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Monster Rancher (anime)
Encyclopedia
Monster Rancher, known in Japan
as , is a 73-episode anime series based on the Monster Rancher series
of video games made by Tecmo.http://www.tms-e.com/english/search/index.php?pdt_no=190 It originally aired on Japanese television
on TBS
from April 17, 1999 to September 30, 2000. In Japan there were two series (モンスターファーム~円盤石の秘密~ - Monster Farm Enbanseki no Himitsu) for episodes 1-48 and (モンスターファーム~伝説への道~ Monster Farm Densetsu e no Michi) for episodes 49-73.
), had several parts modified to make it suitable for viewing on American television. The character Hare had his "Gas" attack removed. "Gas" is an attack where Hare turns around and flatulate
s on his enemy. The flatulence stinks so badly, 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 removed 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 later scene in the same 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 U.S. "Battle with the Big Bad Four" and "Tiger's Battle with Destiny" only aired once when the series was rerun on Fox Kids. These episode were pivotal battles for Holly and Tiger respectively.
By contrast, some of the darker scenes of the anime were not removed nor edited in the dub, such as the villain Naga's suicide, and Tiger being forced to kill his own brother Gray Wolf.
In the Spanish version as well as the English version, an original opening song was recorded, produced, and vocalized by Anthony Lopez.
While unrelated to the English language version, in the Japanese version's opening for Episode 1, there is a different opening animation from other episodes. The changes include:
There are also many other additional details added onto the animation.
. 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 2006. Eventually, this DVD was reissued to include up to episode 8. The digiview website currently doesn't offer the DVDs up for sale indicating that it may be cancelled.
All of the Episodes have been released on DVD in Japan.Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
OP 1 Kaze ga Soyogu Basho (Miho Komatsu)
OP 2 Picnic (Rumania Montevideo)
OP 3 Close to your heart (Rina Aiuchi)
OP 4 FLUSH (Takashi Utsunomiya)
ED 1 Flame of Love (Sweet Velvet)
ED 2 Digital Music Power (Rumania Montevideo)
ED 3 Wonderin Hands (4D JAM)
ED 4 Be Truth(Takashi Utsunomiya)
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as , is a 73-episode anime series based on the Monster Rancher series
Monster Rancher
Monster Rancher, known in Japan as , is a series of life simulation role-playing video games created by Tecmo . The series currently consists of fourteen games across different video game platforms, and future titles are planned...
of video games made by Tecmo.http://www.tms-e.com/english/search/index.php?pdt_no=190 It originally aired on Japanese television
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
from April 17, 1999 to September 30, 2000. In Japan there were two series (モンスターファーム~円盤石の秘密~ - Monster Farm Enbanseki no Himitsu) for episodes 1-48 and (モンスターファーム~伝説への道~ Monster Farm Densetsu e no Michi) for episodes 49-73.
Changes made in the English language version
The U.S. version, localized and originally syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment (later BKNBKN
Bohbot Kids Network was a syndicated animation block created and distributed by Bohbot Entertainment, an animation production company founded by Allen J...
), had several parts modified to make it suitable for viewing on American television. The character Hare had his "Gas" attack removed. "Gas" is an attack where Hare turns around and flatulate
Flatulence
Flatulence is the expulsion through the rectum of a mixture of gases that are byproducts of the digestion process of mammals and other animals. The medical term for the mixture of gases is flatus, informally known as a fart, or simply gas...
s on his enemy. The flatulence stinks so badly, 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 removed 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 later scene in the same 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 U.S. "Battle with the Big Bad Four" and "Tiger's Battle with Destiny" only aired once when the series was rerun on Fox Kids. These episode were pivotal battles for Holly and Tiger respectively.
By contrast, some of the darker scenes of the anime were not removed nor edited in the dub, such as the villain Naga's suicide, and Tiger being forced to kill his own brother Gray Wolf.
In the Spanish version as well as the English version, an original opening song was recorded, produced, and vocalized by Anthony Lopez.
While unrelated to the English language version, in the Japanese version's opening for Episode 1, there is a different opening animation from other episodes. The changes include:
- A fade in shot into the title logo rather than a camera scroll through some building to the logo.
- The first two close up shots of Mocchi and Holly spinning around are not present.
