I know it's been over ten years since Digimon came up on the scene of FoxKids shows but I was feeling nostalgic, for several reasons.
One and probably the most important reason is I am a huge Saban fan and when it was announced he bought the rights to air seasons 5 and 6 "Digimon Xros" in American I was ecstatic. As a kid I loved Digimon, had the toys, cards, and games. Other reason why I watched Digimon was in hopes to satisfy my need to play "Digimon World 1" seeing as it's a hard and sought after game and probably one of my favorite games, this is as close as it gets.
Anyways I just finished watching "Digimon Season 1" which I picked up on Amazon, and my it brought back several childhood memories but also showed me how lame and cheesy anime gets when translated from one language to another. For those who don't know Digimon is the story of seven (eventually eight) "Digidestined" or eight normal adolescents who get paired up with digital monsters when transported to the Digital World to save it. Not to get to much into the main story however season one focuses on four major concepts with four major villains, with new villains means new evolutions. Evolutions occur when the digimon goes from one level to another, which is done through a "Digidestined" digivice when they are in trouble.This is also called digivolving.
Anyways part way through season 1 they hint at the overall theme of the later popular movie. The main character Tai and his digimon Agumon are transported home from the Digital World, where it is the same day as when he left. His sister Kari recognizes Agumon, however it turns out this is a different Agumon. To sum it Kari turns out to be the eighth "Digidestined" and she and Tai plus the other six happened to see the other Agumon come to earth and fight another digimon four years ago hence why they were chosen.
Once this season ended Digimon transitions into another season, which the movie takes place between both. However the movie starts at the scene of the night the "Digidestined" first saw actual digimon sighting which will lead to these children being the chosen ones. We learn that another boy name Willis created the Digimon and villain of first part of the movie. The "Digidestined" are able to defeat their toughest opponent throught the world wide web which the bad digimon Diaboromon had infected and taken over.
Part two of the movie says "Present Day" however 6 of the first "Digidestined" are all grown up while the remaining two Kari and TK are joined by three new kids with their own digimon. They team up with a much older Willis because Diaboromon had become a virus and infected one of his digimon. Long story short the good guys always win and Willis disappears never to be seen in season two! :(
So if your looking for a nostalgic series while waiting for new episodes of the long running Digimon then look no further than Season one and the movie.
I do however have some problems with both. For one in the season, may to much happens in such a short time span. In the Digital World the time they spend is never quantified however it feels like forever. The team constantly splits up which brings them back together stronger until the next evil foe which is reused element in many amines, which I find boring. Another is this story is so intense that it could have been split over seasons rather than packed in one. Plus the flashback episode I mentioned where they foreshadow the movie could have just been it's own season. Like how "Dragon Ball" lead into "Dragon Ball Z". My final problem is they use the same attack sequences and digivolving scenes are also the same. Which doesn't add to much excite when the fight scenes come because you know what's going to happen. I may have many problems with the actual show but the positives definitely out way the negative.
The cinematic and overall representation of the movie, look completely different then the actual tv series. However the digivolving was the same, and in my opinion if your going to change the character appearances why not change everything else? Other problem I have is how they jump from season one to two with little to no explanation on the whereabouts of 6 of our former heroes, but they were used heavily in season two. And where did Willis go? Why give him such a strong plot in all three parts of the movie then scrap him? Without him there would be no digimon.
My final complaint comes from my musician/ OCD side. The show for the longest time utilized and repeated three songs related to the show. However in the movie it had songs by mainstream artists, such as Less Than Jake and Barenaked Ladies. So I guess my problem is why change the music in the transition from tv series to movie, it is a risky move.
Minus my problems with the representation aspects of movie and series. I highly recommend that you check out both. This series help carried Saban and Fox Kids for about three years and also competed with Pokemon.
Greatest Reviews gives "Digimon" (Season 1 1999) 4 1/2 Stars out of 5 & "Digimon: The Movie" (2000) 4 Stars out of 5.
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