# Monster Rancher (TV series)

Monster Rancher, known in Japan as Monster Farm (モンスターファーム, Monsutā Fāmu), is a Japanese anime television series based on Tecmo's Monster Rancher video game franchise. It originally aired on CBC in Japan for two seasons from April 1999 to September 2000. In North America, the series was first licensed by BKN, Inc. and broadcast with an English dub on the Bohbot Kids Network, the Sci-Fi Channel, the Fox Family Channel, and Fox Kids in the United States and YTV in Canada. It was later licensed by Discotek Media in 2013.

## Plot

The series follows Genki Sakura, who plays the Monster Rancher video games. In the first season, after winning a tournament hosted by the game's creators, Genki wins a CD that unlocks a special monster in the game. However, upon inserting the disk into his game console, he is transported to a world of monsters that, like in the game, are given life by scanning special stone disks within temples. There, he meets a girl named Holly and her monster friend Suezo, who are searching for a stone disk containing the legendary Phoenix, who will save the land from the tyranny of the evil Moo. Upon attempting to use Genki's disk to release the Phoenix, they summon a different monster, who Genki names Mocchi. In order to free the land from Moo's rule, Genki, Holly, Mocchi, and Suezo set off in search of the Phoenix guided by Holly's Magic Stone; this leads them to meet Golem, Tiger, and Hare, who join them on their journey.
It is revealed that Moo is Holly's missing father, who merged with an evil spirit after being banished from his village. Determined to separate him from Moo, the group continues their search for the Phoenix, defeating Moo's strongest minions, the Big Bad Four—Pixie, Gali, Grey Wolf, and Naga—while helping and befriending monsters by unlocking Mystery Disks in hopes of finding the Phoenix. One of the monsters, Monol, tells them of a previous war between Moo and the Phoenix, part of a larger war between humans and monsters, who exploited monsters as workers and companions in a futuristic society. The war destroyed much of the world and weakened Moo and the Phoenix, sending them into a dormant state and separating their bodies from their souls.
Moo's body is found and merges with Holly's father. Soon after, the Phoenix's body is found and it is revealed that the five monsters—Mocchi, Suezo, Golem, Tiger, and Hare—are fragments of its soul. They say farewell to Genki before merging with the Phoenix's body to revive it and fight Moo; as they fight, Moo realizes that good and evil are inherently inseparable and that they, as representatives of good and evil, are doomed to perpetually fight. They seemingly die and Genki is transported back to the real world in the resulting explosion, comforted by visions of his friends as he returns home.
In the second season, Genki returns to the Monster World to revive his friends, who were turned into disks and separated after the fight with Moo, and competes in a series of tournaments against General Durahan's army in search of Holly's father. In the third season, they fight against Durahan, who has been possessed by Moo's soul. In the Japanese version, in the credits of the final episode, it is revealed that Genki and Mocchi are able to travel between the Monster Rancher world and Earth.

## Episodes

| Season | Title | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Title | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released | Network |
| 1 | The Secret of the Stone Disk | 48 | 48 | April 17, 1999 (1999-04-17) | March 25, 2000 (2000-03-25) | TBS |
| 2 | The Legendary Path | 25 | 25 | April 1, 2000 (2000-04-1) | September 30, 2000 (2000-09-30) | TBS |

