Mon: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

(Also: "-mon(s)". Short for "Monster.")

 

 

 

Mon range up and down the scale in terms of intelligence, power, and appearance. Some are almost mindless, while some are far, far smarter than their so-called "masters." Likewise, whether they're servants, partners, or just another race depends on the series. Some Mons may be controllable by [[The Beast Master]], but it's not a requirement.

 

 

The settings in Mons series tend to vary greatly often being a bizarre mixture of [[Serious Business]] and [[Mundane Fantastic]], but there are some common story types.

[[Fridge Logic|Then again]], you may wonder if [[Nintendo]] copied off of [[Atlus]] for their own series. ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' is, after all, [[Long Runner|ten years older]] than ''[[Pokémon]]''.

 

 

Compare and Contrast [[Cool Pet]] as well as [[Summon Magic]]. See also [[The Beast Master]] and [[Bond Creatures]]. May function as a [[Guardian Entity]].

For an index of works based around this trope, see the [[Mons Series]] index. For those who want to start their own, we have a handy guide on writing one [[So You Want To/Write a Mon Series|right here.]]

 

 

{{examples}}

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* ''[[Legendz]]''.

* Many of the fighters in ''[[Zatch Bell]]'' resemble humans, but have a mon-ish flavor to them.

* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh]]'' wound up becoming a hybrid Mon series, in the form of a magical card game, and then with Duel Monster spirit "partners" in '''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (anime)|GX]]''.

* ''[[Beyblade]]'' is a series that has mon, but focuses less on them and more on the humans who wield the eponymous Beyblades.

** ''[[Metal Fight Beyblade]]'' [[Averted Trope|drops]] the gimmick though.

* Summoning mystical, talking animals is one of the many varieties of Ninjutsu magic used in ''[[Naruto]]''.

* ''Bistro Recipe'', AKA ''[[Fighting Foodons]]'', was a mons series where all the monsters were living food items.

* ''[[Bakugan]]'', the spiritual successor to Beyblade and the less successful B-Daman, and from [[Tokyo Movie Shinsha|the same studio that did]] [[Tiny Toon Adventures]], [[Off-Model|but without the top nouch animation due to bad outsourcing]].

* ''[[Zoids]]'' are arguably just [[Humongous Mecha|Humongous]] [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Moncha]]. And before they converted into [[Humongous Mecha|Humongous]] [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Moncha]] of wartool, they are used as [[Hurricane of Puns|MONCHA]] CAVALRY!

* ''Manga/Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' becomes a sort of Mon series from Part 3 and onward, with many characters having their own creature that is basically a manifestation of their soul which they control.

* ''[[Medabots]]'' is mon series with customizable robots powered by medals instead of mons.

* The "Giant Warrior" from [[Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind]] qualifies as type 4.

* ''[[Mon Suno]]''

== [[Live-Action TV]] ==

* ''[[Kamen Rider]]'' series, starting with ''[[Kamen Rider Ryuki|Ryuki]]'', use this in varying degrees. In some, the heroes draw power from a contracted (''Ryuki'') or sealed (''[[Kamen Rider Blade|Blade]]'') [[Monster of the Week]] to use their unique traits. ''[[Kamen Rider Hibiki|Hibiki]]'' has the Disc Animals, which mostly play the trope straight. ''[[Kamen Rider Den-O|Den-O]]'' and ''[[Kamen Rider Kiva|Kiva]]'' have the interesting spin of having the "Mons" (the good-guy Imagin and the Arms Monsters, respectively) being regular characters in their own right who can merge with the Riders to power them up, [[Sharing a Body|taking control of the body]] to boot.

** [[Kamen Rider Decade]] takes this trope, and runs it as the main plot element. The two main Riders, Decade and Diend are, respectively, a [[Mega Manning|Megaman]] and a Pokemon Master, fighting by way of [[Yu-Gi-Oh!]].

* ''[[Ultra Seven]]'' from the [[Ultra Series]] was often unable to transform because his [[Transformation Trinket]] had been stolen, so in order to fend off the [[Monster of the Week]], he would pull out a small capsule and release a giant monster to do the fighting.

* ''[[Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle]]'' is [[Ultra Series]] [[X Meets Y|meet Pokemon]].

