Editing Tawna Bandicoot

{{Character infobox
|image = <tabber>CB1=[[File:Crash Bandicoot game Tawna.png]]<br>Screenshot of Tawna from ''[[Crash Bandicoot (game)|Crash Bandicoot]]''|-|Boom Bang!=[[File:Crash Boom Bang Tawna.png|140px|]]<br>Emulator-enhanced screenshot of Tawna from ''[[Crash Boom Bang!]]''|-|NST / CTRNF=[[File:Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Tawna Render.png|120px]]<br>Promotional artwork of Tawna for ''[[Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled]]''</tabber>
|first_appearance = ''[[Crash Bandicoot (game)|Crash Bandicoot]]'' (1996)
|latest_appearance = ''[[Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time]]'' (cameo) (2020)
|species = Bandicoot
|latest_portrayal = Misty Lee (2019)
}}
'''Tawna Bandicoot'''<ref>''Crash Bandicoot'' Japanese manual, p. 11</ref><ref name=crash2japanmanual>''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'' Japanese manual, p. 17</ref> is a womanly bandicoot that appears in the [[Crash Bandicoot (game)|first ''Crash Bandicoot'' game]] as [[Crash Bandicoot]]'s girlfriend. She became absent in following entries in the series, albeit with cameos, with [[Coco Bandicoot]] serving as the female supporting character of the series in her stead. She eventually reappeared in ''[[Crash Boom Bang!]]'' as a playable character, and would later appear in ''[[Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled]]'' in the same role.

Although the original counterpart doesn't physically appear, an [[Tawna Bandicoot (Tawnaverse)|alternate universe counterpart of Tawna]] appears as a playable character in ''[[Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time]]''.

==Physical description==
===''Crash Bandicoot''===
[[File:Crash Bandicoot game Tawna.png|thumb|upright=0.6|Screenshot of Tawna from ''[[Crash Bandicoot (game)|Crash Bandicoot]]''.]]

In the [[Crash Bandicoot (game)|first ''Crash Bandicoot'' game]], Tawna has a design largely reminiscent of a shapely adult woman, inspired by figures such as [[wikipedia:Pamela Anderson|Pamela Anderson]] and the character of Jessica Rabbit from ''[[wikipedia:Who Framed Roger Rabbit|Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]'', to the effect of resembling the physique of a real person closer than [[Crash Bandicoot]] does and towering above him in stature. Like Crash, however, she has animalesque features inspired by [[wikipedia:Wombat|wombats]], such as skin covered in orange fur, a tall upwards ear visibly seen on top of her hair, and a peach-colored snout and muzzle on her face, where her nose and mouth go. Tawna has green eyes, long, curly blonde hair and small black eyebrows, and is also shown with makeup, wearing red lipstick and pale rose eyeshadows, noticeable as Tawna is frequently shown with bedroom eyes in the game. Tawna wears a sleeveless burgundy shirt and buttoned blue shorts, and wears a pair of dark red sneakers similar to Crash Bandicoot's, with additional burgundy socks to match her shirt. Unlike Crash, Tawna has a short, fluffy tail at the back of her shorts that is the same color as her hair.

The May 5, 1995 and August 15, 1995 editions of the production bible for ''Crash Bandicoot'' featured a different finalized design for Tawna; she is depicted sporting a tank top, which exposed her chest and midriff, a pair of platform heels with ribbons at the base and socks, and shorts with slits on the sides.<ref name=crashfiles>''The Crash Bandicoot Files: How Willy the Wombat Sparked Marsupial Mania''. p. 129.</ref><ref name=crash0895>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/willythewombat_concept/mode/2up |title=''Crash Bandicoot'' production bible (August 15, 1995) |publisher=Naughty Dog, Inc.. Archived on February 27, 2020 |accessdate=January 26, 2023}}</ref> This design was scaled back to be less provocative.<ref name=ndwebtawna>{{cite web |url=http://www.naughtydog.com/crash/makingof.html |title=Making of Crash Art |publisher=Naughty Dog, Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980524023447/http://www.naughtydog.com/crash/makingof.html |archivedate=May 24, 1998 |accessdate=January 26, 2023}} "This image of Tawna was later scaled back for... politically now... aesthetic reasons."</ref> Tawna's render for the Japanese release of ''Crash Bandicoot'' depicts her with a lavender tank top and shorts with slits, similar to those seen in the aforementioned production bibles for the game, although she retains her sneakers.

