Digimon Universe: App Monsters
A Digimon series about Appmon and the threat of Leviathan.
Digimon Universe: App Monsters is a multimedia project from Toei Animation, Dentsu, and Bandai Namco Holdings, credited to Akiyoshi Hongo. The seventh Digimon anime series, it explores technological singularity, artificial intelligence, and the risks of misusing technology.
Quick Facts
- Creator
- Akiyoshi Hongo
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In 2045, technology has brought prosperity, and the World Wide Web hosts App Monsters, or Appmons, artificial intelligences born from mobile apps. Haru and Gatchmon join forces with idol Eri Karan, AppTuber Torajirou Asuka, hacker Rei Katsura, and friend Yūjin Ōzora, each partnered with their own Appmon, to stop Leviathan and restore balance.
Characters
Gatchmon, voiced by Kokoro Kikuchi, likes to look cool and uses his search function to learn secrets and enemy weaknesses. Eri Karan, a 14-year-old member of the idol group AppliYama 470, appears cheerful but is lonely; her blue AppliDrive is later replaced by a blue and gold DUO. She often argues with Astra due to conflicting egos. Her partner Dokamon, voiced by Motoko Kumai, is a robot-like Appmon from an action game app, loyal despite Eri neglecting and bossing him around. Torajirou Asuka is an 11-year-old half-British, half-Japanese boy and famous Apptuber under the alias Astra, from a wealthy traditional family; he spends 30 minutes daily on videos and will inherit his father's tea shop. His yellow AppliDrive becomes a yellow and gold DUO, and his partner Musimon, voiced by Nao Tamura, is a rabbit-like Appmon from a music app that goes with the flow. Rei Katsura, a 14-year-old hacker, seeks his younger brother kidnapped by Leviathan's followers; he initially refuses to cooperate with Haru until they join forces against Mienumon. His black AppliDrive upgrades to a black and gold DUO, and his partner Hackmon, voiced by Daisuke Sakaguchi, has hacking abilities.
Production
Development of Digimon Universe App Monsters stemmed from the view that virtual pets were outdated and Digimon was seen as a product for older fans. By 2016, smartphones were popular among children, leading to a series centered on them. The creative teams were tired of using Digivices and the Digital World and welcomed being free of both and traditional Digimon. The objective was to de-Digimon the franchise, as staff felt a conventional Digimon series would not stand a chance, but they kept the Digimon name to attract older fans. Later, staff noted that 70% of Digimon fans had been skeptical after the announcement, clarifying the goal was de-Digimon rather than anti-Digimon.
Media
The anime aired on all TXN stations in Japan from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017, replacing Time Travel Girl. The opening theme for episodes 1–25 is DiVE by Amatsuki, and for episodes 26–52, Gatchen! by SymaG. Ending themes include Aoi Honoo Syndrome by Riho Iida (episodes 1–13), Ai by Ami Wajima (14–25), Little Pi by Ange☆Reve (26–38), and Perfect World by Traffic Light (39–52). A manga adaptation by Naoki Akamine ran in V Jump from September 21, 2016, to August 21, 2017, and another manga by Katsuki Hirose, Digimon Universe Appli Monsters: Appmon Gakuen, ran in Saikyō Jump from October 1, 2016, to August 4, 2017.
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