Felyne

The Felyne (Japanese: アイルー, romanized: airū), also known as the Palico (since Monster Hunter Generations), is a fictional species in the Monster Hunter video game series developed by Capcom. They accompany player characters, or "hunters", and can act as AI-controlled backup. Felynes have become a popular mascot for the series, and have featured in spin-off games, many cross-promotions with other Capcom and non-Capcom video games, and various Japanese consumer products.

Felyne
Monster Hunter character
Anthropomorphic catlike creatures.
Two Felynes from Monster Hunter Portable 3rd wearing armor
First gameMonster Hunter (2004)
Created byCapcom
In-universe information
AliasPalico
SpeciesLynian (Beastman)

Characteristics

Felynes are members of the Lynian species of beastmen, which also includes other, similar races like the lynx-like Grimalkynes.[1] Small in stature compared to humans, they have an appearance similar to the domestic cat, but are fully sentient, bipedal, and can speak the human language. Felynes who partner with a hunter wear miniature suits of armor. Felynes assist the player in cooking meals, maintaining gardens, and returning them to camp if they are defeated in battle.[2]

Several types of designs have been used to represent the Felynes in different media. In addition to the classic, realistic design used in main series games, there is a chibi design used in the spin-off games with an oversized head and large, circular eyes. Designs more resembling cartoons are used in Monster Hunter Stories for the unique Felyne Navirou and his comrades, The Numbers.

Appearances

Video games

Felynes have appeared in every game in the Monster Hunter series. Spin-off games featuring Felynes include Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village, developed by FromSoftware for the Nintendo 3DS,[3] which was also bundled with a purple PSP system,[4] and a PSP version of Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo called Felyne de Puzzle.[5] A mobile game called Poka Poka Felyne Reversi was also developed.[6]

Crossovers often involve Felyne outfits based on other video games. For Monster Hunter: World, this included a Horizon Zero Dawn skin.[7]

Other media

Felynes featured in the Monster Hunter live-action film, with director Paul W.S. Anderson stating that "you couldn't make a Monster Hunter movie without having a Palico in it" in response to fan concerns that Felynes would be excluded, also saying that "definitely we lean in to the Palico".[8] An unusually large Felyne cook called the Meowscular Chef received notoriety for his appearances both in Monster Hunter: World, and the live-action movie, where he is a sidekick to the Admiral and has a "flirtatious relationship" with Captain Artemis, played by Milla Jovovich.[8] The Meowscular Chef has been adapted for use as a custom skin in a fan-made mod for Monster Hunter World.[9]

Development

The noises of Felynes are created using the real-life vocalizations of cats owned by the games' development team, causing them to compile a library of cat noises stretching back to the original Monster Hunter. The noises are sometimes arranged in order to depict a situation that would be impossible to subject a real cat to, such as being attacked by a monster.[10]

Merchandise

In 2013, several Monster Hunter 4 figures were given away as prizes in Japan, including ones based on Felynes.[11] In 2014, a Mega Man crossover toy was released,[12] a set of Felyne-themed 3DS XL accessories,[13] as well as a 24 karat gold Felyne statue that cost almost $30,000 to celebrate the series' 10-year anniversary.[14] In 2017, a highly detailed doll of a Felyne was released by Capcom for 162,000 yen.[15] More unusual products include Felyne toilet paper-holders.[16] Beyond merchandise, a Felyne-themed car was used to promote the series at the Odaiba Motor Festival.[17] In 2022, merchandise featuring the characters was utilized in a public safety promotion as part of an ongoing partnership between Capcom and local Japanese police.[18]

Reception

Dom Peppiatt of VG247 remarked that Felynes were "cute" and a "staple" of Monster Hunter, saying that the series had a "slight obsession with cats" for a long time. Calling Felynes "small in stature (but big in personality)", he said that "these mascot characters have become integral to Monster Hunter's world".[10] James Whitbrook of Gizmodo also called them a staple character, as well as "gosh darn adorable" with "incredibly cute armor", and expressed his pleasure that Felynes were featured in the Monster Hunter film. Praising the depiction of Meowscular Chef in Monster Hunter: World as "hilarious", he was excited that the character would be brought to the film as a homage, calling the Chef his "new best friend".[19]

The Palicoes in Monster Hunter: World received a great deal of social media publicity when their vocalizations attracted the real-life cats of players.[20] Gene Park of The Washington Post said that the games had the "scourge of driving real animals up the wall", adding that "pets being distracted or noticing Monster Hunter games is a tradition among all Monster Hunter fans with pets."[21]

References
  1. Parkin, Jeffrey (2018-01-30). "Monster Hunter: World grimalkynes guide". Polygon. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  2. "The Latest Monster Hunter World Trailer Focuses On The Cute Cat Companions". CINEMABLEND. 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  3. "About That Monster Hunter Felyne Spin-Off - Siliconera". Siliconera. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  4. "Monster Hunter Felyne Spinoff Bundled With Hannah Montana PSP - Siliconera". Siliconera. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  5. "Capcom Drops New Video Of "Felyne Super Puzzle Fighter" - Siliconera". Siliconera. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  6. "Felyne Reversi is like Reversi but with Felynes!". Andriasang. Archived from the original on 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  7. Fennimore, Jack (2018-01-26). "Monster Hunter World: How to Get the Horizon Zero Dawn Armor". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  8. Wales, Matt (2020-10-12). "Milla Jovovich has "flirtatious relationship" with Meowscular Chef in Monster Hunter movie". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  9. Lada, Jenni (2021-05-04). "Monster Hunter World Mods Make Meowscular Chef Playable". Siliconera. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  10. Peppiatt, Dom (2022-06-02). "Monster Hunter Rise Palico noises come from the developers' own (often un-cooperative) cats". VG247. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  11. Eric Caoili. "Super cute Monster Hunter 4 figures". Tiny Cartridge. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  12. "A Monster Hunter Felyne becomes decidedly more Mega Man". destructoid. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  13. "These Felyne-Themed 3DS XL Accessories are Ludicrously Cute". Nintendo Life. 2014-08-18. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  14. "Capcom: Everyone knows that the 10th anniversary is the "golden statue of an angry bipedal kitten" anniversary". Engadget. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  15. Ashcraft, Brian. "An Incredibly Realistic Monster Hunter Felyne Doll". Kotaku. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  16. "Dump on this: Monster Hunter toilet paper holders". destructoid. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  17. "Monster Hunter's Felyne Mascot Makes for a Cute Car". Andriasang. Archived from the original on 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  18. Bahri, Syazwan (2022-10-04). "Monster Hunter Felynes Fight Crime With Japanese Police". IGN. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  19. Whitbrook, James (2020-11-23). "New Monster Hunter Footage Is Here, and Palico Palico Palico Palico". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  20. "Japanese Twitter loves adorable cats' reactions to Monster Hunter: World's Felyne voices【Videos】". SoraNews24. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  21. Park, Gene (2021-04-09). "Analysis | Raising the cats and dogs of 'Monster Hunter Rise' is a game on its own". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
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