Digimon Tamers

Digimon Tamers
Digimon Tamers
デジモンテイマーズ
(Dejimon Teimāzu)
Genre Action[1]
Anime television series
Directed by Yukio Kaizawa
Produced by Hiromi Seki
Kyotaro Kimura
Written by Chiaki J. Konaka
Music by Takanori Arisawa
Studio Toei Animation
Licensed by
Saban Entertainment (2001–2002)
BVS Entertainment (2002–2010)
Saban Brands (2012–2018)
Hasbro Studios (2018–present)
Original network Fuji TV
English network
Cartoon Network (Philippines)
M-Net (K-TV)
Original run April 1, 2001 – March 31, 2002
Episodes 51
Anime film
Battle of Adventurers
Directed by Tetsuo Imazawa
Written by Yasuko Kobayashi
Music by Takanori Arisawa
Studio Toei Animation
Released July 14, 2001
Runtime 50 minutes
Anime film
Runaway Locomon
Directed by Tetsuji Nakamura
Written by Hiro Masaki
Music by Takanori Arisawa
Studio Toei Animation
Released March 2, 2002
Runtime 30 minutes
Manga
Written by Yuen Wong Yu
Published by Rightman Publishing Ltd.
English publisher
Original run April 2004 – October 2004
Volumes 4
Related works

Digimon Tamers (デジモンテイマーズ, Dejimon Teimāzu), commonly referred to as Digimon 3, is the third anime television series of the Digimon franchise, produced by Toei Animation.[2] Unlike Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02, Tamers takes place in a different universe, where the first two seasons are the main series. The spin-off takes place in the real world and revolves around collectible card games based on the series. It is known for darker undertones and story plots, taking darker routes than the previous series. It became controversial over the decade, with debates about how appropriate it actually is for its "target" audience, especially due to Lovecraftian horror for the last arc. The English dub is more lighthearted dialogue-wise, though still not as much as previous series. Tamers aired in Japan from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002. The English-language version by Saban Entertainment aired in North America from September 1, 2001 to June 8, 2002. A manga adaptation by Yuen Wong Yu ran from April to October 2004.

Plot

Takato Matsuki, Henry Wong and Rika Nonaka create the DigiDestined group called "Tamers", a group of humans who create each of their own partners, using a blue card and the D-Power. They defeat foreign ones to obtain data.

When Yamaki uses his project (the Juggernaut program) to send every Digimon back to the Digital World, the Devas invade the Real World. One of them captures and sends Calumon back to the Digital World. Impmon seeks revenge, when he makes a deal with a voice of the Digimon Sovereigns. When Takato and his friends enter a portal to the Digital World, they recruit Ryo Akiyama. They defeat the rest of all Devas, except Antylamon whom Suzie befriends. When Impmon inadvertently kills Leomon and Jeri Katou falls into depression, Takato fights with Impmon, until Jeri stops them. The Tamers meet and battle Zhuqiaomon, until Azulongmon intervenes. The Sovereigns inform them that the D-Reaper is designed to make the digital life out of control and Calumon is the embodiment of digivolution. When the D-Reaper kidnaps Jeri and appears in the human world, the agents upload a variant program, sending the D-Reaper back to the Digital World, and allowing Takato and his friends to escape. With both worlds restored, the children are forced to say goodbye to their Digimon partners, when they end up returning to the Digital World by the effects of the program. The series ends with Takato discovering the portal in the tunnel under his hiding place.

