Pokémonis a classic anime series originating from a popular video game series. Children around the world have enjoyed watching Ash, or Satoshi, go on adventures with his Pikachu as he strives to become aPokémonmaster. In the West, it has been associated with theanimeboom of the 1990s. In the 2010s, the franchise once again took the world by storm with thePokémonGo augmented reality game. As a long-running series, multiple generations of kids grew up watching the series in one way or another.
There are also many similar series thatPokémonfans may enjoy. Some have characters go on similar adventures as Ash. Others have similar monsters for collecting or tournaments for fighting. A few of these anime are also connected to video game franchises, much likePokémon. Quite a few of these series even have a few anime and manga spin-offs, giving fans entire franchises for them to enjoy.
TheDigimonfranchise has had a few anime over the years, with the first coming out in 1999. In this series, seven kids are sent to the Digital World where they make friends with the titular Digimon, or Digital Monsters. Using Digivices, the kids are able to transform their Digimon into stronger, evolved forms. The kids have a double mission: finding their way back home and saving the Digital World from destruction. All the while, they are attacked by the evil Digimon, Devimon, who corrupts Digimon so that they fight the kids. Soon, other villains will appear from the shadows.
The firstDigimonanime would later gain a sequel series and a reboot, in addition tomultiple spin-off series.Digimon, which originated as a virtual pet, similar to the Tamagotchi toys, would also gain films, video games, manga, and even a Chinese manhua.
InBakugan, Danma “Dan” Kuso finds strange cards that he and his friend Shun use to make a game called “Bakugan,” eventually forming a small group as the game grows popular. These cards have the power to summon powerful spirit monsters from another world, Vestroia. After using the Drago card, Dan and his friends find themselves in the battle for Vestroia’s fate.
Bakuganfeels like a throwback to many different monster-catching anime. Much like Ash Ketchum and his contemporaries, Dan aspires to be the world’s best brawler. The conflict of saving an alternate dimension also brings to mindDigimon. One unique aspect is that the Bakugan spirits are able to communicate with their partnered humans, even when contained.
Beybladeis a franchise revolving around the titular spinning tops. An anime series, originating as a manga, Bakuten Shūto Beiburēdo, takes place in a world where competing teams battle each other with the Beyblades. Tyson Granger, also known as Kinomiya Takao, is one such Beyblade fan, and he forms the Bladebreakers team with some competitors-turned-friends. The Bladebreakers travel the world and compete in international tournaments.
In the second season, the Bladebreakers find themselves having to protect their bit-beasts, powerful beings within the Beyblades. The franchise would prove popular enough to gain a few spin-off manga and anime, such as theMetal FusionandBeyWheelzseries.
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7Cardcaptor Sakura
Cardcaptor Sakura, as well as sequel seriesCardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, is an anime that combines monster-collecting withthe magical girl genre. When Sakura Kinomoto accidentally releases the powerful Clow Cards from a book, she is tasked with reclaiming each of the missing cards. The guardian of the cards, Cerberus, or Kero, acts as her guide. Meanwhile, her cousin Tomoyo provides her with an assortment of battle costumes.
Soon, however, a boy named Syaoran Li comes to Japan from Hong Kong, believing himself with be the rightful master of the Clow Cards. Originally serving as a rival to Sakura, Syaoran Li soon grows to respect Sakura. However, there are other forces out there with an interest in the cards.
6Yatterman
Part of theTime Bokanseries,Yattermanstars two mechanics, Gan Takada and Ai Kaminari, who fight evil as the heroes “Yatterman,” Yatterman-1 and Yatterman-2. They are both aided by the robot dog, Yatterwan. Their most prominent villains are the Doronbo Gang, made up of Doronjo, Boyacky, and Tonzura. These bad guys are searching for the Dokuro Stones, or Skull Stones, which should grant them their fortune in gold. The gang serves the mysterious villain Dokurobei, who’s hiding a strange connection to the Skull Stones.