===''Crash Boom Bang!''===
Tawna sees a redesign in ''[[Crash Boom Bang!]]'', taking Japanese influences into account. Her proportions are altered in order to fit with the [[wikipedia:Chibi (style)|chibi]]-esque aesthetic of the game, reducing her height to be only slightly taller than Crash Bandicoot instead of being significantly taller. Her attire also appears to take after the previously-mentioned render of her used in promotional media for the Japanese release of ''Crash Bandicoot'', as she now wears a magenta-colored tank top instead of the burgundy shirt from her first appearance.

Other changes include the addition of a second ear visible from her hair, with both ears now pointing horizontally as opposed to vertically. The color of her eyebrows are a light brown instead of black. Her shorts are smaller and slightly duller in color, and her sneakers are now a vibrant red to match those seen in Crash Bandicoot's design in the original Japanese version of the game.

===''N. Sane Trilogy'' / ''CTR Nitro-Fueled''===

''[[Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy]]''{{'}}s remake of the first ''Crash Bandicoot'' game features a rendition of Tawna similar in appearance to that of the original game with additional design tweaks. As with all of the characters in the remake, Tawna is rendered with realistic hair, fur, and clothes texturing. Tawna's body shape is altered slightly, having a smaller chest and hip size, being less exaggeratedly proportioned.  Tawna's shirt is colored magenta with a monochrome graphic of Crash's face on it, and now features white trim on the sleeves and collar. Her eyeshadow was made a similar shade of magenta to her shirt, and her lipstick was changed to pink. Tawna's shorts are now made of denim and worn with a brown belt, with the shorts' button being on the belt instead of the pants, and her sneakers are now a more vibrant red with white socks to match the color of Crash Bandicoot's sneakers in the remake, as well as the socks he is also shown wearing. This design is also used for Tawna's appearance in ''[[Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled]]''.

==Personality==
Very little is shown of Tawna in comparison to other characters in the first ''Crash Bandicoot'' game. She is shown to be helpless during her time as [[Dr. Neo Cortex]]'s prisoner, having a shocked expression as she's restrained by two [[Lab Assistant|Lab Assistant]]s. Tawna is shown to pose for the player as well as Crash Bandicoot himself in her bonus rounds and in [[The Great Hall]], having interest in showing off her appearance. Given her relationship with Crash Bandicoot in the game, she is shown to care for Crash, hugging him as he rescues her from Cortex.

In ''Crash Boom Bang!'' Tawna idly applies makeup and sometimes poses, suggesting she cares a lot about her appearance; her outfit being fashionable as well.

In ''Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy''{{'}}s remake of the first game, Tawna is depicted to be more proactive, fending off against Lab Assistants while being captive. She no longer poses in her bonus rounds, instead standing idly and jumping enthusiastically as Crash reaches her, but she is shown posing alluringly for Crash in The Great Hall.

In ''Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled'', Tawna is shown as competitive and dedicated to winning. She takes losing seriously, looking visibly upset; yet also has a sense of humor, sometimes laughing to herself while driving and on the podium after a win. She retains her romantic traits: she turns her head around to wink at the player, and winks at someone in the audience in several of her podium win animations.

==Biography==
===''Crash Bandicoot''===

[[File:Crash Bandicoot PS1 Tawna Captured.png|thumb|upright=0.8|Tawna being held by two [[Lab Assistant|Lab Assistant]]s in the opening sequence of ''[[Crash Bandicoot (game)|Crash Bandicoot]]''.]]