### Season 1: The Secret of the Stone Disk

| No. overall | No. in season | Ocean's dub title/Translated title Original Japanese title | Original release date | English air date |
| 1 | 1 | "In the Beginning" / "The Beginning Is Now!" Transliteration: "Hajimari wa ima!" (Japanese: はじまりは今!) | April 17, 1999 (1999-4-17) | August 30, 1999 |
| 2 | 2 | "I'm Mocchi!" Transliteration: "Boku Mocchi" (Japanese: ぼくモッチー!) | April 24, 1999 (1999-4-24) | August 30, 1999 |
| 3 | 3 | "Guardian of the Disks" / "The Monster's Forest" Transliteration: "Kaibutsu no mori" (Japanese: 怪物の森) | May 1, 1999 (1999-5-1) | September 1, 1999 |
| 4 | 4 | "Eternal Worm" Transliteration: "Eien no Wamu" (Japanese: 永遠のワーム) | May 8, 1999 (1999-5-8) | September 6, 1999 |
| 5 | 5 | "Tiger of the Wind" / "Rygar of the Wind" Transliteration: "Kaze no Raiga" (Japanese: 疾風のライガー) | May 15, 1999 (1999-5-15) | September 8, 1999 |
| 6 | 6 | "Hare's Trick" / "I Am Ham" Transliteration: "Wagahai wa Hamu dearu" (Japanese: 我が輩はハムである) | May 22, 1999 (1999-5-22) | September 14, 1999 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Courageous Seven" / "Courage of the Seven" Transliteration: "Shichinen no yuki" (Japanese: 七人の勇気) | May 29, 1999 (1999-5-29) | September 22, 1999 |
| 8 | 8 | "After the Rain" Transliteration: "Ameagari no sora ni" (Japanese: 雨上がりの空に) | June 5, 1999 (1999-6-5) | September 23, 1999 |
| 9 | 9 | "The Iron Bird" / "Fly, Iron Bird!" Transliteration: "Tobe! Aian baado" (Japanese: 飛べ！アイアンバード) | June 12, 1999 (1999-6-12) | September 29, 1999 |
| 10 | 10 | "The Ruins' Secret" / "Icy Pixie" Transliteration: "Koori no pikushii" (Japanese: 氷のピクシー) | June 19, 1999 (1999-6-19) | September 30, 1999 |
| 11 | 11 | "Pixie's Defeat" / "Decisive Battle! Monster Battle" Transliteration: "Kessen! Monsutaa batoru" (Japanese: 決戦！モンスターバトル) | June 26, 1999 (1999-6-26) | October 6, 1999 |
| 12 | 12 | "Monol's Story" / "Thus Spake Monolith" Transliteration: "Mono risu kaku katari ki" (Japanese: モノリスかく語りき) | July 3, 1999 (1999-7-3) | October 12, 1999 |
| 13 | 13 | "Moo Revealed" / "Moo Descends!" Transliteration: "Mū Koorin!" (Japanese: ムー降臨！) | July 10, 1999 (1999-7-10) | October 18, 1999 |
| 14 | 14 | "Holly's Rescue" / "Evil Soul" Transliteration: "Jaaku na tamashii" (Japanese: 邪悪な魂) | July 17, 1999 (1999-7-17) | November 1, 1999 |
| 15 | 15 | "A New Departure" Transliteration: "Arata naru tabidachi" (Japanese: 新たなる旅立ち) | July 24, 1999 (1999-7-24) | November 3, 1999 |
| 16 | 16 | "Great Battle at Sea" Transliteration: "Umi no dai kessen" (Japanese: 海の大決戦) | July 31, 1999 (1999-7-31) | November 10, 1999 |
| 17 | 17 | "Underground Adventure" / "Ham! Come Back" Transliteration: "Hamu! Kan bakku" (Japanese: ハム！カンバック) | August 7, 1999 (1999-8-7) | November 16, 1999 |
| 18 | 18 | "Our Friend Henger Forever" / "Henger, forever" Transliteration: "Hengaa yo, eien ni" (Japanese: ヘンガーよ、永遠に) | August 14, 1999 (1999-8-14) | November 17, 1999 |
| 19 | 19 | "Suezo's Secret Weapon" / "Appeared!? Suezo's New Deathblow Technique" Transliteration: "Deru ka!? Suezoo no shin hissatsu waza" (Japanese: 出るか!?スエゾーの新必殺技) | August 21, 1999 (1999-8-21) | November 18, 1999 |
| 20 | 20 | "My Name Is Pixie" Transliteration: "Waga na wa Pikushii" (Japanese: 我が名はピクシー) | August 28, 1999 (1999-8-28) | November 22, 1999 |
| 21 | 21 | "The Mocchi Cannon" / "Exploding Mocchi Cannon" Transliteration: "Bakuretsu!? Mocchi hoo!" (Japanese: 爆裂!?モッチ砲！) | September 4, 1999 (1999-9-4) | November 23, 1999 |
| 22 | 22 | "Run, Tiger, Run!" / "Run, Rygar!" Transliteration: "Hashire Raigaa!" (Japanese: 走れライガー！) | September 18, 1999 (1999-9-18) | November 24, 1999 |
| 23 | 23 | "Don't Give Up, Ducken!" Transliteration: "Ganbare dakkun!" (Japanese: がんばれダックン！) | September 25, 1999 (1999-9-25) | November 29, 1999 |
| 24 | 24 | "Undine's Lake" Transliteration: "Undiine no Mizuumi" (Japanese: ウンディーネの湖) | October 2, 1999 (1999-10-2) | November 30, 1999 |
| 25 | 25 | "Warriors of the Ruins" / "Warriors of the Castle Ruins" Transliteration: "Haikyo no senshi tachi" (Japanese: 廃墟の戦士たち) | October 9, 1999 (1999-10-9) | December 1, 1999 |
