User:Flippy/trophy origins

General notes:

• Melee doesn't have nearly as many original trophy models as people think it does. Santa isn't real.
  • Please note this doesn't make the devs lazy. It still takes a lot of work to pose the models, refine them, adjust them for consistency, etc. It's efficient and smart that in only a year's time, they took so many pre-existing models, modified some to unrecognizability, and managed to still make a game that looks great.
• Generally, new/original models were made for characters who had absolutely never been seen in 3D before or whose existing models were too low-poly to be used even in Melee, but otherwise the game relies heavily on source models from other games and internal pre-render/stock/reference models. In particular, Mario uses then-contemporary N64 renders extensively when available, and Pokémon are nearly always internal Creatures/TPC models with few if any known exceptions. TPC is known to have provided species' trophy text, and presumably models, directly to HAL, as did Marigul for their associated games.
• The devs used what was easily available during 2000/2001, which mostly consisted of late-era N64 games, and Spaceworld demos of GameCube games.
• For characters never seen in 3D, art from manuals and game boxes were used as reference.
• Some Classic trophies are the Melee models re-posed, re-textured, or lowered in polygon count to resemble their classic artwork or models, or potentially are early versions of their final models, while some are totally separate models.
• Trophy design was directed by HAL but modelling was mostly handled by Creatures.
• Rare explicitly were credited for providing DK's rendered model in SSB, so given that they both already had access to it, Rare are credited for "characters from DKC2", and Dixie and K. Rool's trophies match with their rendered models exactly, it seems reasonable the same thing happened here. All this makes the lack of Diddy trophy especially conspicuous. But considering we know Rare trophies were cut, my theory is that Diddy's trophy was going to be specifically themed after Diddy Kong Racing and that caused legal snafus.
• Huge thank you to Picto whose blog opened my eyes to Melee's use of obscure render models rather than direct game rips.

Normal Order #	Game Order #	Name	Image	Origin
1	1	Mario		Melee/Modified? (Classic trophy seems to be model used in intro. His classic trophy heavily resembles, if not outright being, his classic N64 era render model (Super Mario 64), as with the other Mario cast (Reference: Mario Party 3). Seems to have been retextured to create his fighter model.)
2	221	Mario SMASH
3	222	Mario SMASH
4	48	Donkey Kong		Modified from standard Rare model (basis for classic trophy, modified further for Melee model)
5	225	Donkey Kong SMASH
6	226	Donkey Kong SMASH
7	56	Link		Melee (classic mode is standard Melee model posed like his OOT artwork which was clearly reference for model to begin with). Only pre-existing high-poly model is the Spaceworld 2000 model, whose details are distinctly different (face, belt, gauntlets, earrings, ears, sideburns, etc).
8	227	Link SMASH
9	228	Link SMASH
10	93	Samus Aran		Original, entirely separate from Fighter model
11	233	Samus Aran SMASH		Melee. Only existing high-poly model was Retro's preliminary Prime model from Spaceworld 2000, which is clearly different.
12	234	Samus Aran SMASH
13	42	Yoshi		Early version of GameCube era stock model. First used outside Melee in Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Party 4.
14	223	Yoshi SMASH		Melee
15	224	Yoshi SMASH
16	101	Kirby		Melee (classic retextured to resemble Super Star reference artwork)
17	235	Kirby SMASH
18	236	Kirby SMASH
19	83	Fox McCloud		Pre-render model: Star Fox 64
20	231	Fox McCloud SMASH		Melee
21	232	Fox McCloud SMASH
22	135	Pikachu		Melee (potentially derived from Pokémon Stadium render model but all three trophies are unambiguously the same model.)
