TLDR;
This video discusses the key takeaways from the Digimon Adventure Beyond short, which is envisioned as the final story for the DigiDestined by original series director Hidroyuki Kakudo. The short includes new evolutions, returning characters, and significant lore implications. The video covers the timeline placement, connections to TK's novel series, family cameos, the cloud Digivolution concept, Kari's connection to darkness, Arukenimon's return, appearances from sequel movie characters, the Dark Ocean, DigiDoubles, and the armor evolutions.
- The story is set between Digimon Adventure Try and Last Evolution Kizuna.
- TK's novels are based on the adventures he and his friends had in the Digital World.
- The short includes cameos from various family members and characters from previous series.
- Digivolution is depicted as data being sent from a "cloud" database.
- Kari is shown being attacked by a dark aura, possibly related to Homeostasis or the Dark Ocean.
- Arukenimon makes a return.
- Characters from Digimon Adventure Try appear, solidifying its place in the canon.
- TK is shown walking through a fog resembling the Dark Ocean.
- Multiple Hulimon are present.
- New armor evolutions are showcased.
WHAT IS BEYOND [0:00]
Digimon Adventure Beyond is a short story filled with new evolutions, returning characters, and legendary locations, all carrying significant story and lore implications. Despite being only four minutes long, it encapsulates many ideas from original series director Hidroyuki Kakudo, who envisions it as the concluding chapter for the DigiDestined. As of spring 2025, there are no plans to adapt Adventure Beyond into an anime series or film, but Kakudo intends to release it as a text-based product, similar to Digimon Seekers. Kakudo views Adventure Beyond as a dense narrative that spans multiple years within the adventure timeline.
10 TIMELINE [0:43]
The events in the Digimon Adventure Beyond short are set between Digimon Adventure Try and Last Evolution Kizuna, placing it in the mid to late 2000s. This is based on dialogue from Cody, who mentions being a high schooler, which situates the story before Zero to the Beginning. The presence of Agumon and Gabumon alongside Tai and Matt confirms that it occurs before Last Evolution in 2010. The narrative may also jump between different time periods, with characters in the late 2020s reflecting on earlier events.
9 TK’S BOOKS [1:20]
In the 02 epilogue, adult TK is an author who writes novels based on his and his friends' adventures in the Digital World. TK is shown to have written 14 books in his series. His latest book covers the incident that inspired him to start writing in the first place. The manuscript references a time when Cody, Matt, Tai, and their Digimon met a new kid with the help of their friend Yuri, which is then depicted in a flashback. This event was significant enough to motivate TK to write a 14-novel series.
8 FAMILY [1:58]
The short video features several returning characters, including Davis's older sister, June, working at a hospital with Joe. Another Keto brother, presumably Shin, is also seen at the hospital. Joe's other brother, Shu, is shown with TK meeting a character speculated to be Ruie from 02 the Beginning. Additionally, several members of the 02 world tour cast appear, including Mina, who was Yoli's roommate during the events of 02 the Beginning.
7 CLOUD EVOLUTION [2:26]
The Digivolution process in Beyond is depicted with a green grid, which is not merely an aesthetic choice but a concept director Kakudo has had for years. Kakudo explained that the Digivice sends a signal to a "cloud" database containing Digimon data. When Agumon Digivolves to Greymon, Agumon receives the Greymon data from the cloud. Kakudo used the short to visually represent this long-held idea of Digivolution.
6 KARI DARKNESS [3:23]
Kari is shown being attacked by a dark aura, which could be Homeostasis, who previously possessed her in Adventure 1999 and Tri to warn about the reboot. Alternatively, it could be a connection to the Dark Ocean, calling to her again. If Beyond is released as a text story, it might provide closure on Kari's connection to the darkness.
5 ARUKENIMON [3:50]
In the hospital scene, Jun appears horrified by something, which is revealed upon closer inspection to be Arukenimon. Given Kakudo's commitment to the timeline, this is likely the Arukenimon from 02. This raises the question of whether Mummymon will also return, as the two were closely associated in 02.
4 MOVIE CHARACTERS [4:11]
Before Kari is attacked by the dark aura, she is seen with Mako from Digimon Adventure Try. A woman resembling Maki Himekawa from Try also appears in the hospital scene. Some speculate that the mysterious person meeting with TK and Joe's brother Shu is Rui from Zero to the Beginning. Manoa Bellucci from Last Evolution Kizuna is notably absent. Mako's presence confirms that Try is canon within the Digimon universe.
3 THE DARK OCEAN [5:12]
TK is shown wearing a suit and rubber boots, walking through a fog that resembles the Dark Ocean from Digimon 02. While Kari might be expected to be in this location, it is possible she has been pulled back into the Dark Ocean, and TK is entering to rescue her.
2 DIGI DOUBLES [5:32]
In the final part of the short film, Kari and Yoli are seen riding their armor Digimon, Hulseimon and Nefertimon. The scene zooms out to show Nefertimon and at least four Hulseimon casting a digital net. The presence of four Hulseimon is unusual, as multiple Vmon forms were only seen in 02's final battle within an imagination dimension. The 02 epilogue showed that the heroes' children had Digimon in training versions of their parents' Digimon, suggesting that more Hawkmon and Vimmon eventually appeared.
1 ARMOR EVOLUTION [6:22]
Wormmon was always capable of armor evolution in supplemental Digimon media, but it was never shown in the anime. The short showcases a variety of new armor evolutions. Davis and Wormmon lead a group of land-based armor Digimon, Ken and Wormmon's Digi-Egg of Kindness evolution, Buchimon, lead aerial armor evolutions, and Cody and Submarimon lead a group of water-based armors. The land-based group includes Boarmon, Elephantmon, Orexmon, Lynxmon, and Bulmon. The aerial group includes Pipismon, Searchmon, Harpmon, and Thunderbirdmon. The water-based group includes Archelon, Seahomon, Depthmon, Orcamon, Mambomon, Mantaraymon, and Tylomon. In each scene, two of the partner Digimon from 02 appear, suggesting that the extra Digimon might be the future partners of the 02 kids' children.