Moogle
Moogles (モーグリ, Mōguri) are small creatures that appear throughout the Final Fantasy, Mana (Seiken Densetsu) and Kingdom Hearts game series. They first appeared in Final Fantasy III. Moogles serve a variety of purposes in the various games in which they appear. They sometimes provide opportunities to record game progress or access shops; occasionally they assist in battle or may even become a playable character. Good-natured creatures, moogles are usually white or tan, and their most notable feature is a white antenna protruding from the head with a small red ball (called a "pompom") at the end. They have small red or purple wings, and their ears are shaped like those of a cat or rabbit. They tend to say "kupo" (クポー, kupō) when they talk (it is actually a sound they make), more commonly to finish a sentence (for example, "What a beautiful day, kupo!"). Moogles, along with chocobos, are often considered the mascots of the Final Fantasy series. It should also be noted that a Moogle's favorite food is the Kupo Nut, which is rumored to be the reason that Moogles use "Kupo" in their dialect. In Final Fantasy IX, Moogles were known for running an intercontinental mail delivery system known as "Mognet." Many names of Moogles have the pre-fix Mog or Ku-, an example of this would be in Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy IX where every Moogle had a name.
Moogles are frequently featured as creatures that may be summoned by the Summoner or Caller class of playable characters. Typically, moogles are lower-level summon spells acquired earlier in a given game.
Mōguri, the Japanese name of Moogles, is a portmanteau of the words mogura (土竜, mole) and koumori (蝙蝠, bat). This is fitting as moogles tend to have small eyes and red/purple wings.
Some games refer to moogles as "mogs", for no readily apparent reason. Mog is also often used as a stand-in word for moogle, even when moogle is the term used to describe the species in that particular game. Incidentally, both Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy IX had a moogle whose given name was Mog.
Appearances
Some of the games moogles appear in:
- Final Fantasy III - The first appearance of moogles in an early form. They act as bodyguards for an old wizard, Dorga.
- Final Fantasy Adventure - They appear in a very simple form in this game, based on the Final Fantasy III version.
- Secret of Mana - The main characters encounter a moogle village in this game. In addition, a status effect can temporarily change the player's characters into moogles, which also can be either reversed or caused by an item called the Moogle Belt.
- Seiken Densetsu 3 - Though no natural-born moogles are encountered in the game, it can still be applied to the heroes as a status ailment as in Secret of Mana, and added or removed through a Moogle Badge (the reward for defeating the secret Black Rabite).
- Final Fantasy V - Introduces the Moogle Forest, as well as the Moogle theme song. A moogle is also kept as a pet and companion by one of the characters.
- Final Fantasy VI - Another moogle village (this time in a cave) appears. The first playable moogle, Mog, appears for the first time, and a few other moogles are playable. These moogles are all competent fighters and wield a variety of weapons. A moogle suit, which changes the physical appearance of a character to a moogle, can be worn by a few characters. "Mog" has been a common moogle name in subsequent games.
- Final Fantasy VII - The giant moogle doll appears in this game (a mog), one of which is ridden by the playable character Cait Sith. In most cases when the Choco/Mog summon materia is used, a small moogle appears, riding a chocobo who attacks the enemies. In addition, a mini-game named Mog House, presented as an arcade game, is playable in the Gold Saucer; in this mini-game, you must feed a male moogle named Mog enough Kupo Nuts to make him fly in order to impress a female moogle named Mag. If successful, you get to see an ending scene with Mog, Mag, and their Moogle children.
- Final Fantasy VIII - The sole moogle in the game, MiniMog, is a summon that is accessible only from the game's PocketStation mini-game, not released outside of Japan. However, in the PC version, the PocketStation mini-game is included.
- Final Fantasy IX - Moogles in this game are given many different names, and are used to deliver mail and are used as save points in this game. Stiltzkin, a moogle wearing camo carrying a bunch of scrolls in a backpack, travels from place to place, selling rare items in value-packs. A minor character also appears wearing a moogle costume. The character Eiko lives alone with several moogles and carries around a small, female one named Mog. Mog later reveals herself as the eidolon Madeen (a variant of Maduin).
- Final Fantasy X - Oftentimes, the dolls that the character Lulu uses as weapons are moogles. They seem to have the ability to walk and attack enemies (according to Lulu's scan information, this is probably her doing, not innate to the dolls).
- Final Fantasy X-2 - As a mascot, Yuna wears a moogle costume (also used to distribute balloons in one scene). She also has a moogle design on her festive dress and encounters one in Luca.
- Final Fantasy XI - During Special events, Moogles give out (or sell, depending on how poorly the MHMU did with their last event) fireworks, prizes, and rare equipment, and start special "Event Quests", which typically are only availble for two or three weeks. Each adventurer also gets a moogle assigned, which will watch over their mog house, and any gardening they may do.
- Final Fantasy XII - Moogles have a superior intellect and nimble fingers for tinkering. While some are mechanics, others serve as knights or mages. With their own capital, moogles are highly respected for building the first airships. They also manufacture war machines.
- Final Fantasy: Unlimited - A moogle was involved as Kaze's partner. He introduced himself as the "charming harmless mascot who everyone loves".
- Kingdom Hearts - Moogles are found throughout Traverse Town. They also run the synthesis shop.
- Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories - Moogles are found when you use a Moogle Shop card. You can sell/buy attack/magic/item cards from/to them.
- Kingdom Hearts II - Moogles appear in certain areas in all worlds(through holograms in most worlds), primarily in Radiant Garden. They have the same role they had in Kingdom Hearts (synthesizing items).
- Sword of Mana - A magic spell allows the main character to turn himself/herself into a moogle.
- Final Fantasy Tactics - Moogle is a summoner job class spell that heals all party members within a small area. A mistranslation displays the short spell name as "Mogri" (a transliteration of the Japanese word) when it is cast. Real moogles are extinct but once inhabited Sweegy Woods and possibly other places, as noted in the area's description.
- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - The main character of this game, Marche, is taught the basics of living in Ivalice by a moogle named Montblanc. Moogles are also one of the 5 races of playable characters.
- Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Moogles deliver mail to caravans from home. A network of moogles all over the world give players stamps which can be used to unlock various minigames. In single-player mode, a moogle named Mog carries the chalice that repels the poisonous miasma that covers the world. The player can also paint the moogle different colors in order to produce different effects on the Game Boy Advance screen. Moogles are immune to miasma's noxious effects. Stiltzkin also appears, but in minor scenes and as a tutor.
It should also be noted, that Moogles in this game are without arms, and seem to fly more often. Template:Endspoiler
- Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon - A moogle appears in both Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon games. In Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon 2 the moogle secondary character with the default name "Mog."
- Chocobo Racing - In Chocobo Racing, Mog is one of the game's main playable characters. In the game's Story Mode, Mog is jealous of Chocobo's abilities as a racer and seeks to become as good a racer as Chocobo.
- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 - In this upcoming Mario game made by Square-Enix, a moogle will be a playable character. [1]
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children - A moogle appears as a stuffed animal held by one of the many Midgar orphans stricken with Geostigma. No actual moogles appear in this film.
The most well recognized moogle is Mog, the moogle that appears in Final Fantasy VI, who was able to attack using various dances. The name "Mog" for a moogle also features in several other Final Fantasy games, such as Crystal Chronicles and Final Fantasy IX and VII. The character Cait Sith from Final Fantasy VII, also a very well known character, rides on top of a giant moogle doll, also named Mog. Moogles have also appeared as characters in some webcomics, such as Ralph from Exploitation Now and Ren from Mac Hall. Also in the Flash- animated series, International Moron Patrol, a moogle named Kulock appears.