Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic this week, so let’s talk about Digimon. At the height of Pokémon’s popularity Digimon began airing in America and was seen as a clone hoping to ride the coattails. And while was the case at first, became it’s own thing. Like I said before, I actually liked Digimon more than Pokémon because it tried to grow up with its audience. It wasn’t afraid to get dark and talk about mature subjects you normally wouldn’t see in a kids show at that time. There’s been a lot of Digimon teams over the years, but the first team is my favorite and the one the series always keeps returning to because there’s so much to explore with them. So much so that in 2020 they decided to reboot the original series for the new generation. The reboot was in talks ever since Digimon tri as the producer Hiroyuki Sakurada wanted to introduce the series to a new generation of viewers and what better way to do it then by focusing on the season that started it all. Done once again by Toei Animation, the series would air in 2020 only to go on hiatus due to the pandemic after the third episode, but those three episodes got the job done as everyone liked them. They were fresh and different from the original, but still managed to capture the charm and adventure of the original. The series would return about two months later and let’s just say things could have gone better. Let’s get digital. This is Digimon 2020.
Opening and Ending Themes
The opening for this anime is “Mikakunin Hikousen” by Takayoshi Tanimoto. It was good. It definitely feels you up with a sense of adventure, excitement, and growth. I did like the guitar throughout the opening and the animation is a good reference to the original opening.
Now while the show only had one opening, they had 5 endings. The first is “Kuyashisa wa Tane” by Chiai Fujikawa, “Q?” by Reol, “Mind game” by Maica_n, “Overseas Highway” by Wolpis Cate, and “Dreamers” by ATEEZ. These were good openings and each show the crew interacting and bonding with their partners. If I had to pick my favorite it would be Overseas Highway.
Episodes 1-5
So the anime starts in 2020 (presumably in a different timeline) where the narrator explains how technology is always advancing and has created these beings we know as Digimon. We then meet Tai (again, for the sake of the review I’ll be using their American names) who is getting ready for his summer camp trip (and I have to admit I like how they captured the animation style from the original season. It’s slightly updated like the characters look smoother with more realistic designs and the backgrounds have more detail to them) and receives a visit from Izzy who lives in the same complex as him. He had a question about the camp trip, but that conversation gets interrupted when they hear about the digital disturbances happening on TV. Izzy has been investigating these disturbances saying they’re not natural (it’s 2020, nothing is natural on the internet) and it gets reported that the trains have gone haywire and could cause a serious accident unless something is done. This worries Tai as his mom and Kari are on the train and he rushes off with Izzy to save them. They arrive at the station too late and Tai actually takes off after them where out of nowhere he enters the Net the space between our world and the Digital World (and takes it surprisingly well). He quickly finds Koromon and receives his Digivice as does Izzy which helps Koromon evolve into the iconic Agumon who has been waiting for Tai. Agumon gets to work fighting other Digimon who are responsible for the digital disturbances (man, I am getting some serious Megaman EXE vibes here) with Tai helping out. Tai receives a call from Izzy who tells him where he’s at and guides him to the area where the trains have malfunction saying that if they destroy Digimon there they can stop the trains. Agumon goes on a rampage taking out the Digimon until one is left which evolves into a champion level Digimon that Agumon is no match for. Thanks to Tai’s courage and his bond with Agumon, Agumon is able to evolve into Greymon (he’s a motherfucking T-Rex) and destroys the Digimon to stop the trains. However, they cannot rest easy as Izzy tells them about another digital disturbance is occurring on an American military’s base. If the system gets taken over there’s no telling what they’ll launch and at who.
Time is of the essence in episode 2 as a nuclear submarine will launch a nuclear bomb in less than 3 minutes and its target is Tokyo (oh that’s gonna be a disaster for the Olympics). Tai and Greymon come across Matt (now sporting a purple shirt instead of his green tank top) and Garurumon where they team up with each other to stop the Digimon causing the disturbance. While both Greymon and Garurumon do a good job, the last Digimon evolves into what I can only assume is a mega level Digimon and out classes Greymon and Garurumon. The nuclear missile gets launched and we end the episode on a big note with Greymon and Garurumon evolving into Omegamon (damn, they’re moving fast on this evolutionary stuff. They skipped over their ultimate forms and made them obsolete. I mean, this is the equivalent of Goku going blue Saiyan when he fights Vegeta for the first time on Earth).
