Felyne
Fictional cat-like beastmen in Capcom's Monster Hunter series.
The Felyne (アイルー in Japanese) is a fictional cat-like species from Capcom's *Monster Hunter* game series. Starting with *Monster Hunter Generations*, the term "Palico" specifically refers to those Felynes that are trained to join hunters as AI-controlled companions. Over time, Felynes have become the series' most recognizable mascots, appearing in spin-off games, crossovers with both Capcom and non-Capcom titles, and a wide range of Japanese merchandise.
Felynes belong to the Lynian group of beastmen, which also includes the lynx-like Grimalkynes. They are small, bipedal, and fully sentient, resembling domestic cats but capable of human speech. Those that work with hunters wear miniature armor sets. In gameplay, they help cook meals, tend gardens, and carry defeated hunters back to camp. In villages of Riders—humans who tame monsters instead of hunting them—Felynes also serve as laborers, handling farming and animal care.
The species has been depicted in several visual styles. The main series uses a realistic look, while spin-off games often feature a chibi design with oversized heads and large round eyes. *Monster Hunter Stories* uses a more cartoonish style for its unique Felyne character Navirou and his group, The Numbers.
Felynes appear in every main *Monster Hunter* game. Dedicated spin-offs include *Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village* (developed by FromSoftware for the Nintendo 3DS and bundled with a purple PSP), a PSP version of *Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo* called *Felyne de Puzzle*, and a mobile game titled *Poka Poka Felyne Reversi*. Crossovers have added Felyne costumes based on other games, such as a *Horizon Zero Dawn* outfit in *Monster Hunter: World*.
In the live-action *Monster Hunter* film, director Paul W.S. Anderson responded to fan concerns by stating that "you couldn't make a Monster Hunter movie without having a Palico in it" and that "definitely we lean in to the Palico." The film features the Meowscular Chef, an unusually large Felyne cook who first appeared in *Monster Hunter: World*. In the movie, he serves as a sidekick to the Admiral and shares a "flirtatious relationship" with Captain Artemis (played by Milla Jovovich). A fan-made mod for *Monster Hunter: World* later adapted the Meowscular Chef as a custom skin.
- Field
- Video game species
- Known for
- Mascot of the Monster Hunter series; AI-controlled partners called Palicoes
- Nationality
- Japanese (created by Capcom)
Lore & Background
Felynes are members of the Lynian species of beastmen, which also includes other similar races like the lynx-like Grimalkynes. 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. They assist the player in cooking meals, maintaining gardens, and returning them to camp if they are defeated in battle. Their use as servants also extends to the villages of Riders, humans who tame rather than hunt monsters, where they perform tasks such as farming and animal husbandry.
Several types of designs have been used to represent Felynes in different media. In addition to the classic, realistic design used in main series games, there is a chibi design used in 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. 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.
Reader's Guide
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, which was also bundled with a purple PSP system, and a PSP version of Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo called Felyne de Puzzle. A mobile game called Poka Poka Felyne Reversi was also developed. Crossovers often involve Felyne outfits based on other video games; for Monster Hunter: World, this included a Horizon Zero Dawn skin. 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. 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. The Meowscular Chef has been adapted for use as a custom skin in a fan-made mod for Monster Hunter World. Merchandise has included figures, a Mega Man crossover toy, a 24 karat gold Felyne statue costing almost $30,000, a highly detailed doll for 162,000 yen, and Felyne toilet paper-holders. A Felyne-themed car was used to promote the series at the Odaiba Motor Festival. 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.
Did You Know?
- The noises of Felynes are created using real-life vocalizations of cats owned by the development team.
- A 24 karat gold Felyne statue was released to celebrate the series' 10-year anniversary, costing almost $30,000.
- The Meowscular Chef appears in both Monster Hunter: World and the live-action Monster Hunter film.
More in Monsters & Creatures
Elsewhere in Monster Hunter
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