Tawna first appears in the [[Crash Bandicoot (game)|original ''Crash Bandicoot'' game]] as an ordinary bandicoot that was captured by [[Dr. Neo Cortex]] and [[Dr. N. Brio]] and mutated by N. Brio's [[Evolvo-Ray]], and one of the only mutant animals not yet brainwashed by the [[Cortex Vortex]] along with her boyfriend [[Crash Bandicoot]]. After Crash is placed into and rejected by the Cortex Vortex, Crash escapes Cortex's laboratory which causes Cortex to select Tawna as his replacement for the general of his army of mutants, with the plot of the game being Crash racing to rescue Tawna from Cortex before she gets brainwashed. Crash eventually defeats Cortex and reunites with Tawna on top of his blimp as they fly into the sunset. 

Alternatively, once the player has collected every [[gem]], the player can access [[The Great Hall]], wherein Tawna awaits Crash on the balcony of [[Castle Cortex]], after which the two of them fly away on a large bird.

Tawna also appears throughout the game at the end of bonus rounds accessed by collecting tokens resembling her face. However, she cannot be interacted with. In ''[[Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s remake of the original game, she cheers when Crash reaches her in these levels, only to be dragged away by Cortex.

====Other major appearances====
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[[File:Crash Boom Bang Tawna Pinstripe Crunch Coco Shocked.png|thumb|left||upright=0.7|From left to right: Tawna, [[Pinstripe Potoroo|Pinstripe]], [[Crunch Bandicoot|Crunch]], and [[Coco Bandicoot|Coco]] in ''[[Crash Boom Bang!]]''.]]
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Tawna appears as an unlockable playable character in ''[[Crash Boom Bang!]]'', which marks her first major appearance in a game 10 years after the original ''Crash Bandicoot'', and her first voiced appearance in a game, where she is portrayed by Akiko Toda. Much like the other playable characters in the game, she participates in [[Viscount]]'s World Cannonball Race in order to win $100,000,000. Her in-game description suggests she is romantically interested in [[Pinstripe Potoroo]], who is also a playable character in the game.<ref name=boombang1>Japanese release of ''Crash Boom Bang!''. Character selection. ナイスバディーの　セクシーギャル　ピンスチライプを　おっかけている (''A sexy gal with a nice body. She's chasing after Pinstripe.'') Translation by [https://iwander.newgrounds.com/ Héctor Alvarez].</ref><ref name=boombang2>''Crash Boom Bang''. Character selection. "Tawna, the blonde bombshell, is crazy about Pinstripe."</ref> This is in reference to the story included in the manual for the Japanese version of ''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'', and is the first direct reference to this in the games.
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[[File:CTR-GP-05.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Motorsport Tawna and [[Motorsport Megumi]] racing in [[Twilight Tour]] in ''[[Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled]]''.]]
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Tawna appears as a playable character unlockable in ''[[Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled]]''{{'}}s first [[Grand Prix]], [[Nitro Tour Grand Prix|Nitro Tour]], which launched on July 3, 2019. Her, [[Ami]], [[Isabella]], [[Liz]], and [[Megumi]] form part of the [[Nitro Squad]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://blog.activision.com/crash-bandicoot/2019-07/Crash-Team-Racing-Nitro-Fueled-Grand-Prix-is-Coming-This-Week |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124193915/https://blog.activision.com/crash-bandicoot/2019-07/Crash-Team-Racing-Nitro-Fueled-Grand-Prix-is-Coming-This-Week |title=Crash™ Team Racing Nitro-Fueled: Nitro Tour Grand Prix is Coming This Week! |publisher=Activision |archivedate=January 24, 2023 |accessdate=January 24, 2023}}</ref> A promotional screenshot for the Nitro Tour Grand Prix references the story seen in the Japanese ''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'' manual.

