#ultimate digivolve

[lemurballing]

so i HAD a plan for digimon!tangle’s ultimate/perfect stage form (a custom design with kinda weregarurumon or maybe bancholeomon style) but unfortunately i’ve just had a really cooler idea for that stage: doruguremon

it’s got MULTIPLE tails LITERALLY tangled (braided) together!!! and if you look at the DEATH-X variant:

then they unwind around a central installed metal tail…

so a tangle variant could have the separate-able tails, maybe with a tail ring that holds them braided, but then she can take it off and use them separately… and also doruguremon is big and soft-looking, which matches tailmon/cattamon being a champion/adult level but still looking small and cutesy…

[taomyou]

digimon fan!nerdjo headcanons (crest edition)

i assigned gojo the crest of light in nerds do it better and i want to explain my reasoning for that since i think it's a neat detail. let me know if you have any other questions or curiosities about the digimon related details i put in that fic, and i'll make another one of these posts ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊ mild digimon adventure 01 spoilers. mild angst but overall very happy and feel-good. also thanks for 100 followers :P background info: a crest is a symbol, and in the digimon anime, the main characters (referred to as "the digidestined") are given necklaces with a crest that correspond to their most prominent trait (ex: courage, love, friendship, etc). the crest will light up once the trait is fully realized, and their digimon partner will digivolve to ultimate level. the crests in the anime have specific colors (sincerity, light, knowledge, etc), but a lot of people nowadays custom order them to fit their own preferences. it's also fairly common practice in the digimon fandom to assign yourself a crest read nerds do it better here and other digimon fan!nerdjo headcanons here

digimon fan!nerdjo who watched Digimon Adventure 01 and 02 because they had DVDs of it at the local library near his childhood home. he'd go on to watch the other seasons, of course, but Adventure holds a special place in his heart as the first piece of media he ever really connected with as a young boy. the feelings of grief, loss, heartbreak, and found family he felt when he watched it for the first time stay with him, even though he was barely 8 and couldn't really process what was happening

digimon fan!nerdjo whose favorite Digimon Adventure character as a child was tai. i mean, he's the main character, why wouldn't gojo think he's the coolest of the original digidestined? gojo got an agumon plushie for christmas the same year he started renting out the DVDs from the library, too, so it makes sense that gojo favored that duo over the others. sure, gojo still liked all the other characters, but, as a kid, he also really looked up to tai. gojo was never really all that outgoing growing up, always stuck at tutoring or the activities his parents forced him into, so it was easy to admire a character whose primary trait was courage. gojo could hardly stand up for himself to his coaches and tutors, nevermind his own family, so he dreamt of, one day, receiving the crest of courage and finally having the willpower to do what he actually wanted to

digimon fan!nerdjo who, honestly, just didn't really like the color orange, so he never bought the necklace associated with the crest he wanted. he still wanted to think courage would be the crest he'd have, even if it didn't feel like it fit him at all, but he's not going to wear an orange necklace if he doesn't have to

satoru gojo who didn't have time to indulge in digimon anymore. he'd spent so much time watching the series, playing the games, collecting trinkets as a kid, but his parents decided it was time for him to finally grow out of it before he started middle school. it didn't bother him that much—he knew it was a kid's show—but part of him still wished he was allowed to keep it close to him. turns out, the crest of courage never really was meant for him. he still kept all the goggles he wore in his room, his agumon plushie is still at his pillow every night, and he sometimes doodles calumon's Zero Unit when he's bored in class, but digimon becomes a childhood memory that he can't afford to hold onto anymore when he has more responsibilities

satoru gojo who, between the summer of his first and second year of high school, passed by that old library again after grabbing a quick bite to eat with his friends, and came inside to see whether or not the Adventure DVDs were still there. just for nostalgia's sake, really. he didn't expect to run into the library technician from when he was in primary school to be there

"oh, gojo! it's been a while since we've seen you around, the staff all miss you dearly! what're you up to these days? are you still into those digimon things?"

gojo blinks at her, surprised that she even remembers him after so many years. granted, he'd sit at the tables in their children's area after school and color in Digimon coloring pages the librarians would print out for him when he had nowhere else to be and nobody to watch him (which was... pretty often, actually), but he didn't think anyone would notice he'd been gone

"just school, after-school clubs, spending time with my friends," he smiles nervously. "and, uh, not really." it's a strange feeling: being brought back to the past

satoru gojo who, despite his answer, gets pulled to a section of the library where the DVDs are kept and is shown all the new digimon DVDs on the shelves. all the seasons of the anime, the movies, there's even a few game discs tucked in-between them. the library tech tells him that they'd been slowly building the collection because some of the other children that came around became curious about the Digimon coloring pages that were hung up in the study area, but that gojo never came back around by the time it was actually being put together

satoru gojo who leaves the library with the same Adventure DVDs he loaned out when he was a kid, and sneaks them into his room so his parents don't ask why he's so jittery. he puts them into the DVD player, and he sits crisscross applesauce on the floor as the TV lights up and the menu screen appears, the nostalgic beeps and techno sounds filling the dark

satoru gojo who bawls his eyes out for the rest of the night, feeling all those feelings he'd felt the first time he watched this when he was a young boy. sure, the writing is clunky at times, some of the characters make awful decisions that make him want to break the television screen, and the Digi-Rap is much cornier than he remembered it being, but the story has all the heart he remembers it having and even more. he couldn't properly appreciate everything it had to offer when he was a child, but now that he's older and seen a tiny bit more of the world, he sees the show for what it is. his glasses are long abandoned, too much of an inconvenience when he has to company wipe away his tears with his blankets

satoru gojo whose eyes have already run out of tears to cry by episode 37 of season 1, "Wizardmon's Gift." instead, he has to turn off the TV and sit in the darkness of his room to reflect. he's watched wizardmon die before, but he only now fully understands how much it meant for kari to activate her crest, digivolve gatomon into angewomon, and finally kill her abuser. he thinks about kari, how she never gave up, even when gatomon resisted their partnership and would run away all the time. he eventually gets up from the floor and turns the TV back on to finish the rest of the season, occasionally having to switch in DVDs as the episodes go on, but it stays with him that the crest of light resonates with him deeply, even if he can't quite pinpoint why

satoru gojo who spends the rest of his summer replaying what he watched as a kid, watching what's come out since, and catching up on everything he's missed. it's a lot to get through, but considering this summer is the only free time he's going to have, he figures he might as well make the most of it. he hides it as best he can, biting his tongue when he sees something out in public that reminds him of a moment in the anime or when he wants to make a reference to a game, but there's moments he slips up and mentions staying up late to beat a final boss or catches himself smiling at random alleyways that remind him of backgrounds in the anime. nobody seems to really care, which confuses him, but he still keeps it to himself

satoru gojo who hesitates at his desk, looking at the ordering site. he'd found the link on a fandom forum page, and it's going to be his final goodbye to the Digital World. not like anyone would be able to even identify the necklace as Digimon-related, anyway, so it wouldn't be any issue if he were to order one for himself. he has no idea what crest to choose now, though

satoru gojo who knows already that some of them are absolutely not befitting of him. the crest of love when he isn't even sure he's ever loved anything at all, the crest of friendship when he's only just started making real friends when he'd started high school and met suguru and shoko, the crest of knowledge when he's barely interested in anything in school apart from physics. he thinks harder on it; what crest could possibly fit him? it's his one shot at keeping the Digital World close to him, so he's gotta get it right this time

satoru gojo who takes an online quiz to try and figure it out that way. there's hundreds of them around, one of them's gotta be right. on his first try, he gets assigned courage, then sincerity, then knowledge, then courage again. it really isn't any help to his dilemma. it's partially his fault, he thinks, because he's probably not honest enough with himself to do these quizzes properly and actually get results that fit him, but whatever. he gets frustrated after another hour or three later when he still can't come to any realizations about it, so he clicks back to the ordering site

satoru gojo who just orders the crest of light in the color blue. he figures, if he can't figure out what crest actually fits him, he'll go with the one with his favorite design. he enjoyed kari's arc in the show the most anyway in his most recent rewatch, so he doesn't mind that his heart isn't entirely in it (yet)

satoru gojo who gets his crest necklace in the mail a few weeks later. his friends are over at his house, lounging around and eating snacks before they need to head out for karaoke. he opens the package in front of them, forgetting what it was, and they're all decently confused when they sit around him and he's pulling out the necklace tag. gojo's praying and praying that none of them can recognize it, and, thankfully none of them say anything. he rushes to his room to put it away in his desk drawer, and the group of them are out the door and off to go meet with the others at the private room they had booked

satoru gojo who comes home and tries on the necklace before going to bed. it feels weird on him, strangely warm against his always-cold body, but he figures it's just his throat killing him from going too hard on his solo song. can't even be mad about it, he knows he was born to sing "Clarity" at the top of his lungs. if not that, then the pain is from him, Shoko, Nanami, and Haibara going at it on "Heart Attack." he goes to lay down with the necklace still on, fiddling with the tag as he tries to find sleep, and he finds it quickly enough

satoru gojo who starts wearing the necklace underneath all his clothes, only ever taking it off to shower. it becomes a good luck charm at some point: a good maths test score here, a win for his favorite basketball team there, a snowy day when he needs an excuse to not go to a family dinner party. sometimes the tag will pop out over his clothes and someone will ask what necklace he's wearing, but he just waves them off and tells them it's just because it matches his eyes

satoru gojo who feels like an imposter wearing it. he hardly even understands what the crest of light even means, so why's it become so engrained in the way he regards himself? he does little things here and there to try and understand it better: goes out of his way to rewatch the relevant episodes through clips on youtube, reflects on what parts of the crestholder's arc feel relatable to him, tries to be... lighter on himself

satoru gojo who swears nothing's changed—he still pays close attention in his studies, he still loiters in convenience store parking lots with his friends after-school, he still attends robotics even though he's sure their bot isn't winning any damn awards this season—but people around him start noticing something

satoru gojo looks... happier

satoru gojo who unknowingly willed himself to realize the crest of light in his own right. his light, now found in-between the pages of his search for the meaning of some unspoken part of his character, rubs off on those around him. he drags shoko with him when she mentions needing someone to go look at backpack accessories with, he offers to drive them to the nearby tea shop suguru likes when he notices that his friend needs a pick-me-up, he lends nanami the chemistry notes from when he missed class for his family's trip to malaysia at the beginning of spring (...he also slides him a copy of the answers for the stoichiometry quiz nanami missed and had to retake; neither of them ever bring it up again, but nanami buys him a carton of strawberry milk later that week as his own thank you)

satoru gojo who gets asked by haibara what his necklace means at a pool party during the summer before his third year of high school. the two of them are lounging at the pool chairs, relishing in their victory in the group's three-way chicken fight while the others are duking it out for second place. and maybe it's because haibara is so easy to talk to or because the weather is great that day and he thinks his words will disappear in the wind (or maybe he's finally come to terms with the fact it means so much to him now), but he tells him. just about unloads a lifetime's worth of Digimon lore, story beats, digivolution mechanics. haibara listens as he takes bites from his watermelon slice, nodding enthusiastically as gojo rambles even though he's got no idea what's really going on

satoru gojo who decides, from that point on, that the crest of light does, indeed, suit him perfectly, and that there's no point in hiding his fascination with the franchise anymore. his parents disapprove, telling him that he needs to focus his attention on other things, but there's only so much they can lecture him for when his grades remain as stellar as they've always been. they're not really around often enough, anyway, so gojo doesn't really care about what they have to say about it anymore

satoru gojo who is loud about his rediscovered obsession. he plasters stickers all over his car, his friends know to each pitch in ¥50 so he can grab a DTCG booster pack on their walks home after school at the comic book store, and he assigns them all their own crests and gets them the corresponding necklaces in their favorite colors that christmas (which they all keep safe in its original packaging and on their nightstands, not that gojo needs to know that). they wear the necklaces whenever they think gojo needs something to cheer him up, though, or whenever he has a class presentation because they know he'll look for them in the crowd. at his graduation, they all even took pictures together at the front gate with their crests glowing under the afternoon sun, and gojo swore he'd never cried happy tears like that before

digimon fan!nerdjo who hums when, years later and on a walk to his car after a study/DTCG session at the library, you ask why he wears the crest of light. the two of you have been friends for months now, meeting up on campus to study together, play DTCG, and try as many desserts in your little college town as possible, but the topic of your crest assignments never came up before. gojo smiles wistfully, reaching up to tug at his crest tag, and he looks over at you, your crest of sincerity tag glowing under the sunset rays

digimon fan!nerdjo who's glad that, after so many years of feeling misunderstood, he has someone who he knows will listen to him in earnest about his interests and can really understand him. as soon as he opens his mouth to answer, you're right there with him, hanging off his every word and asking questions that he knows how to answer from his heart, and he feels his crest glowing

anyways go read nerds do it better

[nintendomariobros4]

Koromon apologizes to everyone for all of the damage he caused when he was SkullGreymon, Tai takes responsibility, saying that because he had a crest, he thought that it meant that he had to fight by himself.

it connect to this three post i did awhile back.

Beginning Tai trying get Agumon Digivolve to Ultimate

Evil Greymon

SkullGreymon

Digimon Adventure: Episode 16 (1999)

[harmonyloveangels1990]

Open Public RP (Male, Female, or Futa only)

Gatomon or rather Angewomon is your muse's Digimon partner. She met your muse after coming from the Digital World to the Human World. Protecting them from an evil Digimon. Gatomon later Digivolved to her Ultimate-form, better protecting your muse from any danger.

Along with satisfying their needs too. Angewomon was aware of human sexuality due to the stories the other female Digimon have told her. So, she was already ready for it. She just didn't realize how much your muse wanted this.

"While I understand you want to do this right here right now, would you not feel better if we did this more in the privacy of your home?" Angewomon asked your muse while they were out in the open in a forest.

((Have some fun with her, while can be an older male/female or even shota, either one works))

[otakween]

Digimon World: Dusk (AKA Digimon Story Moonlight) - Final Thoughts

Another Digimon game done and dusted, woohoo! I finally played the game that JaidenAnimations made a video about (kinda). I definitely enjoyed it more than her, but I get her frustrations at the same time. Navigation was pretty ridiculous and most of the game was dumb side quests. Even though it expanded on the first Digimon Story game a bit, I definitely preferred Digimon World DS for its simplicity. I did really dig the aesthetics of this one though (pink and purple ftw!)

While a lot of the gameplay was tedious, all of the stuff I appreciated from the first game are still here. Great pixel art, fun digivolving mechanics, cool bosses, and a colorful world to explore. Overall, I thought it was a good time. Maybe it helped that I went in fully knowing what to expect and already understanding how to play?

Notes:

For a series called Digimon "Story" the story is always the weakest part. Like...what even was this story? It seemed like all of the usual nonsense to me. Every single digimon villain wants to rewrite the world and awaken the ultimate digimon yadda yadda yadda. The annoying thing in this one were all the weird inscrutable words they used. Of course I didn't write these down, but I remember at some point they wanted me to find the "D WORD" and I had no idea wtf a d word was nor did they ever explain it. Also, they suddenly called me a "real being" at the end which felt weird cuz it was the first time they used that phrase. The villain also mentioned "digi entelecheia" once or twice and I had completely forgotten what that was (okay maybe that one's my bad lol). Also, the city is always called "CITY" (in all caps) for no apparent reason. Just weird quirky stuff that had me confused for the majority of the game.

I didn't connect to a single character and completely forgot about Phascomon's existence until he popped up at the end. (I literally thought, "Who is that, this game's mascot or something?") The dialogue was kind of funny because the characters were constantly saying "we could try to solve this problem ourselves, but [player character] is so much better than us at everything, let's just let her do it" lol. Thanks guys...

Due to translation error, one dude kept misgendering me lol (called me "he" every time he spoke).

The animation of the main character going "aww shucks" whenever people gassed her up was really cute and I looked forward to it every time.

This game is actually HUGE. Kind of annoyingly so. There were all those random dark areas that I never really explored because I wasn't sure what the point of them was. I think there was also some kind of coliseum (maybe?) but I skipped that as well. There are also wifi connection features which are required for completionists which is kinda shitty nowadays.

Plenty of new digimon designs for me to enjoy. Really enjoyed Lunamon's digivolution line (hell yeah, Dianamon!). It was fun having a "dark" party for once. All of the giant bosses looked amazing too.

Although navigating this game was harder than it was in Digimon World DS, the game felt easier battle-wise. It's probably just due to all the built in grinding, but I beat the final bosses very easily. Of course, it helps that it's easy to become very rich and buy 99 of every item you need. I don't think I lost a single battle once.

This game introduced jogress digivolution but I simply never used it. I don't like just randomly combining digimon when I don't need to. If I was to 100% the game I may have experimented though.

One thing I missed from the first game was that you couldn't regress to the lowest digivolution for the best results anymore, you could only go back one digivolution at a time. I found this less satisfying, but I could see others seeing it as a plus.

The end credits that have you and your digimon parading by were very cute. That's always a nice touch. It was funny seeing my wimpy farm digimon that I never used included in the bunch.

Maybe I missed something but I wish the game had more equipment? Once you get to level 40 the options seemed pretty limited for some digimon types.

The interruptions of the farm report and digimon always getting new attacks got kind of annoying after awhile. I guess you wouldn't want to miss out on better attacks, but I wish the option to manage them was tucked away in a menu that you can pull up later instead of popping up after a battle. (Oh and getting a pop up to rename your digimon every time you digivolve...)

I missed being rewarded with tamer levels just for progressing through the story. I actually ended this game as a "normal tamer." I believe getting higher than that involves more fetch quests....I'm good for now.

I was pretty proud that I had a decent amount of mega-level digis at the end there. You can form some really badass parties in this game.

Wish I could teleport to 2007 and play this game with a friend who had Dawn so we could trade 🥺

Despite my gripes, I think this game has a lot going for it for the more hardcore Digimon fans that are willing to put up with some tedium. The eye candy alone made it worth it. I give it a 6 out of 10.

[digimontamerrichie-tcg]

In Digimon Adventure 02, Cody Haida & T.K. Takaishi are partnered with Armadillomon and Patamon respectively. Because both Digidestined are lacking crests, when Armadillomon Digivolves into Ankylomon and Patamon into Angemon, they must DNA Digivolve together to reach the Ultimate level, forming Shakkoumon.

Digimon Pendulum Z and Digimon Brave Tamer give us some extended evolutions of Shakkoumon in SlashAngemon or Vikemon. Unfortunately, only Paildramon obtained the power to Digivolve further over the course of Digimon Adventure 02 so we never got to see this happen on-screen. Personally, I was hoping it would happen in Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning but instead they just told us all to throw away our Digivices and buy the new iPhone cases instead.

In the Digimon Adventure 2020 reboot, Patamon gained the ability to Digivolve into Goldramon. I like to think that, given the first Adventure 02 movie showed Patamon's Mega level form as Seraphimon and Gatomon's as Magnadramon, while Tri showed Gatomon's to be Ophanimon, Patamon would have access to Goldramon too under similar circumstances.

The Digieggs of Knowledge and Reliability enabled Armadillomon to Armor Digivolve into Digmon and Submarimon. If Cody had used TK's Digiegg of Hope, Armadillomon could have Digivolved into Sheepmon.

Without access to the Crest of Hope, TK had to use the Digiegg of Hope to Armor Evolve Patamon to Pegasusmon. Borrowing Cody's Digiegg of Reliability might have enabled Patamon to become Mantaraymon.

[bagerfluff]

What if Takeru's Patamon digivolved with a Crest of Despair instead of with the Crest of Hope?

From baby I to adult will stay the same since the adventure digimon use the crest at the perfect and ultimate level.

Baby I - Poyomon

Baby II - Tokomon

Child - Patamon

Adult - Angemon

Perfect - Manticoremon

Ultimate - Lucemon: Satan Mode

Now for Patamon I picked Manticoremon and Lucemon: Satan Mode.

I really liked Manticoremon, I liked how Angemon would go from human to a beast, a demon beast digimon no less.

I was stuck when it came to the ultimate but then I remembered that Lucemon: Satan Mode existed, and I think it really works.

It was hard to find something that could flow from Manticoremon into something that was still beastly and evil, but I found the perfect one.

Plus, Manticoremon has the same little cloth piece that Seraphimon has, so I think it's a nice connection. I also like the beast factor, how the original line was very human once it got to adult and stayed that way.

Now though, it's more beast, more violent and turning into a demon beast instead of being a human archangel. Yet, no matter how much I love this line I am open to new ideas.

So tell me what you think would work better for this line.

[sairanarmi]

Digimon/Ace Attorney

Not set in any digimon series. Original Digidestined save Digital World and Earth. Afterwords people get a Digimon, not everyone, mostly children (i.e. it happens before DL-6). Gregory Edgeworth is an outlier in getting Dorumon. Main form bolded.

An * = mega level DNA digivolve parters, see very bottom An X = ultimate level DNA digivolve parters, see very bottom

Original Digidestined inspired by Digimon Survive * Pichimon > Chapmon > Syakomon > Shellmon > Mermaimon > Azulongmon Yuramon > Budmon > Floramon > Vegiemon > Blossomon > Ebonwumon Poyomon > Tokomon > Falcomon > Diatrymon > Crowmon > Zhuqiaomon Paomon > Xiaomon > Labramon > Dobermon > Cerberusmon > Baihumon

Phoenix Wright ** Punimon > Tsunomon > Gabumon > Garurumon > WereGarurumon > MetalGarurumon

Miles Edgeworth ** Botamon > Koromon > Agumon > Greymon > MetalGreymon > WarGreymon

Mia Fey *** YukimiBotamon > Nyaromon > Salamon > Gatomon > Angewomon > Ophanimon

Diego Armando *** Pururumon > Poromon > Hawkmon > Aquilamon > Garudamon > Hououmon

Maya Fey Relemon > Viximon > Renamon > Kyubimon > Taomon > Sakuyamon

Dick Gumshoe Pichimon > Bukamon > Gomamon > Ikkakumon > Zudomon > Plesiomon

Franziska von Karma MetalKoromon > Kapurimon > Kotemon > Dinohyumon > Knightmon > Crusadermon

Ema Skye **** Zurumon > Pagumon > Elecmon > Leomon > GrapLeomon > BanchoLeomon

Klavier Gavin * Ketomon > Hopmon > Monodramon > Strikedramon > Cyberdramon > Azulongmon

Apollo Justice * Botamon > Koromon > Hackmon > BaoHuckmon > SaviorHuckmon > Zhuqiaomon

Athena Cykes * Yuramon > Tanemon > Palmon > Sunflowmon > Lilamon > Ebonwumon

Trucy Wright * Conomon > Kokomon > Lopmon > Turuiemon > Antylamon > Baihumon

Pearl Fey Meicoomon (fresh to champion no name change) > Meicrackmon > Rasielmon

Simon Blackquill Puwamon > Pinamon > Pteromon > Diatrymon > Parrotmon > Eaglemon

Clay Terran ***** Tsubumon > Upamon > Armadillomon > Ankylomon > Brachiomon > Spinomon

Solomon Starbuck ***** Poyomon > Tokomon > Patamon > Angemon > MagnaAngemon > Seraphimon

Nahyuta Sahdmadhi Chibomon > DemiVeemon > Veemon > Veedramon > AeroVeedramon > UlforceVeedramon (after Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice, DNA digvolve X) Chibomon > DemiVeemon > Veemon > ExVeemon > AeroVeedramon > UlforceVeedramon

Rayfa Padma Khura'in Leafmon > Minomon > Wormmon > Hudiemon (after Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice, DNA digvolve X) Leafmon > Minomon > Wormmon > Stingmon > JewelBeemon > BanchoStingmon

Ahlbi Ur'gaid Pyonmon > Bosamon > Angoramon > SymbareAngoramon > Lamortmon > Diarbbitmon

Kay Faraday **** Poyomon > Tokomon > Falcomon (2006 version) > Saberdramon > Yatagaramon > Varodurumon

Shi-Long Lang Dodomon > Wanyamon > Gaomon > Gaogamon > MachGaogamon > MirageGaogamon

Larry Butz Pichimon > Bukamon > Betamon > Seadramon > MegaSeadramon > MetalSeadramon > GigaSeadramon

Eustace Winner / Sebastian Debeste Pafumon > Kyaromon > Kudamon > Reppamon > Chirinmon > Mitamamon

Shaun Fenn / John Marsh Pupumon > Puroromon > FanBeemon > Flymon > Vespamon > TigerVespamon

Verity Gavelle / Justine Courtney Yuramon > Budmon > Floramon > Kiwimon > Lilymon > Lotosmon

Eddie Fender / Ray Shields ****** Fufumon > Kyokyomon > Ryudamon > Ginryumon > Hisyaryumon > Ouryumon

Gregory Edgeworth ****** Dodomon > Dorimon > Dorumon > Dorugamon > DoruGreymon > Alphamon

DNA Digivolves (Ultimate level to mega)

X ExVeemon + Stingmon > Paildramon > Imperialdramon

DNA Digivolves (Mega level) * Azulongmon + Zhuqiaomon + Ebonwumon + Baihumon > Huanglongmon ** MetalGreymon + WereGarurumon > Omnimon *** Ophanimon + Hououmon > Valkyrimon **** BanchoLeomon + Varodurumon > Chaosmon Valdur Arm ***** Spinomon + Seraphimon ****** Alphamon + Ouryumon > Alphamon Ouryuken

[qhazomb]

went back to my fan digimon arts and decided to finally give them some proper shading (and also fix mummysmilodomon's left knee.)

i also tweaked the colours a tiny bit on sekhetmon- changed the spikes on her belt and armbands to the same red as her claws, the silver spikes didn't really mesh with the rest of her colourpalette.

and as before, some info about them all (also as before, no baby I stage, as i imagine gatakimon just digivolves from one of the botamons):

Baby II- Gatakimon Baby cats. That’s it, that’s literally it.

