WAIT... Remember Medabots?

In the landscape of anime making its way west, we have another similar trope based cartoon that while still following the same old formula, Medabots paves its own path with great animation, awesome action and some really fun characters. Today, lets take a look at what Medabots was all about and what happened to it.
Written By: Jordan Fringe
Edited By: Jordan Fringe & David Strickland
Channel Art By: Jerry Meehan

[@JordanFringe94]

Thanks so much for watching! Which Medabot was your favorite?

[@theformerkingoftheprevious60]

ATTACK MODE METABEE

[@marcusyates3044]

Wait... Remember OK KO Let's Be Heroes?

[@mattterrell4304]

Metabee!

[@rakiahbaker5589]

First I've heard of this

[@Chadhall1988]

I think i remember this it's been years since i watched 🤔

[@Pehk]

Metabots is absolutely rad. Metabee's voice is iconic (:

[@ShiftingFlesh]

I second this rad nomination. Also love the pfp c:

[@TheEcoolarg]

In the latino dub he has Bender Rodriguez´s(futurama) voice

[@dcb99filmz]

Bro was also in Spider Riders as Shadow and Magi-Nation as Ugger... AND he streamed the Medabots video game once (look it up)

[@blackotaku4866]

Kekekkkeeeee!

[@HeilRay]

"Just like me. BENDER." -Robot made in Mexica.

[@craigbeilby]

The referee was my favorite part of this show. The gag that the same dude somehow showing up for every battle with some crazy grand entrance used to have me cackling as a kid. I looked forward to it every episode

[@Go4Broke247]

Came out from the trash bin

[@eathenalexander2836]

Facts😂

[@jonnnnniej]

I came to comment this! For some reason, I remember him most of all haha

[@LoveMyUnusual]

So fun. He reminds me of Icchan from Angelic Layer. 😂

[@yagami999913]

The drawing and animation aged so well. Makes me wanna rewatch the whole show again.

[@blackswelproductions3876]

@Over Starter your opinion don't force it into people's mouths this is his opinion and favourite show

[@JesusChrist2000BC]

All older animation ages well because unlike today they actually put passion into it. Real smooth hand drawn will never look out of date as it's the highest form of moving art you can do.

[@haezeushawkins436]

@@JesusChrist2000BC I hate that they all draw on a computer now it look so plastic I hate it

[@azureandnoir3274]

i did was worth it for the nostalgia i want to find the newer series for a while the old on was on youtube :)

[@jimmy5516]

I really dont understand how it didnt work out. This show was funny, it had great visuals and action and every character had a huge personality that stood them out on their own. That this only had 52 episodes and then 39 is really a big shame and i wish it would have continued longer. Maybe not as long as pokemon, but the original 52 episodes were just so good!

[@meijinx9673]

Because even though it followed the pokemon formula, it also didn't. What made pokemon popular worldwide was the release of the games and anime. Medabots only had 3 games that ever left Japan. Also, whatever issue the anime had with staying on one consistent channel.

[@jordannichols2457]

They had 3 seasons with pike 96 episodes and are up to about 12 games but 9 of those are in japan only

[@spliffsforbreakfast]

*THE REFEREE IS ICONIC* The premise of the show was very basic however the characters are legends. Human or robot, everyone felt real and distinctly fleshed out. I always thought it deserved more than the 4 seasons it got. I want a Medabot for Christmas 🥺

[@spacedawg3599]

I Mr. Referee will be referee!

[@charizard9470]

I loved Medabots as a kid. The referees dedication to the fights was inspiring. Lol.

[@thatguybrody4819]

he came in out of nowhere at every toss of the coin. you never knew where or how he would and it was awesome.

[@Brandon-ew9xx]

i liked the running joke with space metafighter x just walking into the scene randomly, then walking out just as randomly, after leaving some crazy advice, (he was simliar to tuxedo mask from sailor moon)

[@zellrang]

if the anime got anime got remade... even they got new main character... I want that same referee to come back...