[[File:Crash 4 Tawna Hook Line and Sinker Promo.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Promotional screenshot of [[Tawna Bandicoot (Tawnaverse)|Tawna's alternate universe counterpart]] in ''[[Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time]]''.]]

While the regular Tawna isn't present in the game, an [[Tawna Bandicoot (Tawnaverse)|alternate universe counterpart of her]] shows up to rescue Crash and [[Coco Bandicoot]] from pirates in the [[Hook, Line, and Sinker]] level. After being rescued, Coco mentions how she and Crash had lost contact with Tawna. A cushion sporting Tawna's mugshot can also been seen at the end of the game's very first Bonus level, atop a sofa where she presumably would have waited for Crash as she did in her bonus levels from the first ''Crash Bandicoot''.

====Minor appearances====

[[File:Crash Bandicoot Warped Tawna Portrait.png|thumb|left|upright=0.65|A picture of Tawna can be seen in [[Crash Bandicoot]]'s house in ''[[Crash Bandicoot: Warped]]''.]]

A picture of Tawna appears on the fireplace of Crash's house in ''[[Crash Bandicoot: Warped]]'', and later ''[[Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex]]''. Crash's epilogue in the Japanese version of ''[[Crash Bash]]'' shows what appears to be Tawna congratulating Crash in person for defeating [[Uka Uka]],<ref>Japanese release of ''Crash Bash''. Crash Bandicoot's epilogue. 「がんばったわね、クラッシュ!」 ・・・そのこえは・・・いとしのタウナ!? / クラッシュくんのめのまえには、むかしのこいびと タウナが ニッコリほほえんでいます。 / クラッシュくんは ギュッとホッペをつねりました。 これがゆめだとしても さめませんように! (''"You really did it, Crash!" ...That voice... could it be the lovely Tawna!?'' / ''Right before Crash's eyes, Tawna, his lover from long ago, appears, smiling.'' / ''Crash pinches his cheek. If this is a dream, he hopes he never wakes up!''). Translation by [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL786pYLkl4 J. Lazarillo (@TheRealCaptainPanda)].</ref> with Coco's epilogue revealing that it's actually a hologram of herself as a virtual idol.<ref>Japanese release of ''Crash Bash''. Coco Bandicoot's epilogue. 「さ〜て、ちゅうだんしてたプログラムつくろ〜っと」 / ココがいまねっちゅうしているのは、ちょうこうそく エモ〜ション・シンセシスをつかった、バ〜チャルがぞう。 / 「わたしの からだのデ〜タを スキャニングして・・・ ねんれいパラメ〜タを ちょっとだけオトナにして・・ これでわたしも、ネットアイドルデビュ〜ねっ!」 (''"Ooookay, let's get to work on that program that I had to put on hold."'' / ''Coco's current passion project is Virtual Imaging using ultra-fast Emotion Synthesis.'' / ''"I'll take the data from scanning my body... make the age parameters a little more adultlike... and then I'll be ready for my Net Idol debut!"''). Translation by [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL786pYLkl4 J. Lazarillo (@TheRealCaptainPanda)].</ref> Tawna also appears on the sign of Moulin Cortex, a burlesque club, in ''[[Crash Twinsanity]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Slip Slide Icecapades]] level.
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[[File:Crash Twinsanity Moulin Cortex Logo.png|thumb|upright=0.65|Tawna in Moulin Cortex's logo seen in ''[[Crash Twinsanity]]''{{'}}s [[Slip Slide Icecapades]] level.]]
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Although she doesn't appear in the original ''[[Crash Team Racing]]'', internal game data suggests that Ami, Isabella, Liz, and Megumi were all based on her.<ref>[https://tcrf.net/Crash_Team_Racing#Trophy_Girls ''Crash Team Racing'' article on ''The Cutting Room Floor''].</ref>
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===Other media===

[[File:Crash 2 Japanese Manual Page 3.png|thumb|upright=0.7|Page 3 of the Japanese ''[[Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back]]'' manual, showing Tawna staying with [[Pinstripe Potoroo]].]]

