is a Japanese adventure anime film series (sometimes referred to as OVAs) produced by Toei Animation. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Digimon franchise, the six-part series serves as a direct sequel to the first two television series, Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02, and follows the high school years of the first eight "Digi-Destined".
The first film, Reunion, was released on November 21, 2015, and the latest, Future, was released on May 5, 2018 in Japan, simultaneously in a three-week limited release in a dozen theaters nationwide, along with a limited Blu-ray release and a premium digital distribution. These films were simulcast worldwide outside of Japan through Crunchyroll in the original version with subtitles on the same day as their domestic Japanese release, in an episodic format with four or five episodes each.
The films were also localized with English and German dubbing for events or direct-to-video exportation. Toei presented the project to industry professionals several years in a row, but failed to sell it to other markets. Adventure tri. received generally mixed reviews from critics.
Plot The film series is set six years after Digimon Adventure and takes place in 2005. A mysterious anomaly is causing distortions in the Real World and Digimon are being plagued by a virus that turns them hostile. These circumstances lead to the eight original DigiDestined being reunited with their partner Digimon. Joined by a mysterious DigiDestined named Meiko Mochizuki and her partner Meicoomon, they are set to solve the mystery of the infected Digimon and deal with the responsibility of growing up.
List of films The films were streamed outside Japan in the original language with subtitles on the same day they were released domestically, divided into four or five episodes each. The theme song for the original Japanese version is "Butter-Fly (tri. version)" by Kōji Wada, while the English version has the theme song titled "Digimon Are Back (Again!)", performed by John Majkut. The reason of this change is because of licensing issues. The Japanese version's theme song was later kept in the sixth and final part.
The first film, , was released in Japan on November 21, 2015, Indonesia on August 3, 2016, North America on September 15, 2016, and Germany and Austria on May 21, 2017. It was released on region-free DVD and Blu-ray in Japan on December 18, 2015, the U.S. on May 16, 2017, the UK on May 22, 2017, Australia on July 19, 2017, and Germany on August 7, 2017.
The second film, , was released in Japan on March 12, 2016, as well as Germany and Austria on July 2, 2017. It was released on region-free DVD and Blu-ray in Japan on April 2, 2016, the U.S. at Anime Expo from July 1, 2017 through July 4, 2017 as well as San Diego Comic-Con from July 19, 2017 through July 23, 2017, ahead of a general release on August 15, 2017, Germany on October 9, 2017, the UK at MCM London Comic Con from October 27, 2017 through October 29, 2017, ahead of a general release on November 6, 2017, and Australia on February 21, 2018.
The third film, , was released in Japan on September 24, 2016, North America on July 1, 2017, and Germany and Austria on August 13, 2017. It was released on region-free DVD and Blu-ray in Japan on November 2, 2016, Germany on October 30, 2017, the U.S. on December 5, 2017, the UK on December 18, 2017, and Australia on March 7, 2018.
The fourth film, , was released in Japan on February 25, 2017 and North America on February 1, 2018. It was released on region-free DVD and Blu-ray in Japan on April 4, 2017, the U.S. on April 24, 2018, the UK on April 30, 2018, and Australia on August 15, 2018.
The fifth film, , was released in Japan on September 30, 2017 and North America on May 10, 2018. It was released on region-free DVD and Blu-ray in Japan on November 2, 2017, the U.S. at Anime Expo on July 5, 2018 through July 8, 2018, ahead of a general release on August 7, 2018, the UK on July 30, 2018, and Australia on November 1, 2018.
The last film, , was released in Japan on May 5, 2018 and North America on September 20, 2018. It was released on region-free DVD and Blu-ray in Japan on June 2, 2018, the UK on December 3, 2018, the U.S. on December 4, 2018, and Australia on March 6, 2019.
