Digimon Tamers is the third entry in the franchise, and it sets itself apart from the shows that came before it. It moves the story out of a simple adventure into something more adult and more urgent.
It starts with Takato, a boy who loves the Digimon card game, finding a Blue Card that turns his card reader into a D-Power Digivice. His Digimon creation, Guilmon, becomes real when the D-Power scans his drawings. Takato meets Henry Wong and Rika Nonaka, two other children who are partnered with Terriermon and Renamon. The series also brings in Calumon and Impmon.
As wild Digimon begin to appear across Japan, the Tamers fight them and protect the city. The D-Powers give them a way to scan cards, which helps their Digimon partners fight better or Digivolve into stronger forms. After each Digimon is defeated, its data is taken.
Hypnos and the Devas
The series introduces Hypnos, an intelligence agency led by Mitsuo Yamaki. Hypnos captures the Digimon and sends them back to the Digital World. Yamaki’s obsessive work to destroy the Digimon brings the Devas, twelve extremely powerful Digimon, into the Real World.
Henry’s father, Janyu Wong, and his friends, the Monster Makers, are revealed to be the ones who created the prototype digital forms that eventually became Digimon. The Bio-Emergence of the enormous pig Deva, Vikaralamon, makes the existence of Digimon known to the public. That event leads to Calumon being captured and sent back to the Digital World.
In hopes of saving Calumon, the Tamers enter the Digital World. Yamaki, feeling regret, works from the Real World to help them as an ally.
Impmon and the Fall of Leomon
Impmon turns against the Tamers when he meets the dog Deva Caturamon. He wishes to get stronger and becomes Beelzemon. The Tamers face Beelzemon, and Beelzemon kills Leomon, causing his partner Jeri Kato to fall into depression.
The series also brings in the Digimon Sovereigns, powerful beings that govern the Digital World. The Tamers learn that the Digimon are protecting themselves from humans and the Re.
Where the Story Falls Short
The series is not without its weak points. Some of its ideas are left unfinished, and the ending ties up the story without fully explaining all of its threads. The pacing drags in the middle, particularly when the focus shifts between the Real World and the Digital World without clear signposts for the audience.
The animation is solid, but it is not the most striking or polished in the franchise. The character designs for the Tamers themselves are strong, especially Guilmon and Renamon, but some of the later Digivolved forms are less memorable.
The Numbers
| Season | Genre | Network | First Aired | Last Aired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Fuji TV | April 2001 | March 2002 |
| Season 3 | Digital Monsters | Saban Entertainment | September 2001 | June 2002 |
The series was licensed in North America by Saban Entertainment and aired as the third season of Digimon: Digital Monsters. A Hong Kong manhua adaptation by Yu Yuen-wong was serialized from April to October 2004.
Verdict
Digimon Tamers is a strong entry in an already strong franchise. Its central idea, that the Digimon are real and not just toys or cards, gives the story a weight that the earlier shows lacked. The Tamers themselves are a distinct group, each with a clear personality, and their conflicts about how to treat the Digimon carry real weight.
The pacing problems and the unfinished threads keep it from greatness, but the core story is well told and emotionally involving. The series earns its place among the best of the franchise.
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