DIGIMON

Digimon (デジモン, dejimon?, short for デジタルモンスター dejitaru monsutā, "Digital Monster") is a popular Japanese series of media and merchandise, including anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media. Digimon are monsters of various forms living in a "Digital World," a parallel universe that originated from Earth's various communication networks.

Creatures
Main article: Digimon (creature)
Digimon hatch from eggs called Digi-Eggs. (In the English language iterations of the franchise there is another type of Digi-Egg that can be used to Digivolve, or transform, Digimon. This second type of Digi-Egg is called a "Digimental" in Japanese.) They age via a process called "Digivolution" which changes their appearance and increases their physical powers. Some Digimon act feral, like wild animals. Most, however, possess human intelligence, speech, and personality traits.
The first Digimon anime introduces the Digimon life cycle: they age in a similar fashion to real living organisms, but do not die under normal circumstances because they are made of reconfigurable data. Old Digimon and Digimon who receive fatal wounds dissolve into infinitesimal bits of data. The data then recomposes itself as a Digi-Egg and the Digimon goes through its life cycle again. Digimon who are reincarnated in this way will sometimes retain some or all their memories of their previous lifespan. However, if a Digimon's data is completely destroyed, they will die.

[edit] Virtual pet toy
Main article: Digimon virtual pet
Digimon started out as a digital pet called "Digital Monster," similar in style and concept to the Tamagotchi. It was released by Bandai on June 26, 1997. The toy began as the simple concept of a Tamagotchi for boys (as Bandai was also the creator of the Tamagotchi). The v-pet is similar to its predecessors, with the exceptions of being much hardier and being able to connect to fight other Digimon v-pets. Every owner would start off with a Baby Digimon, train it, evolve it, take care of it, and then have battles with other Digimon owners to see who was stronger. The Digimon pet had several evolution capabilities, so many owners had many different Digimon. In December the second generation of Digital Monster was released, followed by a third edition in 1998.[1]

[edit] TV series
On March 6, 1999, the franchise was given animated form as the first of the Digimon movies aired in theaters in Japan. On March 7, they began airing a television counterpart titled Digimon Adventure. Four further series would follow, each with their own tie-in movies, and the series was dubbed for release in western markets in the fall of the same year. The show spawned card games, with Hyper Colosseum in Japan and later Digi-Battle in America, and more video games. The animated series is easily the best-known segment of the Digimon universe and responsible for the majority of its popularity worldwide.
"Digimon" are "Digital Monsters". According to the stories, they are creatures who inhabit the "Digital World", a parallel universe that is in part a manifestation of Earth's communication network. The stories tell of a group of mostly pre-teens, the "Chosen Children" (DigiDestined in the English version), who accompany special Digimon born to defend their world (and ours) from various evil forces. To help them overcome the most difficult obstacles found within both realms, the Digimon have the ability to evolve (Digivolve). In this process, the Digimon change appearance and become much stronger, often changing in personality as well. The group of children who come in contact with the Digital World changes from season to season.
As of 2006, there have been five series — Digimon Adventure, Digimon Adventure 02, Digimon Tamers, Digimon Frontier, and Digimon Savers. As is obvious from their titles, the first two seasons take place in the same fictional universe, but the third, fourth, and fifth each occupy their own unique world (in the case of Digimon Tamers, the Adventure universe is referred to as a television and commercial enterprise). In addition, each series has spawned assorted feature films. Digimon still shows popularity, as new card series, video games, and movies are still being produced and released. New card series include Eternal Courage, Hybrid Warriors, Generations, and Operation X; a video game: Digimon Rumble Arena 2; and the previously unreleased movies Revenge of Diaboromon, Runaway Locomon, Battle of Adventurers, and Island of Lost Digimon. In Japan, Digital Monster X-Evolution, the eighth TV movie, was recently released, and on December 23, 2005 at Jump Festa 2006, the fifth series, Digimon Savers was announced for Japan to begin airing after a three year hiatus of the show.
Digimon is produced by Toei Animation and Bandai of Japan. The series are broadcast in Japan by Fuji Television.

[edit] Digimon Adventure (season one)
Main article: Digimon Adventure
The first Digimon television series, which began airing on March 7, 1999. Its premise is a group of young pre-teens while at summer camp, become the "DigiDestined" and they are unwillingly forced to save both the Digital and real worlds from evil. Each child was given a "Digivice" which selected them to be "transported" to the Digital World and was destined to be paird up with a Digimon Partner. The Digivices help their Digimon allies to "Digivolve" into stronger creatures in times of peril. The Digimon usually reached higher forms when their human Partners are placed in dangerous situations.