[@willclark4449]

he had the most advanced form of observation haki. The ability to sense all battles before they happen. XD he has better prep ability than batman. fucking legend.

[@mattpryokra2245]

Hahaha yeah those refs went in pretty hard than usual 😂

[@danbaxter4260]

this was one of my favorite shows as a kid. i cant understand how a show about bringing your gun covered robot to school isnt popular anymore. the dub voice acting was fantastic

[@PenguinSebs]

My guess is that all the odd and mostly unnecessary changes in S2 pushed away a lot of folks from the franchise

[@stefankroon4615]

It all, as usual, comes down to publicity. It wasn't marketed properly. I didn't even know it got a second season, that's how shit it was marketed.

[@cyan-kai1512]

Honestly the GBA Medabots open world game is one of my all time fav game boy games. The story was fantastic, the battles were great, the puzzles… everything. Adore it and the franchise in general

[@TheRatedOniChannel]

I always found great the fact that, depending on how you act in the game you get an ending with a different girl, and even funnier, that you gain several female outfits explained in-game, you can even put them on as normal outfits at the endgame.

[@platinumangel7446]

I am amazed this wasn't remade. I saw on a stream that Medabe's voice actor is still up for voicing the character. Fantastic opening theme.

[@dr.wolfstar1765]

I would watch it

[@GojosBackHand]

When was this😐? I need to watch that stream.

[@dcb99filmz]

Maybe we can get him into PMEX Remix or something

[@gars129]

its a great concept. Heck, a live action tv series would be cool too.

[@byronrush9802]

It did get a second series but the fans didn't like it it was terrible

[@seawitch_hazel5901]

I remember REALLY liking this show when I was younger. To the point, where I’d get upset for missing just one episode. As if it created a hole in the story line haha

[@slavikman]

I know what you mean, us friends would gather to watch it togather and when they talked about it and after watching the next episode you could really feel a gap, fortunately after 3 episodes you are pretty much caught up

[@lizza3317]

There was an online that I played where you could build your own and battle haha

[@moddy121]

I still love how Metabee had such a fun and unique personality compared to all the other Medabots in the anime. Also shout out to whoever came up with the line: "Get ready for a Metabee-Bopping!"

[@HeilRay]

1st season of Medabots was godly. It had a anime dream team of talent that went on to make iconic anime and it showed.

[@williamthatsmyname]

Like what?

[@HeilRay]

@@williamthatsmyname kanji horikawa the production manager on evangelion and started the studio that went on to develop Spider riders and dot Hack. He’s a huge anime hitter that knows people and bring them on. People like director Tensai okamura, media bots was his directorial springboard from Evagelion and Bebop. Little witch academia director Yo Yoshinari. Check their staff list and you’ll see anime legends. After season 1, Ryota Yamaguchi left who was legend screenwriting talent for Cowboy Bebop, OG Hunter X Hunter several classic anime movies. Why the action scenes looked so eye catching then with the dynamic poses and camera pans.

[@JD-iu6rv]

I really adore Metabee’s design. It’s screams cool and classic. His voice was always cool too

[@cybershadic487]

this show was buried so deep in my memories for years i thought it was a fever dream. all i could remember was the a small yellow robot and a coin shooting out of its back. it was not until i was searching for an anime to watch that by chance found it again an was over joyed that it was real.

[@Kaizoku-o_PirateKing]

Loved the robot designs. Not overly complicated or static, very vibrant and smooth to animate! Fantastic video, thanks for sharing this trip to memory lane!

