[Digimon Podcast] LiT Episode 68 - The Ugly Stick Goes DigiMental

Brief Summary

In this episode of Lost in Translationmon, May and Jay review the Digimon movie "Battle of Adventurers," comparing the original Japanese version with the English dub. They discuss the plot, character changes, and cultural differences, and share their overall impressions of the film. They also discuss recent Digimon news, including the release of the first five minutes of Try Chapter 3 and the availability of spoilers.

• The movie combines elements from "Our War Game" and "Hurricane Touchdown," with a threat on the internet and a summer vacation setting.
• The English dub makes several changes, including altered dialogue, cut scenes, and different music.
• The hosts rate the movie a 6 or 6.5 out of 10, praising its cute moments but criticizing its weak plot and unnecessary filler.

Intro and Digi News

May and Jay introduce episode 68 of their podcast, focusing on "Battle of Adventurers" (also known as "The Adventurers' Battle"). They mention the availability of the first five minutes of Try Chapter 3 and advanced screenings with spoilers, which they will avoid discussing. They also mention a Vmon alarm clock video they released, which Jay dislikes. They announce their upcoming trip to Japan.

Opening Scene and Plot Setup

The movie opens with Omegamon fighting Apocalyymon/Mephistomon, reminiscent of "Diaboromon Strikes Back." The dub writers seem confused about the different Digimon series being in separate universes, as Omegamon references Apocalymon as the big bad from Adventure. Mephistomon spawns various Digimon, including Bluemeramon, raising the question of why he doesn't spawn stronger Digimon like Apocalymon. The scene shifts to Takato packing for Okinawa, which he is reluctant to visit. Calumon appears and acts differently in the English dub, being unusually silent.

Takato's Trip to Okinawa

Gilmon wonders about Takato's whereabouts in the heat. Takato is going to Okinawa to see his cousin. His mother mentions Takato's strength, while in the dub, his dad says Henry will be with him, which isn't entirely accurate. Henry is going to see ruins. The opening theme differs between the Japanese and English versions, with the English version featuring "word art" titles resembling a 90s sitcom intro. The credits in the English version are presented in Windows error boxes, foreshadowing the plot.

Similarities to Other Digimon Movies

The hosts feel the movie combines elements from "Our War Game" and "Hurricane Touchdown," featuring a threat on the internet and a summer setting with family involvement. It also has similarities to "Summer Wars." Rookie and Ranamon are seen in public, with Ranamon blending in as a cosplayer. Takato shows Henry a photo of his cousin, and Calumon causes trouble on the plane, while Gilmon is hidden in a large suitcase.

Airport Security and Henry's Plans

Takato has a comically large suitcase with Gilmon inside. The hosts discuss the plausibility of bringing a dinosaur on a plane in 2001, before 9/11. Henry is going to see underwater ruins. Terrymon says goodbye to Gilmon, with different dialogue in the dub. A TV segment features the "inventor" of the V-Pet, though he is likely just the business owner.

Meeting Kai and the Game Dev Guy

Takato meets his cousin Kai, who is initially chased by security guards. The game developer guy intervenes, saying children are the future, while in the dub, he says they're potential V-Pet customers. Takato's mom watches this on TV and calls her husband, with the dub changing her reaction to being clueless about what's happening.

Boat Trip and Calumon's Antics

Takato gets seasick on a boat, and Kai makes fun of him. Calumon jumps off the boat and flies away on a seagull. Kai jumps into the water to swim home, with different dialogue in the English dub. Takato pushes the suitcase with Gilmon, who complains about the heat. Takato collapses, and Gilmon pushes the suitcase with Takato on top.

Meeting Kai's Grandfather

Kai's grandfather is playing a snakeskin banjo. Gilmon catches a fish, with different dialogue in the Japanese and English versions. Kai's grandfather doesn't freak out about Gilmon, thinking he's just a weird dog. They mention the island's guardian, Shisa, with the dub spoiling that Shisamon is a Digimon.

