Digimon Adventure (1999)

Creator(s): Hiroyuki Kakudo (Director), Keisuke Okuda (Producer), Satoru Nishizono (Writer)
Air Dates: March 7th, 1999 - March 26th, 2000
Seasons: 1 (2 if you count Digimon Adventure Zero Two)
Episodes: 54
(source)

Digimon is a series that is very special to me. It's an action/adventure anime series about children getting paired up with digital monsters called Digimon.

There are currently eight series of Digimon: Digimon Adventure (THE original), Digimon Adventure Zero Two (the sequel season), Digimon Tamers, Digimon Frontier, Digimon Savers/Digimon Data Squad, Digimon Xros Wars/Digimon Fusion.

Besides the first two, these feature a different set of characters and have their own universes. I will be focusing on Digimon Adventure while also mentioning some of the others.


Digimon Adventure is the series that started it all.

Many people who've seen the show probably remember the English theme song. "Digimon Digital Monsters, Digimon are the Champions..."

Brings back memories. Am I the only one who used to hear "Digimon garla/garlic champions"? I knew what it actually was, but I just couldn't unhear it. I still hear it. Anyway, I personally prefer the Japanese opening theme:

As nostalgic as the English theme is (it has a special place in my heart), the Japanese one just sounds so much better. It just fits theme of the show better. With the English one, Fox apparently wanted something more hip and cool, or something. 

Anyway...

It is about seven children (an eighth child joins later) who get whisked away by a random tidal wave while away at summer camp. They wake up in the Digital World, a world inhabited by digital creatures called Digimon (short for digital monsters). They each get a small Digimon partner, who don't look like much at first, but after a getting attacked by Kuwagamon (a giant, vicious bug Digimon), they evolve (or digivolve) into their larger forms. They eventually get away (I won't give away how in case you haven't seen it yet, and are interested.) and try to figure out how to get back home. Throughout the season, they learn just how important they are and falling into this world was no accident. Here is the first episode (English dub):

I love the English version for the nostalgia, and I love the original Japanese (w/ subtitles) because I like to see it without all the edits and changes of the dubbed version. The show gets much better later on.

Characters

From left to right:
Top: Biyomon & Sora, Tai & Agumon (orange dino), Izzy & Tentomon.
Botton: Patamon & TK, Matt & Gabumon, Mimi & Palmon, and Joe & Gomamon.

The group of kids consists of Taichi/Tai, Yamato/Matt, Sora, Mimi, Joe/Jou, Koushiro/Izzy, Takeru/TK, and later Hikari/Kari. They are dubbed the Chosen Children/Digidestined, and they each gain a Digimon partner who must protect them. Respectively, they are Agumon, Gabumon, Piyomon/Biyomon, Palmon, Gomamon, Tentomon, Patamon, and Tailmon/Gatomon.

Each kid has a device called a Digivice that basically connects them to their Digimon partner and allows them to digivolve. Digivolving basically means a Digimon changes from one form to another. But, unlike Pokemon, they can revert back to their previous forms. Each form is (usually) bigger and more powerful than the previous form. They go from Baby > In-Training > Child/Rookie > Adult/Champion > Perfect/Ultimate > Ultimate/Mega. We usually see our main Digimon in their Child/Rookie form. The higher up they go, the cooler and more awesome the evolution sequences get.

Here's an example of Agumon going through all of his evolution stages (sorry for the quality, it was the only one I could find):

And if you have about 10 minutes to kill, here is the Digivolutions for all the main Digimon (Japanese version and better quality):

I get chills during the higher level sequences. They're just so awesome. Biyomon/Piyomon is my favorite Digimon, and I love seeing all of her sequences, especially Garudamon. So awesome!

Anyway...

Flashback of younger Izzy finding out he's adopted.

What I love about the characters, especially the kids, is they all have their own unique personalities and quirks. They also have their own problems they're dealing with. SPOILERS Izzy is adopted. He found out when he was younger (pictured on left) before his parents could tell him, but his parents don't know that he knows. Matt and TK are brothers, but they live separately with their divorced parents. Matt also struggles to be a good big brother to TK. Sora doesn't get along with her mother. Joe is the oldest of the kids. He's studious and cautious. He feels pressured to be come a doctor and live up to his older brothers. END SPOILERS. 

These are just some of the issues that are tackled in this series. I love this because it makes this kids human and relatable. I can relate to Matt and TK because my parents divorced when I was young, only I wasn't separated from my younger brother. It was still cool to see that, though.

Tai's Crest of Courage

SPOILERS Later, they gain these Crests, which represents their strongest trait, even though for some of them, that trait hasn't been "awakened" yet. For example, Tai has the Crest of Courage, but he soon learns the difference between courage and recklessness when got cocky after being the first to find his Crest. Mimi learns to be less spoiled and more sincere, Matt learns to be a good friend, Izzy learns how important his curiosity/knowledge is, etc. END SPOILERS

Basically these kids also "evolve" by the end through their character development. It's so amazing seeing the transformations they went through. I also love the overall theme of Friendship this show has. These kids who barely know each other (aside from a few of them who were already friends) become best friends, and gain even more friends through their Digimon, including other Digimon they befriended on their journey. This is probably the first TV show I watched as a kid that had such compelling characters in a children's show.

Digimon vs. Pokemon

All the people who cried "Pokemon copycat" have know idea how different this show is. The only things Digimon and Pokemon have in common are the "mon" in the titles and the whole kids battling with creatures. What sets Digimon apart is that the kids are chosen and they only get one partner that they bond with. Having a Digimon is special, whereas Pokemon are something anyone can have and battle with. Humans use Pokemon for their own benefit (battling, chores, etc.), while Digimon are friends for life. Pokemon battles for sport, while Digimon battles for survival. In Digimon, the characters actually grow and face intimidating villains, while Ash and co. are still the same age and hasn't really changed much.

Don't get me wrong. I liked Pokemon as a kid, too. But, Digimon drew me in more, and I still continue to watch it to this day.

Digimon Adventure tri.

As part of the 15th anniversary of Digimon, Toei/Bandai released a new series of Digimon "movies" that will be released in 6 parts. It's called Digimon Adventure tri. and it's a continuation of Digimon Adventure 1 and 2. We see all the kids are older, many of them are in high school, while the youngest are in middle school. They reunite with their Digimon partners and learn about a new threat to their world. They meet a new girl with a strange new Digimon. Part 1 "Reunion" debuted back in November.

Part 2 "Determination" was released last weekend. 

I've only seen the first one so far. I will watch the second one as soon as it's available for free on Crunchyroll. Right now, you have to have a premium account or do the free trial to watch it. However, they do have Part 1 available for free here. They have the Parts divided into 4 episodes each. From what I've seen so far, this is looking really good. The art and animation is just amazing, and it's really great seeing all the characters again after so long. 

Conclusion

Digimon continued on with Digimon Adventure 02/Zero Two, which was the sequel to the first season. It has a new set a kids teaming up with the original to defeat new threats to both worlds. From season 3 and on, there would be a new set of characters and a new universe. Until Digimon tri., that is. 

Digimon is a great show for all ages. It's got action, fantasy, humor, and some darker moments. If you've never seen it, then I recommend checking it out, starting with the original. While it's not perfect, it has a lot more going for it, despite it living under Pokemon's shadow. I hope with Digimon tri., it will help bring Digimon back into the forefront.