Digimon Tamers

Digimon Tamers
Digimon Tamers
Genre	Action, Adventure
Anime
Directed by	Yukio Kaizawa
Head writer	Chiaki J. Konaka
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	April 1, 2001 – March 31, 2002
Anime
Battle of Adventurers
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	July 14, 2001
Anime
Runaway Locomon
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	March 2, 2002
Related works
Digimon Adventure / Season one Digimon Adventure 02 / Season two Digimon Frontier / Season four Digimon Savers / Data Squad

Digimon Tamers (デジモンテイマーズ, Dejimon Teimāzu) is the third animated series based on the Digimon franchise, first broadcast in 2001. The story takes place initially in the "real" world, a world much like ours where Digimon is just a franchise, composed of video games, a collectible card game, and a cartoon series. A group of 12-year-olds (10-year olds in the Japanese version), Takato, Henry and Rika (fans of the Digimon card game) meet their own Digimon friends and start to duel "bio-emerging" Digimon who cross the barrier between the information network, synthesizing proteins and becoming real. Most of it set in the modern Tokyo ward of Shinjuku and only changes scenario to the Digital World for a short time.

The tone of this season has many elements from head writer Chiaki J. Konaka's other works, especially Serial Experiments Lain, including a few aspects from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Thus, the series had a very dark tone in nature, much more so than its predecessors. One thing that made the tone darker than previous seasons was that when a Digimon died it turned back into data and could be absorbed by other Digimon, where as in other seasons the Digimon turned back into a Digi Egg and was reborn. The only Digimon of the main characters that actually died was Leomon. The show's English dub had little editing compared to previous seasons.

Plot summary

File:Digimon3.png

The English logo for Digimon Tamers (Season 3)

One day Takato creates his own Digimon Guilmon when he slips a mysterious blue card he found in his deck through his hand-held card reading device, changing it into a D-Power (called a D-Arc in Japan), the Tamers version of a Digivice. The appearance and powers of this Digimon come from Takato's sketches that were scanned into the device. Guilmon bio-emerges from the Digital World and is found later by Takato. Henry meets his Digimon Terriermon when he rises from the screen of a computer game, while Rika's Digimon Renamon approached her to ask to be made stronger, since Rika was famous for her skills on the Digimon card game. Early in the series, the three Tamers and their Digimon duel foreign Digimon that are emerging into their world. Takato, Henry and their partners begin working together, while Rika and Renamon prefer to fight on their own; however, they all soon realize that much more is at stake during their battles and the six unite as a team. Other characters, Kazu, Kenta and Jeri (Takato's friends from school) and Suzie (Henry's little sister) become Tamers later on in the series, and Ryo (Rika's rival and legendary Digimon Tamer) is introduced later on. They also encounter two more Digimon that they frequently run into: Calumon, a mysterious Digimon that has the power to make other Digimon digivolve but dislikes fighting and only wants to play and eat junk food, and Impmon, a Digimon that left his Tamers because he was sick of their bickering and selfishness and thinks that all Digimon with Tamers are a disgrace.

Along the way, the kids learn to be responsible for those creatures as a mysterious man known as Yamaki tries to stop wild Digimon from coming to the real world. From the secret government agency called Hypnos, Yamaki was in charge of monitoring all Digimon activity around the globe. Later, when a series of evil Digimon calling themselves the Devas, who, serving the Digimon Sovereigns, believe that true Digimon shouldn't pair up with humans (it is later revealed they were actually misguided), the trio of Tamers and their Digimon defend their world against them. The Devas' true purpose to come into the human world was to capture Calumon and take him back to the Digital World so they could use his power of Digivolution. The Tamers and their friends then decide to leave for the Digital World to rescue Calumon. They destroy all but one of the Devas (Antylamon turned to the side of good and became Suzie's Digimon partner) and confront and defeat Impmon, who is now Beelzemon after making a deal with the Sovereign for more power in exchange for eliminating the Tamers, but at the cost of Jeri's partner Leomon, which causes Jeri to fall into depression. After traveling to the Digital World to rescue Calumon the Tamers meet (and fight with) one of the four Digital Gods, but finally agree to work together in order to destroy the D-Reaper, a computer program initially designed to keep digital life from getting out of control, but it itself went out of control. The Tamers not only must save both worlds from the D-Reaper, but also rescue Jeri, who has been taken by the renegade program and is unknowingly feeding it information with her sadness.

