TV-Series
Description
Count Collection, also known in the original Japanese version as Count Ludwig Presto Von Meinstein Collection and renamed Prince Ludwig Von Monsterstein Eccentro in the English dub, serves as the primary antagonist of Mon Colle Knights. He is a young and flamboyant aristocrat of European origin who seeks to conquer the Monster World and ultimately the human world as well. His background includes a period as a scientific colleague of Professor Ichiroubei Hiiragi, though a bitter falling out over their research drove them apart and set Collection on his own ambitious path.
In terms of personality, Count Collection embodies the archetype of the sissy villain. He is characterized by his highly eccentric, erratic, and often hysterical behavior, which makes him far less threatening than he aspires to be. While he possesses the grandiose goal of world domination, he frequently lacks the willpower or common sense to achieve it, sometimes finding it difficult to even get out of bed. His villainy often manifests as playground bullying rather than genuine malice, and his foolishness frequently sabotages his own schemes even when the heroes do not interfere. Despite putting others in potentially lethal situations without visible remorse, he is not portrayed as purely evil and does have a heart, even if he does not understand how to use it. One of his more notable traits is his obsession with roses, which he is never seen without; he poses with them constantly, and a recurring visual gag involves the mushroom cloud of his destroyed aircraft wilting into the shape of a rose. The character's portrayal differs between versions, with the Japanese Count Collection being openly presented as a homosexual with a flair for fashion, while the English Prince Eccentro is more ambiguously characterized.
Count Collection's role in the story is that of a rival to the Mon Colle Knights, as both parties are in a constant race to collect the monster items hidden within the Monster World. While the knights aim to use these items to unite the human and monster worlds in peace, Collection intends to use them to establish his dominion over both realms. His motivations are driven by a desire for power and control, having been trained for this purpose. His father, feeling alienated from him, placed him under the tutelage of a strict mentor named Tanaka to mold him into a proper villain.
His key relationships are central to his character. He is almost always accompanied by his two loyal but incompetent lackeys, Batch (a tomboyish girl) and Gluko (a buxom and airheaded young woman), who are arguably his only real friends. He also has a complex dynamic with his hard-driving mentor, Tanaka, a short old man who relentlessly punishes Collection for his failures and perceived lack of masculinity with grueling, often absurd physical exercises. His relationship with the protagonist Mondo Ooya is typically defined by rivalry, but in one memorable episode where the two are stranded together on an island, Collection develops a brief romantic crush on Mondo. He also has a history with the more serious and dangerous Dark Angel, Reda, who once manipulated him into handing over a powerful artifact.
Count Collection does not undergo significant development throughout the series, largely remaining a comedic and ineffective antagonist. However, he does possess several notable abilities and resources that make him a persistent nuisance. He is a capable scientist and inventor, credited with creating a hypnotic device called the Skeitso Beam, which he mounts on his aircraft, the Flying Lion, or his robotic bear, the Teddyarenaut, to bend monsters to his will. One of his more outlandish inventions is an invisible time travel machine, though he uses it only once and promptly forgets about it for the remainder of the series. Despite his incompetence, his ambition and recurring interventions ensure he remains a constant obstacle for the Mon Colle Knights.
In terms of personality, Count Collection embodies the archetype of the sissy villain. He is characterized by his highly eccentric, erratic, and often hysterical behavior, which makes him far less threatening than he aspires to be. While he possesses the grandiose goal of world domination, he frequently lacks the willpower or common sense to achieve it, sometimes finding it difficult to even get out of bed. His villainy often manifests as playground bullying rather than genuine malice, and his foolishness frequently sabotages his own schemes even when the heroes do not interfere. Despite putting others in potentially lethal situations without visible remorse, he is not portrayed as purely evil and does have a heart, even if he does not understand how to use it. One of his more notable traits is his obsession with roses, which he is never seen without; he poses with them constantly, and a recurring visual gag involves the mushroom cloud of his destroyed aircraft wilting into the shape of a rose. The character's portrayal differs between versions, with the Japanese Count Collection being openly presented as a homosexual with a flair for fashion, while the English Prince Eccentro is more ambiguously characterized.
Count Collection's role in the story is that of a rival to the Mon Colle Knights, as both parties are in a constant race to collect the monster items hidden within the Monster World. While the knights aim to use these items to unite the human and monster worlds in peace, Collection intends to use them to establish his dominion over both realms. His motivations are driven by a desire for power and control, having been trained for this purpose. His father, feeling alienated from him, placed him under the tutelage of a strict mentor named Tanaka to mold him into a proper villain.
His key relationships are central to his character. He is almost always accompanied by his two loyal but incompetent lackeys, Batch (a tomboyish girl) and Gluko (a buxom and airheaded young woman), who are arguably his only real friends. He also has a complex dynamic with his hard-driving mentor, Tanaka, a short old man who relentlessly punishes Collection for his failures and perceived lack of masculinity with grueling, often absurd physical exercises. His relationship with the protagonist Mondo Ooya is typically defined by rivalry, but in one memorable episode where the two are stranded together on an island, Collection develops a brief romantic crush on Mondo. He also has a history with the more serious and dangerous Dark Angel, Reda, who once manipulated him into handing over a powerful artifact.
Count Collection does not undergo significant development throughout the series, largely remaining a comedic and ineffective antagonist. However, he does possess several notable abilities and resources that make him a persistent nuisance. He is a capable scientist and inventor, credited with creating a hypnotic device called the Skeitso Beam, which he mounts on his aircraft, the Flying Lion, or his robotic bear, the Teddyarenaut, to bend monsters to his will. One of his more outlandish inventions is an invisible time travel machine, though he uses it only once and promptly forgets about it for the remainder of the series. Despite his incompetence, his ambition and recurring interventions ensure he remains a constant obstacle for the Mon Colle Knights.