Digimon Adventure (2020 TV series)

Digimon Adventure (Japanese: デジモンアドベンチャー:, Hepburn: Dejimon Adobenchā, stylized as Digimon Adventure:) is a Japanese anime television series. It is the eighth anime series in the Digimon franchise and a reboot of the original 1999 anime television series of the same name. The series premiered on Fuji TV in April 2020.

This article is about the 2020 reboot anime series. For the original 1999 anime series, see Digimon Adventure.
Digimon Adventure
Promotional poster
デジモンアドベンチャー:
(Dejimon Adobenchā:)
Genre
Anime television series
Directed byMasato Mitsuka
Produced byHiroyuki Sakurada
Music byToshihiko Sahashi
StudioToei Animation
Licensed by
Original networkFNS (Fuji TV)
Original run April 5, 2020 – present
Episodes66[4]
Digimon franchise

Plot
See also: List of Digimon Adventure (2020 TV series) episodes

In the year 2020, a series of cyber-attacks across Tokyo are the result of catastrophic events in another world within the internet, the Digital World, where creatures called Digimon roam. While getting ready for summer camp, seven children are transported to the Digital World where they acquire Digivices and Digimon partners while learning that they have been chosen to stop the unknown threats to their worlds.

Characters
Main article: List of Digimon Adventure characters
Character Voice actor[5]
Taichi Yagami Yūko Sanpei
Agumon Chika Sakamoto
Yamato Ishida Daisuke Namikawa
Gabumon Mayumi Yamaguchi
Koshiro Izumi Yumiko Kobayashi
Tentomon Takahiro Sakurai
Sora Takenouchi Ryoko Shiraishi
Piyomon Atori Shigematsu
Joe Kido Takeshi Kusao
Gomamon Junko Takeuchi
Mimi Tachikawa Marika Kouno
Palmon Kinoko Yamada
Takeru Takaishi Megumi Han
Patamon Miwa Matsumoto
Hikari Yagami Misaki Watada
Tailmon Mie Sonozaki
Narrator Masako Nozawa
Argomon Takashi Matsuyama
Andromon Kensuke Ōta
Neamon Masami Kikuchi
Funbeemon Rie Kugimiya
Devimon Ryōtarō Okiayu
Nidhoggmon Kensuke Ōta
Woodmon Kensuke Ōta
Ogremon Hisao Egawa
Leomon Hiroaki Hirata
Minotaurmon Katsuhisa Hōki
Spadamon Asami Sanada
Newscaster Ryūsei Ikuta[6]
Brachimon Kensuke Ōta[7]
Valdurmon Ai Maeda[8]
Yūto Kazama[9]
Komondomon Daisuke Yokoyama[10]
Lopmon Chinami Nishimura
Vademon Yasuhiro Takato
MarineAngemon Yukana
Manbomon Masaya Takatsuka

Development

The series was officially announced in the March issue of Shueisha's V Jump magazine on January 20, 2020.[11] Masato Mitsuka is serving as the series director at Toei Animation, Atsuhiro Tomioka is supervising the series scripts, Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru returns from Digimon Adventure to design the characters, Akihiro Asanuma is the chief animation director, Ryouka Kinoshita is the art director, Toshiki Amada is in charge of art setting, and Matsuki Hanae, Naoko Sagawa, and Hiroyuki Sakurada are the producers.[12]

The project is developed independently and in the same period of time as the theatrical release of Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, by producer Hiroyuki Sakurada (Dream 9, Super Dragon Ball Heroes) and director Masato Mitsuka (Witchy Pretty Cure), initially together behind Digimon Xros Wars and Dragon Ball Super, "Digimon Adventure has reached a stopping point with Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna for its twentieth anniversary. This is sad. And that's when our production started. We wanted to make a proper Digimon entry that wasn't for the "children of the past", but for a new generation of children [...] And in order to introduce it to them, what better way to do it than to start from the beginning one more time with Digimon Adventure?" says Hiroyuki Sakurada for What's In.[13]

"It was difficult to find the right timing back then, so only now we were able to produce [this reboot] and deliver it in its current form. We wanted to air [Digimon] again on Fuji TV at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning [...] To secure that timeslot and produce content for it, you need the right timing and right elements for all sorts of things. Without such a close gamble, it’s difficult to produce a TV anime." explains Hiroyuki Sakurada. The nine o'clock slot on Sunday morning is the historical timeslot for the first five Digimon series on Fuji TV, from 1999 to 2007. The Dragon Ball Super producer had been hoping for this opportunity since the days of Digimon Adventure tri.[13]

