Digimon Watch Order: Anime Series & Movies in 2023

Due to the popularity of the franchise and a large number of works, people might wonder what is the best Digimon watch order for the whole series and this is why we are bringing you this ultimate guide for all Digimon anime series and movies.

Fans of the series will have already seen all of these titles in the order they were released, but there is so much material that you might get confused if you’re not really into the whole thing. Plus, a lot of material released later on belongs to some older arcs and this is why we will clarify everything. This guide will contain all the necessary information, a complete episode list, and a list of all the relevant material, including the anime series, films, and the OVAs.

Digimon Watch Order (At a Glance)

• Digimon Adventure film (1999)
• Digimon Adventure (1999 – 2000)
• Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! (2000)
• Digimon Adventure 02 (I) (2000)
• Digimon Adventure 02: Part 1: Digimon Hurricane Touchdown!! / Part 2: Supreme Evolution!! The Golden Digimentals (2000)
• Digimon Adventure 02 (II) (2000 – 2001)
• Digimon Adventure 02: Revenge of Diaboromon (2001)
• Digimon Adventure tri. (2015 – 2018)
• Digimon Adventure 20th Memorial Story (2019 – 2020)
• Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution – Kizuna (2020)
• Digimon Adventure: (2020 – 2021)
• Digimon Tamers (I) (2001)
• Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers (2001)
• Digimon Tamers (II) (2001 – 2002)
• Digimon Tamers: Runaway Locomon (2002)
• Digimon Frontier (I) (2002)
• Digimon Frontier: Island of Lost Digimon (2002)
• Digimon Frontier (II) (2002 – 2003)
• Digimon Data Squad, or Digimon Savers (2006 – 2007)
• Digimon Savers: Ultimate Power! Burst Mode Activated!! (2007)
• Digimon Savers 3D: The Digital World in Imminent Danger! (2009)
• Digimon Xros Wars (2010 – 2011)
• The Evil Death Generals and the Seven Kingdom (2011)
• The Hunters Who Leapt Through Time (2011 – 2012)
• Digimon Universe: App Monsters (2016 – 2017)
• Digimon Ghost Game (2021 – present)

Digimon Adventure (1999 – 2020)

The Digimon anime series started in March 1999, when the movie and the first anime series were launched on two consecutive days. The original movie was a short animated prequel to the main series, although some continuity errors were present later on. The original series had a total of 54 episodes and ran from March 7, 1999 to March 26, 2000 on Fuji TV. The series was followed by a full-length film in 2000, after which the second season debuted on April 2, 2000, finishing its 50-episode run on March 25, 2001.

The second season was supplemented by two movies, one being set during the original narrative arc and one after it. Almost 15 years after the conclusion of the second season, Toei Animation started distributing a series of animated movies under the collective title Digimon Adventure tri.; the movies were an official continuation to the Adventure arc set several years after the conclusion of season two and aired from 2015 to 2018. A total of six movies were released. Finally, the whole arc was concluded with the 2020 anime movie Last Evolution – Kizuna, which featured the last adventure of the DigiDestined with their Digimon.

This section is going to give you the exact watching order of the Adventure arc, including all the movies, all the episodes and the OVAs, along with a brief synopsis for each of them.

Digimon Adventure film (1999)

One day before the anime was released, Toei Animation released a 20-minute short anime film detailing the first encounter of the DigiDestined with Digimon. The film was set four years after the anime’s first episode and tells about the incident when a wild Parrotmon came to the Real World, where it fought Tai’s and Kari’s Agumon (who Digivolved into Greymon). The rest of the DigiDestined witnessed this fight, as well as the DigiDestined from 02, and that was used to explain why they were chosen for the task of saving the Digital World. This is the earliest event in the official Adventure continuity and you should watch it before the anime.

