It’s 2012, and ten years have passed since the adventure in the Digital World. Daisuke Motomiya is now twenty, and he and the rest of the DigiDestined seem to be changing bit by bit in terms of appearance and lifestyle. Then one day, a giant Digitama suddenly appears in the sky over Tokyo Tower. Daisuke and the others encounter a mysterious young man named Lui Ohwada, who informs them that he’s the first-ever DigiDestined in the world …
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Video Quality
Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning comes to Blu-Ray from Shout! Studios with a gorgeous and vivid 1080p transfer. The colors in this transfer are practically radiating off the screen with the wide range of hues permeating every inch of the screen. The textures of the character designs and the environments are nuanced and give the film a concrete sense of depth. One of the areas where this outing truly shines is the fluidity of the character designs. The subtle touches that are added to each individual creature are quite striking. The level of detail these animators put into each environment and gadget shines through here. Black levels are incredibly strong with no signs of compression artifacts or other digital anomalies. This is a beautiful Blu-Ray presentation from the label.
Audio Quality
The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless track is presented here in its original Japanese and an English dub with optional English SDH subtitles and English subtitles for the original language version. The track is a favorable experience that brings the movie to life with great care. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any of the epic clashes or the score. There are some really creative panning effects in the rear channels that add a rich layer to the story.
The score is precise in its placement throughout the room as it immerses the audience. The track deploys some good activity in the low end when things get a little more hectic. There is also a nice amount of sonic detail in the surround channels to create a more three-dimensional soundscape. The English-language cast does a fine job, but we suggest sticking with the original Japanese language for maximum enjoyment. This is a terrific release that should more than please fans of the franchise.
Special Features
- A Special Introduction from Director Tomohisa Taguchi: A minute-long piece with the director in which he discusses the new path of the series.
- Trailer: A minute-and-a-half trailer that sets up the epic final adventure.
Final Thoughts
Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning does not hold your hand when it comes to embarking upon this new chapter of the franchise, yet it is also fairly simple to get acclimated for newcomers. At the core of the experience is the heartbreaking story of an overlooked child whose trauma manifested into something that had seismic ramifications. We have seen more epic clashes in previous outings, but there are plenty of thrills in the evolutions and confrontations that leave you satisfied. Shout! Studios has released a Blu-Ray with a stellar A/V presentation and a smattering of special features. This one can be enjoyed by established fans and newcomers alike. Recommended
Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack on June 11, 2024.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Shout! Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
