Retcon

Retroactive continuity (or retcon for short) is when the previously established events in a continuity are later altered by the writers.

Examples

• In episode 57 of the Chaotic Century anime, Raven and Rease are killed when they are enveloped by a charged particle beam fired by Hiltz. Later, in episode 63, Raven and Rease are shown to have survived.
• In the first half of Zoids: Chaotic Century, it is directly implied that Prozen's Death Saurer was the same one that wiped out the Ancient Zoidians: Prozen is said to have "resurrected" the Death Saurer rather than created another, and the Death Saurer itself awakens prematurely in response to Fiona's presence. Much later in episode 65, it is revealed that Prozen's Death Saurer was merely a clone of the original.