Tawna's first appearance in original media outside of video games is in Takahiro Yamashita's [[Crash Bandicoot (manga)|manga adaptation of the first ''Crash Bandicoot'']], following an abridged version of the game's events, of which Tawna appears in both of its two chapters.

While Tawna is completely absent from ''[[Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back]]'', the instruction booklet for the Japanese version of the game provides additional details as to what transpired after the first game; namely, Tawna leaves Crash and the [[Wumpa Islands]], referred to as Tasmania in the manual, for Chigago, USA in order to be with Pinstripe Potoroo.<ref name=japantawnabio>''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'' Japanese manual. p. 3. 恋人のタウナは、ピンストライプと仲良くなって都会へ行ってしまったのです。ガックリしたクラッシュは「モテモテ トレーニング」を始めたのですが……大丈夫でしょうか？ (''"Crash's girlfriend, Tawna, has travelled to the city after befriending Pinstripe. Gutted, Crash begins his "Attractive Training"... is he alright?"''). Translation by [https://crashbandicoot.fandom.com/wiki/User:thaswordster thaswordster].</ref><ref name=japantawnabio2>''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'' Japanese manual. p. 17. お兄ちゃんの元恋人。せつかく助けてあげたのに、お兄ちゃんのおバカなところに愛想がつきてタスマニアから出ていってしまったの。ウワサでは、囚われている間に仲良くなったピンストライプという男を追っかけて、アメリカのシカゴに行ったらしいわ。 (''Crash's ex-girlfriend. Even though he saved her, she grew tired of his silliness and left Tasmania. Rumor has it that she travelled to Chicago, USA, in pursuit of a man named Pinstripe, whom she befriended during her time as a prisoner.'') Translation by [https://crashbandicoot.fandom.com/wiki/User:thaswordster thaswordster].</ref>

Tawna appears in two chapters of ''[[Crash Bandicoot: Dance! Then Jump! Na Daibōken]]'', a manga adaptation of ''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'' and ''Crash Bandicoot: Warped'' by Ari Kawashima. Tawna is first mentioned in the first chapter of the first volume as it follows the story present in the manual for the Japanese version of ''Crash Bandicoot 2'', where she suddenly leaves Crash a parting letter as she goes to be with Pinstripe, which causes Crash to engage in activities to make himself seem more attractive to women throughout the manga. She is later mentioned in the final chapter of the second volume as Crash dreams about becoming heroic enough for Tawna to come back to him, kissing [[Aku Aku]] in his sleep in the process.

BradyGames' strategy guide for ''Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex'' features a section called "The Complete and Authorized History of Crash Bandicoot", which summarizes the events of the first ''Crash Bandicoot'', ''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'', ''Crash Bandicoot: Warped'', and ''The Wrath of Cortex'' itself. While the events are largely the same as those that occur in the games themselves, the summary mentions Tawna as attempting an escape from Castle Cortex with Crash during the events of the first game, only to be found out by Cortex. Tawna's story about leaving Crash for Pinstripe prior to the events of the second game, which had previously only ever been referenced in Japanese media, is also included in the summary, with Tawna leaving a note to Crash before leaving.<ref name=bradygames>''Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex Official Strategy Guide''. p. 137. "Dearest Crash, you saved me bravely, but I have fallen in love with another. Pinstripe Potoroo made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Take care, Tawna".</ref>

==Behind-the-scenes information==
===Creation and early development===
[[File:The Crash Bandicoot Files Page 129.png|thumb|upright=1.1|Page 129 of ''The Crash Bandicoot Files: How Willy the Wombat Sparked Marsupial Mania'', showing a character bio of Tawna with her then-finalized design from the May 5, 1995 edition of ''[[Crash Bandicoot (game)|Crash Bandicoot]]''{{'}}s production bible.]]

