Do Pokémon look like Digimon?

[Coolsteph]

THIS IS AN INTELLECTUAL TOPIC. POSTS CONSISTING OF ONLY "LOL" AND SIMILAR WORDS ARE NOT WELCOME.
Please stay on topic and stay objective.

Graph or chart-makers wanted. Venn diagrams may prove helpful.

Compare and Contrast:

Do Pokémon look like Digimon?​

Ever since Generation IV, (and maybe earlier) people have been complaining that Pokémon resemble Digimon. To objectively establish whether this has any merit, the common traits of Digimon must be compared with the common traits of Pokémon. If there's substantial Generation-correlated overlap, the "Pokémon look like Digimon" sentiment is true. If not, it is false. Any statement must be supported with quantifiable data. For example, anyone saying "Digimon are commonly orange" must support it with mention of orange Digimon, such as Agumon and Patamon. Anyone saying "Digimon look more hardcore" must establish "hardcore" traits and mention how many Digimon have such traits. Unprovable claims, such as "Digimon are way more awesome-looking" are not permitted, as they are unscientific.

-First, establish what makes a Digimon a Digimon. (design-wise)
-Then, determine if Pokémon have these features.

Please note that we're not trying to quantify all "Pokémon-y" traits. We are only trying to distinguish what constitutes a Digimon and if Pokémon resemble them. (I know some Pokémon and Digimon bear resemblance to each other, such as Latias and Sparrowmon, but more likely than not those are coincidental. This topic is not about pointing out which Digimon resemble Pokémon. It is about if Pokémon, especially Pokémon from later Generations, resemble Digimon as a whole.)

To keep this simple, (though this is only preliminary, which is why I may need help in making an article) I'll be comparing Pokémon first or formerly first in their evolutionary lines (this means baby Pokémon are excluded) with Rookie Digimon, one of the better-known stages (as specific Digimon in the anime series are usually in this stage when with their human partners) and roughly equivalent with Pokémon first in their evolutionary lines. Legendaries are excluded; Pokémon that do not evolve are excluded.

For the purpose of simplicity, (as well as exclusion for lack of analogues) I will not be including subtypes of specific Digimon species. (Metal versions, X versions, Vi versions, Dot versions, Armor evolutions)

Vein detail is not included because it is not depicted in the Digimon anime. If a Digimon was depicted differently in various canons, the first one will be represented. (For example, the Agumon here is not the Agumon design with bracers on its arms.)

Common traits of Rookie-level Digimon:

Mechanical features Drimogemon, Kamemon, Kokuwamon, Tentomon Exposed fangs protruding from both jaws Agumon, Aruraumon, Bearmon, Crabmon, Dorumon, Gizamon, Labramon, Otamamon, Palmon, Syakomon Stripes (vertical with tapered or jagged tips) Arkadimon (Rookie), Dorumon, Elecmon, Gabumon, Gatomon, Gomamon, Guilmon, Hawkmon, Kunemon, Labramon, Lucemon, Lunamon, Monodramon, Penguinmon, Phascomon, Renamon, Swimmon, Terriermon, Tinkermon, Toucanmon, Veemon Barring (horizontal stripes with square tips) Armadillomon, Bearmon, Kudamon, Lopmon, Monmon Helmets Commandramon, Kamemon, Tapirmon Swords Hyokomon Pants/lower clothing Flamemon, Goblimon, Kotemon, Lunamon, Neemon, PetitMamon, Shamanmon Three large forward-facing claws on the feet Agumon, Armadillomon, Bearmon, Biyomon, Bokomon, Commandramon, Dorumon, Dracmon, Dracomon, Drimogemon, Elecmon, Flamemon, Gabumon, Gaomon, Gazimon, Gizamon, Gomamon, Hawkmon, Impmon, Kamemon, KoKabuterimon, Kotemon, Labramon, Monodramon, Penguinmon, PetitMamon, Renamon, Ryudamon, Strabimon, Tanemon, Tentomon, Veemon Armbands Bearmon, Commandramon, Coronamon, Dracmon, Flamemon, Mushroomon, Strabimon Legbands Biyomon, Flamemon,Strabimon Head-wings (fins) Guilmon, Patamon Gloves Gaomon, Gatomon, Impmon, Monmon, Mushroomon, Strabimon, Tinkermon Bipedalism Agumon, Arkadimon, Bearmon, Biyomon, Bokomon, Burgermon, Calumon, Chuumon, Commandramon, Coronamon, Dorumon, Dracmon, Dracomon, Falcomon, Flamemon, Floramon, Gabumon, Gaomon, Gatomon, Goblimon, Gotsumon, Guilmon, Hawkmon, Hyokomon, Impmon, Kamemon, KoKabuterimon, Kokuwamon, Kotemon, Lalamon, Lopmon, Lunamon, Monmon, Monodramon, Mushroomon, Neemon, Palmon, PetitMamon, Renamon, Ryudamon, Shamanmon, Strabimon, Tanemon, Tentomon, Terriermon, Tinkermon, Toucanmon, Veemon, Vemmon

