapappverb.tumblr.com/tagged/todc "Tales of Dubious Canonicity"]], pieced together from previously-drawn artwork. Whether the events and dialogue of these comics have any bearing on the plot or characterization in the main comic is unclear.
175* ''WebComic/SluggyFreelance''
176** The "Meanwhile in..." GuestStrip series by Creator/IanMcDonald was defined as "mostly [[RougeAnglesOfSatin cannon]]" by Pete Abrams when asked, meaning not every detail was absolutely guaranteed to fit canon. Anyway, it was always written so that all the various things that happened in it didn't affect the main storyline happening elsewhere, even when they got pretty crazy and consequential. When the Dimension of Pain became active in the main story again in "That Which Redeems", it had already had a ResetButton applied after the guest stories, which then moved elsewhere and to other characters.
177** The [[Literature/HarryPotter "Torg Potter"]] parodies are canon but written so that they don't affect the main story and can be skipped. Pete practically apologises when he has a character use the same spell as in them in the main story. This has the ironic consequence that the return of [[HeWhoMustNotBeNamed You-Probably-Don't-Know-Who]], which should have been the most consequential event in the Torg Potter storylines, has no ramifications as ''Sluggy'' doesn't return to that series of parodies at least for many years.
178** A lot of guest stories are written like they want to be this, though they aren't usually given canon status by WordOfGod, and might not really fit canon. A good example is "The Sluggite Koan", which is set during previously unseen moments during "That Which Redeems" and even ties to real-world events from around the same time, complete with a RefugeeFromTVLand plot connecting the story and real-world events. In spite of being so elaborately combined with existing material, this story strongly arguably contradicts canon because Bun-bun is given MediumAwareness on the basis that he has had it (only) during FillerStrips. Anyway, it's not confirmed to be canon. One of the few guest strips that is are the "Justine Kasich" stories by Pete's daughter, which involve entirely new characters in the same world.
179%%* The ''Webcomic/TemplarArizona'' bonus comics fall into this category.
180* ''Webcomic/UnwindersTallComics'':
181** TheRant below [[http://tallcomics.com/?id=32 page 32]] specified that "It's not ''Tall Comics'' canon, but it IS ''Webcomic/{{Marmaduke}}'' canon." ''[sic]'' But fallout from the events of that page pop up again [[http://tallcomics.com/?id=62 thirty pages later]], anyway.
182** [[http://tallcomics.com/?id=97 Page 97]] gives information about the in-universe authors of ''Webcomic/PowerupComics''. The rant below is quick to point out that this shouldn't be taken as absolute canon for ''Powerup Comics'': "I mean, I consider it canon personally, and it's definitely ''Tall Comics'' canon that these are the real people behind ''Powerup Comics'', but at the same time, I don't want to invalidate any fan theories about ''Powerup''." ''[sic]''
183[[/folder]]
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185[[folder:Web Original]]
186* ''WebVideo/BackForTheFuture'' is loose canon for the ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' trilogy. The video doesn't even have an entry over on Futurepedia, the ContinuityCavalcade makes it feel almost like a parody at times, and it was made as a promo for a charity auction. But it was clearly designed to fit into BTTF canonicity right before Doc picks up Marty at the end of ''Part I'', it features Christopher Lloyd reprising his role as Doc Brown, it has executive producer credits for Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, and it was directed by trilogy producer Frank Marshall.
187* ''ARG/ILoveBees'' seems to exist as this relative to the rest of the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}''-verse; elements of it have been incorporated into subsequent ''Halo'' media (including the games), but several other aspects, most noticeably the existence of a ''second'' class of Spartan-[=IIs=], heavily contradict the rest of canon. This is probably because the ARG wasn't even meant be canonical when it still was ongoing, which caused a lot of complications later on when Creator/{{Bungie}} and Creator/ThreeFourThreeIndustries decided to change their minds and "embrace it as canon".
188* The Website/SCPFoundation as a whole is one huge loose canon made up of many smaller canons connected together and sharing the same setting. This is because SCP is written by many different authors who may just as easily ignore each other's writing or incorporate it into their own stories. Readers are encouraged to decide for themselves what is canonical, which is called "headcanon." For example most of the pages listed as "Joke [=SCPs=]" are actually not even meant to be taken as being canonical but many readers and even some writers take some of them as being canonical anyway. This is also partly justified since a lot of it is told by {{Unreliable Narrator}}s, and due to usage of {{Alternate Universe}}s, alternate timelines, {{Reset Button}}s and {{Multiple Choice Past}}s.
