Digimon Adventure: Bokura no War Game!

Before Summer Wars, there was Bokura no War Game, the unsung masterpiece of Mamoru Hosuda. Ill-fatedly tied to the Digimon brand, it was never to be taken too seriously by anyone other than the Digimon fans who grew up with it. Hosuda himself seems to lament that fate, as he has continually attempted to recapture its magic: First, in a Loui Vuitton ad of all things and later in the aforementioned Summer Wars—a film that's pretty incredible in its own right, but one that owes almost everything to this film.

Summer Wars had nearly two hours to work with, so it made sense to fill ... that space with a much larger cast, whose complex interwoven plot lines took that film in a number of different directions. Bokura no War Game feels effortless in comparison, and is the more focused of the two; at only forty minutes in length, it has to be. With that in mind, the creators made the smart decision to only involve a handful of the cast from the main series.

Taichi and Koushirou are the central protagonists here, and their chemistry is the main reason that the film is so enjoyable to watch at the surface level, as they act very casually and naturally together. There's a great deal of humor between the two of them, and between the cast as a whole—nothing of the laugh-out-loud variety, but enough to keep the film from feeling too heavy.

And, although this is a direct sequel to Digimon Adventure, only cursory knowledge of that series is required to fully enjoy this film. You'll catch on soon enough that there's this group of friends who've made connections with certain Digimon partners in the past. Anything past that is for the fans to be concerned with, as no direct mentions to the main series' plot are ever made.

Regardless, Bokura no War Game feels very different from the series. Characters are now animated with lifelike mannerisms and realistic movements, qualities rarely seen of them in the series. Hosuda's influence is very noticeable, most evident in the single-tone shading of the characters and their rather blobby proportions. Additionally, almost every shot here feels purposefully framed, resulting in a film that's consistently pleasant to look at.

It's also here where Hosuda begins to show his apparent love for modern technology, especially from a visual perspective; there's no shortage of telephones, cell phones, computer screens, clocks, keyboards, or other mundane electronics occupying the shots. They feel like a very physical and real part of the world that the characters live in—as they should in this modern age. These elements are contrasted with shots of the more rural countryside and of households where this technology isn't so prevalent. Yet, both elements seem to compliment each other more than anything else, as if to remind us of how quickly technology has progressed; it's incredible to think that a vast and complex network such as the internet does actually exist alongside much simpler ways of life, as shown here.

Being that this is a Digimon film, battles will be fought between digital monsters, and here the internet is their battle ground. Imaginatively, the internet is depicted as a web of large spherical structures, all lined with psychedelic designs and filled with floating debris. Characters in this space are either drawn with orange-colored outlines, or with no outlines at all, making them stand out in visually interesting ways. The admittedly dated Windows XP-styled messaging prompts are also used to great effect while inside the net, materializing in midair for the characters of the real world to communicate through. As a whole, this creates a very distinct and striking aesthetic—one that Hosuda would continue to use in later works such as Summer Wars.

The battles fought between the Digimon in this trippy internet world are quick, exciting, and creative, often making good use of the setting. The fights are Dragon Ball-esque, for lack of a better term, featuring characters zooming across the screen at high speeds, firing projectiles and throwing hard punches. All of the actions have a nice weight to them, so you'll feel the impact of every hit. The talented animators, choreographers, and sound designers definitely deserve major props for that.

The soundtrack of Bokura no War Game is mostly orchestral, save for the few returning J-rock tracks from the series, which are always nice to listen to. The soundtrack otherwise gives the film a particularly old fashioned sort of vibe; the more lighthearted scenes are accompanied by whimsical woodwinds, bells, and swells of strings, while the more intense scenes feature great thematic interplay between bursts of brass and sharp staccato strings. The angelic choir near the end is worth noting, as well.

Perhaps the best quality of this film is how it effectively builds tension and momentum. What starts out as a lazy morning for Taichi, snowballs into a frantic race against the clock to stop the detonation of a nuclear missile—all within a few hours. Help is always just out of reach for our heroes, while the main villain, a computer virus that has taken control of the internet, is always one step ahead. Stakes are raised by the minute, and in a multitude of layers. Hosuda highlights this tension by constantly cutting back and forth between unrelated events that are happening in parallel, the culmination of which ends up feeling very satisfying. While the pace of the film is slow-building, it's also ever-accelerating, much like the rapidly approaching nuclear missile of the story itself. This results in an unexpectedly powerful emotional scene near the end—one that would undoubtedly feel hammy if left in the hands of a lesser director.