Tawna was created by Joe Pearson and Charles Zembillas, as were most of the other characters in the first ''Crash Bandicoot'' game. Unlike most of these characters, however, Tawna was created to be a supporting character for Crash Bandicoot, specifically being Crash's love interest; to this effect, the May 5, 1995 edition of the production bible for the game describes her as "window dressing".<ref name=crashfiles/> Similar to how Crash Bandicoot was designed as a wombat and formerly called "Willy the Wombat", Tawna had a different name in Karmen,<ref name=crashfiles/><ref name=crash0895/> also spelled Carmen,<ref name=crashmaniabible>{{cite web |url=https://www.crashmania.net/en/games/crash-bandicoot/production-bible/ |title=Crash Bandicoot - Production Bible |last=HP Zoner |date=June 29, 2017 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20180125122744/https://www.crashmania.net/en/games/crash-bandicoot/production-bible/ |archivedate=January 25, 2018 |accessdate=January 26, 2023}}</ref> and was designed after a wombat, to then be named a bandicoot in the final release of the game.

Charles Zembillas' first sketches of Tawna, allegedly made on January of 1995, depict Tawna as sporting a body much closer to similar early concepts of Crash, and going through several characterizations ranging from "the girl next door to street walker to dimwitted floozy to plain jane."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://zembillas.blogspot.com/2012/08/crash-bandicoots-first-girlfriend.html |title=Crash Bandicoot's first girlfriend  |first=Charles |last=Zembillas |date=August 24, 2012 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20151027161456/https://zembillas.blogspot.com/2012/08/crash-bandicoots-first-girlfriend.html |archivedate=October 27, 2015 |accessdate=January 26, 2023}} "That's right. Crash's very first original girlfriend concept doodles. This is the character that eventually became Karmen which eventually became Tawna." / "I tried a few different approaches to see what Naughty Dog would bite at. From the girl next door to street walker to dimwitted floozy to plain jane. It went on from there."</ref> A more anthropomorphic design would eventually be decided on for Tawna, focusing on conventionally attractive features.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://zembillas.blogspot.com/2012/07/crash-bandicoot-original-tawna.html |title=Crash Bandicoot Original Tawna |first=Charles |last=Zembillas |date=July 3, 2012 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20151027161232/https://zembillas.blogspot.com/2012/07/crash-bandicoot-original-tawna.html |archivedate=October 27, 2015 |accessdate=January 26, 2023}}</ref> Her original finalized design (see ''[[Tawna Bandicoot#Physical description|§ Physical description]]'', above) would appear on the May 5, 1995 and August 15, 1995 editions of the first game's production bible,<ref name=crashfiles/><ref name=crash0895/>, only to then be altered for the game in order to be less provocative.

The earliest publicly-available mention of Tawna being a damsel-in-distress for Crash to rescue can be seen in a document detailing the script of an opening sequence for the first game dated February 20, 1995, written by Joe Pearson, which details Karmen as having been created by Dr. Neo Cortex to be Willy's romantic partner, for the purpose of creating a line of "[[wikipedia:Übermensch#Use by the Nazis|Uberwombats]]", only for Cortex to decide to have Karmen for himself after he banishes Willy from his army and castle, with Karmen being opposed to Cortex's advances and intent of war, instead only wishing to be with Willy.<ref name=crashmaniabible/> This same story would also appear on the May 5, 1995 edition of the production bible;<ref name=crashfiles2>''The Crash Bandicoot Files: How Willy the Wombat Sparked Marsupial Mania''. p. 23.</ref> at this point in time, the bible doesn't feature an elaborate description of Karmen unlike most of the other characters mentioned, only describing minor traits that Tawna would have, such as frequently touching up her make-up, loving to shop, and hating being in Cortex's laboratory.<ref name=crashfiles/>