| 26 | 26 | "Melcarba" / "Berserk Warrior Merkava" Transliteration: "Boosoo senshi merukaaba" (Japanese: 暴走戦士メルカーバ) | October 16, 1999 (1999-10-16) | December 2, 1999 |
| 27 | 27 | "Tiger's Battle with Destiny" / "Rygar! Fated Confrontation" Transliteration: "Raigaa! Shukumei no taiketsu" (Japanese: ライガー！宿命の対決) | October 23, 1999 (1999-10-23) | January 30, 2001 |
| 28 | 28 | "Color Pandora, Guardian of the Forest" / "Trickster of the Forest, Colopendra" Transliteration: "Mori no shikake ya Koro Pendora" (Japanese: 森の仕掛け屋コロペンドラ) | October 30, 1999 (1999-10-30) | September 17, 2000 |
| 29 | 29 | "Farewell, My Friend" / "Goodbye, My Friend" Transliteration: "Gubbai! Mai furendo" (Japanese: グッバイ！マイフレンド) | November 6, 1999 (1999-11-6) | September 24, 2000 |
| 30 | 30 | "Baby Bossy" / "Baby Boss Is a Live Wire" Transliteration: "Akachan Bosu wa Genki sha" (Japanese: 赤ちゃんボスは元気者) | November 13, 1999 (1999-11-13) | September 24, 2000 |
| 31 | 31 | "Amusement Park Ruins" / "Amusement Park of the Castle Ruins" Transliteration: "Senjoo no yūen chi" (Japanese: 戦場の遊園地) | November 20, 1999 (1999-11-20) | October 1, 2000 |
| 32 | 32 | "Holly's Million Gold Smile" / "Holly's Treasured Item" Transliteration: "Hori? No hoomotsu" (Japanese: ホリィの宝物) | November 27, 1999 (1999-11-27) | October 1, 2000 |
| 33 | 33 | "Battle in the Meadow" / "Duel at Susuki Field" Transliteration: "Susuki? Hara no Kettoo" (Japanese: すすきヶ原の決闘) | December 4, 1999 (1999-12-4) | October 8, 2000 |
| 34 | 34 | "The Town That Disappeared" / "Vanishing into the Wasteland" Transliteration: "Arano ni kie ta machi" (Japanese: 荒野に消えた街) | December 11, 1999 (1999-12-11) | October 8, 2000 |
| 35 | 35 | "Battle with the Big Bad Four" / "Final Decisive Battle with the Four Heavenly Kings!" Transliteration: "Shitennoo saigo no kessen!" (Japanese: 四天王最後の決戦！) | December 18, 1999 (1999-12-18) | October 15, 2000 |
| 36 | 36 | "Eve's Night" Transliteration: "Ibu no yoru" (Japanese: イブの夜) | December 25, 1999 (1999-12-25) | October 15, 2000 |
| 37 | 37 | "Holly's Happy Birthday" Transliteration: "Hori? No Happii Baasudee" (Japanese: ホリィのハッピーバースデー) | January 8, 2000 (2000-1-8) | October 22, 2000 |
| 38 | 38 | "Evil General Durahan's Challenge" / "Demon General Dullahan's Challenge" Transliteration: "Ma shoogun Derahan no choosen" (Japanese: 魔将軍デュラハンの挑戦) | January 15, 2000 (2000-1-15) | October 22, 2000 |
| 39 | 39 | "Goodbye, Baku" Transliteration: "Sayonara Bakū" (Japanese: さよならバクー) | January 22, 2000 (2000-1-22) | October 29, 2000 |
| 40 | 40 | "The Secret of Holly's Magic Stone" / "The Secret of Gaia" Transliteration: "Gaia no himitsu" (Japanese: ガイアの秘密) | January 29, 2000 (2000-1-29) | October 29, 2000 |
| 41 | 41 | "Tiger Meets His Match" / "Rygar's Final Day" Transliteration: "Raigaa saigo no hi" (Japanese: ライガー最後の日) | February 5, 2000 (2000-2-5) | November 5, 2000 |
| 42 | 42 | "The Warriors from Outer Space" / "The Warriors Who Came from Space" Transliteration: "Uchū kara ki ta senshi tachi" (Japanese: 宇宙から来た戦士たち) | February 12, 2000 (2000-2-12) | November 5, 2000 |
| 43 | 43 | "The Sand Assassin, Renocraft" / "The Sand Assassin, Renocraft" Transliteration: "Suna no shikaku Remakurasuto" (Japanese: 砂の刺客レマクラスト) | February 19, 2000 (2000-2-19) | November 12, 2000 |
| 44 | 44 | "Magic Stone Mayhem" / "Fierce Fighting! Gaia Struggle" Transliteration: "Gekitoo! Gaia soodatsu sen" (Japanese: 激闘！ガイア争奪戦) | February 26, 2000 (2000-2-26) | November 12, 2000 |
| 45 | 45 | "The End of Durahan" / "Dullahan Dies at Daybreak" Transliteration: "Derahan akatsuki ni shisu" (Japanese: デュラハン暁に死す) | March 4, 2000 (2000-3-4) | November 19, 2000 |
| 46 | 46 | "Jill's Icy Secret" / "Fighting, Hatred, and..." Transliteration: "Tatakai to nikushimi to" (Japanese: 戦いと憎しみと) | March 11, 2000 (2000-3-11) | November 26, 2000 |
| 47 | 47 | "Tears" Transliteration: "Namida" (Japanese: 涙) | March 18, 2000 (2000-3-18) | February 13, 2001 |
| 48 | 48 | "Blue Skies" Transliteration: "Aozora" (Japanese: 青空) | March 25, 2000 (2000-3-25) | February 16, 2001 |