Ever since this film, it seems Hosuda has been fascinated by the turn of the century and the ways that society will continue to interact with newer technology, whether that be for better or for worse—fitting, then, for this film to have been released in the year 2000. If you can believe it, despite having Digimon in the title, this film manages to feel very grounded and relevant. The fantastical Digital World makes no appearance here, and instead it's the internet as we know it that becomes the main stage for the plot and for the film's themes. There's also no inclusion of a hypothetical virtual reality like the OZ network of Summer Wars. A real point is made here about how even now, society is reliant enough on the internet and its related networks that if things were to go haywire, chaos would ensue. It feels like a warning sign to the present, not one to a possible future.

However, that would all be meaningless if the film itself weren't just simply enjoyable to watch. It's got heart, personality, and style, and its relatively short length is sure to keep your attention the whole way through. There's a reason I keep coming back to it; there's also a reason Hosuda keeps coming back to it.

Taking place months after their first adventure in the digital world, the kids are all off doing their own thing, but when a viral Digimon is mysteriously hatched within the Internet, everyone available must band together to take it down before Tokyo is blown off the map. With this much more immediate suspense, and an absolutely gorgeous look, Bokura no War Game really stands out as one of the strongest parts of the Digimon franchise.

The story is rather quickly developed, handled, and solved with very little lulls between movement. Though there are only three battle scenes, Taichi and Koushiro are dealing with the effects of ... the viral Digimon in the real world which keeps them and the audience on their toes while they look for new strategies one after another as they are thwarted at every turn. Though it is quite formulaic in its execution, it certainly isn't boring, and though there are plenty of inconsequential sidestories, they all add something to the immediate action required throughout the movie as parallels.

Everyone's back, though not everyone is part of the main plot. Some contribute through the above-mentioned sidestories while others fight. The characters, already established, stay true to who they were in the series with very few exceeding development. Relationships are remarkable though, as Taichi and Sora seem to have progressed theirs, slight as it is.

Of course, it'd just be another Digimon episode if it weren't for the phenomenal animation. If the style looks familiar, don't be surprised. Directed by Mamoru Hosada, better known for his latter work, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, the movie features fluid, detailed animation and a gorgeous metaphorical style for the Internet as it becomes the battlefield for the Digimon against the latest threat. If there is only one reason to give this movie a look, even if you're not a Digimon fan, it's to check out the animation which for its day and age is close to quality bar none.

Performances are all good, and the BGM is rather dignified, so much so it may be surprising to those of us who grew up watching the dub. It's all quite fitting, especially in the climactic sequence where, spoilers aside, it adds something wonderful to it all.

There's a lot to enjoy about the Digimon franchise; the surprisingly mature execution, the partnership between the kids and their Digimon, and more, but this movie stands out in technical quality above all others. Combined with tight and well-paced execution, it's a movie no Digimon fan should miss, and maybe even one for purveyors of quality animation all-around.

Overall, I give Digimon Adventure: Bokura no War Game a 7 out of 10.

Bokura no war game is an interesting Digimon movie, but one that doesn't really exploit all the potential on the storytelling, while portraying some strong character moments. This movie is actually an important link between Digimon Adventure and Digimon 02, and yet not every Digimon fan has seen it; it's not all that relevant to be fair, but Digimon 02 goes assuming you've seen the movie, now the question is: is it worth our time? As I just said, worst case scenario you end up watching a very interesting 40 minutes movie, but as I finished watching the movie I have to say that, while ... satisfied I also was left wishing for more and better development.

Story:
This takes place after Digimon Adventure ended and it deals with a digimon who is on the network, eating data and growing powerful.
Through the movie there is a lot of tension and good moments of suspense as the plot moves forward, but I have to say that the writers were really lazy at times; leaving out so many characters like Sora, Mimi, Jyou and Hikari off the main plot is a bad gesture, especially considering how the anime was so well recognized for being able to handle 8 characters at once. Granted, they all get believable excuses for their absence, yet you can feel how the writers just wanted to minimize the amount of characters as much as possible. Aside from that, the plot develops and it's fairly enjoyable, still the ending is quite anti-climactic and may leave you frowning; ok, it's not that bad, but it ended quite abruptly and as such a story with so much potential kind of feel like it works, but it works at half of its power.