The August 15, 1995 edition of the production bible for the first game revises the opening sequence pitched in the February and May 1995 editions of the document. Tawna, now having her final name, is now portrayed as a more assertive character and acts more reprehensively towards Dr. Neo Cortex's actions, making remarks at Cortex's failure with his army of mutant animals. This edition of the bible also features a more elaborate description of Tawna's character and role in the story, mentioning her to be "the perfect blend of beauty and brains", in which she matches wits with Cortex and attempts to reason with [[Dr. N. Brio]], who at that point was to be a more sympathetic character, also trying to get Cortex's henchmen to rebel against him.<ref name=crash0895/> Naughty Dog's official website for ''Crash Bandicoot'' also echoes this description of Tawna.<ref name=ndwebtawna/>

The April 8, 1996 prototype of ''Crash Bandicoot'' is the earliest publicly-available record of Tawna having her final, scaled-back attire. Tawna's color scheme in this prototype is drastically different, however; her fur and muzzle colors are an orangeish brown both as opposed to separately-colored orange fur and peach muzzle, her shirt and socks are magenta instead of burgundy, her shorts are green instead of blue, and her eyeshadow is blue instead of a pale rose color.<ref name=aprilproto>[https://tcrf.net/Proto:Crash_Bandicoot/April_8th,_1996_build#General_Differences ''Crash Bandicoot'' April 8, 1996 prototype article on The Cutting Room Floor].</ref> Tawna still retained this design in the May 11, 1996 prototype of the game.<ref>[https://tcrf.net/Proto:Crash_Bandicoot/May_11th,_1996_build#General_Differences ''Crash Bandicoot'' May 11, 1996 prototype article on The Cutting Room Floor].</ref> This coloration of Tawna can be seen in the final game in [[The Great Hall]], although with the pale rose eyeshadow of the final design, as a banner depicting Tawna with the same colors can be seen and Tawna herself is shown sporting the same colors before the player reaches her and activates the ending cutscene, where she is posteriorly shown with her final coloration.<!-- Tawna's standalone promotional render for the game outside of Japan also depicts this color scheme, which can be seen in Dimension Publishing's ''Crash Bandicoot: The Official Strategy Guide'', with the final render being edited from this version. -->

In the end, most of the traits that Tawna is described with in the August 15, 1995 edition of the production bible for the game wouldn't make it into the final game; particularly, both Crash and Tawna's lines were cut from the intro, leaving only Dr. Neo Cortex's and Dr. N. Brio's speech and only showing Tawna being held by two Lab Assistants.<ref name=crashfiles2/> However, the game now adds the plot element of Cortex and N. Brio preparing to send Tawna to the [[Cortex Vortex]] in order to replace Crash as the leader of his army of mutant animals, of which the earliest public record is present in the April 8, 1996 prototype.<ref name=aprilproto/>

===Absence from the series===

Tawna Bandicoot stopped appearing in Naughty Dog's ''[[Crash Bandicoot (franchise)|Crash Bandicoot]]'' games starting with the release of ''[[Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back]]''; most notably, her absence in the game is filled by the appearance of a brand new character for the game, [[Coco Bandicoot]]. As the Japanese branch of Sony Computer Entertainment, publisher of the first ''Crash Bandicoot'' game in all regions, felt uncomfortable with Tawna, a "sexpot" character, being the only feminine character in the series, a suggestion was made to instead have a more juvenile "younger sister" type of character; wanting to appease Sony's Japanese marketing team, Naughty Dog made Coco Bandicoot as the feminine supporting character of the series in Tawna's stead.<ref name="GoWest">{{cite web |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/htgg/sts145papers/jdelahunt_2004_1.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725214207/https://web.stanford.edu/group/htgg/sts145papers/jdelahunt_2004_1.pdf |title=Go West, Young Bandicoot |last=DeLaHunt |first=Jim |publisher=[[wikipedia:Stanford University|Stanford University]] |date=March 16, 2004 |archivedate=July 25, 2015 |pages=11–13|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}</ref> Despite this, Tawna would be referenced in Japan-exclusive side material, such as the manual for ''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'' and the epilogues added for the Japanese release of ''[[Crash Bash]]'', as well as having a cameo in ''[[Crash Bandicoot: Warped]]''; additionally, similarly feminine and objectified characters as Tawna would appear in ''[[Crash Team Racing]]'', another Naughty Dog-developed and Sony-published ''Crash Bandicoot'' title, in the form of [[Ami]], [[Liz]], [[Isabella]], and [[Megumi]].

