Product Details

• Actors: Jane Alan, Brian Beacock, Steven Jay Blum, Melissa Charles, Wendee Lee
• Directors: Wendee Lee, Jeff Nimoy, Mamoru Hosoda, Minoru Hosoda, Yukio Kaizawa
• Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: November 2, 1999
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (103 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00002AFV7
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,758 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"Digimon" must be Japanese for "rip-off." This cartoon series now seen on the Fox Kids' Network has far too many similarities to Pokémon to be classified as anything but a dupe. Our gang of elementary-school adventurers is blasted into a mysterious jungle world where their only tool against an attack of mighty monsters is their personal Digimon--digital monsters (compared to Pokémon's "pocket monsters," like you could tell the difference). Where Pokémon has a wisp of a moral, this story is strict adventure. Rip-off aside, will kids want to watch? Absolutely. The music, pace, and haircuts are far hipper than Pokémon's and the creatures can easily be assimilated into the kids' encyclopedic knowledge of such things. The animation, from the same makers as Dragonball Z, is nifty to boot. The first volume's three stories ("And So It Begins," "The Birth of Greymon," "Garurumon") set up the series and--if the creators can evade a lawsuit--it shows no signs of stopping. The numerous action sequences make this series best for ages 5 and up. --Doug Thomas

From the back cover

Catch the coolest kids and craziest creatures in the whole wide digital world with DIGIMON! Meet Tai, Sora, Matt, T.K., Izzy, Mimi and Joe--seven young friends who team up with a colorful assortment of "monsters" to battle evil forces in the ultimate digital adventure. And So It Begins... A group of summer campers is transported to a strange new world and befriended by small digital monsters called digimon. But danger lurks at every turn, starting with a beastly giant beetle. The Birth of Greymon. The excitement continues when the kids and their Digimon partners fight off attacks by the evil Kuwagamon and Shellmon as they struggle to find their way home. Garurumon. A near escape from two dueling Monochromon leads to the discovery of a deserted bus--which just happens to be parked on top of a dragon like monster called Seadramon!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Pay attention and you might learn something", February 6, 2000

By 

Kirsten (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digimon (Vol. 1) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

To anyone out there who thinks Digimon is a rip-off, listen up. Digimon made it's debut in Japan in 1991. In 1994, another cartoon by the name of Monster Rancher came along. Finally, in 1995, Pokemon showed up. If you have ever seen Monster Rancher, you will note the similarities. Pokemon designed it's character, Ashe, using Monster Rancher as it's template. Also, the character Pikachu is a lot like Mocchi, a character from Monster Rancher. Now, in Digimon, the characters "digivolve", or evolve into bigger and stronger monsters. You'll note that Pokemon also evolve. So please, remind me again. Who's the rip-off here?

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Out There!, November 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Digimon (Vol. 1) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though Digimon was brought over to the States to cash in on the Pokemon phenomeon it's far from a rip-off. Pokemon is a fluff show and the plots get tiring after a while since nothing really happens in the show and the characters never really grow. Digimon is the opposite of that it has a developing plot line and character growth and it even gives the monsters personalities. If you want a compelling story and a series worth remembering get this video!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great series, best commercial dub I've seen, November 7, 1999

By 

Katie (Houston, TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digimon (Vol. 1) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I disagree with the official review! Do you even watch the series? ....... My first impression was also "Pokemon II" (I even thought it was the next generation Pokemon when seeing a Japanese ad). But I've found Pokemon videos to be rather shallow, and overly cute; Digimon takes the same basic idea (monsters partnering with kids) and runs with it! ....... Digimon is a more complex animation; the characters, while having definite types, are three-dimensional; there is an ongoing plot which advances every episode, giving the series room for depth; the voice acting is very well done, and the dubbed script seems superb (one of the best commercial dubs I've seen!) The series includes drama, suspense, complex relationships ^_^ and some interesting humor, and moments of inspired absurdity (I loved the nonsensical telephones!). And don't forget, fighting monsters which start off cute but become ferocious! There are often touches of Japanese culture (often cut from other imported shows to avoid confusing the American kiddies) which add yet more character. ....... All in all, an excellent series, and video; now, the important question: when does volume 2 come out?