Child- Shuredimon Schrodinger’s Cat, but taking the “the cat is both alive and dead” part more literally. Undead things can be described as both living and dead, so. Not at all an original idea, but a funny (punny) one.

Adult- Smilodomon The bakeneko is a Japanese yokai that looks like a giant monstrous cat. Smilodon is an extinct cat that was big in size, especially in regards to its famous fangs. And thus, saber-toothed bakeneko. That punches things.

Perfect- Mummysmilodomon Another feline yokai is the nekomata, which a bakeneko can become if its tail splits in two. In addition to the extra tail, they also gain the power of necromancy, and steal corpses to use as puppets. How lovely. Speaking of corpses, ancient Egyptians were really fond of giving their cats fancy burials, mummifying and entombing them with care and respect. Cats were associated with the gods, after all.

Ultimate- Sekhetmon The lioness-headed Sekhmet was one of ancient Egypt’s cat-like gods, and a particularly vicious one at that, having such lovely titles as “mistress of dread,” “lady of slaughter,” and “she who mauls.” Her favorite colour is blood. She was often depicted dressed in bright red because of her gory associations. Sekhmet could also breathe fire, and control of fire is a power nekomata have too, coincidentally. She was nicer to the dead than nekomata are, though, acting as a protector for the recently deceased as they entered the afterlife. (Bonus fact: Shuredimon, Smilodomon, and Mummysmilodomon are all wearing red in reference to Sekhmet, too, though their red clothing/accessories aren’t as vibrant in colour. They don’t get the fresh blood red until they reach the fully realized Sekhetmon form.)

[lovelopmon]

My Adventure 02 Epilogue Evolution Lines ~ Part 2

Part 1

If you're here, I'm assuming you have context. But if not, click the part 1 link above.

Let's start with T.K's son:

Tokomon -> Patamon -> Unimon -> Chirinmon -> Mitamamon

Okay, so fair warning, Kai and two other kids in this post share the same Rookie partner as their parents, there isn't much wiggle room when they've already been given In-training Digimon. What can you do, right? So I figured, let's focus more on the animal aspects of Patamon, rather than digivolving him into yet another beautiful variant of Angemon.

Once I discovered Chirinmon and Mitamamon, I knew they were the Ultimate and Mega stage I was looking for, especially since they're both holy Digimon. The problem was finding a Champion level to bridge Patamon to Chirinmon. My initial response was Pegasusmon, and while I do still think he'd be a perfect fit, T.K's Patamon had already digivolved into Pegasusmon in Adventure 02 and T.K and Kai were already sharing a Rookie, I didn't want their partners digivolutions to look too identical. Then I remembered Unimon, whose hair is the same color as Patamon, which was good enough for me. Plus, Unimon is a callback to the one Joe faced in Digimon Adventure when Gomamon digivolved for the first time.

Now, Kari and Hiroshi's son:

Nyaromon -> Salamon -> Mikemon -> Beautymon -> Mastemon

Now you're probably asking yourself, who the duck is Hiroshi? Remember the Dark Spore children from Digimon Adventure 02, and how one of them wanted to be a magna artist? Yeah, that guy.

Takari/Daikari fans, don't kill me! I'm just making my WIP as canon adjacent as possible, and it doesn't seem that Kari ended up marrying T.K or Davis by the end of the epilogue. Doesn't mean things can't change though, after all, Kari is divorced in the beginning of my WIP. 😉

Moving on to more important matters, Hideaki's Rookie was already decided for him in the Epilogue. And I couldn't have his Salamon digivolve into Gatomon and completely copy that digivolution line. Mikemon is said to come into fruition due to the data of Nyaromon sleeping in Salamon before re-manifesting in the Champion level. Since Hideaki is the first of the next gen Digidestined to have a Rookie level, you could chalk this up as his Nyaromon digivolving into Salamon prematurely. Mikemon's usual Ultimate level is Beastmon, who I feel will be more suited for a dark digivolution path once Hideaki crosses that bridge. Afterwards, I felt it'd be appropriate if Mikemon digivolved into Beautymon, (Beautymon and the Beastmon, anyone?) a knight appmon from Appmon who resembles Angewomon. The dark angel look it has going on is a perfect segue into Mastemon, an angel Digimon who controls both light and darkness. Seeing as Hideaki will have the Crest of Redemption, Mastemon could symbolize the embracing of both light and darkness within.

Davis' child:

Demiveemon -> Veemon -> Veedramon -> AeroVeedron -> Ulforce Veedramon

Art by @/hapuriainen, from their Digital Character Creator on deviantart

Spoiler alert, I'm making Davis' son trans because I want a female goggle-head leader for once. Is that too much to ask? Hell, while we're at it, Tamiko's Veemon is also a female. What are you gonna do about it? Trans rights!

Anyway, lol, this was the easiest because this is the only complete digivolution line Veemon has. Karn EX just happened to have the same idea as I did, lol.

Ken and Yolei's children:

Top Left: Poromon -> Hyokomon -> Buraimon -> Butenmon -> Chronomon

Bottom Left: Leafmon -> Puroromon -> Morphomon

Top Right: Minomon -> Kunemon -> Kuwagamon -> MetalLifeKuwagamon -> GrandisKuwagamon

I took Karn EX's idea for a Hyokomon evolution with Inori (their oldest daughter), and thank God for the video, I was originally gonna give her a Hawkmon and try to differentiate it from Yolei's Hawkmon. I have no other notes, it's perfect.

For the youngest baby girl, Kotone, I figured to give her a different In-training Digimon from her brother. Since in the WIP, Kotone's only four, there won't be much of her and her partner adventuring in the Digital World, so for a while they'll just be Morphomon (until the time skip 😉).

And for the only boy, the middle child, Renjiro, I did take Karn EX's idea of using Kunemon, but decided on a different digivolution past the Rookie stage. Kuwagamon is a callback to the very first episode of Digimon Adventure. As for the Ultimates and Megas, there aren't many options without having overlap and while I was very tempted to use BranchoStingmon, I felt that would be a better suited Mega for Ken's Wormmon.

Last, but not least, Cody's daughter:

Upamon -> Tapiramon -> Rhinomon -> Mammothmon -> Goddramon

I literally came up with this yesterday. Prior to yesterday, had you asked me about which was my least favorite, I would've said it was my original digivolution line for Cody's daughter, Akira. Now, it's one of my favorites.

Upamon to Tapiramon seemed plausible, and I originally wanted to use Goddramon as the Mega, but once again, the problems I had were with filling in the blanks. Baluchimon, I still believe, is a very perfect fit for a Champion digivolution, while Mammothmon is a perfect fit for a viable Ultimate. But Baluchimon to Mammothmon, to me, doesn't really work. Originally, I got rid of both Mammothmon and Goddramon and had Baluchimon to Rhinomon (portrayed as an Ultimate in one video game and as a Champion in another, despite being an Armor digivolution) then to Huanglongmon but I wasn't completely satisfied with that. So, I got rid of Baluchimon, made Rhinomon the Champion level, and put Goddramon back where it belonged.

Tapiramon and Goddramon are nice callbacks to Digimon Adventure Tri (with Mammothmon being a callback to the one Sora and Garudamon faced in Digimon Adventure). The fact that they're both holy Digimon is also a subtle reference to Shakkoumon, a rumored ancient angel Digimon and a DNA Digivolution between Angemon and Ankylamon from Digimon Adventure 02. The gold armor on Rhinomon also resembles Armadillomon, Ankylamon, and Digmon.

Next post will probably either be about what my takes on the families/careers are for the Epilogue, what I think the full digivolution lines are for Davis, Yolei, and Cody (and what their crests would be), or my ideas for a Frontier sequel.

[mandiips]

Do you have a fusion evolution for Blizzarmon and Chackmon? (like Aldamon, etc) I know the canon one is Daipenmon but….eh

mmmmm hear Manny out

I have an AU I'm slowly cooking and I really just wanna do away with the fusion evolutions.

The whole Digimon cANT STOP FUCKING EVOLVING AND GETTING WEIRDER is BEAUTIFUL AND STUPID AND I LOVE..- but Frontier is like. It's?? it doesn't work well with Frontier.

Y'know, like how in other seasons, the Digimon were secondary/ complimentary characters to the kids. They could change forms all the time and still feel consistent because they're not the main, emotional crux of the show. Doesn't really work for me when the frontier kids are the Digimon!! It's inherently a different format. Power rangers. Magical girls. It's THAAAT format.

One of the reasons I really disliked the royal knights arc is because Emperor-something-mon and Beuoya-???-wolf??-mon just.. are not Takuya or Kouji. It's not even the "Kouji-Takuya show" like a lotta people argue (for me at least) it's the "who are you who are these people" arc because nobody acts or feels consistent. The design philosophy of both hyper-spirit-whatever just feels wrong too. If the context is that those guys are Kouji and Takuya. It feels wrong idk lol!!!!!

Anyway I know that's the hyper spirits and not the fusion ones, but it still extends to the fusions for me. (On my knees avoiding my Discord Fam's wrath) Those guys do feel like Takuya and Kouji!! Because they're just Agnimon and Lobomon but taller and more clunky armour. I just don't like them SHSGHSHSSBJDBD.

Daipenmon is so funny to me also LMFAOOhdgsyshshs. fucking?? Skyscraper penguin?? Like.. yah.. great job design team... HSHDHSHS THAT WAS A GENUINE GOOD JOB I LOVE DIGIMON HAGSBSBSV

sorry sorry damn. Rambling. Anyway. What I wanted to do instead was make slide evolution more of a thing. I love the human and beast spirit designs and I really wish they were played with more. My power scaling justification is that we don't see a lot of champion or ultimate Digimon in frontier anyway. Maybe digivolving is rare!! ...I think that was a plotline actually, it just got underdeveloped. Go figure.

With restricting everyone to Beast and Human evolutions, that gives us six kids with two Digimon forms each. But! Kouichi! That alone is 20 distinct designs to keep track of for the MC. That's a fuck ton already!!

Add the Lairmon (what I call the 'corrupt warriors' cause they deserve a kick-ass name) and that's 28!!!!!!! Distinct!!!!! Designs!!!!!!!!!!! For the warrior ten, whAT the FUCK.

So you catch my drift. I imagine Frontier could have more of a skill-based system instead of digivolve digivolve digivolve (WHICH IM NOT DISSING ITS JUST EASIER TO EXPLAIN THAT WAY) Ahem.

