TLDR;
This episode of the "With the Will" podcast covers a wide range of Digimon news, including updates on the Liberator web novel and comic, the 28th anniversary of Digimon, the Time Stranger game, new Digimon pendulums, and various merchandise releases. The hosts also discuss the Tolway summer anime streams, the Yamato album, and the latest card game reveals.
- Liberator web novel and comic updates
- Digimon's 28th anniversary and related art
- Time Stranger game details, DLC, and PC specs
- New Digimon pendulums and the introduction of Shambala
- Tolway summer anime streams and the Yamato album release
Intro and Banter [8:53]
The hosts, Marker, Dev Q, and AR Palver, begin with lighthearted banter, setting the stage for the show. They joke about AR's previous appearances and his criteria for joining the podcast, which now includes significant updates and the promise of interesting drinks. They also touch on the announcement of a collaboration cafe, which AR was unaware of until recently.
Liberator Web Novel and Comic [11:30]
The discussion starts with the Liberator web novel, noting it feels like a direct continuation but is numbered separately. The hosts comment on Winner's social awkwardness and the consistent use of the trihexagon evolution. They also discuss the comic, highlighting Yao's struggles with Atmon and the fitting nature of evolution names in English. Sangman's development is mentioned, with some feeling it leans too heavily on the "power of friendship" trope. The appearance of Aryan is acknowledged, and the hosts ponder the significance of a digivolving crystal that appears and vanishes. They also touch on the quick release pace of Liberator, which may be diminishing its impact.
Digimon Anniversaries [17:52]
The hosts celebrate Digimon's 28th anniversary, commenting on the anniversary art featuring Digimon from various milestone years. They point out that Terrimon Assistant's inclusion is based on his addition to the reference book, not his initial appearance. The 15th anniversary of the Cross Wars manga and the 25th anniversary of Pocket Digimon World are also mentioned. Additionally, they acknowledge the 15th anniversary of Digimon Story: Lost Evolution, a game that never received a translation.
Digimon Time Stream [21:54]
The hosts discuss the Digimon Time stream, which was a 50-minute broadcast featuring news and updates. They note the late announcement of the English stream and the minimal subtitle updates. The stream's format is compared to the Digi Navi news updates.
Time Stranger Game Updates [23:54]
The hosts discuss the Time Stranger game, noting the improved graphics compared to the initial trailer. They confirm that riding Digimon is purely for traversal and that players can break boxes Zelda-style. The ability to speed up battles is mentioned, with some reservations about its inclusion in the initial playthrough. The game's time estimates are 40 hours for the main story and 10 hours for side quests. Producer Haruki clarified that if fans want more Survive games, they need to be vocal. He also reiterated that Digimon Stories is the main series, while Digimon World's direction is uncertain. The hosts were excited that Cyber Sleuth is going back to some of the older Digimon story game mechanics.
Time Stranger DLC and PC Specs [31:30]
The hosts discuss the DLC for Time Stranger, including the season pass, pre-order bonuses, costume packs, and BGM pack. They clarify that the Digimon evolution roots in the season pass could be five new mega levels with paths to reach them. The PC specs for the game are revealed, with surprisingly low requirements, suggesting the console versions may not be fully optimized.
Time Stranger New Digimon and Tiamont Lab [36:42]
The hosts discuss new Digimon reveals for Time Stranger, including Shelmon, Skull Sie, and Sharkmon. They also mention Tiamont Lab's card unboxing and demo of Time Stranger, highlighting a segment where Termon has to find specific Digimon in the game.
Digimon Expo 2024 [41:32]
The hosts preview the Digimon Expo, announcing stage events for Cross Wars and Adventure 02 cast members. The first episode of Digimon Beat Break will premiere at the expo. They list the voice actors attending and mention demos of Time Stranger and a license, as well as card game events. Ticketing will be free via a lottery system.
Digimon Beat Break Details [45:48]
The hosts discuss Digimon Beat Break, revealing the names and designs of the protagonists, including Tomoto and Gecko Mod. They note Gecko Mod's resemblance to Sergeant Frog and discuss the name puns. The hosts also speculate on the series' tone and potential connections to previous Digimon lore.
New Digimon Pendulums [48:57]
The hosts discuss the new Digimon pendulums, noting they are the first numbered ones since the Z series. They introduce the third digital world, Shambala, and its themes. The hosts question the relevance of the three digital world concept and discuss the new Digimon designs, highlighting the use of Digimon created for New Century. They also preview the pendulum colors and the return of the Irammon cases.
Tolway Summer Anime Streams [57:19]
The hosts detail the Tolway summer anime streams, which include Digimon Adventure (English dub), Pretty Cure (Canadian dub), Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, and Magical DoReMi (4Kids dub). They note the video quality issues with some of the streams, particularly the interlacing in Pretty Cure and the poor quality of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo. The Spanish stream lineup includes Latin Spanish dubs of Digimon, DoReMi, and Saint Seiya.
Yamato Album and New Century Update [1:02:55]
The hosts discuss the upcoming Yamato album, revealing the title and cover art. They clarify that the band name is Knife of Day, not a new change. The album will feature five new songs and re-recordings of classic tracks. A new Digimon for New Century is revealed, described as a beastly type with a tiger body and vulture-like wings.
Card Game Apocalypse [1:07:51]
The hosts review a large batch of new Digimon card game art, commenting on the designs, poses, and overall quality. They discuss various character cards, including Monzan, Raidenmon Ace, Kuwagamon, Slightmon, Duffmon, Mariah, Tsumemon, and Arata. They also highlight the Moonmon and Lunamon cards, as well as the new liberator tamer cards. The hosts note the overuse of evolution scenes in the set and discuss the parallel card designs.
Card Game Event Updates and Merchandise [1:32:33]
The hosts cover event updates for the Digimon card game, including the Augumon promo for Digimon Day and regulation battles. They also discuss the Bandai Card Games Fest in Dallas and the event promos. The hosts lament the decline in quality of the Yuki segments and the reduced content in the English versions. They highlight the re-release of Precious Gem War Greymon and Metal Garurumon figures, as well as a wave of Termon assistant products.
DefoReal and Soft Vinyl Figures [1:38:08]
The hosts discuss the DefoReal Skull Greymon G Erosion Mode figure and the re-release of soft vinyl figures, including Patamon and Tailmon. They speculate on whether Tailmon's head will be movable.
Cross Wars Anniversary and Art Popup [1:40:26]
The hosts mention Cross Wars anniversary products at Annabirth and a Book Off summer festival event. They also preview the Art Popup, which features prints, postcards, stickers, and keychains. The hosts express amusement at the inclusion of a can of drink with a removable sticker label.
Waking Up Products and Sweets Cafe [1:44:24]
The hosts discuss Waking Up products at Animate and preview the Sweets Cafe, which features Digimon-themed food and drinks. They comment on the unusual flavor combinations and the overall success of the cafe's offerings.
Polls and Weekend Batches [1:50:27]
The hosts review the results of previous polls and introduce a new poll for favorite Digimental of Knowledge. They also share weekend batches of Digimon-related news, including photos from Miyazaki's Chinese tour, updates from card game events, and reference book updates.
Questions and Closing [1:58:20]
The hosts answer questions from the audience, discussing topics such as future plans for Digimon games and anime, the Switch 2, new food Digimon, and cosplay tips. They also share their thoughts on upcoming movies and the potential for Shambala to be visited in future Digimon works. The episode concludes with recommendations and farewells.