We start episode 3 with Omegamon defeating the virus Digimon (took his sweet time too). However, the missile is still heading for Tokyo so with no other option Tai and Matt blow it up themselves. The missile changes it’s course (that’s one smart missile) and explodes above the sky of Tokyo for everyone to see (okay, I know I’m supposed to suspend my theory of disbelief, but it is the year 2020 and you’re telling me Japan couldn’t pick up signs that a missile was about to strike Tokyo or the US couldn’t give a courtesy call telling them of the coming danger? Knowing our president though that is something he would do). A bright light soon envelops Tai and Matt and they wind up back in the real world where Tai reunites with Izzy who says everything is fine and they go about their business deciding to keep everything that happened today between them, however they know deep in their hearts that this isn’t over. The next day it’s time for the camp trip where this time they don’t get transported to the digital world. In fact, the camping trip comes and goes without much happening aside from meeting Sora and Joe. Sometime later, a power outage occurs and half of Tokyo is left in the dark (everybody go crazy). According to Izzy this isn’t a normal occurrence (you think?) and if something isn’t done soon then the whole country will be left in the dark (and completely defenseless). Tai and Izzy’s Digivices start glowing and the two meet up where Tai gets transported to the actual digital world this time.
In episode 4 Tai meets up with Agumon and to his surprise comes across Sora who takes the talking dinosaur, cellphone not working, and having no idea where she’s at rather well (clearly she has seen some stuff). After coming across a monolith, Tai’s digivice activates and shines a light leading to a rainbow mountain (maybe there’s gold there. Or Lucky Charms). Tai, Agumon, and Sora decide to start heading towards the mountain where along the way they run into Biyomon being chased by Snimon who wants to eat her (bugs eating birds. The rules of nature. . .just got screwed). Tai and Agumon try to fight it, but their attacks don’t do much damage and the group is forced to jump off a cliff for safety. Once safe Tai receives a call from Izzy who’s in the Net (I guess his connection got interrupted and he couldn’t call all the way) and with him is Tentomon. Izzy explains that the situation in Tokyo is getting worse and if they don’t figure out the problem soon Tokyo will have a complete blackout in 72 hours. Believing that the answers lie on the mountain, Tai and the others decide to head there where they travel via river. They do a good job avoiding all the hazards until they come across a wild Coelamon and that Snimon from earlier (dangers in water and dangers in the sky. Talk about up a creek without a paddle). Tai and Greymon fight Coelamon while Sora and Biyomon fight Snimon where Biyomon evolves into Birdramon (a fish and a bug vs a bird and a dinosaur. The winners should be obvious but nature is bullshit in this world). Naturally, Greymon and Birdramon win (looks like the rules of nature. . .just got rewritten) and Birdramon flies the group to the mountain where they find a temple (does this means we’re not finding gold?). Meanwhile, Izzy and Tentomon get eaten by Whamon in the Net (look out, the anime got invaded by Summer Wars).
Episode 5 starts with Izzy and Tentomon inside Whamon (where again the characters aren’t panicking. Did these kids just take a Xanax pill or something?). Despite being in Whamon, Izzy can still communicate with Tai and the others. Meanwhile, Tai and the others land at the temple where they all (Izzy included) hear a message from an ancient Digimon who talks about a war that took place between the light and darkness. The heroes of light won but were exhausted from their battles and the Digital World was badly damaged. The heroes would fade away but knew that the darkness would return someday, so they selected Digimon to take up their mantle, find their human partners, and fight against the darkness should it return (and if time permits, build a franchise out of this. I’m sure there’s money to be made here). The group gets told to head to the Cloud Continent (there you meet Yoda the Jedi who trained me) where they will find the Holy Digimon who will aid them in their fight. They’re told to be careful because the forces of darkness know of their existence and will hunt them down. Sure enough a bunch of dark Digimon led by Orgemon attack Tai’s group and surround them. On Izzy’s side of the story, a bunch of Tylomon attack Whamon to get to Izzy and Tentomon. Not wanting any harm to come to Whamon, Izzy and Tentomon escape from the belly of the beast and face the Tylomon where Tentomon evolves into Kabuterimon to defeat the Soundbirdmon who was controlling the Tylomon. Back with Tai’s group, they manage to fight their way through the forces of darkness and escape.
