#retropective

Digimon Universe Appli Monsters is the seven season of the Digimon series, but it not really a Digimon series because it takes place in its own universe. Digimon Universe Appli Monsters is divisive season of Digimon. It’s ether love by fans doing something different in the Digimon series, likable characters and great storyline or hates it because of its poor pace, large use of filler episodes and their character being more one note then they want. So, I was a part of the fandom that hate this season, but I decided to give one last chance to convince me that it is a good season of Digimon. I will look at every single episode of Appmon until I completely understand why people love or hate this season.

Episode 1 The Search Result is Haru Shinkai! Gatchmon Appears!

A first episode needs to catch your attention, but Appmon didn’t catch my attention in its first episode. So, the episode begins with Gatchmon fighting a tentacle like creature. We don’t get any reason why Gatchmon is fighting this thing, but maybe there be an episode that explains it before he met his partner for this season. Oh, I mean buddies not partners. This season doesn’t take that concept of Digimon. After, using his search power he finds that said buddy Shinkai Haru.

Who is Haru and why was chosen to be Gatchmon Buddy? Well, here is a flashback to tell us who Haru is, Haru is a shy and reserved kid. He loves books so much that he wants to be a main character like those character in those books he reads. But because he so shy that it is hard for him to do that and thinks he is more of a side character. He does get encouragement from his best friend Yujjin that he is a main character, but Haru still think he nothing more then a side character. This is one of the thing I don’t like about this episode on how Haru views side character. Something a side character could be more likable then the main character or have an interesting backstory any character can be great if there written well enough. From a twenty first Pokemon movie that came after this series aired that everyone is the main character of there own story.

So Haru is lured to this vending machine that mysteriously know his name asking him if he is a main protagonist. Before he can press yes or no, it disappears and pops out a Digivice of this season know as the Appli Drive. The Appli Drive is a different type of Digivice as design wised. It has a more roundish shape than any other Digivice in the series and the only one that doesn’t have a screen on it. It has a square shape hole where the screen supposed to be with a cover on it’s a really different design from other Digivices. A stranger camera like creature who was watching over Haru tell his boss Leviathan that Haru has the Appli Drive. Haru went home to look up what this strange device he has and then we come to where this episode began.

Gatchmon said that because of Haru that he almost drowned and then he asks if Haru is the main character which Haru question that. Gatchmon continue to introduce himself while answer his question about be a main character and him just being a side character. Gatchmon get frustrated of his name being weird and answering his question of what he is.  Basely he is a monster that is inside your app and Gatchmon being the Search Engine app. Gatchmon starts hyping himself up of being the greatest Appmon because he can have any sort of information at his claw tips. Haru who was moving hand around Gatchmon said that he transparent plus he was listening to Gatchmon and put two and two together about the Appli Drive. Gatchmon explain what the Appli Drive is and its power to AppRealize an Appmon into the real world. Which is a basically what Digimon have been doing for the last few season. The Digivice from Data Squad and the Xros Loader has this power as well. Plus Realize has been a term that was used in both Digimon Tamers when the Digimon appear in the real world and Digimon Data Squad as a coming out of there Digivices. Gatchmon tell Haru to AppliRealize him so they can defeat the enemy. Haru refuses his offer because it sounds scary and asking why it must be him. Really, I found this scene kind of annoying because Haru whole thing is that he wants to be a protagonist then opportunity knocks and Haru is not taking it. Maybe he could have said that this is going to fast and he has to thing about this. I know being shy is one of thing that is make Haru hesitate of doing what Gatchmon wants. Even though I can go into Haru side a bit because Gatchmon is kind of rushing into things. Gatchmon said that his search found Haru as a buddy, however Haru kind of insults Gatchmon by saying “But an internet search doesn’t mean anything.” So Gatchmon tries to show Haru not to underestimate his power. He looks up everything about Haru to his name, age, hobbies, why he admires the main character because he thinks he more of a side character and his crush on AI. It is kind of weird that Gatchmon have some of the information like his crush and him liking the main character because he like a side character. Then he gets information about him being a bed wetter until the fourth grade.

This is a rumor spread around because his mom was making a blog about it and it was sent to messages. Why in the world would a mom do that! This is also a refence to the fourth Digimon movie, but in both the movie and the series I think it is wrong to post an embarrassing picture of your son wetting the bed. Even though that this is a refence to that movie, but Tai didn’t wet the bed Kari did. This is where the first monster of the week comes in. The Appmon who did this is Messemon. Also, the Appli Drive can let Haru see the Appmon when they are transparent.

