How to Watch Digimon: Every Anime Series & Movie Explained in Continuity Order [Soundout12]

TLDR;

This video serves as a comprehensive viewing guide to the Digimon anime franchise. It covers the basics of Digimon, the dub versus sub debate, and a breakdown of each series and movie in chronological order, including the Adventure timeline, Tamers, Frontier, X-Evolution, Savers, Xros Wars, Appli Monsters, Adventure (2020), and Ghost Game. The guide offers recommendations for starting points and where to watch each series, providing a roadmap for both newcomers and longtime fans.

• Digimon is about connection and friendship between humans and Digimon.
• The original timeline for Digimon is known as the Adventure timeline.
• The dub versus sub debate is a matter of personal preference.

Intro [0:00]

The video introduces a Digimon viewing guide, similar to guides for Power Rangers, Star Trek, and Ultraman. It aims to cover every main Digimon series and important movies, suggesting the order to watch them. The guide also provides recommendations for the best starting points for new viewers.

What Is Digimon? [1:20]

Digimon, short for "Digital Monster," originated as a virtual pet similar to Tamagotchi. The franchise emphasizes connection and friendship between humans and Digimon, who are sentient beings. The anime series has expanded to include adults partnered with Digimon, making it a multigenerational experience. Besides the anime, the Digimon franchise includes video games, a card game, web novels like "Digimon Seekers," and mangas such as "Digimon Dreamers."

The Dub VS Sub Debate [3:46]

The video addresses the debate between watching Digimon in Japanese with subtitles (subs) or in English dubs. The English dubs by Saban Entertainment for seasons 1-3 (Adventure, 02, Tamers) are considered terrific adaptations for a Western audience, despite some edits for broadcast standards. The Japanese versions tend to be drier in humor. For the first three movies, compiled as "Digimon: The Movie," the Japanese versions offer the full story, though a redub closer to the Japanese version is coming in 2024. Later dubs by Studiopolis, after Saban was sold to Disney, maintained more faithfulness to the Japanese versions, except for Digimon Fusion (Xros Wars), which was heavily edited. Ultimately, the choice between dubs and subs depends on personal preference.

Digimon Adventure [8:13]

Digimon Adventure, the original anime series, began with a prequel film in 1999, focusing on two kids raising a Digimon. The series follows seven kids at summer camp who are transported to the Digital World and partner with Digimon. The kids, known as the Chosen Children or DigiDestined, have a special bond with their Digimon, enabling them to digivolve. In 2000, the film "Digimon Adventure: Our War Game" showed the DigiDestined after the series, dealing with a digimon named Diaboromon causing havoc on the internet. The series is available on streaming and Blu-ray, with the discotech media Blu-rays being the best versions.

Digimon Adventure 02 [13:00]

Digimon Adventure 02, a sequel series set three years after the original, features the return of the original cast, with T.K. and Kari upgraded to main roles alongside four new DigiDestined: Davis, Yolei, Cody, and Ken. The series expands the digital world and introduces DigiDestined from around the planet. The first movie, "Hurricane Touchdown Supreme Evolution," is considered canon despite continuity issues and introduces a movie-exclusive DigiDestined, Willis. The second movie, "Diablomon Strikes Back," takes place after the series and features all 12 DigiDestined working together. The dub version is streaming, and discotech media will release both English and Japanese versions on Blu-ray.

Digimon Adventure tri. [17:50]

Digimon Adventure tri. is a six-part OVA series that returns to the Adventure Saga but has continuity issues. It focuses on the original eight DigiDestined from Adventure, largely ignoring the characters from 02. The series introduces a new character, Meiko, and her Digimon, Meicoomon. The films are available on Blu-ray and DVD and include both Japanese and English audio.