[edit] Digimon Adventure 02 (season two)
Main article: Digimon Adventure 02
The second Digimon series is direct continuation of the first one, which began airing on April 2, 2000. Three years later. With most of the original characters now in high school at age 15, the Digital World was supposedly secure and peaceful. However, a new evil has appeared in the form of Digimon Emperor (Digimon Kaiser) who as opposed to previous enemies is a human just like the Digi-Destined. The Digimon Emperor has been enslaving all Digimon in sight with Black Rings/Control Spires and towers and, to make things worse, has somehow made regular Digivolution impossible. But with that being said, five set Digi-Eggs with engraved emblems had been appointed to three new Digi-Destined along with T.K and Kari, two of the Digi-Destined from the previous season. This new evolutionary process, dubbed armor digivolution, help the new digi-destined conquer over evil luring in the Digital World. Eventually, the Digi-Destined overcome the Digimon Emperor, more commonly known as Ken Ichijouji in the real world only with the great sacrifice of Ken's Digimon, Wormmon. Just when things where thought to be settled, new Digimon enemies created from the de-activated towers start to appear an cause trouble in the Digital World. To atone for his past sins, Ken joins the Digi-Destined with his Partner Wormmon revived to fight against them.

[edit] Digimon Tamers (season three)
Main article: Digimon Tamers
The third Digimon series, which began airing on April 1, 2001, is set largely in a "real world" where the Adventure and Adventure 02 series are television shows, and where Digimon game merchandise (based on actual items) become key to provide power boosts to real Digimon which appeared in that world. The plot revolves around three Tamers, Takato Matsuki, Rika Nonaka, and Henry Wong. It started out with Takato creating his very own Digimon by sliding a mysterious blue card on his D-Arc. Guilmon took form from his Tamers sketchings drawn before his very existence. (Tamers' only human connection to the Adventure series is Ryo Akiyama, a character featured in some of the Digimon video games and who made an appearance in some occasions of the Adventure storyline).

[edit] Digimon Frontier (season four)
Main article: Digimon Frontier
The fourth Digimon series, which began airing on April 7, 2002. After prompted to do so by unusual phone messages, the five main characters go to a subway station and take a train to the Digital World, to fight the antagonist, Cherubimon and his Legendary Warrior servants before they succeed in dominating the world. Later facing a greater ordeal and threat from Lucemon and the two Royal Knights: Crusadermon and Dynasmon. Contrary to the other Digimon series, the characters do not have Digimon Partners and use their Digivices to transform themselves into powerful Digimon to fight their enemies.

[edit] Digimon Savers (Japan only)
Main article: Digimon Savers
After a three year hiatus, a fifth Digimon series began airing on April 2, 2006. Like Frontier, Savers has no connection with the previous installments, and also marks a new start for the Digimon franchise, with a drastic change in character designs and storyline, in order to reach a broader audience. The story focus on the challenges faced by the members of the "Digital Accident Tactics Squad" (DATS), an organization created to conceal the existence of the Digital World and Digimons from the rest of mankind, and solve any Digimon related incidents occurred in the Human World in secret. Later the DATS team is dragged between a massive conflict between the Human and the Digital Worlds triggered by an ambitious human scientist determined to make use of the Digimon to his own personal gains.

[edit] Movies
There have been nine Digimon movies released in Japan. The first seven were directly connected to their respective anime series; Digital Monster X-Evolution originated from the Digimon Chronicle merchandise line. All movies except X-Evolution and Ultimate Power! Activate Burst Mode have been released and distributed internationally.

