I was talking to friend once and she asked if the symbol key-chain on my book bag was from “Yo-Kai Watch.” I said, "No, it’s from 'Digimon.'" She replied with, "Oh, there’s just so many things with like 'Pokémon' and 'Digimon' and 'Yo-Kai Watch.'" I asked her if I needed to make a guide for her so she could understand them better, so here it is, a brief guide to the world of “Pokémon,” “Digimon” and “Yo-Kai Watch,” from a fan of all three.
Plot
Each of the three have very different plots and themes associated with the games.
Pokémon: The plot of “Pokémon” follows the journey of the main character as they travel the region on a quest to become a Pokémon master by catching more than 600 Pokémon, defeating the Gym Leaders and the Elite Four and stopping some evil people from using Pokémon for evil.
Digimon: Digimon’s plot always seems to involve destiny and the battle between good and evil. Each season always features a group of Digidestined or Tamers who team up with the Digimon to battle evil Digimon or humans trying to either destroy all Digimon or use them for evil. The games tend to follow this too.
Yo-Kai Watch: Yo-Kai Watch’s plot is a mystery, as in you have to figure out why the Yo-Kai are showing up and stop them from causing mischief by collecting their medals and befriending them.
Setting
The setting for all three varies.
Pokémon: Takes place in regions inhabited by Pokémon, but inspired by real world places.
Digimon: Often takes place in real life places along with the fictional Digital World.
Yo-Kai Watch: Seems to take place primarily in the real world, but in a fictionalized version of that world.
Monster
The monsters of each are all extremely different yet have similarities.
Pokémon: Known as, “Pocket Monster,” Pokémon are creatures inspired by real life animals, mythology or items that are changed to resemble monster that both look cartoonish yet can be terrifying and often show what type they are. They can’t speak and are more animalistic
Digimon: Known as, “Digital Monster,” Digimon are monsters inspired by real life animals and objects, mythology and legend. Digimon are often drawn to show a progression from baby to true potential and can sometimes be overly sexualized or weaponized at the final stage. They can speak, they're intelligent to the point they have their own culture and they langue often humanized to an extent.
Yo-Kai Watch: Spirits often drawn as cartoonish versions of the mythical spirits they represent or some kind of personification of an emotion or habit. Some of them can speak, some can’t. They seem to be driven more by instinct and the need to cause mischief, but they can be reasoned with.
I’d go more in depth and mention even more things, but that would result in page upon page of detailed analyses and description. This should provide a decent guide for those looking to understand the basics.
