The 1990s were formative years for monster-collecting anime, especially for popular games and toys likePokémonandDigimonadaptations, but also for more obscure stories likeMonster Rancher. However, while other niche series have come and gone, likeYokai Watchwith its share of multimedia franchises,Monster Ranchertrod similar ground to some of the decade’s most beloved kid-friendly anime.Monster Rancheris occasionally forgotten, but for kids growing up watching Fox Kids and YTV, it was a Saturday morning fixture and a monster-collecting isekai anime way before the trend overtook the medium.
Monster Rancheris the adaptation of the Tecmo video game series. It first launched in 1997, featuring many popular creature designs, but felt like a favorable cross between thePokémonandDigimonanime, the latter being released one month prior. It follows Genki, a passionateMonster Ranchervideo game fan who wishes to live in the game world. Thanks to a test copy of the latest release,Monster 200X, Genki is sent to Pangaea, effectively a world where monsters from the game roam freely, thusemerging as an early isekai anime.
Monster Rancher Was the Monster Collecting Isekai Anime You Didn’t Know You Needed
Years Before the Isekai Anime Trend Swept the Medium
Whileisekai anime is more popular than ever in the present, withSword Art Onlineoften credited as the main anime to trigger the sensation, bothDigimonandMonster Rancherembodied the trend before it was coined. With Genki being sent to another world with seemingly no way out,inspired by his favorite game series, he begins a fantasy adventure far removed from his mundane childhoodin the real world until his inevitable return. With the source material being aPlayStation 1monster breeding game that was not only well-received but a nostalgic favorite, 90s kids resonated with Genki’s adventures.
The termisekaiis defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as the following:
“A Japanese science or fantasy fiction genre featuring a protagonist who is transported to or reincarnated in a different, strange, or unfamiliar world.”
Genki quickly makes friends in this world, including Holly, a human character from the games,Monster Ranchermascot Suezo, and other monsters like Mocchi, Golem, Tiger, and Hare. Each character bonds separately with Genki while he familiarizes himself with the world, endears himself to his new monster friends, and embarks on a quest to save this other world. Unlike inDigimon, whose main characters are evenly split between residents of Earth and the Digital World,Monster Rancher’sisekai premise hasGenki as the lone human visitor to this worldas he slowly embraces his place there.
Pokémon vs. Digimon: which anime series is better?
Pokémon and Digimon were two franchises that proved instrumental in helping create the modern anime scene in Western territories. Despite more than a few similarities, the two collectible monster anime couldn’t be more different. While Ash’s adventures in Pokémon are largely episodic, Digimon is much more story and character focussed. Given these differences, which of the two anime franchises caught your attention? Are you more a fan of Pokémon’s anime, or of Digimon’s?
Monster Rancheris, by and large, a wholesome isekai anime, with Genki becoming increasingly inseparable from the characters he once only saw in video game form. In the other world, he occasionally becomes vexed or intimidated by them but bonds beautifully and makes friends with these characters individually, such as deciding against leaving the adorable Mocchi behind in episode #2 or witnessing the gentle Golem’s heart of gold in episode #3. It’s not until a momentary return to Earth that Genki realizes that life in the real world isn’t the same.
Monster Rancher Offered A Different Take On The 1990s Monster Anime Boom Pokémon & Digimon Popularized
Cut from the Same Digital Cloth
Monster Ranchermay not nearly be as popular asPokémonorDigimon, having neither the game sales ofPokémonnor the continuous stream of spinoff anime likeDigimon;it was a self-contained monster anime in its own right.The originalMonster Ranchervideo games arguably have aged better, withthe beloved original two games getting an HD remaster in 2021as a testament to the critical reception and fan adoration for its addictive monster-breeding gameplay. As an adaptation of a video game,Monster Rancheris inherently similar toPokémon’sGame Boy titles orDigimon’svirtual pet toys.
However,Monster Rancherwas also a unique blend of the appeals of each adaptation. This includes the central protagonist, Genki, mirroring Ash Ketchum (or Satoshi), bonding with his expanding team of monster companions, or his sudden isekai adventure resembling the DigiDestined landing in the Digital World. Despite similarities like these, which indicate that the series could be considered a derivative of either,Monster Rancherhas different appeals that help it stand out.
While simplistic,Monster Rancher’splot largely stays focused on stopping Moo’s tyranny over the world, embarking on a quest to revive the Phoenix while unearthing mysteries, including Moo’s connection to a certain key character. UnlikeDigimon, which escalates to newer, stronger threats, Moo stays the main antagonist, awakening the darkness in other monsters not unlike Myotismon or Devimon. UnlikePokémon, Moo is easier to take more seriously (other than his name) than, say, Team Rocket. It was not untilthe excellentDigimon Tamersthat other monster anime plots began to resembleMonster Rancher’s.
How Well Has Monster Rancher Aged Compared To Pokémon & Digimon?
How Does the Tecmo x TMS Entertainment Collaboration Stack Up?
Monster Rancher’s1999 anime has surprisingly strong animation and action, which, upon review, feels like it often has greater fluidity than the earlyPokemonandDigimonanime. None of the three are particularly exemplary anime in terms of visual fidelity, and they all have awkward English dubs, butMonster Rancheris surprisingly entertaining to revisit decades later as akid-friendly anime.
However, with an entire run of 73 episodes ofMonster Rancherstacked against hundreds of episodes ofDigimonwith heated debates about which series is best, and over a thousand episodes ofPokemon,Monster Rancherretains a smaller presence.
One fascinating note about theMonster Ranchergames is that players could generate monsters in the game using metadata from readable CDs, including music CDs. This added a surprising fun factor for players of the original games depending on their music and game libraries.
Interestingly,Monster Rancher’s video game franchise is favorably looked upon, attaining a better critical appraisal for its earliest work thanDigimongames while still falling short ofPokémon.Monster Rancheris thus fairly established as a cult classic video game franchise with a well-liked anime adaptation that often feels better to watch than competing series while airing simultaneously.
Monster Rancher
Cast
Monster Rancher is an anime series based on the Monster Rancher video game franchise. The show follows Genki, a young boy who gets transported into the game world, where he meets various monsters and friends. Together, they embark on a quest to find the legendary Phoenix to stop the evil Moo from taking over the world. The series combines adventure and fantasy elements while exploring themes of friendship and bravery.