"Our important task is to make sure things comes across to the viewer as cool" said the young director Masato Mitsuka. He says he found it difficult to think about how to show "cool" action sequences using the physics of the Digimon and especially Greymon, compared to Son Goku from Dragon Ball Super and its panoply of attacks. "The Digimon will reach Ultimate-level very quickly, so in the long run, the time Agumon will actively spend as an Adult-level Greymon will be gone... [...] Still, we were very enthusiastic about wanting to show off the pride of an Adult-level."; "Ultimate-level Omegamon is one of the most impressive "symbols" of Digimon, still to this day, with many derivatives [...] its appearance and the when and how were determined even before I was brought into the project. [...] Special circumstances have made it so that there aren’t many occasions with a proper action-like depiction of Omegamon, he’s always been protected for very particular moments. But I wanted to depict him as the miracle that appears after overcoming great difficulties. May each of his appearances in this new TV series be a chance to make him fight powerful enemies, while displaying his strength and a status of crisis saviour." explains Masato Mitsuka.[13]

In response to Yudai Yanagi of Japanese media What's In, describing the first three episodes as "A start close to be a cinematic project, yet chaotic", Hiroyuki Sakurada said that "the very first intention behind these first three episodes was to display freshness without waiting". Masato Mitsuka explains that "That's why we went a little overboard and used a lot more "sakuga" (privileged segments in animation) for a TV anime to show Omegamon looking "cool" in his fight. We indulged a bit for an early stage battle. [...] I wanted characters like Omegamon and Greymon to leave just as much of a strong impression on those new viewers as on the old." Masato Mitsuka wanted "to portray children actively fighting in the fights, a story in which the children participate with a keen awareness of what they have to save. The children feel an obligation and a determination to "do something" [...] The central theme of the series' direction is "a person and a creature" in both battle and adventure. It is the "way of life" that seduces me, my vision of the link between the two.".[13]

"I’d like to make the children feel that they are traveling, even if they are stuck at home. We would be happy if they could experience things that are now (in August 2020) becoming difficult in our real world due to the coronavirus. From the jungle to the oceans, discover a vast world without constraints through the anime." invites producer Hiroyuki Sakurada. Atsuhiro Tomioka (Dragon Ball Super, Inazuma Eleven) has been called to be the main screenwriter of the project, with the request of Toei Animation to take the manga Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01 as a reference. "Of course, [Taichi] still works together with other allies, but we want him to be a heroic figure with a strong sense of responsibility and dependability. It's a willingness with the director and the production team to mix influences.", he announces that a maximum of Digimon would be presented.[14] The original Digimon Adventure staff, working on Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, were not consulted for this project. Masato Mitsuka is referred as a director representing the younger generation, "He ensures the future of Toei Animation, as well as the rest of its staff." considers Hiroyuki Sakurada.[13]

The musical orchestration is assured by Toshihiko Sahashi. He had received a commission of forty compositions from the director of the series. The idea explored was sounds played by a large orchestra. He explains that during the exchange of the demo tapes at the beginning of the new year 2020, the media exploded with the news around the coronavirus, and that COVID-19 had spread in a blink of an eye. As the idea of large orchestras and social distance didn't mix well, he feared the consequences that would follow. However, the idea became a reality with a first recording on February 25, 2020.[15]

On March 30, 2020, Toei Animation organizes an advertising campaign at Shibuya Stream, a retail complex in Tokyo's Shibuya district and in the Shibuya Station with posters and animations.[16] The premiere starts on April 5, 2020 on Fuji TV. Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, "the last adventure of Taichi and Agumon", was still on the big screens and in promotion up to the end of July 2020, due to the shutdowns and postponements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of movie theaters.[17] In mid-2020, Toei Animation Europe announces that Adventure: will run for 66 episodes.[4]

Broadcast and distribution

On March 6, the first trailer for the series was released, announcing the series' April 5, 2020 premiere date. Digimon Adventure: has been broadcast on Fuji Television, and became available for streaming on Netflix, U-NEXT, Bandai Channel, Anime Hodai and Docomo Anime Store in Japan.[18]

Crunchyroll began streaming the series starting April 4.[19] The series is distributed simultaneously by Crunchyroll in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the MENA and CIS zones, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa[20] with English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Italian, German and Russian subtitles. The anime is also available on AnimeLab in Australia and New Zealand.[18] In France, the anime is also available on Anime Digital Network and J-One.[21]