Several new elements are introduced in this season, including the use of game cards in conjunction with the Digivices to give different powers to the Digimon, the presence of Calumon, a lone Digimon responsible for the Digimon evolutions, and the use of "biomerging" to bring the Digimon to their final Mega levels by merging their bodies with their human partners. The season also continued the progression from Digimon Adventures, which was set in the Digital World with only a temporary return to the real world, through Adventures 02, where the characters returned from the Digital World to rest after most episodes: in Tamers the action is entirely within the real world, with a journey to the Digital World in midseason.

Episodes

For an overview see List of Digimon Tamers episodes.

Digimon Tamers aired 51 episodes on Fuji TV in Japan from April 1st, 2001 to March 31st, 2002, and on Fox Kids in the United States from September 1st, 2001 to June 8th, 2002.

Characters

Main article: List of characters in Digimon Tamers

Main characters

Screenshot	Character	Voice actor	Digimon	Voice actor
File:Takato and Guilmon.jpg	Takato Matsuki("松木啓人") Takato Matsuda (松田 啓人 Matsuda Takato)	Brian Beacock (EN) Makoto Tsumura (JP)	Guilmon	Steven Blum (EN) Masako Nozawa (JP)
	An imaginative young boy who created his own partner Digimon, and gradually emerges as the unofficial leader of the Tamers. He imagined Guilmon and brought him to life after discovering his Digivice.
File:Henry and Terriermon.jpg	Henry Wong Jianliang Lee (李 健良Ri Jenrya)	Dave Wittenberg (EN) Mayumi Yamaguchi (JP)	Terriermon	Mona Marshall (EN) Aoi Tada (JP)
	A half-Japanese/half-Chinese boy, the voice of reason in the group. He chose Terriermon in a video game as his partner.
File:Rika and Renamon.jpg	Rika Nonaka("野中理香") Ruki Makino (牧野 留姫 Makino Ruki)	Melissa Fahn (EN) Fumiko Orikasa (JP)	Renamon	Mari Devon (EN) Yuka Imai (JP)
	A tomboyish, headstrong female Tamer who is a champion Digimon card player and initially the most experienced against fighting Digimon. She chose Renamon out of her desire for the strongest Digimon.
File:RyoAkiyama.jpg	Ryo Akiyama (秋山 リョウ Akiyama Ryō)	Steve Staley (EN) Junichi Kanemaru (JP)	Cyberdramon	Lex Lang (EN) Ikkei Seta (JP)
	An enigmatic tamer that went missing after beating Rika to take first place in the Digimon Card Tournament.
File:Jeri and Leomon.jpg	Jeri Katou Juri Kato (加藤樹莉 Katō Juri)	Bridget Hoffman (EN) Yoko Asada (JP)	Leomon	Paul St. Peter (EN) Hiroaki Hirata (JP)
	A female tamer who is one of Takato's friends from school.
File:Kazu and Guardromon.jpg	Kazu Shioda Hirokazu Shiota (塩田 博和 Shiota Hirokazu)	Brad MacDonald (EN) Yukiko Tamaki (JP)	Guardromon	Richard Cansino (EN) Yanada Kiyoyuki (JP)
	A comedic tamer that is very good friends with Takato and Kenta and often beats them in DigiBattle Card Game. He also idolizes Ryo.
File:Kenta and MarineAngemon.jpg	Kenta Kitagawa (北川 健太 Kitagawa Kenta)	Steven Blum (EN) Tōko Aoyama (JP)	MarineAngemon	Wendee Lee (EN) Ai Iwamura (JP)
	A young tamer who is very good friends with Takato and Kazu.
File:Suzie and Antylamon.jpg	Suzie Wong Shaochung Lee (李 小春 Ri Shuichon)	Peggy O'Neal (EN) Ai Nagano(JP)	Lopmon	Michelle Ruff (EN) Aoi Tada (JP)
	Henry's younger sister and youngest Tamer of the group.
File:Char-aimakoto.jpg	Ai and Mako (Ai and Makoto)	Rebecca Forstadt & Wendee Lee (EN) Haruhi Terada & Miwa Matsumoto (JP)	Impmon	Derek Stephen Prince (EN) Hiroki Takahashi (JP)
	Two young children whom Impmon first met during his first time in the human world; his experiences with their sibling rivalry gave him a strong dislike for humans. They reconciled with Impmon near the end of the season.

Digital World

Main article: Digital World

The Digital World is a parallel, shadow world that coexists with Earth, created as it was by it. This is where all Digimon live.

The Digital World that runs parallel to the Earth inhabited by Takato and the Digimon Tamers originally started out as a barren desert, which became home to the digital life forms created by the Monster Makers in the 1980s—the Digimon. Some organisms even evolved on their own from the Digital World, the DigiGnomes. But in the early days of life in the Digital World, it was attacked by the deadly D-Reaper deletion program, which had been created to destroy all artificial intelligence that moved beyond its limits. However, as it deleted many Digimon, it absorbed their data, and was mutated by it, gaining sentience and more power. It entered a period of inactivity, and buried itself away, deep beneath the Digital World.

Time passed, and four Digimon evolved into their highest stages, becoming the "gods" of the Digital World—the four Digimon Sovereigns, Azulongmon, Baihumon, Ebonwumon and Zhuqiaomon. The Digital World eventually grew to be composed of six planes. The earliest plane was the desert, while the sixth is the highest plane where the Sovereigns dwelled, along with the Shining Digivolution—the power source that provided the energy to allow Digimon to Digivolve. On the four planes in between are "miniverses"—specialized environments created by the Digimon that inhabit them. There are a great many of them, but ones seen included: an area of clouds and clockwork where Clockmon and Hagurumon lived, a warped, black-and-white town where the Nohemon dwell and a Knightmon patrolled its castle at night, an area of forests, lakes and rivers where Orochimon is a dictator over the Gekomon's village, a 'world' entirely composed of water and underground caverns within them where a Divermon lived and protected the Otamamon there, and a region of ice. Huge Data Streams connect the regions of the Digital World to Earth, as digital matter from the Digital World is manipulated and utilized by computers on Earth. In the void between the Digital World and the real world, there is a warped area where reality is in flux, and is defined only by the perceptions of those within it.

Movies

Battle of Adventurers

File:Digimon Movie 5.jpg

The Tamers are on summer vacation and split up to enjoy themselves. Takato visits his cousin Kai in Okinawa with Guilmon, Henry investigates an underwater meteor with Terriermon, and Rika stays behind with Renamon to defend their city from invading Digimon. An evil Digimon known as Mephistomon emerges and puts into motion a plan that involves the new digital pet craze known as the V-Pet to disable worldwide communications and allow Digimon to cross over freely into the real world. The only way to stop this lies within the body of Seasarmon, the Digimon partner of Minami, the daughter of the creator of the V-Pets. There's no rest for the Tamers and their partners as they fight their toughest battle yet to save the world. Early mistranslated promo information cemented the idea that this movie was out of continuity with the series, but in the finished movie, there is very little to suggest that this could be true. Given that Kai goes on to appear later in the series itself, and knows who Guilmon is at the time, would suggest that the movie is in continuity.

The Tamers' Digimon in their Ultimate-level forms (WarGrowlmon, Rapidmon and Taomon) create a new attack. It consists of the Digimon changing into a crystallized form and combining together to form a giant bird made of pure energy. This move has been dubbed the "Trinity Burst". It has not been seen outside the movie.

Runaway Locomon

File:Digimon Movie 6.jpg

This takes place after the series finale (technically, six months after the D-Reaper was destroyed); in it, the Tamers are planning to throw Rika a surprise party, but their plans are derailed as they must try to stop a train-Digimon named Locomon, who is being controlled by Parasimon who has opened a portal to the Digital World that is allowing other Parasimon to cross over and invade the city. The movie served to provide insight on Rika, and also to confirm that the Tamers were, indeed, reunited with their Digimon partners after the series ended.