Digimon Adventure (1999 – 2000)

The series initially tells the story of seven protagonists, specifically the DigiDestined, named Taichi “Tai” Yagami, Sora Takenouchi, Yamato “Matt” Ishida, Takeru “T.K.” Takaishi, Koushiro “Izzy” Izumi, Mimi Tachikawa, and Joe Kido; they are later joined by Tai’s sister, Hikari “Kari” Yagami. As they pass the time at their summer camp, snow accompanied by mysterious small objects falls from the sky.

Each child having respectively acquired their object, they are sucked by surprise into a dimensional portal and subsequently land in a world composed solely of digital data, known as the “Digital World”, parallel to the “real world”. Shortly after landing, the children discover their respective Digimon devoted to protecting them and dedicated to fighting different and powerful antagonists threatening the Digital World.

For their part, the chosen children must learn for themselves the reason for which they were chosen and learn to become stronger by “listening to their hearts”; to do so, they must find their respective symbol to match their personality, at the same time as they teach their Digimon to change appearance and become temporarily stronger. Throughout the episodes, certain themes such as death, self-sacrifice, and family problems are addressed.

Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! (2000)

The second movie of the franchise was still relatively short (40 minutes), but it was longer than the initial one. Our War Game! is set after the events of episode 54 and is centered around a corrupted Digimon that is devouring the data on the Internet. The Digimon grows and becomes stronger, as the DigiDestined reunite with their partner Digimon for the first time to defeat it.

Once their enemy reaches its final form – Diaboromon – the fight doesn’t just become a fight for the Internet, but also for the Real World. This film is set between Adventure and 02 and is referenced during the second season of the anime, and it served as a setup for one of the protagonists of 02 as well.

Digimon Adventure 02 (2000)

The series actually takes place three years after the events of the first season. During this period, the DigiDestined resume their initial life, thinking of the digital world, a world parallel to the real world in which they have managed to defeat Apocalymon, who has become calm and peaceful again. However, a new antagonist appears, the “Digimon Emperor”, reigning supreme over parts of the Digiworld, initially with evil rings and black towers of his own creation, and later spirals Infernals, allowing him to enslave each Digimon and prevent their Digivolution.

At the same time, a new generation of DigiDestined, made up of five main protagonists, including two elders — Kari Yagami and T.K. Takaishi — is also emerging. They are provided with new Digivices, allowing them to open direct access to various places in the Digital World when they wish, and Digi-eggs allowing the Digivolution of their Digimon even in the presence of the black towers.

The new generation manages, after twenty-two episodes, to foil the plans of the Digimon Emperor, who turns out to be Ken Ichijouji, thanks to the sacrifice of his partner, Wormmon. In episode 23, a flashback shows Ken’s childhood during which his parents paid no attention to him unlike his brother, whom he jealously wanted to see die. Ken’s life, turned upside down by the death of his brother in a car accident, darkens and he decides from this point to conquer the Digital World. But, as it turns out, the Digimon Emperor was not their biggest threat.

Digimon Adventure 02: Part 1: Digimon Hurricane Touchdown!! / Part 2: Supreme Evolution!! The Golden Digimentals (2000)

The third Digimon movie is set after episode 21, right after the DigiDestined defeated the Digimon Emperor, not knowing that an even greater threat is lurking in the Digital World. They decide to take a well-deserved break. T.K. and Kari decide to visit Mimi in New York, but when a wild Wendigomon kidnaps Mimi, they become part of Willis’ story and have to help the American DigiDestined save his second partner Digimon, but also their friends. This movie is set between episodes 21 and 22 and is, in a way, filler content, but since it was released separately, it’s definitely worth a watch because it expands the story and explains some moments present later on in the anime.

Digimon Adventure 02: Revenge of Diaboromon (2001)

The fifth movie was, once again, a short, episode-long work (29 minutes) set after the conclusion of the 02 anime, but before the epilogue presented during the end. Three months after the DigiDestined defeated MaloMyotismon, they discover that Diaboromon is still alive inside the Internet and they have to fight him. But, this time, they have to fight his Digivolved form – Armageddemon.