Tawna Bandicoot would make her first reappearance as a major character in 2006's ''Crash Boom Bang!'', made by the Japanese company Dimps. Tawna would eventually start making prominent reappearances with the release of Vicarious Visions' ''Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy'', a remake of the first three ''Crash Bandicoot'' games, wherein Tawna is depicted with a more modest figure and a slightly more proactive characterization.

===Relationship with Crash Bandicoot===

Tawna Bandicoot was designed as Crash Bandicoot's girlfriend, with the first ''Crash Bandicoot'' game featuring a plot about rescuing a kidnapped damsel. Following Tawna's subsequent absence from the series, some alterations have been made to this aspect of her character throughout her appearances.

The Japanese manual for ''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'' explains Tawna's absence, in contrast to versions of the game released for other territories, by stating that Tawna broke up with Crash Bandicoot to pursue [[Pinstripe Potoroo]], a character that also appears in the first ''Crash Bandicoot'' game.<ref name=japantawnabio/><ref name=japantawnabio2/> This story would go on to be referenced in a handful of ''Crash Bandicoot'' media, including ''[[Crash Bandicoot: Dance! Then Jump! Na Daibōken]]'', a Japan-exclusive manga created by Ari Kawashima that adapts the events of ''Crash Bandicoot 2'' and its manual, BradyGames' officially-licensed strategy guide for ''[[Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex]]'', as it goes over the continuity of the ''Crash'' series,<ref name=bradygames/>, with its first actual reference in a ''Crash Bandicoot'' game being in ''Crash Boom Bang!'', developed by Japanese company Dimps.<ref name=boombang1/><ref name=boombang2/>

Additionally, in Tawna's appearance in ''Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled'', as well as her references and mentions in ''[[Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time]]'', any references to her being Crash's girlfriend or otherwise are not made.

===Trivia===
*[[Crash]] mistaking [[Coco]]'s adult-self hologram for Tawna in Crash's and Coco's ending scenes in the Japanese version of ''[[Crash Bash]]'' is similar to a gag seen in the first chapter of ''[[Crash Bandicoot: Dance! Then Jump! Na Daibōken]]'', where Crash mistakes the regular Coco for Tawna as she enters his house moments after he reads Tawna's parting letter.

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
Crash Bandicoot PS1 Tawna at her bonus round.png|Tawna as she appears in her bonus rounds from ''[[Crash Bandicoot (game)|Crash Bandicoot]]''.
Crashtawnacastle.jpg|Artwork of Tawna and Crash behind [[Castle Cortex]].
TawnaJP.jpeg|Artwork of Tawna from the Japanese release of ''Crash Bandicoot''.
Crash Boom Bang Tawna Pinstripe Crunch Coco Shocked.png|''[[Crash Boom Bang!]]'' cutscene showing Tawna, [[Pinstripe]], [[Crunch]], and [[Coco]].
CTR GP-NEW-02.jpg|Tawna, Pinstripe, and Crash racing in [[Twilight Tour]] in ''[[Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled]]''.
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Allies]]
[[Category:Bandicoots]]
[[Category:Playable characters]]
[[Category:Crash Bandicoot characters]]
[[Category:Crash Boom Bang! characters]]
[[Category:Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled characters]]