23	239	Pikachu SMASH
24	240	Pikachu SMASH
25	121	Ness		Melee (classic is modified to match clay Earthbound art)
26	237	Ness SMASH
27	238	Ness SMASH
28	76	Capt. Falcon		Melee
29	229	Capt. Falcon SMASH
30	230	Capt. Falcon SMASH
31	10	Bowser		Pre-render model: N64 era (Super Mario 64)
32	245	Bowser SMASH		Melee
33	246	Bowser SMASH
34	7	Peach		Pre-render model: Mario Party 3
35	247	Peach SMASH		Melee
36	248	Peach SMASH
37	181	Ice Climbers		Sprite rip
38	257	Ice Climbers SMASH		Melee, first 3D appearance
39	258	Ice Climbers SMASH
40	58	Zelda		Melee (classic mode is standard Melee model posed and recoloured like her OOT artwork). No pre-existing high-poly model.
41	249	Zelda SMASH
42	250	Zelda SMASH
43	59	Sheik		Melee (classic mode is standard Melee model posed and recoloured like her OOT artwork). No pre-existing high-poly model.
44	251	Sheik SMASH
45	252	Sheik SMASH
46	8	Luigi		Melee (like Mario, classic trophy appears to be Melee model modified to resemble N64 era renders, or the basis for fighter model entirely)
47	243	Luigi SMASH
48	244	Luigi SMASH
49	137	Jigglypuff		Melee/Modified (classic trophies are recoloured/redetailed and posed to resemble classic art. Mewtwo's model could be derived from this Stadium render model but hard to say definitively. Very possible it was at least used as reference. Jiggs is probably also an internal model her Stadium model was downscaled from.)
50	241	Jigglypuff SMASH
51	242	Jigglypuff SMASH
52	150	Mewtwo
53	255	Mewtwo SMASH
54	256	Mewtwo SMASH
55	128	Marth		Original (face is completely different, body otherwise seems to be a prototype version of his Fighter model). First 3D appearance.
56	253	Marth SMASH		Melee
57	254	Marth SMASH
58	217	Mr. Game & Watch		Sprite rip or recreation
59	259	Mr. Game & Watch SMASH		Melee, first 3D appearance
60	260	Mr. Game & Watch SMASH
61	2	Dr. Mario		Original, first 3D appearance (artwork reference: Dr. Mario)
62	261	Dr. Mario SMASH		Melee
63	262	Dr. Mario SMASH
64	63	Ganondorf		Model rip: Spaceworld 2000 demo, confirmed by Sakurai to be the case (classic mode is standard Melee model posed like his OOT artwork, with details removed)
65	271	Ganondorf SMASH
66	272	Ganondorf SMASH
67	84	Falco Lombardi		Pre-render model: Star Fox 64
68	265	Falco Lombardi SMASH		Melee
69	266	Falco Lombardi SMASH
70	57	Young Link		Melee (classic mode is standard Melee model posed like his OOT artwork). No pre-existing high-poly model.
71	263	Young Link SMASH
72	264	Young Link SMASH
73	156	Pichu		Pre-render/internal Creatures model: Pokémon Stadium GS
74	267	Pichu SMASH
75	268	Pichu SMASH
76	129	Roy		Melee, first 3D appearance (classic is Fighter trophy with less detail)
77	269	Roy SMASH
78	270	Roy SMASH
79	288	Male Wire Frame		Melee, original characters
80	289	Female Wire Frame
81	290	Fighting Wire Frames
82	291	Giga Bowser
83	292	Master Hand
84	293	Crazy Hand
85	279	Food		Melee item
86	116	Maxim Tomato
87	67	Heart Container
88	118	Warp Star
89	283	Ray Gun
90	219	Super Scope
91	30	Fire Flower
92	211	Lip's Stick
93	117	Star Rod
94	274	Beam Sword
95	281	Home-Run Bat
96	280	Fan
97	55	Hammer
98	36	Green Shell
99	37	Red Shell
100	206	Flipper
101	35	Freezie
102	125	Mr. Saturn
103	16	Bob-omb
104	194	Proximity Mine / Motion-Sensor Bomb
105	28	Super Mushroom
106	29	Poison Mushroom
107	33	Starman
108	119	Parasol
109	100	Screw Attack
110	32	Metal Box
111	70	Bunny Hood
112	195	Cloaking Device