- After the pan up the group that are sitting on a pile of misc. objects, there is a shot of Genki's face, with the wind blowing.
- The shot of Tiger latched onto the Monster's neck and ripping part of the skin off, as well as being thrown off of him, is instead a shot of Genki jumping over some of the Dinos from episode 1.
- The shot of Genki being chased by the Dinos and one of them falls on a rock, is instead a shot from episode 1 where Genki is roller blading on the ground towards Holly.
- The shot of Holly, Hare, and Golem on a dragon, in which the shot pans out to Mocchi and Genki is instead a shot from episode 1, which shows the scene where Genki decides on Mocchi's name.
- Hare has a mistake on this version. Originally, his eyes had black pupils with a white background for the rest of his eyes. (Although the scene where punching some plant monsters has his normal eyes.)
- The dragons flying into the sunset are removed from the end shot.
There are also many other additional details added onto the animation.
Monster Rancher on DVD and VHS
ADV Films owned the rights to the first 12 episodes, which the company released on DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. ADV also released the entire first season of Monster Rancher on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
. 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 2006. Eventually, this DVD was reissued to include up to episode 8. The digiview website currently doesn't offer the DVDs up for sale indicating that it may be cancelled.
All of the Episodes have been released on DVD in Japan.Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Voice roles
| Character | Japanese VA | English VA |
|---|---|---|
| Genki Sakura | Chisa Yokoyama Chisa Yokoyama is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo. She is founder and head of her own voice company called Banbina after leaving Arts Vision. When she was a high school student, she was an assistant of Jump Broadcasting Station of Weekly Shōnen Jump... |
Andrew Francis Andrew Francis Andrew Francis is an actor and voice artist from Vancouver, British Columbia. He has appeared in many television shows including Poltergeist, Dark Angel, Twilight Zone, The L Word, Smallville and Kyle XY... |
| Holly | Mariko Kōda Mariko Koda is a seiyū, J-Pop singer and radio personality born on September 5, 1969 in Miyashiro, Minami Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from Kasukabe Kyōei High School and went on to major in Communications at Tamagawa University in Machida City, Tokyo, graduating in 1990... |
Maggie Blue O'Hara Maggie Blue O'Hara Maggie Blue O'Hara is a Canadian actress, noted for her voice acting and her recognizable "young teenage girl" voice. In addition to anime roles, she was the voice of Shadowcat in X-Men: Evolution.... |
| Mocchi | Yuri Shiratori Yuri Shiratori is a female seiyū and J-pop singer from Kanagawa Prefecture who has released various solo CD albums. She is employed by 81 Produce.-Profile:*Born on August 20, 1968 in Kanagawa Prefecture*Nickname: Shiratari-san... |
Janyse Jaud Janyse Jaud Janyse Aldis Jaud is a Canadian actress, dancer and singer/songwriter. She is of Icelandic-French descent.... |
| Suezō | Wataru Takagi Wataru Takagi is a Japanese seiyū and stage actor from Chiba Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Arts Vision.He is best known for his roles in Detective Conan , After War Gundam X , Slayers Try , the Beast Wars: Transformers series , GTO , Hajime no Ippo (July 25, 1966 - ) is a Japanese seiyū and stage... |
Scott McNeil Scott McNeil Scott McNeil is a Canadian actor and voice actor. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada... |
| Gōlem | Naoya Uchida Naoya Uchida is a male seiyū, actor, and singer born on May 1, 1953 in Tokyo. He has played several minor roles of authority in various TV dramas. He debuted in 1972 to the NHK and continued acting in theater and TV dramas until the late 90's... |
Richard Newman Richard Newman Richard Newman is a voice actor with numerous voice roles in Transformers cartoons.-Career:Newman started his career in voice acting in Beast Wars voicing Rhinox and the Vok... (1999–2000) Doc Harris (2000–2001) |
