History Main / Mon

* ''VideoGame/FossilFighters'' is about collectible dinosaurs that you revivie from fossils; cleaning the fossils better results in better starting stats.

* Ditto ''VideoGame/FossilFighters''.
** And Disney's ''VideoGame/{{Spectrobes}}'', although they're a straighter example in that they aren't based on real creatures.

* MonsAsCharacterization: One's choice of mons reveals their inner character.

* MagikarpPower: A weak Mon that becomes strong shows up in basically every Mons work.
* MonsAsCharacterization: One's choice of mons reveals their inner character.

* ''VideoGame/{{Dragonseeds}}'', a FollowTheLeader version of Monster Rancher/Farm. Most of the monsters didn't look anything like dragons, with some being animated coffins, shakōkidogū, or owlmen. Monsters were created by scanning other Platform/PlayStation save files.

* The ''Videogame/BokuNoNatsuyasumi'' series, although primarily 1970s summer vacation simulators, features BugCatching (Pokemon's inspiration) as one of its main characteristics: a few of them, mostly beetles, can be pitted in sumo matches on a makeshift ''dohyō'' ring (usually a tambourine). The fourth entry, set a decade later, adds ''[[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} kinkeshi]]''-like eraser toys[[note]]Actually, ''keshigomu'' are rubber toys - the "gomu" (eraser) part supposedly came from children [[NotCheatingUnlessYouGetCaught bringing them to school as erasers]]. However, [[OpenSecret they were banned in a lot of schools anyway]] - something similar happened with Platform/GameAndWatch devices a time later.[[/note]] that "fight" on a cardboard box tapped by the children until one of them loses balance.

* ''VideoGame/{{Dragonseeds}}'', a FollowTheLeader version of Monster Rancher/Farm. Most of the monsters didn't look anything like dragons, with some being animated coffins, shakōkidogū, or owlmen. Monsters were created by scanning other UsefulNotes/PlayStation save files.

* ''VideoGame/{{Telefang}}'' was a UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor[=/=]UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance release loosely based off Pokémon, although it has some ''Digimon'' elements to it. The series is most well-known for the mediocre bootlegs of the original games that actually tried to pass themselves as ''Pokemon'' games.

* The UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast game ''Kiteretsu Boy's Gangagan'' has a total of 144 different Mons (or ''kotodamashi'') with some derived from Myth/JapaneseMythology figures. A unique factor for this game is a bundled microphone that must be spoken to during battles, with the mons shouting Japanese words to the opponent to inflict damage. You play as your ''kotodamashi'' in a minuscule size in different environments to find, battle and capture other mons.

* ''VideoGame/MailOrderMonsters'', for the UsefulNotes/Commodore64, was a surprisingly early Western example.

* The ''Videogame/BokuNoNatsuyasumi'' series, although primarily 1970s summer vacation simulators, features BugCatching (Pokemon's inspiration) as one of its main characteristics: a few of them, mostly beetles, can be pitted in sumo matches on a makeshift ''dohyō'' ring (usually a tambourine). The fourth entry, set a decade later, adds ''[[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} kinkeshi]]''-like eraser toys[[note]]Actually, ''keshigomu'' are rubber toys - the "gomu" (eraser) part supposedly came from children [[NotCheatingUnlessYouGetCaught bringing them to school as erasers]]. However, [[OpenSecret they were banned in a lot of schools anyway]] - something similar happened with UsefulNotes/GameAndWatch devices a time later.[[/note]] that "fight" on a cardboard box tapped by the children until one of them loses balance.

* '''Type 1:''' Mons are analogous to ordinary (if super-powered) animals, sometimes being found as wildlife. Humans in the setting use them in various types of hobbyist activities, such as collecting all species of Mons and/or using them in sporting tournaments, in order ToBeAMaster. The number of Mons usable is often unlimited and storable in special items, although their owners may especially favor one Mon or a number of them over the rest. This version tends to appear most often in games, such as the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', ''VideoGame/MonsterRancher'', and ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' series.
* '''Type 2:''' Mons are [[IntellectualAnimal fully sapient beings]], with distinct personalities and societies, who partner with humans to fight a BigBad and SaveTheWorld. They usually work in pairings of one Mon per human, with exceptions rarely going much higher, which allows for (or even requires) mutual development in order to learn how to live and fight together. As the premise lends itself to complex stories, at least some drama is ensured. Anime series, like ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', ''Anime/MonsterRancher'', and ''Toys/{{Jewelpet}}'', tend to use this type. The ''Pokemon'' games sometimes edge into Type 2, especially with the various [[TheMafia evil teams]].
* '''Type 3:''' Mons are [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent spirits]] or {{Familiar}}s, often summoned exclusively to fight and remaining away or invisible the rest of the time. Usually, only humans with unique abilities are capable of summoning Mons or persuading hostile ones to join their side, and generally only use them in order to accomplish their own personal goals, which might be heroic or not. They are often used in fantasy settings, like ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'', although they can also appear in media set in the real world, such as ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and ''Franchise/{{Persona}}''.
* '''Type 4:''' A {{Deconstruction}} of the above: Mons are {{Living Weapon}}s or [[OurGodsAreDifferent Literal Gods]] enslaved to human masters. This leads to {{Crapsack World}}s where they're used for BeastlyBloodsports, or cause [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt mass chaos, death, and destruction]] as humans abuse their newfound power, like in ''Manga/ShadowStar'' or ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor''.

