I used to be positively a type of youngsters that checked out Digimon and thought “that appears like a Pokemon ripoff” and simply form of ignored it. It isn’t like I by no means noticed any of the present, I did personal a single VHS tape with a few episodes on it that I watched at the least greater than as soon as, however there was positively one thing lacking for me. Reduce to now, approaching my thirties, and my fellow-Pokemon-only companion and I assumed to ourselves “we could give Digimon a go?” Why we had that thought, I could not let you know, but it surely did really feel like one thing that was lacking in our lives and we needed to fill that hole.
The collection is, unsurprisingly, very a lot a youngsters present. The entire characters and Digimon’s designs are very sellable, dialogue is a bit hammy, the music is extremely late ’90s, early 2000s in vibes, and issues like stats and kinds present up clearly on the display screen so youngsters might simply see what their favorite guys might do. However, we did not truly begin with the collection, as a result of we figured that if we’ll do that, we should always do it proper. Which in flip led us to the Digimon film.
No, don’t be concerned fervent Digimon fan, I am not speaking concerning the terrible amalgamation of three totally different films that hardly makes any sense, I am speaking concerning the authentic one, Digimon Journey. To the uninitiated, Digimon Journey serves as a prologue to the primary Digimon collection, and launched in cinemas the day earlier than the TV present aired in Japan. It is solely a brief little factor, about 20 minutes in size, and what? It is form of unimaginable – and likewise surprisingly scary.
Digimon Journey was truly directed by probably the greatest anime movie administrators round, Mamoru Hosoda, serving as his directorial debut. You will in all probability be extra aware of Hosoda’s different, extra private works like Summer season Wars, The Wolf Youngsters, and extra not too long ago Belle. He is an unimaginable director, and his model actually reveals whilst early as Digimon Journey. However man, he actually managed to pack an entire lot of stress into one little quick movie.
As talked about, Digimon Journey is a prologue, following protagonist Taichi Yagami and his youthful sister Hikari. One night time, Hikari wakes as much as discover unusual issues occurring on the household pc, when an egg seems out of it. The pair then take care of the egg earlier than it hatches into Koromon, just a little pink creature that’s principally only a speaking head with massive ears, who’s largely only a bit foolish. Issues ramp up shortly when Koromon then Digivolves into Agumon, that basic orange dinosaur fella everyone knows and love. And he is form of terrifying?
Within the collection, very like his first type as Koromon, Agumon is only a bit goofy, although he can struggle a bit higher – and notably he is across the similar top as Taichi. Digimon Journey, although, provides a distinct tackle him, as an alternative making him a six to eight foot tall, senseless, aggressive monster. He full on seems like a dinosaur, and appears nonplussed about destroying every part in his path, and when a large chicken Digimon, additionally scary in its manner assaults, it leads Agumon to as soon as once more Digivolve into Gremon, now a t-rex sized monster as fearsome because the basic dinosaur.
Whereas all of this is happening, Maurice Ravel’s Bolero serves as a whimsical soundtrack that actually highlights the surreality of all of it. Keep in mind, Taichi and Hikari are one thing like six and 4 respectively, so they’re completely not age applicable for coping with a kaiju-level risk right here. It’s really a wild movie from begin to end, and I’ve shortly turn into obsessive about it. I have not actually been capable of cease fascinated about it since I watched it.
Digmon the collection is really only a foolish little factor that begins off with a monster-of-the-week format, however Journey really leans into the monster a part of the titular collection’ portmanteau. They’re offered as damaging and violent, even when on the finish of the day Greymon remains to be the youngsters’ pal, and truly asks the viewer to consider the ramifications of such an occasion happening. It feels wildly forward of its time, and extra just like the form of movie you’d get in a publish Pokemon fever world slightly than round when it was strongest.
It is also beautiful, with a lot power packed into two tiny little tykes that actually convinces you they’re truly youngsters with not a lot management over their high quality motor actions. They’re simply immediately charming in a approach I believe few animated works are capable of seize with regards to youngsters, and I believe it actually provides to how a lot stress I felt over them having to cope with large, digital monsters.
I do know that Digimon followers have lengthy stated the unique movies are good, however I assumed in the identical approach that the Pokemon films are good, in that they give the impression of being fairly good, and are a enjoyable strategy to spend an hour, not within the “hey why does not this factor have an Oscar” form of approach. And I definitely did not understand how outright darkish it’s both, however now that I do know, all I can do is say, even should you don’t love Digimon, you must actually watch Digimon Journey.
