The inevitable anime or manga adaptation of Palworld shouldn’t be written off as an attempt to bask in Pokémon’s shadow. While the announcement by Sony Music Entertainment Japan and Aniplex makes their intentions obvious, a Palworld story doesn’t have to step on its inspiration’s toes. Rather, if allowed room to breathe, it might find its niche alongside Pokémon and Digimon.

The establishment of “Palworld Entertainment” makes clear that Sony wants its own monster-catching series, and Aniplex’s presence means that an animated adaptation is on the table. While one can cynically see a Palworld anime as just Sony trying to buy its off-brand mascots, Palworld as a game has already diverged from Pokémon in many ways, and those same strengths may help it stand out as an animated feature, if Aniplex is brave enough.

Palworld Can Be More Than Monster-Mascot Cash-in

Potential Adaptations Can Focus On What the Game Brings Than What It Imitates

Sony’s intent to expand the Palworld concept beyond Pocketpair’s first game seems like an attempt to get the same media, toys and pop culture presence Nintendo’s franchise has enjoyed for years. While it may be easy to imagine a future anime being designed to desperately cater to young viewers who watch Pokémon, Palworld doesn’t have to follow along. After all, the source game’s originality let it beat its allegations of being a cheap knock-off with some guns tossed in for shock value. Pocketpair offers an entirely different fantasy that could lead to a story unlike what other mascot series have.

While Pokémon and other similar franchises have elaborate and civilized settings to adventure through, Palworld’s Palpagos Islands has a rawness to it. More than just being a vehicle for crafting and survival in the game, Palworld fills the map with actual human bandits and poachers, (a lot more dangerous than those who appear in Pokémon), and tries to emphasize the danger of meeting untamed wild animals armed with projectiles. If nothing else, fans have a game, and maybe an anime, where the protagonist wades into battle alongside the pets. These are all unique strengths Sony and Aniplex could pay attention to.

Palworld Has What It Needs To Succeed as More Than a Knock-off

These distinctions may be self-evident, but it can be hard to see what Pocketpair has accomplished through the haze of Sony’s desire to merchandise its own monsters. Palworld, however, focuses on survival and exploration as much as it does its Pals, and that provides plenty of material for a strong narrative that’s nothing like the safe, weekly adventures Pokémon‘s shows specialize in, or the epic battles of Digimon. A more grounded, less friendly world with animals close to Nintendo’s brood is something fans have wanted, and an anime adaptation that delivers on that will only further establish Palworld’s broad appeal.

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  Palworld

  Palworld is an open-world crafting survival RPG developed by Pocket Pair Inc. and released in 2024. Set in a colorful, open-ended world, players will travel the land collecting creatures called “Pals” as they battle, build, travel across the world, and choose their path forward. From a ruthless creature boss to an anti-poaching activist hunter, players can tackle Palworld how they want.

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  Pokemon