Line #48 Main/ActionFigureFileCard


1	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/61722f4807e3f5586365bcc36496c46e.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'' card that combines biographical data with subtle BitingTheHandHumor.]]
3
4	An Action Figure File Card is a brief description of a particular character included on or inside its toy packaging.
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6	The UrExample is ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero''. When Creator/{{Hasbro}} was preparing to revive the ''Franchise/GIJoe'' franchise in [[The80s the early 1980s]], Creator/LarryHama was hired to write [[ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel a comic book]] based on the figures. According to [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150502115528/http://www.mania.com/gi-joe-generalissimo-larry-hama_article_115801.html this interview]] with Hama, he created these "dossiers" to keep track of the toy line's huge cast: "When the guys at Hasbro saw these first dossiers, they said, 'These would be cool on the back of the blister pack!'"
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8	The file cards started simply, featuring basic information on each Joe or Cobra member's {{Backstory}}, personality, and abilities, usually accompanied with a quote by or about the character. As the line continued, Hama's writing became increasingly clever and elaborate; he often added humor to the file cards (as [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150502115528/http://www.mania.com/gi-joe-generalissimo-larry-hama_article_115801.html this article]] shows). Hasbro added file cards to many of their other lines, and several competitors (most notably Creator/PlaymatesToys) [[FollowTheLeader followed their example]], making this a popular trope for action figure packaging.
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10	Typically, a file card appears on the back of the figure's blister card, although sometimes a trading card-like insert is used instead, especially if the figure comes with a large vehicle. Many of Playmates' ''Franchise/StarTrek'' figures [[TakeAThirdOption take both options]] to provide a double dose of data, as does their ''WesternAnimation/{{Mysticons}}'' line.
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12	This is typically a simple but effective way to give life to toys, turning them from just "action figures" to full-blown ''characters''. Website/TFWikiDotNet, for example, credits these for helping Transformers win out over their competitors like the Gobots. Where the Gobots toys had no faction identification or common theme (a car was just as likely to be a heroic Guardian as an evil Renegade), each Transformers toy identified not just the character's name, but their rank, function within their respective army, and enough information to get an idea of their personality.
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14	This was especially effective for characters who never appeared on, say, a cartoon made to advertise the toyline. As an example, ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' only had 5 or 6 characters per faction on the cartoon, while there were plenty more characters who were toy only. Someone like Wolfang or Cybershark only got characterisation from the file card. This sometimes even extended to main characters: for example, in the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon several characters were upgraded in [[MidSeasonUpgrade Transmetals]]. In the toyline, even characters who ''didn't'' undergo this process had Transmetal toys, with only the file cards describing what effect the change had on them (e.g. ButtMonkey Waspinator [[TookALevelInBadass was described as becoming more confident and competent as a warrior]] post-upgrade).
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16	!Action figure lines with file cards, organized by toy company:
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18	[[foldercontrol]]
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20	[[folder:Coleco]]
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22	* ''WesternAnimation/RamboTheForceOfFreedom'' has character descriptions on the card backs, and trading cards with additional info inside the packaging.
23	[[/folder]]
24
25	[[folder:ERTL]]
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27	* ''Film/SuperMarioBros1993'' had these done as the front page from a [[BigApplesauce Dinohattan]] newspaper.
28	[[/folder]]
29
30	[[folder:Galoob]]
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32	* ''WesternAnimation/BikerMiceFromMars''
33	* ''WesternAnimation/DefendersOfTheEarth''
34	* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Hasbro]]
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39	* ''ComicBook/BuckyOHareAndTheToadWars'': Larry Hama co-created this series, and he wrote the file cards in his distinctive style.
40	* ''WesternAnimation/COPS1988'': Larry Hama wrote these file cards too; Checkpoint's bio is (in)famous for hinting that he's the descendant of ''G.I. Joe'' character Beach Head.
41	* ''Franchise/GIJoe''
42	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}''
43	* During G1, ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' toys came with descriptions on the back. By G3 in the 2000s these paragraphs were down to vague one sentence descriptions.
44	** [[SpinOff Spin-Offs]] ''Toys/FairyTails'' and ''Toys/MyPrettyMermaids'' also came with descriptions on the back of their packaging.
45	* ''Marvel Legends''
46	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePiratesOfDarkWater''
47	* ''Franchise/StreetFighter''
48	* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'': Originally included [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Tech_Spec "Tech Specs,"]] numerical stats in addition to the usual bio, though some recent toylines don't have them anymore.
49	** Detailed profiles returned in the ''Combiner Wars'' line, at least for the Deluxe-class figures that come with a comic book issue. The profile is printed on the back cover, in the form of a status report provided by either [[ToylessToylineCharacter Rung]] for the Autobots, or Soundwave for the Decepticons.
50	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}''
51	* ''WesternAnimation/WildWestCowboysOfMooMesa''
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Kenner]]
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56	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Centurions}}''
57	* ''Franchise/StarWars'': When the line was revived in 1995, the earliest figures included detailed file cards, although this was eventually dropped.
58	* ''The Super Powers Collection'' (Creator/DCComics characters)
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Lionel]]
62	* ''Power Masters''
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Mattel]]
66	* ''Film/JurassicWorld'' toys by Mattel had cards with art of the dinosaur and stats of Intelligence, Strength and Speed. They seem to have been phased out though, as newer lines don’t have them.
67	* ''WesternAnimation/KingArthurAndTheKnightsOfJustice''
68	* ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'', particularly the figures meant for adult collectors.
69	* ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'': The back of the boxes for the Premium Sculpt figures had art of the figures, along with text showing what village the characters are from, along with their signature techniques.
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Playmates Toys]]
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74	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAddamsFamily1992''
75	* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10''
76	* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck''
77	* ''Film/DickTracy'' (toys based on the 1990 film)
78	* ''WesternAnimation/ExoSquad''
79	* ''WesternAnimation/FlashGordon1996'': Atypically for the trope, these cards had the heroes and villains describing each other.
80	* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterForce''
81	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Mysticons}}''
82	* ''WesternAnimation/SkeletonWarriors''
83	* ''Franchise/StarTrek''
84	* ''Series/SuperhumanSamuraiSyberSquad''
85	* ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin''
86	* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''
87	* ''WesternAnimation/WildCATs1994''
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89	Also, some Playmates figures (''WesternAnimation/{{Antz}}'', ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'', ''Film/{{Coneheads}}'') have character descriptions, but not in the form of file cards.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Tonka]]
93	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiralZone'' had these in the form of pamphlets packaged with the figures.
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:Other]]
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98	* ''TabletopGame/CartoonActionHour'', being based on toyetic cartoons, uses this concept for the players' character sheets.
99	* Creative Beast Studios’ ''Beasts of the Mesozoic'' dinosaur figures each have a card that contains artwork of the dinosaur and facts about the species.
100	* The ''Toys/SuperThings'' all have file card-esque bios that list their power, catchphrase, and sometimes a few facts about their personality; these are readable on the toyline’s official website, except for the ones from Series 3 (which are unavailable due to a glitch) and ''Evolution'' (which the site has not yet been updated to include).
101	* The back of the boxes for Toynami's ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'' action figures (with the exception of the SDCC 2010 Namikaze Minato), had descriptions telling the backstories of the characters. Note that the backstory on Pain's box refers him to his true name Nagato.
102	* PNSO Prehistoric Animal Models each include a pamphlet that has facts, a skeletal model, and tells a short story from the creature’s point of view.
103	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ActionFigureFileCard