Digimon Universe Appli Monsters
- For the videogame of the same name, see Digimon Universe.
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Appmon. They are artificially intelligent app lifeforms that think and act independently. In the Real World, they transform into Appmon Chips and are able to materialize via the Appli Drive. And now, a terrifying AI lurking in the Dark Web, at the depths of the Net Ocean, has begun to move. By 2045... Artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence. |
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—Recited by Shinkai Haru before the opening theme. |
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Digimon Universe Appli Monsters (デジモンユニバース アプリモンスターズ Dejimon Yunibāsu Apuri Monsutāzu)[N 1], officially translated as Digimon Universe App Monsters[2][3], is the seventh animated series of Digimon.[4] The events of the series take place in 2016.
History[edit]
Announced in the May 2016 issue of V Jump, Digimon Universe is a collaboration between Bandai, Bandai Namco Entertainment, and Toei Animation encompassing an anime, games, and various hobby merchandise.
Development[edit]
Digimon Universe Appli Monsters was conceived in response to the perception that LCD-based toys had become outdated, and to reflect the growing prevalence of smartphones among children by 2016, leading to the proposal of a new premise for Digimon centered around smartphone-based devices.[5] The goal of Appli Monsters was to move away from Digimon's traditional elements, such as the Digivice and the Digital World, which the staff had long struggled to move beyond, in order to adopt a new direction for the series.[5] Producer Koga Gō, when approached about the project, said he was not initially interested in Digimon, but became interested after hearing the proposed “de-Digital Monster-ify” concept.[5] He explained that repeating the traditional Digimon formula would likely not succeed in the current context, and that keeping the Digimon name was important to maintain it as part of the brand and to create a series that both longtime fans and a new generation—such as their children—could enjoy together, creating something that connects two generations.[6] In a later interview, the staff explained that around 70% of early reactions were skeptical, with many questioning what Appmon was, while about 30% were supportive. However, after one cour had finished, many viewers admitted they initially thought Appmon would feel like a bootleg version of Digimon, but were surprised to find it actually captured the essence of Digimon very well.[6] The staff emphasized that their intention was to "break away from Digimon" in a creative sense, not to be "anti-Digimon", by retaining strong elements from past series while updating aspects they considered outdated.[6]
Character designer Moriyama Soh later recalled that the staff experimented with new ideas while searching for the characters' direction. He also said that, before production began, Watanabe Kenji gave a presentation at a character-design meeting on the core worldbuilding behind "the difference between Digimon and yōkai". Moriyama added that he already knew about it, but found it remarkable that the information had remained secret until then.[7]
Other Names[edit]
The series has also been referred to as Digimon Universe (デジモンユニバース Dejimon Yunibāsu)[8], Appli Monsters (アプリモンスターズ Apuri Monsutāzu)[9], Digimon Appmon (デジモンアプモン Dejimon Apumon)[10], and shortened as Appmon (アプモン Apumon).[11] It has also been stylized as DIGIMON UNIVERSE アプリモンスターズ (DIGIMON UNIVERSE アプリモンスターズ Dejimon Yunibāsu Apuri Monsutāzu)[12] and Digimon U Appmon (デジモンU アプモン Dejimon Yū Apumon).[13]
Dub versions[edit]
English version[edit]
The series was at the MIPCOM 2016 trade show with an English logo under the title given as Digimon Universe: App Monsters and with the title explicitly mentioned as the new Digimon series. No English version ever released, though the Japanese version did receive English subtitles on Crunchyroll using said name.
Non-Japanese versions[edit]
It is dubbed by the name 數碼暴龍Ａｐｐ世代 in Hong Kong, 數碼寶貝-ＡＰＰ獸- in Taiwan, Digimon Appmon in France, Digimon Universe: App Monsters in Portugal, ดิจิมอน แอปมอนสเตอร์ in Thailand, 어플몬스터 in South Korea.
Indonesian version[edit]
Digimon Universe: App Monsters was announced in late April 2020 in NET., and began by airing on every Saturday and Sunday in 9 May 2020 on 20:00 WIB, although it was only aired on Saturday in 2 episodes. The schedule was changed to every Monday to Friday, starting on May 24, 2020 at 15:30 to 16:00 WIB in 2 episodes, and continuing the series up to the first season in 26 episodes, with some re-running on random episodes. The second season, starting from episode 27, were aired for 2 episodes on every Saturday and Sunday in July 2020 at 06:00 to 07:00 WIB. The final episodes were aired on October 29-30 and September 5, 2020, although episode 50 was aired first before episode 49.
