Digimon Franchise Guide
Anime
Yeah...I was a Digimon kid growing up. I can't even begin to count how many times I watched and rewatched the Digimon Movie on VHS back in the day.
This guide is for all my fellow 90's kids who are looking for that sweet, sweet nostalgia, or just anyone else who is curious about the series. I've included everything in the core franchise, though I will be leaving out the odd few shorts that just don't really add anything.
So without further ado, heres the watch order for everything Digimon.
This guide is for all my fellow 90's kids who are looking for that sweet, sweet nostalgia, or just anyone else who is curious about the series. I've included everything in the core franchise, though I will be leaving out the odd few shorts that just don't really add anything.
So without further ado, heres the watch order for everything Digimon.
Movie, 1999,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
The original pilot for the franchise. It's in of a bit of a funny spot in the wider canon, as the start of the adventure series retcons this first meeting between them and Digimon, but then later retroactively adds it back in as a central part of the plot. Either watch it first, as it was released first, or save it for later on after finishing season 1 to build up the mystery surrounding it.
TV, 1999,
54 eps
Me:-
Author:9
The Original series that started it all. This, and it's sequels, are probably the closest you can get to the "main" continuity for the Digimon franchise, so its best to start here.
Though if you want, you can just pick and choose any of the individual seasons as a starting place instead, as, outside of Adventures continuity, they all work as standalones.
Though if you want, you can just pick and choose any of the individual seasons as a starting place instead, as, outside of Adventures continuity, they all work as standalones.
Movie, 2000,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Movie set directly after the ending of season 1.
TV, 2000,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:7
The follow-up series to Adventure, where the original kids take a more backseat, mentor role to the next generation of digi-kids.
Movie, 2000,
2 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Takes place after the first major arc of 02, but before a new member joins the group in the second arc. Watch after episode 21.
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Spiritual sequel to Our War Game with that films villain returning, but this time going up against the 02 cast. Takes place after Adventure 02 (not counting the timeskip in the final episodes epilogue).
Movie, 2015,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Adventure Tri marked the return of the franchise after a long dry spell. It picks up with the original cast several years after Adventure and 02, with the kids now in highschool. Overall opinions are mixed, but I appreciate it for its more mature and darker story and feel it's worth the watch.
Movie, 2016,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
2nd film in the Adventure Tri series.
Movie, 2016,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
3rd film in the Adventure Tri series.
Movie, 2017,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
4th film in the Adventure Tri series.
Movie, 2017,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
5th film in the Adventure Tri series.
Movie, 2018,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
6th and final film in the Adventure Tri series. It does leave some loose plot threads that aren't picked up again in the rest of the Adventure series, which is incredibly frustrating, but it is a nice capping off point to Tri's main story.
ONA, 2019,
5 eps
Me:-
Author:7
A bunch of shorts that (mostly) add a lot of context for the following movie, particularly where some of the cast who were absent from the movie are now. Some episodes are just fun parody shorts too.
Movie, 2020,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
The final story for the original cast, now in their 20s and entering early adulthood. A bittersweet farewell.
Movie, 2023,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
The 02 equivalent to Tri and Kizuna, seeing the 02 kids all grown up. Though the story is more heavily focused on the newcomer, Rui, than it is on the returning characters.
TV, 2001,
51 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Now we come to the first (of many) seasons that are seperate from adventures continuity. Tamers in particular is known as being a fan favourite for most.
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
It's hard to really place this film, as it takes place near the end of the first arc, but before the second. The problem is that by the point you should be watching this, it is a straight shot of episodes leading directly into the next arc. Watch this at some point after episode 18 but before episode 24.
Movie, 2002,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Movie set after the ending of Tamers.
TV, 2002,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Admittedly this is where I stopped watching Digimon, but partially why I made this list is to discover everything I haven't yet seen, so I have at the least, done my research.
Frontier is another new continuity that takes a concept that was introduced at the end of tamers and fashions a brand new story around that idea.
Frontier is another new continuity that takes a concept that was introduced at the end of tamers and fashions a brand new story around that idea.
Movie, 2002,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Apparently this one is rather hard to place, as it does conflict with some canon events, but roughly speaking, this can be watched sometime after episode 12. Though you could just hold off on it and watch It after the main Frontier series instead.
Movie, 2005,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:5
A movie that is completely disconnected from everything else, that introduces a new concept for the series. Optional, it was released in between Frontier and Savers, so I'll leave it here.
TV, 2006,
48 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Starring an older cast than usual, Savers (also known as Data Squad) is the next standalone continuity after Frontier.
Movie, 2006,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Another one that doesn't really fit anywhere within its main story. I'd recommend just watching this after Savers as a bonus.
TV, 2010,
30 eps
Me:-
Author:-
I don't really know a whole lot about Xros wars other than a few significant scenes. But release order would place it here after Savers.
TV, 2011,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:-
2nd season of Xros Wars.
TV, 2011,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:-
3rd and final season of Xros Wars.
TV, 2020,
67 eps
Me:-
Author:6
While I am listing these next few slightly out of order, there is a reason for it.
Appmon would have normally been next if we were following the release years, but I think this is a good entry point to modern digimon and a narrative follow up to Xros Wars.
Note: Despite sharing Adventure's name, and starring the same cast, this is strictly a reboot that has nothing to do with the original continuity and should be treated as standalone.
Appmon would have normally been next if we were following the release years, but I think this is a good entry point to modern digimon and a narrative follow up to Xros Wars.
Note: Despite sharing Adventure's name, and starring the same cast, this is strictly a reboot that has nothing to do with the original continuity and should be treated as standalone.
TV, 2016,
52 eps
Me:-
Author:-
It's interesting that a series that is so heavily dependent on technology and data, very rarely adapts it's story around our modern technology. This one is one of the few that does exactly that, by making phone apps and the Digimon linked to them a central focus.
TV, 2021,
67 eps
Me:-
Author:-
In direct contrast to the previous' technology based story, this one instead opts for a more spiritual, mythical take on Digimon. Ghost Game is the most recent season and is currently still airing.
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