Empathy Pet: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Empathy_Pet_7266.jpg|link=Ménage à 3|right]]

A cute little pet sidekick whose emotions and reactions are closely synchronized with their keeper. The pet serves the function of the traditional ''zany'' from the ''[[Commedia Dell'Arte~~|commedia dell'arte~~]]'', aping their human's reactions, and frequently revealing attitudes that the main character may be keeping hidden.

A cute little pet sidekick whose emotions and reactions are closely synchronized with their keeper. The pet serves the function of the traditional ''zany'' from the ''[[Commedia Dell'Arte]]'', aping their human's reactions, and frequently revealing attitudes that the main character may be keeping hidden.

When alone, the character could also [[Surrogate Soliloquy|talk with this pet]], treating them as a [[The Confidant|separate person]] with the knowledge that would make the pet an extension of the owner's personality.

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* Q-chan, a holograph resembling a floating blob, from ''[[Vandread]]'' (→ Misty Cornwell)

* Boota from ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]''.

* Melpo in ''[[Yes Pretty Cure 5|Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GoGo]]''. (→ Syrup)

* Melpo in ''[[Yes! Pretty Cure 5|Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GoGo]]''. (→ Syrup)

* Xiao-Mei from the manga version of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' (→ Mei-Chan, to the point that Xiao-Mei also mimics the girl's ''movements'')

** Black Hayate → Riza Hawkeye. Like his master, he is quiet, cute, and has a whole lot of persistence and courage packed into a small frame (witness his attack on Gluttony when the latter has Riza cornered).

* Puu from ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' (→ Yusuke). {{spoiler|Well, he IS a representation of his soul...}}

* Maya from ''[[~~Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|~~Azumanga Daioh]]'', though he shows up much later in the series than most (→ Sakaki)

* Maya from ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', though he shows up much later in the series than most (→ Sakaki)

* Happens in the ''[[Pokémon (~~Anime~~)|Pokémon]]'' anime a fair deal, but the Mime Jr. species is particularly notable - its very nature means it ''exactly'' duplicates the gestures and expressions of its owner. The fact that one of the main characters happens to own one helps show this.

* Happens in the ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' anime a fair deal, but the Mime Jr. species is particularly notable - its very nature means it ''exactly'' duplicates the gestures and expressions of its owner. The fact that one of the main characters happens to own one helps show this.

* Marguerite's snake in ''[[One Piece]]'', and any other amazon's Snake Weapon.

** Also, Chimney's Bunny/Cat thing Gonbe. He's probably the most literal example, pretty much being a second Chimney in every way. He mimics her movements, facial expressions, and even his growls/mews/whatever-the-hell sound he makes are the same number of syllables as every one of Chimney's statements.

* Boogie-kun from ''[[Karin]]'' (→ Anju) clearly reflects his master's thoughts, even the ones she resents having.

* ''[[~~Zero Seven Ghost|~~07-Ghost]]'' takes this trope to a whole new level: Not only is Burupya Teito's certified empathy pet as he is also {{spoiler|Mikage's incarnation. Thus making this cuter than cute dragon a mix of pet and best friend, bonus points for the [[Heroic Sacrifice]] involved}}.

* ''[[07-Ghost]]'' takes this trope to a whole new level: Not only is Burupya Teito's certified empathy pet as he is also {{spoiler|Mikage's incarnation. Thus making this cuter than cute dragon a mix of pet and best friend, bonus points for the [[Heroic Sacrifice]] involved}}.

* Yumekichi the monkey (→ Keiji) in ''[[Sengoku Basara]]'' often mimics his master's actions and serves to reflect his true emotions when he enters [[Stepford Smiler]] mode.

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* Old Lace from ''[[Runaways]]'' is telepathically bonded to Gert {{spoiler|and after her death to Chase}}.

* Doctor Nemesis of ''[[X Men|X-Club]]'' gets stuck with one after a telepathic starfish [[Head Pet|bonds to his head]]. Said starfish broadcasts his thoughts, which he first discovered when the starfish revealed that Nemesis [[Male Gaze|often admires his co-worker Doctor Rao's "shapely behind" (while Doctor Rao is standing right next to him).]] The starfish later reveals that Nemesis is jealous of Cyclops' cool costume. It also reveals that while Nemesis doesn't think too highly of his co-worker Jeffries' scientific methodology, he ''does'' crave his friendship. Nemesis understandably wants said starfish gone as soon as possible.

* Doctor Nemesis of ''[[X-Men|X-Club]]'' gets stuck with one after a telepathic starfish [[Head Pet|bonds to his head]]. Said starfish broadcasts his thoughts, which he first discovered when the starfish revealed that Nemesis [[Male Gaze|often admires his co-worker Doctor Rao's "shapely behind" (while Doctor Rao is standing right next to him).]] The starfish later reveals that Nemesis is jealous of Cyclops' cool costume. It also reveals that while Nemesis doesn't think too highly of his co-worker Jeffries' scientific methodology, he ''does'' crave his friendship. Nemesis understandably wants said starfish gone as soon as possible.