### Season 2: The Legendary Path

| No. overall | No. in season | Ocean's dub title/Translated title Original Japanese title | Original release date | English air date |
| 49 | 1 | "Return to Monster Rancher" / "The Time the Door Opens" Transliteration: "Tobira ga hiraku toki" (Japanese: 扉が開くとき) | April 1, 2000 (2000-4-1) | September 13, 2001 |
| 50 | 2 | "In Quest of the Legend Cup" / "Aim! Legend Cup" Transliteration: "Mezase! Rejendo hai" (Japanese: 目指せ！レジェンド杯) | April 15, 2000 (2000-4-15) | September 14, 2001 |
| 51 | 3 | "Battle for the Rookie Cup" / "Fierce Fighting! Rookie Cup" Transliteration: "Gekitoo!! Rūkii hai" (Japanese: 激闘!!ルーキー杯) | April 22, 2000 (2000-4-22) | September 15, 2001 |
| 52 | 4 | "Saved by a Hare" / "Muha and Ham Visit!" Transliteration: "Muhat to Hamu sanjoo!" (Japanese: ムハッとハム参上！) | April 29, 2000 (2000-4-29) | September 16, 2001 |
| 53 | 5 | "The Powerful Wondar Brothers" / "Powerful Enemy Karakorum Brothers Exist!?" Transliteration: "Kyooteki karakorumu kyoodai gen ru!?" (Japanese: 強敵カラコルム兄弟現る!?) | May 6, 2000 (2000-5-6) | September 17, 2001 |
| 54 | 6 | "Tiger and the Mandy Cup Challenge" / "Mandy Commemorative Cup Stand! Rygar" Transliteration: "Mandii kinen hai date! Raigaa!" (Japanese: マンディー記念杯 立て!ライガー！) | May 13, 2000 (2000-5-13) | September 18, 2001 |
| 55 | 7 | "Disappearing Hare Line" / "The Bell that tolls for Someone" Transliteration: "Dare ga tame ni kane wa naru" (Japanese: 誰がために鐘は鳴る) | May 20, 2000 (2000-5-20) | September 19, 2001 |
| 56 | 8 | "Lost At Sea: Disappearance of the Mystery Disk" / "Disc Stone that Disappeared in the Sea" Transliteration: "Umi ni kie ta enban seki" (Japanese: 海に消えた円盤石) | May 27, 2000 (2000-5-27) | September 20, 2001 |
| 57 | 9 | "Furred Suezo's M-1 Grand Prix Hero" / "M-1 Grand Prix Ganba! Suezo" Transliteration: "M-1 guranpuri ganba! Suezoo" (Japanese: Ｍ-１グランプリ ガンバ！スエゾー) | June 3, 2000 (2000-6-3) | September 21, 2001 |
| 58 | 10 | "All's Fare in Love and Taxis" / "Run! To the Distant Shore" Transliteration: "Hashire! Haruka naru taigan e" (Japanese: 走れ！遥かなる対岸へ) | June 10, 2000 (2000-6-10) | September 22, 2001 |
| 59 | 11 | "Allan's Advice" / "Reunion with Allan" Transliteration: "Saikai no Aran" (Japanese: 再会のアラン) | June 17, 2000 (2000-6-17) | September 23, 2001 |
| 60 | 12 | "Winner's Cup: The Fickle Finger of Fate" / "Winner's Cup: Flaming Brow Hit" Transliteration: "Winaazu hai en no deko pin" (Japanese: ウィナーズ杯 炎のでこぴん) | June 24, 2000 (2000-6-24) | September 24, 2001 |
| 61 | 13 | "Pink Jam to the Rescue" / "Defeated Pink Jam!" Transliteration: "Makeru na Pinku Jamu!" (Japanese: 負けるなピンクジャム！) | July 1, 2000 (2000-7-1) | September 25, 2001 |
| 62 | 14 | "Ghost Encounters of the Pirate Kind" / "Retrieve the Pirate Ship!" Transliteration: "Kaizoku sen o torikaese!" (Japanese: 海賊船を取り返せ！) | July 8, 2000 (2000-7-8) | September 26, 2001 |
| 63 | 15 | "The World Monster Cup: Naga Returns" / "World Monster's Cup: Naga Returns" Transliteration: "Waarudo monsutaazu hai Naaga futatabi" (Japanese: ワールドモンスターズ杯 ナーガふたたび) | July 15, 2000 (2000-7-15) | September 27, 2001 |
| 64 | 16 | "Legend of the Great White Most" / "The Great White Legend" Transliteration: "Idai naru shiro no densetsu" (Japanese: 偉大なる白の伝説) | July 22, 2000 (2000-7-22) | September 28, 2001 |
| 65 | 17 | "Shogun the Mighty" / "The Strongest Warrior, Shogun" Transliteration: "Saikyoo no senshi Shoogun" (Japanese: 最強の戦士ショーグン) | July 29, 2000 (2000-7-29) | September 29, 2001 |
| 66 | 18 | "Brothers, in the Greatest Four" / "Greatest 4: Brothers" Transliteration: "Gurei tesuto 4 kyoodai" (Japanese: グレイテスト４兄弟) | August 5, 2000 (2000-8-5) | September 30, 2001 |
| 67 | 19 | "Golem's Cook-Off" / "Aim for First-Class Chef!" Transliteration: "Mezase ichiryū shefu!" (Japanese: 目指せ一流シェフ) | August 12, 2000 (2000-8-12) | October 1, 2001 |
| 68 | 20 | "Battling Granity" / "The Fight Against Venus" Transliteration: "Biinasu to no tatakai" (Japanese: ビーナスとの戦い) | August 19, 2000 (2000-8-19) | October 2, 2001 |
| 69 | 21 | "Mum Mew Risks it All" / "Mama Nyaa's Dangerous Bet" Transliteration: "Mama Nyaa no kiken na kake" (Japanese: ママニャーの危険な賭け) | August 26, 2000 (2000-8-26) | October 3, 2001 |
| 70 | 22 | "Legend Cup: Mocchi vs. Poritoka" Transliteration: "Rejendo hai Mocchii VS Poritoka" (Japanese: レジェンド杯 モッチーVSポリトカ) | September 2, 2000 (2000-9-2) | October 4, 2001 |
| 71 | 23 | "Legend Cup: Mocchi vs. Most" Transliteration: "Rejendo hai Mocchii VS Mosuto" (Japanese: レジェンド杯 モッチーVSモスト) | September 16, 2000 (2000-9-16) | October 5, 2001 |
| 72 | 24 | "Reunion" Transliteration: "Saikai" (Japanese: 再会) | September 23, 2000 (2000-9-23) | October 6, 2001 |
| 73 | 25 | "The Final Battle" Transliteration: "Saigo no tatakai" (Japanese: 最後の戦い) | September 30, 2000 (2000-9-30) | October 7, 2001 |

## Broadcast and release

In Japan, under the title Monster Farm, the series was broadcast on TBS for two seasons; the first 48-episode season, The Secret of the Stone Disk (円盤石の秘密, Enbanseki no Himitsu), aired from April 17, 1999, to March 25, 2000; the second 25-episode season, The Legendary Path (伝説への道, Densetsu e no Michi), aired from April 1 to September 30, 2000.
The series was brought to the United States by BKN, with an English dub produced by Ocean Studios. It was also broadcast in the United States on the Sci-Fi Channel and Fox Kids and in Canada on YTV. In the United Kingdom, the series aired on children's Saturday morning show Live & Kicking, with episodes also airing on CBBC (on BBC Two) until April 9, 2001. Repeats of the series continued throughout the year and early February 25, 2002.
ADV Films licensed the home video rights to the series and released its first twelve episodes on four DVDs. In 2005, BKN International A.G. licensed the DVD rights for 73 episodes of Monster Rancher to Digiview Productions; however, only one DVD was released. In 2012, the series was available for streaming on Hulu. Discotek Media licensed the series in 2013, and released it on three English-dubbed DVD box sets in 2014, and a single box set with the original Japanese audio subtitled and uncut on July 28, 2015. Discotek Media later released the series on a Blu-ray Disc set on May 29, 2018.