Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning
Theatrical release poster
‹ ThetemplateInfobox Chinese/Japanese is beingconsidered for deletion. ›
Kanji	デジモンアドベンチャー02 THE BEGINNING
Revised Hepburn	Dejimon Adobenchā Zero Tsū Za Biginingu
Directed by	Tomohisa Taguchi
Written by	Akatsuki Yamatoya
Based on	Digimon by Akiyoshi Hongo
Produced by	Yōsuke Kinoshita
Starring	Fukujūrō Katayama Arthur Lounsbery Ayaka Asai Yoshitaka Yamaya Junya Enoki Mao Ichimichi Junko Noda Naozumi Takahashi Kōichi Tōchika Megumi Urawa Miwa Matsumoto Yuka Tokumitsu Megumi Ogata Rie Kugimiya
Cinematography	Shinya Kuwabara
Edited by	Kentarou Tsubone
Music by	Harumi Fuuki
Production company	Toei Animation
Distributed by	Toei Company, Ltd.
Release dates	October 5, 2023 (2023-10-05) (Premiere) October 27, 2023 (2023-10-27) (Japan)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (Japanese:デジモンアドベンチャー02 THE BEGINNING,Hepburn:Dejimon Adobenchā Zero Tsū Za Biginingu) is a 2023Japanese animatedadventure film directed byTomohisa Taguchi and written by Akatsuki Yamatoya based on theDigimon franchise by Akiyoshi Hongo. Produced byToei Animation with animation byYumeta Company and distributed byToei,The Beginning is a sequel toDigimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020) and serves as the series finale to theDigimon Adventure 02 story.The Beginning was first released on October 5, 2023 at Shinjuku Wald 9,^[1] and then in Japanese theaters on October 27.^[2][3][4]

On October 5, multiple movie theaters in the United States announced they would be releasing an English dub of the film on November 8.^[5][6] The English dub was then officially confirmed on October 10.^[7][8][9]Warner Bros. Pictures distributed the film in Thailand on November 2, 2023.^[10][11] Sugoi Co. distributed the film in Australia and New Zealand on November 23, 2023.^[12][13]PVR Inox Pictures distributed the film in India on January 5, 2024.^[14]

In 2012, a giant Digi-Egg appears over Tokyo, transmitting a mysterious message that wishes for everyone on Earth to have a Digimon friend. TheAdventure 02 DigiDestined encounter Lui Ohwada, who claims to be the first chosen child and attempts to reach the Digi-Egg. While assisting Lui, Davis, Ken, and their Digimon accidentally fall through the Digi-Egg and are transported back to 1996. They witness a younger Lui, who is abused by his mother, discovering a Digi-Egg. Older Lui tries to stop him, but they are then returned to the present.

Lui shares his life story with the DigiDestined. The Digi-Egg he encountered in the past hatched into Ukkomon, a Digimon that could grant wishes, who gave him the very first Digivice. Over the years, Ukkomon gleefully manipulated Lui's parents, friends and neighbors into treating him kindly. However, Lui eventually learned that his wish had led to the increase in number of other DigiDestined who were risking their lives in battles alongside their Digimon partners,^[a] much to his horror. Lui confronted Ukkomon, but the Digimon innocently declared that everything had been done for Lui's happiness. Lui accidentally injured his right eye in anger, and Ukkomon gave him his own eye as a replacement. A mentally unstable Lui insulted Ukkomon furiously, causing the Digimon to melt away and disappear, also as a result, Lui's parents suddenly ended up dropping dead due to Ukkomon puppeteering them for too long.

In the present day, the Digi-Egg hatches into a giant Ukkomon, who reappears to give Lui a birthday present, which will force a Digimon on every human on Earth, throwing society into chaos. The DigiDestined plan to stop Ukkomon but become hesitant, after T.K. becomes concerned that defeating him may nullify the relationships with their own Digimon. Davis and Veemon convince them that their relationships developed naturally and were not forced. Lui decides to meet Ukkomon, and with the help of the DigiDestined, reaches the giant Digimon. Lui resolves the issues with his mother and younger self by talking sense into the former, then confronts Ukkomon about their true feelings, and promises to reunite in the future before Lui asks the DigiDestined to destroy Ukkomon. After a short battle, Imperialdramon Fighter Mode destroys the giant Ukkomon, resulting in Ukkomon's reduction to a small Digi-Egg held by Lui who loses the eye that Ukkomon gave him. Digivices around the world start to disappear, showing that the DigiDestined and their Digimon no longer need a medium to connect with each other.

In thepost-credits scene, Lui's Digi-Egg starts to hatch.

Megumi Ogata (left) andRie Kugimiya (right) voice the two new characters.

The film was first announced in August 2021 as being prominent to the television seriesDigimon Adventure 02. DirectorTomohisa Taguchi and writer Akatsuki Yamatoya are reuniting from the latest film,Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, to work inThe Beginning. Producer Yōsuke Kinoshita said the movie revolve around the characters fromDigimon Adventure 02 rather than the first anime because of how different they are from the original cast. The first key visual used the line "I'm the first person to ever partner with a Digimon" in reference to the new character voiced byMegumi Ogata;^[15] "I became the world's first chosen child." Ogata, who is making her first appearance in the Digimon series, has trust in the director, specifically the visuals which she finds striking. Ukkomon, played byRie Kugimiya, was the subject of the confusion by the actress as she noticed her name has impact but finds the angel-like design appealing.^[16] Producer Hiromi Seki emphasized the franchise involves different forms of relationships. Ohwada remained enigmatic to the audience as the producer and Taguchi came up with several twists about his role in the movie.^[17]

In July 2023, a new trailer was released a new line about a "sad yet gentle truth behind the birth of DigiDestined", the main characters from the both television series. In the main visual, which was unveiled at the same time as this preview, all six "DigiDestined" gather against the backdrop of countless digital balls spread overTokyo Tower.^[18] The staff for upcoming new film unveiled four character poster visuals on September 11, 2023 and used music from the television series to promote it; "Ashita wa Atashi no Kaze ga Fuku" byAiM.^[19] Taguchi emphasized a different theme withinThe Beginning that makes the film stand out; WhileLast Evolution Kizuna focused on the end of the DigiDestined,The Beginning instead deals with their origins.^[20]

During the production of the English dub, actorPaul St. Peter was approached to reprise his role as Wormmon, but declined as Toei would not offer aunion contract, despite previous Digimon productions offeringSAG dubbers contracts.^[21] He was replaced by Christopher Swindle.

• 2023 films
• 2023 anime films
• Adventure anime and manga
• Japanese animated adventure films
• Animated films based on animated series
• Animated films set in Tokyo
• Digimon films
• Animated films about wish fulfillment
• Films set in 2012
• Japanese fantasy adventure films
• Japanese sequel films
• Toei Animation films
• Toei Company films
• Yumeta Company

• CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from September 2023
• Articles containing Japanese-language text
• Pages using infobox Chinese/Japanese with unknown parameters
• Template film date with 2 release dates