[edit] International versions
In the United States, the series premiered in August 1999 on the Fox Television Network. It was dubbed by Saban (now called Sensation Animation), and was initially broadcasted through Fox Network's Fox Kids and Fox Family. The first four seasons were retitled Digimon: Digital Monsters.
After Disney acquired Saban during the third series, the first three series moved to ABC Family, while the fourth premiered on UPN and PAX in other areas. This was due to a deal between Disney and UPN, which concluded with Digimon Frontier. Frontier was syndicated on ABC Family shortly after that. Digimon continues to run in syndication on the U.S. JETIX block daily on Toon Disney.
The show also premiered in North America. In Canada, the show was broadcast on YTV under the Saban version. In the U.S. insular area of Puerto Rico, the show was redubbed in Spanish, and in Quebec (Where Digimon Adventure aired on TQS, and Digimon Adventure 02 on Teletoon), the show was redubbed in French. A French version of Digimon Tamers was aired in France, but not in North America.
Internationally, it premiered as well. In the United Kingdom, Digimon aired on the UK Fox Kids (now JETIX) cable/satellite channel and also on CiTV, as well as countries such as Ireland, South Africa, Malaysia, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and others. However, due to poor ratings and licensing mix-ups in the change from Fox Kids to Jetix, Digimon Frontier (the fourth season) has not been shown in any shape or form in the UK, and has been absent from the schedules of Jetix's UK incarnation since the beginning of 2005.
The Latin America version of all the seasons of Digimon are the original Japanese edition without any censorship or cuts.
Arabic dubs of all four Digimon shows were released in Arabic speaking countries under the name Arabic: أبطال الديجيتال‎ (Abtal El Digital; "Digital Heroes") in the Middle Eastern countries. While its title was kept as "Digimon" in Lebanese TV Stations.[citation needed]
This show also aired in the Philippines in early 2000 on ABS-CBN. It would air Friday nights at 7:30PM. ABS-CBN hired Filipino voice actors to dub the show in English. The dubbing has also stuck true to the original, almost. Though they used the original Japanese show as the medium for the dub, some of the voices almost tried to sound like the US version (i.e. Taichi having a teenage voice instead of a kid's) or the dubbing crew decided to voice the characters the way they wanted it (i.e. Gabumon's deep, grumbly voice). The entire first season of Digimon Adventure was dubbed in English, along with Digimon Adventure 02. The second season aired on a new Saturday morning block at 10AM two weeks after the first season finale. This time, only 1/3 of the season was dubbed in English, then later was dubbed in Tagalog, so that it would be compatible with the other shows in the block. Though, the "tagalized" remaining 2/3's of the show we're also still dubbed in English. Later, Cartoon Network Philippines began airing Digimon Tamers around 2003, then Digimon Frontier late 2004. This time they were dubbed by Singaporeans, along with some of the other anime that aired with it. Digimon Savers is yet to be shown. [citation needed]

[edit] Manga
Digimon first appeared in narrative form in the one-shot manga C'mon Digimon, released in the summer of 1997. C'mon Digimon spawned the popular Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01 manga, which began serialization on November 21, 1998.
The Author of maga digimon, is Hiroshi Izawa.

[edit] C'mon Digimon
Main article: Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01#C'mon Digimon

[edit] Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01
Main article: Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01

[edit] Digimon Next
Main article: Digimon Next

[edit] Digimon Chronicle
Main article: Digimon Chronicle

[edit] D-Cyber
Main article: D-Cyber

[edit] Dark Horse
Dark Horse Comics published American-style Digimon comic books, adapting the first thirteen episodes of the English dub of Digimon Adventure in 2001. The story was written by Daniel Horn and Ryan Hill, and illustrated by Daniel Horn and Cara L. Niece. [2]

[edit] Panini
The European publishing company, Panini, approached Digimon in different ways in different countries. While Germany created their own adaptations of episodes, the United Kingdom (UK) reprinted the Dark Horse titles, then translated some of the German adaptations of Adventure 02 episodes. Eventually the UK comics were given their own original stories, which appeared in both the UK's Official Digimon Magazine and the official Fox Kids companion magazine, Wickid. These original stories only roughly followed the continuity of Adventure 02. When the comic switched to the Tamers series the storylines adhered to continuity more strictly; sometimes it would expand on subject matter not covered by the original Japanese anime (such as Mitsuo Yamaki's past) or the English adaptations of the television shows and movies (such as Ryo's story or the movies that remained un-dubbed until 2005). In a money saving venture, the original stories were later removed from Digimon Magazine, which returned to printing translated German adaptations of Tamers episodes. Eventually, both magazines were cancelled.

[edit] Yuen Wong Yu (TOKYOPOP/Chuang Yi) manhua
A Chinese manhua was released by TOKYOPOP in North America and by Chuang Yi in Singapore. It was written and drawn by Yuen Wong Yu, who based its storyline on the television series. Covering Digimon Adventure in five volumes, Digimon Adventure 02 in two and Digimon Tamers in four, the original stories are heavily abridged, though on rare occasions events play out differently than the anime. Three volumes for Digimon Frontier exist, but these have not been released in English.

[edit] Video games (United States)
In the United States, there are eleven digimon games. The earliest ones are for the Sony PlayStation console. (See Digimon World, Digimon World 2, Digimon World 3, Digimon World 4, Digimon Digital Card Battle, Digimon Rumble Arena, Digimon Rumble Arena 2, Digimon Battle Spirit, Digimon Battle Spirit 2, Digimon Racing and Digimon World DS.)