Character:
As I said in the story section, the writers minimized the amount of characters to just 4: Taichi, Koshiro, Yamato and Takeru, and of those 4 Taichi takes the spotlight, with Yamato and Koushiro having some moments too. For a 40 minutes movie, it has many good moments; these are characters that are quite beloved and really likeable, and among them Taichi gets some extremely good moments in the film, and not just him; whenever we see each character frustrated it feels real, whenever we see them nervous, anxious or anything at all it works because it carries on well with their previous development in the anime series, and as such the character work is great, almost reaching to outstanding.

Sound: There are great tracks in the movie, the very same ones used in the anime plus some new ones. In general, they are all as well scored as in the anime and the timing is also impressive, though there is a moment when Brave Heart runs in a loop and become annoying, but it's just some mere 15 seconds or so.

As a whole, I'd say the movie is worth watching, it's very good and quite entertaining, still I'm not sure if I would call it a must see: Digimon fans will likely enjoy the movie, but there's no doubt that most of us can feel that, while being quite good, it never really tried to be as good as it could be.

Okay, to start off - I first watched this movie at the age of 5. I rewatched it a few times over the years, and now at the age of 22, I still love this movie.

Let's face it, not everything from the early 2000s was good or aged that well. This movie aged really well! I still laugh at all the bad jokes every time, the silly puns, and still love the story.

Story: This is a good spin off from the original Digimon series, and fits in well with the events that went on. It does a good job to connect to the ... series. I do have to say though, you you watch this as the US version "Digimon: The Movie", right after watching the original series, the timeline of events will never quite add up. So just enjoy it as a standalone piece.

Did you like Summer Wars? This is very similar, but we're set a couple years back (In a time where a dial-up connection could stream crystal clear quality video to a million people, apparently). Also the military did not care if you used their satellite connection back then.

Art: Fairly good for the time it was made, I feel, although not 100% up to par with the original anime. If you continue onward to watch the second Digimon movie, you'll think it's fantastic because the art is pretty rough in that one.

Sound: I actually feel this movie is best watched as an English dub - the jokes are funnier, the soundtrack is really good and reminiscent of all those songs we loved in the early 2000s (Smash Mouth, the Barenaked Ladies).

Characters: They did not change between the series and here, so it's all good.

Enjoyment: Seriously, this movie cracks me up every time I watch it and makes me smile. It might be old, it might not be perfect, but it is just super fun to watch every time.

I actually hate the sub. The 4kids dub is what I'm giving a 10. Things just don't feel right when digimon use their attacks without yelling what it is. I think it's just the way it's shot.

Story: 8
I mean, you can't really say too much about it. A virus takes over a missile, and the heroes stop the virus. It's neat how it ties into digimon though.

Art: 10
Just some casual Mamoru Hosoda art. Looks great.

Sound: 10
Really works well with the disconnect of the tension of the digibattles, and the daily lives of irl. Builds really well, and the payoff at the end is orgasmic.
...
Character: the dynamic between the bro-hood of tai and izzy, the laid back sibling dynamic of Tai and kari, and matt and piccolo, makes everything feel really natural. There's also a real sense that there is people have lives outside of this movie with the rest of the gang doing their own things.

Enjoyment/Overall: 10
Fun movie.

I would be so down for a long-form anime run by Mamoru Hosoda.

Probably some of the best stuff from Digimon even if the story was very barebones, but it's only twenty minutes. Had more funny moments than I remembered and I was quite surprised at how different the English and Japanese dubs are. The English one is missing a few scenes and underlaid with a bunch of late 90s Pop Punk (All My Friends are Metalheads for example), while the Japanese dub feels way more serious and hardly uses musical undertones.

I also find it kind of hilarious how the plot of a movie ... aimed at probably 6-year-olds focuses on a bug hacking into the Pentagon and trying to nuke the main characters. Not to forget there is a romance side plot in the background.