There is a specific reason that fans ofPokémonmay likeYatterman: in their own ways, both the heroes and the villains have remindedPokémonfans of Team Rocket. Notably, the Doronbo Gang, especially Doronjo, have been fan-favorites for viewers over the years. One spin-off,Yatterman Night, even made their descendants the heroes.
5Yo-Kai Watch
Yo-Kai Watchis an anime adaptation of the video game of the same name. The series revolves aroundyokai, ghost-like beings from Japanese mythology. A young boy named Nate, or Keita in the original Japanese, finds a strange capsule device which contains the yokai, Whisper. As a reward, Nate is gifted the Yo-Kai Watch, which can help him see other yokai. With Whisper helping him, Nate stops other yokai from starting trouble in town, by befriending them or battling them with his other yokai allies.
In addition to the first anime, Yo-Kai Watch would later garner films, a darker spin-off,Yo-kai Watch Shadowside, and a latersequel series. Monster-catching anime has origins in the popularity of bug catching among young children in Japan.Yo-Kai Watchpays homage to this in the first episode: Nate actually stumbles upon Whisper while beetle catching with his friends, complete with a net.
4Monster Rancher
Monster Rancher, also known asMonster Farm, stars Genki Sakura, who is a fan of the eponymous video games. After winning a mysterious disc, Genki is magically transported into a world resembling theMonster Ranchergames. Genki soon meets up with a girl named Holly and her friend, a cyclops known as Suezo, who need his help. They are searching for a mysterious disc that hosts a powerful Phoenix, and it is needed to save the world from an evil tyrant. When Genki’s disc turns out to contain a different monster, the kappa-like Mocchi, the four must journey to find the disc, making new allies along the way.
Much likePokémon,Monster Rancherhas its origin in a video game franchise. That said, theMonster Ranchergames tend to resemble virtual pets games thanPokémon. In fact, players raise their monsters throughout their lives.
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The title character ofTorikois a Gourmet Hunter, who travels the world while searching for exotic food ingredients and rare creatures, all during a time known as the Gourmet Age. Along the way, Toriko is accompanied by the meek and timid, yet talented, chef Komatsu. Toriko and his allies fight the Gourmet Corps, who want to control the world’s food.
At its heart,Torikois a throw back to other classic anime. The series combines cooking anime with classic shonen works. Toriko himself is based somewhat on Kenshiro fromFist of the North Star. As in a monster-catching anime, the world of the Gourmet Age is filled with powerful Beasts, often strange variations of real-world animals.
2Angelic Layer
Angelic Layerstars Misaki Suzuhara, who, after moving to Tokyo to live with her aunt, learns about a popular competition game called “Angelic Layer.” Players design fighting dolls known as “Angels” that are mentally manipulated by players. Misaki then meets a mysterious, bespectacled man known as “Icchan,” who encourages her to compete in the game. While competing and meeting with other players, Misaki soon learns that the game has a strong connection to her past, particularly her long-lost mother.
Despite being a tournament series,Angelic Layerisn’t based on a preexisting game, although an RPG game was released that allowed players to train an Angel.As a Clamp series,Angelic Layershares its universe with other Clamp properties. Misaki’s doll Hikaru is named after a character fromMagic Knight Rayearth. Characters and their relatives also appear in theChobitsandKobatoseries.
1Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsterstakes place in a world dominated by the popular “Duel Monsters” card game. The main character, Yugi Muto, has a special trick up his sleeve. After solving an artifact called the Millennium Puzzle, Yugi befriends the spirit of an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh, who serves as his alter-ego and steps in when he needs to duel. Yugi and his friends get involved with the Duelist Kingdom tournament, all to save his imprisoned grandfather.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monstersactually adapts the manga starting at the eighth volume. Beforehand, there was an earlierYu-Gi-Oh!anime in 1998, in which Yugi used Yami to fight off bullies and enemies by trapping them within “Dark Games.” Much likePokémon,Yu-Gi-Oh!first became popular asa Saturday morning cartoonin the West. Over the years, Yu-Gi-Oh! would go on to inspirea few spin-offs, likeYu-Gi-Oh! GXandYu-Gi-Oh!5D’s, usually starring new casts of characters.