On April 19, Toei Animation announced new episodes would be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22][23] Episodes were rebroadcast from Episode 1 beginning June 7.[24] Toei Animation later announced on June 19 that the series will resume broadcasting new episodes starting with Episode 4 on June 28.[25] According to Toei Animation Europe, Adventure: will run for 66 episodes.[4]

Soundtrack

The opening theme for the series is "Mikakunin Hikousen", performed by Takayoshi Tanimoto.[26][27]

Tanimoto also plays three insert songs. The first is "Be The Winners", which is the theme song for the Champion level evolutions,[26][28] the second is "X-treme Fight", which is the theme song for the Ultimate level evolutions[26] and the third is "Break the Chain", which is the theme song for the Mega level evolutions.

The first ending theme during episodes 1-13 is "Kuyashisa wa Tane" by Chiai Fujikawa.[29] The second ending theme during episodes 14-26 is "Q?" by Reol.[30] The third ending theme since episode 27 is "Mind Game" by Maica_n.[31]

Reception

Early responses

As the series is not only the reboot of the first generation, but also the first Digimon series to be simultaneously distributed around the world, the launch attracted a great amount of media coverage and critical reviews.

"Is everything a good reboot needs to be" for Crunchyroll,[32] "Looking Good" for Kotaku,[33] "The pilot of a promising reboot" for Konbini,[34] "A nice piece of work" for AlloCine,[35] "As impressive as these first few episodes are, I'm kind of unsure how the show can scale down while still keeping the stakes meaningful. Unless we're gonna have a global-scale disaster happen every couple of weeks?"; "They'll have to scale things back as/when they continue and I think that's definitely possible if it follows the original's lead and leans hard into developing its characters and their relationships to each other and to technology. I think those aspects of are what people my age look back on most fondly these days." for Michelle Liu and Steve Jones of Anime News Network.[36] Comic Book Resources observes that the first three episodes "divide fans about the direction the reboot is heading in",[37] the first three episodes are also described as "close to a cinematic project, yet chaotic" by Yudai Yanagi of Japanese media What's In.[13]

Polygon's Karen Han does not see the series as a reboot aimed at a new audience, but as a series aimed "to mash its existing fans’ nostalgia buttons" in a minimum amount of time; "[Masato] Mitsuka has action down pat. But his take on Digimon Adventure:, at least in its early stages, lacks a sense of character both in terms of the world it takes place in, and the characters themselves.".[38] Joshua Graves of CBR notes that the first three episodes has "noticeably recycled a lot of plot beats from Digimon: The Movie. Reboots usually draw inspiration from the original source material in order to carve out new and exciting stories. There are often even a few Easter eggs thrown in to thank fans for all their years of faithful service, but when you recreate scenes directly -- save for a few minor alterations -- it comes across more as a disservice to fans."[37]

While explaining the impact that the original series had in Portugal and what many readers felt about this new version, Bruno Reis stated for OtakuPT: "Let's face it: the classic Digimon Adventure was created for children and young people, and toy sales. Toei could have taken the easy way out and invested in a story with little development just to sell their products. Fortunately, it went far beyond these values, and gave a much deeper and more captivating writing even to an adult audience. [...] it was a series that evoked the term "adventure" in its most sincere form. There was fluidity, there was development and above all, there was progression, I think it is in this last point that we find the biggest element missing in this reboot. [...] the potential for character development does not exist in the first place, and so the evolutions to the Ultimate-level [...] relegated to simple "Evolutions of the Week" [...] are of an immense simplicity and emptiness that I even felt a mixture of disillusionment/sorrow and irony as I watched the way they were done.".[39]

Daniel Dockery, senior staff writer for Crunchyroll will observe, over twenty-four episodes, a mixed reception from unsettled users, who judge the series to have too much focus on the protagonist, Taichi. "This is an opinion I see online often, and I totally understand it. Because if you go into the 2020 series hoping for the spirit of the 1999 incarnation, you probably won't be satisfied. [...] It's doubled down on the aspects that the creators have found to be the most appealing.", the statement presents the "behind the scenes decisions" that led the production of the reboot to intentionally oppose the writing to the ingredients of the original series (and authors) who were a "chock-full of adventure"; "often correlating with some new bit of emotional growth for its protagonists"; "a hang out show [...] the kids and their Digimon spend a lot of every episode talking and eating and debating and joking. You get to know them all pretty well: their likes and dislikes, how they bounce off of one another, their expectations for each other, etc."; "to developing every character on an almost equal basis." in favor in the 2020 version to "something new [...] namely the idea of Taichi as a hero and the Digimon as combatants. [...] In the opening, Taichi performs a standard battle hero pose: the ol' "Yell while I have got my arms slightly bent and my hands are curled into fists." You've probably seen it in another anime produced by Toei Animation, Dragon Ball Z [...] signifying increasing strength through physical turmoil [...] It's super interesting when applied to Digimon Adventure:, as it seems indicative of the entire direction of the series."[40]