More Digimon Adventure [20:23]

In the lead-up to the film "Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna," five shorts were released, providing interesting stories for Adventure fans. These shorts include "To Sora," "Hole in the Heart," "Medical Student Joe Kido," "The Desir," and "Jealousy Evolution." "Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna" features the older DigiDestined dealing with growing up and fitting Digimon into their adult lives. The film focuses on the original eight but includes the four from 02. Shout Factory released a Blu-ray with English and Japanese audio, and it is available on streaming. "Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning," released in 2023, focuses on the 02 cast and explores the origins of the DigiDestined.

Digimon Tamers [23:50]

Digimon Tamers marks a new timeline separate from the Adventure timeline. In this universe, Digimon is a card game and video game until certain kids discover that Digimon are real. The series starts in the real world, with Digimon emerging from the digital world. Tamers is a standalone series with no returning characters and is a bit darker than previous series. The first movie, "The Adventurers' Battle," sees the kids go on vacation to an island. The second movie, "The Runaway Digimon Express," is an epilogue that takes place after the series.

Digimon Frontier [27:24]

Digimon Frontier takes a different approach, with the humans themselves using Digimon's Ancient Spirits to become Digimon. Instead of Digimon partners, there are spirits, and the D-Scanner acts as their transformation device. The series follows a more traditional Digimon Adventure style setup, with kids getting lost in the digital world and fighting their way back. The movie "Digimon Frontier: Revival of the Ancient Digimon" is legally canon but has continuity problems.

Digimon X-Evolution [29:35]

In 2005, the film "Digital Monster X-Evolution" was released in Japan, depicting a digital world in chaos after the X Program causes a virus to sweep through, leading to the creation of X-antibody Digimon. The film marks the anime debut of Dorumon, who becomes Alphamon. The CGI film is set entirely in the digital world with no human element and ties into Digimon World X and the Digimon X Chronicle manga.

Digimon Savers [30:57]

Digimon Savers, also known as Digimon Data Squad in its English dub, returns to having Digimon partners and starts in the real world before going to the digital world. The main characters work for an organization known as DATS, which studies and deals with Digimon threats. The series features older characters, with the main trio consisting of Marcus, Thomas, and Yoshino. The movie "Digimon Savers: Ultimate Power Burst Mode Activated" is explicitly stated to be non-canon.

Digimon Xros Wars [34:09]

Digimon Xros Wars shakes up the formula by having multiple kids with cross loaders that allow them to command armies of Digimon and fuse them together. The series has three seasons: the initial Xros Wars, the second season "The Evil Death Generals and the Seven Kingdoms," and the third season "The Boy Hunters Who Leapt Through Time." The third season deviates by going back to Digimon Partners and introducing a trio of evil kids. The final episodes feature a massive crossover involving characters from previous Digimon shows.

Appli Monsters [36:53]

Digimon Universe Appli Monsters takes a different approach, with the Digimon being phone apps. The series features main characters with partners, similar to other Digimon shows, but the Digimon are based on applications like search engines, fitness apps, and camera apps. The series is only released in Japanese but is legally streaming on Crunchyroll.

Digimon Adventure: (2020) [38:44]

Digimon Adventure 2020 is a reboot of the original series, featuring the return of the original eight kids in brand new designs and a brand new story. The series sees them go to the digital world and travel around on adventures, but it doesn't rehash the original story after the first couple of episodes. The evolution lines are not the exact same as the originals, with new Evolutions added. The series received an English dub and is streaming in Japanese and English.

Digimon Ghost Game [41:03]

Digimon Ghost Game is a formula break, being entirely slice-of-life and monster-of-the-week. The series premiered in 2021 and is horror-inspired, with Digimon coming from the digital world to the human world and causing chaos. The series features the characters Hiro, Kiyoshiro, and Ruli, plus the Digimon Gammamon, Jellymon, and Angoramon. The series is streaming on Crunchyroll.

Outro [42:37]

The video concludes by noting that Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning is the last known Digimon anime project. The Digimon card game and Digimon Seekers are still providing more content. The video encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and leave comments. It also promotes channel membership, other Digimon videos, live streams, the Discord server, and social media.