Sixteen Years Later, Digimon Tamers is Still the Truth

On April 1, 2001, Digimon Tamers aired for the first time in Japan. A couple months later in September that year, we got the “Season 3” of Digimon in that Saturday Morning Cartoon Prime Time slot. After the relatively light-hearted Digimon Adventures 01 and 02, Tamers…was something else entirely. We went from summer camp antics to cyberpunk existentialism, and my god it was glorious. So in between the talks about the live-action Code Lyoko reboot and the live action Reboot reboot, let’s talk about one of the greatest shows about digital technology that would result in a riot if they move any part of it into live action. Oz: This new Reboot shit… I don’t understand. Tron got shelved but this shit is allowed to live? Chris: I’m so confused why both are going live action. Isn’t it cheaper to do a full CGI show today? Lorenzo: I watched that season of Code Lyoko. I was only there for the animated scenes. Oz: All they have to do now is reboot Digimon and we’ll have a trifecta of suck. Chris: Technically every season of Digimon is a reboot. As long as it doesn’t go live action, I’m good. Mikkel: But listen, I will fight people over the greatness of Digimon. And much as I adore Digimon Adventures, Tamers was some next level shit. The entire premise of fans who played the card game, watched the TV show, or fan artists suddenly finding their own Digimon and having to deal with the ramifications of sentient beings who weren’t from around here. Lorenzo: I loved how meta this season was….