[@mattterrell4304]

I loved this show so much, I had so many toys. Mr. Referee was the best

[@kidprime6863]

Too bad they removed him from the final season

[@tkcritic7368]

I watched this anime when I was six years old, remembering small parts of it, I've re-watched the series and got a huge rush with the characters, animation, style and story, it's still as good as I remember

[@youtubestudiosucks978]

It's on youtube, full episodes

[@FlyForAWhiteTy]

My vibe

[@slavikman]

@@youtubestudiosucks978 we need more heroes like you, but doesn't that mean that there's a licensing problem? I mean it's free on KZbin like many other shows that their license got dropped by the studio or the studio was closed

[@Dubb1000]

I'm so glad Medabots is gettin' shown love. I absolutely adore this anime still to this day (even though I'm 35 years old now) The comedy is this gem never fails to have me laughing like the kid I was when I first viewed the anime. Metabee is such an awesome character, from his attitude, to his dialogue and catchphrase. I can't say I'm a fan of season 2, or the sequel to this anime. I've not seen much from it, I just remember Metabee rollin' around like some sort of RC car, and that put me all the way off, maybe I ought to give it a fair shot. Thanks for uploading this video dude, you rock!

[@trialzeez8742]

I only played 2 medabots games, I really loved them. The aspect of building your very own obscured bot with various parts was so appealing. The show was great too, seeing the development between metabee and ikki's relationship and all the different type of builds they faced was just amazing. Would love it to return in some capacity.

[@DarkenEdgez]

This was such an underrated show, something about Metabee's design always looked so fricken cool to me. Can't forget how badass/hilarious he was as well. Can't wait to see what other gems are left this Fringemas!

[@pn2294]

Beetles are awesome.

[@izsan9070]

@@pn2294 Metabee, Rokusho and Arcbeetle. 🪲

[@JoeSoSick]

I want a freaking reboot of this anime!

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

no no no just make a blue-ray an find behind the scenes an staff interviews like was done for Irresponsible Captain Tylor

[@oneartform01]

A new game would be nice, but I would love a reboot with O.G. cast maybe

[@MultiWilliam25]

They sorta did, it was like a sequel series but it was really bad, like they just dropped characters out of nowhere and it was not liked by a majority of fans.

[@2way93]

That and some model kits that can be mashed together

[@Mnemoniforma9.00]

I mean, the game series is still going strong in Japan as a mobile gacha. Hell, they just did a crossover w/ MMBN and now we have freaking Bass GS and Serenade Medabots!

[@yannickblier4907]

I wish they would continue this series, it was one of my favorite shows back in the days

[@Gobutterfingers16]

I remember being really into making my own little booklets and sketch pads while I was addicted to this anime as a kid, so I made this little handbook and would list and draw a medabot everytime I watched a new ep (like a manual pokedex lol)! I remember my mom and brother would help me with it from time to time 🤣 gosh, I'm so thankful for my supportive family HAHAH

[@tuvillo]

This show somehow didn't recycle animations like all the other shows did, and a ton of the people on it became huge in the industry today.

[@Vash.Baldeus]

That's how you become someone huge in an industry, you make something others do not do.

[@proto6948]

I remember playing the GBA game as a kid but even moreso, I remember that literally no one else I knew had ever heard of it. It's a shame because I really loved the game and how you could customize all the robots builds and everything. I want this to come back

[@syabilaazri7834]

I remember playing the GBA game but never finish it because during the air ship level, i missing a part during one of the door, make me stuck on the game.....

[@brandansmith4563]

Just finished saying this to my friend. I love the show and GBA game. I wish they would translate the games at least. Rebooting would be awesome!

[@shadowaspiration]

I am so happy you covered this. I still have the Metabee and Warbandit toy from my childhood. I have vivid memories of going to kb toys in the mall with my sister and buying them with the money I saved up every so often.

[@malicemike6875]

There's something about 90's anime that's so pleasing to the eye. Idk if it's because I grew up with it but damn bro it's like kind of fuzzy but can be so detailed in certain aspects.

[@bangus978]

The intro to this show is so iconic. Even years later it still gets me hyped

[@austinator1318]

Not only do I remember Medabots, I loved this show so much back when it was still airing, and even still play the games to this day semi-frequently.

[@sayhuoquan5667]

With a slightly deeper voice, you could sound like Dr Aki

[@thelooker5651]

I remember buying a model og rakusho and played the medabots rakusho version I finish the game it was so hard :(

[@austinator1318]

@@thelooker5651 for the first year or two I hadn’t even heard of the Metabee version, and I struggled with Rokusho until I understood the mechanics! Such a good game, needs to be brought back out west for sure!