 

* ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' Episodes I and II sort of has this with the mag. Mags are a race of [[Robot Buddy|living computers]] that are freely distributed to [[An Adventurer Is You|new hunters/rangers/forces]], but more can be found in other places such as [[Randomly Drops|the mines in Ragol]]. When they are new, all mags share [[Palette Swap|the exact same form except for their color]] (which they have a handful of options), and are [[Magikarp Power|almost widely useless]] for anything except to [[Inventory Management Puzzle|use up extra mates/fluids when they take up too much space in your pack]]. The mon part? If you feed them certain [[Healing Potion|mates/fluids/cures/etc]]. or a combination of them that typical mag can [[Unstable Genetic Code|quickly change its form into many other different and unique models]] (sometimes even changing back to a previous form, not including the infant model) and learn different combinations of photon blasts (up to three). Their transformations are based around their levels, their stats and a few other tricks (such as the owner's Section ID or other [[Lost Forever|rare]] event items), and if the stats are [[Guide Dang It|tweaked the right way]] by the time they [[Level Grinding|cap their level]], they can make a permanent change into a very rare model of mag. While they aren't used to directly fight in battle (unless you count some of the photon blasts) and while the player has few reasons to go out hunting extra mags, some of the rarer mags can perform valuable techs aside from the photons, including [[Auto Revive|reviving their owner if they die]] or [[Status Buff|temporarily boosting their attack and defense]]. Not to mention that their stats directly affects the players and also adds significant boosts to them for as long as that model is equipped (which can [[Game Breaker|really shoot high]] with some more [[Guide Dang It|clever]] [[Trial and Error Gameplay|tweaking]]). They also have [[Pet Interface|intelligence and feelings to watch for as well as a damage meter]], the two formers of which are affected by their "food", such as if they like it or if it's good for them, or (for synch) whether or not you give them [[Healing Potion|mates/fluids/cures/so on]] [[Wizard Needs Food Badly|quick enough when they're hungry]] (the latter charges up energy for the photon blast the [[Video Game Cruelty Potential|more hits you/they take]]). Ironically, although the game also makes an effort in a few missions to make it clear how mags are living creatures that try to protect and serve you well in exchange for care, and they made it also clear that every Hunter (and Ranger and Force) gets one upon becoming hunters (part of the Hunter's Guild/government on Pioneer 2, not just the class), there are only a small number of characters (besides player made ones) whom have one or were seen with one (Elenor comes to mind and supposedly Ult).

* ''[[Grand Chase]]'' has the "pets" who get to attack with you during dungeons and pvp.

** Arguably played somewhat straight with the Warjacks - if a specific 'Jack is used by a Warcaster frequently for a long period of time, they can gain a level of personality. This is likely what has happened to Stryker's faithful Ironclad Ol' Rowdy and Haley's special Lancer Thorn. Drago could also be viewed as this to Vladimir Tzepeci, and Beast 09 for Sorcha is most definately this. Likewise, said Warcasters can also get very defensive about particular 'Jacks as well (case and point - this is the reason Haley refuses to have Cygnarian Mechanics "examine" Thorn).

* The Tabletop RPG ''[[Monsters and Other Childish Things]]'' presents a Mon setting in which the mon are things like dark and malevolent forgotten gods and [[Cosmic Horror|Lovecraftian]] abominations against the order of our reality. Unlike some examples, it has a strict "one monster per kid" rule, so there's no collecting or catching.

* Project Nephilim introduces [[Cthulhu Tech]]'s own take on the anime genre, with genetically engineered mini-mecha horrors that have to be kept under control by [[The Kid with the Remote Control|psychic handlers]]. There's also a plethora of spells which allow sorcerers to summon various [[Eldritch Abominations]], usually to serve as assassins or bodyguards.

 

== [[Video Games]] ==

* [[Trope Maker|Started]] with ''[[Digital Devil Story]]: [[Megami Tensei]]'' back in 1987. Interestingly, both the original novels ([[Adaptation Displacement|yes, the series is based on novels]]) and the game are viewed as [[Deconstructed Trope|Deconstruction]]s in retrospect, making the Mon trope [[Unbuilt Trope|Unbuilt]].

** Ironically, the ''Pokémon'' franchise was criticized early in its history for having alleged Satanic themes. Fortunately, one can only imagine what the critics would have thought of the ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' series.