Plot summary
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Traveling to the Digital World was an experience that left the children bewildered. Their Digimon were suddenly thrusted upon them, as well as the concept of having the Digimon Digivolve, or transform into stronger creatures to fend off enemy Digimon. Thus, the children had to learn how to be DigiDestined as they went along.
Soon they learned of the Digital World's plight - that of the evil Digimon intent on ruling it for themselves - and vowed to save it in spite of missing the families they had left behind. The DigiDestined promised to save DigiWorld because they saw that Digimon, though made of data, were as sentient as human beings. They did not want these feeling creatures to suffer; furthermore, it was demonstrated to them that no one else could defeat the Digital World's enemies.
As the plot evolved, the children dealt with various aspects of growing up: making friends, being courageous, standing up for one's morals, etc. Each child was given an object called a "Crest" that embodied a particular personality trait that they had to demonstrate to get their partners to Digivolve. Taichi Kamiya possessed the trait of Courage; Matt Ishida, Friendship; Sora Takenouchi, Love; Mimi Tachikawa, Sincerity; Izzy Izumi, Knowledge; Joe Kido, Reliability; and T.K. Takaishi, Hope. Whether a child could activate his/her Crest or not made for several dramatic moments throughout the series.
Eventually, evil Digimon began crossing a dimensional gate to enter the Real World (what Digimon call planet Earth). The DigiDestined and their partners followed. Specifically, they landed in Odaiba, Japan, the children's hometown. As the DigiDestined battled in the Real World they were joined by an eighth member - Kari Kamiya, Taichi's sister and carrier of the trait of Light. While this was happening, a group of four Digimon called the Dark Masters besieged the Digital World. The eight DigiDestined went there once again (with their Digimon) to defeat the Dark Masters and the final enemy, Apocalymon, the Digimon who created all of the evil Digimon the DigiDestined had faced before. When Apocalymon was destroyed the children went back to Earth, leaving their partners behind. (They were reunited with their Digimon in the movie "Our War Game!".)
The series was highly regarded and garnered millions of viewers. It became the third largest anime export out of Japan, after Sailor Moon and Pokémon.[citation needed]

Villains
Parrotmon (1st Movie): Defeated by a wild Greymon four years prior to the events of the series.
Apocalymon (Apokarimon) (53-54): The villain that originally put the Digital World in danger. The creator of the Dark Masters and the one who gave the DigiDestined's three original enemies (Devimon, Etemon and Myotismon) their powers. Permanently destroyed by the combined efforts of WarGreymon, MetalGarurumon, Garudamon, MegaKabuterimon, Lillymon, Zudomon, MagnaAngemon and Angewomon.
Dark Masters (40-52): The creations of Apocalymon; subjugated DigiWorld while the DigiDestined fought Myotismon on Earth.
MetalSeadramon [40-42 (and 43 in the English dub)][1]: First of the Dark Masters to attack the DigiDestined. Destroyed by WarGreymon.
Puppetmon (Pinnochimon) (40-47): Second Dark Master to attack. Destroyed by MetalGarurumon.
Machinedramon (Mugendramon) (40-49): Third Dark Master to attack. Destroyed by WarGreymon.
Piedmon (Piemon) (40-52): The leader of the Dark Masters. Destroyed by MagnaAngemon, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon.
Devimon (4-13): The first villain the DigiDestined faced. Destroyed by Angemon.
Etemon (15-20, 46-47): Second villain. First destroyed by MetalGreymon, but later returned as MetalEtemon. Permanently destroyed by Zudomon and SaberLeomon.
Myotismon (Vamdemon) (22-39): Third villain. First destroyed by Angewomon, but returned as VenomMyotismon (VenomVamdemon). Destroyed again by WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon. Appears in Digimon Adventure 02 as MaloMyotismon (BelialVamdemon).
Diaboromon (Diablomon) (2nd Movie): Materialized inside the Internet. First appeared as Kuramon but later Digivolved into Tsumemon and Keramon. Digivolved into Infermon while fighting Greymon and Kabuterimon and defeated them before they had a chance to Digivolve. Digivolved into Diaboromon while fighting WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon; nearly defeated them but was destroyed when they DNA Digivolved (combined) into Omnimon for the first time.