The films were streamed in episodic format outside Japan by Crunchyroll, Hulu, AnimeLab, and Tubi TV, while Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory are distributing the English-language films.,
Voice cast
The series features the eight and partner Digimon from the original television series. The English dub uses the localized names in Saban Entertainment's English adaptation of the series, while Crunchyroll's subtitled release of the films uses Japanese names for human characters and English names for the Digimon. Some members from the original Japanese and English cast of Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02 returned to reprise their roles.
This was Philece Sampler's final role as Mimi before her death on July 1, 2021 and Dave Mallow's final role as Angemon before his retirement and death.
Character Japanese Englishelevenarts.net, Taichi "Tai" Kamiya Natsuki Hanae Joshua Seth Yamato "Matt" Ishida Yoshimasa Hosoya Vic Mignogna Sora Takenouchi Suzuko Mimori Colleen O'Shaughnessey Koshiro "Izzy" Izumi Mutsumi Tamura Mona Marshall Mimi Tachikawa Hitomi Yoshida Philece Sampler Joe Kido Junya Ikeda Robbie Daymond Takeru "T.K." Takaishi Junya Enoki Johnny Yong Bosch Kari Kamiya M.A.O. Tara Sands Meiko Mochizuki Miho Arakawa Cristina Vee Agumon Chika Sakamoto Tom FahnDoug Erholtz (Koromon)Kyle Hebert (Greymon, MetalGreymon, WarGreymon) Gabumon Mayumi Yamaguchi Kirk Thornton Biyomon Atori Shigematsu Cherami LeighMelodee Spevack (Birdramon, Garudamon)Mona Marshall (Birdramon, Garudamon, Phoenixmon (Loss)) Tentomon Takahiro Sakurai Jeff NimoyJoshua Seth (Motimon) Palmon Kinoko Yamada Anna GardunoMari Devon (Togemon)Dorothy Elias-Fahn (Lilymon, Rosemon) Gomamon Junko Takeuchi R. Martin KleinMichael Sorich (Zudomon, Vikemon) Patamon Miwa Matsumoto Laura SummerDave Mallow (Angemon)Jamieson Price (Angemon, MagnaAngemon, Seraphimon) Gatomon Yuka Tokumitsu Kate Higgins Meicoomon Yukiko Morishita Omnimon Chika Sakamoto (WarGreymon)Mayumi Yamaguchi (MetalGarurumon) Kyle HebertKirk ThorntonMicheal Sorich (Future) Leomon Hiroaki Hirata Paul St. Peter Ogremon Hisao Egawa Beau Billingslea Maki Himekawa Yūko Kaida Cherami Leigh Daigo Nishijima Daisuke Namikawa Doug Erholtz Dark Gennai Hiroaki Hirata Jeff NimoyTodd Haberkorn (Digimon Emperor) Homeostasis M.A.O. Tara Sands Announcer Chiaki Matsuzawa Dorothy Elias-Fahn Hackmon Shunsuke Takeuchi Aaron LaPlante Tapirmon Kaori Ishihara Colleen O'Shaughnessey Elecmon Yasuhiro Takato Michael Sorich Yuko Kamiya Atori Shigematsu Dorothy Elias-Fahn Meiko Mochizuki's Mother Hitomi Yoshida Colleen O'Shaughnessey Professor Mochizuki Yutaka Aoyama Aaron LaPlante Narrator Hiroaki Hirata John Eric Bentley
Development A new series was first announced at an event celebrating the 15th anniversary of Digimon Adventure on August 1, 2014. Basic story details were announced on September 7, 2014, after enough fans participated in a game on the official website. On December 13, 2014, Toei Animation announced the series' title, Digimon Adventure tri., with Keitaro Motonaga directing, Yūko Kakihara as screenwriter, and Atsuya Uki as character designer. The series features the returning cast of all eight main Digimon partners from the original series. A continuous stream of all of the original Digimon Adventure episodes was held on Niconico on May 4, 2015, followed by an announcement regarding the new cast for the DigiDestined and broadcast details on May 6, 2015. Daisuke Namikawa and Yūko Kaida joined the cast for the series on September 18, 2015.