189[[/folder]]
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191[[folder:Western Animation]]
192* ''WesternAnimation/AeonFlux'' likely has the loosest canon ''ever''. The only things that stay the same between each episode are Aeon, Trevor, the weird future setting and Aeon failing to accomplish her mission. A graphic novel tie-in did explain the backstory, but who knows if anything about that is canonical? Even Aeon and Trevor's relationship is deliberately kept ambiguous; one short has Trevor killing Aeon, another has him giving her a mission.
193* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndHarleyQuinn'' was created by Creator/BruceTimm, co-creator of the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse; it's done in the style of ''WesternAnimation/TheNewBatmanAdventures'' and [[BroadStrokes more or less fits its continuity]]. When asked if it was part of the DCAU, Timm responded that ''he'' thinks it is, but [[GodDoesNotOwnThisWorld he doesn't know his bosses' opinion]].
194* ''Franchise/GIJoe'':
195** ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeSigma6'' was intended to be set in the same continuity as the [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeReelFX Reel FX]] movies, and the beginning of the series certainly ''seems'' to be picking up directly from where those films ended, with Cobra Commander in jail and General Hawk recovering in the hosptial like they were at the conclusion of ''Valor Vs Venom''. However, the connections between the two series largely end there, with ''Sigma 6'' largely doing its own thing; [[BroadStrokes it has a very different style and feel to the Reel FX movies, as well as different characterizations and appearances for most of the cast]]. Nothing is outright contradictory, leaving it to viewer discretion whether they share a canon.
196** ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeResolute'' occupies a very ambiguous place in wider ''Joe'' canon, as it's portrayal of the characters and lore is such that it could easily be slotted into any number of continuities without much trouble, but never does so perfectly either. In a lot of ways it feels like kind of [[AdaptationAmalgamation an amalgamation]] of the various canons made up til that point with the nature of its [[MythologyGag call-backs]] and it's general vibe, carrying elements from a little of everything (the DarkerAndEdgier storytelling of the Marvel comic, the fanciful sci-fi tech of ''Real American Hero'', the {{Animesque}} style of ''Sigma 6'', etc.). For the sake of convenience, the fandom tends to treat it as its own continuity.
197* This is for the most part how ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'' animated spinoffs work: they are officially not canon, but generally do not contradict the events of the movies. However, they do frequently contradict ''each other'', such the Emperor (and, in one case, Empress) of China almost never sharing the same species or personality. This is despite one series occasionally referencing elements from another, such as Bunnidharma from ''[[WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaThePawsOfDestiny Paws of Destiny]]'' talking about Ke-Pa, who's a ''[[WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness Legends of Awesomeness]]'' exclusive villain; or Po being referred to as the Dragon ''Master'' (rather than Dragon Warrior) in ''[[WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaTheDragonKnight The Dragon Knight]]'' as he was in ''Paws of Destiny''.
198* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
199** ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Equestria Girls]]''. While the first few films explicitly take place after certain canonical moments[[note]][[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls1 The first film]] takes place just after the third season, [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks the second]] just after season four, and [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames the third]] overlaps with the events of the season five finale[[/note]], none of the events that happen in this part of G4 continuity are ever brought up to any degree in the main series. The closest acknowledgments this parallel universe has received are two brief appearances of Flash Sentry's Equestrian counterpart in the show's fourth season, a season seven flashback depicting the villains of the second [=EqG=] film being banished to the human world, and a background cameo of [=EqG=] "villain-turned-hero protagonist" Sunset Shimmer in the show's DistantFinale. [[WordOfGod According to the series' directors]], both works are canonical to each other, but only ''[=FiM=]'' events will have any effect on ''EG'' and not vice versa to avoid ContinuityLockOut.
200** [[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW The comic book spin-off of the show]] is of ambiguous continuity to both ''Friendship is Magic'' and ''Equestria Girls''. While the creative team behind the comic believes that their work is canon unless the show directly contradicts/retcons it, with this also being Hasbro's official stance, [=FiM=] series director Jim Miller personally has a much looser "[[SchrodingersCanon everything is canonical until it isn't and nothing is canonical until it is]]" stance. He would later explain in a [[https://www.equestriadaily.com/2019/09/cut-ideas-and-general-my-little-pony.html post-series interview]] that the creative teams behind the shows were never kept updated on anything regarding the comics, so he doesn't feel too strongly about their canonicity.