113	54	Barrel Cannon
114	282	Party Ball
115	275	Crate
116	273	Barrel
117	276	Capsule
118	278	Egg
119	277	Smash Coins
120	178	Poké Ball		Various internal Creatures/Pokémon Company/Game Freak renders, from Pokémon Stadium, TCG renders, and internal sources (Lugia is of particular note as its model is from an obscure internal source, many others are posed exactly like existing renders)
121	131	Venusaur
122	132	Charizard
123	133	Squirtle
124	134	Blastoise
125	136	Clefairy
126	139	Electrode
127	140	Weezing
128	141	Chansey
129	142	Goldeen
130	143	Staryu
131	146	Snorlax
132	147	Articuno
133	148	Zapdos
134	149	Moltres
135	151	Mew
136	152	Chikorita
137	153	Cyndaquil
138	159	Togepi
139	160	Bellossom
140	161	Marill
141	162	Sudowoodo
142	163	Unown
143	164	Wobbuffet
144	166	Scizor
145	168	Porygon2
146	169	Raikou
147	170	Entei
148	171	Suicune
149	172	Lugia
150	173	Ho-oh
151	174	Celebi
152	11	Toad		Possibly original, noticeably higher-poly than his in-game Melee model, which might have been downscaled from this
153	31	Coin		Melee
154	38	Vegetable
155	40	Megavitamins
156	69	Lon Lon Milk
157	105	Kirby Hat 1
158	106	Kirby Hat 2
159	107	Kirby Hat 3
160	108	Kirby Hat 4
161	109	Kirby Hat 5
162	41	Princess Peach's Castle
163	19	Banzai Bill
164	18	Lakitu		Promo render: Mario Party / Super Mario 64
165	27	Pidgit		Sprite rip (Super Mario All-Stars)
166	26	Birdo		Sprite rip (Super Mario Advance) (note the lighter colours than Super Mario All-Stars)
167	53	Klap Trap		Melee (same as stage, possibly heavily-reduced-poly version of pre-render model)
168	45	Shy Guys		Sprite rip (Yoshi's Story)
169	47	Pak E. Derm		Sprite rip (Yoshi's Story)
170	62	Tingle		Model rip: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
171	74	Moon		Model rip: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
172	73	Turtle		(Modified model rip: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (shell was remodelled, rest seems the same)
173	75	Four Giants		Model rip: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
174	68	Master Sword		Melee (repurposed from Adventure Mode)
175	77	Falcon Flyer		Melee (Big Blue, first appearance in an actual game)
176	78	F-Zero Racers		Model rips: F-Zero X
177	82	Mute City		Melee (model of stage)
178	87	Arwing		Melee (from Corneria, potentially derived from 64 pre-render)
179	88	Great Fox		Melee (Corneria, potentially derived from 64 pre-render)
180	85	Peppy Hare		Pre-render model: Star Fox 64
181	86	Slippy Toad		Pre-render model: Star Fox 64
182	96	Kraid		Melee (Brinstar Depths - first 3D appearance). Design reference: Super Metroid Japanese box art
183	99	Chozo Statue		Melee (Brinstar - first 3D appearance)
184	115	Whispy Woods		Melee (stage model)
185	120	Fountain of Dreams		Melee (stage model)
186	127	UFO		Melee (stage model)
187	180	Pokémon Stadium		Melee (stage model)
188	218	Game & Watch		Melee (stage model)
189	285	Target		Melee (original game element)
190	284	Sandbag
191	286	Battlefield
192	287	Final Destination
193	20	Goomba		Melee (Adventure Mode) - similar to Mario Party 3 render
194	21	Koopa Troopa		Melee (Adventure Mode) - similar to Mario Party render
195	22	Koopa Paratroopa		Melee (Adventure Mode) - I think this might be original, it doesn't match the closest N64 render (Mario Tennis) and actually seems to have used its ingame model as reference. Model is noticeably lower-poly than Koopa Troopa's.
