Digimon got something of a reputation as a Pokémon knockoff. However, the two series were actually quite different for a lot of reasons. For one, Pokémon wasn't all that plot-heavy. There was the overall concept in place of Ash trying to become the very best, but the series has always had more of an adventure of the week style to it. Digimon had a continuing plot that at times would become quite dark and adult, placing its characters in real danger. It stands to reason then that Digimon: The Movie would follow suit and produce a challenging narrative within what is essentially a children's film.
There's quite a bit going on within Digimon: The Movie. Its structure almost breaks it into two shorter films, each with its own cast of characters and battles to fight. Where the execution of these two stories gets interesting is that they are in fact directly connected, with the audience learning that events in the first battle trigger the events that we see within the second story. Here are a few of the more specific details of what sets Digimon: The Movie as a triumph and the best work that the series has ever produced.
The Animation is a Huge Step Up
Watching the original Digimon series may leave today's viewers a bit underwhelmed. Sure, it's a kid's show, but it definitely feels a bit chunky at times, especially in comparison to some of Pokémon's more fluidly animated moments. There's a reason that the animations for digivolving are reused time and again. However, this is not the case within the first feature-length the series has put out. That film is gorgeous.
Action sequences are easy to follow and practically jump off the screen. The film's main villains are more intimidating due to the harsher style of action and the big attacks feel more impactful as a result as well. It's not just the battles either. Digimon's character interactions and movements are a joy to watch, from Koromon burping in Tai's face to Izzy having to rush to the bathroom after drinking a questionable milkshake. The whole thing feels more lively as a result than the show could ever have hoped to achieve.
The Story is Epic Without Feeling Sprawling
It's pretty rare that a movie made for younger audiences will involve a plot that extends across two casts of characters of a period of more than at least 10 years. Digimon dares though, and the story of its first movie is all the better for it. The tale begins back at the childhood of Tai and Kairi and their first-ever encounter with Digimon. It then jumps to several years later when Tai and Kairi are teenagers, where a mysterious new virus Digimon has entered the internet and threatens to set off nuclear bomb codes around the world. This leads to an online chase and a huge battle that sets the precedent for thrilling action for the rest of the film.
Picking up again a few years later, with the new team of Digi-Destined from the second series of Digimon meeting a new member of the team, Willis. It turns out that Willis had two Digimon as a child, but one was infected and became the virus from the first part of the story. Though the virus was defeated, his former partner Cocomon continues to pursue Willis, telling him to "Go back to the beginning." The journey brings the heroes to the United States for the first time as well, providing a fresh set of scenery that helps to differentiate this half of the film visually. The final battle unleashes even more spectacle than the previous showdown and is followed by a bittersweet ending filled with tears. It's surprisingly emotionally affecting.
The Movie is Complex Without Being Alienating
With all of this talk of a complicated plot that spans decades and includes two casts of characters, one would be forgiven for thinking that this is not the place to start with the franchise. That is not the case. The movie actually handles the topic of newcomers to the series with aplomb, making sure to give quick explanations of who people are without dwelling on the finer details for too long. It also helps that the characters have extremely distinct personalities and their interactions range from friendly to competitive, letting the audience pick up on personality traits through their actions instead of additional exposition.
Lastly, the starting point of the movie with Tai and Kairi at a younger age is the perfect entry point for newcomers. It introduces basic facts about Digimon and gives viewers a solid understanding of how these monsters can Digivolve. It's especially effective because at this point the characters know just as little about Digimon as the audience does. From there, with each new story beat that arrives the mythos of the series is fleshed out in a way that makes this a great action-adventure film anyone can jump in and enjoy. This is Digimon's very best offering.