There are 2 Big Anime shows that are about monsters that you can tame and raise. Pokémon and Digimon. Often you may hear people say that Pokémon copied Digimon or vice-versa. So I scanned the 2 pictures of the first Pokémon and Digimon stuff.

You can't see the dates on these when they are this small. On the Pokémon box it exactly reads :

*© 1995, 1996, 1998 Nintendo/Creatures, inc./GAME FREAK, inc.

™ and ® are trademarks of America Inc.

© 1998 Nintendo of America

(This means that it was started in 95)

And on the Digimon it exactly reads:

CAUTION:

Battery harmful 

if swallowed.

© BANDAI 1997

BANDAI 1997

MADE IN CHINA

So that brings us to the conclusion that Pokémon Couldn't have 

copied Digimon because Pokémon was being made first.

© 1998-2000 Michael & Colette of the Pokemon Ocean