Ruki and Renamon in Tokyo

Ruki's family is shown, with a dog V-Pet on Seiko's computer. Ruki's mom is in Paris. Renamon smiles at Digimon, and Ruki and Renamon run off. Renamon gets a giant axe through a card slash. The card slash isn't fully animated.

Karate Training and Underwater Exploration

Takato and Gilmon are led in karate by Kai's grandfather, which is cut in the English dub. Takato snorkels underwater, and Calumon floats on the water, getting his bum bitten by fish. Gilmon tries to eat an octopus and gets inked. Kai hunts and kills the octopus, which is cut in the English dub. Kai asks Takato if he's going to take over the bakery, which is not in the original.

Rescuing Manami and the Glitching V-Pet

A Digi-shark chases a girl, and Kai rescues her. Takato grabs her computer and gets wrapped in plastic. Calumon jumps around like a cat, pushing things over. Susie is playing with the V-Pet, which is glitching.

Manami's Flashback and Gilmon's Question

The girl has a flashback of her dog dying. Gilmon wakes her up, and Kai's grandfather says he's just a weird dog. Gilmon asks Takato if he looks like a dog, and Takato doesn't say no. The girl's name is Manami, and she's the daughter of the V-Pet creator.

Dinner and Calumon's Hyperactivity

They eat some food, and Calumon is hyper, with the dub saying he wants to play. He steals Gilmon's food and bounces around the table. They offer Takato different parts of pigs, which he doesn't like. Manami starts crying, and Kai's grandfather says they're all siblings and that emotions are good.

Events in Tokyo and Ruki's Situation

In Tokyo, car accidents are happening. Jen's dad says something is wrong with the computer systems. Terrymon is in the shower. Ruki is looking at a calendar, and her mom is coming home on August 1st. Renamon is laughing alone, and Ruki asks her if she just laughed.

Manami's Warning and Takato's Curiosity

Manami says there are a lot of Digimon on the island, and her father told her to run away from them. In the dub, Manami was told to take the laptop with her because the Digimon wanted it. Takato looks at her computer to see the V-Pet.

The V-Pet's Origin and Takato's Insensitivity

Manami explains that the V-Pet is based on her dog that died trying to rescue her. Takato is insensitive and says she has a V-Pet to replace him. Manami asks if Takato would be happy with just a V-Pet to replace Gilmon. Takato says that Mae was happy to have her as an owner.

Sleeping and the Arrival of Scorpionmon

Everyone is asleep, and Gilmon falls off the deck. Scorpionmon shows up, and Gilmon wakes up and gets ready to fight. They damage the house and are told to go fight elsewhere. Gilmon runs off to fight Scorpionmon.

Divermon's Attack and Shisamon's Appearance

Divermon crashes through the roof to attack Kai's grandfather and Manami. The grandfather tells the children to go, and he gets beaten. Diamondmon comes back, and Shisamon kills him. Takato slashes to life and uses error wind. Scorpionmon pulls out his nipple cannons and is destroyed. Shisamon pops out of the laptop after Manami yells the word "May."

Shisamon's Abilities and Manta Raymon's Capture

Shisamon smells Manami and knows her name. Manta Raymon shows up and steals Manami. Calumon says he's going to find help and flies to mainland Japan.

Ruki and Jen's Battles and Calumon's Speed

Ruki is fighting Bluemeramon, and Jen sees a boat and thinks Takato is on it. A big Lobster-mon comes out and fights. Calumon is standing on pavement and activates the evolutions of Ruki and Jen's Digimon, implying he's at both places simultaneously. The hosts calculate Calumon's speed, concluding he travels at least 1,200 kilometers an hour.

Omnimon's Intervention and the Digital World

In the dub, they're called Digi-Destined. A beam of light comes down from the sky, and it's Omnimon, who had punched Mephistomon through a digital gate. He beams Ruki and Jen up. Takato is on a little boat, reminiscent of the boat Tai and Agumon were on in a previous episode.