Production

After the success of Digimon Adventure 02, Hiroyuki Kakudo and other members could not figure what series do after that. The team was satisfied with the release of Digimon Tamers, as Kakudo believed the setting could have also been applied in the previous anime. Writer Chiaki J. Konaka was concerned about the portrayal of the Digimons as kind-hearted creatures in the first two TV series might affect "the monster-like spirit of Digimon." As a result, Konaka used this series to examine what is a Digimon and their nature. Konaka wanted to explore how Digimons' nature is that of harming other creatures to become stronger since they did not possess morals. Digimons would now need to learn lessons from their comrades and become more civilized. This would be primarily explored through Guilmon due to his primitive nature. Konaka was also worried about evolutions losing impact due to their repetitiveness. In order to solve this, the new Digivice was designed so that it could be used alongside cards to give the characters another "ace up sleeve." The writer wanted to limit the use of cards to one at a time. The main characters being more responsible of the evolutions and their adventures was another of Konaka's priorities as a message to children from modern society.[3] For the last episodes of the series, Konaka believed the final enemy should neither be a human or a Digimon and created the D-Reaper.[4]

Originally, the main cast from the first two television series was set to appear as secondary characters. They would have been the protagonists' mentors even though Takato and his friends were going through a different adventure. In the end, this idea was scrapped and only Ryo from the WonderSwan games was used.[3] Early during the making of the series, Konaka had conceptualized the idea of the Tamers combining with their Digimon to reach the highest level of evolution, Mega. Shinji Aramaki joined the team in the making of the CGI which including the Biomerge scenes.[5]

For the atmosphere Konaka was unwilling to introduce the idea of Digimon being reborn following their deaths. He believed death should not be treated lightly in a show for kids especially considering how the main characters are constantly risking their lives. As a result, the staff decided to portray the shocking event of a death in the series. Leomon was the chosen Digimon to die even though Konaka had doubts about it since another Leomon already died in the first TV series.[6] While the anime proved to be dark, Konaka believes it was benefitted by the roles of Terriermon and Calumon who managed to balance the mood.[7]

Media

Anime television series

The series aired 51 episodes on Fuji TV in Japan from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002.

The English-language version produced by Saban Entertainment aired on Fox Kids in the United States from September 1, 2001 to June 8, 2002, receiving various changes to character names, music and sound effects, as well as edits pertaining to violence and cultural references, even though the setting of the country is still kept as in Japan and the cards retain their original Japanese formats, Japanese text and artwork. The Japanese version of Digimon Tamers (with English subtitles) was released on Hulu in February 2011. New Video Group release the dubbed version as a DVD boxset in North America on June 11, 2013.[8]

The series was added to the Netflix Instant Streaming service on August 3, 2013 in separate English dubbed and Japanese subtitled versions. The initial subtitles used were incomplete and contained many translation errors, as well as incorrect timing, and Toei has responded by gradually replacing the older subtitles with newer, more accurate tracks beginning the day of the initial series upload. The series was removed on August 1, 2015, after nearly two years on Netflix when Crunchyroll acquired streaming rights to the English dubbed versions and Funimation acquired rights to the English subtitled versions, the English dubbed version of Tamers returned to Netflix while the English subtitled version of Tamers are now exclusive to Funimation.

Theme songs

Opening theme
Ending themes
  • "My tomorrow" by AiM
    • Episodes: 1-23
  • "Days -Aijō to Nichijō-" (Days-愛情と日常-, "Days (Love and Everyday)") by AiM
    • Episodes: 24-51
Insert songs

Anime films

Digimon Tamers 1984

This short story, written by Chiaki J. Konaka and illustrated by Kenji Watanabe, was published in 2002 in Volume 5 of SF Japan, a Japanese science fiction magazine. "Tamers 1984" was intended for a more mature audience, specifically the adult fans of Digimon Tamers, and focused on the creation of the original Digimon program by the Monster Makers at Palo Alto University in the United States. It revolved around the roles and thoughts of each of the Monster Makers, and dealt largely with the philosophical and technological issues surrounding the creation of artificial intelligence.

