Moogle
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox fictional race Template:Nihongo are a sentient fictional species created for the Final Fantasy franchise by Square Enix (originally Square). A white-furred creature usually sporting wings and a pom-pom-tipped antenna, they were first introduced in Final Fantasy III (1990), and have since featured in various capacities in multiple mainline and spin-off Final Fantasy titles. Some Moogle characters recur in major roles, such as Mog who appears in a playable or supporting role across several mainline and spin-off games, and the moogle Montblanc from the Ivalice setting.
Moogles were created by artist and designer Koichi Ishii, based on drawings he created during his school days and inspired by an all-white koala; the name is a compound of the Japanese names for "bat" and "mole". Ishii handled the original design for Final Fantasy III, with later recurring elements created by Yoshitaka Amano in Final Fantasy VI (1994). The moogle has undergone multiple redesigns from artists including Toshiyuki Itahana and Ryoma Ito. Moogles have become a series mascot popular with series fans and journalists, and feature prominently in merchandise. Some of the Moogle's appearances have seen varied responses.
Creation and development
The original Moogle design was created by Koichi Ishii, an artist and game designer who worked on the original Final Fantasy (1987) and Final Fantasy II (1988); he had earlier created the recurring Chocobo character.<ref name="GparaIshii"/><ref name="UltiIshiiMoogle"/> Ishii had designed what would become the Moogle during his elementary school days, when he drew a number of fantasy creatures. Inspired by his love for koalas, he drew the early Moogle, imagining a white koala with bat wings that would blow up its body to float and fly. The original design also included the large noses.<ref name="FF330thA"/> A Moogle-like creature called a Cryon was designed for Final Fantasy II, but was ultimately reworked and renamed as the "Giant Beaver" enemy.<ref name="UltimaniaCryon"/> They were dropped as no place could be found for them in the game's story, but they were incorporated into Final Fantasy III (1990) at Ishii's request.<ref name="UltiIshiiMoogle"/> According to the game's producer Hiromichi Tanaka, the Moogles were originally placed where they were in-game because the team "wanted someone to put in these caves". He never remembered them being significant during development, and was surprised when they took off as a series mascot.<ref name="FF330thB"/> Moogles were going to be one of a trio of characters alongside the Chocobo and a third animal creation that ended up being scrapped.<ref name="UltiIshiiMoogle"/> According to Ishii, in this trio the Moogle would have been "the spacey one, easygoing and sometimes showing a flair for comedy where it's the butt of the joke."<ref name="FF330thA"/>
Unlike Chocobos, which were intended to be essentially mute, the Moogles are capable of speech;<ref name="FF330thA"/> originally distinguished by a "meow" sound, by Final Fantasy V (1992) they were given a more distinct "kupo" sound.<ref name="FFIII"/> Ishii described their ability to speak as a convenience issue, so the players could be guided when they reached the Moogles' home, and attributed their dialogue to the game's writer.<ref name="FF330thA"/> In a different interview, Ishii could not clearly recall the source of the name, but thought it was a compound of the Japanese words for "bat" and "mole".<ref name="UltiIshiiMoogle"/> The Moogles' name was originally translated into English by Ted Woolsey; notably in the original release of Final Fantasy Tactics, the more literal "Mogri" was used, but was changed back to the established version for a later remake.<ref name="gama"/>
Since its creation, a number of other artists have created redesigns for the Moogle. When recurring Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano redesigned the Moogle for Final Fantasy VI (1994), he added narrow slit-like eyes and a pom-pom-tipped antenna. Speaking in a later interview Ishii approved of the design changes.<ref name="UltiIshiiMoogle"/> For Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003), artist Ryoma Ito heavily redesigned the moogle; he recalled that the game's producer Yasumi Matsuno approved of the redesign.<ref name="1up1"/> Other artists that have created notable Moogle redesigns include Toshiyuki Itahana (Crystal Chronicles, Mobius),<ref name="ItahanaChronicles"/><ref name="AsamiMoogles"/> Toshitaka Matsuda (XIII-2),<ref name="naora"/> and Yusaku Nakaaki (Type-0).<ref name="T0art"/>
Appearances
Moogles first appear in Final Fantasy III as a group of cave-dwelling creatures who guard the mage Doga. Since their later appearance in Final Fantasy V, they have featured in some capacity across multiple mainline entries.<ref name="UltiIshiiMoogle"/><ref name="GRmoogles"/> They share the general appearance of a white-furred creature with wings, with many later incarnations sporting an antenna.<ref name="UltiIshiiMoogle"/><ref name="GTfinalXIII"/> Across the games they have appeared as characters for saving the game, and as messengers, shopkeepers, and summoned monsters.<ref name="UltiIshiiMoogle"/><ref name="GRmoogles"/><ref name="GTfinalXIII"/> In Final Fantasy XI, Moogles served as housekeepers for players' in-game houses, and featured in a dedicated storyline addition.<ref name="EuroXI"/><ref name="longtime"/> They have also served as gameplay companions in Crystal Chronicles as helpers during the single-player sections,<ref name="NOMinterview"/> and in Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon to serve as the voice of the mute titular character.<ref name="PolyChocobo"/>
