Since the beginning of time, there has always been the great debate of whether Pokemon or Digimon was the better franchise. The argument continues to this day, with both franchises silently mocking each other as they produce more content for fans to enjoy. Whether it be stellar games or fascinating TV shows with a plethora of theories to go along with their respective plots, Pokemon and Digimon have given us a lot over the years, and I think it’s finally time that I, the end-all, be-all of this these two franchises, decide which is better than the other.

Because we’re trying to determine which of the franchises are better, we have to look at them from different viewpoints, i.e. the different mediums that they use, whether it be video games, TV shows or movies.

Round 1: Video games.

First up, we have the different games that both have created. I can say without a doubt that “Pokemon” is the definitive winner in this category. Because the series started out as games back in 1996, they’ve had a lot of time to gain traction. These games have stood the test of time, and anytime a new one comes out, you can be sure that the world will be taken by storm. For example, take “Pokemon Go” and the “Sun and Moon” games that will be coming out soon. Discussions on these haven’t stopped since production/release commenced!

Unfortunately for “Digimon,” the games that have been made for it fell a little short. They aren’t nearly as iconic as “Pokemon,” and I’d be shocked to find people who are devout followers of the franchise solely based off of games. In recent years, the games have picked up a little bit. “Digimon Cyber Sleuth” for the PS4 and PS Vita is a solid JRPG (Japanese Role Playing Game) that has come out in recent years, but beyond that, the games are of very little common knowledge. So for the video game round, I believe that “Pokemon” is the winner.

Round 2: TV shows.

Both of the TV shows for these series are very near and dear to my heart. I’ve been watching them since I was a little kid, back when watching Saturday morning cartoons was an actual thing that I looked forward to. Now, these two series have very different shows. Yes, both have monster-like creatures that can potentially be captured or befriended, and there are kids that the shows are centered around. But as far as plotlines go, they are completely different, and this is where “Digimon” hits its stride. (Also, don’t even get me started on Ash staying 10 for all of eternity and losing every Pokemon League he's ever been in. This literally shows that there is no plot progression whatsoever.)

One thing that the “Digimon” shows have that “Pokemon” has always seemed to lack is an actual plot. In any of the given “Pokemon” series, with the exception of “Pokemon Origins,” which is based off of the actual games, there is no plot. Ash Ketchum wants to catch all the Pokemon but never does, and travels around a region in hopes of becoming a better trainer. There is no compelling storyline, unlike “Digimon.” The first series won my heart and attention with this idea that kids were sucked into a digitized world that had large monsters that could potentially kill the kids. So, with these themes in mind, I have to give Round Two to “Digimon.”

Round 3: The movies.

This is where judging the series gets a little tricky for me. I absolutely adore the early movies that have been made for these series, both being ones that I watched on VHS repeatedly throughout my childhood. The older “Pokemon” movies have really stood the test of time as some of the best to hit the big screen. And with the “Digimon” movies, they had that as well with continuity that followed the original series plot. While “Pokemon” didn’t have that, it never felt necessary.

The real diverging point for these movies has to come down to the ones that have come out recently. I’ll be completely honest, the new “Pokemon” movies suck. I know they’re made for kids, but they don’t have the same feeling that the old ones do. The older movies seemed to have something more than the new ones do. It was probably after the 12th movie that I started to see the dip in quality. Maybe it’s the plot, or maybe it’s the nostalgia coming into play, but I hold the older movies far above the newer ones. Also, apparently every goddamn Pokemon has learned how to talk because all legendary Pokemon can speak in the recent movies, which I HATE.

Now, “Digimon” has been making movies recently that are based off of the first “Digimon” series called "Digimon Tri," and they are absolutely outstanding. They’ve taken a much more mature tone than I anticipated, and with the characters having grown up, they face grown up problems. Characters worry about what they’re going to do with their lives, as well as how to prevent the impending doom of the world that they are currently facing. You know, normal teenage stuff. These feelings and the extreme nostalgia factor call back to the days when I would watch “Digimon” excitedly to see what would happen next. And for these reasons, I have to give Round 3 to “Digimon.”

Now, while I said that I would decide which franchise was best, there’s no way for me to say for sure. Each have different factors that make them both amazing, and it really depends on how you look at it. So now, I leave it up to you. Do you like "Pokemon" or "Digimon" more? Did you even watch any of the series growing up? If not, why? What’s wrong with you? Go watch them!