There was a slight difference in the opening of Indonesian airing of Digimon Universe, such as there is no "Digimon Universe" logo in the opening, instead it was changed to a scene of fighting Gatchmon.
Story[edit]
Overview[edit]
Shinkai Haru is a first-year middle school student who enjoys reading but considers himself a supporting character rather than the protagonist of his own life. His everyday routine changes when he encounters Gatchmon, an Appmon associated with search applications, and receives an Appli Drive. By becoming Gatchmon's partner, Haru gains the ability to materialize Appmon and confront the disturbances affecting the applications and network services used by people around him.
Behind these incidents is Leviathan, an artificial intelligence lurking in the depths of the Net Ocean. Using a virus to manipulate Appmon and interfere with connected systems, Leviathan seeks to extend its influence into the Real World. Haru and Gatchmon begin fighting its agents while investigating the purpose of the Appli Drive and the circumstances behind their partnership.
The Seven Code Appmon[edit]
Haru encounters other Appli Drivers, including Karan Eri, an idol partnered with Dokamon, and Asuka Torajirou, an AppTuber known as Astora who is partnered with Musimon. Their battles intersect with their everyday ambitions and responsibilities, from Eri's efforts to advance within Appliyama 470 to Torajirou's struggle between pursuing his videos and inheriting his family's profession.
The group searches for the Seven Code Appmon, whose chips are needed to open the way into the deeper regions of the network. Their efforts bring them into conflict with Katsura Rei and Hackmon, who initially take the collected Appmon Chips. Although Haru and his friends regard Rei as an enemy, they discover that he is searching for his younger brother, Katsura Hajime, who was abducted into the Net Ocean.
After recovering the Seven Code Chips from Mienumon and its evolved form, Warudamon, the group summons Dantemon through the Seven Code PAD. With the route opened and the Seven Code Band obtained, they enter the Deep Web and reach Cyber Kowloon, bringing them closer to Leviathan.
L-Corp and the Ultimate 4[edit]
Haru's childhood friend, Ozora Yujin, joins the group as a fifth Appli Driver. Partnered with Offmon, he possesses an Appli Drive DUO, which allows him to intervene when the others are threatened by Sateramon.
The investigation increasingly involves L-Corp, a company whose activities encompass smartphone operating systems, household appliances, and the management of Appliyama 470. Its artificial intelligence-controlled city, L-Town, introduces the group to the company's vision of a society organized through interconnected technology. Meanwhile, Rei continues searching the Deep Web for information about Hajime.
The Ultimate 4 confront the Appli Drivers, destroying their Appli Drives and causing their Buddy Appmon to disappear. Yujin is captured, leaving Haru and the others unable to pursue him. With help from Shinkai Denemon, they obtain Appli Drive DUOs and recover their partners. They then return to battle the Ultimate 4 and attempt to rescue Yujin, while Rei follows clues leading to Hajime within L-Corp.
The Humanity Applification Plan[edit]
Following Hajime's restoration to human form, the group learns of Leviathan's Humanity Applification Plan: converting the world's population into data that it can administer. Bootmon holds the key to the plan, prompting the Appli Drivers to search for it before Leviathan can secure its power.
Although they succeed in reaching Bootmon, Yujin is revealed to be an artificial intelligence created by Leviathan. Bootmon's abilities unlock the God Grade, and Leviathan begins transforming people around the world into applications. Eri, Torajirou, and Rei materialize their God Appmon to confront Deusmon, while Haru obtains Gaiamon and seeks to recover Yujin.
Leviathan itself materializes in the Real World and absorbs the God Appmon, installing their abilities into its own system. The conflict culminates in a final confrontation in which Haru, Gatchmon, and the other Appli Drivers fight to stop Leviathan and protect humanity's future.
Episodes[edit]
See List of Digimon Universe Appli Monsters episodes
Characters[edit]
Appli Drivers[edit]
- Shinkai Haru
- Gatchmon > DoGatchmon > Globemon > Gaiamon
- Karan Eri
- Dokamon > Dosukomon > Oujamon > Poseidomon
- Asuka Torajirou
- Katsura Rei
- Ozora Yujin
Humans[edit]
Major Characters[edit]
Supporting Characters[edit]
- Katsura Hajime
- Shinkai Denemon
- Kagurazaka Izumi
- Asuka Ryūtarou
- Asuka Jenny
- Kibayashi Erena
- Mashiro Arisu
- Caught-Up Old Man
- Occult Hunter J
- Hikajirou
- sayjirou
Appmon[edit]
Supporting Characters[edit]
Antagonists[edit]
- Cameramon > Scorpmon
- Shotmon
- Sleepmon
- Sakusimon
- Mienumon > Warudamon
- Virusmon
- Cometmon
- Sateramon
- Ultimate 4
- Deusmon
Minor Characters[edit]
A.I.[edit]
Digimon[edit]
- Agumon >>> War Greymon
Staff[edit]
| Position | Name | Kanji/Kana |
|---|---|---|
| Original Concept | Akiyoshi Hongo | 本郷 あきよし |
| Producer(s) | Sugasawa Masahiro (TV Tokyo)[14] Nagatomi Daichi (Toei Animation)[14] |
菅沢 正浩(テレビ東京) 永富 大地(東映アニメーション) |
| Series Director | Koga Gou[14] | 古賀 豪 |
| Series Composition | Kato Yoichi[14] | 加藤 陽一 |
| Character Design/Chief Animation Director | Ohnuki Kenichi[14] | 大貫 健一 |
| Art Director | Kobayashi Fumiya | 小林 史弥 |
| Art Design | Amada Toshiaki | 天田 俊貴 |
| Music | Nakagawa Kotaro[15] | 中川 幸太郎 |
| Color Key | Kiyota Naomi | 清田 直美 |
| Serialization | V-Jump (Shueisha) | Vジャンプ (編集部) |
| Production | Toei Animation Co., Ltd. | 東映アニメーション |
Theme Songs[edit]
- Ending 1: "Aoi Honō Syndrome" by Iida Riho
- Ending 2: "AI" by Wajima Ami
- Ending 3: "Little Pi" by Ange☆Reve
- Ending 4: "Perfect World" by Traffic-Light。
Gallery[edit]
Rental DVD Box Art[edit]
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DVD Box Art[edit]
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Promo[edit]
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Magazine Scans[edit]
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Appli Monsters Sticker Coloring Book[edit]
Trivia[edit]
- In an interview conducted in April 2016, one month prior to the official reveal of the Appmon Project in May, producer Seki Hiromi stated that the concept for the next generation of Digimon involved portraying them as smartphone applications.[16] This premise was later confirmed by Yoshiaki Orihara, the main promoter of the Appmon Project.[17]
- In a comment regarding his role as Katsura Rei, Toyonaga Toshiyuki referred to Appmon as "the Digimon of the present day" (現代のデジモン).[18]
- During a livestream dedicated to Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Hacker's Memory, Habu Kazumasa, Kakudou Hiroyuki, and Watanabe Koji referenced Appmon as an example of the Digimon franchise's adaptation to the contemporary digital environment and the widespread accessibility of online networks. They discussed the implications of this concept for the definition of Digimon and the Digital World, referring to the newly conceptualized digitally themed parallel world as the "Digital Parallel".[19]
- Digimon Universe Appli Monsters was conceived as a Digimon series with a contemporary setting, incorporating artificial intelligence and smartphone applications as central narrative elements. The project was intended to reflect modern technological developments while retaining the franchise's foundational themes and expanding its scope.[5]
- As Appmon fuse and evolve, their visual depiction shifts from a cel-shaded style to 3DCG, a choice intended to emphasize their nature as data-based lifeforms. More highly evolved Appmon are consistently portrayed using 3DCG rather than traditional cel-shaded animation. According to the production staff, this approach was meant to illustrate how the evolved "Super Appmon" might appear if manifested in the Real World.[5]
- Digimon Universe Appli Monsters ranked 12th in the international fan vote at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2018.[20]
External Links[edit]
- TV Tokyo | Digimon Universe Appli Monsters
- Digimon Appmon official website (ZH-TW)
- Digimon Universe Appli Monsters PV 1 (YouTube)
- Digimon Universe Appli Monsters PV 2 (YouTube)
- Digimon Universe Appli Monsters TVCM (YouTube)
- Press Release (JP)
- Official Appmon Twitter Account
- Official YouTube Channel
- Commemorating the delivery of all stories! From "Digimon" to "Appmon" - Toei Animation Producer Nagatomi & Series Director Koga talk about the Legacy and New Attempts (JP)