| Tiger | Kazuki Yao Kazuki Yao is a veteran voice actor and actor currently represented by Mix Max.- Television animation :* Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple * Astro Boy * Beast Wars * Beast Wars Neo... |
Brian Drummond Brian Drummond Brian Drummond is a Canadian actor. He also serves on the board of directors for the New Westminster-based Urban Academy along with his wife, Laura Drummond, also a voice artist. He and his wife serve as vice-president and president, respectively.- Career :Drummond was born in Salmon Arm, British... |
| Hare | Nozomu Sasaki Nozomu Sasaki is a Japanese voice actor. He is a client of the voice actor management firm, 81 Produce. In 1988, he voiced the well known character, Tetsuo Shima, in the movie, Akira, which was adapted from the manga of the same name. He also performed the role of Yusuke Urameshi in the popular anime adaptation... |
Samuel Vincent Samuel Vincent Samuel Vincent is a Canadian voice actor who works with the Ocean Productions based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia.-Biography:... |
| Moo | Jūrōta Kosugi Jurota Kosugi is a Japanese voice actor. His deep voice is often used for rough and imposing characters. He is well known for playing the role of Sukashii from Kyattou Ninden Teyandee and Asuma Sarutobi from Naruto.... |
Paul Dobson |
| Pixie | Kotono Mitsuishi Kotono Mitsuishi is a prolific Japanese voice actor from Tokyo. As a young girl, Mitsuishi lived in Nagareyama, Chiba. Mitsuishi graduated from high school in 1986, and entered the Katsuta Voice Actor's Academy. While attending the academy, she began working part time as an elevator girl in the Sunshine 60 building... |
Janyse Jaud |
| Gali | Kaneto Shiozawa Kaneto Shiozawa Kaneto Shiozawa , real name was a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo affiliated with Aoni Production. He had a distinctive cold, calm voice which usually typecast him in roles as villains or anti-heroes.... (Season 1-2) Tsutomu Kashiwakura Tsutomu Kashiwakura is a Japanese voice actor and sound director. He was formerly credited as 柏倉 つとむ .- Primary roles :* young Terry Bogard in Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf* Ryo in Generator Gawl* Glemy Toto in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ... (Season 3) |
Scott McNeil |
| Gray Wolf | Daiki Nakamura Daiki Nakamura is a Japanese voice actor and member of 81 Produce.-Anime:* The Brave Express Might Gaine * Colorful * Cromartie High School * Grandpa Danger... |
Scott McNeil |
| Undine | Hiromi Tsuru Hiromi Tsuru is a Japanese voice actress from Kanagawa Prefecture. She is currently affiliated with Aoni Production.She is most known for the roles of Bulma , Ukyo Kuonji , Dokin-chan , Madoka Ayukawa , Miyuki Kashima , Reiko Mikami and Naomi Hunter is a Japanese voice actress from Kanagawa Prefecture. She... |
Kelly Sheridan Kelly Sheridan Kelly Sheridan is a Canadian voice actress based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Biography:Sheridan has voiced various roles in anime and other animated cartoons, such as Barbie in the computer generated Barbie film series since 2001... |
| Naga | Kazuya Kobayashi | Scott McNeil |
| Big Blue | Hiroyuki Yokō | Ward Perry Ward Perry Ward Perry is an anime voice actor who has voiced characters for a number of anime dubbed by the Ocean Group in Vancouver, Canada. He is mostly known as the voice actor of Dragonball Z Villain Kid Buu.-Credits:... |
| General Durahan | Kenyū Horiuchi | Lee Tockar Lee Tockar Lee William Tockar is a Canadian voice actor and visual artist who works for several studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is also a writer of children's literature, a musician, sculptor, illustrator and collected painter... |
| Lilim | Haruko Takahagi | Janyse Jaud |
| Poison | Miki Nagasawa Miki Nagasawa is a female Japanese voice actress born in Hokkaidō and raised in Fukushima. Formerly affiliated for Haikyo, she is now affiliated with Atomic Monkey.-Anime:* After War Gundam X as Perla Ciss* Akihabara Dennou Gumi as Kamome Sengakuji... |
Janyse Jaud |
