History Main / MonsterSuit

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* Yu Yevon from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' is the [[IncrediblyLamePun embodiment]] of this trope.

* The Pretenders in ''{{Transformers}}''. There was never really a "reveal" that within the badass Bludgeon was a puny robot (the audience knew all along--it's a MerchandiseDriven series after all), but even he knew how lame his inner robot was.

* [[Characters/XMenArakko Pogg Ur-Pogg]] is actually a short goblin-like Amenth demon who pilots an armoured giant, six-armed crocodile monster. Without its weakling pilot, the crocodile monster is inert. But inside the MonsterSuit, Pogg Ur-Pogg has a successful career as a mercenary in an otherdimensional DeathWorld.

* Lavos from ''VideoGame/{{Chrono Trigger}}'', who has ''two'' shells. Of course, the inner forms aren't any weaker than the outer ones...

->''"Pay no attention to TheManBehindTheCurtain!"''
-->-- '''The Wizard''', ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''

* Lavos from ''VideoGame/{{Chrono Trigger}}'', who has ''two'' shells. Of course, the inner forms aren't any weaker the the outer ones...

* Se?Siniestro from ''WesternAnimation/ElTigreTheAdventuresOfMannyRivera'', is just classmate of Manny and Frida with a knack for controlling a titanical battle suit which in turn can control an ''[[MetaMecha even bigger]]''[[MetaMecha battle suit]].

* Poseidon creates one made out of the ''sea'' in ''VideoGame/GodOfWar 3'' to fight Kratos and Gaia in the beginning of the game.

See also TheManBehindTheCurtain. Don't confuse with the ScoobyDooHoax, although that also involves wearing a monster suit.

* Se?Siniestro from ''WesternAnimation/MannyRivieraTheAdventureOfElTigre'', is just classmate of Manny and Frida with a knack for controlling a titanical battle suit which in turn can control an ''[[MetaMecha even bigger]]''[[MetaMecha battle suit]].

* Se?Siniestro from ''[[ElTigre Manny Riviera: The Adventure of El Tigre]]'', is just classmate of Manny and Frida with a knack for controlling a titanical battle suit which in turn can control an ''[[MetaMecha even bigger]]''[[MetaMecha battle suit]].
* Done with a hulking bounty hunter in StarWarsTheCloneWars who turns out to be a 1 foot tall alien in a big suit of armor. Then subverted where he is still an asskicker outside his costume later on. He built the suit more for looks than anything, as a tiny alien is less impressive to potential employers than a huge, hulking alien of unknown species.

* The Pretenders in ''{{Transformers}}''. There was never really a "reveal" that within the BadAss Bludgeon was a puny robot (the audience knew all along--it's a MerchandiseDriven series after all), but even he knew how lame his inner robot was.

[[folder: Film ]]

* In ''TeenTitansTroubleInTokyo'', our heroes are facing a huge ink monster controlled by the BigBad, but luckily the keystone to the entire thing is the cursed artist whose strings are being pulled by the BigBad.

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* [[spoiler:Dan Barrows aka Edward]] from ''Videogame/ClockTower''. In the first game he appears as a hideous giant baby-like monster. Turns out that was a suit made out of the people he killed, his actual appearance is [[spoiler:that of a charming young boy. He's arguably ''more'' dangerous outside of his giant fetus flesh-suit, since he's able to exploit his innocent-looking appearance. Oh, and he's the new Scissorman in the sequel.]]

* ''Anime/{{Digimon Adventure}}'' had [=VenomMyotismon=].
** And ''Anime/{{Digimon Frontier}}'' had Lucemon. Also, his [[TheDragon Dragon]] monster suit? An [[http://dma.wtw-x.net/DMA/DigimonStands/Toei/LucemonSM.jpg actual dragon]].
* Kind of applies to the ''VisionOfEscaflowne'' manga, where the BigBad is actually a little kid that projects a much older, uglier image of himself so that he'll look more formidable.
* ''OnePiece'' has Gecko Moria, who hides inside the giant zombie Oars. Though turns out Moria is just as dangerous as the giant zombie.

* One of the demons ''ZatchBell'' battles is like this, using its powers of animation to move and fight inside a durable, massive body.

* Done with a good guy in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' [[TheMovie movie]] ''Secret of the Omnitrix'': Azmuth winds up being a Grey Matter in a Cannonbolt suit.

* Averted twice-over in ''{{Inuyasha}}'' with Juromaru and Kageromaru. Juromaru was tough, but Kageromaru lived in Juromaru's stomach and was much worse. However, Juromaru was a monster of his own, not just a shell for the other.
** Mouryoumaru is an ''{{Inuyasha}}'' example that plays the trope straight.

* In ''TeamAmericaWorldPolice'', [[spoiler:Kim Jong-il turns out to be a [[RefugeInAudacity cockroach from space]]]].
* In ''{{Brotherhood Of The Wolf}}'', the dreaded Beast is revealed to be [[spoiler: a trained lion in a MonsterSuit. Still dangerous, but more deserving of sympathy, given how it was abused into acting like a monster]].
* ''{{Labyrinth}}''. When the protagonists reach the entrance to the Goblin City, they're confronted by a giant robot-like creature. It turns out that the robot is being controlled by a small goblin inside of it.

* ''DungeonsAndDragons'' module [=WG7=] ''Castle Greyhawk''. An iron golem is built like a giant mecha, with many attacks a normal iron golem doesn't have. Its head holds a control room with an orc inside that is controlling it.

See also TheManBehindTheCurtain.

-->-- '''The Wizard''', ''Film/{{The Wizard of Oz}}''

* Yu Yevon from ''{{Final Fantasy X}}'' is the [[IncrediblyLamePun embodiment]] of this trope.

* King Boo from ''VideoGame/{{Luigis Mansion}}'' would probably fit into this category with his [[spoiler: Bowser suit]].
* The FinalBoss of ''{{Okami}}'' gives Yu Yevon a run for its money: [[spoiler: Yami the Dark Lord is actually a harmless baby seal in a jar controlling a gargantuan, mechanical sphere.]]
* [[spoiler: Shadow Mitsuo]] from ''{{Persona 4}}'' is a creepy floating baby capable of summoning an "outer shell" in the shape of a giant, pixelated 8-bit warrior. Though the real deal is far more dangerous than the shell.

* ''{{Digimon Adventure}}'' had [=VenomMyotismon=].
** And ''{{Digimon Frontier}}'' had Lucemon. Also, his [[TheDragon Dragon]] monster suit? An [[http://dma.wtw-x.net/DMA/DigimonStands/Toei/LucemonSM.jpg actual dragon]].

* Skulker in ''DannyPhantom''. His real appearance is a small ghost made of ectoplasm, and his normal look is only his PoweredArmor.

* Similar to the ''DannyPhantom'' above, Se?Siniestro from ''[[ElTigre Manny Riviera: The Adventure of El Tigre]]'', is just classmate of Manny and Frida with a knack for controlling a titanical battle suit which in turn can control an ''[[MetaMecha even bigger]]''[[MetaMecha battle suit]].

* In the {{toku}} ''NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger'', the villain Sargain is a small robotic ant piloting a human-sized robot body

* In ''Series/{{Angel}}'', the demon known as the Beast in season 4 is revealed to be simply a minion of the real big bad, the demon-hijacked Cordelia.

* Inverted in ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''. [[spoiler:The Evas are [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] that wear HumongousMecha suits, and the suits don't make them more powerful, but rather limit their size and strength to a level at which they can still be controlled.]]