It's the 11th Anniversary of Digimon Xros Wars

[MarcFBR]

It's the 11th anniversary of Digimon Xros Wars! (It's already the 6th in Japan)

Digimon Xros Wars premiered on July 6th, 2010 in Japan, and was later brought to the US as Digimon Fusion.


(Various text has been used in articles in the past.)


Xros Wars wasn't the first time Digimon returned in a larger way after the original anime run ended, but it has a lot of firsts for the franchise.

It goes with a visual style more akin to the earlier anime content, but changed quite a bit. The first half of it's initial story doesn't even include evolution as a concept, instead going with DigiXros, a stylistic change from the earlier fusions and jogresses (with a rather high number of new forms owing to the unique elements of DigiXros.)

The story itself feels like it draws from material like Adventure and V-Tamer quite a bit, while placing a few unique spins on the overall character setup, one of which is, the Digimon tend to feel like they have quite a bit of personality.

The show itself is also unique in that it's probably the 'one' time that we we have evidence of behind the scenes changes, the tiny bits of imagery scene in a Toei studio tour video showing some wildly different character charts, plus the late request to extend the show for another production season, giving us the sequel Hunters.


And of course, one of the high points of Xros Wars was the music. Xros had among the widest and some of the best range of songs in the franchise. Franchise mainstays like Wada Kouji did a wide range of songs, plus Tanimoto Takayoshi (who has sung multiple new songs for Adventure:)also returned to the franchise. On top of that, new to Digimon was music from Twill, Sonar Pocket, and of course, Psychic Lover.


But the unique elements of Xros also included a manga that was actually based on the anime, the first time the franchise did that (even if the manga diverged wildly.) It was the first time the show was produced in HD digitally, it was the first time we got any sort of simulcast, or even an official subtitled version with proper video and subtitles (an earlier attempt with a few other seasons were borderline unwatchable.)

More weirder is that it's the only season, at this time, that ended it's run without a home video release in Japan that was actually at retail, owing to an exclusivity deal with rental stores. Although with only a few seasons not on Blu-ray at this point, fans can still hope Xros Wars will get it's chance, especially since it's the earliest Digimon series that would actually benefit heavily from such a release.


Xros Wars, despite not necessarily being among the most popular series' in the franchise, has an odd place in that it appeared recently enough to still feel modern, and it's animation was the first time Digimon was dragged into the modern era, making it age far less than prior shows visually. On top of that, certain bits of how the show feels honestly feels like it's carried on to things like Appmon and Adventure:, making Xros Wars sort of feel like a bit of a handoff from the earlier years, where we can still see what feels like a lot of inspiration towards where the franchise is now (no doubt helped by 2 major cast members from Xros Wars being among the main Adventure: cast.) To say nothing of lots of bits of Xros Wars appearing in Adventure: as references, including notable Digimon, etc.


It was an interesting series of Digimon, and fans are still quite happy when Digimon from that era appear. And with the various Digimon from that part of the franchise being given formal levels, we've begun to see them quite a bit more recently, which doesn't look to be stopping any time soon.


A bit of a fun time for Xros Wars fans to share their thoughts on a unique, and perhaps stranger, Digimon show.



Digimon Xros Wars (and Hunters) are still on Crunchyroll subtitled in HD.


At the moment Digimon Fusion (Xros Wars dubbed) on DVD appears to be out of print, although season 1 can still be found, while season 2 is a bit harder to track down: (affiliate link)
Digimon Fusion Season 1


Last year Digimon Web put up Xros Wars social art to celebrate, as a mini animation.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1279981002488602624

We will see if anything shows up later to celebrate.

 

[Unknown Neo]

This wasn't a weird show. It did some different things but it was fun enough. 3 part series but it seems like Young Hunters was just a filler until a different show started. But at least it gave us some stuff we wanted for the show. And an Avengers type Googlehead team up. That part was good.

 

[Rohan]

Ayy, my favourite Digi-Anime (not including Hunters).

 

[Mon-Ohma]

This show was…a thing.

It started off fairly promising, but what passed as a story wasn’t particularly engaging. The second half was a bit better to an extent. But it had a lot more potential then what we ended up getting in the end.