Chiaki Konaka states in his character notes (for Rika) that he "was not consulted" on Runaway Locomon, which possibly explains certain continuity errors. On this he also says: "However, ...Mr. Tetsuharu Nakamura [the director], [who was] an assistant director of the TV series... [and] Mr. Hiro Masaki,... a regular writer for the series... paid a great deal of attention to the psychological aspects of the series when completing the movie... I am very grateful to them for boldly illustrating the parts of Rika's family life that the TV series never explored."

Short Story

Digimon Tamers 1984

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

CD Drama

Digimon Tamers: Original Story, Message in the Packet

This audio drama takes place sometime after the end of the series, but before the 2nd Tamers Movies (Runaway Locomon). The Tamers have yet to be reunited with their Digimon Partners, but the Monster Makers have discovered a way in which the Tamers may be able to send messages to the Digital World. However, it's not certain if it'll work, or if their Partners will receive their messages. But with the memories and love for their Partners guiding them, the Tamers each make their own emotional and heartfelt messages, hoping that their Partners will hear them. They talk about the past, their plans for the future, how they've changed, and most of all, how important they believe that their Partners were to them, and convey the hope and certainty that will meet up with each other once again.

Differences in the English dub

• In every episode there are these changes:
  • The original Japanese music score is completely replaced with other music.
  • All the sound effects are completely changed and there are familiar American sound effects as well as newly designed American sound effects. All those sound effects are very different from the original Japanese sound effects, and there are none of the original sound effects remaining.
  • Opening and Ending Sequences
  • The cards' faces keep the Japanese writing they have on in the dub and are left out unedited.
• In episode three, "To Fight or Not to Fight", two scenes are cut out:
  • Gargomon's gun aiming at Rika's head (his arm is painted over, making it seem as if Gargomon is just looking at Rika).
  • Renamon scratches Gargomon, drawing blood.
• In episode 8 (English: A Question of Trust) (Japanese: Guilmon Evolves! The Showdown in West Shinjuku), two scenes were removed:
  • A very short scene was cut between a couple talking. The man took out a cigarette, and failed to get his lighter work. Impmon offered him fire, scaring the couple away. In the English version, the cigarette part was cut, replaced only by the women discussing how they wanted a fire to keep them warm, and Impmon offered his fire.
  • In the original, Growlmon's stray fireball blasted a part of building. The small clip of the smoking building was removed, likely due to the resemblance of the 9/11 attacks.
• In episode 16, "Snakes Trains and Digimon", there are these edits.
  • The flag that Takato made has the Japanese words, "Digimon Tamers" changed to English.
  • The close-up scene of the theater sign is cut, because of the Japanese kanji characters that were on it. This was one of the few removals of Japanese writing in the dub, while most of the Japanese writing that were on the cards and on signs are kept.
  • The theater scene is edited to have the music removed and the performers talking.
• Episode 23 (aired September 9, 2001 in Japan)
  • When Makuramon overloads Juggernaut scenes were edited of the Hypnos Tower exploding (barely, it is possible to see it if the video is run slowly)
  • the scene of dark smoke rising from several of the tower's windows was edited mainly in response to 9/11 in the United States, while in Japan the episode was released two days prior to the attacks.
• During the fight between Gallantmon and Beelzemon, the scene where Beelzlemon is aiming his Berenjena shotgun at Gallantmon's head is edited (The gun is painted over as if Beelzemon's hands are still at his sides).
• In the movie "Runaway Locomon", some of the Biomerging sequences were edited, as well as Gallantmon's graphic impaling of the main Parasimon's eye, Mega Gargomon blowing the Parisimon into pieces, and Gallantmon impaling a Parasimon and tossing it at another.
• In the original Japanese intro, Jeri, Kazu, Kenta and Suzie were shown, first in silhouette, then in full color, in two parts of the intro, with all but Kenta recognizable from their silhouettes. In the English intro, only Jeri is recognizable in the same way, due to the sequence being changed.

Japanese songs

Opening and ending songs

• Opening: "The Biggest Dreamer" by Kōji Wada
• Ending 1: "My Tomorrow" by AiM (episodes 1-23)
• Ending 2: "Days-Aijou to Nichijou" by AiM (episodes 24-51)

Evolution songs

• 1: "SLASH!!" performed by Michihiko Ohta (episodes 2–51)
• 2: "EVO" performed by Wild Child Bound (episodes 3–51)
• 3: "One Vision" performed by Takayoshi Tanimoto (episodes 36–51)

Insert songs

• 1: "3 Primary Colors" (episode 9 and 51)
• 2: "KAZE" performed by Kōji Wada (episode 23)
• 3: "Himawari" performed by AiM (episode 24)
• 4: "Across the tears" performed by Makoto Tsumura (episode 24)
• 5: "Culu culu Culumon" performed by Tomoko Kaneda (episode 29)
• 6: "Black intruder" (episode 30)
• 7: "Fragile heart" performed by AiM (episode 40)
• 8: "Starting Point" performed by Kōji Wada, Michihiko Ohta and AiM (episode 49)
• 9: "The Biggest Dreamer", second verse, performed by Kōji Wada (episode 50)

Credits

Japanese Cast

• Takao Ishii - Johnny Beckenstein
• Unshou Ishizuka - Vajramon
• Ai Iwamura - MarineAngemon
• Tomoko Kaneda - Culumon
• Yoshiyuki Kaneko - Janyu Lee
• Junichi Kanemaru - Ryo Akiyama
• Nobuaki Kanemitsu - Takehiro Matsuda
• Masako Katsuki - Pajiramon
• Masami Kikuchi - Rob McCoy (Dolphin), Grani
• Koichi Kitamura - Chou Sensei
• Juurouta Kosugi - IceDevimon, Qinglongmon, Mephismon (Movie 5)
• Shinichi Kotani - Baihumon
• Miwa Matsumoto - Makoto
• Youko Matsuoka - Curly
• Kaya Matsutani - Nami Asanuma, Mie Matsuda
• Kotono Mitsuishi - Minami Uehara (Movie 5)
• Fumiko Miyashita - Megumi Onodera, Masahiko Kato
• Shuuichirou Moriyama - Zhuqiaomon
• Ai Nagano - Shaochung Lee, Reika Ootori
• Kenji Nomura - Babel
• Masako Nozawa - Narrator
• Tomo Saeki - Kai Urazoe
• Haruo Satou - Hajime Kato, Information Minister
• Ikkei Seta - Cyberdramon, Sandiramon
• Junichi Sugawara - Seiji Kurosawa
• Taro Suwa - Goro Mizuno (Shibumi)
• Aoi Tada - Lopmon
• Hiroki Takahashi - Impmon, Dobermon
• Yukiko Tamaki - Hirokazu Shiota
• Masahiko Tanaka - Mihiramon
• Haruhi Terada - Ai
• Kyousei Tsukui - Shiisamon
• Makoto Tsumura - Takato Matsuda
• Kiyoyuki Yanada - Guardromon
• Jouji Yanami - Xuanwumon
• Mari Yoshikura - Jaarin Lee

English Cast

*All Characters listed here are referred to by their English Names.

• Brian Beacock - Takato Matsuki, Gallantmon (shared)
• Beau Billingslea - Hagurumon, Musyamon
• Steven Blum - Guilmon/Growlmon/WarGrowlmon/Gallantmon (shared), Megidramon Kenta Kitagawa, Yamaki
• Richard Cansino - Guardromon/Andromon
• Tifanie Christun - Riley, Mrs. Kitagawa
• Joey D'Auria - Chuchidarumon Elder
• Mari Devon - Renamon/Kyubimon/Taomon/Sakuyamon (shared)
• Brian Donovan - Davis Motomiya (Narrator) ,Kai Urazoe (TV)
• Michael Earl - Mr. Akiyama
• Richard Epcar - Sinduramon, Cherrymon, Policeman
• Dorothy Elias-Fahn - Babamon, Curly, Harpymon
• Melissa Fahn - Rika Nonaka, Sakuyamon (shared)
• Tom Fahn - Jijimon, Dolphin
• Rebecca Forstadt - Ai
• Bob Glouberman - Shibumi
• Barbara Goodson - Seiko Hata, DarkLizardmon
• Bridget Hoffman - Jeri Katou, Mrs. Katou, D-Reaper & Agents
• Neil Kaplan - Indramon, Babel, Divermon
• R. Martin Klein - Clockmon, Man In Black, Mr. Mori
• Steve Kramer - Baihumon
• Lex Lang - Monodramon, Cyberdramon/Justimon (shared), Sandiramon, Orochimon, Tsugai
• Wendee Lee - MarineAngemon, Daisy, Mako
• Dan Lorge - Mr. Kitagawa
• Brad MacDonald - Kazu Shioda
• Dave Mallow - Gekomon, Allomon, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Grani, Vilemon
• Mona Marshall - Terriermon/Gargomon/Rapidmon/MegaGargomon
• Lara Jill Miller - Nami Asaji
• Michael McConnohie - Azulongmon, Henry's Sensei
• Mary Elizabeth McGlynn - Pajiramon, Rumiko Makino, Digivolution voice, Pajiramon
• Joe Ochman - Jagamon Leader, Makuramon
• Peggy O'Neal - Suzie Wong, Tally
• Bob Papenbrook - Mr. Iwamoto, Mr. Katou, Majiramon, Mihiramon
• Paul St. Peter - Leomon, Gorillamon
• Tony Pope - Zhuqiaomon
• Jamieson Price - Janyu Wong
• Derek Stephen Prince - Impmon/Beelzemon
• Michael Reisz - IceDevimon
• Michelle Ruff - Lopmon/Antylamon
• Philece Sampler - Alice McCoy, Mrs. Matsuki
• Joshua Seth - Kumbhiramon
• Brianne Siddall - Calumon
• Michael Sorich - Dobermon, Dogmon, Vikaralamon
• Peter Spellos - Meramon
• Melodee Spevack - Dokugumon, MetalKoromon
• Steve Staley - Ryo Akiyama, Justimon (shared)
• Kirk Thornton - Mr. Matsuki
• Wally Wingert - Coco
• Dave Wittenberg - Henry Wong, MegaGargomon (shared), Ebonwumon, Johnny Beckenstein
• Tom Wyner - Principal Seiji Kurosawa, Devidramon, Chatsuramon

English Movie Cast

• Steven Jay Blum - Rika's father (Movie 6)
• Richard Cansino - Labramon (Movie 5)
• Richard Epcar - Ryuuji Tamashiro/Mephistomon/Gulfmon (Movie 5)
• Lex Lang - Omnimon (Movie 5), Locomon (Movie 6)
• David Lodge - Wataru Urazoe (Movie 5), Parasimon (Movie 6)
• Yuri Lowenthal - Kai Urazoe (Movie 5)
• Mona Marshall - MarineAngemon (Movie 6)
• Mary Elizabeth McGlynn - Lopmon (Movie 6)
• Jamieson Price - Baromon (Movie 5)
• Derek Stephen Prince - Mr. Uehara (Movie 5)
• Philece Sampler - Jeri Katou, Riley (Movie 6)
• Stephanie Sheh - Minami Uehara (Movie 5)
• Kirk Thornton - Omnimon (Movie 5)
• Tom Wyner - Seasarmon (Movie 5)

See also

General

• Hypnos (Digimon)
• List of Digimon Tamers episodes
• Digimon

Locations

• Digimon Tamers: Resources - Locations
• Shinjuku, Tokyo
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
• Shinjuku Central Park

External links

• Toei Animation official site (Japanese)
• DIGIMON TAMERS RESOURCES (Notes and history of Season 3 from Chiaki J. Konaka) (Japanese/English)
• Digimon Uncensored's Digimon Tamers Comparisons (English)
• Digimon Tamers Tagalog Page (Tagalog)