Common traits of Pokémon at the base of their evolutionary lines: (in Generation I)
(More data necessary)

Toes Three toes (forward-facing; no claws, bipedal only) Squirtle, Pikachu, Vulpix, Meowth, Psyduck, Farfetch'd Three toes (forward-facing, no claws, quadrupedal only, forepaws) Rattata, Vulpix, Eevee Three toe-claws (forward-facing, bipedal only) Charmander Two toe-claws (bipedal only) Sandshrew Three fingers (bipedal only, no claws) Squirtle, Meowth, Venonat, Psyduck, Drowzee Saucer-shaped white eyes with small, round pupils Psyduck, Magnemite, Shellder, Magikarp Exposed tongues Seel, Shellder Two teeth poking out from the lower jaw Seel Unseen mouths Caterpie, Weedle, Venonat, Diglett, Psyduck, Abra, Tentacool, Magnemite, Shellder (one can see its tongue but not its mouth), Krabby, (Bulbapedia has no pictures of it opening its mouth, and whether is has a mouth is not obvious) Omanyte, Kabuto

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Since some people think Generation IV and further Pokémon look like Digimon due to having spikes, here's a chart.

 

[Satoshi-chan]

I would think that one of the main reasons why you see Pokemon with higher detail (multiple spikes, etc) is because the designers are able to do more with the current handheld systems that we have now, as opposed to the older systems of the older games. With the limitations of the Gameboy/Gameboy Color, and even the Gameboy Advance, designs that we are seeing today would not have been possible.

Since Digimon seems more rooted in anime and manga, higher detailed designs would have never been a problem for that series, whereas Pokemon is a game series first, and an anime/manga second, so designs would be more limited to what can be done with the systems that the game is being designed for.

 

[Mythicalzoe]

Digimon:
anatomical detail

Pokemon:
Ignores anatomical detail

 

[coolcatkim22]

Some of the newer Pokemon are reminiscent of Digimon but only because they share the same style. When it comes to what the monsters are, the reason for those similar attributes are because some of the monsters came from the same source. Rather then the idea being passed from each other.

For instance: Some might say Kyubimon was inspired by Ninetales but in fact they were just both inspired by the legend of the nine tailed kitsune.

 

[Blaze-Boy]

Now that it is shown to me......they kinda do look a like....

 

[Midorikawa]

I don't believe so. The way many are designed are different from each other. Digimon for one has a tendency to be more detailed. You have to remember that both do draw inspiration from things in real life. To me Digimon and pokemon don't look a like, they are differently styled.

 

[Coolsteph]

I would think that one of the main reasons why you see Pokemon with higher detail (multiple spikes, etc) is because the designers are able to do more with the current handheld systems that we have now, as opposed to the older systems of the older games. With the limitations of the Gameboy/Gameboy Color, and even the Gameboy Advance, designs that we are seeing today would not have been possible.

Since Digimon seems more rooted in anime and manga, higher detailed designs would have never been a problem for that series, whereas Pokemon is a game series first, and an anime/manga second, so designs would be more limited to what can be done with the systems that the game is being designed for.

I don't understand how that answers the question "Do Pokémon look like Digimon?" Your reply, while perceptive, seems to answer a different question, perhaps "Is the change to more complex designs inevitable in Pokémon?"

Digimon:
anatomical detail

Pokemon:
Ignores anatomical detail

If by "anatomical detail" you mean vein detail, you might want to check over the first post more thoroughly. If by "anatomical detail" you mean something other than vein detail, I would appreciate reading your elaboration on that.

Some of the newer Pokemon are reminiscent of Digimon but only because they share the same style.

Is that claim quantifiable? It does not seem so. Remember, this topic is about objective analysis of what makes a Digimon a Digimon in order to answer the question "Do Pokémon look like Digimon?" not stating that Pokémon and Digimon look vaguely similar.

When it comes to what the monsters are, the reason for those similar attributes are because some of the monsters came from the same source. Rather then the idea being passed from each other.

For instance: Some might say Kyubimon was inspired by Ninetales but in fact they were just both inspired by the legend of the nine tailed kitsune.

