grendel
Ain't got no mojo...
Show User Social Media
Hide User Social Media
I started writing about this on the discord, but realized it'd make more sense on the forum. Just gonna post random observations as I re-watch the show. While I'll be going episode by episode, I'll mention events throughout the series because this is intended to be holistic analysis. I'm watching on Hulu, which only has the English dub, and I also grew up with the dub, so I'll be sticking with that. I watched the Japanese version several years back and will reference it on rare occasion.
Episode 1:
-Takato and Henry's faces are first revealed in a frame within a frame shot (Takato reflected in his card reader, Henry through his window). This technique is most famously used in Wong Kar-wai's 'In the Mood for Love' and creates a sense of both observing and being observed, as we see with Takato and the unhatched Guilmon. Surveillance will remain an important motif throughout the entire show's runtime.
-It's never truly explained why the boys playing cards affects what happens to Calumon in the liminal space between worlds. It does however hint at the importance of children's beliefs to the worldbuilding. A more radical interpretation could be that competition is a secular form of ritual, the cards themselves a medium through which the boys commune with artificial gods.
-Ms. Asaji is framed towering over Takato in a position of authority. It is also one of the few times we see another character's face while Takato is in the frame. This will be inverted later when Takato stands on the balcony of his room over his father, perhaps representing Takato knowing something Takahiro does not.
-There's a symmetry to Kazu, then Kazu and Kenta, leaving Takato behind, while the episode is bookended with Takato moving toward Guilmon. I always took this to mean Takato is an amicable kid who gets along well with everyone, but has not forged a deep connection with anyone.
-The blocking in Henry and Rika's first appearances immediately establish their relationships with their Digimon. Henry's is a sibling dynamic while Rika's is that of master and servant.
-The first arc has more in common with magical realism than science fiction. It's all about contrasting the mundane with the magical, albeit through a technological lens. This arguably fades as the series progresses--to its own detriment--but magical realism elements remain throughout the show.
-The digital field represents the classic 'illusion vs reality' symbolism of fog, with characters constantly questioning what is and is not real and what their relationship with Digimon means. There's an undercurrent of Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation running through the show's philosophical premise, which is all about reality, symbols, society, and how media blurs and heightens these into a hyperreality. I'll touch back on this another day.
Episode 2:
-Not as many interesting shots as the pilot. The ones I liked most involved Takato and Guilmon being in the same frame facing each other, a sharp contrast from the quiet alienation of the first episode. At the beginning of the alleyway scene Takato is standing over Guilmon trying to tell him what to do, while at the end he looks up from beneath Guilmon and speaks to him more as an equal rather than from a superior position. (Although I DID appreciate the nonbinary lighting of Rika and Renamon’s shared mindscape /jk)
-Digimon in previous seasons were portrayed as familiars, their digivolutions representing growth from and/or between the children. Digimon in Tamers are portrayed as sapient beings with wildly varying views and motivations. Guilmon is a newborn, and essentially a clean slate molded almost entirely by Takato despite having feral instincts hardwired into him. It becomes a question of nature vs nurture, with Guilmon learning to overcome his base animalistic tendencies.
-Because Guilmon is so young, he often struggles to properly communicate with Takato, and Takato with him, especially early on. I would argue communication is one of if not the most important theme of Tamers. When a digivolution happens, it almost always happens because the Tamer and their Digimon reach a level of understanding with each other. This ability to communicate will also translate to improved communication between the Tamers’ family members and between each other. It’s no coincidence that what ultimately separates the Tamers from their Digimon at the end of the show is a miscommunication, a lie by omission, from a trusted source of authority.
-At the end of the previous episode, we see Takato become uncertain once he at last finds Guilmon. This uncertainty is resolved in the opening of the second episode, but we'll see Takato struggling with his anxieties throughout the first arc. While most people describe their relationship as 'a boy and his dog' I actually think it has more in common with 'a mother and her child' archetype. Takato has a lot of feminine qualities, often worrying and crying over Guilmon, restricting the Digimon to understandable yet, perhaps, unnecessary degrees, something we see mirrored in how Takato's own mother treats him. Takato also bears a striking physical resemblance to his mother, furthering the parallel.
