What is the connection between Amagi Brilliant Park and Full Metal Panic? In Amagi Brilliant Park, the mascot of the titular theme park is a mascot named Moffle.



For anyone who knows Full Metal Panic!, this no doubt bears a strong resemblance to Bonta-kun, the suit that Sosuke designed.



Of course, they don't look exactly the same, but they're similar enough that this is definitely not a coincidence, and viewers are expected to catch this reference.

I know that both Fumoffu and Amagi are animated by Kyoani, based on light novels written by Gatoh Shoji, and directed by Takemoto Yasuhiro. That's already enough to establish a connection between these series, so that this sort of reference isn't out of place.

Is there any in-universe connection between these two series, or is the reference just a throwback to remind viewers of the earlier work and the staff connection between the two?
It seems that the author liked Bonta-kun's design so much, so he reused (with Shiki Douji's appoval) it in this series. 

From a summary of the afterword of LN Vol. 1:


  As for the secondary main character "Mofuru", I ended up borrowing Bonta-kun of FMP. I just couldn't separate the two characters in my head, so I had the idea of just using Bonta-kun directly. I thank Shiki Douji for giving his approval.