Digimon Data Squad, known in Japan as Digimon Savers (デジモンセイバーズ, Dejimon Seibāzu), is the fifth anime television series in the Digimon franchise, produced by Toei Animation. The series aired in Japan on Fuji TV from April 2006 to March 2007.[2] A standalone film based on the series was released on December 9, 2006.[3]
Digimon Data Squad | |
![]() Promotional poster from the series, depicting the main characters | |
デジモンセイバーズ (Dejimon Seibāzu) | |
---|---|
Genre | Adventure[1] |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Naoyuki Itō |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Ryōta Yamaguchi |
Music by | Keiichi Oku |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Licensed by | |
Original network | Fuji TV |
English network |
|
Original run | April 2, 2006 – March 25, 2007 |
Episodes | 48 |
Anime film | |
Ultimate Power! Activate Burst Mode | |
Directed by | Tatsuya Nagamine |
Written by | Ryota Yamaguchi |
Music by | Keiichi Oku |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Released | December 9, 2006 |
Runtime | 22 minutes |
Anime film | |
Digimon Savers 3D: The Digital World in Imminent Danger! | |
Directed by | Nakamura Tetsuharu |
Written by | Ryota Yamaguchi |
Music by | Takanori Arisawa |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Released | October 3, 2009 |
Runtime | 7 minutes |
Digimon franchise | |
An English-language version was produced by Studiopolis, in conjunction with Toei Animation USA and Disney Enterprises, Inc., and aired in North America on Toon Disney's Jetix block from October 2007 to November 2008.
Plot
editThe Digital Accident Tactics Squad (DATS) is a government organization established to maintain the peace between the Real World and the Digital World, transporting any Digimon back to the Digital World. Marcus, a junior high school student, becomes one of the members for the organization. He learns that the Digimon Merukimon is opposing mankind. However, the past is revealed that the scientist Akihiro Kurata was responsible for invading the Digital World. He gained the support of the government to oppose all Digimon species, claiming they were a threat to mankind. When Kurata uses Belphemon, Marcus defeats them. Before dying, Kurata uses a bomb to make the Digital World merge with the human world. While the Digimon BanchoLeomon prevents the collision, Marcus meets King Drasil (Yggdrasil), the supreme ruler who attempts to protect the Digital World by destroying mankind, since they cannot exist in both dimensions. Marcus learns that his father, Spencer, was trapped in the Digital World for ten years, because Drasil possessed Spencer's body and BanchoLeomon kept the latter's soul. After Marcus defeats Drasil, Spencer's soul returns to his body. With both worlds restored, all Digimon partners return to their own world. Five years later, Marcus and his friends embrace their future.
Characters
editMain characters
edit- Marcus Damon (大門 大, Daimon Masaru, Masaru Daimon in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Sōichirō Hoshi (Japanese); Quinton Flynn (English)
- Marcus is a 14-year old, 8th grader junior high school student. He does not wear any goggles unlike any main leader characters in any other Japanese Digimon anime. As a delinquent, he challenges himself to become the strongest street fighter. He is partnered with Agumon.[4] Marcus also appeared in the third and final season of Digimon Fusion.
- Agumon (アグモン)
- Voiced by: Taiki Matsuno (Japanese); Brian Beacock[5] (English)
- Partner of Marcus Damon. Has a very big appetite.
- Thomas H. Norstein (トーマ・H・ノルシュタイン, Tōma H. Norushutain)
- Voiced by: Hirofumi Nojima (Japanese); Crispin Freeman (English)
- Thomas is a 14-year-old teen genius of Japanese and Austrian descent.[4] He comes from a privileged background and his tendency to rely on carefully planned strategies causes him to clash with Marcus at times. He is partnered with Gaomon.
- Gaomon (ガオモン)
- Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai (Japanese); Skip Stellrecht (English)
- Partner of Thomas H. Norstein
- Yoshino Fujieda (藤枝 淑乃, Fujieda Yoshino)
- Voiced by: Yui Aragaki (Japanese); Colleen Villard (English)
- Yoshi is an 18-year-old field agent at DATS.[4] She is partnered with Lalamon.
- Lalamon (ララモン)
- Voiced by: Yukana (Japanese); Dorothy Elias-Fahn[6] (English)
- Partner of Yoshi Fujieda
- Keenan Crier (野口 郁人, Noguchi Ikuto, Ikuto Noguchi in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (Japanese); Brianne Siddall (English)
- Keenan is a young boy who goes missing in the Digital World when a lab experiment had gone awry. He grew up with prejudice against humans. He is partnered with Falcomon.
