Digimon, Digital Monsters, Digimon Are The Champions (Survive might actually be getting a release date!?)

Here we go! Episode 1!
I quite recently watched the first episode of the Pokemon anime, when I started Luke Loves Pokemon, and I can't help but compare the two. I've said many times that I believe Digimon to be the far superior show, but those things which make it superior drag it down in this first episode. Digimon is much more about characterisation and genuine storytelling. As Balla says, this episode has to introduce a whole cast of seven humans each with a Digimon, plus the concept of travelling to a parallel dimension and all this stuff. Pokemon on the other hand introduced one protagonist, who was already living in their fantasy world, then told a simple story about two characters forming a relationship.

Still, Digimon is fun. The characters are thin at the moment, but you can see hints of who they'll develop into. Balla is bang-on that the monster designs are already dope.

I've been forcing Shen to watch these with me. She liked the monsters and found it very funny when one of them suddenly had a million terrifying teeth in its cute mouth.

Now it's getting real! The first episode struggled from having to introduce such a number of characters but while Pokemon at this point was falling into a pretty dull formula, Digimon's strengths are starting to show. We're gonna be treated to a whole arc of character spotlight episodes. We start with Tai, of course, and his immediately charming friendship with Agumon. Just two hotheaded chaps rushing headlong into danger. Fun stuff.

We also get some other subplots which I was pleasantly surprised to see the show actually deal with- the kids thinking about how they're gonna survive in this world.

Shen was mostly irritated with me telling her she complains exactly like Joe.

And now we have Matt, the Sasuke to Tai's Naruto, he Vegeta to his Goku. The odd brotherly relationship between Matt and TK is actually nicely handled by the show and I think it's gonna hit me more and more as the show goes on. I also like that Gabumon's relationship with Matt is handled very differently to Agumon's with Tai. Rather than two very simialr personalities, they're quite different ones which complement one another.

Cool monsters and good fighting, as ever. How is the island floating? How is Seadramon not only swimming but dragging an island without being animated in any way? Who knows.

At this point Shen, who has zero Digimon nostalgia, mostly had complaints about the dialogue. She's keen to try it with the original Japanese but my internet situation is weak so I need to find a website which lets me download episodes in Japanese.

I'll start this first episode recap by covering the immediate differences I noticed from the dub (albeit with a shaky recollection of the dub) and the original Japanese broadcast. The first bit of culture shock came from the opening - I mean, I kinda love it but the English opening is so memorable. I've found myself humming "woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah" (which is meant to be "wow", according to the subtitles...) and the fact it ends with "OHHHH MYYYYY LOVEEEEE" is incredible.

I also loved them using another vocal track when all the Digimon digivolve for the first time. Seemingly, this is what plays after EVERY evolution (post EP2/3 edit: this is correct). It is an utter banger. Interestingly, the sub referred it to as simply "evolution" - maybe this is something the dub had to alter to avoid further comparisons to Pokémon. The ED isn't as great, I'd say. The vocals aren't to my tastes, but you can make your own mind up.

The overall soundtrack is great though, as is usually the case with anime in general.  The VAs are solid for the most part, but Motimon/Tentomon is a standout as he sounds bizarrely old and I love it. Tai is your typical shounen protagonist - think Goku's Japanese voice and you're not far off - and Matt sounds a bit more mature which suits his character I suppose. The rest are fine besides TK whose screeches will make my ears bleed by the end of this rewatch.

As for some general episode specific observations:

- I chuckled when the kids thought the Digivices might be a pager. Such a dated reference now!
- I didn't realise the place they land is called File Island! I thought that was a Digimon World original location. Go figure.
- Tokomon's teeth are HORRIFYING! I didn't remember that at all and it really caught me off guard.
- It definitely was a setup episode, here's your characters, here's the premise, here's some cool as fuck Digimon, away we go!
- Digimon Adventure is basically an isekai, right? It'd definitely be classed as one if it released now since SAO went and made that a genre for better or worse.
- My memory of Matt was that he was a lot cooler, and maybe he is in later episodes, but he came across as protective and mature more than anything else.

Kuwagamon is a scary bastard too. Imagine seeing that barrel towards you as an 11 year old? Piss pants city.

Onwards to episode 2!

The animation on Gomamon "Marching Fishes" (called Fish Power in the dub, apparently? ) was hilarious, just a wiggly still image. Can't judge too much with it being a 90s show and all. On a sourer note, Patamon's voice is as bad as TK's now... oh boy! On a happier note again, the scene with all the kids chatting with their Digimon during the walk to the beach was pleasant. I like them all being friends.

One thing I've noticed is the clear references to being from Japan, which I don't remember at all in the dub. Do they talk about being from Japan in the dub?

Looking up the soundtrack on YouTube, each of the kids have their own themes. Joe's is INCREDIBLE as it's full of horn and kazoo. More kazoo in my OSTs, please.

The earlier stage monster designs are great, aren't they? I'm not looking forward to the super-embellished later stage Digimen though.

All these urban sights - the phone boxes from last episode, the tram car in this episode along with the random road signs and power pylons - are so bizarre. I can't recall if it's brought up why all this urban street sights are dotted aroud File Island.

Matt was right to push Tai for trying to RIP OFF POOR GABUMON'S PELT. A monster, that child. I forgot Tai and Matt fought often, but that should have been obvious seeing as they easily fall into that Goku/Vegeta or Naruto/Sasuke archetype.

Matt plays the harmonica. Yep, my memory served me well, that's a cool dude right there.

I don't know if the person that wrote the subtitles is just being needlessly edgy or if this accurate, but hearing Tai use terms like "he's pissed" - which he says when Seadramon gets embers on its tail - and "you bastard" seems so out of place for what's effectively a kids show.

I think I'll finish every rewatch by ranking my favourites out of the kids and their Digimon.

The Digidestined:

1) Matt - Cool, calm, mature. Tries hard for his wee bro. Thinks clearly. Best boy. Wins extra points for his sick harmonica solos.
2) Tai - Headstrong, confident, rash. Loses points for trying to scalp Gabumon, but the gang need somebody unflappable like your boy Tai.
3) Joe - Such a dweeb and moans a lot, but I empathise because him freaking out is EXACTLY how I'd react in such a situation. Plus, kazoo.
4) Mimi - A bit of a ditz, but she's made me laugh and has more of an emerging character than the people ranked below her, at least.
5) TK - His voice is ear-grating, but he's a nice lad all told and clearly cares for his onii-chan.
6) Izzy - A bit of a dick, right? He's not done much besides moan and show how clever he is. More to come.
7) Sora - Christ, she's been dull so far. I can't think of one thing she's done of note. She desperately needs her own episode, which is thankfully Episode 4 from the looks of things.

The Digimon Partners

1) Agumon - Strong. Powerful. Likes food and muscles. Kicked Shellmon's ass and yeeted that slimeball into the ocean. Cares a lot for Tai. What's not to love?
2) Gabumon - Fluffy boy that turns into a rad wolf. Again, what's not to love? Loses some points for not really getting up to much outside of his episode, but he had a great showing there so props to our wolf friend.
3) Tentomon - Old man bug is a good lad too. He's clever but in an endearing way unlike his pal Izzy.
4) Gomamon - He just LOVES to swim. Michael Phelps of the Digimon world.
5) Palmon - Made me chuckle with some of her lines, but hasn't had any stand out moments as of yet.
6) Biyomon - Kinda dull so far, like her partner. Earns points for a funny visual gag about trying to fly faster than Patomon.
7) Patomon - The voice of the damned. Cute, but that voice, man. Christ.