#font types

Sooooo like. Do any other nerds out there wanna help me try and identify the different fonts that are used for each MH characters handwriting? Or, if they're custom fonts, find fonts that are look a likes.

Haha jk. Unless...

Someone asked me today, “how did you make the classification for Fonts? The attributes and types?” and the explanation is long, so I’m going to answer that question as thoroughly as possible using a post.

In a nutshell, I combined facts from our real world with the facts from the Undertale world.

In the real world, there are horror fonts that you can download to make your letters look creepy and in the Undertale world, skeletons are named after fonts from the real world. Therefor it's safe to say there are skeletons that have the names of horror fonts as well. I made skeletons a different species in order to explain why Sans bleeds in the game (because they're built similarly to humans) and how the barrier was made (the game says the barrier was made by human mages, but the library says humans can't use magic...that needed an explanation).

In order to keep the OCs from feeling like OCs, I used Sans’ name-pun as a rule. Every Font must have a name that represents their personality or the way they died. Comic Sans likes comedy, No Fear is fearless, etc. This way there’s something new to focus on, but not so much as to make anyone forget about the Undertale cast. It also prevents Gary Stus and Mary Sues from showing up and ruining everything. 

The reason Horrors eat humans is because they needed a way to spread out as a species to different corners of the world so foreign fonts like Arvo Pacifico could exist without absorbing too much of the area’s magic. Humans act as coconuts, they’ve a lot of magic inside like a coconut has a lot of milk, but you need skill to get them both open. Fonts, depending on where they live, evolve in a way that best helps them survive like any animal in the real world; some lure humans into traps, some use poison, and some prefer to simply chase them down. 

Normal Fonts are skeletons who’ve chosen to absorb magic through breathing using their ectoplasm as a filter. They’re similar to herbivores who’ve favored plants rather than meat, they’ve developed their own unique self-defense abilities, but they’re usually ONLY for self-defense. Some will absorb some magic out of Horrors, but it’s nothing instinctively murderous.

I’ve not spoken much about Font Families, but long story short it’s used to explain why there are multiple Sans who aren’t actually called Sans (people’s OCs). San-Serifs will always be short, fast, and intelligent with good eyesight to avoid bigger and stronger enemies. If a Font has a Sans-Serif name, then it’s a Sans-Serif and looks a lot like Sans. It’s no different than an Asian having an Asian name and looking like other Asians (Yes, I’m aware there’s probably an Asian somewhere out there named Bob. There’s Sans-Serifs out there too whose name I can’t tell is Sans-Serif and I’m sure if Fonts existed you’d make the same mistake).   

As for the typings:

Verbal Fonts: These were created based on real world psychology. The human mind CAN be affected positively and negatively by sound (binaural beats) and hypnotism which is a process that uses the Power of Suggestion to fool the mind. Words are powerful and depending on what’s said to you, your body will respond and your personality will change, sometimes without you even knowing about it. Cults are a fine example of a group of humans who have fallen under the control of someone who knows how to manipulate the minds of others using only their words.

Physical Fonts: These were created based on the real world’s theory of evolution and the Fight or Flight rule that every human has. Depending on your personality, you will either decide to run away somehow from an unpleasant situation, or lash out. People who prefer to solve their problems through violence often do so because they either can’t control their emotions, or can’t think of any other solutions. Because of this, I’ve made Physical Fonts slightly less intelligent than others and terrible at magic, however throughout the years their bodies have adapted to their fighting habits, giving them high attack and high damage resistance as well as a fast metabolism and quicker healing time.

Ghost Fonts: These were created based on the real world ghosts people sometimes see. They’re used to explain why we sometimes see deceased people floating through hallways and why we feel cold in certain areas. They’re about as intelligent as insects, absorbing heat wherever they can without caring about whether or not they knock over anything and slamming doors in order to scare others or themselves in an attempt to absorb the extra body heat caused by the fear/surprised induced adrenaline rush.  

Terminal Fonts: These were created based on the real world’s theory of evolution. The Fonts in Fonttale are all named after real fonts we can use in the real world and their names are usually a dead giveaway of their personality and/or abilities...the thing is, some of the fonts we have simply wouldn’t help a skeleton absorb magic or catch food effectively and that’s why they’re Terminal. Skeletons classified as Terminal are Fonts that aren’t expected to survive long enough to evolve, they’re basically the Dodo bird of today.

Virus Fonts: These were created based on real world parasites that affect the mind and as the name implies, viruses themselves (Fresh Sans was also a big inspiration). Mind control parasites are in fact VERY real, and although they normally target insects, humans can and have been infected; Toxoplasma so far being the most common parasitic pest. It’s true that compared to the world of Undertale these mind-control parasites aren’t as threatening, but OUR world doesn’t include vast amounts of magic that affect everyone and everything in it, so it’s reasonable to assume viruses and parasites are a much bigger threat over there then here.

Dimensional Fonts: These were created based on carnivorous plants such as the Venus Flytrap and trap-setting animals like the Trapdoor Spider and Angler Fish. These species tactics of luring/surprising prey have done well to catch them all the food they need, so it wouldn’t be too surprising for an intelligent skeleton to do the same. It also explains why skeletons like Error Sans can jump into any timeline they want for no reason. Dimensional Fonts use their timeline (dimension) as shelter while they fish for creatures from other timelines to eat, their hook and lure being a false area or object. Like an Angler Fish wiggles the light on it’s antenna to attract fish, so too will a Dimensional Font leave a cake on a table to attract a curious human that doesn’t remember leaving one out.

Ectoplasmatic: These were created based on the blob monster from the movie The Blob and were solely used to explain what happens when a human is crushed to the point where most of their bones are broken or ground to powder. The ectoplasm itself works like any other Font’s, it traps heat inside, repels the cold, keeps them in one piece, and keeps the soul safe and sound within a gelatin-like barrier. The outer layer hardens when exposed and because Ectoplasmatics lack enough bone to protect them, they have to rely on that to keep from getting sick. Physical attacks tend to bounce off, but magic can be as big a problem as any virus or bacteria.

Poison Fonts: These were created based on the poisonous frogs we have in the real world. Eat one or get too close to their secretions and you’re done. The venom from the Poison Dark Frog comes from eating certain wildlife and it exits from their skin in an almost invisible coating, taking only three minutes for it to kill a human being. This works perfectly where skeletons are concerned. In Undertale we can clearly see that skeletons can sweat and sweat is used to not only cool down the body in the real world, but also to remove toxins. Since Fonts have no organs or immune systems etc, it’s completely reasonable to assume skeletons remove toxins and other harmful chemicals from their body through their sweat making them deadly as they do so. A Poison Font differs in the fact that the ectoplasm holding their bones together is itself, poisonous, making them deadly 24/7. 

HHB's box art signature font, and book signature font.