Video of a real, live "manaphy!"

[scythemantis]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pqUlKSGcI8Q&feature=related


Manaphy and Phione are both based on the "sea angel," or clione. For some reason, the pokemon versions skipped the fact that Clione is a savage predator with an arsenal of concealed tentacles. It feeds exclusively on a species of swimming snail. What you see at the end of the video is the prey's empty shell...

Clione are mentioned in "what pokemon are based on"...but the replies to that thread make it obvious that few people bother to read it. I thought this was just barely cool enough to warrant unique attention.

 

[GURGLEGUY12345]

They're also sort of similar, too. Cool.

 

[-BJ-]

Pretty cool. It's kind of an odd animal to base cute little legendaries off of.

 

[mangod/pikachu]

It's cute but kind of creepy at the same time. :surfpika:

 

[pkmnhippy]

that video scarred the sh*t out of me

 

[ShinyVaati]

O-O. They based Manaphy and Phione of that?

 

[Requiem's Eclipse]

Those are so cute :3 Now I think those look cuter then Manaphy and Phione.

 

[SapphireSwampert]

I found stranglely cute. xD
But on some shots, it vaugely resembles a Frosslass.

 

[Mr. Mudkip]

looks like a wet tissue.

 

[shinygroudon232]

Wow... Those barely even resemble manaphy and phione.... But, they are both cute and wierd at the same time.... Weird....

 

[shinygroudon232]

Wow... Those barely even resemble manaphy and phione.... But, they are both cute and wierd at the same time.... Weird....

 

[GokuRikaku]

My fear of Manaphy and Phione grew... but thay are still too cute!
The video is, somehow, cute and scary...

 

[scythemantis]

Manaphy is extremely "super deformed" with its huge head, tiny body and elongated antenna, making the similarity easy to overlook, but when you think about it the only direct difference is that manaphy has feet. Fione, on the other hand, has the tapered slug-body of the real thing, and its name is directly taken from them as well

It's not the only time they've been heavily stylized. The digimon "Marineangemon" is also based on the clione:

http://www.thedigi-zone.com/images74Leo/CardScans/Bo-231.JPG

Here's a Hello kitty version, too:

http://altjapan.typepad.com/my_weblog/files/helloclione.jpg

And here's a cute little ice-cube keychain of one:

http://www.strapya-world.com/images/medium/46-PUTITCUBE-KO_MED.jpg

As you can see, Japan considers their "heart" (actually a clump of various organs) to be their cutest and most defining feature, inspiring Manaphy's unique abilities. They are one of the most beloved and celebrated sea-creatures there.

I'm surprised the poke isn't water/ice though. Their japanese name basically means "angel of the ice floe" - they only appear in freezing cold water, and swarm the coast of Hokkaido in the winter to lay their eggs. When spring comes and the ice breaks apart, the clione will follow the chunks out to sea.

 

[Porygon-A]

Oh no.I put Phione next to Omanyte. Now Omanyte's gone.

 

[Clamps]

What, thats not a Manaphy. Faked me out.

 

[GokuRikaku]

I'm surprised the poke isn't water/ice though. The japanese name for these animals is basically "ice angel," as they prefer cold water and even follow drifting glaciers.

Hmmyes but the Pokedex says that its "born on a cold seafloor" so that would make it abit more close to these "ice angel"... thats why you had to take the Manaphy egg from Pokemon Ranger to Diamond/Pearl, Sinnoh is a cold place...

I hate using the Wii to type this out.
GAWD!

 

[scythemantis]

That makes sense at least.

Just wish the pokemon made them carnivores

Gorebyss is cute too, but its pokedex is wicked

 

[AEROBLASTER]

Its strange how they made a hunting/killing fish into two such babyish little pokemon. The Sea Angel is kind of cool, I have to admit.

 

[FireTrainer92]

Looks cute but its scary at the same time.

 

[xXPorygonXx]

Woah. That was cool. Too bad Manaphy doesn't have some kind of OHKO "Blood sucking" move.