| Overview |
Momon (モモン, Momon) and Elle Sunbeam (エル・サンビーム, Eru Sanbīmu), formerly Elle Chivas (エル・シーバス, Eru Shībasu), are a major supporting human-mamodo team during the Faudo Arc. Momon and Elle also appear in Zatch Bell! 2 in a supporting role. Elly is the mother of Reon and Lilia Sunbeam.
Appearance[]
Part I[]
Momon is a diminutive Mamodo boy with a very distinctive outfit and features. He wears a whimsical pink hood with long bunny ears that flop down on either side of his face. Under the hood, his appearance resembles a humanoid monkey with rabbit ears – he has a monkey-like mischievous face, but with droopy rabbit ears on top. Momon’s clothing is colorful and childlike: a bright yellow long-sleeved shirt beneath red overalls with white button straps. On the front of his overalls is a small chest pocket decorated with an illustration of three white spheres (they look like eggs in a container). He also sports pink boots with red soles to match his outfit. Overall, the design gives Momon a playful, almost cartoon-animal look befitting his trickster nature.
Elle Chivas, by contrast, has the appearance of a young woman in a nun’s habit. She wears a pure white hood or wimple adorned with gold trim, giving her a quasi-religious or ceremonial air. Her attire is modest and elegant: a long white dress with subtle brown and gold patterns along the waist and hem. She pairs this with gray stockings and simple black shoes. Elle has a gentle face framed by the hood, with wide blue eyes and light-colored hair. Her overall look emphasizes purity and humility (consistent with her profession as a sister/nun). In the anime, whenever Elle is introduced, she is often shown with her hands clasped or with a kind expression, reinforcing her compassionate appearance.
Part II[]
In Zatch Bell! 2, Momon now wears a tailored suit in a soft pink hue, which complements his iconic bunny hood, still present but now blending more seamlessly with his mature appearance. The suit has a clean, streamlined design, with a long-sleeved jacket and straight-cut pants, giving an elegant silhouette. Despite the formal attire, the bunny ears on the hood remain a playful nod to his youthful personality.
Elle no longer wears her traditional nun outfit and wears regular clothes. She also has ring on her left hand, indicating she is married.
Personality[]
Momon starts off as a rascal and a coward. His personality is marked by mischievous selfishness – he’d rather save his own skin than be a hero, at least initially. Momon openly admits to hating fighting and routinely runs away at the first sign of danger, dragging Elle with him. In fact, the pair managed to avoid other Mamodo entirely for a long time thanks to Momon’s policy of flee-on-sight (enabled by his ability to sense them coming). This earned Momon a reputation as “unforthcoming” and sneaky. Additionally, Momon is perverted, in a very schoolboy-peeping-tom way. He loves sneaking glances at girls’ underwear and gets an enormous kick out of teasing Tia (who is understandably furious at him). His first appearance has him pulling pranks like pantsing Kiyo and stealing Tia’s panties – all to satisfy his cheeky curiosity. These antics are played for comedy in the series, often resulting in Momon receiving a well-deserved beating (usually from Tia or Megumi). Despite these negative traits, Momon is not evil-hearted. He does have a conscience, largely guided by Elle’s presence. Over time, her influence and the friendships they form with Zatch’s team reveal Momon’s better qualities: loyalty, cleverness, and even bravery. Momon demonstrates that while he prefers trickery over direct confrontation, he can be selfless when it truly matters – as seen when he puts himself in harm’s way to protect Elle and Zatch during the Faudo battles. Notably, all of Momon’s spells are non-lethal (focused on evasion, binding, or escape), and he never once uses his powers to inflict serious injury on others. This reflects an underlying kindness, or at least an aversion to hurting people, in spite of his lewd pranks.
Elle Chivas is gentle, devout, and unfailingly polite – the very picture of a kind nun. She works as a sister (likely in a church or orphanage) and carries those nurturing sensibilities into her interactions with Mamodo. Elle is pacifistic by nature; she does not enjoy fighting and initially teamed up with Momon in hopes of spreading peace rather than winning the Mamodo battle. She often murmurs “Oh my…” under her breath whenever something alarming or dangerous happens, indicating her tendency to be easily flustered yet maintain a courteous demeanor. Despite seeming timid, Elle possesses inner strength – she shows courage in insisting on doing the right thing. For example, when push comes to shove in the Faudo arc, Elle demands that Momon stop running and help their friends, even scolding him firmly about his cowardice and bad behavior. This was a turning point that helped Momon overcome some of his fear. Elle’s dynamic with Momon can feel almost maternal at times: she apologizes to others on his behalf and gently admonishes his perverted antics. However, she truly cares for Momon, and her compassionate influence gradually inspires him to be a better person (or rather, better Mamodo). It’s noted that Elle is “milquetoast and pacifistic”, but will speak up when it counts – she even yells at Momon about his flaws at one point, showing she’s not a complete pushover
Biography[]
Background[]
Momon and Elle initially wander the world avoiding conflict, as Momon’s fear of battle led them to steer clear of other Mamodo teams.
Part I[]
Faudo Arc[]
When they finally cross paths with Zatch Bell’s friends, it’s under chaotic circumstances. Momon’s first encounter with the gang is antagonistic – he steals Tia’s underwear and uses his powers of trickery to peek under her skirt, infuriating the temperamental Mamodo girl Tia. This provocation pushes Tia to unlock a new spell in her rage and soundly defeat Momon. After this mishap, Elle sincerely apologizes for Momon’s behavior and the duo befriends Zatch’s group. They explain that they had never met any other Mamodo until now due to Momon’s talent for sensing enemies and running away before confrontation. Indeed, Momon can detect other Mamodo’s presence and power from afar, which is how he kept Elle and himself out of battles until that point. A quirky side-effect of Momon’s dishonesty is also revealed: whenever he tells a lie, his nose and upper lip stretch comically long until he confesses the truth – a running gag that often gives away his schemes.
Momon and Elle join Zatch, Kiyo, Tia, and others in the mission to infiltrate Faudo, a colossal mammodo bioweapon tower threatening the world. Though willing to help, Momon remains cowardly throughout much of the journey – he frequently tries to flee danger and even leads the group in the wrong direction at times out of panic. Nevertheless, his unique radar-like ears prove invaluable; Momon is able to pinpoint Faudo’s location and navigate its interior using his Mamodo-sensing ability, making him instrumental in guiding the team. Inside Faudo, he even manages to save Kiyo’s life in a pinch – after Kiyo is gravely injured by Riou, Momon resuscitates him in a comical fashion (e.g. cartoonish CPR) to get Kiyo back on his feet. As the enemies grow more dangerous, Elle’s gentle encouragement and moral resolve help stiffen Momon’s spine. By the climax of the arc, the pair overcome many of their fears and step up to protect their friends.
Anime[]
In the anime adaptation, Momon and Elle’s storyline diverges slightly from the manga. During the Faudo raid, they have a unique encounter with one of Faudo’s guardians, Keith, a singing Mamodo. Alongside Kanchomé and Folgore, Momon confronts Keith in a bizarre musical battle; Elle innocently asks Keith about his gibberish song lyrics, which enrages him – especially when Elle herself starts singing his song back at him. Kanchomé helps inspire courage in Momon, and together they keep Keith busy with spells until reinforcements arrive. Eventually, the mighty Mamodo Bari intervenes and takes over the fight, allowing Momon’s group to slip past. Shortly after, they are ambushed by Faudo’s controller Riou, who knocks out Momon, Elle, and their friends. They later awaken just as Zatch faces his brother Zeno; Momon and Elle rush to Zatch’s side, only to be taken out by Zeno’s attack as well. In the end, Momon helps Kiyo activate a teleportation device to evacuate everyone from Faudo safely. Notably, Momon’s spellbook is never burned in the anime – the series ends before the Mamodo tournament concludes, leaving Momon and Elle still in the competition when the anime wraps up. This means the anime does not show their final fate, unlike the manga.
Manga[]
In the original manga, Momon and Elle’s story reaches a more definitive conclusion. When the team reaches Faudo’s control room, Momon finally musters real courage. With most allies incapacitated, he alone stands between Zatch and two of Faudo’s strongest defenders – Rodeaux (a winged warrior Mamodo) and Jedun. Momon uses every trick up his sleeve to hold off the enemy onslaught, protecting the unconscious Zatch. In a surprising twist, he even unlocks two new spells simultaneously during this desperate battle – Mimiruo Mifanon and Fei Miuruku – vastly increasing his mobility and defensive options. Using these new powers, Momon manages to briefly outmaneuver and subdue Rodeaux, buying precious time. However, Rodeaux strikes back with a final, underhanded attack: a blast that engulfs Momon’s pink spellbook in flames. Momon collapses as his book burns, signaling his defeat. Crucially, it turns out that this was Momon’s plan all along – he acted as a decoy to distract Rodeaux and Jedun until Kiyo (who had been knocked out) could regain consciousness and rejoin the fight. In their last moments together before Momon is forced back to the Mamodo world, he makes a heartfelt promise to Elle: when he returns home, he will give up his perverted habits and study hard to become as smart and reliable as Kiyo. Elle is moved to tears and tells Momon she is proud of him – notably, even at the end he never learned a spell that could directly harm others, fighting honorably with only non-lethal trickery. Momon and Elle’s journey thus ends in the manga with their elimination in 16th place overall in the King Tournament (i.e. they were the 16th team to fall).
Clear Note Arc[]
He does make a brief cameo during the final battle of the manga, appearing from the Mamodo World to encourage Zatch in the fight against Clear Note. After Zatch ultimately becomes king, we see that Momon stayed true to his word – he is last shown studying diligently in the Mamodo world alongside other former combatants. Elle, left on Earth, finds solace and a new purpose after the tournament. In the aftermath, Kafk Sunbeam develops a romantic interest in Elle – during the Faudo battles he had saved her from falling into a chasm, which endeared her to him. By the end of the series, it is implied that Elle returns Sunbeam’s feelings. In the final chapter, she is seen in his company, and it’s revealed that Elle and Sunbeam eventually marry and start a family in the years after the tournament. Momon is also seen in the Mamodo world studying along with others.
Part II[]
At some point, in the years after the battle, Elle left her convent, a decision she said was difficult to make[3], and married Kafk Sunbeam. They had two children together.[4] Momon infiltrates the Elios Stronghold by using his sonar ability to generate mental images of the environment, which he then transcribes with a magic pen to produce detailed blueprints. Through this process, he pinpoints the locations of hidden Spell Bottles and identifies Ponygon’s spells among them. Fully committed to his task, Momon sketches not only the stronghold’s layout but also records the appearances of enemy operatives, vowing to reclaim the stolen magic for his allies.
His stealth is compromised when he is discovered by Moses, a sorcerer aligned with Beliel, who pursues him with relentless precision. Moses enhances his senses to track Momon’s body temperature, making escape nearly impossible. Despite Moses’s taunts and the deployment of Libra and its miniature clones, Momon continually pushes forward. Severely injured, bleeding heavily, and crippled in one leg, he refuses to abandon his mission. He recalls his promise to his friends and throws himself again and again at the Spell Bottle until, in a final desperate effort, he seizes Ponygon’s spell at the cost of his own body.
Dragged to the rooftop where Chuba and Anna had been captured, Momon apologizes to his allies for endangering them but accepts the risk as necessary. Moses prepares to dissect him, but Bari intervenes, striking down the sorcerer. Barely conscious, Momon clutches the Spell Bottle and presses it into Bari’s hands, asking him to ensure Ponygon’s revival. His resilience in the face of certain death shocks even his allies, who recognize his growth since the previous Mamodo Battle.
At that moment, Elly appears and rushes to Momon’s side, a ring now visible on her finger. She clasps his hand, begging him to survive, and embraces him while weeping. As she holds him, Zatch, Kiyo, and Kafk Sunbeam arrive with Ponygon’s sarcophagus and spellbook. Momon, overwhelmed, breaks down in tears upon seeing his friends gathered again, realizing his sacrifice had not been in vain. The Spell Bottle is released into Ponygon’s book, and his body is restored, larger and more horse-like than before. As Ponygon and Sunbeam reunite joyously, Elly turns back to Momon’s dire state, directing the others into action. She organizes the group in the ruined infirmary of the Stronghold, instructing Ponygon to find disinfectants, Kafk to gather blankets and sheets, and Dot to collect bandages and gauze. Even without proper medical tools, she refuses to give up, declaring she will not let Momon die.
Though her efforts alone cannot stabilize him, Bari delivers one of Moses’s syringes, which becomes the key to saving Momon’s life. Elly continues tending to him until his condition improves, staying by his side until he recovers. Later, Momon awakens at Dot’s house to find Elly and the others smiling down at him. Overcome with relief, he realizes that, through their combined efforts, he had survived. Together, Momon and Elly rejoin the alliance with Zatch, Kiyo, Ponygon, and the others, their bond strengthened by the ordeal.
Spells[]
Other Media[]
Video Games[]
Momon and Elle Chivas are a playable team in the following video games:
| Game | Japanese Release | English Release |
|---|---|---|
| Konjiki no Gash Bell!!: Friends of Eternal Bonds |
Trivia[]
- Makoto Raiku changed Momon's color scheme partway through the Faudo arc. On the back of volume 20 and the front of volume 22, Momon wears a yellow shirt with red suspenders—the same color scheme he has in the anime. However, sometime during the Faudo arc, a wallpaper was put up on Konjiki no Gash's official website showing Momon wearing a white shirt with black suspenders, and all his colored appearances since then have shown him with this scheme.
- Throughout Momon’s appearances, a running gag is that he often uses his spells for lecherous hijinks. For example, he might use Amuron to stretch his arm around a corner to lift a girl’s skirt, or Aguraruku to hide in the ground of a women’s bathhouse (hypothetically!). Minfei Mimirugu is actually noteworthy as the first spell Momon did not use to peep on someone. In that case, he used it purely to fly away from an angry Tia rather than to look at her underwear. This fact is even mentioned in an official profile, highlighting how ingrained Momon’s perverted behavior is in his fighting style.
- Meaning of “Chivas”: Elle’s surname “Chivas” means “female goats” in some Spanish dialects (it’s the feminine plural of chiva, goat). This likely hints at her background – possibly indicating she was in a Spanish-speaking country when she became Momon’s partner (fitting since she’s depicted as a Catholic nun). It might simply be a naming choice by Raiku, but it’s an unusual surname that stands out in the series. (Incidentally, “Chivas” is also the name of a Scotch whisky brand, though that’s probably coincidence.)
- Momon's starting location in the human world was presumably in a Spanish-speaking country, as evidenced by Elle's nun profession and surname.