[@austinator1318]

@@sayhuoquan5667 new vocal goals acquired

[@sillithebunny2775]

@@austinator1318 same 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@happyabbyarts]

This was definitely one of my fav shows as a kid, I designed my own medabots, bought the trading cards (I still own a Black Beetle holo) and bought the medabot toys. Which were especially cool, cause you could mix and match the different figures parts to create your own medabot with upgrades. I found some parts recently. Really wished my kid self knew I was gonna be wanting these still. Ah well.

[@Kagiso22]

I legit forgot that this show even existed until I saw your thumbnail. Weird how you can enjoy a show as a kid and end up forgetting it even existed. Crazy stuff

[@logandavis_lttf4118]

I've never been so excited to watch a video! This show was my childhood! Thanks Jordan Fringe!

[@SwiftGundam]

Loved watching the show. Ikki’s and Metabee’s dynamic was a fun highlight. Friends so alike that they oftentimes hated each other. Always makes me smile. Had the video games, still do I think.

[@orlandorolon7338]

I forgot about medabots for so long until I found another video about it I forgot how much I loved it!

[@PsycheTrance65]

I LOVED Medabots as a kid. Imagine my surprise finding a model kit years later... Its how I found out that Medabots still has some sort of presence in Japan. I've already put together the Metabee model kit and I have Rokusho waiting to be built as well. I do kinda wish the model kit that comes with a Tinpet was still a thing. I had an Arcbeetle one years ago but hes now missing parts and the tiny medal :(

[@adrielisaacs9228]

I have never watched Medabots the series, but I LOVED the games for GBA growing up. Great video dude!

[@darklink3235]

I just rewatched this a month ago an Amazon. I could have sworn there were more episodes, but I always loved this show

[@OGN123]

How could I forget? Top tier show - along with Beyblade this was my jam. I've gone back and re-watched them both a couple of times as an adult, and I still feel the same way.

[@cesarsuarez4869]

I really enjoy that you put the ads as if I was watching the actual tv show with the “we’ll be right back” clips, kudos

[@Scorpiofrfr]

I loved this anime growing up. It had the best animation I had seen at the time.

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

The fact everyone has a arc and have a lot of personality on top of a big plotline is amazing loved it an season 2 is far less that but still really gun

[@HeilRay]

It was a huge drop off cause a lot of the talent moved on to make some amazing anime.

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

@@HeilRay yup but still very fun like many other shows like it haha I like the episode where Ikki unknowingly takes crime evidence across town

[@ravajbains8672]

I remember getting back from my summer job to watch it every evenings, it was just fun to watch. Oh the nostalgia lol

[@shineproductions4488]

This was actually one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. Hence why I clicked the video and am now following. Great video

[@Giffsen]

Ironically it was one of the few mon shows that actually had world building on it at the time and the mangas are hilarious too. Not to mention the series is pretty alive and well...in Japan.

[@kylenguyen7371]

"... In Japan." I read this in Edd's voice, from the sumo plot of "Ed, Edd, & Eddy".

[@Bennythejet55]

Man, my earliest memories of this show was waking up before school at 4am to watch this because for some reason, they wouldn't air it in a reasonable time slot in my area. I recently blew through the series again and I loved it at 32 just as much as I did at 13. I even have a Metabee model and an Arcbeetle model straight from Japan. This show is the best, and I want more.

[@KingArtoriusTV]

Have watched and rewatched the whole thing like 4 times.. Love it

[@Qu4resma]

Medabots was amazing! I even ran a TTRPG based on with with some friends, we would do many battles and create new robots using the parts that we won in previous battles. It was hella fun back then!

[@soulvagabond9655]

I love this show. It had it's 25th anniversary last month. Time sure fly's

[@dragonfaiyah]

I cant believe the world forgot about this!! I was so obsessed with it as a kid, i even drew my own medabots and tried to make OCs for it. I even started cooking up some fan headcanons about bigger matters like what happens when they "die" if thats possible (i dont recall if it was ever tackled in the show haha) id be so onboard with the franchise continuing.