Taiki was a flat lead to put it bluntly. The other two were kinda there, then eventually they weren’t needed and casually dumped off back in the real world. Kiriha was the rather forgettable standard rival archetype and nothing more.
Then there was Nene. The only real character I was actually intrigued by in the beginning (and could easily have become an all time favourite), was completely screwed over by the writers. I’m not even going into the creepy stuff the Manga did with her…

The villains were a mixed bag. Tactimon, Darknightmon, Neovamdemon were the only ones that stood out.

The vast majority of the new designs I found lacklustre. Digimon trying to be a TTGL type combining mecha show that threw the levelling system right out of the window. Resulting in certain Digimon (Huanglongmon) getting a very raw deal.

In all fairness the only real saving grace for me was the soundtrack.

As for Hunters. A load of boring/average filler with a half-baked fan-service crossover tacked on at the end.

Overall, I’d call Xros ‘inoffensive’, but nothing to write home about either. Being one of those more style over substance type Anime that don’t really interest me.

Though again, I am still very much sour about Nene.

 

[Mattman324]

A toast to yet another year of Xros Wars being great.

Taiki was a flat lead to put it bluntly.

The show gets much better when you realize that Shoutmon is the actual main character.

 

[Bancho]

I really like the personality and designs of non-Xrosed Up Shoutmon, Ballistamon, Tactimon, Blastmon, and the Death Generals but that's kind of where my positive opinions about Xros Wars stop. Kiriha in particular would not stop pissing me off, I truly do hate everything about that kid.
I only watched about halfway through Young Hunters but I enjoyed the bits of what I saw

 

[Nemomon]

I liked the first season and the Young Hunters, but somehow the seacond season was just boring. Maybe the death generals weren't enough exciting as Tacti and Lilith (and Blast somewhere). As for Young Hunters I liked how Tagiru acts like a real normal boy ("gimme, gimme and only me!") and doesn't act as if he were holier than the pope or care about some other "save the world and friendship" crap that we seen a lot in the other Digimon seasons.

 

[Tero]

Happy Anniversary Xros Wars!

 

[citramon]

Wow, feels like yesterday

 

[Chimera-gui]

Taiki was a flat lead to put it bluntly.

The show gets much better when you realize that Shoutmon is the actual main character.

While Taiki is deeper than you might initially assume, there is no denying that his dynamic with Shoutmon is very much the role reversal of the typical tamer/digimon partner dynamic is where rather than Shoutmon existing to support Taiki and facilitating his development, Taiki is in the supporting role to Shoutmon that hilariously was exactly what Taiki needed to develop as a person: https://timelessanimo.tumblr.com/post/653281260462047232

That's one thing I do like about XW, the Digimon as characters were given considerable focus with Nene's story being the only real human-centered subplot to occur throughout the first two anime arcs and the manga whereas Kiriha and Taiki were largely backstory.

 

[Mattman324]

with Nene's story being the only real human-centered subplot to occur throughout the first two anime arcs and the manga

Technically accurate, but I'd argue that a lot of her and Yuu's plot are centered on Darkknightmon.

 

[Chimera-gui]

True, DarkKnightmon's scheme was a major element that was interwoven into the Amanos' subplot because it was basically the Twilight/Midnight subplot.

 

[geoomega]

I sure wonder how would be like if DoneDevimon and Komondomon was in Xross Wars, Adventure 2020 already has Skullknightmon, Axeknightmon, Spadamon, Troopmon, Chikurimon, Chibickmon, Bacomon, Dondokomon, Splashmon DM, Deckerdramon, Cyberdramon 2010, & Cutemon from xross Wars.

And Digimon like Regalecusmon would make a new addition to the Bagra Army.

