In Light of the New Digimon Story Game, We Need To Talk About Digimon: The Movie

In my childhood, both Pokemon and Digimon held a special place in my heart. I was captivated by the Pokemon games and trading cards, but when it came to anime, my preference leaned towards Digimon. Many of my earliest memories revolve around debating with my parents about their plans to leave home during new episode airings. The release of “Digimon: The Movie” in America was an exciting event I eagerly anticipated. To this day, the movie remains the first thing that springs to mind when I think about Digimon. With a brand new Digimon Story game on the horizon, it feels like the perfect moment to revisit and appreciate the nostalgic charm.

Is the movie “Digimon: The Movie” somewhat chaotic and confusing? Indeed, it is. Yet, the soundtrack, particularly Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week,” remains exceptional to the point where hearing it still brings back memories of Sora and Tai’s montage from the film. Despite my affection for its witty jokes and references, I, even as a younger viewer, sensed that something about the movie felt slightly out of tune.

Among the factors that made me choose Digimon over Pokemon when I was younger was its storyline. Unlike Pokemon, which followed an episodic format with a vague, far-off objective, Digimon: Digital Monsters had coherent, skillfully developed seasonal narratives. Additionally, it featured more fully developed characters that I could develop crushes on, which played a significant role in my personal life at that time.

The Movie” wasn’t as polished as I had hoped. The story jumps across years and includes brief scenes each with their own climax, which seem to overlap into the next. Although it was nice to see older versions of characters like TK and Kari from the second series, I wished the story was more coherent. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered what I had suspected – “Digimon: The Movie” is not a single film but a compilation, pieced together from parts of three different Japanese movies.

It’s Hard to Rewatch Digimon: The Movie… But Will a New Game Change That?

In “Digimon: The Movie,” the diverse plotlines mirror the first three films as they were initially shown in Japan. The initial installment, “Digimon Adventure,” released in 1999, introduces us to Tai and Kari’s encounter with their first Digimon companion. Interestingly, at the start of “Digimon: The Movie,” we see Kari and Tai meeting a unique Aguman character, unlike the one who would eventually partner with Tai. If this feels somewhat unexpected, it’s because the movie sets up some prequel-like elements to explain why things unfold in such an unusual way.

In essence, the remaining parts of “Digimon: The Movie” draw inspiration from films number two and three. The battle against Diaboromon, which is somewhat connected to the virus Willis unintentionally summoned from his virtual digi-egg, echoes the plot of a 2000 Digimon title called “Our War Game”. As for Kokomon’s later events, they are reminiscent of “Hurricane Touchdown”, another Digimon film released in 2000. In summary, the seemingly disjointed storyline of Digimon: The Movie is derived from more developed films, which might explain why some scenes feel inconsistent with each other.

Back in late 2000, when “Digimon: The Movie” debuted in the US, tracking down more information about it wasn’t as straightforward as it is now. As a devoted fan, I can attest that many of us were unaware for years that these seemingly disconnected scenes held richer narratives. Despite being a box office success, “Digimon: The Movie” has an intricate history. And by intricate, I mean there’s no simple way to stream it when the wave of nostalgia strikes. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been made available on any streaming platform. Your best bet is an old VHS or DVD tape – but only if you still have one!

Towards the end of last year, it seemed like Bandai was subtly hinting at the upcoming announcement of “Digimon Story: Time Stranger” by re-issuing “Digimon: The Movie” as part of the “Digimon The Movies 1-3 Collection.” This updated edition brings back the classic chaos in its entirety, but what truly excites me is the inclusion of fresh English dubs for the original trilogy. As a Digimon enthusiast, this means I can indulge in a wave of nostalgia while also enjoying an improved viewing experience!

Although it simplifies things somewhat, obtaining this collection isn’t inexpensive or readily available. It typically costs around $30 on Blu-Ray. Given that many people nowadays lack devices capable of playing physical discs, I can only hope that the buzz surrounding Digimon Story: Time Stranger catches the eye of a streaming service. I still have my old DVD of Digimon: The Movie and a PS5 with a disc drive, but for those who don’t, I yearn for them to experience the nostalgia, the witty dialogues, and the reason behind my frequent utterance of “One step ahead of ya, Tai,” in casual chats.

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2025-02-26 04:39