- Falcomon (ファルコモン)
- Voiced by: Chie Kōjiro (Japanese); Steve Blum[7] (English)
- Partner of Keenan Crier.
Recurring characters
edit- Richard Sampson (薩摩 廉太郎, Satsuma Rentarō, Rentaro Satsuma in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Taiten Kusunoki (Japanese); Jamieson Price[8] (English)
- Kudamon (クダモン)
- Voiced by: Nanaho Katsuragi (Japanese); Sam Riegel[9] (English)
- Partner of Richard Sampson, later revealed to be Kentaurosmon of the Royal Knights.
- Miki Kurosaki (黒崎 美樹, Kurosaki Miki)
- Voiced by: Ai Nagano (Japanese); Kate Higgins[10] (English)
- Megumi Shirakawa (白川 惠, Shirakawa Megumi)
- Voiced by: Yukiko Hanioka (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh[11] (English)
- Homer Yushima (湯島 浩, Yushima Hiroshi, Hiroshi Yushima in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Yūichi Nagashima (Japanese); Kirk Thornton[12] (English)
- He is partnered with Kamemon.
- Sarah Damon (大門 小百合, Daimon Sayuri, Sayuri Daimon in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Mariko Kouda (Japanese); Mary Elizabeth McGlynn[13] (English)
- Mother of Marcus and Kristy Damon.
- Kristy Damon (大門 知香, Daimon Chika, Chika Daimon in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Kokoro Kikuchi (Japanese); Melissa Fahn[14] (English)
- Younger sister of Marcus Damon. She is partnered with Biyomon.
Antagonists
edit- Merukimon (メルクリモン, Merukurimon, Mercurymon in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Kosei Hirota (Japanese); Richard Epcar (English)
- A mega-level Shaman Digimon who raised Keenan and met Spencer Damon a decade before the events of the series, believing there can be co-existence until Kurata's actions convinced Merukimon that humans are attacking the Digimon. But learning the truth from Kurata himself, Merukimon decided to try believing in Spencer's words again and sacrificed his life to save Keenan, Marcus, and the others from Kurata's Gizumon.
- Gotsumon (ゴツモン, Gottsumon)
- Voiced by: Ken Maeda (Japanese); Michael Lindsay (English)
- A rookie-level Rock Digimon.
- SaberLeomon (サーベルレオモン, Sāberureomon)
- Voiced by: Hitoshi Bifu (Japanese); Paul St. Peter (English)
- A mega-level Beast Digimon who hates all humans because of their actions against Digimon. He comes to the real world to fight the Data Squad, only to be stunned by Gizumon’s laser, and was destroyed by RizeGreymon.
- Akihiro Kurata (倉田 明宏, Kurata Akihiro)
- Voiced by: Masami Kikuchi (Japanese); Brian Palermo (English)
- The evil, hateful, and fierce mad scientist who is the antagonist of the first half of the series, Kurata was originally Spencer Damon's assistant during their exploration of the Digital World who believed Digimon are a threat to humans as he seeks to completely destroy most of them with his artificial Gizumon while subjugating the rest for world dominion. When the Tactics Squad learned his true plans, he turns the Confidentiality Ministry on them while awakening Belphemon. Later, he takes control of Belphemon himself. After Belphemon's defeat, he ends up becoming a victim of his space-oscillation bomb.
- Belphemon (ベルフェモン, Berufemon)
- Voiced by: Masami Kikuchi (Japanese); Kyle Hebert[15] (English)
- A slothful, catastrophic, and aggressive Demon Lord Digimon who is sealed for years before Kurata freed him and later awakened.
- King Drasil (イグドラシル, Igudorajiru, Yggdrasill in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Rica Fukami (Japanese); Mona Marshall, Jonathan David Cook (7D6), Mari Devon (core) (English)
- King Drasil is a host computer being in the form of a tree, serving as the main antagonist of the final half of the series when he took Kurata's actions as threat to the Digital World and sends the Royal Knights to attack humanity in retaliation. Drasil initially used the body of Marcus's father Spencer Damon before transferring into his King Drasil 7D6 avatar body, ultimately deciding to destroy both worlds to start anew. But upon being defeated by Marcus and Agumon, Drasil accepts his defeat and enters a deep sleep after reviving Spencer.
- Leopardmon (ドゥフトモン, Dufutomon, Duftmon in the Japanese version)
- Voiced by: Takehiro Murozono (Japanese); Beau Billingslea[16] (English)
- A member of the Royal Knights.
