'Kyōsei' Fails 'Digimon Adventure tri.'

Kyōsei – “Coexistence” in English (“Symbiosis” in other translations) – is the penultimate movie in the six-part Digimon Adventure tri. series.  The plot involves the berserk Meicoomon, having digivolved to Meicrackmon (then later, Raguelmon), leaving the DigiWorld through a distortion to terrorize the human world.  Meanwhile, the DigiDestined and their Digimon are harassed by the troubled DigiWorld, which is trying to expel them.  Eventually, they get to return back to the human world and confront Meicoomon.  In addition, Hackmon/Jesmon – sent by Homeostasis – and Alphamon joins the fray, leading to a Digimon free-for-all.

Let’s get straight to the point: I was frustrated with this movie.  It’s already the second to the last Digimon Adventure tri. film, and yet, not only do the payoffs that I’ve been waiting for not delivered still,  but it has the guile to commit these major storytelling offenses: a.) have sluggish pacing like the previous movies when urgency is now required; and b.) dumping more questions rather than proceeding to answer most of the already existing ones.  On top of this, there are still no 02 kids!  Arg!

There are parts I liked, of course.  I enjoyed the downtime moment given to the DigiDestined where they share ghost stories.  The girls get scared.  Yamato gets really scared.  All the Digimon have these hilariously terrified expressions on their faces, except Agumon, who just keeps on eating, either unaffected or simply apathetic and inattentive.  I laughed out loud.  It was a perfectly executed light-hearted, humorous scene.

I also enjoyed the Digimon digivolving in chorus, up until their Ultimate forms, and fighting as a squad.  The whole thing plus the ensuing battle were quite entertaining – almost kickass, if I may say.

But, really, at this point, Kyōsei seems to have all but ascertained that Digimon Adventure tri. is a bust.  By only complicating the plot further this late in the game, and without granting sufficient rewards for those who have stuck it out right from the start – especially, those who have been fans of the original anime show – it has stacked the cards against the upcoming sixth movie.  With all the things that need to be resolved and all the imperative payoffs that need to be given, there’s this tremendous pressure on the finale.

Of course, it’s still possible that Bokura no Mirai – the title of the final film set to be released next year – would turn out being the epic “15^th anniversary reunion special” that I’ve been hoping for.  It could be fast-paced and action-packed for a change.  It could bring an utterly satisfying resolution to the convoluted storyline.  It could amply make up for all the frustrations from the other movies.  Heck, it could even finally show the other DigiDestined and Digimon from Digimon Adventure 02.  Digimon Adventure tri. could still turn out being a success.

However, I’m not optimistic of the likelihood.

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My reviews for the previous Digimon Adventure tri. installments:

1. Saikai (“Reunion”)
2. Ketsui (“Determination”)
3. Kokuhaku (“Confession”)
4. Sōshitsu (“Loss”)