-In case it wasn't yet obvious, I love Takato, he's far and away my favorite protagonist in a Digimon series. He's such a gentle, enthusiastic soul with little to no toxic or fragile masculinity. When he gets angry it's almost always for very good reasons.
-I appreciate the subtle yet gentle ways Guilmon undermines authority. The one-off scene between him and the principal is particularly memorable, giving shades of a child asking why to an adult whose answers increasingly become nonsensical, no matter how rational they might try to portray them as. Guilmon reminds me a lot of Paddington or Superman, in that his arc is mostly flat and about elevating the characters around him.
-The fights are choreographed to feel more animalistic and visceral (Renamon and Guilmon's scuffle being a standout moment). There are a lot of cuts and stiff animation due to budget, but the storyboards are well-conceptualized and well-executed. They all have a sense of space and weight and use of location to them. I also liked the shot where Goblimon is being tracked by Hypnos then turns to face the camera in a 4th wall break. While they’re watching the Digital World, the Digital World is also watching them.
-Is Takato the only gogglehead from a working class background? I love how lived in his home feels. It contrasts the spartan nature of both Henry and Rika’s rooms. It also blends Japanese and western architecture, while Henry’s apartment leans more western and Rika’s mansion more traditionally Japanese. The element of class (and how it intersects with race and gender) is never commented on directly, but it is subtextually prevalent throughout, with Henry being middle class, Rika being upper class, and Takato being working class.
Episode 3:
-I really appreciate how Rika gets to be an antagonist/anti-hero without having femme fatale or dominatrix qualities. Renamon doesn’t have quite the same luck in the English version, but her VO sounds like she’s having a blast, so I can’t stay mad.
-Speaking of the dub, it has a lot of well-documented translation issues, but I do quite love the vocal performances the main cast puts in. They bring so much energy and enthusiasm to their line deliveries, it's infectious. Dave Wittenburg in particular has a naturalistic warmth, a raw undercurrent, as Henry that I adore. Every single riff between him and Terriermon, or him and Suzie, is perfect.
-Henry and Rika foil each other a lot more than Takato foils either of them. They’re diametrically opposed on the philosophical spectrum, while Takato occupies a space somewhere in between, naturally putting him into the position to bring the two together and form the team. This is another fundamental aspect of Tamers. It sees the most important leadership quality not being courage or initiative (although Takato demonstrates both throughout), but instead the ability to bridge distances between people from disparate backgrounds and beliefs.
-Henry is shown with computers in his room, positioned as a mix of Joe and Izzy, but his interests seem to lie more in philosophical areas than technological expertise. That is a position his father will wind up filling. It's also worth noting that Henry is visibly a darker complexion than the other characters, something we don't see often in children's anime unless they're a Black stereotype. His mixed heritage is never truly remarked upon, and that's probably for the best, but there is a sense of all three main characters almost but not quite fitting the status quo--their relationships with their Digimon helps them come to terms with feeling like an outsider even in their own city, their own homes, their own school; alone even in a street crowded full of people.
-Gargomon is one of two times we’ll see a partner Digimon go berserk after digivolving. I believe this is rooted in a couple issues. Henry and Terriermon are on the same page when Terriermon’s life is threatened, which triggers the transformation. However, it is purely instinctual and rooted in the philosophies of the Digital World: might makes right, and survival of the fittest. Terriermon and Henry have not reached any sort of understanding with each other. We also see Henry immediately regretting the digivolution (foreshadowing Takato’s regret in the immediate aftermath of Megidramon). I see faith, and the communication of faith, as another key aspect of Tamers. Because Henry lacks that in his partner (and in himself), Terriermon loses control.
-We see doubts from Renamon as well throughout these early episodes. Her and Rika are not in sync, but later episodes will reveal just how disillusioned Renamon has become with the ethos of the Digital World. The arrival to the Real World is treated as a pilgrimage, a spiritual awakening, by many Digimon, and for Renamon to essentially be living out the same life as before must wear on her, even if she doesn't realize it yet. She yearns for the genuine connection and communication the other tamers have with their Digimon. I have a lot of thoughts on Rika and the impact high level competition can have on children, but I'll hold off on that until a more Rika-focused episode, I think.