Critics

Digimon Adventure: is "The Worst Anime of 2020" for Anime News Network; according to Christopher Farris of the editorial team, the anime is a "shallow, rudderless effort. It brings me no joy to declare the reboot as being this kind of failure; [...] a wasted attempt. Digimon Adventure: tosses out so much of the exploration, weird mystery, and quirky character work that defined the 1999 classic in favor of exhaustingly escalating fight scenes and unearned power-ups. A series set to run for 60+ episodes must have some degree of planning behind it, but this show regularly feels like the staff have no idea what they're doing and just stalling for time."[41]

For Laura Thornton of Comic Book Resources, Digimon Adventure: has a "fatigued story"; "a show with a single-minded focus: getting its characters from point A to point B while creating spectacle through life-or-death battles... Every. Episode. And it gets tiring, not just for the characters, but for the audience as well.", by highlighting more than 16 episodes straight [out of 30] of non-stop battles, she explains the importance of the fun, light-hearted episodes in the original series "that allowed the first series to be so memorable -- by leveraging the juxtaposition between the fierce fights and silly situations, the original Digimon Adventure was able to make us cry, cheer and laugh within the space of a single episode without it seeming out of place.", but also with more modern models such as My Hero Academia or Avatar: The Last Airbender; "the constant spectacle of over-the-top fights has long grown stale."; "While finally reintroducing some talking Digimon -- rather than making them proper characters with a culture or unique problem -- the show basically turns into damsels in distress, victims who must be protected by Taichi."; she also mentions "many questionable choices", including "the hyper-focusing on Taichi, sidelining the other DigiDestined in favor of episode after episode of showdowns.".[42]