201** ''Friendship Is Magic'' has some chapter books and picture books used to be ambiguously canonical, but unlike ''Equestria Girls'' and the comics above, they would start being referenced sparingly once the writer of said books joined the show's writing staff in Season 5.
202* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'': ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' ends leading into ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou'', turning out to be a [[StealthSequel Stealth Prequel]]. The [[WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooDirectToVideoFilmSeries direct-to-video movies released in 2010 and beyond]] may or may not take place after ''Mystery Incorporated'', as ''Mystery Incorporated'' never confirms or denies that Velma has any siblings that don't live in Crystal Cove with her, Velma's mother is said to be doting not unlike her ''Mystery Incorporated'' counterpart, and the Mystery Machine is the same model used from the show as well as having a license plate from Crystal Cove. On the other hand, in one of the movies, Daphne makes a big deal out of her realizing her feelings for Fred, despite their romance being a major part of their story in ''Mystery Incorporated''.
203* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
204** The ''WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror'' episodes are explicitly non-canonical, due to [[AnyoneCanDie certain]] [[UniversalAdaptorCast factors]]. However, certain elements of the episodes, such as the German exchange student Uter Zorker (debuted in "Terror at 5½ Feet" from the fourth episode) and the Lard Lad Donuts franchise (debuted in "Attack of the 50[[superscript:FT]] Eyesores" from the sixth episode) have appeared in the main episodes themselves, and there's no stopping others (like Sherri and Terri having older twin brothers in "Treehouse of Horror XXVII") from doing the same. Of course, some elements are just as susceptible to SchrodingersCanon (in the ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' parody from "Treehouse of Horror XX", Marge is reluctant to kill [[TechnicallyLivingZombie a Muncherified Helen Lovejoy]] because she's Lisa's godmother, but "The Changing of the Guardian", a standard episode of the show made three seasons later, revolves around Homer and Marge appointing guardians for their children after surviving a life-endangering situation).
205** Unlike the show's WholeEpisodeFlashback scenarios, which strive to retain a continuity, FlashForward episodes don't fall into a timeline and tend to [[MultipleChoiceFuture contradict each other]], partly due to developments within the series' present being reflected in the future (for example, the death of Ned Flanders' wife Maude, who's shown alive in the first FlashForward "Lisa's Wedding"). While, originally, these episodes tended to have an UnreliableNarrator framing device, starting with "Holidays of Future Passed" they simply speak for themselves without either integrating directly into canon or going directly against it. While several of these episodes have elements of continuity between them (most notably "Days of Future Future" as an intentional SequelEpisode to "Holidays of Future Passed"), they largely stand on their own.
206* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
207** ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' is a part of the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'', while the old ExpandedUniverse, ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'', is stated to no longer be canonical. Still, since ''The Clone Wars'' frequently made a ContinuityNod to things that were canon ''at the time'', it means there are many references to events that happen in officially non-canonical stories. In particular, the series had a tie-in comic that filled in some gaps (such as how Wolffe lost his eye, for instance) but is now officially non-canonical.
208** ''WesternAnimation/LEGOStarWarsTheFreemakerAdventures'' has been described [[http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/17/lego-star-wars-the-freemaker-adventures-is-more-intense-than-you-think as "canon paraphrase"]]; think a kid reenacting things through their toys. The specifics of each episode are likely non-canonical, but the basic events do have some degree of canonization. The Freemaker family, their reprogrammed battle droid R0-GR, and the Hutt crime lord Graballa all explicitly exist in canon, though it's unclear whether the canon version of Rowan is Force-sensitive like in the cartoon and it's extremely unlikely that the Sith assassin Naare and the Kyber Saber exist at all in canon.
209* ''Manga/ZukosStory'' is a tie-in {{Prequel}} comic to ''Film/TheLastAirbender'', the live-action film adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. However, the writers went out of their way to incorporate details from the animated series. Except for Zuko and Iroh being drawn as their movie counterparts, the story would fit right in with the animated series, [[http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/05/17/the-last-airbender-qa-exploring-zukos-story-with-co-writer-dave-roman/ which was in fact the authors' intent.]] There is however no word on whether the series considers it to be canonical.
210[[/folder]]

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