The Digimon Adventure & 02 Movies - Retrospective Vol. 1 | Billiam

Brief Summary

This video reviews the Digimon movies, examining the original Japanese versions and comparing them to the Americanized "Digimon: The Movie." The video covers the Digimon Adventure and 02 films, highlighting the differences in tone, plot, and character development between the original versions and the edited American release.

• The original Digimon films have distinct tones and storylines compared to the Americanized version.
• "Our War Game" is considered a highlight, praised for its engaging plot and relatable challenges.
• "Digimon Hurricane Touchdown" suffered significant cuts in the American release, losing much of its original emotional depth.

Digimon Adventure (1999)

The first Digimon film, released in 1999 as part of a Toei Film Festival, serves as a preview for the Digimon Adventure series. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, it plays an important role in the series' plot. The film depicts Tai and Kari receiving a digi-egg through their computer, which hatches into Koromon. As Koromon grows, he eventually battles a giant Parrotmon before disappearing. The original version has a mysterious, slow-building tone, with the final battle feeling both exciting and terrifying, akin to a kaiju film like Godzilla, which was lost in the english dub.

Children's War Game (2000)

Also directed by Mamoru Hosoda, "Our War Game" is considered a standout Digimon film. Taking place during spring break after the kids return from the digital world, it involves a digimon invading the internet and disrupting computer systems globally. Izzy and Tai reconnect with their digimon online but struggle to contact the other children. Matt and T.K. eventually join to prevent the digimon from detonating a nuclear warhead in Tokyo Bay. The film is praised for its tension, heartwarming moments, and the relatable challenges of using the internet in the early 2000s. The combination of logistical challenges and a strong enemy makes the action engaging. The established characters enhance the emotional impact, especially during the final battle where WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon combine to form Omnimon.

Digimon Hurricane Touchdown (2000)

This film premiered shortly after "Our War Game" and was later released on DVD. It follows T.K. and Kari, who encounter a boy named Willis in America, who is tracking an evil digimon. The original digidestined are captured, prompting Davis, Yolei, and Cody to travel to America to help rescue them. They team up with Willis and his digimon, Terriermon, and discover that the evil Wendigomon is a corrupted version of Willis's other digimon, Kokomon. Wendigomon kidnaps digidestined, turning them younger in an attempt to recognize Willis. The original version is slow-paced and filled with quiet moments, with the action being more depressing than exciting. Willis is forced to confront the reality of having to defeat his own digimon, which has become a danger to others.

The Digimon Movie

The video revisits "The Digimon Movie," acknowledging its flaws but also appreciating its positive aspects. Despite being a disjointed compilation, it is recognized for its silliness, humor, and soundtrack. It remains a fun watch for Digimon fans, primarily due to its inclusion of the "digi-raps."

Revenge of Diaboromon

"Revenge of Diaboromon" is a sequel to Digimon Adventure 02, set three months after the show's finale. Diaboromon returns, this time sending smaller versions of itself through cell phones to escape into the physical world. While not considered a standout, the film features high-quality animation and exciting action sequences, such as Omnimon's battle against Armageddemon in Tokyo Bay. The film's shorter runtime makes its lack of substance more enjoyable.