The manga, first published in Japan by Kodansha, consists of 35 volumes. The anime consists of 51 episodes, which were first broadcasted on TBS from October 13, 2001 to September 28, 2002 but did not conclude the story.

The show premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States under the title Rave Master on June 5, 2004. TOKYOPOP publishes the anime and manga in English in the United States. Rave Master was first broadcast on the Toonami programming block of Cartoon Network in North America, then it aired on weekends on Miguzi until it moved to Sundays at 6am. It is no longer on the air. The English version of the Manga has proven to be popular because it usually sells well on North American markets and it always in the top 100 best selling manga of the quarter lists. The Manga was moderately popular in Japan, and its long run is evidence of that.

Story Plot

Main article: Rave Story Arcs

Characters of Rave Master (from left): Tanchimo, Plue, Elie, Griff, and Haru

It all begins in the year 0015 when a force known as the "mother" Dark Bring, Sinclaire, threatened the world. Shiba, the first Rave Master attempted to destroy it with his sword, the Ten Commandments. The resulting explosion, known as "Overdrive", destroyed one-tenth of the known world, and at the time it was largely unexplored. The "Holy Bring" or "RAVE", named after its creator using Etherion, Resha Valentine, using the first and last letters of her first and last name, which was used to power the ultimate form of The Ten Commandments was shattered in Overdrive, dividing Rave into five pieces. Shiba was able to hold onto the piece that was required to power the sword at all, but the remaining pieces were scattered across the world. However, Shiba was unable to destroy the Sinclaire, and only succeeded in damaging it.

Fifty years later, Haru Glory, a teenager living on the peaceful Garage Island discovers a strange creature with a small white body, dot-like eyes, and a huge drill-like nose while fishing. He names it "Shabutaro" at first until he encounters Shiba, who corrects Haru by calling the creature "Plue". Shiba explains that Plue is actually his companion and also a Rave Warrior, bearer of the rave.

Soon, Feber, a member of Demon Card, an organization that is attempting use the Dark Bring to take over the world, finds Shiba and demands that he hand over the Rave. Shiba refuses and tries to retaliate by using the Rave's power. It fails and Shiba is quickly injured by Feber's giant arm cannon. Shiba hands Haru the Rave and tells him to run away. Haru refuses and tries to help Shiba. With Rave clutched in his fist, he punches Feber. To everyone's surprise, Haru manages to unleash the Rave's power with this punch, defeating Feber with an explosion. Seeing this, Shiba realizes that Haru has been chosen by the Rave to become the second generation Rave Master. Thus begins Haru's search for the other pieces of Rave and his quest to defeat the Demon Card.