This Appmon is causing people secret to get out from their phones and tablets. Which ask the question of why you would have an embarrassing picture of yourself and put on the internet unless they got it from somewhere else. AI has an embarrassing picture of herself when she cut her bangs too low. Which I find less embarrassing than Haru how thing of him being a bed wetter.

So, they chase the Appmon down to this strange place call an AR Flied by using the Appli Drive. Which is the Appmon version of the Digi quartz from Digimon Xros Wars Young Hunters.   This also AppRealize the Appmon without the Appli Drive. As Gatchmon is getting hit by Messemon’s attack and trying to ask Haru to AppliRealize him, but Haru feels like it’s impossible. Gatchmon goes into a speech of that his search is the results as Haru as his buddy and that he is the main character. Haru feels like a nuisance. Which make no sense because we barely even though Haru as a character that much.  If focus more on Haru as a character on why he thinks this ways, then I think this would have been a better way of showing Haru’s struggles much better. As Messemon starts to insult Haru, he finally had enough of his back talk and answer the question on the Appli Drive that the Vending machine asked him earlier. Are you the Protagonist?

This Actives the Appli Drive and here where I talk a little bit more about the Digivice of this season. Because of the Appli Drive doesn’t have a screen, so the square like hole by opening the lid than put the Appmon chip inside and close the lid part of it.  This will AppliRealize the Appmon into battle. Also, Haru gets this strange watch on his arm. This part is more of selling more toys than any other Digivice. It’s going more of the Kamen Rider or super Senate route. Also, the Appmon has a power level or ranking. This is weird for Digimon to have power level?

So, Haru sudden now know how to use the Appli Drive and AppliRealize Gatchmon for the first time. Gatchmon start to block some of the attack from Messemon, however when he was trying to use his search ability he couldn’t do that because of the attack coming in too fast. So, Haru uses the Appli Drive to search the weakness for Gatchmon. This kind of comes out of nowhere and then Haru use this touch screen keypad to type in the weakness. This active Gatchmon’s special attack Data Dive where he enlarges the magnifying glass and launches his claw in other to find this information. When Gatchmon get the information it in this orb thing.

So, Gatchmon uses the information that he gets be saying that the mark the attack as read so the attack doesn’t do any damage. Gatchmon finish off with a Gatch Claw and after that Messemon throw up the virus that was inside than going into Haru’s Appli Drive. Gatchmon looks at the chip and said that this is not the chip that looking for. He is looking for certain chip that he needs for some reason. The camera creature was watching the battle.

Haru meets with Yujjin again. Yujjin noticed that Haru feel happier now. As responds that he was doing something like a main character would do. Yujjin knew that Haru is a main character because he is a nice guy. Which I kind of disagree with because any main character act like a jerk and still be likeable. As the episode end, Yujjin watches Haru with his eyes glowing red.

Final thoughts.

Digimon Universe Appli Monsters starts on a rocky start. I think that the character doesn’t really catch my attention. Even though Haru has an interesting goal, but I think it wasn’t explored enough to make Haru more interesting character. Maybe there will explore more of why Haru feel more like a side character later in the series. However, I do think he is a little bit better of a main character then the last one we had in Young Hunter so that an improvement. I really wished that Haru had more time to interact with Gatchmon. Maybe beside one or two good joke of Haru not cooperating, but I didn’t feel anything from Haru and Gatchmon interacting with each other. I did think that Gatchmon kind of force Haru to do what he wanted. I also felt that his mom putting an embarrassing picture of Haru was kind of force. I know that it’s a refence to the fourth Digimon Movie, but in both this episode and the movie I wonder why they would have picture of that then posted it on the Internet.  I found this episode of the first episode slightly boring to me. With the main character having an interesting goal, but not an interesting character, too much exposition and not a really good way starting the season of new Digimon. So, I’ll give this episode a C+

The Eerie Guide! I’m Navimon!

Now with that said and done where this series is going to take me.

Several viewing later.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

In the words of Deadpool. It’s so boring!

This episode introduces a new character name Takeru. And this is not the Takeru from Adventure that we all know and love. It a different guy all together. He is going to the person that is going to be one or more people that are going to be effect by the Appmon of the week. Really it more of his fault than the Appmon.  If he had the common sense of looking where he was going or ask why his phone is telling him to go every which way than he won’t have been attacked by a dog. I know that this is a theme of Appmon that is more of human using technology too much, but there should be some common sense, so it does make the person look stupid.

