SEER (pronounced "sire"), or 赛尔号 (Sài ěr hào) is a 2009 Pokémon-like Chinese MMO that has branched into cartoons, other video games, and movies created/developed by Shanghai Taomee Network Technology Co., Ltd.
In the game, you control a customizable Seer (Space Energy Robot) and can fight other Seers with Mons. The Mon fighting system is similar to Pokémon, though there are 100+ elements in-game, 26 single elements and 92 dual elements. And later-released Mons are often more humanoid or robotic, compared to earlier Mons.
The series has branched out into various movies and spin-off games, including:
- The SEER movie franchise, consisting of seven movies released from 2011 to 2019.
- Spin-off games including SEER Star Wars.
- An animated television series with 12 seasons.
And, the SEER game is still active to this day, with new Mons released monthly.
This has nothing to do with seers, as in people who can see into the future. If you're looking for those, go here.
The SEER franchise provides examples of:
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The games and franchise in general
- Canon Immigrant: There have been a few mons who make their debut in the movies and tv series that eventually make their way to some of the special events of the game.
- Character in the Logo: The "赛" in "赛尔号" has Simon's face and screw-looking head protrusion on it.
- Cool Starship: As the setting.
- Fun with Acronyms: SEER is an acronym for "Space Energy Robot".
- Mons: Here they are called "Extraterrestrial Sprites" and have similar elemental powers to the ones in Pokemon.
- Prongs of Poseidon: Vast Sea Realm God, a merman Extraterrestrial Sprite, wields a trident.
- Super-Deformed: Compared to the other franchise installments, SEER Star Wars has a largely chibiesque art style.
The TV show and films
- Aborted Arc: The series ended up never resolving the arc that introduced The Diabolic Force nor Puni vs Sorensen, mainly because it was being produced during the last season right before the Taomee production team disbanded.
- Adapted Out: Several characters and storyarcs happen to be discluded in the cartoon adaptation.
- Adaptational Villainy: Many characters from the game itself. In particular, Dean in the video game is an Anti-Hero. She is SEER's Elves Researcher. During the Sudden Invasion, she betrays SEER and is revealed to be a spy temporarily working for Pirates for her own agenda. Turns out, she is secretly a time traveler from the dystopian future trying to prevent her home planet from being destroyed by the Demonic being. Thanks to the player's persuasion, she becomes a permanent member of SEER and continues her research. However, in the animation, he is more than 500 years old and a ruthless The Dragon loyal to the Pirates who terrorized the plants and elves across the galaxy.
- All-CGI Cartoon: While the TV show uses 2D animation, the films are animated in CGI.
- Animated Adaptation: The original MMORPG spawned numerous animated films and a television cartoon in its wake.
- Conjoined Eyes: In the television cartoon and some of the movies, a lot of the Seers have eyes that are joined in the middle.
- Cut Short: Despite the series having 12 seasons and 7 movies, they never had a proper finale leaving many questions unanswered. This is mainly because the production team of Taomee ended up disbanding in 2022, meaning that there will be no more future episodes nor movies.
- Hijacked by Ganon: Usually whenever a new enemy appears they are involved in making a deal with the pirates.
- Gender Flip: In the game, Dean is referred to as a female, while in the animation he is referred to as a male.
- Glass Smack and Slide: In the first episode, Simon manages to nail a jump onto the Seercraft, but hits a glass panel and slides down it afterwards, in front of two other Seer bots who just ignore him.
- Pilot Movie: The very first movie that was released in 2011 actually acted as a pilot before the main series of 2012.
- The Movie: Seven of 'em; the film series began back in 2011.
- Numbered Sequels: All the movies besides the first one have a number in their title.
- Shout-Out: The Season 10 intro depicts the Seers in the Minecraft art style.
- Sissy Villain: Meritus, the antagonist of the first movie, has a very feminine appearance with lipstick, a beauty mark, and eyelashes that suits his obsession with symmetry and elegance perfectly.