-While control issues are most prevalent in Henry's arc, all three of the main characters struggle with control and asserting control in a world where children are granted very little individual autonomy. I find this tension fascinating and will try to highlight it whenever possible.
Episode 1:
-Takato and Henry's faces are first revealed in a frame within a frame shot (Takato reflected in his card reader, Henry through his window). This technique is most famously used in Wong Kar-wai's 'In the Mood for Love' and creates a sense of both observing and being observed, as we see with Takato and the unhatched Guilmon. Surveillance will remain an important motif throughout the entire show's runtime.
-It's never truly explained why the boys playing cards affects what happens to Calumon in the liminal space between worlds. It does however hint at the importance of children's beliefs to the worldbuilding. A more radical interpretation could be that competition is a secular form of ritual, the cards themselves a medium through which the boys commune with artificial gods.
-Ms. Asaji is framed towering over Takato in a position of authority. It is also one of the few times we see another character's face while Takato is in the frame. This will be inverted later when Takato stands on the balcony of his room over his father, perhaps representing Takato knowing something Takahiro does not.
-There's a symmetry to Kazu, then Kazu and Kenta, leaving Takato behind, while the episode is bookended with Takato moving toward Guilmon. I always took this to mean Takato is an amicable kid who gets along well with everyone, but has not forged a deep connection with anyone.
-The blocking in Henry and Rika's first appearances immediately establish their relationships with their Digimon. Henry's is a sibling dynamic while Rika's is that of master and servant.
-The first arc has more in common with magical realism than science fiction. It's all about contrasting the mundane with the magical, albeit through a technological lens. This arguably fades as the series progresses--to its own detriment--but magical realism elements remain throughout the show.
-The digital field represents the classic 'illusion vs reality' symbolism of fog, with characters constantly questioning what is and is not real and what their relationship with Digimon means. There's an undercurrent of Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation running through the show's philosophical premise, which is all about reality, symbols, society, and how media blurs and heightens these into a hyperreality. I'll touch back on this another day.
Episode 2:
-Not as many interesting shots as the pilot. The ones I liked most involved Takato and Guilmon being in the same frame facing each other, a sharp contrast from the quiet alienation of the first episode. At the beginning of the alleyway scene Takato is standing over Guilmon trying to tell him what to do, while at the end he looks up from beneath Guilmon and speaks to him more as an equal rather than from a superior position. (Although I DID appreciate the nonbinary lighting of Rika and Renamon’s shared mindscape /jk)
-Digimon in previous seasons were portrayed as familiars, their digivolutions representing growth from and/or between the children. Digimon in Tamers are portrayed as sapient beings with wildly varying views and motivations. Guilmon is a newborn, and essentially a clean slate molded almost entirely by Takato despite having feral instincts hardwired into him. It becomes a question of nature vs nurture, with Guilmon learning to overcome his base animalistic tendencies.
-Because Guilmon is so young, he often struggles to properly communicate with Takato, and Takato with him, especially early on. I would argue communication is one of if not the most important theme of Tamers. When a digivolution happens, it almost always happens because the Tamer and their Digimon reach a level of understanding with each other. This ability to communicate will also translate to improved communication between the Tamers’ family members and between each other. It’s no coincidence that what ultimately separates the Tamers from their Digimon at the end of the show is a miscommunication, a lie by omission, from a trusted source of authority.
-At the end of the previous episode, we see Takato become uncertain once he at last finds Guilmon. This uncertainty is resolved in the opening of the second episode, but we'll see Takato struggling with his anxieties throughout the first arc. While most people describe their relationship as 'a boy and his dog' I actually think it has more in common with 'a mother and her child' archetype. Takato has a lot of feminine qualities, often worrying and crying over Guilmon, restricting the Digimon to understandable yet, perhaps, unnecessary degrees, something we see mirrored in how Takato's own mother treats him. Takato also bears a striking physical resemblance to his mother, furthering the parallel.
-In case it wasn't yet obvious, I love Takato, he's far and away my favorite protagonist in a Digimon series. He's such a gentle, enthusiastic soul with little to no toxic or fragile masculinity. When he gets angry it's almost always for very good reasons.