Armageddemon proves to be more powerful than Omnimon and Imperialdramon, until Omnimon lends his energy to Imperialdramon so that he can Digivolve into Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. He is then able to defeat Armageddemon and save the Internet once more.

Digimon Adventure tri. (2015 – 2018)

tri. was initially announced as a new anime series, only for Toei Animation to reveal that it was going to be distributed as six feature-length anime movies that would present a new story focusing on the original DigiDestined, now three years older than they were when 02 ended. Digimon Adventure tri. was a direct sequel to the popular anime and although it did mention the DigiDestined from 02, it focused on the original group of children as they face a new threat that threatens to destroy both worlds.

Namely, 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 DigiDestined being reunited with their partner Digimon. Joined by another DigiDestined named Meiko Mochizuki and her partner Meicoomon, they must solve the mystery of the infected Digimon and deal with the responsibility of growing up, not knowing that Meicoomon is the key to solving the problem.

Digimon Adventure 20th Memorial Story (2019 – 2020)

This five-episode OVA series was envisioned as a crowdfunding project that was supposed to feature five short prequel stories to Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution – Kizuna. Three of the OVA have been released so far, with just the first getting an official subtitled version. They are short stories featuring specific characters and episodes from their lives, which lead us in to where they are just before Kizuna starts.

Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution – Kizuna (2020)

Announced as the last installment in the saga of the original DigiDestined, Kizuna was a feature-length anime movie that delivered an emotional farewell to the series that inspired generations. With improved animation, a remixed soundtrack, and a strong, emotional story, Kizuna was a heartbreaking, yet fitting end to a 20-year-long saga. The DigiDestined had to unite with their partners once more to stop the mysterious Eosmon, a Digimon who seemed to kidnap the souls of DigiDestined around the world, only to discover that their time with their partner Digimon is coming to an end due to their growing up.

Digimon Tamers (2001 – 2002)

After closing the initial Adventure arc, Toei Animation and Akiyoshi Hongo moved on to a different concept, thus creating Digimon Tamers. The general concept remained the same, but this anime was not part of the same narrative continuity as Adventure and was different in tone, narration and character development. Tamers followed a group of children who, with their Digimon, had to fight the emerging threat of the D-Reaper, a digital entity that threatened to destroy both the Digital and the Real World, at the same time discovering important secrets about the history of the Digital World.

In this anime, Adventure was, like in our world, just a TV show and Digimon were actually a trading card game before the protagonists discovered they were real. The season also has two movies, one set during the original narrative and another set after the story’s conclusion.

Digimon Tamers (2001)

Takato Matasuki, the 12-year-old protagonist, is a fan of the Digimon card game. One day, after a game of cards with his two friends Kazu and Kenta, he discovers a mysterious blue card in his storage box. His reflex is to analyze it in his plastic Digivice which starts to shine in a strange way. Takato eventually realizes that he has become a “Digimon Tamer”, and accidentally creates his own Digimon partner, Guilmon, from a drawing.

Takato then meets two other children, who later turn out to be tamers as well: Henry Wong and Rika Nonaka. He gets along very well with Henry right away, but the two boys take time to get to know and team up with Rika, who considers the Digimon to be “fighting machines”. As this group forms, Digimon invades Tokyo, Japan, specifically the Shinjuku district, appearing through multiple digital portals.

The Tamers fight them to defend their city, but they are not alone – a government organization named Hypnos, led by Yamaki, is trying to eliminate the Digimon to put an end to these invasions. The group also meets a mysterious Digimon, Calumon, having the one and only power to control Digivolutions.

Another out-of-control Digimon, Impmon, also spends his time annoying tamers and their Digimon partners. As the invasion progresses, the Tamers will face nine Devas in the real world and two more in the Digital World. The twelfth, Antylamon, will regress into Lopmon to become the Digimon partner of Suzie, Henry’s little sister.

Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers (2001)

The Battle of the Adventurers is the first Tamers movie, set between episodes 23 and 24 of the original anime. It follows the Tamers, who are here referred to as DigiDestined for the first time, during their summer vacation. Takato visits his cousin Kai in Okinawa, Henry investigates an underwater meteor and Rika stays home in the city. An evil Digimon, Mephistomon, disables worldwide communications and allows Digimon to invade the real world, using the computer virus called “V-Pet” (yes, yes, like the original Digimon game).

It is revealed that Minami Uehara’s father, Takehito, created it. The Tamers help Minami’s partner, Seasarmon, defeat Mephistomon, and his Digivolved form – Gulfmon – and restore the world. The movie is not referenced in the anime, so it doesn’t play a major part in the main narrative, but it’s still good to watch it at this point, between the two episodes.

Digimon Tamers: Runaway Locomon (2002)

The second Tamers movie caused a bit of a stir because the creator of the anime was not consulted during the making of the movie, which accounts for several continuity errors present in the film, although the tone was kept. Runaway Locomon is set months after the DigiDestined parted ways with the partners and was created to confirm that the Tamers were reunited with their Digimon partners after the series ended.

The film’s storyline takes place two months after the Tamers had figured out how to send messages to their Digimon in the Digital World. The story revolves around a chaotic Locmon that appears in the Real World, but who is actually controlled by Parasimon. The Tamers and their partners have to unite their strengths to defeat the new threat. The movie has a running time of just 30 minutes and serves as the conclusion of the Tamers timeline.

Digimon Frontier (2002 – 2003)

Instead of continuing Tamers, Hongo and Toei opted once more to change the concept and create a completely new anime, that was titled Digimon Frontier. This anime further changed the concept, the history and the narrative of the franchise, introducing – for the first time – actual human Digivolution, as the protagonists used Spirits to become Digimon.

Here, the DigiDestined had to use the powers of the Ten Ancient Warriors to first defeat a rampaging Cherubimon and then Lucemon, the initial enemy of the Ancient Warriors. This season was conceptually different from all the others and fully original in most aspects. One supplementary movie, set during the original narrative and exploring the history of this iteration of the Digital World, was also released

Digimon Frontier (2002)

A long time ago, a group of ten Digimon gave their lives to defeat the forces of evil that threatened the Digital World. These warriors created artifacts from their own data, the twelve “Spirits” before leaving the Digital World in the hands of three celestial Digimon. However, one of these three Digimon, Cherubimon, decided to imprison these companions in order to reign supreme.

To remedy this situation, another celestial Digimon, Ophanimon, summoned five chosen young children from the real world thanks to the Trailmon (Digimon with the appearance of hybrid trains). In the Digital World, these five chosen ones find two spirits (Human and Beast), each to transform into Digimon Warriors.

However, while they find their respective spirits, the five chosen ones are chased by several Digimon, minions of Cherubimon. After four of these five minions are defeated by the Chosen, Koji Minamoto discovers that Duskmon, the fifth legendary evil warrior, is Koichi Kimura’s true twin brother. With Takuya’s help, Koji manages to free his brother and the latter fights alongside them in the form of Löwemon. After Cherubimon’s fall, the children have to face the original threat from the saga – Lucemon.

Digimon Frontier: Island of Lost Digimon (2002)

Due to its timeline, it was very difficult to position this movie within the timeline of the Frontier series. The situation was not completely clear and there have been no references to the movie in the anime series, but we believe that it would be best if you saw this 40-minute movie between episodes 37 and 38, because it best fits the whole narrative context. The DigiDestined travel across a desert when they find a floating continent known as the Lost Island, where a civil war between human-type and beast-type Digimon is raging.

The DigiDestined have to resolve the conflict and discover a mysterious evildoer, while simultaneously awakening AncientGreymon and AncientGarurumon, two of the Ancient Warriors from whom the DigiDestined draw their powers. The story is a recommended watch because it digs deeper into the history and lore of the very much underrated Frontier series.

