Digimon Action Figures Identification Tool with Pictures

Bandai introduces the world to Digimon

The Digimon devices had many of the same pet care elements that Tamagotchi had, including feeding, cleaning waste, and weight management. However, these digital pets were designed to battle against each other, so they had additional elements like vitamins that increased strength and training. An owner could activate the battle mode to battle two digital monsters and then link up to another Digimon device. Owners had to remember that their monsters could either get injured or die during the battle.

Toei Animation’s take on Digimon

Two years after the Digimon devices hit the market, Toei Animation introduced the first animated series in Japan. Digimon Adventure began airing in Japan in 1999 and in the US in 2000. This cartoon featured six children mysteriously transported into the Digital World filled with digital monsters. The Digital World was not designed to look like computer parts and wireframes despite the name. Instead, it was simply another reality with an ecosystem similar to Earth.

However, the Digital Monsters gained power through devices that each of the children received, called Digivices. Through the power of the Digivices and crests, the Digimon evolved into larger and more powerful forms. For instance, Agumon evolved into Greymon and gained an ultimate form, MetalGreymon. This evolution line had one more upgrade, a Mega form named WarGreymon. Notably, Agumon also had devolutions and alternative evolution paths. Each of the other Digimon that the children befriended had similar evolution paths.

Meanwhile, other Digimon could be corrupted or upgraded with code and devices. Devimon’s Black Gears was the first known object to corrupt other digital monsters. While corrupted monsters lost control over their actions, others willfully followed the evil path.

Bandai Digmon action figure toy line

In response to the popularity of Digimon Adventure, Bandai began to produce action figures that resembled the monsters from the show. These toys varied from 1.5” scale collectibles, 2.5” scale action figures, and 5” digivolving figures. By using transforming engineering, Bandai was able to simulate the digivolutions for seven monsters. There were also quirky collectibles like DX Mini Skateboards, which featured various Digimon on the boards, and spinning Digi-tops. Bandai topped this new toy line with deluxe playsets and electronic talking figures.

Beyond the main action figures, Bandai continued to produce the digital pets that launched the franchise. This time, the devices were designed to mimic the Digivices from the anime series. The first set of these new Digivices came in light blue, dark blue, green, orange, and red. Meanwhile, the second edition added a light purple color. For those interested in Digivices from Asia, there was a set of Digivices designed for season three. These new ones came in blue, purple, yellow, and silver.

Dimon video games

Beyond the Anime series, Bandai produced a video game for the PlayStation called Digimon World. This game came out in Japan in 1999, North America in 2000, and Europe in 2001. Like the digital pets, the game focused on raising and training Digimon partners. When raised properly, these creatures would Digivolve into more powerful forms.

The sequels and reboots

The popularity of Digimon Adventure at the turn of the century launched a long series of anime series. First, there was the 50-episode-long Digimon Adventure 02, which came out in 2000. While Adventure 02 directly continued the story from the 54-episode-long original series, the next iteration, the 51-episode-long Digimon Tamers from 2001, presented a brand new take on the franchise. From then on, each series completely rebooted the mythos to present a new set of trainers and Digimon.

In 2002, Digimon Frontier began to air and lasted for 50 episodes. That series was later replaced by Digimon Data Squad in 2006, which had a total of 48 episodes. 2010’s Digimon Fusion lasted for 79 episodes. Then, there was the 52-episode-long Digimon Universe: App Monsters. With mixed receptions from the last few series, the next anime series rebooted the original Digimon Adventure with a new take that lasted 67 episodes. The latest Digimon series, Ghost Game, came out in 2021 and had 67 episodes and a special.

Alongside these anime series, Digimon made its way to cinemas in Japan in multiple instances. Notably, from 2015 until 2018, a continuation of the first two series called Digimon Adventure Tri debuted.

Modern Digimon action figures and video games

Likewise, Bandai released various video games for the franchise throughout the years. The series has appeared on many systems since the Playstation era, including the PSP, PlayStation 4, and 3DS.

Bandai also continued to produce new toy lines to celebrate the various incarnations of Digimon. Some of the most notable sub-lines were the Digimon Tamers toys. They also launched a trading card game, similar to the ones for Nintendo’s Pokémon series.

As Digimon fans grew older, Bandai decided to create collector-tier toys for the series. Since 2014, multiple Digimon, including WarGreymon, have appeared in Tamashii Nation’s S.H. Figuarets D-Arts line. The company has also created a new series of transforming toys, the Digivolving Spirits toy line.