For the rest of the episode we get to see the shenanigans activities of the Appmon this week Navimon which is a Navigation ninja. Some of them are not that funny and some of them are relatable like this guy who using navigation app that telling him that his destination farther away. there was a person holding fans of our next main character, but we won’t see her for a while.

As for our new protagonist Haru, he barely doing anything in this episode. There is this moment where Gatchmon messes with Haru’s ring tone. Haru doesn’t really do anything about it. Really, I wish Haru scolded Gatchmon what he did, but they never talk about that ever again. Making the whole thing kind of pointless. We do see his small growth from episode one in which he goes out to help his friend/crush after she gets lost.  Her dad couldn’t contact her, so that why they are searching for her. Maybe something could have happened to her or she was delay. It’s weird that her phone isn’t working when Navimon’s power are only for the navigation app.

Anyway, Yujjin finds her and Haru goes to the AR Field to face Navimon. Gatchmon was having some trouble with Navimon’s attack so he is using his Data Dive to give he how to defeat him. Also, Gatchmon tells Haru the final thing that the Applidrive can do. It can combine Appmon’s powers together. Its kind of like DigiXrosing in Digimon Xros Wars, but the only different is that they don’t turn into a new form. After Gatchmon was able to defeat Navimon Cameramon who was watching came and wanting fight Haru and Gatchmon. He blind Gatchmon with his flash and was about to finish them off, but Haru used the new Appmon chip to link with Gatchmon. However, this turn into an App-Gattai into DoGatchmon. And that how the episode ends. On a cliff hanger.

Final thoughts.

I think this episode didn’t get my attendant. It relies on so many jokes about Navimon screwing with people that Haru and Gatchmon barely get to interact with one another. Some of the joke were ether not that funny or got a chuckle out me like Haru messing out Cameramon’s name. I do feel like how they introduced App-Link was okay, but when they introduced App-Gattai making App-Link kind of pointless in a way, but we might see some of the negative point of these two combination. There not much else I can say about this episode, so I’ll give it a C-

The Creation Character is Naked?! Roleplaymon’s School Dungeon

With DoGatchmon’s power Cameramon retreats for now. The next day Gatchmon starts to explain to Haru in what the different between App-link and App-Gattai.  Basely it all Appmon can App-Link with each other while some and App-link that turn them into a new Appmon. So, it’s like the xros up system from Digimon Xros Wars for App-link and App-Gattai is like fusion from Omegamon. So unlike Digimon, Appmon don’t have the ability to natural evolve into their stronger forms themselves. Gatchmon and Navimon does have a rival about who app is better. Gatchmon also explain that the chip of DoGatchmon a Super Appmon and it well take time for him to be AppRealized.

After coming to the library, another Appmon is screwing around people with a roleplaying theme. He turns some of the electronic into roleplay term like they must get a key to for the train or turning a man’s wife into a troll. So Haru and Gatchmon goes to Roleplaymon’s AR Field which a recreation of a game that came out three years ago. The game was a flop because of being too hard. They get attack by a Creeper from Minecraft? By using Gatchmon’s search for the guild to beat the game. However, Haru is more distracted by the thing he sees than warning Gatchmon about those things he must look out for. Kind of making Haru seem like a jerk to Gatchmon than helping get though the AR Flied safely.

When they meet RolePlaymon he is mad that they used a guide instead of finding it out for themselves. Then Gatchmon brings ups the review of his game that makes him more upset. We go into his backstory in which it tells us that he was really upset about his game being a big flop and other Appmon peers talking about how much his game was a flop. I do have to say something when we get to my final though about it. Then he got infected by the L Virus. Man, that must suck for Roleplaymon. So Haru tries to use Appli-Gattai again, but it turns Gatchmon into Sukashimon. They don’t really explain why the App-Gattai failed? The only thing they kind said is that its ether Gatchmon is unemotive or Gatchmon and Navimon always fighting.

Before Roleplaymon can finish them off, Haru said he like the Appmon dungeon. He said that he like the dungeon because he reads about this things in novels. Also, he said that people say anything on the internet. I do have somethings to say about it when we get to my final thoughts. This make Roleplaymon happy that he threw up the L Virus and he is one of the Appmon that Gatchmon was looking for.

Gatchmon explains that if they find all seven Appmon called the seven code then they can defeat Leviathan. The episode end with a hooded figure gained one of the Seven Code Appmon.  

Final thoughts.