[edit] Other DigiWorld characters
Gennai (13-54): An old man created from data who acts as a guide to the DigiDestined. Reappears in Digimon Adventure 02.
Centarumon (Kentarumon) (10-14, 52-54): Guardian of an ancient temple on File Island, the place in DigiWorld the children were first transported to.
Leomon (8-14, 46-47): Protector of File Island. Was given the ability to Warp Digivolve into SaberLeomon after being exposed to a Digivice's power. As SaberLeomon, destroyed by MetalEtemon.
Ogremon (8-13, 46-54): Leomon's rival. Eventually reconciles with him.
Whamon [14, 41-42 (42-43 in the English dub)]: Transported the children and their Digimon to DigiWorld's Server Continent. Later helped them escape MetalSeadramon but was destroyed by him later on.
Piximon (Piccolomon) [18, 40 (40-41 in the English dub)]: Trained the DigiDestined and their partners in battle tactics. Saved the DigiDestined from the Dark Masters but was destroyed by them in the process.
Wizardmon (Wizarmon) (30-37): Gatomon's best friend. Sacrificed himself to save her and Kari from Myotismon.

[edit] Family of the DigiDestined
Susumu & Yuuko Kamiya (Yagami): Tai and Kari's father and mother.
Hiroaki Ishida & Nancy Takaishi (Natsuko): Matt and T.K.'s parents, now divorced.
Toshiko Takenouchi: Sora's mother. Sora is emotionally distant to her at the beginning of the series but resolves her conflicts with her later on.
Keisuke & Satoe Tachikawa: Mimi's father and mother.
Jim Kido (Shin): One of Joe's older brothers. Assists the DigiDestined during the battle against Myotismon. In the Japanese version of the series Joe has two brothers, Shin and Shuu Kido (Shuu appears in Digimon Adventure 02). In the English version the brothers were combined to create Jim.
Masami & Yoshie Izumi: Izzy's adoptive father and mother. They never told him directly that he was adopted but he overheard it during a conversation. This troubles Izzy until his parents reveal to him the truth and he confesses he knew all along.
Note: Joe's parents were never named in either the Japanese or English dubs.

[edit] Episodes
For a list of episodes, see List of Digimon Adventure episodes
Digimon Adventure aired 54 episodes on Fuji TV in Japan from March 7th, 1999 to March 26th, 2000. In the United States it aired on Fox Kids from August 14th, 1999 to June 24th, 2000. In Germany, Digimon Adventure aired on RTL II from August 14th, 2000 to July 7th, 2001.

[edit] Digital World
The Digital World (abbreviated as "DigiWorld") is a parallel universe created from data inside Earth's communications networks. It is the place where all Digimon live, and where the DigiDestined fight the majority of their battles.
DigiWorld's data manifested into a physical form via the wishes of human children. The data reformed inside another parallel universe, a "dream dimension" that has the power to turn mental desires into reality. The Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western ends of the Digital World are individually guarded by one of the four Harmonious Ones, benevolent Digimon who ensure the Digital World's well-being.
When an evil being emerged from beyond the Digital World's Wall of Fire, the Digital World's chronology was warped, throwing it out of sync with Earth, making it much older than it would be under normal circumstances - one Earth minute was equal to one Digital World day. Prophecy foretells that any time the Digital World is threatened by evil, a new group of children from each generation, called the DigiDestined, will come to the Digital World and save it. The DigiDestined for each generation were selected by a mysterious group, charged with the DigiWorld's protection. When the eight children of this generation witnessed a battle between a Greymon and a Parrotmon, the group chose them, and constructed their Digivices, Tags and Crests. A brutal attack by the Dark Masters left the whole group dead, save for Gennai, who was able to escape and hide the DigiDestined’s' Digivices and seven DigiEggs until their time came. When Devimon began to take over File Island with his Black Gears, the time for the DigiDestined to be summoned came, and the Digivices were dispatched, transporting seven chosen children into the Digital World, where they battled with the evil Digimon there.
Myotismon attempted to conquer both the Digital World and Earth by killing the Eighth Child - the predestined eighth member of the DigiDestined. He opened a portal to Earth and led his army on an assault on Central Odaiba in the search for the child, who was eventually revealed to be Kari, little sister of Tai, leader of the DigiDestined. When Myotismon was finally stopped, a rift opened to the Digital World - but it had been horrifically changed. In the few days that the DigiDestined had been back on Earth, years had passed in the Digital World, and the Dark Masters had risen again, and conquered the entire world, reformatting it into the massive Spiral Mountain. When the kids defeated the Dark Masters, they were confronted with the being who had created the four monstrosities - Apocalymon. Apocalymon was bent on sharing his sorrow with the rest of reality, and didn't care if he lived or died in doing so. Thankfully, the kids defeated him. With his defeat, the Digital World began to reformat itself into its original form, free of evil, also putting it back in synch with Earth-time, meaning time would move to the same pace in both worlds. After the battle with Diaboromon, Gennai called the DigiDestined back to the DigiWorld, where they released the powers of their Crests, creating a shield which restored peace to the DigiWorld, expelling all evil