On May 6, 2015, it was announced that tri. would be a six-part theatrical film series instead of a television series. The screenwriting team split and arranged important events into six interwoven parts, focusing on the main story while developing the characters' perspectives simultaneously. Motonaga utilized new computer techniques while preserving the atmosphere of the original series.
The first film, Reunion, was released on November 21, 2015. The second film, Determination, was released on March 12, 2016. The third film, Confession, was released on September 24, 2016. The fourth film, Loss, was released on February 25, 2017. The fifth film, Coexistence, was released on September 30, 2017. The last film, Future, was released on May 5, 2018. The films are being streamed outside Japan by Crunchyroll, Hulu, AnimeLab and Tubi TV, as they are released in Japan, with each film split into four or five episodes. The films can also be found on Vudu in their entirety for free with ads. Indonesian cinemas CGV Blitz, Cinemaxx, and Platinum Cineplex ran Reunion in their respective theaters nationwide on August 3, 2016. KSM Anime ran Reunion in over 150 cinemas throughout Germany and Austria on May 21, 2017. Germany and Austria also saw theatrical releases of Determination on July 2, 2017 and Confession on August 13, 2017.
English-language version An English-language version of Digimon Adventure tri. was distributed in North America by Eleven Arts. The English version uses localized names from Saban Brands' release of the original television series, and reunites several voice actors from the original cast. Eleven Arts CEO Ko Mori stated that the English dub will resemble the Japanese version in tone and style but features a remixed version of the English opening theme, while trying to avoid licensing issues. With the exception of "Digimon Are Back (Again!)" replacing "Butter-Fly (tri. version)" during the opening in the first two parts, in which was later kept in the final two parts during the climatic battle, the Japanese score as well as "Brave Heart (tri. version)", "I Wish (tri. version)" and the other five ending themes were kept in the dub.
Reunion premiered at a Fathom Events screening on September 15, 2016 and was released in select North American theaters from September 17, 2016 through October 6, 2016. On January 17, 2017, Shout! Factory announced that they acquired broadcast and home media distribution rights for the first three films, and plan for a dual-language release on DVD, Blu-ray and EST. Confession premiered at an Anime Expo screening on July 1, 2017. On October 26, 2017, Shout! Factory confirmed the release of the remaining films in 2018: Loss premiered on February 1, Coexistence on May 10, and Future on September 20. Reunion was televised January 2, 2018 on Starz Kids & Family and is available for streaming via Starz on Demand. The English dubbed movies are available for rental on Hoopla, as part of a digital distribution deal Cinedigm has with Shout! Factory. The films were added on Steam in North America. The films are also being streamed outside Japan by Crunchyroll.
Stage play adaptation A stage play adaptation of ran at the Zepp Blue Theater Roppongi in Tokyo from August 5, 2017 through August 13, 2017. The play was produced by Polygon Magic, with Kenichi Tani serving as script writer and director. The male cast included Gaku Matsumoto as Tai Kamiya, Shohei Hashimoto as Matt Ishida, Kaisei Kamimura as Izzy Izumi, Junya Komatsu as Joe Kido, and Kenta Nomiyama as T.K. Takaishi. The female cast included Suzuka Morita as Sora Takenouchi, Marina Tanoue as Mimi Tachikawa, and Yūna Shigeishi as Kari Kamiya. The Digimon cast featured Oreno Graffiti as Etemon and the original voice actors for the eight partner Digimon. The play had a runtime of 150 minutes which included a 10-minute intermission. Niconico livestreamed an August 12 and August 13 showing of the play, the recording of these performances were available until September 20, 2017. It was released on DVD in Japan on December 2, 2017. An August 13 showing of the play was televised on WOWOW Live in Japan on January 14, 2018 and August 2, 2018.