Over two decades ago,PokemonandDigimonbattled it out in the anime space to capture the imagination of ‘90s kids everywhere. Following two separate groups of heroes as they venture into dangerous and exciting new worlds filled with monsters, both friendly and antagonistic,PokémonandDigimonare as similar as they are different, with fans around the world still debating which anime is better. For me,Tai, Agumon, and the adventures of therest of the DigiDestinedwin out over Ash and Pikachu’sPokémonjourney, and for good reason.
Premiering in 1997,Pokémon the Seriestold the tale of Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu as they set out to become Pokémon Champions. Befriending fellow trainers Brock and Misty, the team dealt with the always scheming Team Rocket while doing their best to “catch ‘em all.”
Arriving two years later,Digimon Adventuretook this monster partner approach and brought it to a whole new level. Allowing its creatures to Digivolve temporarily rather than permanently, à la Pokémon’s evolutions,the DigiDestined always had their work cut out for them, withDigimonedging outPokémonas the better showbecause of it.
DigimonTells a More Interesting and Nuanced Story ThanPokémonThat Has Real Weight
Digimon AdventurePremiered in 1999
Unlike the fairly slow-moving and repetitive storytelling and character development seen in Pokémon’s anime — Ashfinallybecame a Pokémon Champion only recently —Digimonhas always found ways to extend the stories of the original DigiDestined and make them feel like they’re real people dealing with real issues. With at least six years passing fromDigimon AdventuretoDigimon Adventure 02and up toDigimon Adventure tri., Tai and his fellow DigiDestined have grown exponentially as characters, with heavy subjects like divorce, death, isolation, and redemption forcing them to conquer their demons, something helped along thanks toDigimon’s more serialized nature.
Digimon Adventure Hides One of Its Best Moments Behind Agumon’s Most Disturbing Evolution
SkullGreymon, the dark evolution of Digimon Adventure’s Agumon, hides a tragic and disturbing lore than most fans are not aware of.
Far less episodic than Pokémon’s anime, where meaningful developments would sometimes take years to become noticeable,a single season or evena single episode ofDigimondid more legwork in a shorter amount of time, all while balancing a much larger cast consisting of eight DigiDestined and eight partner Digimon. Still able to give each their time to shine, Digimon’s anime was constantly upping the stakes narratively as well, with the incursion of the digital world into the real one being an epic tale worth telling, effectively making this show all the more impressive, impactful, and memorable compared to Pokémon’s.
Furthermore,I alwayslikedDigimonmore thanPokémonmainly because its lore is way more interesting to explore, with its world-building feeling rich and thought out rather than simply being a new location with new monsters pushed along by the infinite grind of becoming the “very best.” Featuring digital monsters who can fully articulate themselves rather than solely repeat their name and attack,Digimongave fans even more layered characters to pour over in this way, with unique elements like the show’s iconic Digivice tech, various Digivolving techniques, and more, givingPokémon’s Pokédex and Pokeballs a run for their iconography.
Pokémon the SeriesPremiered in 1997
Then there’sPokémonandDigimon’s iconic theme songs. To give credit where credit’s due,“Pokémon Theme” is an instantly recognizable tunethat sticks in your head the second you hear it — something I can attest to as I had thePokémon: 2. B. A. MasterCD on repeat when I was a kid — to say nothing about the equally as addictive “PokeRap.” But for me,once I heard that digital squelching ofDigimon’s opening titles accompanied by Tai twisting and spinning into frame, goosebumps ensued, making this a song I still queue up on my Spotify playlist to this day.
Though Ash’s adventures asPokémon’s protagonist are finally over, Pokémon as a brand is bigger than ever, with anew anime series titledPokémon Horizons, featuring Liko and Roy as the show’s next generation of trainers, still awaiting its second season. Meanwhile,Digimonreceived an anime reboot in 2020, recapturing the spirit of the show I fell in love with, making it a worthy addition to Digimon’s legacy.Pokémonmay have been more popular when all things are said and done, but for me,Digimon’s anime efforts and the adventures of the DigiDestined will trump catching ‘em all any day.
Digimon
TheDigimonfranchise, created in 1997, encompasses digital pets, anime, manga, films, video games, and a trading card game, all centering on creatures called Digimon who inhabit a parallel “Digital World.” The series typically follows young humans and their Digimon partners battling threats and evolving through various forms.