A recurring named Moogle character since Final Fantasy VI is Mog, who originally appears as a recruitable party member.<ref name="GRmoogles"/> In Final Fantasy IX, Mog is a companion to the summoner Eiko Carol and avatar of the Eidolon Madeen,<ref name="UltimaniaIX"/> while in XIII-2 and its sequel Lightning Returns Mog is a being who aided Serah Farron on her quest to find her sister Lightning.<ref name="XIII2mog"/><ref name="SazhMogLR"/> Mog also appears in spin-off titles in a variety of roles including as a support for the playable Class Zero in Type-0,<ref name="FFType0"/> a constant player companion in Crystal Chronicles,<ref name="ItahanaChronicles"/> a racer and core character in Chocobo Racing,<ref name="Racing"/> and a mentor for the lead character of Record Keeper.<ref name="ffrk1"/> A notable enemy version is the "Good King Moggle Mog", a primal from Final Fantasy XIV; Moggle Mog was quickly added to the game instead of planned fights against the Primals Leviathan and Titan due to the earthquake and tsunami in 2011, as the "Tsunami" and "Earthquake" moves they used would have been in poor taste.<ref name="MogKing"/>
A different recurring Moogle character in the world of Ivalice−featured in Final Fantasy XII and some of the Tactics games−is the clan leader Montblanc, one of a set of six moogle brothers.<ref name="XIIkawazuwatanabe"/><ref name="ItoMoogle"/> Two named moogles that recur in both Final Fantasy IX and Crystal Chronicles are Artemicion and Stiltzkin; in Crystal Chronicles Stiltzkin is distinguished by not using "kupo" in his speech.<ref name="UltimaniaIX"/><ref name="Stilskin"/> The two moogles were created by Masahiro Kataoka, who worked on both titles.<ref name="Stilskin"/> Moogles have had cameos as toys in some mainline titles for different reasons, including Final Fantasy X,<ref name="GRmoogles"/> XIII,<ref name="XIIImoogles"/> and XV.<ref name="XVmoogles2016"/> A robotic moogle toy serves as the mount for Cait Sith, one of the playable characters of Final Fantasy VII (1997).<ref name="VIIcaitmoogle"/>
Crossovers and merchandise
Moogles have appeared in titles outside the Final Fantasy series in a number of roles. Within Square Enix's library, they have been featured in Secret of Mana (1993),<ref name="GRmoogles"/> the Kingdom Hearts series,<ref name="GRmoogles"/> Lord of Vermilion (2008),<ref name="LoVmoogle"/> Dragon Quest X (2012),<ref name="ChocoboDQX"/> and Star Ocean: Anamnesis (2016).<ref name="Anamnesis"/> They have also been featured or referenced in crossovers with other titles including Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (2006),<ref name="Mario33characters"/> and Everybody's Golf (2017),<ref name="ChocoboGolf"/>
Examples of merchandise featuring the Moogle as iconography include stuffed toys, key chains, Christmas-themed cakes, and wedding confectionery.<ref name="Gamer">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Wedding">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Cake">Template:Cite web</ref> Square Enix partnered with a Japanese bridal company to introduce a real-life Final Fantasy wedding service that includes a giant virtual Moogle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A giant Moogle bed was created as a contest reward for the Japanese convenience store Lawson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Reception
Official Australian PlayStation Magazine stated that "nothing sums up the dichotomy of cutesiness for adult players quite like a Moogle", calling them "cool little critters who wouldn't be out of place sitting atop your computer screen at work", and also "so sickeningly cute that thoughts turn to the business end of a hammer drill".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Mike Fahey of Kotaku called Moogles his "favorite video game characters ever", though he criticized their design in Final Fantasy XIII-2 as "gross".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jason Schreier of the same publication called Good King Moogle Mog "one of Final Fantasy XIVTemplate:'s most memorable bosses".<ref name="MogKing"/> Final Fantasy XIV's Fat Moogle mount, which was released for US$40, was seen as "exorbitant" in price by fans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Julia Lee of Polygon praised the Moogles of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, calling them "adorable cat-like creatures", but criticized them for having English voice acting, saying it "ruin[ed] their tiny adorable appearance", and calling Mog, the player's Moogle helper, "annoying".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Robert Ramsey of Push Square criticized the Moogle voice acting in Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Type-0, saying "we're desperate for a return to Moogles that don't sound like they're helium enthusiasts".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In markets outside of Japan, a playable Moogle named Mog is used as a mascot for Final Fantasy VI, appearing on the game's box art and print advertisements casually holding a dagger, as well as in claymation television commercials speaking with a gruff voice to showcase the individual monsters. In his book examining Final Fantasy VI and its themes, Sebastian Deken was highly critical of how Mog was used in this manner, especially coupled with the slogans implying the game was highly difficult, an aspect also unique to Western advertising. He felt that the advertisement campaign was overall at odds with how Amano had portrayed the character in his artwork as cute and joyful, undermining both the character and the game's public perception in Western markets. He summarized the campaign as using "an adorable little cuddle-bear in a direct appeal to macho (or macho-aspiring) gamers" and "kawaii repackaged for the JV football team."<ref name="Deken">Template:Cite book</ref>