Monster Makers

The Monster Makers (also known as the Wild Bunch), in the Digimon Tamers story universe, is an informal international group of programmers who had attended college together in the mid 1980's, and were responsible for the creation of the original Digimon program.

People
It included the following individuals:


 * Gorou "Shibumi" Mizuno (水野 悟郎 Mizuno Gorō): Continued on with the Digimon project after it was shut down in 1986. He later is able to help the kids while they are in the Digital World, as well as rejoining the Monster Makers in Shinjuku to help fight the D-Reaper.
 * Janyu "Tao" Wong (李 鎮宇 Rī Janyū): Henry's father.
 * Rob "Dolphin" McCoy: Alice's Grandfather, professor at Palo Alto University.
 * Rai "Curly" Aishuwarya: professor at Miscatonic University.
 * Babel: Real name unknown. African-American.
 * Daisy: Real or full name unknown.

1980s
The group attended college (exactly which is unavailable) together in 1984. They were involved in the creation of artificial lifeforms known as Digimon, as well as the creation of the Digital World. However, before they had any further ideas for development of the project, it was shut down by the university in 1986. Shibumi, the reclusive one in the group, took it upon himself to continue the development of the Digital World. It eventually evolves on its own, and Shibumi immerses himself into this work for the next twenty-plus years, developing new bridges between the worlds, including the Digivice and blue cards.

2000s
In 200X, they were reunited by Hypnos (in Episode 23) to first help protect Earth against Digimon (and, using their knowledge, to destroy the Digimon using their own data against them.), then to help create the Ark to bring the children back from the Digital World, and finally to help combat the D-Reaper. One of their greatest creations proved to be the entity known as Grani.

Other media
Chiaki J. Konaka also wrote a short story for SF Japan, Digimon Tamers 1984, to expound upon the role of the Monster Makers in the creation of the original Digimon.

Allusions

 * 1984 is the year that Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh, of which Konaka is an avid fan.
 * Curly's name, Rai Aishuwarya, is an allusion to major Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai.
 * The name of Curly's university, Miscatonic University, is an allusion to Miskatonic University, a fictional school that figures in the works of H. P. Lovecraft. Lovecraftian works also influence some of the major figures (such as the D-Reaper) in the the Tamers saga, and Konaka is also a major fan of the author.