196	64	ReDead		Modified model rip: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (darkened, but otherwise identical)
197	66	Octorok		Melee (Adventure Mode) (Higher-poly than Ocarina of Time model, totally remade)
198	65	Like Like		Melee (Adventure Mode) (Remade or modified from Ocarina of Time model)
199	182	Topi		Melee, first 3D appearance
200	183	Polar Bear		Melee, first 3D appearance
201	4	Raccoon Mario		Modified pre-render model: Super Mario 64
202	3	Mario & Yoshi		Melee (fighter models)
203	5	Metal Mario		Melee
204	6	Paper Mario		Artwork rip: Paper Mario
205	12	Wario		Pre-render model: Mario Party 3 (Pose comparison)
206	14	Plum		Original
207	13	Daisy		Pre-render model: N64 era (Reference: Mario Party 3)
208	15	Waluigi		Pre-render model: N64 era (Reference: Mario Party 3)
209	17	Thwomp		Original (early use of classic design in 3D)
210	23	Boo		Modified/Heavily referenced from N64 era render model: Reference A - Mario Tennis (near-exact except teeth), Reference B - Super Mario 64 (teeth)
211	24	Koopa Clown Car		Original
212	25	Viruses		Original (first known 3D appearance, possible reference)
213	34	Bucket		Original (first 3D appearance)
214	39	Racing Kart		Pre-render model: Mario Kart 64
215	44	Baby Mario		Pre-render model: N64 era (Reference: Mario Golf)
216	43	Baby Bowser		Pre-render model: Yoshi's Story
217	46	Raphael Raven		Original, first appearance in 3D
218	51	Dixie Kong		Standard pre-render model: Donkey Kong Country 2
219	52	King K. Rool		Standard pre-render model: Donkey Kong Country series (reference pic: DK64, DKC1 reference)
220	60	Goron		Original, much higher poly than Ocarina model, faithfully remade like Octorok
221	61	Marin		Original, first 3D appearance (Reference art: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening manual)
222	72	Majora's Mask		Box art render: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (in context)
223	71	Ocarina of Time		Official render: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
224	79	Samurai Goroh		Original (same model as in opening, 3D debut) Reference: F-Zero X manual/character select
225	80	Dr. Stewart		Original, 3D debut (Reference: F-Zero X manual/character select)
226	81	Jody Summer		Original, 3D debut (Reference art: F-Zero X manual/character select)
227	89	Landmaster Tank		Pre-render model: Star Fox 64
228	90	Wolfen		Pre-render model: Star Fox 64
229	92	Andross		Could be his OG Star Fox pre-render if they had access to it, or faithfully recreated
230	91	Andross		Original (much higher-poly than his in-game model or render, and has distinctly different ear shapes)
231	94	Samus Unmasked		Original head model, Melee body model
232	95	Samus's Starship		Original, first appearance in 3D
233	97	Metroid		Original, first appearance in 3D
234	98	Ridley		Melee (same model as intro, first appearance in 3D) Design reference: Super Metroid Japanese box art
235	104	Fire Kirby		Original derived from Kirby's Melee model
236	103	Fighter Kirby		Original derived from Kirby's Melee model (Reference art: Kirby Super Star)
237	102	Ball Kirby		Original derived from Kirby's Melee model
238	111	Waddle Dee		Model rip: Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2 (cancelled)
239	110	King Dedede		Original (Reference art: Kirby Super Star) (given above, possible this and other Kirby trophies may have internal HAL origins, but as noted by Graphical Curiosities blog, possible Waddle Dee is a chicken-and-egg situation)
240	113	Rick		Original, first 3D appearance (Reference art: Kirby's Dream Land 3)
241	112	Gooey		Original, first 3D appearance
242	114	Meta-Knight		Original, first 3D appearance
243	122	Paula		Original, first 3D appearance, based on game's clay models
244	123	Jeff
245	124	Poo
246	126	Starman
247	130	Bulbasaur		Pokémon Stadium
248	138	Poliwhirl		Pokémon Stadium
249	144	Ditto		Pokémon Stadium
250	145	Eevee		Pokémon TCG
251	154	Totodile		Pokémon Stadium GS
252	155	Crobat		Pokémon TCG
253	157	Cleffa		Pokémon Stadium GS
254	158	Igglybuff
255	165	Steelix		Pokémon TCG
256	167	Heracross		Pokémon TCG
257	175	Meowth		Meowth's Party Demo
258	176	Professor Oak		Possibly original, 3D debut. Oak appeared in the HAL-developed Pokémon Snap, so they could have been given a reference model if one existed, but he was only 2D in the final game. The same pose appears as 2D art in the manual. This trophy is actually off-model due to reproducing an artwork error - Oak's cowlick is mirrored. It appears normally in other drawings throughout the manual, which indicates the art was mirrored after creation. This actually makes me lean toward it not being a reference model, because I doubt one would have a unique error like this that appears nowhere else. This version of Oak also wears slippers, a detail present in the games and Snap manual but not his anime model. I lean toward this model having been designed by HAL due to misinterpreting reference material they had handy from Snap. Very surprisingly curious case. Worth noting is that Sakurai specified that Pokemon creatures' trophy text were provided to them, implying HAL had more leeway with this last set of trophies.