Finding the Secret Entrance and Knife Turtle

Kai says friends fight together and that he'll be his sidekick. Gilmon tells them Shisamon's name. They find the secret entrance and Knife Turtle.

The Underwater Base and the V-Pet Developers

Manami is held captive in an underwater base, overlooked by the man in yellow glasses, who speaks to the actual inventor of the V-Pets. They are threatened by some Digimon. Manami is in a cylindrical chamber, and laser guns try to shoot her. Shisamon busts through the wall and drags her out of the way. The hosts question why the V-Pet developers have an underwater base with lasers.

Racial Insensitivity and Shisamon's Evolution

The Digimon are trying to kill Manami in front of her father. There's a racially insensitive group of Digimon attacking them. Manami wishes to be saved, so Shisamon shows up and blasts through the door. Shisamon evolves and beats up all the racially insensitive Digimon.

The Broken Barrier and the Reveal of the Villain

Some water starts floating down, and Kai says it's the barrier they broke earlier. The guy who isn't the dad says no one will interfere with his plans, revealing that he's evil.

The Observatory and Omnimon's Departure

Omnimon delivers Jen and Ruki to them but does not come out himself. The hosts question why the developers of V-Pets have an observatory. The owner of the company becomes Mephistomon.

Mephistomon's Transformation and the Infected V-Pets

Mephistomon gets identified as a Digimon and begins a transformation. Shisamon evolves. In the dub, Takato says he devolved to Labramon. Mephistomon has the same voice as Myotismon in the dub. Ruki's mom's plane is having problems because there are dogs eating all their meters.

The Digital Realm and Mephistomon's Vision

Mephistomon blows up everything and takes them to some underwater place in some digital realm. Mephistomon says it's a world that he created and it's his vision for humanity.

The Clichéd Battle and Labramon's Sacrifice

They blow up a boat, and it falls on Mephistomon. It's the classic "you missed me" cliché. A big flaming oil tanker falls down on them. Labramon jumps in the way and gets hit and dies again.

The Vaccine and the Aftermath

Everyone dying releases the vaccine. Manami calls him May. The vaccine pops out and starts eating all of the V-Pets in the world and also all the Digimon that they created. Ruki's mom wakes up and says oh long flights are so boring. Susie says is it dead, and her dad says oh yeah don't worry it's dead.

Manami's Grief and Mephistomon's Evolution

Manami runs up to her father and starts crying because her dog died again. Mephistomon evolves to Gulfmon.

The Final Battle and the Trinity Burst

The children get their Digimon to evolve to perfect. The evolutions are weird. They combine cast trinity burst, which doesn't get named in the dub. They defeat Gulfmon and then they all go right to the surface.

The Ending and Credits

Calumon jumps into the air, and the movie ends. In the original, we get credits which are the photos from Takato's holiday. In the English version, they just recap other stuff in the movie.

Overall Impressions and Ratings

The hosts discuss their overall impressions of the movie. Jay rates it a 6, while May gives it a 6.5. They praise its cute moments but criticize its weak plot and unnecessary filler. They compare it to other Digimon movies, saying it's better than "Hurricane Touchdown" but worse than "Our War Game" and "Diaboromon Strikes Back."

Differences Between the Dub and the Original

The hosts discuss the major differences between the English dub and the original Japanese version. They highlight changes in dialogue, character motivations, and plot elements.

Digimon Designs

The hosts discuss various Digimon designs from the movie, including Depthmon, Akilomon, Scorpionmon, Sepikmon, Peppersmon, Ponchomon, Mephistomon, Gulfmon, and Kakumon.

Postmon Pat

The hosts read emails and messages from listeners, discussing theories about Digimon Try and other topics. They also address the controversy surrounding the character Jynx from Pokémon.

Weekly Wonders and Contact Information

The hosts share their weekly "wonders," discussing games they've been playing. They provide contact information for the podcast and thank their Patreon supporters.