* '''Type 2:''' Mons are [[IntellectualAnimal fully sapient beings]], with distinct personalities and societies, who partner with humans to fight a BigBad and SaveTheWorld. They usually work in pairings of one Mon per human, with exceptions rarely going much higher, which allows for (or even requires) mutual development in order to learn how to live and fight together. Anime series, like ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', ''Anime/MonsterRancher'', and ''Toys/{{Jewelpet}}'', tend to use this type. The ''Pokemon'' games sometimes edge into Type 2, especially with the various [[TheMafia evil teams]].
* '''Type 3:''' Mons are [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent spirits]] or {{Familiar}}s, often summoned exclusively to fight and remaining away or invisible the rest of the time. Usually, only humans with unique abilities are capable of summoning Mons or persuading hostile ones to join their side, and generally only use them in order to accomplish their own personal goals. They are often used in fantasy settings, like ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'', although they can also appear in media set in the real world, such as ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and ''Franchise/{{Persona}}''.

* '''Type 1:''' Mons are analogous to ordinary (if super-powered) animals. Humans in the setting use them in various types of hobbyist activities, such as collecting all species of Mons or using them in sporting tournaments, in order ToBeAMaster. The number of Mons usable is often unlimited, although their owners may especially favor one or a number of them over the rest. This version tends to appear most often in games, such as the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', ''VideoGame/MonsterRancher'', and ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' series.
* '''Type 2:''' Mons are [[IntellectualAnimal fully sapient beings]], with distinct personalities and societies, who partner with humans to fight a BigBad and SaveTheWorld. They usually work in pairings of one Mon per human, with exceptions rarely going much higher, which allows for (or even requires) mutual character development. Anime series, like ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', ''Anime/MonsterRancher'', and ''Toys/{{Jewelpet}}'' tend to use this type. The ''Pokemon'' games sometimes edge into Type 2, especially with the various [[TheMafia evil teams]].
* '''Type 3:''' Mons are [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent spirits]] or {{Familiar}}s; here, only humans with unique abilities are capable of summoning Mons or persuading hostile ones to join their side, and generally only use them in order to accomplish their own personal goals. Often used in fantasy settings, like ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2''. SummonMagic is this if the summons don't go away after one attack.

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.

Good relations with Mon are recommended, as ThePowerOfFriendship usually serves to make your Mon more powerful and loyal to your cause. Apathetic or cruel treatment, on the other hand, may cause them to run away, [[TheDogBitesBack turn on you]], or even (if they are [[OlympusMons powerful enough]]) bring about TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.

Expect the majority of Mon works showing the human barely doing any contribution to the fighting while hogging all the CharacterDevelopment, with the Mons in question being {{Satellite Character}}s. [[HumanFocusedAdaptation Contrary to popular belief, the focus is on the humans for the most part, not the titular Mons, no matter how interesting and sapient the latter are]].

** Ironically, the ''Pokémon'' franchise was criticized early in its history for having [[EveryoneIsSatanInHell 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 "[[TheOldestOnesInTheBook 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 BugCatching. 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.

* '''Type 1:''' Mons are analogous to ordinary (if super-powered) animals. Humans in the setting use them in various types of hobbyist activities, such as collecting all species of Mons or using them in sporting tournaments, in order ToBeAMaster. This version tends to appear most often in games, such as the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', ''VideoGame/MonsterRancher'', and ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' series.
* '''Type 2:''' Mons are [[IntellectualAnimal fully sapient beings]] who partner with humans to fight a BigBad and SaveTheWorld. Anime series, like ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', ''Anime/MonsterRancher'', and ''Toys/{{Jewelpet}}'' tend to use this type. The ''Pokemon'' games sometimes edge into Type 2, especially with the various [[TheMafia evil teams]].
* '''Type 3:''' Mons are [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent spirits]] or {{Familiar}}s; here, only humans with unique abilities are capable of persuading hostile Mons to join their side, and generally only use them in order to accomplish their own personal goals. Often used in fantasy settings, like ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2''. SummonMagic is this if the summons don't go away after one attack.