[@valren01]

Man I love Medabot a lot! Thanks for bringing up my childhood memories!

[@BryGuyJohn]

There were a LOT of super cool but short-lived anime and animated series in the late 90s/early 00s. Medabots was one of my favorites. It was PERFECT for toys too.

[@ryantannar5301]

I had completely forgotten about this but seeing the thumbnail brought it back instantly

[@leighdavies1532]

forgotten gem. wow, this brought back memories, used to love this show, you keep making videos with the forgotten but golden toons

[@josefinejepsen1748]

One of my earliest memories watching a show that was "clearly not made in the west" was Medabots and I consider it my first anime. It holds a very special place in my heart

[@robyhughes91]

I loved this show as a kid! I still do! The theme is pure hype!

[@kidcae]

New to the channel. Was searching up Medabots. Great video! I have a massive collection of Medabots stuff and being 30 this is PRIME nostalgia for me 😊

[@bri9htjade]

This apperead on my timeline after I jist finished Angelic Layer! I remember watchinh this anime and ofc I love kt so much. Ikki and Medabee is so lovable as the main characters. They also remind me to how Misaki and Hikaru's relationship in Angelic Layer since both related to toys. I do hope we have this kind of toys in the future back in the days when i watched this lmao. Love your video!

[@Vyhox2000]

One of the coolest moments of the show is when Metabee jumped right into a beam attack, saying "Booyah" to punch the enemy in the face

[@RoninCatholic]

I loved this show! I still very distinctly remember the episode where Ikki and Metabee befriend a kid and his bot Cyandog who constantly lose fights they get into. Ikki realizes that the issue is that Cyandog is fully equipped with machinegunner parts, but his medal is a monkey so his brain is programmed for close-quarters grappling. Changing the medal and keeping the robot parts as they are is out of the question, since the medal is the brain and that's where the friendship with his human is, so instead they get a used giant crab claw to replace one of the arm guns and he becomes a passable but unexceptional fighter!

[@allenhatton6741]

easily one of my favorites as a kid and still rewatch it to this day

[@jackadam01]

Memory unlocked 🔓 that's how I feel with most of the videos I watch on your channel. I can't believe how many past cartoons I've completely forgotten about.

[@WilL-eo5cz]

I randomly thought about this show not too long ago .. time to re-watch it for the first time in over 15 years

[@Araraki-Itto1]

Was wondering when you'd tackle this one. I feel like no one talks about this show anymore and i get it's old but it was pretty freaking good.

[@TheGamelyst]

I loved this show when I was kid, always wished we had more of it.

[@bryanallen261]

I used to love the toys! I mixed and matched them to make so many cool Medabots back when I was a kid. Forgot about this show until I saw your video

[@xboxcrusher]

I loved this show as a kid, it really was just a blast to watch. All the characters had interesting personalities, and it was fun getting to see all the new Medabots that would feature in every episode.

[@Parietal-Polymath]

Not gonna lie, i rewatched this a few months ago and it still holds up REALLY well. to the point that i just let the episodes run back to back for like 5-6 hours. You know it holds up when you dont want to turn it off.

[@seekerofthetruths]

Thanks for reminding me of this. I genuinely enjoyed this show as a kid.

[@4545awesomeness]

I remember as a kid going to a goodwill and picking out the metabee toy in this bin of toys that were already opened/assembled. I picked him out cause he looked really cool. I never found out what it was from but he was one of my favorite toys. This video just popped up in my feed and I’m so glad I found it.

[@redgrave4492]

I loved this show so much as a kid. I hope I can get around to rewatching it sometime soon, it looks like it still holds up.

[@DarkestVoid]

I’m SO happy you made a video on Medabots!!! I only ever had a dvd that had a few episodes on it when I was little so I didn’t get to watch much but I loved the show so much.

[@TheMrSwampert]

I used to watch this in Mexico as a kid, and looking back at it the animation is so ahead of its time. I remember collecting the Tazos in bags of chips, I wish I had held on to some. Great great show.