The AU is Growing Wings, and I'm cooking up a Master post to organize everything on Tumblr maybe. I say a lot of things and then don't do them.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x39 - Two Great Ultimate Evolutions! Push Back the Darkness / The Battle for Earth

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Vamdemon came back in a Biblical way and began destroying Odaiba via rainbow hip thrusts. To stop him from eating everybody, Takeru and Hikari shot their brothers full of arrows. More importantly, PicoDevimon fucking died.

The first full minute of this episode is just replaying the cool CGI Warp-Evolution sequences from the end of the previous. Both because they're fucking cool and to set the stage for the fight to come, with Show Me Your Brave Heart already blaring.

This is immediately followed by their rundowns, before we've even seen any of the kids. WarGreymon is an Ultimate-stage Vaccine-type Dragon Person Digimon. MetalGarurumon is an Ultimate-stage Data-type Cyborg Digimon.

Kinda weird that MetalGarurumon was a Vaccine for his whole evolution chain until now and suddenly becomes Data. That's because these two come from the same evolution tree in the V-Pet, which has one Ultimate for each of the three types.

WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon are from the Metal Empire line - along with the Virus Ultimate Mugendramon, who we'll get to meet shortly. Though the 0.5 rerelease several months after this episode would replace Mugendramon with VenomVamdemon; An obvious bit of tie-in synergy that doesn't really fit the theme of Metal Empire.

Narrator: WarGreymon. An Ultimate-stage Digimon Warp-Evolved from Agumon. His special attack Gaia Force gathers ki from his surrounding area and unleashes it all at once.

I think we all understand the concept of chi or ki but just in case, it's the natural energy that exists in all things but especially living things, which can be harnessed, regulated, and controlled according to certain belief systems. Basically what George Lucas ripped off when he invented the Force.

Gaia Force is basically the Genki-dama/Spirit Bomb from Dragon Ball. Pretty unapologetically, in fact; Wait 'til you see it in action.

Narrator: MetalGarurumon. An Ultimate-stage Digimon Warp-Evolved from Gabumon. His special attack, Cocytus Breath, freezes his enemies solid before he smashes them to pieces!

Oh look, there's another ancient mythology reference from the nerds over at Digimon Adventure. :P Cocytus is a lesser-known one of the five rivers that encircles the Greek underworld, literally named "Lamentation". But it's more likely that this is a reference to Dante's Inferno, whose author borrowed many things from the Greek underworld.

In the Inferno, Cocytus is the ninth and final circle of Hell; A frozen wasteland where betrayers are confined. This is where Satan is found, held captive in the ice at the center. You can see the connection between that and the frosty power MetalGarurumon intends to bring to bear against the (Wiki Article who can Punch You version of the) Beast of Revelations today.

Izzy: (rundown) It's WarGreymon! It says here his attack is Terra Force. Gathering the energy around him and focusing it in the palm of his hand! Izzy: (rundown) MetalGarurumon has his Metal Wolf Claw attack! He shoots a powerful cold blast at his enemies, then blows them to pieces!

Unsurprisingly, Izzy does not have the nerve to reference Dante's Inferno right now.

Koushiro: Ultimate-stage... They've evolved into Ultimate-stage Digimon! Tentomon: Well, I feel less useful now. Yamato: Yeah, you're right. Tentomon: What.

In the wake of the two Ultimate evolutions, Tentomon self-deprecates. To which Yamato hilariously agrees, prompting a short but clearly agitated response. XD Fucking rude, Yamato. Holding Taichi's hand is making his bad habits rub off on you.

In the dub:

Izzy: Mega Digimon! They Digivolved into their Mega Digimon forms! Tentomon: That's great, 'cause we'll need them to beat VenomMyotismon! Matt: Yeah! That's for sure! Tentomon: Good luck! I'll wait here....

Really? Come on, dub team. That joke was right up your alley. You love it when the kids are mean to each other for no good reason.

WarGreymon kicks us off, wreathing himself in energy and launching himself into VenomVamdemon like a bullet.

The attack hits so hard it knocks VenomVamdemon off his feet and sends him crashing down into the rubble. The observation deck from the Fuji broadcasting center rolls by. Remember when we blew up Fuji TV? Remember how cool that was!?

I jest, but there's a narrative purpose to showing us the observation deck again. WarGreymon didn't just hit VenomVamdemon, he shoved him all the way back to the FCG Building. Remember, he's trying to close the distance to Big Sight, and we want him to not do that. There's about a mile of space where, if he finishes crossing it, thousands of people will die.

This big energy tackle of WarGreymon's pushed VenomVamdemon all the way back to his starting point. Which is way more of a hit than anyone's been able to do to him thus far.

The humans hops back in the van because now they have to drive half a mile to get back to the fight.

Taichi: GO, WARGREYMON!!! Hikari: SO POWERFUL!!!

VenomVamdemon climbs back to his feet. MetalGarurumon follows up on the attack, opening up countless panels on his body and firing off missiles in every direction.

(Uh. Hopefully the ones that didn't go in VenomVamdemon's direction are homing missiles or something. Please do not randomly destroy parts of Odaiba, MetalGarurumon. The devastation is bad enough as it is.)

MetalGarurumon's ice missiles slam into VenomVamdemon, exploding and freezing every part of him that they hit. Encasing his whole body in an icy prison.

(Kind of like Satan in Cocytus, yes, I got your reference.)

Takeru: Ah! Yamato: Amazing!

The Yagamis are much more enthusiastic with their cheering than Yamato and Takeru. XD Taichi is hollering his lungs off, while Yamato's in the back seat like, "Pretty cool, yeah."

...wait, why is Yamato in the back seat? His dad is driving; How the hell did Taichi pull shotgun?

In the dub, Izzy joins in the cheering for the sake of silence-breaking.

Izzy: WAY TO GO, WARGREYMON!!! YOU CREAMED HIM!!! ...I think.... Tai: Look! There they go! Get after him, WarGreymon! Kari: Put his lights out! MetalGarurumon: ICE WOLF CLAW!!! (MetalGarurumon follows up with ice missiles) T.K.: Frozen! Matt: Solid!

The missiles aren't called as an attack in the original, but the dub identifies them as MetalGarurumon's signature move. Kind of odd because there's no clawing involved, but Cocytus Breath doesn't sound like it has clawing involved either so I'm not sure what's up with that attack name to begin with.

Unfortunately, VenomVamdemon won't go down that easily. Drawing up his power, he breaks free from the ice holding him.

VenomVamdemon: RAAAAAAAARGH!!! MetalGarurumon: He can't...! WarGreymon: How can he do that!? VenomVamdemon: Now I'm mad... NOW I'M MAD!!! VENOM INFUSE!!!

NO MY CONFIGURATION DATA

Finally unveiling his signature move, VenomVamdemon shoots out his Venom Infuse as rainbow streaks from his eyes. Notably different from the disintegration rainbow streaks from his crotch.

Unfortunately, these attacks do not disintegrate their targets. A stray blast knocks half of a building loose, sending it down almost on top of Hiroaki's van. He swerves to avoid being crushed, but the impact sends him into a rollover. R.I.P. to the party bus; It's been a valuable member of this team.

In the dub, VenomMyotismon continues to be more verbose than his counterpart.

VenomMyotismon: GYAAAAGH!!! MetalGarurumon: It didn't work! VenomMyotismon: Your miserable attempts to destroy me have failed! Now you will pay! Hehe... Hehehehehe... AHAHAHAHA!!! (VenomMyotismon shoots unnamed rainbow beams from his eyes)

The dub does not name Venom Infuse. Instead, VenomMyotismon just... laughs... for five straight seconds. Must have been thinking of something really funny. Consequently, it's not really clear that this is supposed to be the big attack, so it just looks like he's shooting more ambiguous projectiles at them.

The dub also gives Hiroaki a silence-breaker when the car flips over.

Hiroaki: Everybody out! Get clear of the van!

If it seems weird that he's making it sound like the van's a threat, remember those American cultural sensibilities at play. Americans are confident that cars will explode into a fireball at the slightest provocation. It's a miracle they're all not burning to death already.

The humans climb out of the car and run for cover to avoid being hit by the next stray shot. Though Masami, it seems, was injured in the crash; Hiroaki supports him and helps him limp to safety.

Meanwhile, at Big Sight, the others watch the fighting from a distance.

Shin emerges from the convention center to join the three Chosen Children.

Jou: Ah! Shin-niisan! How's Dad doing? Shin: No change. (Jou and the girls all slump in disappointment) Gomamon: We'll have to defeat Vamdemon if we want them to wake up. Mimi: My Papa and Mama.... (face hardens) I want to defeat Vamdemon! Palmon: Mimi! I can still fight! Mimi: (smiling) Palmon....

As seen when Lilimon first evolved, this is what gets Mimi riled up. Mimi fights to end the fighting, so that she won't have to fight again. She does not want to be here, and her power comes from her straightforward and honest desire to reach a conclusion.

Piyomon: Sora? (Sora kneels down to get on Piyomon's level; Piyomon simply nods to her) Sora: Okay! Jou: (affectionately) You guys....

Sora and Piyomon are on the same wavelength, to the point that they don't even need to exchange words. They feel what the other is feeling and agree.

Suddenly, Gomamon jumps onto Jou and then clambers up his body until he reaches Jou's shoulders, draping himself over Jou's head like a hood.

Gomamon: "Let's go, Gomamon!" How come I'm not hearing those words? Jou: Heh... Alright! LET'S GO, GOMAMON!!! Gomamon: YOU GOT IT!!!

And Jou's better learned how to take charge and be bold as a leader from Gomamon. He sprints towards VenomVamdemon without another word, ready to join the fighting.

Sora: (bows to Shin) Please take care of my mother! (Sora runs off after Jou) Mimi: (to Shin, does not bow) My Papa and Mama too! (Mimi runs off after Sora and Jou) Shin: Don't do anything reckless....

In the dub:

Joe: Jim, how's Dad? Is there any improvement yet? Jim: No, still exactly the same. Gomamon: Alright, I'm tired of fooling around! We have to defeat Myotismon once and for all! Mimi: Our parents always protected us. Now it's time we came through for them! Palmon: Mimi! If we do it together, we can beat him! Mimi: Think so? Palmon: Mhm! Biyomon: I'll try! Sora: You will!? Biyomon: Yeah! Mhm! Sora: Okay! Joe: We already tried! Gomamon: So we'll keep on trying, Joe! Because Digimon never give up! (Gomamon climbs up Joe) Gomamon: Like they always say: All for 'mon and 'mon for all! Joe: Hahahaha.... YOU'RE RIGHT!!! WE CAN DO IT!!! LET'S GET 'EM GUYS!!! (Joe runs off into battle) Sora: (bows to Jim) You'll have to excuse Joe; He's a little hyperactive. (Sora runs off after Joe) Mimi: (to Jim, does not bow) Please take care of our parents, Jim! (Mimi runs off after Sora and Joe) Jim: Good luck, you guys.

Doesn't really capture the moment of strength and determination that this is supposed to be for each of these three characters.

Also, why is Sora apologizing to Joe's older brother for the way he behaves? Jim should already know what Joe's like.

At the FCG Building, the humans have somehow managed to separate from one another despite all being together when they exited the van.

While the Digimon fight, the humans run around calling for one another.

Taichi: HIKARI!!! Hikari: ONII-CHAN!!!

Hikari's voice momentarily distracts Angewomon. She looks down at her human on the ground and misses when a large piece of rubble comes flying her way. By the time she notices it, it's too late to avoid.

Yamato: TAKERU!!! Takeru: ONII-CHAN!!!

VenomVamdemon backhands Angemon into a nearby building's wall. He crashes near the three adults, who've somehow managed to stay together while losing track of all five children. Great adulting, guys. A+ job.

Izzy: DAD!!! MOM!!! Tentomon: Ah! The others are here!

Birdramon, Ikkakumon, and Togemon all charge aggressively at VenomVamdemon's heel.

Togemon: VAMDEMON!!! WE'RE HERE TO FIGHT TOO!!! Tentomon: I'm going to join in!

Man, that shot really puts into perspective how gigantic he really is.

The dub edits the shot of Angewomon getting struck by the rubble. We see the rock carrying her to the ground, but not her momentary distraction or the moment of impact.

They don't edit Angemon getting backhanded into a wall, though. Only Angewomon getting smashed by a rock is edited to obscure which angel got hit. She doesn't even get to make a pain yelp like in the original; We just hear Vamdemon roaring while a rock smashes a vaguely angelic character.

Weird.

I suspect it's about her visible gender. Creatives, especially back in the day, sometimes get hand-wringy about letting violence happen to female characters. Boys are taught that you shouldn't hit a girl and they grow up thinking that's, like, a universal moral constant that women must never be harmed in any situation ever.

I mean, you shouldn't hit a girl. You also shouldn't hit a boy. You shouldn't hit anyone, except in circumstances that are already violent. But the problem is that boys internalize this not as "Don't do unwarranted violence to people" but as "Women are too weak and fragile for manly roughhousing."

Then they become writers and extend it to mean women can't be recipients of slapstick jokes, male heroes must never strike female villains even if they're actively fighting each other, or even that female heroes can never be shown being struck in combat. Or even go so far as to not let women be heroes because that would involve putting them in combat situations where they might get hit.

We've made a lot of strides since I was a kid in allowing female characters to get hit in both slapstick bits and action scenes. But for this turn-of-the-millennium show, that's the only reason I can think of for censoring Angewomon's rock but not Angemon's backhand. Someone in the office probably got nervous when a visibly humanoid woman was struck with a giant rock onscreen.

As for the kids yelling for one another, uh....

Tai: KARI!!! Kari: WHERE ARE YA, TAI!?!? Matt: TAI!!! T.K.: GET 'EM, ANGEMON!!! Izzy: MOM, DAD, I'M COMING!!! Tentomon: Look, Izzy! All the others have Digivolved too! There's Ikkakumon and Togemon and Birdramon! I'm going in!

Tai and Kari stay on point, but Matt's more interested in hooking back up with Tai than in T.K.'s wellbeing and T.K.'s too focused on the fight to even care that he's lost.

Tentomon offers no surprise whatsoever to see the backup Digimon suddenly enter the battle and instead has evolution envy.

Tentomon evolves into Kabuterimon to join the fighting. With the whole team assembled, the only thing left to do is dogpile on VenomVamdemon's stupid crotch-face.

WarGreymon: Yes! Everyone, attack him together!

The entire team combines their attacks, firing into VenomVamdemon's crotch-face. Once their attacks have all struck, WarGreymon follows up by spinning super-fast and wreathing himself in energy. He launches an attack he calls Brave Tornado straight into the vulnerable spot in VenomVamdemon's crotch that they've opened up.

Ultimately, the attack plan works, penetrating through VenomVamdemon and bringing him to his knees.

Hiroaki: They got him.

The dub calls WarGreymon's attack "Mega Claw", reusing the name they gave to MetalGreymon's extendo-arm.

Too bad it's still not enough.

Out of the hole WarGreymon put in VenomVamdemon comes some sort of dark shadowy gremlin thing. To protect its secret identity, VenomVamdemon's crotch-goblin also wears a mask.

Mimi: KYAAAAHH!!! Taichi: WH-WHAT THE HELL!?!?

In the dub, VenomMyotismon's given dialogue here. In the original, he's just roaring in a bestial rage.

VenomMyotismon: YAAARGH!!! YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT ME!?!? HA!!! YOU'VE ONLY AWAKENED THE BEAST WITHIN!!! (Crotch goblin emerges) Mimi: AHHHHHH!!! Tai: WHAT IS THAT THING!?

Before anyone can get their heads in the game, the crotch goblin attacks.

(Y'all, I am so glad I have screenshots because I don't know how I would even begin describing what is happening right now without illustrations.)

The crotch goblin sprays a burst of dark energy into the ground that explodes out radially, washing over every Digimon. It's a heavy blow to the whole team, knocking them all out of the action and leaving the children defenseless.

VenomVamdemon: I WILL DEVOUR ALL OF YOU!!!

The next half-minute or so is spent cycling through silent reaction shots of each Chosen Child individually. I've selected Hikari's because she hasn't gotten much snapshot screentime yet.

Y'all are lucky Mimi just got a big shared reaction shot with Taichi or this would've been her. YES I AM BIASED AND MY KID DESERVES RESP--

As usual, VenomMyotismon is more verbose than his counterpart. The silent reaction shots are also filled in with silence-breakers.

VenomMyotismon: NOW I'LL DEVOUR ALL OF YOU SO-CALLED DIGIDESTINED!!! YOU'VE STOOD IN MY WAY FOR THE LAST TIME!!! Mimi: (thinking) It can't end like this! Matt: (thinking) I let everyone down again! Sora: (thinking) I wish I could have done more.... Izzy: (thinking) It's impossible he survived that! Joe: (thinking) Maybe we should surrender.... T.K.: (thinking) This is scarier than the movies! Kari: (gasp) Tai: (thinking) I WILL NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Mimi, Matt, Sora, Izzy, and Tai are all pretty much perfect in terms of hopeless situation characterization. Joe's being characterized as a coward again. T.K. is... okay, I guess? They literally didn't even try with Kari.

Just when all seems lost, the Chosen Children's Crests begin to shine brightly.

Beams of holy energy emerge from the Crests, ensnaring VenomVamdemon's limbs and neck. Crotch goblin starts yelling at the kids.

VenomVamdemon (Crotch): RELEASE ME, YOU FILTHY CHOSEN CHILDREN!!! Taichi: It talked? That's it! The disgusting bakemono must be Vamdemon's true form!

That's a leap in....

Oh, hey, no, he's right. That is the weird shadow ghoul thing possessing Vamdemon's mask last episode. I always thought it was weird that VenomVamdemon is supposed to be Vamdemon's "true form" 'cause, like, that implies he could transform like this at any time but allowed himself to be slain earlier for funsies.

But it's the crotch goblin. Vamdemon's true form is a formless undead spirit inhabiting a mask. Both the Dracula man and the Wiki Article Beast of Revelations are just outer shells he forms around him when he's consumed enough energy.

(I kind of love that a bakemono inside the Dracula is the true Vamdemon too because Vamdemon is the evolved form of Devimon and Bakemon, so that makes sense.)

This actually makes sense to me now.

The dub has Tai talk over the Crests glowing.

Tai: Huh!? My Crest! Everybody, look at your Crests! They're all starting to glow!

But once they start grabbing VenomMyotismon, he stays quiet and lets the scene play out until the crotch goblin starts talking.

VenomMyotismon (True Crotch): Curse you, DigiDestined! Curse you and your lousy Crests! Let go! Waugh! Let go! Tai: Look at that! Mega freaky! I wonder if that monster represents Myotismon's actual form?

Tai reaches the same conclusion as Taichi but I guess it just didn't make sense to me as a kid because the only explanation he offers is that it's "mega freaky". To be fair, Taichi's not acting on that much more information.

Crotch goblin sounds way more pathetic in the dub. XD

Taichi has an idea now for how to win this

Taichi: WARGREYMON!!! WarGreymon: Got it! MetalGarurumon: WarGreymon!

MetalGarurumon bops the poor Fuji TV observation deck into the air, passing it to WarGreymon.

Sora: NICE PASS!!! Children: SHOOT!!!

WarGreymon receives the observation deck like a soccer ball, shooting it straight into crotch goblin's dumb face. It lets out a shrill scream like a baby cry, forcing me to take back what I said about VenomMyotismon's crotch goblin being the more pathetic of the two.

The dub leans in on this.

Tai: WARGREYMON!!! WarGreymon: Pass me the ball! (MetalGarurumon silently passes it) Sora: Nice pass. Children: SHOOT!!!

Dub Sora sounds way less invested in the impromptu soccer game.

With VenomVamdemon momentarily stunned by the soccer shot, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon fire up their strongest attacks. Sending Gaia Force and Cocytus Breath straight into VenomVamdemon's vulnerable crotch, they annihilate the little shadow wraith and finally, finally strike the kill-shot.

His true form destroyed by the overwhelming power of soccer hooliganism, VenomVamdemon breaks down, disintegrating into pixels chunk by chunk until nothing is left. The battle for Odaiba is finally, truly over.

With Vamdemon's true death, his spells break. The mesmerized adults at Big Sight wake up, with Tachikawa Keisuke being the first to speak up.

Keisuke: Huh? What happened? Shin: Great job, Jou!

Glad to see Shin knows who the real hero here is. This was a triumph for Jou-senpai. And, to a lesser extent, his crew.

Their energy drained, Koromon and Tsunomon return to Taichi and Yamato. Yamato pets Tsunomon affectionately while Taichi hoists Kunomon aloft and dances.

Koromon: TAICHI!!! Taichi: Great job, Koromon! Yamato: You did well, Tsunomon.

Speaking of drained energy, Mimi notices an unidentified Digimon now among their group.

Mimi: Huh? Who are you? Plotmon: I'm Plotmon. It's nice to meet you.

Plotmon is a Child-stage Data-type Mammal Digimon. I believe we already went over her V-Pet status back in her backstory episode, but she gets her formal rundown here.

Narrator: Plotmon. A Child Digimon with long, floppy ears. She is the degenerated form of Tailmon. Her special attack is Puppy Howling. Hikari: Tailmon must be in her Child form now because she used up all her energy helping Agumon and Gabumon evolve to their Ultimate levels. Jou: Kehhhhh...?

Jou doesn't get it but I do.

In the dub, apparently Mimi's parents know Joe's brother. Don't ask me how.

Keisuke: Hey, what happened, Jim? Jim: IT MUST BE JOE AND THE OTHERS!!! THEY DID IT!!! THEY WON!!! (Cut back to the FCG ruins) Koromon: We did it, Tai! We did it! Tai: Ahahahaha! Tsunomon: Wasn't that cool, Matt? Matt: Great job, Tsunomon! Mimi: Look, a stray Digimon! Salamon: Don't you recognize me? I was Gatomon. Salamon: (rundown) What do I have to do, cough up a furball? Kari: (rundown) That's Salamon, the Rookie form of Gatomon. Isn't she cute? Much more cuddly than her Ultimate form of Angewomon. Kari: But I guess she's back to being a Rookie because she used up all of her energy during the fight. What are we going to do? They don't allow pets at our apartment! Joe: Drag!

Uh. Nobody tell Kari but I'm pretty sure her apartment is a parking lot right now. She's going to be living in a refugee shelter for a few months. They'll probably put people up at Big Sight, now that I think about it. The damage Vamdemon did to Odaiba is catastrophic.

(Also, she has a cat. This bit doesn't work. They clearly do allow pets at her apartment.)

With Vamdemon's spells broken the fog barrier breaks down. At last, we can see the sky again.

Sora: Hey, look! The sky is clearing up!

The final sign of our true victo--what the FUCK is that!?

Sora: (gasp) Mimi: DYAAAAAAH!?!? Takeru: It's not true! Jou: I-It can't be....

At some point during all that nonsense within the fog barrier, the merging of worlds has begun. Strips of reality hang in the sky, on the other side of which lies the Digital World.

Hikari: Onii-chan, I'm scared! Taichi: What is this...?

This is easier to grasp, right off the bat, what's happening in the original. The dub cut the one line where Myotismon mentions that he's "destined" to merge the two worlds and reign over the conjoined reality as its king. He's dead now, but he apparently made some headway into fulfilling his task while we were all trapped in the fog.

But since the dub didn't mention that, this comes more out of left field there.

Sora: Hey, look! The sky's clearing up! (Jubilation slowly turns to horror) Sora: ...what...? Mimi: AAAAAUGH!!! T.K.: HEY!!! NO WAY!!! Joe: That's... not possible.... Matt: Huh!? Joe: There's a... giant island... floating in the sky! Upside-down! Kari: (gasps) Tai: Things... Just keep getting weirder!

Their dialogue isn't really any different than in the original; We just don't have the previous context to make sense of what they're seeing.

Commercial break, then we return to the strange new phenomenon taking place all across the world.

Narrator: The upside-down continent appearing in the sky could be seen all across the world.

We cut to various places across the planet including New York and Antarctica before returning to Big Sight. Yagami Yuuko and Susumu exit the convention center, laying eyes on the strange phenomenon.

Susumu: Is this... a mirage? Shin: (on his moped) No, I think that's real. Yuuko: Um, do you know where our children are? Where are Taichi and Hikari? Shin: They're at Fuji TV station. I'm on my way to check out the situation. I'll meet back up with you afterward!

Shin takes off on his moped before they can ask any further questions.

We then briefly see a ferry finally able to cross the bay into Odaiba. Takaishi Natsuko, Takeru's mom, is on her way. Everybody there is staring up in shock at the ribbons streaked across reality in the sky as well.

Narrator: The mysterious continents floated eerily in the night sky. Strangely enough, none of the radars, satellites, or other electronic equipment on Earth recognized their existence.

Ironically, if you were to ask Google AI, it'd probably have a better grasp of what's hanging in the sky up there than real-world tracking equipment would. There's no way the Digital World hasn't snuck into its training data.

The dub replaces the cold narration with Tai whining.

Tai: Man, why does this have to happen now when we were just feeling good about beating Myotismon!? It's like the world is turning upside-down or something!

This line plays out over the shots of various geographic locations with the reality ribbons above them, which doesn't really connect to Tai's line but isn't entirely unrelated to it either.

Susumu: Hey, what's going on!? Jim: (on his moped) Whatever it is, it doesn't look too good for our side. Yuuko: Oh, Jim! Have you seen my children? Do you know where Tai and Kari are? Jim: No, but I have an educated guess. I'm gonna search where the monsters were fighting. I'll come back when I find them, okay?

Fucking everybody knows Joe's older brother. He's the most popular guy in town, I guess. XD

An interesting change here is that Jim doesn't say they're at the TV station. Which is a good change, I think, 'cause he shouldn't know that. They weren't going to Fuji; They were going to fight VenomVamdemon, who was so big he could be seen from Big Sight. They'll be wherever VenomVamdemon died, which could be anywhere in Odaiba.

That spot is the Fuji broadcasting center, but that's a mile away and all the landmarks have been destroyed. So it's a bit of a leap for Shin to assume that they ended up at Fuji specifically. Jim here is planning to drive in the direction of where the giant monster was and just keep his eyes peeled for children.

The narrator is done away with for the ferry shot as well, with a voice-over from Izzy replacing him.

Izzy (V.O.): This isn't making any sense! It looks like an entire upside-down continent in the sky, but it doesn't show up on radar or on any satellite pictures! In fact, no instruments of any kind can confirm that... Whatever it is, is really even there!

I could be snippy about Izzy somehow possessing all this information but actually the dub did assert in an early episode that he likes to hack into government systems for shits and giggles. So we can assume he's just breaking all kinds of laws right now to bring us this revelation.

As the ferry pulls into Odaiba, it discharges a truly terrified mother. Courtesy of the Fuji building being right on the coast, she's able to quickly reunite with her son.

Both of them.

Natsuko: TAKERU!!! TAKERU!!! Takeru: (turns around, surprised) IT'S MAMA!!! Natsuko: TAKERU!!!

Natsuko sprints out into the ruins to hug her son. She hasn't noticed them yet, but Yamato and Hiroaki watch her arrive. Yamato stares in silence at his mother, while Hiroaki lights up a cigarette.

Natsuko: Thank goodness you're safe! I was so worried about you! Were you scared, Takeru? Takeru: No, Onii-chan was with me!

It's at that moment that Natsuko looks up and sees Yamato. She stands.

Natsuko: (surprised) Yamato.... Yamato: (vulnerable) ...Mom....

This is incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. It's pretty clear at this point that HIroaki and Natsuko don't see very much of the sons the other took. They've basically made a clean break in their divorce, with the brothers sneaking around in secret to remain in contact with each other. This is where a lot of their trauma and separation anxiety throughout the series has come from.

But Takeru's having none of this tense, uncomfortable moment. He grabs Natsuko by the wrist and drags her over to face Yamato.

Natsuko: (smiling warmly) Yamato... You've grown taller again. Yamato: Yeah, a little. Natsuko: You look good. I'm glad. Hiroaki: Natsuko.... (Natsuko looks up from Yamato, finally noticing Hiroaki) Hiroaki: It's been a while. Natsuko: (awkward) ...yeah.... Takeru: (cheerful) Ahaha! It's been a long time since the whole family got together, hasn't it, Onii-chan? Yamato: Yeah, I guess it has....

@_@ All of the family drama in this arc is hitting me way harder than the scary Dracula monster. It's amazing how age changes context.

In the dub:

Nancy: T.K.!!! T.K.!!! WHERE ARE YOU!?!? T.K.: (turns around, surprised) MAMA!!! Nancy: Oh! Ohhh, T.K.! I was so afraid I'd never see you again! (Nancy runs over and hugs T.K.) Nancy: You must have been terrified, T.K. T.K.: Nuh-uh! Matt was with me the whole time! (Nancy stands up) Nancy: (surprised) Matt.... Matt: (vulnerable) ...Hey, Mom.... T.K.: C'mon! (T.K. grabs Nancy by the wrist and drags her over to Matt) T.K.: Come see Matt! And Daddy too! Nancy: Oh, Matt. I'm so proud of you! Thank you, son! Matt: (surly) Yeah, whatever. Nancy: Don't be like that. Please, Matt. Hiroaki: Nancy. (Nancy looks up from Matt, finally noticing Hiroaki) Hiroaki: It's... been a long time, hasn't it? Nancy: (awkward) Yes, it has. T.K.: (cheerful) Ahaha! It's been a really long time since all of us were together, huh, Matt? Matt: (surly) Yeah, I guess so.

I don't think the dub liked the implication that Natsuko hasn't seen Yamato in months or even years. Enough for him to physically change to a noteworthy degree.

In their version, Nancy tries to congratulate him for... I guess, for taking good care of T.K.? It's not like she knows anything else that happened after T.K. disappeared on a giant wooly monster. There's a lot of accolades he deserves but that's the only one I think she'd be able to deliver.

In any case, she gives him a thumbs up and he decides to be surly about it. The awkward discomfort of this whole situation is replaced by Matt emotionally stonewalling his mom. Which is still awkward and uncomfortable, just differently so.

While Yamato and Takeru's family are having this moment, the Americans make bad choices.

Narrator: Could the strange continents be an optical illusion? An American reconnaissance plane headed off at once to find out.

The plane crosses through the boundary between worlds, then freezes up as it crosses over and falls out of the sky.

Pilot: NOOOOOOO!!!

I'm sorry but the pilot's over-the-top scream of "No" killed me. XD About as hard as this tailspin is about to kill him!

We should probably do something about this before the Americans' next plan is to shoot missiles at it. We're about thirty minutes away from fearfully carpet-bombing the Digital World. Bombs that will probably come right back to us if what happened to that plane is anything to go by.

In the dub, Izzy pitches in for the narrator again.

Izzy: Check this out, guys. I've been monitoring the news reports. The Air Force is sending in everything they've got to figure out what this continent in the sky really is. They don't know anything so far! But they're assuming it's dangerous. (Plane crosses the boundary and freezes) Pilot: This is Hawkeye One MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY!!!

Americans have a better grasp on American military lingo. Can't imagine why. Though I admit, I'm sad to see the hilarious "NOOOOOO" go.

No mention of the plane being American. Also, apparently this one plane was everything the Air Force has. Yeah, they haven't been getting the funding they need since the election of Japanese Bill Clinton. Some costs needed to get cut.

R.I.P. to the one remaining aircraft we had left.

Mimi: I hope my Mama and Papa are okay.... Sora: I'm sure they are.

Suddenly, the kids hear the sound of a honking horn. It's Shin's moped closing in on them.

Palmon: Someone's coming! Jou: Ah! That's...! (Shin pulls up) Jou: SHIN-NIISAN!!! Mimi: ONII-SAN!!! Shin: All of your families back at Big Sight are safe! Everyone's recovered! Hikari: YAY!!! Mimi: (grabs Sora's hands) Isn't that great, Sora-san? (Sora withdraws one of her hands to wipe a tear from her eye) Sora: Yeah!

Mimi calls Shin "Onii-san" because it's fairly common in Japan to use familial terms as a polite way for young people to address older people. You might call an older man "father" or "grandfather", for example, even if he's not related to you. Addressing people in Japanese is very complicated.

The dub lets Mimi start talking sooner so she can have a longer line.

Mimi: I have to admit that I'm a little jealous that Matt and T.K. found their parents, and Izzy too! I just hope my Mom and Dad are alright! Sora: I know how you feel. Me too. ...huh? (headlights approach) Sora: Someone's coming! Joe: Alright! My brother! ...hey, I didn't tell him he could ride my scooter! (Jim pulls up) Mimi: JIM!!! Joe: JIM!!! Mimi: Have you seen my Mom and Dad!? Jim: All the other families that were at the convention center are fine! They're all back to normal! Kari: AWESOME!!! Koromon: YAY!!! Mimi: (grabs Sora's hands) Sora, they're safe! (Sora withdraws one of her hands to wipe a tear from her eye) Sora: Great!

I love the way this scene plays Mimi. The longer line stays on-point and works super well, and I also like her frantic interrogation of Jim when he pulls up. This was a good one.

For a quick gag, the dub also claims that the moped belongs to Joe, actually. Which. Raises. A tremendous amount of questions given that he's fucking 12.

Shin takes out a small pocket TV, turning on the news.

Reporter: Those continents in the sky are not an illusion! They really exist! No one knows what the cause of this might be, but many are fearful that these strange continents will forever replace the blue sky of our world! Jou: W-What is happening!? Yamato: Is this part of Vamdemon's plan too!? Tsunomon: That's impossible! We killed Vamdemon for good this time! Koromon: Yeah, no doubt about that!

Koushiro disassociates from the conversation, his attention locked on something in the sky. The others talk around him while the camera fixes on his curious expression.

Taichi: Then what are they? Takeru: What's going to happen to us? Jou: Whatever the case, we need to figure out what's causing it first.

Brief cut to the target of Koushiro's attention. One particular mountain sticks out among all the others in the sky landmass. There's something about that mountain. Something he recognizes.

Koushiro: (thinking) That mountain... It looks exactly like Infinity Mountain! But that's impossible....

It does seem pretty impossible on account of that mountain being part of a continuous landmass. There's no ocean in sight. And yet.

In the dub:

Jim: Let's check the news. (Jim opens his pocket TV) Reporter: The latest report we have from the Air Force Chief of Staff confirms that the mysterious landmass in the sky is not an illusion of any kind. It is very real and, after several confrontations, apparently very dangerous. Joe: It's covering the whole sky! Matt: It has to be Myotismon's work again. Tsunomon: But that's impossible, isn't it? We defeated Myotismon for good this time! Koromon: Yeah, we kicked booty! (Closeup on Izzy disassociating) Joe: Well, you heard the news report. It's definitely dangerous. Who else could be doing it? Tai: What does it matter who's doing it!? We just have to stop it! Izzy: (thinking) There's something familiar about that mountain... It looks like Infinity Mountain!

"After several confrontations" WTF? XD We sent more planes. We just. We kept feeding planes into it one after another. Hahaha.

"It's apparently very dangerous" WELL MAYBE IT WOULDN'T BE IF WE DIDN'T KEEP CRASHING PLANES INTO IT. XD Japanamericans!

Jou and Taichi have their lines rearranged so that Tai can be the one trying to take charge instead of Joe. Their leadership styles are wildly different.

Having found a point of interest, Koushiro decides to confirm his suspicions.

Koushiro: Taichi-san! (points) Can you use your mini telescope to take a closer look at that? Taichi: (takes out his telescope) Where? Koushiro: Look, that mountain over there. Taichi: Which one? There are too many mountains. I can't tell which one you're pointing at. Koushiro: That one! Look! Taichi: Saying 'that one' isn't much help. Where is it--AH!!! Koushiro: What is it? Taichi: A plane. There's an airplane up there!

Koushiro looks up and can just barely make out the blinking of three lights, signifying a plane passing overhead.

In the dub:

Izzy: Hey, Tai! (points) Grab your telescope and get us a closer look at that peak right there! Tai: Huh? (takes out his telescope) Which one? Izzy: There! The big one I'm pointing to. Tai: Oh, like that helps me. Alright, I'm looking. Man, there are dozens of mountains up there! Which one? Izzy: The big one! Tai: The big o--WHAAA!!! Izzy: Did you find it? Tai: What I found is a jetliner! Izzy: Wha!?

Pretty faithful, little difference of note.

Up in the air, the pilot tries desperately to reach someone over the radio, but there's no response.

Pilot: Control Tower, please respond, over. Control Tower! Shit, what's going on.... Copilot: Sir, we're going to have to make an emergency landing. There's no fuel left in the tank. Pilot: I know that! If we only had someone to guide us down the runway.... Copilot: Our prospects aren't looking good! An American military base could--AHHHH!!!

Instruments on the plane begin to flash.

Pilot: What's happening!? Copilot: The fuel gauge is at empty! We can't control the plane anymore! We're going to crash! Pilot: That's impossible!

The plane tilts out of the sky, beginning its long descent.

Taichi: Ah! The plane's falling! It's going to crash! Sora: Piyomon! (Cut back to the cockpit) Pilot: We have to... make it somewhere.... Copilot: AHHHHHHH!!!

In the dub:

Pilot: Ground Control, this is Flight 224. We have lost our vector. Over. ...Strange. Why don't they answer? (tries again) This is 224 to Ground Control. Control, do you copy? Repeat, we have lost our landing vector. Come in, Ground control. Copilot: We can't land here now and we can't turn back with the fuel we have left onboard. (Lights start flashing suddenly) Copilot: What!? Pilot: The alarm! All systems failure! We've got about two seconds to figure out what's wrong here! Copilot: No use! Nothing's responding! We're going down! (Cut to the kids below) Tai: Oh no! The airplane reached the edge of that thing in the sky and just headed straight down! Sora: Biyomon! (Back to the cockpit) Pilot: Got to... pull out... We'll break up at this speed! Copilot: AHHHHHHH!!!

In the original, the plane ran out of fuel. They've been flying well below the reality ribbons so they didn't run afoul of what happened to the recon plane. But they haven't been able to land because telecommunications down in Tokyo have been going haywire since this all began, something we've been shown repeatedly.

The dub makes this about the reality ribbons. They briefly mention that they're low on fuel, but what kills the plane is that they accidentally flew into the boundary between worlds despite it being shown to be well above them, and despite the plane not freezing up like the recon plane did.

Birdramon rises into the air to try and catch the plane, but she spots something. A stray Kuwagamon is in their airspace. It buzzes past the plane, freezing one of the plane's wings as it passes, just like what passing through the boundary does. The plain goes into a spin.

Birdramon flies up underneath the plain to stabilize it, but can't deal with its weight. They're still going down.

Jou: BIRDRAMON!!! Birdramon: Hrrrrrrrgh! Sora: GANBATTE, BIRDRAMON!!!

Ahhh, ganbaru. Overcoming tremendous hardship through hard work and perseverance.

Sora's Crest shines, Super-Evolving Birdramon into Garudamon to give her the strength she needs.

The dub gives Birdramon some silence-breakers here, since this scene doesn't have a lot of dialogue but Birdramon doesn't need lip flaps either.

Birdramon: If I can just get there in time! (Kuwagamon flies in) Birdramon: It's Kuwagamon! Where did he come from!? (Kuwagamon buzzes the plane, freezing the wing. Birdramon moves in to catch the plane) Birdramon: (screeching) Joe: DO IT, BIRDRAMON!!! Birdramon: (more screeching) Sora: BIRDRAMON, DIGIVOLVE!!!

The original treats the mystery of Kuwagamon's appearance as self-evidently mysterious while Dub Birdramon calls it out and demands to know WTF. Nothing wrong with either approach in my opinion.

Seeing Garudamon struggling, Kabuterimon flies up to lend a hand.

Kabuterimon: I'll help y--WAUGH!!!

Kabuterimon has to swerve, narrowly missing the Kuwagamon he didn't realize was up here too. Without missing a beat, he fires up his Mega Blaster.

Kabuterimon: TAKE THIS!!!

His shot passes straight through Kuwagamon as if it wasn't there.

Kabuterimon: What the hell!? Garudamon: Pull back, Kabuterimon! DON'T TOUCH IT!!!

Kabuterimon jerks aside as Kuwagamon comes back around for another pass. Heeding Garudamon's warning, he lets this strange phantom Kuwagamon fly off. The creature heads across the bay into Tokyo proper. I'm sure that's fine.

From there, they guide the plane down into the bay, setting it down in the water so the people inside can escape in life rafts. I think they set the plane down just outside Shibaura, across what used to be the Rainbow Bridge from Odaiba. It looks like the Shibaura harbor to me.

This act of heroism leaves them so exhausted that they stop being animated, and the people below watch them levitate off into the distance as still frames.

Though AtlurKabuterimon's still-frame reveals he had to Super-Evolve for this too between scenes.

In the dub:

Kabuterimon: I'll help too! (Kuwagamon flies by) Kabuterimon: Huh!? Kuwagamon!? ELECTRO SHOCKER!!! (The shot passes through Kuwagamon) Kabuterimon: HUH!?!? IT WENT RIGHT THROUGH!!! Garudamon: Kabuterimon, get away! Don't touch him! (They let Kuwagamon go and set the plane down.) Tai: Nice going, Birdramon. You brought the plane down safely.

Tai's silence-breaker at the end there doesn't seem to make much sense at all. Somehow he's talking to Garudamon from Odaiba while addressing the wrong evolutionary form and completely snubbing AtlurKabuterimon's contribution. Why do you have to use your psychic powers for evil, Tai?

Once Garudamon and AtlurKabuterimon degenerate into Pyokomon and Mochimon respectively, the kids debrief them on what happened.

Taichi: Hey, was that Kuwagamon? Pyokomon: He flew here from those continents! Koushiro: I knew it. Group: Huh/Eh!? Taichi: What do you mean? Koushiro: That place up there is the Digimon World. Jou: EHHH!?!? Taichi: What did you say!? Yamato: That's the Digimon World!? Mimi: Now that you mention it, it does look kind of familiar.... Shin: Hey! Take a look at this!

In today's linguistic adventure, the other world is "Digimon World" in English.

The kids don't get a chance to process what Koushiro said, because Shin pulls their attention to his little TV.

Reporter: Please watch this. These images are not special effects!

The report shows various places around the globe under attack by Digimon. Gorillamon, Airdramon, Tyranomon, and Kuwagamon are all seen attacking various cities and places around the globe. Everywhere they go, things around them freeze over like the planes.

Pyokomon: We can't touch those Digimon! If we do, we'll freeze up like that plane wing! Mochimon: My Mega Blaster went right through them, too. Taichi: Damn it, what the hell is going on!? Hikari: Is that where you live, Plotmon? Plotmon: No. That is no longer the Digimon World that I knew. Koushiro: Oh, that's right. It's been several days since we came here, which means several years would have passed in the Digimon World. Koromon: We came here without fixing the distortions in the Digimon World, so it must be in pretty bad shape now. Sora: Which would then started to affect our world too.

Realizing the grim truth of what they're seeing now, the kids stare up in horror at these reality strips crossing the sky.

In the dub:

Tai: You guys, how'd Kuwagamon get here? Yokomon: He came out of that land in the sky! Izzy: I was right all along! Group: Huh!? Izzy: That giant continent... is actually the Digital World! Joe: WHAAAAT!?!? Matt: That's why you recognized that mountain! Mimi: Yeah! You know, it does look sort of familiar. Sora: What's it doing here? Jim: Guys, you'd better have a look at this! Reporter: We bring you now new footage of some truly bizarre scenes. (Digimon attacks around the world) Reporter: No official explanation has yet been given for what you are seeing here. Yokomon: Kuwagamon again! And if we touch these Digimon, we'll freeze, just like the airplane's wing! Motimon: And when I fired my Electro Shocker, it passed right through. Tai: Man! What's going on here! Kari: Salamon, is that your world up there? Salamon: I think so, but the last time I was there, it was definitely right-side up. Izzy: Just a minute. We've been back in the real world for only a few days, but up there, time is much faster. Years and years have passed by. Koromon: And since we left the Digi-World when it was such a mess, it had years and years to just get worse! I can only imagine what the place looks like now! Sora: And all the problems in the Digital World have become our problem here in the real world!

The dub usually struggles with expository scenes but here, they actually do a pretty good job of it. They're held back by the fact that they've always talked around the kids needing to "correct distortions", so they have to compensate by saying they "left the Digi-World when it was such a mess".

It's a little awkward but it still gets the point across: The Chosen Children were called to fix the Digital World before the growing instability became apocalyptic for both worlds. But because Vamdemon's side-quest back to the human world made them fuck off for years, time has run out and the worst-case scenario has begun.

Taichi: Let's go! Back to the Digimon World. Mimi: But how? Jou: When we first went to the Digimon World, our Digivices led us there. That should work again! Koushiro: It's worth a try. Taichi: Yes! Gather your Digivices, everyone.

The team puts their Digivices together in a ring.

Taichi: Please! Take us back to the Digimon World!

Hardened and made ready by their experiences, this time the eight Chosen Children make the choice for themselves to re-enter the Digital World. They're ready to complete the work they were once drafted against their will to do.

In the dub:

Tai: That's that! We've all got to go back! Mimi: But how? How are we supposed to get there? Joe: The first time we went to the Digital World, our Digivices led us. You guys try it again. Izzy: You're coming too, Joe. We're all in this together. Tai: Alright, everybody! Hold out your Digivices! We're going back! (The team puts their Digivices together) Tai: Next stop: The Digital World! Keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times!

In a break from tradition, Tai calls it the Digital World in the dub, rather than the usual phrasing of Digi-World.

Joe's dub-induced cowardice makes me want to throw things. Trying to chicken out and let the others go without him is one of those gags that isn't just annoying but goes all the way to the "He would not fucking say that" extreme.

Kido Jou-senpai would not fucking say that.

The eight Digivices glow brightly, sending a rainbow of light up into the sky and creating the way forward.

Jou: This path of light will transport us to the Digimon World! Taichi: Yeah. I'm sure we'll make it safely. Sora: Our Digivices will guide us.

The dub picks the moment before the Digivices start to glow as a good time for a commercial break. That's fair. Upon return, Tai brings us back up to speed with a quick line.

Tai: Here we go, everybody! (The Digivices create a different kind of Rainbow Bridge) Izzy: i think it's working, Tai. This light must be here to guide us. Joe: Now all we have to do is follow it. T.K.: Back to the Digital World! Hahaha!

They change who's talking and it's a lot drier but nothing objectionable.

Unfortunately, before they can go, some people have concerns with what the kids are doing right now.

Natsuko: TAKERU!!! Takeru: I'm sorry we have to leave just when all of us were together again, Mama. But we'll be back soo-- Natsuko: You can't! Hiroaki: Let him go. We made a few selfish decisions of our own too, remember?

Flashback to the separation of the boys in the divorce. Natsuko's eyes fill with tears.

Yamato: If we don't do something, the Earth will be doomed. That's Why I... We're going to protect you and everyone else, Mom! Natsuko: (quietly, crying) ...Yamato....

Hiroaki's logic here doesn't really track. We selfishly broke the kids up therefore we should let them go to an alien world and fight monsters. I don't think fairness is really the concern here. But to be fair to Hiroaki, he's spent more time with the Chosen Children than anyone and knows firsthand how fucky all this shit is and how unique they are.

He isn't happy about sending the children into danger but he kinda gets it. Natsuko, meanwhile, was trapped outside the fog barrier this whole time and has seen none of it. So her Reasonable Parent Opinions are very Reasonable Parent Opinions, and it's heartbreaking that she has to let this happen to her babies anyway.

In the dub:

Nancy: T.K. T.K.: Huh? Mom! Oh, I'm sorry we have to leave now that we're finally back together again. Nancy: You can't! Hiroaki: Let him go. We've made some selfish decisions of our own, remember? (Flashback) Hiroaki: We have to let them do this. This could be more important than we realize. Matt: The whole world is doomed if we don't do something, Mom! You know we have to go back! We're doing this to protect you! Nancy: (quietly, crying) ...Matt....

Mostly the same, but Hiroaki's given a silence-breaker to let him make a more salient argument than "We have to let the boys be child soldiers because we divorced."

Though Nancy's first line is pretty funny. Natsuko calls out to Takeru in a panic. Nancy just... sternly says his voice, like she caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. Not exactly the right tone here, but not necessarily wrong either. XD

But moooooom, you don't understaaaaaand!

Shin chimes in to support the children's decision.

Shin: We're counting on you. We've always taken for granted that morning comes after nightfall, but now we can't be sure we'll ever see the sun again.

Poetic, but Koushiro's mom takes issue with that, looking affronted about halfway through when she realizes where he's going with that.

Kae: DON'T BE SO MORBID!!! I believe in these children. Shin: No no, I do too! Jou: It will be fine, Nii-san. (sudden burst of confidence) We'll make certain that the sun does come up again!

A powerful moment for Jou! That the girls promptly bully him for.

Sora: Ooooh, Jou-senpai is so cool! Mimi: It's so unlike you!

The kids all laugh at Jou's expense while he hangs his head in defeat - Accidentally backing into the portal in the process and getting picked up by the ass.

Mimi: Wha--!? Sora: Jou-senpai! Jou: AAAAAUGH!!!

Well, the nakama must be back together because we're back to tormenting our poor, put-upon senpai. XD

The kids quickly join Jou in the rainbow portal, rising towards the Digimon World together.

Taichi: Ittekimasu! Natsuko: Takeru! Yamato!

Right now's a good time to talk about that word Taichi just said. Ittekimasu is a customary Japanese phrase for when you are leaving a place with intent to return. It's a kind of ritualistic phrase, said almost automatically when leaving the home, for example. Like saying Itadakimasu before eating. I am stepping out for a bit but I will be back later and will see you then.

There's a lot of ways it can be translated. I'm heading out! See you later. Back in a bit! Etc. etc. But I've opted to leave it untranslated here and instead explain the intent because this is a highly emotional moment, and the mundane yet heartwarming domesticity of the phrase's usage in this scene doesn't really come through with its more cavalier-sounding translations.

Takeru and Yamato wave farewell to their mother, but Yamato feels self-conscious after a moment and stops waving.

In the dub:

Jim: You guys better get crankin'! Although it's hard to believe the fate of the world's in the hands of a bunch of kids like you. I guess if the sun doesn't come up tomorrow, we'll know you messed up! Kae: Stop it! You've got to have faith in your brother and his friends! What they're doing is incredibly brave! Jim: Whoa! Sorry, Lady. I didn't mean anything. Joe: It's okay. He was only kidding. And besides... (sudden burst of confidence) I'm gonna make darn sure the sun does come up! Sora: Joe! I didn't know you had it in you! Mimi: Ahahaha, what a man! (All the kids laugh at Joe; he hangs his head and backs into the portal) Sora & Mimi: What's happening? Joe: AAAAUGH!!! (Everyone jumps in the portal) Tai: Alright, here we go! Nancy: Matt! T.K.! Take care of each other!

Sora and Mimi are still making fun of Joe in this version, they're just subtler about it.

Finally met someone in this city that Jim doesn't know.

While Yamato and Takeru get to say goodbye to their loved ones, we pan over to Sora who looks disappointed that they have to leave so quickly. Suddenly:

Toshiko: SORA!!!

The adults from Big Sight have all arrived, at the last possible second, to the sight of their children rising into the sky in a column of rainbow light.

Sora: Mom... MOM!!! Mimi: PAPA!!! MAMA!!! Taichi: DAD!!! Hikari: MOM!!! Yuuko: TAICHI!!! HIKARI!!!

The column rises, taking the children further from their parents.

Hikari: DON'T WORRY ABOUT US!!! WE'LL COME BACK SOON!!!

Cutting silently to their frightened parents, watching the children go. First Yagami Yuuko and Susumu. Then Tachikawa Satoe and Keisuke. And then finally Takenouchi Toshiko.

Children: (all together) ITTEKIMASU!!!

Vanishing into the other world, the Chosen Children leave behind only that one familiar word. I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back soon. I'll see you when I come home.

The dub uses all the silent panning shots of this scene to fill in dialogue.

Toshiko: SORA!!! I love you, Sora! Please come home soon! I'll be waiting here for you! Sora: Bye, Mama.... BYE, MAMA!!! Mimi: MAMA!!! PAPA!!! Tai: BYE, DAD!!! Kari: BYE, MAMA!!! Yuuko: OH, TAI!!! BE CAREFUL!!! Susumu: AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR SISTER, SON!!! Kari: I'LL BE ALRIGHT!!! DON'T WORRY, WE'LL ALL BE BACK!!! Tai (V.O.): I never thought we'd volunteer to leave our families behind. It's weird. I'm not sure if we'll ever see them again. But I'm not afraid! It's like, just knowing that they love us gives us the power that we need. Kids: (Miscellaneous farewells, such as "Bye Bye" and "We'll be alright") Narrator: What powerful new enemy waits for the DigiDestined in the Digital World? Find out on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

Neither of the Kamiya parents says goodbye to Kari and I'm kinda mad about it.

Tai's voiceover there is to try and hit the same emotional chords that the team's collective Ittekimasu hit for the original. The word doesn't translate well in this particular context so they had to come up with their own emotional heartstring-tug.

The sudden ominous narrator, however, is a total mood-killer. Jerk.

Assessment: On the one hand, how quickly we go from defeating VenomVamdemon to returning to the Digital World feels a little rushed. But on the other hand, it's supposed to feel rushed. Because we're in a rush.

It sucks that we couldn't see the kids properly meet back up with their families and say real farewells to them. But it's supposed to suck. It sucks for them too. Every minute we spend out here is another, like, week where the situation in the Digital World is further destabilizing. There's no time for drawn-out goodbyes.

So we move into the final arc of Adventure 01. Shit's about to get real from here. @.@ I am not ready.

I think the dub on this one was hit-or-miss. It had some genuinely great moments, even parts where it added onto the original in good and interesting ways, and some other clunky bits. To their credit, they nailed the big Plot Exposition scene which is where they often struggle.

[nintendomariobros4]

The Original Chosen Children (DigiDestined) give up there Crests to protect the Digital World to cover the world with beauty and peace and they stopped the forces of darkness, but their Digimon could no longer Digivolve to Ultimate.

Digimon Adventure 02: Episode 27

[funhive]

token of geminga's ultimate stage since he's finally digivolved in a session recently

[otakween]

Digimon Next - Volume 3

This volume seems to have shifted away from the goofiness of earlier chapters and gone into "war is Hell" mode instead (junior edition lol). I think I preferred the goofy gag bits, but oh well. The artist has more of a chance to flex their skills now.

Norn is still a really dumb looking character. I cringe every time I see her design. Why does she hang around Barbamon's castle anyways? I guess time will tell.

Ch. 13

A randomly super violent chapter (with blood!) You can just get away with more in manga.

Trailmon's death was pretty sad, I was kinda hoping he would devolve into an in training form like Agumon and Gaomon, but I guess that's not a thing.

First time seeing BlackGaogamon and Wanyamon. They both have fun designs (and Wanyamon is too cute, I want a plushie!)

Zanbamon's design is pretty weird. He's like a centaur but with the horse head still intact so his human-like torso is coming out of the horse's back? Kinda a cluster...

Ch. 14

Info dump chapter about the villain's schemes + some world building. Digimon Hell does exist, apparently (I had asked about that in another post).

I kinda forgot that the gang didn't know Knight's true identity yet, it's about time! Seems pretty likely he'll have some sort of redemption arc...

Ch. 15

Shou attempts to pull an Uno reverse card by being like "Oh yeah? Well you reset your game that one time, so clearly you're the murderer!" It's not very successful...

Barbamon preying on an elementary schooler and being like "you're special, Shou" is big time groomer vibes. It was a bit eerie seeing Shou trying to defend Barbamon's plan and just spouting complete brainwashed nonsense.

The ~fated day~ thing is pretty cheesy. They're being way too dramatic about a girl saying "what are digimon to you?" (lol imagine if my bff turned to me in 5th grade and said "what are neopets to you?")

Moving right along to the ultimate forms, right on schedule. I'd like to see Pichimon digivolve, but maybe it would be more interesting if they stayed a pacifist? (Per Ami's preferred play style).

Ch. 16

All of this talk of darkness in hearts and giving into the darkness is soooo Kingdom Hearts

I think I already said this, but Shou is literally Goob from Meet the Robinsons lol. Being mad at the world when really the world did nothing but try to show him love and affection. I guess we could interpret his state as depression/anxiety since it doesn't stem from anything logical.

Ami telling Shou that everyone has darkness in their hearts felt really important (although I kinda feel like Tsurugi was like "we do?" lol)

If only we could undo brainwashing by shooting them with a magic bullet, how convenient! Feels like a bit of a redemption speed run. We've seen similar things in Digimon's past. I guess it's easier to be like "he was being controlled!" than put actual effort into writing a character slowly coming around.

Yatagaramon allowing RiseGreymon to save Shou was sweet.

Ch. 17

The panel of Andromon facing the battlefield was really strong. The attention to detail in this manga makes the basic story feel more impactful.

Yuu becomes an avenger for Trailmon and Andromon. Gaomon gets his perfect upgrade too. I guess Yuu is really good at making friends with side digimon lol.

Of course they made Ami a damsel in distress 😑

Ch. 18

This was basically one big action chapter. Piccolomon returns and says the gang needs to use the power of their hearts to enter the System World (of course)

Murmukusmon is a dumb name and he has a super unappealing design too. Apparently his name comes from the demon Murmur which is kinda neat, but then why didn't they just call him Murmurmon? Maybe that's hard to say, but Murmukusmon isn't exactly easier!

Time for the "final battle," but not really cuz there's 7 chapters left lol. You can't fool me!

[digi-dest-stories]

Miraculous Destiny AU rambling

So I've been figuring out lore and stuff in my head (Still stumped on a Miraculous to give Riot but I'll figure it out). Here's what I got so far:

Some Backstory: The Admins were formerly superheroes who, along with their Digimon partners, used them to help people. However, as they got older, they stopped using the Miraculouses. Instead, they all resigned themselves to guardians, splitting them between the seven of them. All but one received three Miraculouses to look after.

Simon Reddington would be the only one who had not received three, instead holding only one - The Butterfly. He had grown somewhat bitter in age and had become obsessed with the idea of creating a 'perfect' world. But, to do that, he of course needed the Ladybug and Black Cat. And luckily for him, he knew who had them.

At least, he thought he did. Their guardians, Lucia Yi and Jordan Hedgewick, sent the Miraculouses far away and went into hiding, so that he would not find them. So, instead of searching for them himself, he decided to use the Butterfly Miraculous to create "Champions" that would retrieve them in his stead.

Lore:

So Digimon exist in a space that, like Ghost Game and Xros Hunters, allows them to affect the Human World without being seen. They rarely appear in the Human World, preferring to live in their plane of existence, but can be brought out through the use of some Miraculous... like the Butterfly.

When a Digimon is Akumatized, they materialize in the Real World. They then experience something akin to a Dark Digivolution, driving them mad and causing them to go berserk. They don't always get Akumatized though, some humans do too

If a hero bonds with a Digimon, they gain a Miracle Device, which is eventually just a Digivice that is connected to a specific Miraculous. It allows the Digimon to gain an evolutionary stage known as Miracle Digivolution, where they Digivolve using the power/energy of the Miraculous (Sort of like Armor Digivolution if that makes sense, but somewhere between Champion and Ultimate). Instead of a common Digimon name, they gain a title/superhero name of sorts. The Miracle Device also allows them to enter the other plane that most Digimon exist in.

Admins + Miraculous (Bold are the ones that they held):

RedHerring/Simon - Butterfly

Stonehedge/Jordan - Black Cat, Snake, Rabbit

Yihaw/Lucia - Ladybug, Fox, Mouse

King Maroon/Henry King - Monkey, Ox, Turtle

Spin Sylph - Pig, Bee, Dog

Dragon Abby - Dragon, Tiger, Rooster

Devil Soma - Peacock, Goat, Horse

Updated DigiDestined + Miraculous (Superhero Name)

Reiner - Black Cat

Sammi - Ladybug (Lucky/Lady Luck - Temp names)

ER - Turtle

Gary - Fox

Grayson - Dog (Keen Hound - Thank you @gorochuva)

Diogo - Goat

That's all I have for now. Gotta figure out a miraculous for Riot, some of their hero names, and the names of their Digimon's Miracle-Evolved forms

Feel free to leave suggestions if anyone has some