259	177	Misty		Possibly original, 3D debut. Similar to Oak, the trophy notably uses Misty's anime design rather than her game design. Given the precedent of Lugia, I first suspected this was a reference model for merch purposes, i.e. as for creating figures. Like the second thoughts I had from Oak though, this trophy is slightly offmodel; her pigtail is much longer than usual. I suspect it could be the opposite and HAL custom-designed this trophy using a real-world figure as reference, something Sakurai has been known to do; the details and colouring otherwise do resemble this figure, and the pose (possible reference) could come from some of his trademark Microman action.
260	179	ZERO-ONE		Pre-render model: Pokémon Snap. The game was developed by HAL so they had the model handy, pretty open-and-shut.
261	200	Maruo Maruhige		Original, first 3D appearance
262	184	Ryota Hayami		Model rip: Wave Race: Blue Storm (pose reference: promo art)
263	185	Kensuke Kimachi		Unknown, higher-poly than his in-game model, couldn't find a matching render. Either original or internal reference model
264	186	Love Giant		Model rip: Doshin the Giant (GCN)
265	187	Hate Giant		Model rip: Doshin the Giant (GCN)
266	188	Ray Mk Ⅱ		Original (custom-made by Noise)
267	189	Bayonette
268	190	Annie
269	192	Tom Nook		Model rip: Animal Forest
270	193	Totakeke		Model rip: Animal Forest
271	191	Mr. Resetti		Model rip: Animal Forest
272	196	Heririn		Original (notably misinterprets beak detail on bottom of ship)
273	199	Alpha		Unused model: Cubivore
274	9	Vacuum Luigi		Model rip: Luigi's Mansion
275	198	Pikmin		Model rip: Pikmin
276	197	Captain Olimar		Model rip: Pikmin
277	209	Excitebike		Original, first 3D appearance
278	210	Tamagon		Original, first 3D appearance (Reference art: Devil World box art - Red Tamagon's pose with regular Tamagon's colours)
279	49	Donkey Kong Junior		Pre-render model: Mario Tennis
280	202	Ducks		Original, first 3D appearance
281	201	Bubbles		Original, first 3D appearance (reference: Clu Clu Land box art)
282	204	Eggplant Man		Original, first 3D appearance
283	203	Mach Rider		Original, first 3D appearance
284	205	Balloon Fighter		Original, first 3D appearance
285	50	Stanley		Original, first 3D appearance
286	207	Pit		Original, first 3D appearance (Reference art: Kid Icarus)
287	208	Dr. Wright		Pre-render model: SimCity 64
288	214	Donbe & Hikari		Original, first 3D appearance (Donbe reference, both reference)
289	213	Ayumi Tachibana		Original, first 3D appearance
290	212	Monster		Original, first 3D appearance
291	215	Sheriff		Sprite rip
292	216	Diskun		Artwork rip
293	220	GCN		Original (or possibly internal Nintendo reference model)