Digimon is one of the many “monster-buddy” shows that popped up in the wake of the success of Pokemon. Like it’s counterpart, the anime is part of a multi-media franchise that includes card games, video games, comic books and more. It’s another show that’s more geared towards pre-teens and can be enjoyed by both boys and girls.
Tai Kamiya - the leader of the group, Tai tends to be hot-headed and stubborn, but also loyal and brave. His Digimon partner is Agumon, a dinosaur-like Digimon.
Matt Ishida - sort of the “lone wolf” of the group, Matt often butts heads with Tai but does care for his friends, especially his little brother, T.K. His Digimon partner is Gabumon, who looks like a dinosaur with a horn and wearing a wolf-like pelt.
Sora Takenouchi - a bit of a tomboy, Sora sort of acts like the “mother figure” of the group, looking out for the others. Her Digimon partner is the bird-like Biyomon.
Izzy Izumi - the brains of the group who uses his computer to help the group find their way and get out of jams. Izzy’s Digimon partner is Tentomon, who looks like a large insect.
Joe Kido: the oldest of the group, Joe is also the resident worrywart who tries to be the voice of reason. His Digimon partner is the seal-like Gomamon, who tries to get Joe to lighten up.
Mimi Tachikawa - sort of a spoiled “valley girl”, Mimi tends to whine when things get tough but will stick by her friends when need be. Her partner is the plant-like Palmon.
T.K. Takaishi: Matt’s younger brother and youngest of the group, he tends to be a crybaby at first but learns to fight his own battles. His partner is Patamon, who looks like a hamster with bat-like wings in place of ears.
Devimon: the first major villain of the series, Devimon tries to destroy the kids using Digimon he’s enslaved using the Black Gears. As his name implies, he looks a devil, complete with large horns and wings.
Digimon Season 1 – the storyline:
During summer camp, a group of young kids finds themselves sucked into the Digital World, a world comprised of computer data and populated with creatures known as “Digimon”. Equipped with “digivices” and partnered with different Digimon, the kids set out to try and find a way back home, fighting other, more dangerous and less-friendly Digimon along the way. Luckily for the kids, the Digimon have the ability to “Digivolve” into more powerful forms that enable them to fight. They also often end up fighting with each other due to clashing personalities and ideas about certain decisions.
Eventually, the group soon learns that they are, in fact, “Digidestined”, chosen to defeat a great evil threatening both the Digital World and the real world. Throughout the series, the gang fights various evil Digimon, such as the devil-like Devimon and the vampire-like Myotismon, as well as their minions.
Digimon may seem similar to Pokemon in many ways, but differs in having a more overall storyline and none of the “catch ‘em all” theme of the other series. Digimon Season 1 and Season 2 are good series for younger kids to try and get parents and grandparents into watching anime with them as a way of bonding in a buzzing kids world.
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