Episodes 6-10
Nothing much really happens in episode 6. Tai and the others come across the Tanemon village which has now become Mimi’s Kingdom (kind of a downgrade from her kingdom last season). Sure enough we meet Mimi and Palmon who have been protecting the village from Duskmon who come around and steal their fruit. Tai and the others offer to help her out and they receive a message from Izzy who informs them that time moves faster in digital world than the real world meaning they have a lot of window time with Japan’s massive blackout set to happen in 72 hours. Ogremon uses Soundbirdmon to control the Tuskmon and attack the village. Tai and Agumon take on the Tuskmon while Sora and Biyomon take on another Digimon leaving the village in Mimi’s protection (well they’ve survived this long so she must be doing something right). Ogremon arrives in the village with Drimogemon to attack them where Palmon digivolves into Togemon (and holy shit Togemon is a beast in this version). Togemon doesn’t just beat Drimogemon she straight up knocks it out. We also get a Greymon and Ogremon match up where Greymon manages to break one of Ogremon’s horns forcing him to retreat. With the village now safe, Mimi and Palmon leave with the others in their search for the Holy Digimon.
Episode 7 serves as the introduction to fan favorite Joe and Gomamon. Tai’s group finally reaches the sea and they ride on Birdramon to see how far away the next continent is only to get attacked by Gesomon (a squid like Digimon). Birdramon gets knocked out and they’re forced to swim back to shore with Gesomon chasing after them (*Jaw’s music begins to play*). Luckily, they get saved by Gomamon who introduces them to Joe who just like in the original is only concerned about studying and getting back home. He refuses to help saying that there’s not much he can do and Gomamon not wanting to put anymore stress on Joe’s life volunteers to help everyone in his place. They come up with a plan to have Gomamon lure Gesomon out onto dry land which works but Gesomon manages to injure Gomamon (I see you have chosen death). Joe rescues Gomamon while Greymon and Togemon fight Gesomon where they’re unfortunately no match for it (now what good is being a dinosaur and boxing cactus if you can’t even defeat one squid?). Joe and Gomamon have a heart to heart which allows Gomamon to evolve into Ikkakumon. Together with Togemon and Greymon, Ikkakumon is able to defeat Gesomon and they ride Ikkakumon across the sea with Joe joining them.
In episode 8 Tai and the others make it over to the next continent, where they see a lighthouse guiding them (https://youtu.be/4F4qzPbcFiA). When they get close enough, they see that the lighthouse is actually a fortress run by Gorimon, who snipes at people with his arm cannon (that’s gotta make Saturday night difficult). Gorimon attacks the group, forcing them to swim to shore for safety only for the group to get attacked by Tankmon (wow, this place is like a military base). The group gets saved by Matt and Gabumon who have been trying to break into the fortress as well believing that they’ll find information on who’s been attacking them this whole time. Not wanting to endanger the others (his lone wolf persona in the works), Matt and Gabumon try to attack the fortress themselves only to get pinned down. Tai and the others act as decoys which allows Matt and Gabumon to reach the gates of the fortress where they’re greeted by Darktyranomon (gorilla, tanks, and now a dinosaur. This is one top tier fortress). Tai and Sora come to take on Darktyranomon while Matt and Gabumon deal with Gorimon. Gabumon manages to beat Gorimon, Greymon and Birdramon defeat Darktyranomon, and Togemon and Ikkakumon defeat the Tankmon (where was all of this earlier?). With the base secured, they begin searching for clues where they come across a room that has a monolith talking about the Holy Digimon (and I think I might have an idea who the Holy Digimon is now).
Nothing much happens in episode 9. The groups finds out that the Holy Digimon has already been captured by Devimon (we all know he’s the villain) and is now being held in his stronghold. Ogremon appears and wants a rematch against Greymon one on one (ogre vs dinosaur) as Izzy and Tentomon who finally make it to the Digital World and unite with the others. Greymon and Ogremon have a good fight where the two slowly start to enjoy themselves until it gets interrupted by Metaltryranomon an ultimate level Digimon (what are you waiting for, bring out Omegamon and make this guy extinct). Ogremon defends the group telling them where to find the Holy Digimon while using all of his power in a last ditch effort to take down Metaltryranomon.
In episode 10 the group managed to escape Metaltryranomon by fleeing to the forest, but it’s only a matter of time until it finds them. Deciding to trust Ogremon’s words on where to go, Izzy combines his words with the data the group got from the fortress and believes he might have found the path to Devimon’s hideout. Agumon and Tai go to keep Metaltryranomon distracted while the others follow Ogremon’s path. Despite Tai and Greymon’s best efforts they’re just not strong enough to defeat Metaltryranomon and the others come upon a miasma of darkness that they can’t travel through (unless they want to die). Tai and Greymon get blasted to where the others are. Thanks to their determination to win, Greymon evolves into Metalgreymon (which I’m just gonna say, is my least favorite version of Agumon’s evolutions. It really just looks like they had no idea what they wanted the metal version to look like. Hell, Metaltryranomon looks better by comparison). Metalgreymon manages to defeat Metaltryranomon and the group can now focus on what they do next since they can’t cross the miasma. Izzy says their only option is to take one of two detours around the miasma and they decide to split into two teams and try both paths to make it to the hideout.
Episodes 11-15
So since we got Metalgreymon last episode it only makes sense that we get Weregarurumon (the best evolution of Gabumon in my opinion) for episode 11. Matt, Sora, and Joe are flying through the dessert where they get attacked by other Digimon and are forced to land in the dessert which isn’t much safer as the dessert is controlled by Scorpiomon an ultimate-level Digimon (yeah every other scene, something in this world is trying to kill them. This world is making the Pokémon world look safer by comparison). The group escape Scorpiomon and hide out in a cave where they meet other Digimon (who didn’t appear until season 3 or 4, so props to them for adding some variety to flush out the Digital World) who want to brave the dessert in order to reach Leomon’s resistance group, but Scorpiomon keeps blocking their path. Sora says they should help them, but Matt says no as he knows they can’t protect this large group and Joe is stuck in the middle (both Matt and Sora make fair points here that match their character. Sora can’t abandon others who need help in front of her and while Matt may come across as cruel and uncaring, in truth he wants to help them but knows that if they can barely protect themselves against Scorpiomon then how can they protect a large group of Digimon). Joe sides with Sora and Matt heads out on his own with Gabumon (once again showing off his lone wolf persona. Who are you trying to impress Matt?). Birdramon and Ikkakumon get taken down by Scorpiomon and other Digimon in the dessert when Matt and Garurumon show up to save them. Scorpiomon comes out of hiding (looking nothing like what I was expecting) and fights against Garurumon who evolves into Weregarurumon (who looks like a total badass despite the fact that the animators forgot to put in his tail, https://youtu.be/zIOiW2jl430?si=V_bfuoWtfJBpYNlw&t=13). Weregarurumon defeats Scorpiomon allowing the other Digimon to safely pass through the dessert and Matt opens up to the others by telling them about his brother T.K and how he’s in Tokyo during this widespread power outage which is why Matt is in such a hurry to find the Holy Digimon and restore power to Tokyo. Back with Tai, Izzy, and Mimi, they come across some ruins and investigate them where Mimi and Palmon fall down a trap door.
Keeping up with the trends of ultimate evolutions, episode 12 gives us Lilimon (one of the hotter Digimons in my opinion). One of the things the original Digimon messed up on was the handling of Lilimon. After her introduction they pretty much buried her in the show as she rarely made appearances and in her first fight she’s quickly defeated by Myotismon (I got Myotismon was the main villain, but they made Lilimon look so weak here). After falling down the trap door, Mimi and Palmon begin to look for a way back up while Izzy discovers that these ruins used to be a weapon’s factory that was once guarded by Andromon who is now under the control of Devimon and trying to kill Mimi and Palmon (well that’s one thing they kept from the original). Togemon easily gets defeated, but Mimi and Palmon get saved by a Guardromon (who I swear looks like he belongs in a Megaman game. That, and he reminds of Robo from Chrono Trigger). Back with Tai and the others, they make it down to the weapon’s factory where they’re attacked by Hagurumon (just think Magnamite only with gears. Actually, there is Pokémon with the same concept but Digimon didn’t first) where they fight them off with ease. Meanwhile, the Guardromon takes Mimi and Palmon to an elevator only for Andromon to catch them before they can go (I must terminate you). Guardromon uses its body as a shield to protect Mimi before Tai and the others arrive to fight Andromon. They put up a good fight, but due to limited space, Metalgreymon is unable to really capitalize on Andromon. Witnessing Guardromon’s noble sacrifice filled Mimi with rage and sorrow and this allows Togemon to evolve into Lilimon where she defeats Andromon turning him and Guardromon into grass (what is this, Castle in the Sky?) and the group leaves the ruins (will these two Digimon make a return? I hope so).