Digimon Data Squad (2006 – 2009)

For the first time since the franchise’s debut, a three-year pause was made between two consecutive seasons. This was also the last series until Adventure: which aired on Fuji TV, since other stations broadcast the series that came out in between. Data Squad returned to the original concept of the children having a partner Digimon, but used an original approach and changed a lot of the details. Here, Digimon are a well-known phenomenon and there is a special organization (DATS) dealing with Digimon emerging in the Real World.

The protagonists have to fight individual threats in the Real World before venturing into the Digital World to fight off the threats there, ultimately facing Yggdrasil, a digital entity that wants to protect the Digital World by destroying mankind. The biggest change, though, was the animation, which was radically different than the animation used in the preceding series. One movie and one short CG movie were released as companions to this anime.

Digimon Data Squad, or Digimon Savers (2006 – 2007)

Masaru Daimon, a fourteen-year-old street fighter, encounters Agumon, a strange dinosaur-like creature — a Digimon — who has just escaped the custody of the DATS (meaning Digital Accident Tactics Squad), a secret government organization charged with protecting the real world from threats from the Digital World.

After clashing, the two accomplices quickly see each other as brothers, and the DATS witnesses the contact between the two and notices Masaru’s abilities and strength when confronted by a Digimon. Through a series of events, they are inducted into the DATS by its captain, Rentaro Satsuma. The two young recruits now team up with Thoma H. ​​Norshtein and his partner Gaomon, and Yoshino Fujieda and his partner Lalamon.

All three must work together to ensure that the goals of the DATS are met: These Digimon, hatching on Earth, need a partner with a compatible “Digisoul”. If they find one, they become members of the DATS, if they don’t find one, these lone Digimon are returned by the organization to the Digital World in the form of a Digi-egg.

The Digisoul is the primary means by which humans in the series Digivolve their Digimon, tied to the human’s emotions, and manifests as a glowing aura around the user’s hand, which is then channeled through the Digivice with the command “Digisoul, recharge!” to upgrade to Champion level. The “full charge”, which manifests around the whole body, allows you to pass to the Ultimate level and the “overcharge” allows you to pass to the Mega form and finally, to the Burst mode.

As the series progresses, more and more enemies appear, including a key adversary who seeks to wipe out the human world – due to humans caring for each other. Thus begins for the members of the DATS a series of adventures aimed at protecting the real world, and the world of these creatures.

Digimon Savers: Ultimate Power! Burst Mode Activated!! (2007)

This episode-long (21 minutes) movie has initially caused a lot of continuity and canon-related debates. Namely, the movie revolves around Agumon, Gaomon and Lalamon, whose partners are put into an eternal sleep, along with the rest of the humans, because of a mysterious thorn that spread throughout the city.

After saving Rhythm, a Digimon in the form of a young girl, they learn from her that the thorns are the work of an evil Digimon, named Argomon, and the four set out for his castle to confront him. The movie doesn’t seem to be connected to any part of the Data Squad anime and generally feels a lot different; plus, the spoofers at the end of the movie indicate that this was an actual movie shot with actors, stuntmen and everything else.

This is why some fans don’t even consider it to be canon material. We wouldn’t go that far, but there is an obvious issue with the continuity of the movie as it doesn’t seem to fit anywhere. This is why we recommend watching it after the anime.

Digimon Savers 3D: The Digital World in Imminent Danger! (2009)

This film is actually a short, 7-minute CG film that was originally screened at the Time Machine of Dreams theme park attraction at Sanrio Puroland from July 8, 2006, to July 2, 2008, and Harmonyland. It made its theatrical debut on October 3, 2009, alongside Digimon Adventure 3D: Digimon Grandprix! (another out-of-continuity film), GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro’s Ghost Train and Yaemon, The Locomotive as part of the Burst Out! 3D Toei Anime Festival. It was later released on home media.

The movie follows a short adventure of the Digimon involved in the Data Squad anime and it has no direct connection to the main timeline, which means that you can watch it after you’ve gone through everything else.

