Many of the characters we love grow and change throughout their stories—but many of them also went through significant evolution before we even met them. Take, for instance, Yoda. You recognize the version on the left as a great Jedi, a warrior who doesn’t believe in war, a teacher who was willing to train Luke Skywalker despite his memories of Anakin’s turn to the Dark Side.
You recognize the character on the left er, right...as David the Gnome. Even though his name is also Yoda.
[Also... a Mad Hatter in need of an airship?]