7 Uniqueness Of Monster Rancher Anime

Monster Rancher is an unique anime which is adapted from games with the similar name. The series offers adventure of a group on their quest to find a legendary monster. Though it is considered as an old anime, it somehow gained a huge fans due to its uniqueness in anime series as well as the games. There are 7 lists of uniqueness as shown below:

Game Adaptation

Monster Rancher is a series of life simulation role-playing video games. The series currently consists of various games across different video game platforms. In addition, the series has been adapted into an anime with the same name. In the games, one takes the role of a monster breeder whose goal is to raise monsters to fight in tournaments. The breeder must take it in hand to raise the monster throughout its life, training it, keeping it healthy, making an exercise schedule, and trying to maximize its abilities before it dies of old age or is retired. Meanwhile, the anime focuses on story of a group name The Searchers finding a legendary monster called phoenix in order to defeat evil monsters. 

Anime Similarity

Monster Rancher is often compared to Pokemon, though the two series play differently. While the Pokemon games are traditionally collection-based RPGs, Monster Rancher games tend to be simulated animal breeding games. However, the resemblance can be seen from the monsters' performance in both series. The breeders need to raise their monsters to perform high capabilities in battles. In addition, the appearance of the monsters are pretty much look alike. Another similarity is shared by other simulation virtual pet games such as Digimon. The genre of anime obviously bears resemblance in both series though the difference of monsters' characters make it less similar. 

Alternate Universe

In the anime, the story follows a boy named Genki Sakura, who is a key player of the Monster Rancher video games. After winning a tournament hosted by the game's creators, Genki wins a special CD that he can use to unlock a special monster in his game at home. However, upon using this disk in his game console, he finds himself transported to a world of monsters that are given life by scanning special stone disks within temples. The world is actually called Pangaea, an alternate dimension from Earth where Monster Rancher takes place. 

Unlocking Disc 

The anime features Mystery Discs which also called Disc Stones or Saucer Stones. They are spherical tablets that contain a monster inside and can be unlocked in a shrine.

In the other hand, in most of the video games, these stones are represented by the CD's the player uses. Each CD contains information that helps to unlock a specific monster breed. The characteristics of the monster such as stats, breed and traits are determined by various numbers stored in the game. Although not widely popular, the games do have a loyal fans, mostly because of the games' unique "unlocking" aspect. 

Monsters

The Monster Rancher game and anime feature monsters raised by monster Breeders, who train them to fight in tournaments against other monster Breeders and their companions. Each of these monsters is uniquely defined by a Species (which gives it its basic form and abilities) and a Sub-Type (which defines its color scheme and modifies its appearance). This combination is called a Breed. Each monster species also has at least one "unknown" breed. These breeds cannot be created by combining, because their sub-type is unknown. They can only be unlocked directly at the Shrine.

Legendary monsters

There are two legendary monsters in anime, Suzaku The Phoenix Lord and Master Moo. Phoenix is already powerful enough, but the wisdom and power of the Phoenix from the anime series surpasses all others. He is tasked to fight Master Moo, another legendary monster which has the ability to bring out the darkness in others. In the end, their strength is equal and scientists use their last resort to separate Moo's mind from his body by activating the weapon. Unfortunately, Phoenix's soul received the most damage, being split into five pieces which later were revealed as Mocchi (the Phoenix's courage), Suezo (Phoenix's pride), Golem (Phoenix's kindness), Tiger (the Phoenix's anger), and Hare (Phoenix's intelligence).

Monster Battle Organization

FIMBA was the first monster battle organization to be created. It stands for the Fraternal International Monster Breeders' Association and is known to stress the pursuit of knowledge and the sharing of discoveries. Additionally, IMa was the second to be established. It stands for the International Monster Association and is known for their great pomp. IMa sponsors many famous breeders around the world and is definitely the most competitive of the Monster Associations. It is also the monster association that Genki and Mocchi join in the anime series.