I do think that this episode was better paced, but there are still problems with this episode like with Haru said to Roleplaymon. Haru said that people said anything on the internet and that true, but in some way it’s’ criticism about his game being terrible. It not really Roleplaymon’s fault that his game was a failure, it was the people who made the game who should be more at fault then Roleplaymon. But out of that the episode was okay for the most part. I’m interested in what the relationship with Navimon and Gatchmon is going to be like as fusion partners, but out of that there nothing else to be said about this episode. So I’ll give this episode a C-.

Take your Dressing! Cameramon’s Halloween Scandal!

In this episode, Cameramon was told by Leviathan to target Haru. Gatchmon wants to go out trick or tricking, but Haru is saying that they can leave when he is finish with the book. Haru was trying to research about artificial intelligent so he can find a way to beat Leviathan. I know it’s important for Haru to learn more about artificial intelligent, but really you can just take that book with you while your trick or treating.  Killing two birds with one stone. Gatchmon is acting childish in these moments and it is annoying. Haru tells Gatchmon to go on his own and make sure he is not seen. Which is a dumb idea of not watching over your partner. You don’t what could happen to Gatchmon if someone see him.

While Gatchmon trick or treat by himself, he is picked up by two cute girl and taking somewhere. This is kind of weird and somewhat wrong because you’re not supposed to let stranger pick you up or take you somewhere else. It just seems so wrong.  I know the girls aren’t doing anything wrong with Gatchmon, but you shouldn’t do this at all. Cameramon who is spying on Gatchmon thinks of a plan to get the Appli Drive and Haru.

So Haru is thinking he was too harsh on Gatchmon and thinks of apologize to him. I think that you should have went with Gatchmon and brought the book with you. Haru does get a message from Cameramon that he captured Gatchmon. Haru at first want to give the Appli Drive to him, but he figures out that he was lying because of how Gatchmon was acting. Showing that Haru is very observant over Gatchmon quirks. So Cameramon comes up with another plan by sending an email to all the mall people that who ever catches Haru that they will gain a prize. So they go after Haru then he get caught by the man that was with Cameramon. Gatchmon does save Haru from that situation. Haru Apologize to Gatchmon for being so rude, but Gatchmon doesn’t take it because they are buddies. Will none of this would have happen if Haru would have gotten off his lazy ass and bought the book with him.

Anyway, they go into the AR Flied and face off Cameramon. Someone then fuses Cameramon into his super form Scorpmon. Haru was worried that the App Gattai would fail, but Haru must trust Gatchmon. So, he become DoGatchmon and use his searching ability to find the weak spot which is places where Scorpmon doesn’t have camera to help hit them. Also, Haru came up with this plan when he went between the cameras. Dogatchmon got in close and quickly defeated Scopmon. However, they didn’t get his Appmon chip.

The episode end with a new villain Mienumon taking Scorpmon place of facing our hero

Final thoughts

This episode is so boring. I said thought out the review if Haru just brought the book with him then less of Cameramon plot wouldn’t have happen. There not much that happen in this episode until Haru got the call from Cameramon. So, the first half of the episode feels boring. Also, should people be more suspense about the text they got.

There not much to say about the plot, so on to the character and what I though of Cameramon as a Villain. For Haru, I didn’t really care about him. Even though he realized that he shouldn’t been to rude to Gatchmon, but I really wish they did more with him. He was obverse of Gatchmon behavior an knew it wasn’t him because Haru knows that Gatchmon would never say that even though there going be another episode that would conduct this. Also, Haru doesn’t know if Gatchmon searching abilities could be negated or something. So, Haru took a big risk and he was right. For Gatchmon he acted childish and somewhat greedy. Gatchmon could told Haru to bring the book with him, so both could have got what they want. Cameramon as a villain, he was okay, I guess. He uses the cameras to his advantage to find and attack Haru and Gatchmon at long rang.

So, this episode will get a D- for me. It’s first half is boring, and I don’t feel like the characters were used that well. So it time for the next arc Mienumon arc.

Conclusion 

I think Digimon Universe Appli Monster start on a rocky foot. With the character not being that interesting or  story being really lackluster I think Appmon doesn’t resonated with me like other seasons. If they made more effort of giving Gatchmon and Haru more time to interact with each other then I would have more positive thing to say about this season. I know that this season is more about how people use the internet, but I don’t feel it that away works. Out of that I felt bored and wished for more interaction with the characters.

I was digging through some old files of mine and stumbled across my very first attempt at digital a drawing!