Digimon Xros Wars (2010 – 2012)

Digimon Xros Wars was the sixth season of the Digimon anime and the first to not be aired on Fuji TV; it was aired on TV Asahi but was still produced by Toei Animation. Xros Wars, or Digimon Fusion, as it is known in the United States, was divided into three seasons – Digimon Xros Wars, The Evil Death Generals and the Seven Kingdoms, and The Hunters Who Leapt Through Time – which aired from 2010 to 2012.

In the U.S., the whole series was just called Digimon Fusion and the three seasons had no specific titles; we have to say that Hunters never received a localized dub, which explains why there aren’t any official English episode titles. Xros Wars changed a lot when compared to its predecessors. The animation was different, albeit closer to the original than the one used in Data Squad, and the whole concept changed once more, with the DigiDestined having multiple partners (although there was always a main one) and fusing them together to achieve stronger forms.

Levels, as well as Attributes, have been eliminated completely and the whole show seemed to be from a completely different universe. This was actually confirmed during the last couple of episodes, when the protagonists of all the previous anime series were called to the DigiQuartz to save the world, thus confirming the existence of a Digimon multiverse.

Digimon Xros Wars (2010 – 2011)

Touched by Shoutmon’s desire to become king in order to restore peace to the Digiworld, Mikey decides to help him and together they form their own team: the Fusion Fighters, in which Mikey takes the position of the long-awaited “legendary general” of Shoutmon and his friends. The fate of this Digital World is therefore in the hands of a young boy and they cross it together in search of the Code-Crowns.

Along this hectic journey, the Fusion Fighters meet and befriend many Digimon like Cutemon, Dorulumon, or Chibitortomon, who will join them in their quest and who will stand up to the servants of Bagra’s army, notably the three commanders – Tactimon, Lilithmon and Blastmon. They meet up with Team Blue Flame, and discover that Team Midnight’s main leader is DarkKnightmon, a super-powered Digimon who manipulates Nene to fulfill her aspirations.

After Nene is saved from DarkKnightmon, she and her partner Sparrowmon also join the Fusion Fighters. All of the remaining fragments of the Code Crowns are recovered by the Fusion Fighters and Team Blue Flame, however, Lord Bagramon manages to steal them and send Mikey, Angie, Jeremy, and a weakened Shoutmon to Earth.

The children then try to find a normal life in their own world, but it is without counting on Tactimon who has followed them. The latter is defeated during the first Digivolution into OmniShoutmon, and Mikey and Shoutmon return to face Lord Bagramon in the Digital World, leaving Angie and Jeremy behind.

The Evil Death Generals and the Seven Kingdoms (2011)

It turns out that the Digital World is now under the absolute rule of Lord Bagramon, who divided it into seven kingdoms under the leadership of seven generals – Dorbicmon, NeoMyotismon, Zamielmon, Splashmon, Olegmon, Gravimon, Apollomon. Mikey, with Christopher and Nene, embarks on a journey to liberate these seven territories.

They also try to discover the fate of Ewan Amano, Nene’s brother lost in the digital world. When they arrive at General Apollomon’s Last Realm, he reveals that although he is one of the Seven Dark Generals, he is actually a good Digimon trying to find a way to help his people by claiming to help the Lord Bagra. The real general turns out to be none other than the dark side of Apollomon.

They also discover that Bagramon is trying to manipulate Ewan into getting in their way. After Mikey saves Ewan and finds all of the Code-Crown fragments, Shoutmon manages to defeat Lord Bagramon with a lifelong wish to bring peace to both worlds.

The Hunters Who Leapt Through Time (2011 – 2012)

The Digital World and the human world are saved from the clutches of Lord Bagramon, and a year passes. Mikey and Ewan Amano have formed a basketball team, the Fusion Fighters, and the team includes their biggest fan, Tagiru Akashi. However, the troubles are far from over, now caused by monsters established in an intermediate world — the DigiQuartz — cursed by various real-world human feelings.

