Digimon Liberator Armor Digivolutions (part 1)
I'm designing armor Digivolutions for the Digimon Liberator (comic and web novel) partner Digimon. These are the first four I made. Links to previous original Digimon at the bottom
Pteromon with the Digimental of Courage becomes Deinonymon. it has sacrificed the ability to fly for high ground speed and powerful blades. It bravely accepts any challenges and battles by slashing with its toe blades and flinging burning feathers.
Elizamon with the Digimental of Friendship becomes Gorgomon. It charges across the plains at high speed, supporting its allies while deriving electric bites to its foe with its powerful fangs. No matter how fast it moves or how hard it fights, its top hat always remains immaculately clean and perched on its head.
Ghostmon with the Digimental of Love becomes Potoomon. It represents unrealized love and broken hearts. Stories say it was a Digimon who died of a broken heart and lingered on as a ghost possessing some lost pieces of armor.
FanBeemon with the Digimental of Reliability (yes I'm going with the dub terminology for this one) becomes MarineBeemon. It was designed by the Royal Base as an underwater explorer and worker, intended to gather resources and serve QueenBeemon in the sea where the rest of the Royal Base cannot reach. One of its limbs has been modified into a Cavitation Cannon that fires superheated water at intense pressure, used for defense and securing new resources.
In general I wanted these Digimon to follow the design scheme of the Armor evolutions from 02. That is I want them to wear armor based on the appearance of the Digimental, want the original Digimon's body to be visible under the armor (even if the shape changes), and for the symbol of the rest to be visible.
I gave Shoto Courage both because its the protagonist Crest and because a big part of his character development is overcoming his defeatist attitude, especially with his most recent character arc. Deinonymon is based on a Deinonychus, a member of the raptor family. Raptors and the Archeopteryx that Pteromon is based on were somewhat closely related as they were both in the clade Paraves and it's now known that raptors were heavily feathered. I turned the blade on the Digimental into the famous toe claws of the raptors, which is my favorite design element of Deinonymon.
I gave Owen friendship because his friendship with Shoto is a major part of his character and much like Matt/Yamato from Adventure, he's initially standoffish while actually wanting people to be close with. Gorgomon is based on Gorgonopsids, a group of Permian-era therapsid predators. Elizamon's evolution Dimetromon is also based on Permian-era therapsids, the Dimetrodons and the name Gorgonopsid comes from gorgon, which is the species of Medusa, the namesake of Elizamon's mega form. Gorgonopsids had giant saber teeth, which I made into the lightning both of the Digimental. I wanted to make an Elizamon evolution that was armored and had a more masculine feel without completely discarding the pinkness, ruffles, and fashion that make the Elizamon line stand out (cough Styracomon cough).
I gave Violet the Digimental of Love because she focuses on her passions and is heavily implied to have a crush on Arisa. Potoomon is based on potoos, birds from South America known for their odd appearances and haunting calls. In Brazilian and other South American foklore, potoos are called ghost birds. Folklore often associates them with lost love, such as saying potoos call when lovers are separated or are the ghosts of those who died with broken hearts. I was so excited when I found this out, it all comes together so well. Potoomon being based on more tragic elements of love was inspired by Sethmon, an official love armor Digimon that represents a dark side of love.
I gave Winr Reliability because he's generally the most level-headed of the novel cast and helps keep Yuuki in check. I considered giving him Knowledge but A) there's a character I think fits Knowledge better and B) the Digimental of knowledge adds yellow-colored bug elements and FanBeemon is already a yellow bug. MarineBeemon is based on remote-operated vehicles and pistol shrimp. ROVs are like drones, but underwater. Pistol shrimp are a group of shrimp species (and as we all know, shrimps is bugs) that have one large claw that can be used to shoot compressed water in a pretty fascinating manner that creates cavitation bubbles, hence the name of the cannon.
Previous Digifakes: BanchoFairimon, Airdramon evolutions, earth dragon line, wizard dragon line, wild west line, witch, Aquilamon evolutions, music line, cyborg dragon line, plant dragon line, vampire line, snake/naga line, machine line, fish line, moth line, owl line, Aztec line, hermit crab line.