Production
editThe series was announced during the December 2005 Jump Festa convention in Japan[17] with advertisements showing a remolded Agumon as the lead Digimon. The name of the series was later revealed in January 2006 with the character designs coming a month later. The characters were designed by Sayo Aoi. It is the final Digimon series to be produced in 4:3.
Media
editAnime
editThe series aired 48 episodes on Fuji TV in Japan from April 2, 2006, to March 25, 2007. On April 25, 2007, Disney's ABC Network announced that it had signed an agreement with Toei Animation to license the show.[18] Much of the staff that worked on Digimon: Digital Monsters, including director Jeff Nimoy, returned to work on Data Squad. The series finished airing in the US on Jetix on November 1, 2008, thirteen months after it premiered on October 1, 2007.[19]
It was announced on February 12, 2009 that Toei Animation has signed Well Go USA with the DVD rights to Digimon Data Squad, and the first thirteen US edited English dub episodes were made available on May 26, 2009.[citation needed] The release of the third DVD set was canceled.[20]
Madman Entertainment have released all episodes across four sets on Region 4 DVD in Australia and New Zealand with only the US English Edited TV dub by Studiopolis.[21] Brazil had released several DVDs of the show. In 2014, Cinedigm Entertainment obtained the rights to the release of the season. A Complete Collection was released on March 11, 2014, in the US.[22]
Theme songs
edit- Opening themes
- "Gōing! Going! My soul!!" (強ing! Going! My soul!!) by Dynamite SHU
- Episodes: 1-29
- "Hirari" (ヒラリ) by Kōji Wada
- Episodes 30-48
- Ending themes
- "One Star" by Yousuke Itou
- Episodes: 1-24
- "Ryūsei" (流星, "Meteor") by MiyuMiyu
- Episodes: 25-47
- Insert song
- "Believer" by Ikuo
Film
editVideo games
editThe anime received five related video games.
- Digimon World DS features several Digimon Data Squad characters, but does not focus on them. As the game was released internationally before Data Squad was dubbed into different languages, it uses the original Japanese names of the DATS team, who appear in certain quests.
- Digimon World Data Squad focuses on the primary characters of the anime, but tells a different story from it. It involves the members of DATS coming into conflict with the Seven Great Demon Lords.
- Digimon World: Dawn and Dusk are sequels to Digimon World DS with slightly different stories from each other. At the end of the game, the four main characters from Data Squad appear to battle the main character.
- Digimon Masters is an MMORPG where players assume the roles of the DATS team members.
References
edit- ^ "Digimon Data Squad (Season 5) Complete Series (Eps 1-48)". Madman Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
- ^ Camp, Brian; Davis, Julie (August 2007). Anime Classics Zenttai!. Stone Bridge Press. p. 104. ISBN 9781933330228. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- ^ "デジモンセイバーズ THE MOVIE". Digimon-movie.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ a b c "デジモンセイバーズ メインキャラクター". Toei Animation (in Japanese). Retrieved November 1, 2018.
- ^ @BrianBeacock (December 26, 2018). "Yep that was me!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 26, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (2008). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2d ed.). McFarland. p. 261. ISBN 9780786486410.
- ^ "Steve Blum". CrystalAcids.com. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
- ^ "Jamieson K. Price". CrystalAcids.com. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
- ^ "Sam Riegel". CrystalAcids.com. December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kate Higgins". CrystalAcids.com. December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
- ^ "Stephanie Sheh". CrystalAcids.com. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
- ^ "Kirk Thornton". CrystalAcids.com. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
- ^ "Mary Elizabeth McGlynn". CrystalAcids.com. March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "Melissa Fahn". CrystalAcids.com. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
- ^ Hebert, Kyle. "DIGIMON DATA SQUAD AND APPEARANCE UPDATE…". Kyle Hebert official website. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
- ^ "Beau Billingslea on Facebook". Beau Billingslea. March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ Macdonald, Christopher (January 24, 2006). "Digimon Fifth TV Series Announced". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- ^ "Disney Nabs 5th Digimon Anime". ICv2. April 25, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ Sarah Balsey (August 3, 2007). "Digimon Data Squad to Debut on Toon Disney's Jetix Block". Animation World Network. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- ^ "Toei Names Well Go USA for "Digimon Data Squad" DVD Rights". Licensemag.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
- ^ "Digimon Data Squad". Madman.com.au. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ "Digimon Data Squad Season 5". Amazon. March 11, 2014.
External links
edit- Official website (Japanese)
- Fuji TV site (Japanese)
- Digimon Data Squad (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia