A trio of monkeys.....isn't that part of Japanese mythology or something?
I remember from Okami, there was a trio of monkeys - and that game borrows exclusively from Japanese mythos. Perhaps this is a similar thing?
In regards to the starters, I was initially very taken back too. However.....I can accept them.
*Tsutarja's final form...I think is rather bland and underwhelming - but it fits, and is probably the smoothest transition of the 3.
*Pokabu's was always been a struggle to think of. The middle form looks very genuine, and the final is...ugly...but I can take it. My only concern is that it will be yet another Fighting dual type.
*Mijumaru's, like others, disappointed me at first. It looks amazing on its own, but it's just such a large departure from 2 somewhat misleading prevos. It is an otter (I wish people on Gfaqs would stop calling it a narwhal, lolwut?). But we were all expecting some bipedal, furry, fighting machine. Though it could still be part-Fighting it doesn't look the part. I think I'm still going to pick Mijumaru as my starter. It's a very weird departure, but still looks cool. I've come to accept it.