While I am glad you understand shared basis between Pokémon and Digimon designs, this isn't what this topic is about. "This topic is not about pointing out which Digimon resemble Pokémon. It is about if Pokémon, especially Pokémon from later Generations, resemble Digimon as a whole."

I don't believe so. The way many are designed are different from each other. Digimon for one has a tendency to be more detailed. You have to remember that both do draw inspiration from things in real life. To me Digimon and pokemon don't look a like, they are differently styled.

I would appreciate it if you could quantify that statement. I don't quite understand what you are talking about.

 

[CrystaI]

Absolutely NOT AT ALL!!!

Currently I started in drawing fan arts, so I can just tell the differences between the design of Pokemon and Digimon.

Pokemon are overall had a "simple" design where you can draw it rather easily. If you look at the Pokemon's body like building blocks, their bodies consist of rather simple blocks without too much protrusions and small additional blocks. Really, the outline and contour of a Pokemon's body can be draw without lifting your hand for more than 30 times.
For the Digimons, their overall designs are rather complex and complicated. Especially Digimons that are above Rookie level, their bodies will consist of lot more "building blocks", different shapes and lines, which makes sketching and drawing rather difficult.

I do admit that Digimons at and below Rookie level does somehow have a "simpler" design (meaning fewer body building blocks), so it is artistic technically "similar" to Pokemon. But still, it doesn't mean it look like Pokemon.
Digimons contains may designs based on dinosaurs, where dinosaurs =/= dragons. Also their designs are mostly based on characters from myths, legends, religions, etc. Some are also personification of certain themes. The Digimons that are based on real animals and creatures are only a few. On the contrast, Pokemon gives rather an "animalistic" feeling. Though there exist human-shaped Pokemon, but their existence in the Pokemon World is rather animal-like.
Also, many Digimon contains weapons that are not part of their body. Those weapons are detachable and will not do harms to their body upon detaching. Whereas for Pokemon, there is no Pokemon that has detachable weaponry on their body. (Please understand that by 'detachable weaponry', it means non-regenerable weapons like knife, guns, cannons, missile, etc. It doesn't includes part of the body that are 'detached' through wears and tears)
Digimon of nowadays, especially those that are featured at and after Digimon Xros Wars series, they all have styles quite distinctive to the Digimon of olden days. How could I say it, it is like the new Digimons had body mostly in robotic fashion, or bodies with large amount of armors or weapons or other mechanical items, bodies that resembles inorganic man-made items, and very human-like human-shaped.
Also forget to say, most Ultimate level Digimon consist power that can destroy the world. Whereas for Pokemon, I guess only some selected Legendary Pokemon will have power to destroy the world.

The question of "Do Pokemon look like Digimon?" is not to be answered by what animal their designs are based on, and also not by just simple comparison of the likes and similarities of a few selected ones. They should be compare according to the overall design style, their battling style, and also their meaning of existence to their world.

 

[SirOni]

I wonder why you are omitting Legendaries form the analysis since they are the ones that are most often accused of looking like Digimon.

One argument I can add for the "Do Pokemon look like Digimon?" question is that as Digimon evolve their designs become more complex and detailed, especially if you consider the Baby and In-training levels. Though this point only works if comparing entire growth cycles is something you want to consider for the question.

 

[coolcatkim22]

Is that claim quantifiable? It does not seem so. Remember, this topic is about objective analysis of what makes a Digimon a Digimon in order to answer the question "Do Pokémon look like Digimon?" not stating that Pokémon and Digimon look vaguely similar.

While I am glad you understand shared basis between Pokémon and Digimon designs, this isn't what this topic is about. "This topic is not about pointing out which Digimon resemble Pokémon. It is about if Pokémon, especially Pokémon from later Generations, resemble Digimon as a whole."

Okay, no, no they do not. If they did Pokemon would probably sue.

 

[Owain]

^I find it pretty hard for either of those series to sue the other for such reasons.

Both Pokémon and Digimon are monsters, as evident from the ''mon'' that they both share, but we cannot say, all pokémon have a simple design, and all Digimon have a complex design, there are Pokémon with more complex designs and Digimon with more simplistic designs, I agree with @Satoshi-kun, Pokémon and Digimon are two different franchises, both based on monsters, but they're hardly the only ones with that designation, there's a whole category of series like them (Tame monster use to battle other monster and play in the relations between humans and their monsters), commonly called the Mon Genre.

tl:dr version: There's nothing defining what Pokémon look like and what Digimon look like, they're not the only franchises dealing with A Boy and his Monster, newer gen pokémon have more complex designs because the new game systems allow them to.

 

[Xolw]

To me, most pokemon(with some exceptions) are organic creatures. Digimon are data technically, and this tends to show as the evolve.