Couldn’t find the OP so that’s a trailer instead.

Another trading card game gets animated (see Mon Colle Knights), by the sounds of things this draws on the world of the cards, rather than make an anime about people playing the card game. Because it’s SERIOUS FANTASY and therefore doesn’t want to roll around in bed full of children’s pocket money.

Not sure why it got released in English given that the card game wasn’t out in the US. Is it that good a show that it was worth putting out without context?

Your second Satoru Akahori show of the 2000s. And your second show designed to sell a trading card game, Monster Collection. It actually pre-dates the Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters show by 3 months.

More typical than Sakura Wars of an Akahori script, this can easily be seen as a direct descendant of NG Knight Lamune & 40, with heroes sent into another world and an over the top, somewhat effeminate villain and his sexy henchwomen.

Saban adapted it for Fox, then it moved to Disney following all that general upheaval. You can get DVDs of it in the UK for 99p in the clearance bookstore chain here.