Fantastic Science: Difference between revisions

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{{examples}}
 
== Anime ==
* In [[Neon Genesis Evangelion]], we have "metaphysical biology," which seems to be the science of souls. This fits with how souls are treated in the series.
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* ''[[Planetary]]''
* Obscure ''[[Wonder Woman]]'' enemy [[Morally-Ambiguous Doctorate|Doctor]] [[Mad Scientist|Poison]] calls herself a "Mythobiologist". She studies the biology of mythological beings and [[Body Horror|their effects]] on more mundane life.
* ''Skybound Entertainment'' <nowiki>'</nowiki>s comic ''Witch Doctor'' portrays the realm of supernatural creatures as parasites that are best battled by medical specialists rather then soldiers. The first issue of the mini-series treated a Demonic Possession as being similar to a parasitic infection, with the young victim, after being purged, having to remain inside his family home surrounded by protective runes until the main characters could find a more permanent cure for his condition.
 
 
== Fan Works ==
* Over the course of the various installments of ''[[Drunkard's Walk]]'', Douglas Sangnoir (native of a version of Earth with [[Superhero]]es) makes occasional mention in both dialogue and narration of "metabiologists" in his home world who study the nature and function of superpowers; readers will learn some of their classification system and terminology, which powers are understood scientifically and which still are mysteries. And some of the worlds he visits have their own Fantastic Sciences.
 
 
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** It's not clear what Peter contributes to the research, if anything, though he was the one that came up with the idea of making it into a business after getting kicked out of Columbia University.
** Peter has a PhD in Parapsychology, so I always just assumed his part in the research was in that area.
* Similarly, the [[Ghostbusters (2016 film)|2016 remake]] has two legitimate paranormal researchers (Abby and Erin) and one paranormal ''engineer'' (Holtzmann) among the members of the "Conductors of the Metaphysical Examination". And unlike the originals they're not hunting ghosts for profit but to capture specimens they can analyze..
 
 
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** Infuriating because they seem never to study any basic non-magical skills. This is actually lampshaded by Hermione in the very first book, when she and Harry are confronted with Snape's riddle. She comments that an ordinary wizard may have had serious problems solving it, because they don't learn any math/logic puzzles.
* Telemain of the ''[[Enchanted Forest Chronicles]]'' is a magician who studies the technical side of magic and has a habit of talking in incomprehensible [[Magi Babble]], much to the chagrin of the other characters.
* Theoretical magicians in [[Jonathan Strange and& Mr. Norrell]] study magic but don't ever practice it.
* In David Eddings's [[The Belgariad|Mallorean]] series, the Melcene University has schools devoted to alchemy, necromancy, etc.
 
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== Live Action TV ==
* Helen Magnus in ''[[Sanctuary]]''.
{{quote| '''Helen:''' I specialize mainly in cryptozoology and xenobiology. Teratology, too, when the need arises.}}
** Those would be the studies of unknown animals, of aliens and of monsters.
 
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* In ''[[GURPS]]'', thaumatology is "the academic study of magical theory". Occultism has specialties like vampirology and pneumatology for more specific areas of study.
** Pneumatology is from the Greek (πνεύμα) and means "the study of spirits."
* Artificers from the ''[[Dungeons and Dragons|Dungeons & Dragons]]'' setting ''[[Eberron]]'' are described this way.
* The ''[[Ravenloft]]'' setting's various sourcebooks on monsters, the ''Van Richten's Guides'', are [[Literary Agent Hypothesis|presented as the work]] of scientifically-minded researchers of the supernatural.
* ''[[Exalted]]'' uses the term 'savant' to denote anyone who has a scientific understanding of the fantastic forces at work in and beyond Creation, as opposed to people who are just operating on superstition and folklore. Also, anyone who works extensively with [[Magitek]] is called a sorcerer-engineer.
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== Video Games ==
* Pokémon professors. [[Pokémon Red and Blue (Video Game)|Professor Oak]] studies Pokémon-human behavior and interactions, [[Pokémon Gold and Silver (Video Game)|Elm]] does Pokémon breeding, [[Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (Video Game)|Birch]] studies Pokémon ecology, [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (Video Game)|Rowan]] studies Pokémon evolution, and [[Pokémon Black and White (Video Game)|Juniper]] studies Pokémon origins.
* The ''[[Tales Series(series)]]'' is fond of this, along with [[Sufficiently Analyzed Magic]]:
** ''[[Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia]]'' has Raine Sage, who is a magical historian with a focus on healing arts and [[Magitek|magitechnology]].
** ''[[Tales of the Abyss (Video Game)|Tales of the Abyss]]'' has [[Colonel Badass|Colonel]] Jade Curtiss, who (along with his former friend Saphir) used to be a sort of magical geneticist, and goes back to it after the game. Saphir Neis and Guy Cecil both focus on [[Magitek|fontech]], although Guy is really more of an enthusiastic hobbyist.
 
 
== Web Comics ==
* In ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court (Webcomic)|Gunnerkrigg Court]]'', the eponymous Court studies the extranormal from time to time. Kat Donlan discovered that the [[Living Shadow|Shadow Men]] actually have mass, and the Suttons are botanists/gardeners who restore magically-animated trees to their original state.
* ''[[Adventurers (Webcomic)|Adventurers!]]'' gives us powerfologists. See [[Bishonen Line]] for more.
* Tedd of ''[[El Goonish Shive (Webcomic)|El Goonish Shive]]'' seems to be heading in this [http://egscomics.com/index.php?arcid=72 direction.]
 
 
== Western Animation ==
* From ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (Animation)|Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]'', a couple of nerds were trying to start the scientific field of Figmentology, since imaginary friends are real on that show.
* In ''[[Wakfu (Animation)|Wakfu]]'', the lost tech of the [[Precursors|Eliatropes]] is described as "magical science". Nox, the [[Big Bad]] of season 1, is also such a fantastic scientist, studying the principles behind [[Life Force|the wakfu]] and time magic to attempt [[Time Travel]]. Even before finding the [[Amplifier Artifact|Eliacube]], as a humble clockmaker he was able to built a flying pocket watch -- whichwatch—which just lacked a durable power source.
* Dr. Thaddeus Venture, among other characters on ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'', is a self-classified "super scientist", despite never having finished his degree.
 
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[[Category:Otherness Tropes]]
[[Category:Tropes On Science and Unscience]]
[[Category:Fantastic Science{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Trope]]