* Even ''Franchise/DragonQuest'' got into the Mon craze by releasing the Game Boy games known as ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'', where one can capture and raise many of the enemies in the game, including an entire family based on the Slime... although even before this -- and before ''Pokémon'' -- ''Dragon Quest V'' and ''VI'' let you recruit and train monsters.

* The very obscure UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast game ''Kiteretsu Boy's Gangagan'' has a total of 144 different Mons (or ''kotodamashi'') with some derived from Myth/JapaneseMythology figures. A unique factor for this game is a bundled microphone that must be spoken to during battles, with the mons shouting Japanese words to the opponent to inflict damage. You play as your ''kotodamashi'' in a minuscule size in different environments to find, battle and capture other mons.

* Even ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' got into the Mon craze by releasing the Game Boy games known as ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'', where one can capture and raise many of the enemies in the game, including an entire family based on the Slime... although even before this -- and before ''Pokémon'' -- ''Dragon Quest V'' and ''VI'' let you recruit and train monsters.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}} Onmyōji]]'', where Mons are called ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Onmyodo}} shikigami]]''.

* The [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter Chao]] of the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' series in the first two ''Adventure'' games. Collected as eggs ingame or online, raised with fruit to eat and small animals/drivers to influence stats and looks, can be bred, grow up and change appearance based on stats and looks, and used for contests like racing and sparring. If raised correctly, Chao can evolve into [[OlympusMons Chaos Chao]], immortal beings with superb stats.

* ''MailOrderMonsters'', for the UsefulNotes/Commodore64, was a surprisingly early Western example.

* The mobile RPG ''ZENFORMS: Protectors'' has ZENFORMS as Mons. However, unlike Pokemon, they evolve based on how you train them stat-wise.

JustForFun/NotToBeConfusedWith [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_mon_%28currency%29 mon,]] a historical currency in Japan, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_%28crest%29 mon,]] a Japanese symbol similar to a coat of arms in European heraldry, a Belgian city, or the ''[[CountryMatters mons veneris]]'', for that matter. Also, nothing to do with a stereotypical [[UsefulNotes/TheCaribbean Caribbean]] accent.

* '''Type 2:''' Mons are [[IntellectualAnimal fully sapient beings]] who partner with humans to fight a BigBad and SaveTheWorld. Anime series, like ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' and ''Anime/MonsterRancher'', tend to use this type. The ''Pokemon'' games sometimes edge into Type 2, especially with the various [[TheMafia evil teams]].

* ''Toys/{{Jewelpet}}'', although they aren't the fighting type.

* The very obscure UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast game ''Kiteretsu Boy's Gangagan'' has a total of 144 different Mons with some similar to Myth/JapaneseMythology figures. What provides a unique factor to this game is a bundled microphone that must be spoken to during battles, and the mons shouts Japanese words to the opposing mon. And you play as your mon (small) in different environments to find, battle and capture other mons.

* Website/{{Bogleech}}'s WebOriginal/{{Mortasheen}} is this, combined with copious amounts of terror.

* In the series ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'' -- set in another world where the nobility are Franchise/HarryPotter-esque magi -- a hapless yet [[{{Tsundere}} haughty]] mage named Louise accidentally summons a computer science student from Earth as her familiar. All the other mage familiars are Mon.

* The Materials in ''LightNovel/TheUnexploredSummonBloodSign'', supernatural beings from another world that summoners use to fight. The Materials themselves aren't physically summoned; rather, a summoner calls in the Material to possess their vessel's body, [[PowersViaPossession transforming the vessel into the Material]]. Materials don't remain in the human world - once a summoning battle is over, they return to their original world. This means that any summoner is equally capable of summoning any Material (at least in theory). Materials are divided into three categories: [[OurMonstersAreWeird Regulation-Class]]; [[OurGodsAreGreater Divine-Class]], and the titular [[TheOldGods Unexplored-Class]].

A Mon[[note]]short for "monster", as in Franchise/{{Pokemon}} (Pocket Monsters) and Franchise/{{Digimon}} (Digital Monsters)[[/note]] is a creature, generally summoned by magic or [[ClarkesThirdLaw sufficiently advanced science]] means, which fights on behalf of its summoner. This allows characters to fight each other without actually fighting themselves; instead, they conjure an avatar--perhaps a beast or a machine--that fights for them. Sometimes only one side will have Mons, so the characters on the other side directly fight the Mons. Wild Mons--those uncontrolled by anyone--are also known to appear.