| Mum Mew | Keiko Han Keiko Han is a Japanese voice actress. She attended Tōyō Eiwa Jogakuin, going on to study theatre arts at Nihon University. She gained experience in theater while attending school by obtaining work through Aoni Production, singing the theme songs in productions such as Story of the Alps: My Annette and... |
Pauline Newstone Pauline Newstone Pauline Newstone is a voice actress.- Voice credits :*Beast Wars - Airazor *Dragon Ball Z - Frieza *Class of the Titans - Medusa*Hamtaro - Kaitlin Endo*Inuyasha - Mistress Centipede... |
| Gobi | Jūrōta Kosugi | Paul Dobson |
| Michael | Miho Yoshida | |
| Ash | Kōichi Kitamura Koichi Kitamura , real name was a Japanese voice actor born in Osaka, Japan. Kitamura was employed by the talent management agency Mausu Promotion. He died on October 2, 2007 of pneumonia.-TV:*April to Sandman *Dragon Ball GT *Esper Mami... |
|
| Arira | Yoshiko Asai Yoshiko Asai is a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo, Japan. She works for 81 Produce. She is also a lecturer for the Yoyogi Animation Institute where she holds classes for voice talents.-Voice roles:* Kikis Delivery Service as Ketto's grandmother... |
|
| Allan | Ryō Naitō Ryo Naito is a Japanese voice actor. He is signed with Y.M.O management. His given name Ryō is sometimes mistranlated as Rei.-Anime:* Beast Wars II * Beast Wars Neo... |
Matt Smith Matt Smith (voice actor) Matt Smith is a Canadian voice actor who works for Ocean Productions in Vancouver.-Roles:*Dragon Ball Z - Tien * InuYasha - Hojo, Akitoki Hojo * Zoids: New Century Zero - Sanders... |
| Detonarex | Ryō Naitō | |
| Denatocris | Kazuya Kobayashi | |
| Pinky | Nao Nagasawa Nao Nagasawa is a Japanese actress, singer and model. She is currently active as a model and also as one of the leaders of girl'sBOX activities along with Kayo Aiko and DRM member Hasebe Yu. The three formed a pop group known as Kingyo in July 2007. She has since released a best album and girlsBOX-related... |
|
| Eddy | Issei Futamata Issei Futamata is a veteran seiyū who was born on March 15, 1955 in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Towada Technical High School. He is a member of the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society.... |
Terry Klassen Terry Klassen Terry Klassen is a Canadian voice actor and voice director in Vancouver, British Columbia. He co-created Yvon of the Yukon. He is the voice director for shows including Martha Speaks, "Johnny Test", "George of the Jungle", "Ed, Edd n Eddy", several "Barbie" movies, "Transformers", "CardCaptors",... |
| Tsunomaru | Norio Tsuboi | |
| Captain Jim | Akio Ōtsuka | Michael Dobson |
| Miminyā | Mika Kanai Mika Kanai is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo. She is currently attached to Ken Production. Her pet name is . She is best known for her roles in Idol Tenshi Yōkoso Yōko , Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka , Goldfish Warning! , Soreike! Anpanman , Yadamon , After War Gundam X , Tokyo... |
|
| Colt | Fumiko Orikasa Fumiko Orikasa is a Japanese voice actress and singer who works for Atomic Monkey. Her record label is Geneon Entertainment. Shopping is one of her hobbies. She is a skilled dancer, and is referred to as "Oririn" by fellow voice actors and fans. She also performed a fair number of anime insert and character image... |
Kelly Sheridan |
| Yakuto Hound | Hiroaki Hirata Hiroaki Hirata is a male seiyū from Tokyo. He stands at 175 centimeters , and is a member of Gekidan Subaru.He is most known for the roles of Sanji , Sha Gojyo , and the Narrator of Digimon Adventure... |
Openings and Endings
JapaneseOP 1 Kaze ga Soyogu Basho (Miho Komatsu)
OP 2 Picnic (Rumania Montevideo)
OP 3 Close to your heart (Rina Aiuchi)
OP 4 FLUSH (Takashi Utsunomiya)
ED 1 Flame of Love (Sweet Velvet)
ED 2 Digital Music Power (Rumania Montevideo)
ED 3 Wonderin Hands (4D JAM)
ED 4 Be Truth(Takashi Utsunomiya)
See also
- Monster RancherMonster RancherMonster Rancher, known in Japan as , is a series of life simulation role-playing video games created by Tecmo . The series currently consists of fourteen games across different video game platforms, and future titles are planned...
- Monster Rancher monsters
- List of Monster Rancher episodes