Tagiru stumbles into the DigiQuartz and learns that three Stalkers who specialize in hunting these monsters are vying to stay one step ahead in an endless spiral where they capture their prey, Digi-merge them with their Digimon partners, and harness their power to obtain ever more sought-after prey.

Tagiru teams up with Gumdramon to become one of these hunters and obtains his Digivice from a curious old man who can manipulate the course of time. Along with Mikey Kudo and Ewan Amano, along with their partners Shoutmon—who eventually became the Digital World’s King—and Damemon, they stand up as a team to the wayward Digimon.

After proving themselves, the old man reveals that the real challenge of this hunt is to determine the best candidate who can fight alongside legendary heroes – the protagonists of the first five seasons – against Quartzmon, the ultimate remnant of the data of the late Lord Bagramon, and who poses a threat to an entire multiverse.

Quartzmon begins turning Earth into data, only Tagiru and his partner can then lead the final attack of smashing the enemy’s core; which also results in the destruction of Digiquartz space. A month later, everything is back to normal in the real world; the old man reappears in front of the children and adopts the voice of Lord Bagramon to confess to them that he tried to protect this world and that he is now looking for his brother.

The series ends with Mikey, Ewan, Tagiru and their partners going in search of new monsters lost in the real world.

Digimon Adventure: (2020 – 2021)

In 2020, Toei Animation finally decided to launch another anime series. After completing the original Adventure arc with Kizuna, the franchise could finally move forward and it did by relaunching the original Adventure anime, but in a new framework. The original characters were left intact, but the animation was improved and the story, although keeping some elements from the original series, was completely new. Thus, Digimon finally returned to Fuji TV after years of absence.

The story of the series begins in 2020. Humans can no longer do without the network in their daily lives. Taichi Yagami prepares to go to his summer camp while his mother and younger sister Hikari Yagami have gone to take a train to Shibuya. A major cyberattack hits Tokyo. Tai tries to save his mother and sister, but he is suddenly transported into the digital network, where he joins forces with Agumon to protect the population of a most terrible crisis — They meet Yamato Ishida and his partner Gabumon and together they defeat Argomon, as Omegamon. However, danger still lurks.

Only Taichi and his new friends can stop this; their adventure now continues in a new world. Taichi, Koshiro Izumi, and Sora Takenouchi learn the origins of the troubles in their world, and that they are the “chosen children” with a great mission: to find the enigmatic Holy Digimon in order to prevent a series of crises from occurring in the real world. The Digimon of Darkness and his minions are the enemies of this digital world.

They are joined by Mimi Tachikawa, Joe Kido, and Yamato’s brother Takeru Takaishi. As Taichi and his friends continue to encounter various Digimon and battle powerful foes with the help of their partners, the Digimon of Darkness springs forth — Devimon reveals itself. Although defeated, chaos in the real world continues, heightening international tensions.

The children’s adventures delve into an earlier war between Light and Darkness, and Milleniumon, the Darkness’ ultimate weapon in that war. Dark beings try to revive him; determined to prevent his resurrection, Taichi, his sister and his friends set out for FAGA, where the threat lies — Vademon and Sakkakumon manage to restore the body of Millenniummon, who is unleashed to destroy the Digital World, but is defeated by War Greymon.

Finally, the eight chosen children have to discover the true power of their Crests to stop the “Great Catastrophe” – Negamon. Taichi and his friends face new adventures and battles to prevent massive destruction and solve the mystery of their Crests. It becomes apparent that only Omegamon can defeat the oversized monster and the latter destroys it from within, restoring peace between the two worlds.

Taichi then chooses to stay in the Digital World with Agumon to continue their adventures together while the others return home with their Digimon partners, in secret.

Digimon Ghost Game (2021 – present)

In recent years, an innovative form of technology has emerged — holograms. On social networks, rumors circulate about strange phenomena whose authenticity is unknown, referred to as “hologram ghosts”. Hiro Amanokawa is a middle-schooler at Hazakura Private School, rather helpful and serious.

