There were 9 different iterations ofDigimonin total, all with their own different styles, characters and storylines making them unique from one another. Some series are better than others, but it’s fair to say that none of them can be classed as bad.
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There is a lot of great anime out there, andDigimonwas often left in the shadows of the more well known anime likePokemon, but it’s arguably a better well-built series overall. The franchise started way back in 1999, withDigimon: Adventureand the last season wasDigimon: Ghost Gamewhich came to an end in 2023.
9Data Squad
Data Squadfollows Yoshi, Thomas and Marcus as they become members of DATS (Digital Accident Tactics Squad), an organization that protects the world from rogue Digimon.
Data Squadwas enjoyable, but the weakest entry in the series. There’s too much focus on the past. The goggle head was the same, and the series doesn’t focus enough on its own identity. There are some interesting themes of friendship and loyalty, but overall, it fails to hit the mark.
8Tri
The original main cast ofAdventurereturned for this much anticipated series. The aim of the series was to fill in the gaps between the last time the kids were seen on screen and theAdventure 02Epilogue.
Many fans thought this season was a disappointment, but it really does have its enjoyable and heartfelt moments. The adventure is juxtaposed with the struggles of the core characters in their teenage years. It acts as a touching love letter to the original series.
7Ghost Game
The most recent season ofDigimonwasGhost Game, andit ran from October 2021 to March 2023. The show’s format is episodic and features a monster of the week that the gang need to eliminate.
This is a bizarre choice to evolveDigimoninto an episodic format, especially as the other seasons don’t do this. The series is entertaining, but many fans wish the makers had trusted the Gen Z audience to be able to follow a longer form story arc.
The question remains, willGhost Gamebe the last we see from theDigimontelevision franchise? Surely not with the 25th anniversary just around the corner.
6Fusion
Digimon: Fusionearns the accolade of the most episodes out of all the iterations ofDigimon. It was the sixth entry in the franchise, and it largely delivers on its promises. It feels fresh as itsfocus is on the digimon through a different lens.
War was a main plot point inFusion, and it showcased its main characters as the ultimate heroes to the Digital world. This is a dark theme to portray on a children’s show, but it definitely works in the overall narrative, and doesn’t feel out of place for aDigimonseries.
5Frontier
Frontierwas an unexpected gem in the series. In a twist, the heroes became the digimon through something known as Spirit Evolution. The plot revolves around Takuya Kanbara, a kid from the city who receives a text message telling him to board a train towards his destiny. He’s whisked off into the digital world and the rest, as they say, is history.
The season largely works well alongside its predecessors and offers up something new to attract first time viewers. It appeases older fans as well with the franchises usual unique style.
4Tamers
Tamersmarked the first time the series took place in a new setting separate from the first two seasons. Not only that, the show exists within a world that theDigimonfranchise is known about. The plot is based onTakato Matsuki, a fan of theDigimoncard game, who finds a Blue Card, which turns his reader into a D-Power Digivice. His D Power scans his drawings and his Digimon creation, Guilmon, turns into real life.
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Tamershad its work cut out for itself, being the next series to follow the highly successful and beloved Adventure, and Adventure 02 seasons. But it does well because it plays with the formula whilst also creating a highly entertaining series that earns its place inDigimonfolklore.
3App Monsters
The formula was changed significantly again forApp Monsters, the seventh season ofDigimon. The cell phone is arguably the most important invention of the 21st century andDigimon: App Monstersacts as a commentary on this particular subject. The world is a totally new one and the Digimon are based on phone apps like camera and navigation.
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Changing the formula of the long-running show was a welcome break from the usual norms, and makes it stand out as an excellent entry in the series. Human characters are treated with reverence as well, which was a contrast to other seasons. The series theme revolves around artificial intelligence. This was way back in 2016, and the show was very much ahead of its time.
2Adventure 02
Adventure 02was the follow-up to the originalDigimonseries. A lot of expectation was on the shoulders of this season because of how good the first one was. Rather than just doing a re hash of the originalAdventure, the creative team behind it chose to change the formula. Digi egg Evolutions were introduced which made the possibilities endless in terms of what could happen. This was a good move for the show and fans really seemed to dig it.
T.K and Kari returned as main characters inAdventure 02which helped to keep some of the familiarity of the firstAdventureseries intact. The episodes were also jam packed full of guest appearances from members of theAdventurecrew.
It’s not quite as good as the original series, but it comes close.
1Adventure
Digimonbecame a phenomenon when itfirst hit the screens nearly 25 years ago, and it all started with theAdventureseries. The season that kicked off the craze evolved into a piece of entertainment that has lasted for decades.
Children going to camp and being transported to a magical world where monsters are around every corner is a dream that many people have had, and this series portrays it in a wonderful way. One simply can’t beat the original and despite many great contenders,Digimon: Adventureremains the best in the anime franchise.