-I appreciate the subtle yet gentle ways Guilmon undermines authority. The one-off scene between him and the principal is particularly memorable, giving shades of a child asking why to an adult whose answers increasingly become nonsensical, no matter how rational they might try to portray them as. Guilmon reminds me a lot of Paddington or Superman, in that his arc is mostly flat and about elevating the characters around him.
-The fights are choreographed to feel more animalistic and visceral (Renamon and Guilmon's scuffle being a standout moment). There are a lot of cuts and stiff animation due to budget, but the storyboards are well-conceptualized and well-executed. They all have a sense of space and weight and use of location to them. I also liked the shot where Goblimon is being tracked by Hypnos then turns to face the camera in a 4th wall break. While they’re watching the Digital World, the Digital World is also watching them.
-Is Takato the only gogglehead from a working class background? I love how lived in his home feels. It contrasts the spartan nature of both Henry and Rika’s rooms. It also blends Japanese and western architecture, while Henry’s apartment leans more western and Rika’s mansion more traditionally Japanese. The element of class (and how it intersects with race and gender) is never commented on directly, but it is subtextually prevalent throughout, with Henry being middle class, Rika being upper class, and Takato being working class.
Episode 3:
-I really appreciate how Rika gets to be an antagonist/anti-hero without having femme fatale or dominatrix qualities. Renamon doesn’t have quite the same luck in the English version, but her VO sounds like she’s having a blast, so I can’t stay mad.
-Speaking of the dub, it has a lot of well-documented translation issues, but I do quite love the vocal performances the main cast puts in. They bring so much energy and enthusiasm to their line deliveries, it's infectious. Dave Wittenburg in particular has a naturalistic warmth, a raw undercurrent, as Henry that I adore. Every single riff between him and Terriermon, or him and Suzie, is perfect.
-Henry and Rika foil each other a lot more than Takato foils either of them. They’re diametrically opposed on the philosophical spectrum, while Takato occupies a space somewhere in between, naturally putting him into the position to bring the two together and form the team. This is another fundamental aspect of Tamers. It sees the most important leadership quality not being courage or initiative (although Takato demonstrates both throughout), but instead the ability to bridge distances between people from disparate backgrounds and beliefs.
-Henry is shown with computers in his room, positioned as a mix of Joe and Izzy, but his interests seem to lie more in philosophical areas than technological expertise. That is a position his father will wind up filling. It's also worth noting that Henry is visibly a darker complexion than the other characters, something we don't see often in children's anime unless they're a Black stereotype. His mixed heritage is never truly remarked upon, and that's probably for the best, but there is a sense of all three main characters almost but not quite fitting the status quo--their relationships with their Digimon helps them come to terms with feeling like an outsider even in their own city, their own homes, their own school; alone even in a street crowded full of people.
-Gargomon is one of two times we’ll see a partner Digimon go berserk after digivolving. I believe this is rooted in a couple issues. Henry and Terriermon are on the same page when Terriermon’s life is threatened, which triggers the transformation. However, it is purely instinctual and rooted in the philosophies of the Digital World: might makes right, and survival of the fittest. Terriermon and Henry have not reached any sort of understanding with each other. We also see Henry immediately regretting the digivolution (foreshadowing Takato’s regret in the immediate aftermath of Megidramon). I see faith, and the communication of faith, as another key aspect of Tamers. Because Henry lacks that in his partner (and in himself), Terriermon loses control.
-We see doubts from Renamon as well throughout these early episodes. Her and Rika are not in sync, but later episodes will reveal just how disillusioned Renamon has become with the ethos of the Digital World. The arrival to the Real World is treated as a pilgrimage, a spiritual awakening, by many Digimon, and for Renamon to essentially be living out the same life as before must wear on her, even if she doesn't realize it yet. She yearns for the genuine connection and communication the other tamers have with their Digimon. I have a lot of thoughts on Rika and the impact high level competition can have on children, but I'll hold off on that until a more Rika-focused episode, I think.
-While control issues are most prevalent in Henry's arc, all three of the main characters struggle with control and asserting control in a world where children are granted very little individual autonomy. I find this tension fascinating and will try to highlight it whenever possible.
Last edited: