Monster Rancher (anime)
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| Monster Rancher | |
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| モンスターファーム (Monster farm) |
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| Genre | Fantasy, Adventure |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Hiroyuki Yano |
| Studio | TMS |
| Network | TBS |
| Original run | 17 April 1999 – 25 March 2000 |
| No. of episodes | 73
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Monster Rancher (known as Monster Farm in Japan) is an anime series based on the video game series of the same name. The series initially consisted of only 48 episodes; however, it was eventually decided to extend it for a total of 78 episodes. The series follows a young boy named Genki who gets trapped in the Monster Rancher world. Genki eventually meets a variety of characters that join him on a quest to defeat Moo (monster ranchers), a bent evil entity trying on destroying the world.
Compared to other "pet monster" animes at the time, such as Pokèmon and Digimon, the show had a much darker, more serious tone. Deaths and murders were frequent (although the monsters were not really "killed", they were turned into disks), though, admittedly, most were implied, and offscreen. Minor characters were usually given a tragic backstory, and even some villains were given depth. The show still supplied a sizable amount of humor, usually in the characters' mannerisms, so it could well appeal to multiple age groups.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
[edit] Heroes
- Genki: A 10-year old elementary school boy that is sort of the 'leader' of the group. He has a good heart, and he truly cares for his friends and the monsters. His goal is to turn all of the evil monsters called 'baddies' into good monsters again. Determined, optimistic, and hopeful, Genki is a real go-getter. "Genki" means "Energetic" or "Healthy" in Japanese.
- Holly: A 13-year old girl who is on a quest to find the location of the ancient Monster called Phoenix. Holly uses a magical pendant to locate new Mystery Discs that contain monsters. Though she denies it at first, she learned that her father has become a vessel for the soul of the evil Moo. After the Phoenix and Moo destroyed each other, Holly went on a quest to find Moo's Mystery Disc to save her father from the very monster he had become.
- Mocchi: A little pink monster who is Genki's tag team partner in many battles. Like Genki, Mocchi is very brave and good-hearted. When in battle, Mocchi can move very fast by rolling into a ball like an armadillo and bouncing. Mocchi is also capable of producing very powerful attacks, most notably his Mocchi Cannon move.
- Suezo: A simple monster with only a mouth, a huge singular eye, and and an upright tail. He is Holly's loyal monster retainer. Suezo serves as comic relief in many instances, though he can be a little obnoxious and loud-mouthed. He has amazing Telescopic vision and can teleport himself and other objects from one location to another in mere seconds.
- Golem: A large and powerful humanoid monster made of rocks. He moves slowly, but his punch is destructive. Golem is a kind-hearted monster who loves nature. However, when in battle he will fight furiously with powerful techniques. He can break apart to perform his Tornado attack, launching bits and pieces of himself in a whirlwind formation.
- Tiger: (Rygar in Japanese) A blue, wolf-like monster with horns on his head. He is a feared thief and bandit known as "Tiger of the Wind". He was the leader of a pack of rouge mixed-breed Tigers that were isolated from all humans. Eventually, he met up with Genki. At first, he looked down upon Genki's optimistic and caring nature. Tiger had a rough past that changed him forever, giving him a jaded and cold view of life. However, after listening to Genki, he has learned to care more for others. A clan of Black Dinos commanded by Moo killed off Tiger's pack, so he joined up with Genki's team in hopes of finding and defeating Moo. Tiger is extremely fast and powerful in battle. He uses an array of swift attacks, as well as firing electricity from his horns and using ice-based attacks.
- Hare: (Ham in Japanese) A humanoid, charismatic rabbit with large fists. He is very cunning and a trickster. At first, he was a con-artist who tried to steal the gang's valuables. Tiger did not trust him at all and was sore about losing to him in battle. But after Tiger forgave him, he joined the team. While friendly, he tends to be selfish and gloats about his skills. His fighting style revolves around boxing, flying kicks and flatulence.
[edit] Others
- Pixie: Formerly one of Moo's Big Bad Four, Pixie left Muu after Genki opened her eyes to the truth of Moo's evil. Although her exact age is not known, Pixie appears to be in her early twenties. Pixie is based on the pure-bred pixies depicted on the Monster Rancher video game. Her overall appearance is that of a slim young woman with red hair and a pair of leathery wings. Two silver horns jut from her head and she has a whip-like tail that ends in a small spike. Her usual garb is a reddish-pink bikini-like outfit. Pixie is one of the most physically powerful characters featured on the Monster Rancher series. In addition to seemingly superhuman strength and speed, Pixie can fly and generate massive energy surges. Pixie came to play a semi-regular role on Monster Rancher, and helped Genki and his friends time and again until she was mortally injured by Moo. By the sacrifice of her follower, Big Blue, Pixie was healed and reborn as Granity. After this transformation, Pixie took on an angelic appearance. Her wings became feathery and her hair turned green, and her reddish-pink clothes were replaced with silver battle armor. Pixie’s disposition ranges from quiet and shrewd to level-headed and mature. Strong-willed, independent and very pretty, Pixie is perhaps the character on Monster Rancher most likely to click with adult anime fans.
- Big Blue: An ice-carved giant whose is made of un-meltable ice rock. He functions as Pixie's bodyguard and travelling companion. But Big Blue loved his master, so much that he sacrificed his own existence to save Pixie by fusing his being into her, turning her into Granity. Except for color, he is identical in appearance to Golem.
- Grey Wolf: Tiger's younger brother who was made into a member of Moo's Big Bad Four.
- Naga: Formerly one of Muu's Big Bad Four, a humanoid serpent with a stinger on his tail. He lives for battles, his cruel fighting style horrifies other monsters. He took his own life after he was defeated by Genki's group only to be resurrected later as a purified monster.
[edit] Villains
- Master Moo (Muu in Japan): He was an extremely powerful giant dragon-like monster engineered as the ultimate weapon in the great war of ancient times. His dark powers eventually grew too powerful to be controlled, and he created legions with his ability to transform good monsters into his evil servants for the purpose of destroying the world. But it is due to the Phoenix and a special machine that Moo's spirit was separated from his body. Moo's soul became a Mystery Disk imprisoned in his castle, along with the Mystery Disks containing many of his old troops.
Centuries later, after he was banished from his village, Holly's father went in search of the Phoenix without the aid of the Magic Stone, but found Moo's castle instead. When he unintentionally unlocked Moo's soul, it entered his body and thus Moo was reborn. He reassembled his army with his Big Bad Four enforcing his injustice and terrorizing the world while in search of the location of his old body which he found and merged with. Moo is a play on the Japanese word mu meaning "void" or "nothing".
- Gali: One of Muu's Big Bad Four. This suave and cultured creature is invisible save for the golden mask and cape that he wears. Gali enjoys mocking his opponents and toying with lesser rivals, but if pressed, he can unleash fearsome attacks that batter and drain even the most formidable enemies. His calm and arrogant nature hides a wrathful temper; if angered or insulted, Gali attacks without mercy. He was killed by Mocchi's Mocchi Cannon attack.
- General Durahan: A living suit of armor that serves Moo. His body houses the soul of a proud, ancient knight. He intended to take over Muu's operation, but failed. He would resurface years later to resurrect Moo and absorb him into his own body.
[edit] Changes
The Character Hare had his "Gas" attack cut out in America. "Gas" is an attack where Hare turns around and flatulates on his enemy. The flatulence stinks so bad, it stuns enemies, knocks them out, as seen in Hare's Trick and he used Gas to keep the Iron Bird afloat in the Iron Bird episode.
A couple of scenes were also lifted from the episode "My Name is Pixie". At one point during the episode, Genki rescues Pixie from quicksand. After he hauls her out, the mud on her face makes her look as if she has a beard (why that was cut out is not known). There is also a scene in that episode where Genki lifts Pixie "bride over the threshold" style in his arms and skates away with her while she kicks and yells in protest. For reasons unknown, a few frames were cut from that scene as well.
Several key episodes of Season 2 were skipped by some networks that aired Monster Rancher in the US. "Battle with the Big Bad Four" and "Tiger's Battle with Destiny" only aired once in the USA on Fox Kids.
[edit] Monster Rancher on DVD and VHS
ADV Films owns the rights to the first 12 episodes, which the company released on DVD. ADV also released the entire first season of Monster Rancher on VHS. The series was brought to the US and dubbed by Ocean. After Monster Rancher went off the air in the US, ADV halted its release of the series on home video and DVD. In 2005, BKN International A.G. licensed the DVD rights for 73 episodes of the Monster Rancher anime series to Digiview Productions LLC for US and Canadian mass retail market distribution. Digiview only released one DVD containing episodes 1 through 5 at select Wal-Marts and other select places that sell $1 DVDs in February of 2006. The digiview website currently doesn't offer the DVDs up for sale indicating that it may be canceled.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- BKN International A.G. (September 1, 2005). "BKN News". September 05 Newsletter.
- CNN Matthews News Distribution Network (July 21, 2005). "BKN Announces New USA Deal". Press Release.
