Sorry if this is a dumb question but is the franchise swap prompt reserved to other toku franchises only?
Yes, ideally it should be. This is an event meant to celebrate tokusatsu, so the franchise swap prompt should also stay within toku.
That said, what is considered tokusatsu for this event is fairly flexible. For example, for practical purposes, the live action version of Sukeban Deka is considered tokusatsu here, even though there is an actual debate about whether it truly fits the category or if it should be seen as just a live action drama.
If you want to bend the rules a little and are interested in trying to include a franchise that was not originally toku (whether it comes from animation, videogames, manga, etc.), you can look into whether it has a live action adaptation and see if you can reasonably treat that version as tokusatsu, making it clear that your work is based on that live action. Hell, if you are creative enough and really dig into it, you could even argue that Blue Beetle (2023) can count as toku.
Yet, it is also important to know how far you can bend the branch without breaking it. As much as you might love something like One Piece, if not even the live-action version can reasonably be considered tokusatsu, then it is better to discard it. Do not force it. The same applies to the MCU and the DCU in general (Blue Beetle is a very specific exception, and again, only if you are actually able to justify it properly).
The guidelines include a dedicated section (actually the very first one) explaining what is and is not considered tokusatsu for this event. Since it is obviously impossible for us to know or have seen every single tokusatsu production around the world, I leave room for each participant to reflect on what they personally consider toku based on that section, and then decide what kind of fanwork they want to create.
So yes, in short, for the franchise swap prompt (and for the event as a whole), all fanworks should be based on tokusatsu. What counts as toku? Use the guidelines as your base, analyze it from there, and create your wonderful work. I am sure it will turn out great ā¤ļø
Sorry if this answer ended up being longer than necessary for such a simple question, but I felt it was a good opportunity to explain this as well. While the intention of this fanweek is to specifically celebrate tokusatsu as a medium (which is why the rules about what does not count as toku or hybrid franchises are quite specific) and shipping fandom, it is also meant to be fairly flexible so that anyone who wants to participate can do so, without losing sight of the roots and foundations of what brings us all together here...
~ Tokusatsu ~
I hope this answers your question and helps clarify things a bit!