Audio dramas

Two audio dramas taking place after the anime series' epilogue written by Chikaki J. Konaka have been released; Digimon Tamers: Original Story Message in the Packet in 2003[9] and Digimon Tamers 2018: Days - Information and the Unordinary in 2018.[10]

Original Story Message in the Packet The first audio drama takes place about a year after the conclusion of the series. The Tamers have yet to be reunited with their Digimon Partners, but the Monster Makers have discovered a way in which the Tamers may be able to send messages to the Digital World. However, it's not certain if it'll work, or if their Partners will receive their messages. But with the memories and love for their Partners guiding them, the Tamers each make their own emotional and heartfelt messages, hoping that their Partners will hear them. They talk about the past, their plans for the future, how they've changed, and most of all, how important they believe that their Partners were to them, and convey the hope and certainty that will meet up with each other once again.[9]

2018: Days - Information and the Unordinary The second audio drama begins two years after the conclusion of the original series. The drama revolves around Takato being transported by Yamaki into the year 2018, in order for him and the other Tamers to reunite with their Digimon Partners to stop a new threat more dangerous than the D-Reaper from destroying the world.[11]

Reception

Due to its differences from the first two Digimon series, Tamers received mixed reviews when it first aired in the United States (September 1, 2001). Tim Jones of THEM Anime writes, "Although Digimon Tamers has its faults (slow character development, a sudden change in new characters from the last series, and a less-than-exciting first half), the more you watch it, and the further you get into it, the more you'll enjoy it." In comparison to the first two series, Tamers also displayed darker undertones in its plot.[12] According to English-language dub voice actor Dave Wittenberg, the new series possessed "an element of seriousness" that was not present in the first two series. Additionally, some parts would be better understood by older viewers due to the introduction of more difficult concepts.[13] Jacob Chapman of Anime News Networks notes that Tamers is by far the most terrifying, and at certain points disturbing season of Digimon ever produced, due to Konaka's Lovecraft-fueled influence.[14] Regarding this, Konaka believes that Calumon and Terriermon were able to tone down the grim and serious atmosphere of the occasionally tough scenes throughout the series.[15]

The airing of the series coincided with the September 11 attacks, and in at least one case, the events have been analyzed within the context of the series. Margaret Schwartz of PopMatters writes, "As NPR and other […] media began to debate the September 11 images, I began to see just how important it was to consider how we as a culture define and experience 'reality' […] Some argue that the shocking video footage […] is a necessary experience of the catastrophe—even a condition of it." She points out the metafictional story of Tamers where "bits of forgotten computer data have fused to become a separate world inhabited by live creatures". In acknowledging the line drawn between good and evil in the series, Schwartz writes, "The evil here consists in refusing to see that Digimon are 'real', real creatures, and that destroying any one of them is in fact murder." Through the existence of intangible communication networks as a "product of human ingenuity", she concludes that "those of us in the 'real' world have become so good at playing creator, at making 'things' appear much like 'real' creatures, that we tend to confuse the two."[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Digimon Season 3 Digimon Tamers DVD". Right Stuf Inc. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Digimon Tamers : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". Dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  3. 1 2 "Early Planning". Konaka. September 29, 2000. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  4. ↑ "ADR Variations". Konaka. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Design Works bv Shinji Aramaki". Konaka. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Leomon". Konaka. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Terriermon". Konaka. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  8. ↑ "New Video Group Confirms Digimon Tamers on Dubbed DVD". Anime News Network. 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  9. 1 2 English translation of Digimon Tamers CD Drama
  10. ↑ ""Digimon Tamers" Blu-ray Box to Include Newly-Recorded Special Drama". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  11. ↑ "[drama cd] digimon tamers: days ~information and the unordinary~ | Digital Scratch". digitalscratch.pmsinfirm.org. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  12. ↑ Jones, Tim. "Digimon Tamers". THEM Anime. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  13. ↑ McFeely, Chris (August 2002). "Interview With Dave Wittenberg". The Digimon Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  14. ↑ Mullis, Justin (February 12, 2013). "Robot Lords of Tokyo: Lovecraftian Anime". Lovecraft eZine. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  15. ↑ Konaka, Chiaki (2002). "Terriermon". Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  16. ↑ Schwartz, Margaret (October 8, 2001). "Real Consequence". PopMatters. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
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