that age old dispute: Pokémon or Digimon?

[moon]

Creating this thread with a warning: you are allowed to say what you like and dislike with either franchise, but anyone who tries to downright flame either of the sides might have their post deleted and be warned. Now, don't be discouraged, I just don't want any fights ;) Posting this in Pokémon Voting Polls for now, so you can just leave your thoughts and be on your way, but if it seems like people actually want to discuss (in a civil and friendly way), the thread might get moved to PGen's main section eventually~


I have been arguing with myself now and then whether I like pokémon or digimon the most. Pokémon is amazing, and everyone who is on this site probably knows that and can agree to some extent. But I also love digimon, for very different reasons. The digimon anime took me by storm and the concept of digital monsters and the digiworld is something that can, if you squint, even seem realistic. Pokémon is more of a fantasy world, it's pretty clear that our world as it is isn't part of theirs, but that gives that franchise freedom in many other ways. I like that pokémon are numerous and also well defined with their evolution lines and movesets. Digimon are a jungle in their evolutions and attacks and there doesn't even seem to be clear rules for what goes and what doesn't. But the franchises have very different origins so it's not strange.

Bottom line is, I'm curious to hear what other people really think about this. Digimon and pokémon have been claimed to be ripoffs of one another - I don't believe that is the case more than with any other anime or game series back then. They simply have some ideas that are very similar, and that has caused digimon to be compared with pokémon possibly more often than any other franchise has.

So, shoot! :3

 

[«Chuckles»]

Two completely different franchises the only thing making them similar is the Mon at the end and that both franchises use monsters but then again alot of other series do aswell.

Both series have very good video games and the animes are good well maybe not since I have become a bit weary of Pokemons anime and have yet to see X/Y but Digimons Xros Wars definitely had a really good story in terms of creativity.

I think the area on where Pokemon and Digimon become rip offs of one another is the Anime by far. Digimon you actually have to watch from the start to understand alot of it unlike Pokemon where you could pick it up out of no where and not be lost.

Yes Pokemon Red and Green came out first as a Gameboy Game Digimon came out as a V-pet spinoff of those Tamagotchis aimed at teenage boys.

I honestly get sick and tired of people saying one another is a rip off of the other, they are very different even the games. (especially the ones on the DS they are superb just dont get championship)

 

[Hiatus]

They only major similarity that they have is, in my opinion, their names—Pokémon and Digimon. d: The concept is quite different, though. Pokémon are monsters that you carry around in your pocket with an item known as "Poké Ball." Digimon, though—they're digital monsters. You carry them around with you on a mobile device. Pokémon can evolve at any time, but once they do, it's permanent; they cannot go back. Digimon, on the other hand, can evolve and in-evolve at any time. Not only that, but Digimon can fuse with each other to turn themselves into a different Digimon. Pokémon can't. Well, I mean, they can (as they've fused Kyurem with Reshiram and Zekrom in the games), but it isn't so simple. Digimon can talk, too. Whenever you're feeling lonely, you could always call them out and have some chit-chat. Pokémon can talk as well, but it's extremely though to teach it to them. Digimon—they're able to talk quite naturally. Thousands of different languages have been programmed into them. And in the games, Digimon can learn a lot of moves, while Pokémon can learn only four.

Personally, I prefer Pokémon over Digimon. Digimon aren't real; they're like holograms. Pokémon, though? They're definitely real, and they resemble real-life animals a lot better. Plus, I'm a little more familiar with Pokémon, as I've been a fan of it since the age of four. (:

 

[LusoTrainer]

I never liked Digimon but unfortunately, ever since the 3rd gen, Pokémon design has started to be more similar to them (not to mention the whole "mega evolution" thing). Eg:

 

[Aeroblast]

Obviously it'd be Pokemon for me, as I've forgotten practically everything about Digimon at this point.

 

[Rothometapratis]

I like the first season of digimon very much. It is a great story, well-written. Although one thing I don't like about digimon is that there is an end to it. The end of the adventure. On the other hand, in pokemon there is no end. The adventure restarts in each season. Furthermore, pokemon is much more organised. I mean there are certain types of pokemon and moves. Moreover, you can use a pokemon as you wish for battles for fun, but a digimon fights just to protect you. Also, I like the looks of pokemon more than the looks of digimon. To sum up, I prefer pokemon over digimon, because it is much richer.

 

[Powerstars]

Since this is a Pokemon forum, more people will be in support of that franchise.

For Digimon, some of the designs are cool, but that's all I like about it.

 

[Brendino]

I don't think that either one is a rip-off of the other, but when you get two franchises with similar premises being around for so long, ideas are bound to be shared between the two (including Pokemon's recent addition of mega evolution).

That being said, seven year old me saw Digimon as a rip-off, mainly because the anime didn't show up until a year after Pokemon first aired. Because of that, I never really gave it a shot back then, and was never interested in it from that point on. Even to this day, I couldn't tell you more than one or two names of any Digimon. If the roles of the two animes had reversed though, I wouldn't be surprised if my opinions of the two had reversed.

 

[Kanzler]

I think Digimon was an easier anime to relate to, simply because it's a lot more personal with all the friendship and love themes. But Pokemon was the "funner" franchise.

 

[Elaitenstile]

Obviously it'd be Pokemon for me, as I've forgotten practically everything about Digimon at this point.

Basically what I was going to say. Pokémon anchored me for longer (I'm fairly sure I've given both equal attention at first) so I stick on to it. Now I don't know anything about Digimon anymore. Like for many, it also started for me by the anime, but I've never got around doing anything else Digimon-related.

 

[curiousnathan]

I've grown up with Pokemon. I've live Pokemon. I breathe Pokemon. What is Digimon? I don't know that word. Basically, I'll always be a Pokemon fan, and so Pokemon will always be one step above Digimon. (Sorry Digimon fans, haha.)

 

[Mana1]

Digimon has the advantage of an actual story (anime).

Pokémon games are far better than digimon.

Both anime have had high and low seasons. At the moment though, with X&Y at the forefront of my mind, I'll give this to Pokémon.