He is also very curious, which leads him to take an interest in a mysterious artifact inherited from his father called a “Digivice”, making visible to his eyes unknown creatures that cannot be seen by ordinary mortals, the Digimon. Since his encounter with Gammamon, a mischievous Digimon entrusted to him by his father, Hiro will regularly find himself confronted with various strange phenomena: facing a man with a sewn mouth stealing the life expectancy of human beings or even a mummy who wanders every night to sequester people, etc.

These holographic ghosts are not very different from the humans they are targeting. From that moment, Hiro and Gammamon will have to solve the problems caused by Digimon in the franchise. Alongside their friends Kiyoshirō Higashimitarai and Jellymon, and later Ruli Tsukiyono and Angoramon, protagonists Hiro and Gammamon dive into this mysterious world where these creatures live.

Other

Finally, we have decided to list even those series and movies that belong to the franchise, but aren’t really part of any of the above-mentioned continuities. They are standalone material that is part of the general Digimon canon, but don’t have a connection to any of the main narratives. The watching order of these works is completely irrelevant as long as you don’t watch them before at least some works from the main continuity.

These works includes:

Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters (2016 – 2017)

Appli Monsters (or App Monsters, as it was released in the United States) is actually a spin-off of the main series that aired from 2016 to 2017. The show was set within the principal narrative universe but was completely different than all the other shows. Here, Digimon don’t actually exist in the form they existed earlier but rather as Applimon, digital creatures inhabiting different mobile applications, with each Applimon having a power specific to the app it represents.

In the anime, Haru Shinkai, the protagonist, has to use his Appmon and with the help of his friends defeat the artificial intelligence called Leviathan. Although a spin-off, there was a reference to the main series in episode 45 (“The Big Crash!? Gatchmon vs Agumon!”), where Haru and Gatchmon meet Agumon, who is a video game character in Appli Monsters. This is the list of episodes:

Digital Monster X-Evolution (2004)

Digital Monster X-Evolution is a feature-length television movie that aired on Fuji TV in 2005. It was (and still is) the first feature-length CG Digimon movie and was based on the Digimon Chronicle merchandise line. The film is not part of any continuity, it’s not connected to any anime and it focuses entirely on Digimon, without any humans. In the Digital World, the overpopulation of Digimon forces the world’s creator, the supercomputer Yggdrasil to launch the X-Program which exterminates 98% of all Digimon.

Creating a smaller, new Digital World via Project Ark, Yggdrasil learns that a small group of Digimon have gained a vaccine called the X-Antibody, that makes them immune to the X-Program, and upgrades them with new abilities and appearances. Yggdrasil dispatches its guards, the Royal Knights, to exterminate the X-Digimon, who have to fight for their lives in order to survive.

Digimon Adventure 3D: Digimon Grand Prix! (2009)

This film is, like the Savers 3D, actually a short, 7-minute CG film that was originally screened at the Time Machine of Dreams theme park attraction at Sanrio Puroland from July 20, 2000, to June 23, 2002, and Harmonyland. It made its theatrical debut on October 3, 2009, alongside Digimon Savers 3D: The Digital World in Imminent Danger! (another out-of-continuity film), GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro’s Ghost Train and Yaemon, The Locomotive as part of the Burst Out! 3D Toei Anime Festival. It was later released on home media.

Although officially part of the Adventure banner, this movie has absolutely nothing to do with the original narrative, which is why we have decided to not include it in that section and to place it here. It follows a short adventure of the Digimon involved in the first major arc. You can watch it whenever you want since it’s not connected to any main continuity.

Thank you for sticking with us until the end. This is our ultimate guide to watching Digimon, from the first movie to the current anime. We have given you a detailed insight into the animated aspect of the franchise and you will now know the exact chronological and narrative order of the whole franchise. We sincerely hope you’ll find this article helpful and that you’ll enjoy it as much as you’re going to enjoy Digimon! Have fun watching!