Tentacle-Free Anime: "Digimon Adventure Tri.: Determination"It's time to re-enter the Digital World as the second movie of the newly re-vamped Digimon series makes its debut. If you're an older Digimon fan, these movies are probably a Godsend to you. If you're a new fan, you may not understand what all the hubbub is about. However what we're really here today is to discuss if it's really any good or not. Let's get to it, shall we?
After the stunning return of the Digimon franchise, at least with the original cast, that we got last year much speculation was made as to where the series was going to go from there. I'm not sure anyone could've guessed what we were going to get this time, as we get the return of a long-thought destroyed villain. More slice of life scenes than anybody in the franchise is used to dealing with. And, though the promo posters give this away, the official debut of two mega level Digimon from the main cast (as many of the original members’ partners were never given the opportunity to go mega during the original series).
I also mentioned that we get a heavy focus on Mimi. This is true and I'm so happy we do! Mimi is one of the original DigiDestined that never really got her due. She didn't really have a character arc in the original series. She was the abrasive, loud-mouthed, always speaks her mind no matter who's around rich girl that was hard to like. This time though she gets her character arc. And though it's mostly about her coming to terms with who she is rather than changing herself to be something she's not, it IS a character arc nonetheless. She struggles with who she is, she has an identity crisis, the problem gets resolved and she's more aware of what her words might do to others when all is said and done. 
Vikemon going in for the attack.
There's also a great moment near the end when both Mimi and Joe's storylines converge to show they're on similar paths (although it’s hard to see at first). That's really good writing. It all culminates in both Gomamon and Palmon, Joe and Mimi's Digimon partners respectively, finally after all these years getting to go Mega. Turning into Vikemon and Rosemon, respectively. Now, many of us who played the Digimon video games, or more importantly the Digimon Digi-Battle Card Game ,knew what their mega levels looked like years ago, because, while their Mega counterparts didn't make their animated debut until now, throughout several other media outlets we got to become familiar with how Gomamon and Palmon's specific evolutions were supposed to play out. It's just really nice to see them finally animated. It also keeps up with the theme of growth these characters show. In the original series, the Digimon often Digivolved when their respective human partners grew as people to signify both their symbiotic relationship as well as their mutual friendship. Mimi and Joe have both reached the apex of their growth, which is fine because some people definitely do so while in High School. When they're growing and learning more about who they want to be when they leave the confines of the Education System. The only thing that could have made their paths crossing cooler is if both Vikemon and Rosemon DNA Digivolved much like how MetalGarurumon and WarGreymon both DNA Digivolved in Omnimon last time. I know that's definitely too much to ask, but it would've been hella cool. There's a lot of “slice of life” in this episode, which I was very surprised by. I mean the Digimon franchise is not shy at mixing the fantastic elements of the Digital World with the mundane everyday stuff of the real world, and even the last movie had its fair share of seeing the DigiDestined doing everyday things. And perhaps I'm just remembering things wrong, but I definitely don't remember seeing the series taking on the likes of the DigiDestined going on a trip together to indoor bath houses or dealing with their annual school festival. Don't get me wrong it was all very welcome as it's nice to see these kids still trying to get on with their lives – lives they had to get used to without their partners after the Digital World mysteriously closed “for good” sometime before this story begins. I was just quite surprised. It's actually a lot of fun seeing the DigiDestined and their partners at the bath house, especially as it leads to situations this franchise is very much not used to tackling: teenagers seeing the opposite sex nude and how they react. 
Digimon is full of all sorts of revelations.
In fact the scene where the new girl Meiko ends up seeing Tai's private area had me roaring with laughter. I know this all will probably put some fans off as unnecessary fanservice since the original series isn't used to it, but this is a new era of storytelling and also a new era for these kids. When stuff like this just happens, none of it feels out of place to me when thinking back on it. The school festival was also a lot of fun. The Digimon aren't allowed to attend, so when they sneak in and enter themselves into the “Too Cute” contest in order to win food, and Meicoomon, Meiko's Digimon Partner (yes they have similar names) actually wins it racks up another point of laughter for me. We also get to see the return of Leomon this movie, and his long standing rivalry with Ogremon when Ogremon becomes infected by this new mysterious virus going around and turning Digimon into mindless attack drones. Also, poor Leomon - every iteration of him is killed no matter what season he's a part of. It's just a sad running staple of the franchise and will never not be sad to witness every time it happens. 
Leomon vs Ogremon.
Some of these mysteries come full circle, however, when the villain is revealed. Or at least who we perceive as the villain: The Digimon Emporer is back! And it all makes sense what's going on with these Digimon when he appears, because if you remember the original series in season 2 it's his Dark Spires that turn Digimon into mindless attack drones. Now we don't get any Dark Spires in this film and it's unclear if we will see them again, but with the reintroduction of the Digimon Emporer I am incredibly interested in where this story goes from here. It's good then that our cast acknowledges that they know who this guy is, because back in season 2 it's revealed the Digimon Emporer is one of the second cast of DigiDestined's classmates who's been turned evil himself. Ever since the last movie, not much has been seen or heard about the second generation of DigiDestined who both T.K. And Kari had many adventures with. I hope this leads to us seeing more of those characters return next movie. We saw them only briefly in the last film, getting decimated in some battle, but I'm curious to see what this new storyline of films will reveal about their whereabouts and why none of the original cast has card to reach out to them since Digimon have started returning to the real world. We get to also see a bit of what makes Meicoomon so special and why Alphamon was after him in the last film. It seems the Digimon Emporer has wanted Meicoomon for some time now. Meicoomon goes full on evil this film and though the why of it is still a mystery it's plain to see that Alphamon was trying to contain Meicoomon for his potential as a powerful force to be reckoned with. Where we go from here I have no idea but it's all very exciting. I just wish we were getting these films at a much faster pace. Movie 3 will be released in September. So another long wait is ahead of us but I'll continue to cover them as they're released. Finally, and this is something I was not prepared to talk about. But recently it was announced that Kouji Wada passed away due to losing a battle with throat cancer. Who is Kouji Wada? He is responsible for the well-known and well-treasured opening song of the original series and this new series' remake of that opening: Butter-Fly. A song that feels most Digimon fans with years of nostalgia, even if you grew up watching this original Fox Kids airing of the series with the English opening, chances are at some point you hear the original opening and far preferred listening to that. And so, to take us out here is the opening song to Digimon Adventure Tri.: “Butter-Fly” by Kouji Wada. Thank you sir for your many years as a singer and as source of excitement for a whole generation of Digimon fans growing up. You are truly an inspiration. Also the video has the first movie's ending as well, “I Wish” by Ai Maeda. Please, though, enjoy! Final Score: 4.5 Evil Digimon out of 5 Have you seen the new Digimon movie? Do you agree with Kaze, or do you think it doesn't deserve the high score? Let us know below! 
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