* This may well have roots leading to an "[[The Oldest Ones in the Book|Oldest One In The Book]]", in that ''[[Pokémon]]'', for one, has strong stylistic overtones of shamanism. However, ''[[Pokémon]]'' itself was originally inspired by its creator Satoshi Tajiri's hobby of [[Bug Catching]]. He reportedly wanted to create a way for people to have the same experience searching for bugs (and other wild creatures) as he did after realizing that many of the forests he used to play in had been destroyed.

* Although it's not a Mon series, per se, both ''[[Summon Night]]'' and its spinoff ''Swordcraft Story'' have elements of it, as in the setting, humans can't use magic directly, and have to rely on various summoned creatures to provide it.

* The Cyber-Elf gathering and utilization system introduced in the ''[[Mega Man Zero]]'' series had this sort of feel to it.

** OTOH, you're not collecting the Navis themselves, instead you're collecting battle chips to use for virus busting and netbattles.

** In the third installment, however, you ''do'' collect viruses which you can use to battle with...

** All of this was later continued in ''[[Mega Man Star Force]]''.

* ''[[Dinosaur King]]'' is this with dinosaurs.

** Predated by ''[[Mushi King]]'' from the same company (built around insects, hence "Mushi")

* ''[[Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World]]'' includes a monster-pact system which is pretty much [[X Meets Y|Tales of Symphonia meets Pokémon]]. However, the cast of the previous game shows up often enough that there are really only a few bosses and dungeons where you have to make use of the system, if you don't like it.

* ''[[Geneforge]]''. Shaping your own army of creatures, from cute mascot-like tiny dragons to acid-spitting worms to lightning coatl to full-fledged drakes and giants. Almost every character type depends on them in some way or another, and the few types that are designed for operate solo can still make use of them. They can develop along with the character, augmented with more essence, or have their essence reclaimed to build stronger monster types. Under certain circumstances they may go rogue. Different factions have their own ideology regarding their rights to life and freedom, but they never really demonstrate any personality of their own (as of Geneforge 4.)

* ''[[Enchanted Arms]]'' has golems you can collect by finding and defeating [[Preexisting Encounters]]. All the game's random enemies and some of the bosses are acquireable. Unfortunately the [[Arbitrary Headcount Limit]] makes the golems more or less useless as soon as all four human party members have joined.

* Titans from ''[[Huntik]]''. They're summoned from amulets using the summoner's own [[Mana|magical energy]]. Some are unique, like [[Golem|Metagolem]] or Garghoul, while others are common, like Hoplites (lion-centaur-Spartan things) or the Redcaps and Mindrones the Organization [[Mooks]] use.

** The series is most well-known for the mediocre bootlegs of the original games that actually tried to pass itself as ''[[Pokémon]]'' games.

* ''[[Culdcept]]'' is one of the few mon games/manga where the humans fight just as hard as the monsters.

* ''[[Eternal Eyes]]''

* ''[[Lil' Monster]]'' and its Japan-only prequel Kandume Monster, though the prequel was also rather "traditional RPG"-ish in its way.

 

== [[Web Comics]] ==

* ''[[But I'm a Cat Person]]'' is another deconstruction. The Mon owners have jobs, other hobbies, and personal issues to deal with aside from fighting, and not all of them are sure they want to participate in the first place. Well into the third chapter, there's only been one battle, and it was entirely off-panel.

* ''[[Monster Pulse]]'' plays with the genre. On paper it's a coming of age story about kids and their mons. The twist being that said monsters are made from the organs and body parts of the main characters.

 

== [[Web Original]] ==

* ''[[Neopets]]''.

** In universe, however, [[Neopets]] is more of a constructed world, since the [[Mons]] are the "humans" of Neopia, and owners... Well, they don't exist in the storylines on the site.

* In ''[[Chaotic]]'', the creature scans don't possess sentience, but players do use them to become the creatures for the match and battle with them. Creatures in Perm are not animals but beings that form distinct societies and, of course, wage wars.

* Ling-ling of ''[[Drawn Together]]'' is a parody of Pikachu who was apparently abused by his trainer considerably, among other things said trainer: captured him using a bear trap, turned him into a sociopathic killing machine, and [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|took his dance shoes]].

 

== [[Real Life]] ==

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Anime Genres]]

[[Category:Short Titles]]

[[Category:Pet and Animal Companion Tropes]]

[[Category:Index of Fictional Creatures]]