 

[Sparrow Hawk]

11th Anniversary. Huh I remember when I first saw this Digimon Xros Wars, I wondered why music headsets everywhere on the whole digimon crew? And I thought Shoutmon was some kind of dragon kangaroo digimon and Cutemon belonging to Akari. Ballistamon was "Toy KoKabuterimon" and Zenjirou's partner. Dorulumon reminded me of Monster Rancher Wolf with extra accessories of Drimogemon's drill. Those Xros War designs were too... How do I say it? Very so much flashy and weird. Completely lacked any edgier of Digimon's "charm". Unlike X Antibody designs. I tried to get used to it and it didn't. Then Big Death Stars designs re-ignited my interests because it had some of Street Fighter art style somewhat made them look menacing but eventually it lost their charms quickly... I quit watching on Xros War seasons after suffered to watch my favorite digimon ones being one shot'd with that same attack of Shoutmon's weird Xros that ripped off Omegamon's appearance no matter what he xrossed with any digimon or any levels. It's always same attacks with that V chest beam despite new forms... Another second reason, it didn't respect Digimon's levels and normal evolutions. Just one KO and Xros up whatever you want. I felt it's not Digimon vibes enough. It was/is totally Digimon Fan-art Deviantart where they loved to post up Digimon fusions on Digimon sprites to customize. That was why I lost my interests towards Digimon Xros Wars. Akira and Zenjirou ended up being hardly important and just... Cheerleaders. Not even getting digivices.

I remembered how was I so pissed at Mervamon's design and anime appearance. Because Minervamon is something I viewed as strong warrior girl! But then I had to watch Mervamon in anime... Her attacks weren't... Very "Warrior". What.
Beelzebumon came with... New design is something I really hate. The biker design was very best. To be honest, I didn't think Baalmon was actually Beelzebumon's evo but Baalmon is just... same Beezlebumon and same shotgun so I didn't feel Baalmon is really part of Beelzebumon's evo. IMO Baalmon is just lazy design. Bagramon's Generals turned out as it's same vibes Power Ranger's villians so I didn't feel threatened afterwards... Just they lacked menacing auras.

But I still don't know why there are tons of Shoutmon fans while there are barely more fans of like... Dorulumon or Ballistamon.
Oh yeah Dorulumon, Ballistamon, and Sparrowmon gained evos however their heads remained... Unchanged and it really bothered me so hard.

And this final bosses? DarkKnightmon and Bargamon? Well it's just Gurren Lagann mecha knight and FullMetal Alchemist old man. Nothing interesting... MadLeomon really reminded me of... "Oni-chan...." and the battles weren't very interesting as KOs everywhere unlike Digimon Adventure 2020 although I'm not good to explain that...

In the end, they gained normal levels...
My reaction went like what...? Eh hardly exciting. But what about Cutemon? Did he/she gain any... Evos?
I'm still waiting for certain interviews on Xros receiving normal levels and why?

Yeah I didn't have good memories. But Xros War is still ongoing.... I wonder what will the future store this for digimon fans...?
To be honest I'm surprised it gained strong supports. I was surprised there were very few Pokemon fans quit and joined Digimon after watching Digimon Xros in USA. I wonder what was the appeal in the first place to them?

 

[Eitaroutarouman]

Ah, the first Digimon series I watched in Japanese. Haven't looked back since.

I feel that DigiXros worked on paper, but was prevented from reaching its full potential due to the toyetic nature of the main DigiXrosses. It's honestly frustrating that the best Xros Wars designs like GreyKnightsmon and Shoutmon X3GM were exclusive to video games. I'd love more Xrosses that looked like that.

Speaking of toys, am I to assume the toyline was cancelled? I always found it odd they never made toys of OmegaShoutmon and ZekeGreymon despite them obviously being designed for a combining toy.(as evidenced by how simple Shoutmon DX's combination is).

 

[geoomega]

11th Anniversary. Huh I remember when I first saw this Digimon Xros Wars, I wondered why music headsets everywhere on the whole digimon crew? And I thought Shoutmon was some kind of dragon kangaroo digimon and Cutemon belonging to Akari. Ballistamon was "Toy KoKabuterimon" and Zenjirou's partner. Dorulumon reminded me of Monster Rancher Wolf with extra accessories of Drimogemon's drill. Those Xros War designs were too... How do I say it? Very so much flashy and weird. Completely lacked any edgier of Digimon's "charm". Unlike X Antibody designs. I tried to get used to it and it didn't. Then Big Death Stars designs re-ignited my interests because it had some of Street Fighter art style somewhat made them look menacing but eventually it lost their charms quickly... I quit watching on Xros War seasons after suffered to watch my favorite digimon ones being one shot'd with that same attack of Shoutmon's weird Xros that ripped off Omegamon's appearance no matter what he xrossed with any digimon or any levels. It's always same attacks with that V chest beam despite new forms... Another second reason, it didn't respect Digimon's levels and normal evolutions. Just one KO and Xros up whatever you want. I felt it's not Digimon vibes enough. It was/is totally Digimon Fan-art Deviantart where they loved to post up Digimon fusions on Digimon sprites to customize. That was why I lost my interests towards Digimon Xros Wars. Akira and Zenjirou ended up being hardly important and just... Cheerleaders. Not even getting digivices.

I remembered how was I so pissed at Mervamon's design and anime appearance. Because Minervamon is something I viewed as strong warrior girl! But then I had to watch Mervamon in anime... Her attacks weren't... Very "Warrior". What.
Beelzebumon came with... New design is something I really hate. The biker design was very best. To be honest, I didn't think Baalmon was actually Beelzebumon's evo but Baalmon is just... same Beezlebumon and same shotgun so I didn't feel Baalmon is really part of Beelzebumon's evo. IMO Baalmon is just lazy design. Bagramon's Generals turned out as it's same vibes Power Ranger's villians so I didn't feel threatened afterwards... Just they lacked menacing auras.

But I still don't know why there are tons of Shoutmon fans while there are barely more fans of like... Dorulumon or Ballistamon.
Oh yeah Dorulumon, Ballistamon, and Sparrowmon gained evos however their heads remained... Unchanged and it really bothered me so hard.

And this final bosses? DarkKnightmon and Bargamon? Well it's just Gurren Lagann mecha knight and FullMetal Alchemist old man. Nothing interesting... MadLeomon really reminded me of... "Oni-chan...." and the battles weren't very interesting as KOs everywhere unlike Digimon Adventure 2020 although I'm not good to explain that...

In the end, they gained normal levels...
My reaction went like what...? Eh hardly exciting. But what about Cutemon? Did he/she gain any... Evos?
I'm still waiting for certain interviews on Xros receiving normal levels and why?

Yeah I didn't have good memories. But Xros War is still ongoing.... I wonder what will the future store this for digimon fans...?
To be honest I'm surprised it gained strong supports. I was surprised there were very few Pokemon fans quit and joined Digimon after watching Digimon Xros in USA. I wonder what was the appeal in the first place to them?

I hear you, I felt the same way when I first saw it, at first I didn’t care for Xross Wars because of all the nonsense going on in the series, but then my favorite Digimon like Dracomon, Coronamon, and Spadamon caught my attention and then the English dub happens and the all the no levels got levels now, like Shoutmon > Shoutmon king > OmniShoutmon > Shoutmon DX.

Then the Pendulum Z happens with Shoutmon > Shoutmon x3 > Shoutmon x5 > Ancient Garurumon though Shoutmon x7 would have been a better option but either way it works.

 

[AppliFang]

This season had great songs!!!

The thing i loved about Xros was that Tamers(?) can have more than one partner/friend who joins them (the army!!)
Kinda like the ds games!

 

[Yotaman]

Xros Wars?! And I thought this is a respectable Digimon community, smh.

 

[Tarama]

I really like XW squad, especially Taiki generation. Like in the future, maybe we'll get the Child forms of Ballistamon, Greymon, Mailbirdramon, and Dorulumon. The 'main' ones, you know what I mean. I love Digixros system, it's unique but I also want to see them evolving naturally individually.
If Greymon and Dorulumon someday would be paired, their version of Omegamon would be simply like the regular Omegamon with Garuru Cannon and Grey Sword switching colors lol.
I like Shoutmon DX, but I still want that Ultimate form of Shoutmon tbh. Maybe he'll turn into Gold Omegamon because OmegaShoutmon is technically the new Omegamon. So that the prototype idea of Omegamon MM Kenji Watanabe ever said can become the actual digimon. (If we're okay with another new Omega)

So many possibilities. I hope Digimon will be THE shit again so that all of these possibilities can come true.

 

[DragonicEmperor]

Ah yes. The worst series of the entire franchise.

Shame they insist on trying to make us remember it exists.