Part 1 English
Part 2 Bahasa Indonesia

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Well, well, well, what have we got here? It's another installment in the Digimon franchise, this time with the mouthful of a title 'Digimon Adventure: Bokura no War Game!'. Now, I know what you're thinking - 'oh great, another anime about kids and their digital monsters'. But hold your horses, because this one's actually not half bad.

In this particular movie, we see our heroes - the DigiDestined - battling against a computer virus that threatens to take down the entire internet. It's a race against time as they fight to save both the digital world and the real world from ... destruction.

Now, if you're a fan of the Digimon franchise, then you'll definitely enjoy this movie. It's got all the usual staples - epic battles, emotional moments, and of course, the cute and cuddly digital monsters. But even if you're not a diehard fan, there's still plenty to enjoy here.

The animation is top-notch, with vibrant colors and dynamic fight scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And while the plot may not be the most original, it's executed well enough to keep you engaged from start to finish.

Overall, I'd give a score of 8.4545454545/10. It's a solid entry in the Digimon franchise that offers plenty of action and heart, and it's definitely worth a watch for fans and newcomers alike.

Well, isn't this just a jolly good romp through the digital world, with its heroic battles and heartwarming themes? It's almost enough to make me want to trade in my Car for a digital monster of my own.

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Ini adalah ulasan tentang film anime Digimon Adventure: Bokura no War Game! yang merupakan bagian dari waralaba Digimon.

Film ini menampilkan para pahlawan kita - DigiDestined - yang bertarung melawan virus komputer yang mengancam untuk menghancurkan seluruh internet. Mereka berpacu dengan waktu untuk menyelamatkan dunia digital dan dunia nyata dari kehancuran.

Bagi penggemar waralaba Digimon, film ini pasti akan menyenangkan untuk ditonton. Film ini memiliki semua hal yang biasanya diharapkan dari waralaba tersebut - pertempuran epik, momen emosional, dan tentu saja, monster digital yang imut dan menggemaskan. Namun, bahkan jika Anda bukan penggemar berat, masih ada banyak hal yang bisa dinikmati di sini.

Animasi dalam film ini sangat bagus, dengan warna-warna yang cerah dan adegan pertarungan yang dinamis yang akan membuat Anda tegang di kursi. Dan meskipun plot mungkin tidak terlalu orisinal, namun dieksekusi dengan cukup baik untuk tetap membuat Anda terlibat dari awal hingga akhir.

Secara keseluruhan, saya akan memberikan skor 8.4545454545/10 untuk film ini. Ini adalah bagian yang solid dari waralaba Digimon yang menawarkan banyak aksi dan kehangatan, dan pasti layak ditonton bagi penggemar dan pemula sama.

Nah, apakah ini bukan petualangan yang menyenangkan melalui dunia digital, dengan pertempuran heroik dan tema yang menghangatkan hati? Ini hampir cukup membuat saya ingin menukar mobil saya dengan monster digital sendiri.

A fantastic movie ! I love how well structured it is despite being only 40 minutes long. Not only is the story really great, beginning with the apparition of a single Digimon and ending with a dramatic situation threatening the entire world, but the staging is also incredible.

All the movements in this movie feel incredibly lively, with great framerate modulation giving more impact and momentum to the scenes. I also love how the movie makes us take part in the universe : whether it's with the first-person perspective shots (especially that scene where Taichi was slowly reaching for the computer, with his heavy breath in ... the background, only to end up being "absorbed" by it off camera), characters looking at the camera breaking the 4th wall or even the recurring use of still camera long shots, the spectator is split between pure observation and active involvement, and feels compelled to empathize with the characters.

The art direction is also really interesting, alternating warm and cold colors in the Digital World to create contrast and further emphasize the surreality of the world. The fact that the linework of the characters was purposely heavily toned down was also really intriguing, and surprisingly gave even more impact as the characters were blending in their surroundings.

A great movie depicting the struggle of children fighting against an immaterial ennemy in a world where digital information is supreme but also source of alienation, manipulating society as if they were pawns and whose slightest flaw can plunge the earth in despair (I think one of the last scene where we see the people inclinating their heads following the movement of the defused bomb falling is proof of that, but I'm not really sure of it's meaning). But much more than a simple satire of society, it was ultimately a fantastic story showing the bonds between humans and Digimon !