** {{spoiler|But then at the end of the series he keeps it because he "[gets] lonely without it."}}

* In their definitions Ryuu-Nekos from [[Dreamkeepers]] are discribed as having this as an attribute when they bond with or are tamed by their owners in addition to the personality quirks already present in their breed.

* [[Green Lantern|Hal Jordan]] had a pet alien starfish named Itty in his space trucker days.

* [[X Men|Kitty Pryde's]] dragon Lockheed.

* [[X-Men|Kitty Pryde's]] dragon Lockheed.

== [[Film]] ==

* Salacious Crumb from ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' (→ Jabba; for those who don't recognize the name, he's the little "Oh, OHH hohohohohoho!" guy)

* [[Disney Animated Canon]] examples:

** Abu from ''[[Aladdin (Disney)|Aladdin]]'' (→ Aladdin)

** Abu from ''[[Aladdin (Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' (→ Aladdin)

** Rajah, also from ''[[Aladdin (Disney)|Aladdin]]'' (→ Jasmine)

** Rajah, also from ''[[Aladdin (Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' (→ Jasmine)

** Meeko and Flit from ''[[Pocahontas]]'' (→ Pocahontas)

*** ''Pocahontas'' is interesting because the villain, Ratcliffe, also has one, a pug named Percy, who does a [[Heel Face Turn]] and joins the good guys.

**** Percy, while he is ''meant'' to be an [[Empathy Pet]], doesn't exactly share much in personality with Ratcliffe. All they really have in common is a preference for the finer things in life.

** Djali from ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'', who was actually from the ''original book'' (→ Esmeralda)

** Djali from ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'', who was actually from the ''original book'' (→ Esmeralda)

** Pegasus from ''[[Hercules (Disney)|Hercules]]'', who is also a mythic character, but not originally from the Hercules mythos (→ Hercules)

** Pegasus from ''[[Hercules (Disney film)|Hercules]]'', who is also a mythic character, but not originally from the Hercules mythos (→ Hercules)

* This happens in other "[[All Animation Is Disney|Disney-like]]" animated films too:

** Pooka from ''[[Anastasia]]'' (→ Anastasia)

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== [[Literature]] ==

* Although it would be in the worst taste to label them as "pets", Dæmons (animal avatars of a person's [[Our Souls Are Different|soul]]) in the ''[[His Dark Materials]]'' trilogy often serve this purpose to their person.

* In the ''[[~~Honor Harrington (Literature)|~~Honor Harrington]]'' series, treecats can be argued to be this on occasion, being small, empathic animals, who just happen to be sentient and [[Killer Rabbit|suprisingly protective]] of their two-legs.

* In the ''[[Honor Harrington]]'' series, treecats can be argued to be this on occasion, being small, empathic animals, who just happen to be sentient and [[Killer Rabbit|suprisingly protective]] of their two-legs.

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

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== [[Video Games]] ==

* Alice's dolls in the ''[[~~Touhou (Video Game)|~~Touhou]]'' series.

* Alice's dolls in the ''[[Touhou]]'' series.

* The dog in ''[[~~Fable II (Video Game)|~~Fable II]]'' can be trained to act like this.

* The dog in ''[[Fable II]]'' can be trained to act like this.

* {{spoiler|Rhyme}} from ''[[~~The World Ends With You (Video Game)|~~The World Ends With You]]'' during the second chapter (→ {{spoiler|Beat}}).

* {{spoiler|Rhyme}} from ''[[The World Ends With You]]'' during the second chapter (→ {{spoiler|Beat}}).

* Nanomachine from the [[Galaxy Angel (~~Video~~ ~~Game~~)|Galaxy Angel]] gameverse (→ Vanilla)

* Nanomachine from the [[Galaxy Angel (video game)|Galaxy Angel]] gameverse (→ Vanilla)

* Cupil from ''[[~~Skies of Arcadia (Video Game)|~~Skies of Arcadia]]'', who also acts as an [[Empathic Weapon]] (→ Fina)

* Cupil from ''[[Skies of Arcadia]]'', who also acts as an [[Empathic Weapon]] (→ Fina)

* Popoi when he's with Ms Accord in ''[[Puyo Puyo]]''

== [[Web Comics]] ==

* The cat on Ian's head in ''[[Mac Hall]]''.

* Chester in ''[[College Roomies ~~From~~ Hell]]'' (→ Dave). Of course, he ''does'' have half of Dave's soul, making it a [[Justified Trope]].

* Chester in ''[[College Roomies from Hell]]'' (→ Dave). Of course, he ''does'' have half of Dave's soul, making it a [[Justified Trope]].

* Lita, Zii's cat in ''[[Ménage à 3]]'', pictured above.

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* Rufus from ''[[Kim Possible]]'' (→ Ron)

* Opalescence from ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic ~~(Animation)~~|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' (→ Rarity).

* Opalescence from ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' (→ Rarity).

** Tank (→ Rainbow Dash)

** Winona (→ Applejack)