Digimon: Digital Monsters (1999–2003)

A group of young teens is unexpectedly sent to the mysterious Digital World and paired up with their own powerful, morphing monster called the Digimon. Together the entire group set out on an adventure to fight evil and save the world.

Stars:

Michael Reisz, Steve Blum, Laura Summer

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Michael Reisz	...	Matt Ishida (110 episodes, 1999-2003)
Steve Blum	...	Beetlemon (98 episodes, 1999-2003)
Laura Summer	...	Patamon (93 episodes, 1999-2003)
Mona Marshall	...	Izzy Izumi (85 episodes, 1999-2003)
R. Martin Klein	...	Gomamon (76 episodes, 1999-2003)
Derek Stephen Prince	...	Veemon (73 episodes, 1999-2003)
Joshua Seth	...	Tai Kamiya (70 episodes, 1999-2003)
Brianne Siddall	...	Tommy Hime (67 episodes, 1999-2003)
Philece Sampler	...	Mimi Tachikawa (61 episodes, 1999-2003)
Colleen O'Shaughnessey	...	Sora Takenouchi (59 episodes, 1999-2001)
Tifanie Christun	...	Biyomon (57 episodes, 1999-2003)
Michelle Ruff	...	Zoe Orimoto (56 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Lindsay	...	Joe Kido (55 episodes, 1999-2001)
Brian Beacock	...	Bokomon (55 episodes, 2001-2003)
Anna Garduno	...	Palmon (52 episodes, 1999-2001)
Dave Mallow	...	Angemon (52 episodes, 1999-2003)
Tom Fahn	...	Agumon (50 episodes, 1999-2003)
Lara Jill Miller	...	Kari Kamiya (50 episodes, 1999-2002)
Edie Mirman	...	Gatomon (49 episodes, 1999-2001)
Wendee Lee	...	TK Takaishi (48 episodes, 1999-2003)
Jeff Nimoy	...	Tentomon (45 episodes, 1999-2001)

Storyline

Seven kids attending a summer camp in Japan are transported to an alternate world linked to ours by the Information Superhighway. That's why it is called Digiworld. The kids make friends with strange creatures called Digimon who become stranger as they "digivolve". During the course of the story, the kids learn that they and the Digimon are the only hope of saving both Earth and Digiworld from total destruction.

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Plot Keywords:

digimon | japan | anime | single father | determination | 

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Taglines:

Champions of the Digital World.

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-Y7

Details

Official Sites:

Disney Fox Kids

Country:

France Japan USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 August 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Digimon 02

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Family, BVS International N.V., Fox Kids Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (205 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The shaded Dark Ocean's undersea master at the end of the episode is Dragomon. He did not appear in the Season 2 episodes after this, but the Dark Ocean reappeared in episode 2.31 "Opposites Attract" (episode 2.13 "His Master's Voice").

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Quotes

Myotismon: Is this what you are looking for?
Wizardmon: Another copy.
Myotismon: Do you think I'd leave the original lying around?

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Crazy Credits

During the 3rd season of Digimon, Laura Jill Miller is still credited as "Kari" and Brian Donovan (I) is still credited as "Davis", but neither of those characters appear in the 3rd season.

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Connections

Referenced in Are We There Yet? (2005)

User Reviews

Digimon - not a Poke-ripoff

I'll admit, when I first saw the commercials for "Digimon" a year ago, I automatically thought it was some sort of "Pokemon" spinoff. Sure, the two share some common ground - spunky kids hooking up with cute little monsters that evolve into big, less-cute monsters - but the similarities end there.

I won't insult anyone's intelligence, most of all my own, by trying to compare the two series point by point - I'm not at all familiar with "Pokemon", though I get the feeling that if you've seen one episode of this series, you've seen 'em all. But "Digimon" simply seems to be a more thoughtful and engaging series than its predecessor: the character designs are inventive, mixing nature with technology; the colour palette is varied, contrasting the brightly-hued Digimon and human kids with comparatively subdued backgrounds; the digital world into which the children stumble is a place full of mystery and wonder, evoking an atmosphere reminiscent of CS Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia".

The characters themselves are well-rounded and fully realised, not the cookie-cutter stereotypes one would initially take them for. Not one of the children who leaves the digital world is the same person they were upon arriving there; throughout the numerous cataclysmic battles and far-reaching story arcs, the characters undergo intense changes, becoming stronger, braver, and more mature as they call upon the powers that lie within them. The relationships - among the children themselves and between each child and his digital counterpart - are by turns humorous, intriguing, and heartfelt.

Of course the show is not without its flaws - the animation is occasionally lacklustre; seeing the same transformation scenes over and over again can grow tiresome; and several episodes suffer from poor writing. But, in my opinion, these problems are outweighed by the tightly-woven plotline and spot-on characterisations.

Say what you will about "Digimon", but it truly is in a class by itself.