We return to Matt’s group in episode 13 where the group has gone from a dessert to a jungle (quite the change in scenery). While flying across the jungle (Air Birdramon, it’s the only way to fly) they get attacked by Waspmon and their leader Cannonbeemon (where once again I’m not sure if they’re ripping off Pokémon or if Pokémon is ripping off them) and are forced to land where they get separated from Joe and Gomamon. Matt and Sora find out that Cannonbeemon has captured all the Funbeemon and turning them into its soldiers (for what, I have no idea. From what I can see you pretty much rule the forest with an iron stinger, and no one is strong enough to oppose you). They see Joe and Gomamon get captured by the Waspmon and get captured as well to sneak into the body of Cannonbeemon (good Lord, how do you digest food). They wreck some havoc, save Joe, but unfortunately aren’t able to save the captured Funbeemon as they’re forced to retreat. However, Sora and Birdramon go back to fight with Matt and Weregarurumon joining them (no offence guys but you’re no air fighters. You’re about as useful as a boxer in a soccer game). Matt and Weregarurumon sneak back inside to free the Funbeemon while Sora and Birdramon fight against Cannonbeemon. Sora’s desire and love to protect everyone allows Birdramon to evolve into Garudamon (who is smaller in this version for some reason. Did they nerf her and nobody told me about it?) who overpowers Cannonbeemon and saves everyone.
Episode 14 focuses on Izzy. Tai’s group is lost inside a maze-like canyon where they get attacked by Kuwagamon and Oukumon who use coordinated attacks to separate the group from each other (what are they, the raptors from Jurassic Park?). Izzy feels useless because his laptop isn’t working properly, but Kabuterimon reminds him to use his brain and not rely on his laptop for everything (and if that doesn’t work, just wing it. It’s worked for me). Izzy and Kabuterimon manage to escape Oukumon where Kabuterimon evolves into Atlurkabuterimon (or Megakabuterimon if you want something easier to say). So Megakabuterimon takes out Oukumon while Togomon and Metalgreymon (yeah Greymon showing how much of a weakling he is) take out the remaining Kuwagamon. Once all the bugs are gone, Izzy’s laptop starts working again.
In episode 15 it’s finally time for Joe and Gomamon’s story (who I’m not gonna lie, has the most imaginative of the ultimate evolutions. Seriously, out of all the evolutions this is the one where they got the most imaginative with. Zudomon has turtle shell, walrus fangs and tusk, horns, a paw-like claw, snowshoes, a horse tail, a mustache, ears that resemble a dog’s ears, and Thor’s hammer. It’s almost like they were playing Cards Against Humanity). Matt’s group find themselves on a snow mountain and decide to make their way down to the river to meet back up with Tai and the others (why Birdramon didn’t land them by the river is beyond me, but that’s what you get with plot convenience). However, before the group can start heading down, they get attacked by Mammon and Yukidarumon with Sora getting injured and the group getting caught in an avalanche only to be saved at the last minute by Garurumon. We see Sora got hit by an ice virus and if it isn’t melted completely it’ll spread throughout her entire body and freeze her entirely (ha ha. . .spread). Starting a fire on the mountain would give away their position so, they have no choice but to cross the river first before helping Sora. Joe and Gomamon act as a diversion while Matt gets Sora safely across the river. Joe and Ikkakumon manage to distract Mammon and Yukidarumon long enough for Matt to get Sora to safety and the two heroes also make it across the river as well. Unfortunately, Mammon and Yukidarumon follow them and Joe wanting to protect Sora and the others decides to fight Mammon and Yukidarumon all by himself with Ikkakumon by his side. Joe’s reliability to protect his friends, allows Ikkakumon to evolve into Zudomon where he defeats Mammon and Yukidarumon. Meanwhile Tai and the others enter a mysterious cave in the dessert (these heat lines, right?) where they feel a breeze coming from the other side. They follow the breeze and exit the cave where they wind up back in the real world where everything is functioning like normal.
And this feels like a good stopping point. Come back next week as we continue looking at Digimon 2020. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.