References
  1. "The Spring 2020 Anime Preview Guide". Anime News Network. April 5, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  2. Ashcraft, Brian (April 10, 2020). "Your Autumn 2020 Anime Guide". Kotaku. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  3. Coats, Cayla. "Crunchyroll Announces Spring 2020 Anime Lineup!". Crunchyroll.
  4. "Toei Animation: "Digimon Adventure (2020) FORMAT: 66 eps x 23 min"". toei-animation. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  5. "Digimon Adventure". Anime News Network. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  6. Toonippo: "フジ・生田竜聖アナ、デジモン新作アニメに出演　キャスター役で不定期レギュラー"
  7. ボルケーノ太田 (@volcano_ota) 4/5(日)あさ9時からフジテレビほかにて放送が始まる『デジモンアドベンチャー：』その第一話に、私めも出演させていただいています！約20年前制作者側で携わった作品に、今度は出演者として参できるとは…言葉にできない感慨が(^_^;)3日後の放送をお楽しみに！ April 2, 2020, 10:37 AM. Tweet.
  8. 前田 愛•AiM ベストアルバム発売中 (@ai_max) なんと どこかの話数に風間勇刀さんと一緒に出演させて頂きます！1話を見逃した方は見逃し配信を、これから放送の地域の方は1話から、そして2話以降も是非ご覧ください。色んな意味でビックリしてもらえる役だと思います！楽しみにしてもらえたら嬉しいです✨ #デジモン April 6, 2020, 12:00 PM. Tweet.
  9. 風間　勇刀 (@youtokazama) ついに放送開始しました新作の『デジモンアドベンチャー：』なんと、前田愛さんと一緒に出演させて頂きす！どこでどんな役で出るかは観てのお楽しみなので、お見逃しなく！（*´∀｀）#デジモン #dijimon #デジモンアドベンチャー April 6, 2020, 12:24 PM. Tweet.
  10. Toei Animation: "新デジモン“コモンドモン”が解禁!! 声を担当するのは子供たちに大人気の横山だいすけさん！"
  11. Animation, Toei (March 5, 2020). "Off to a new world, for adventure. The new #Digimon series, "DIGIMON ADVENTURE:" begins airing in Japan on April 5th.pic.twitter.com/NaFX73Lo7B".
  12. "Digimon Adventure Gets New TV Anime Reboot in April Featuring Taichi in 5th Grade". Anime News Network.
  13. "『デジモンアドベンチャー：』再び日曜朝に届ける意味、オメガモン登場、OP演出…制作陣が語る"20年の重み"と新作への志". WHAT's IN? tokyo. 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  14. "VジャンプWEB - Vジャンプ7月特大号「デジモンアドベンチャー Vテイマー01」特別読切掲載記念！ マンガ家 やぶのてんや先生×脚本家 冨岡淳広さんスペシャル対談！ ―VER.VジャンプWEB―｜VジャンプWEB". VジャンプWEB (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  15. "Digimonukkah 2020 Day 1- Digimon Adventure: OST Volume 1- Scans & Breakdown". With the Will // Digimon Forums. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  16. Dennison, Kara. "Digimon Parade Celebrates New Series Premiere in Shibuya and Online". Crunchyroll (in German). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  17. "デジモンアドベンチャー LAST EVOLUTION - 劇場でご覧いただいた皆様、ありがとうございました。".
  18. "Digimon Adventure: (TV) - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  19. Animation, Toei (2020-04-03). "Get ready for a new adventure! Our new series, "Digimon Adventure:" had joined Crunchyroll's Spring 2020 Anime Lineup! Simulcast launches on April 4th! Via @Crunchyroll: https://bit.ly/2R8rq8i #DigimonAdventure #Crunchyroll #Simulcastpic.twitter.com/g4uTNwe1jO". @ToeiAnimation. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  20. Luster, Joseph. "Digimon Adventure: Joins Crunchyroll's Spring 2020 Anime Lineup". Crunchyroll (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  21. "DIGIMON ADVENTURE IN SIMULCAST ON J ONE". Toei Animation. 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  22. ToeiAnimation (@ToeiAnimation). "To All Our Fans:" April 19, 2020. Tweet.
  23. "Digimon Adventure:, Healin' Good Precure Delay New Episodes Due to COVID-19". Anime News Network. April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  24. デジモンウェブ公式 (@digimonweb_net). お知らせ】6月7日(日)朝9時よりTVアニメ「デジモンアドベンチャー：」を第1話からフジテレビほかにて再放送いたします。※地域により放日・時間が異なります。#デジモン #デジモンアドベンチャー" May 31, 2020, 1:28 AM. Tweet.
  25. "Toei Animation Announces Digimon Adventures: Return to Broadcasting". Twitter. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  26. Komatsu, Mikikazu. "Check Out Preview for Digimon Adventure: Theme Song CD by Takayoshi Tanimoto". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  27. Komatsu, Mikikazu. "Takayoshi Tanimoto Belts Out Digimon Adventure: OP Theme Song in Full Music Video". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  28. Komatsu, Mikikazu. "Takayoshi Tanimoto Rocks Out in Digimon Adventure: Insert Song "Be The Winners" Full Music Video". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  29. Komatsu, Mikikazu. "Chiai Fujikawa Delivers Her Powerful Voice in Digimon Adventure: ED Song MV". Crunchyroll (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  30. "Digimon Adventure Debuts New Ending Theme". Anime. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  31. Harding, Daryl. "Maica_n Performs New Digimon Adventure: Ending Theme 'Mind Game'". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  32. Dockery, Daniel. "Digimon Adventure: Is Everything A Good Reboot Needs To Be". Crunchyroll (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  33. "The Digimon Adventure Reboot Is Looking Good". Kotaku. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  34. "Les Digimon sont de retour dans un reboot prometteur". Konbini Biiinge - Le meilleur de la culture série saison après saison (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  35. AlloCine. "ADN, Wakanim, Crunchyroll : les animés du 31 août au 7 septembre : Boruto, Digimon Adventure..." AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  36. "This Week in Anime - Is the Digimon Reboot Worth Watching?". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  37. "Digimon Fans Are Divided About the Reboot - Here's Why". CBR. 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  38. Han, Karen (2020-04-16). "The new Digimon Adventure: anime is moving alarmingly fast". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  39. Reis, Bruno (2020-09-20). "Os problemas de Digimon Adventure 2020 e como um produto na série poderá resolvê-los | OtakuPT" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  40. Dockery, Daniel. "FEATURE: How Behind The Scenes Decisions Changed The Course of Digimon Adventure 2020". Crunchyroll (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  41. "The Worst Anime of 2020 & Mega Poll Results". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  42. "The Digimon Reboot Desperately Needs Some Filler". CBR. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
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