[@Anthonyh723]

i played the crap out of the gameboy game for this as a kid and have thought about it a few times without remembering the name. thank you so much for popping up on my recommended!

[@crystalkirby]

Having earlier this year rewatched the show for like the 4th time, the original series holds up SO well! Everything about it is fantastic, and being from the UK the whole series actually aired on Fox Kids at the time, even when only watching it on the weekends. It truly is a blessed anime from the writing, voice acting, and man if you look at the animators for the series it's NUTS to see who they are and where they went! 10/10 anime, and if you've not watched it please do!

[@zachary616]

I had forgotten all about this show. Seeing these characters instantly brought me back and reminded me of the toys I had

[@OtsileM]

Man I loved this show. Good video, subscribed.

[@enriquemarquez2589]

Thanks to bring back memories of metabots because when I was a child I used to watch it on Fox kids on Saturday mornings and thank you.

[@ashleywenner1050]

I forgot all about this show, I remember being into it as a kid. Thanks for making me remember this one :)

[@martinricci8454]

I've been waiting for you to do Medabots, so many fond memories of this series. I still play the games when I can, really wish the newer ones would get translated.

[@Bloodtoxx]

Woah, I just randomly thought about this show yesterday. Loved it in my childhood. Thinking about it made me think about other anime around that time. Zatch Bell! was also really fun. Early 2000s anime was GOAT.

[@brettwalker9808]

Dude Medabots was awesome! The show, videogames, and the little figurines. I have no clue why it wasn’t more popular.

[@angachadre]

Literally one of my favorite childhood shows

[@ultimatelearningexperience9547]

i just want to say thank you for creating such incredible videos that remind me my childhood was filled with such an amazing culmination of characters, stories, and nostalgia. Keep up the great work, and happy Fringemas!

[@JordanFringe94]

Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching! Merry Fringemas!

[@jerryandmarie9660]

This is amazing. Thank you for sparking a memory. I had two toys as a kid. Was so fun.

[@ShadowDaNet]

I tried to pull this out of my hidden memories a little bit ago and couldn't. Thank you!!!

[@Skvalpenotta]

I absolutely loved this show as a kid. Would like to find it and watch it again, this time from start to finish, since I missed out on a lot of episodes when it aired on TV

[@michaeloden4561]

I’m 29 now and I still remember this show,😢 how times fly but it was awesome

[@seniort4490]

One of the best anime I watched when I was younger with, YuGiOh, Beyblade and Pokèmon. You just took me back to childhood

[@PaKeTeMaTe18]

I would love to see and updated version of this anime, really enjoyed it as a kid.

[@_Moth_.]

This series has been in the back of my mind for literal decades and I could never remember the name. Thanks JordanFringe94!

[@dopphilord]

This series let a strong mark on my imagination and my childhood. Definitely into my golden book!

[@coderaccoon6061]

I really hope one day this series just explodes back on the scene. I loved it and still do.

[@Im_SimonM]

OHHHHHH MY GOD I FORGOT ABOUT THIS SHOW?!?! I WATCHED IT SO MUCH. Thanks for reminding me. Great video.

[@Randomark3087]

I always loved this show! I remember when it first debuted. I recorded a bunch of the episodes on a vhs tape. I still have a lot of the toys too.

[@ArticulatedDoom]

This was one of my favorites. Sucks they never had consistent airings

[@benmunoz2766]

I used to have to adjust my Grandma's rabbit ear tv antenna to get a good picture when this show would come on, on Saturday mornings. Simpler times I tell you, I just now turned thirty remembering this show.

[@syah5146]

Jordan, thank you for making this channel haha. you make my memory refresh all the goods from old days. now i'm a depressed engineer with a half broken car.

[@alexanders1859]

Oh man I loved this series and now I cant stop thinking about the other robot shows I loved ;_; Although a completely different vibe, Big Guy and Rusty was another one I loved as a kid.

[@nonaes]

I absolutely loved this series. The anime had all the things you said and it made it so enjoyable to watch