My exposure into the series - Digimon Frontier Review (DSR: Part 2)

[@HORRIOR1]

Out of all the seasons of Digimon, Frontier is the one that deserves a reboot the most. There is so much potential that this series has that could be unleashed with just a bit of rewriting.

[@AJSmashing]

A frontier reboot or even a Tri treatment could be interesting but there is the potential to mess it up or retcon things that weren’t there.

[@mattieonutube273]

I love that the kids are actually useful and fight instead of just relying on the power of friendship. They are genuine go-getters that don’t just stand on the sidelines are let their digimon pals do all the work for them. They’re fighting for survival themselves.

[@TheFatestPat]

The way they handled this season was so weird. If there had not been foreshadowing early on about Lucemon, I would just assume that the writers had no idea what to do once Cherubimon was defeated. I think it would have worked a lot better if the evil team had been a whole group of kids instead of just Duskmon. Have Cherubimon recruit his own set of "bad" digidestined, kind of like what they did with Ken back in series 2. Then they could slowly come together as one group and be able to defeat Lucemon properly.

[@AJSmashing]

I could have sworn that Lucemon was hinted at during Seraphimon’s lore dump.

[@IgnitedQuils]

There was episode 3 where there was a carving of Lucemon. And in the end of the opening where before the light appears around the ten legendary warriors, you see a silhouetted version of Lucemon. But I do agree, despite me liking Frontier, it had issues with the story, especially with the structure.

[@voltamek]

You forgot to mention when ripping into Koji's dad how he told him his mother had died when they got divorced, and Koji believed it. Also the plothole that this had happened three years before, so Koji would've been like 8 but somehow doesn't remember having a brother.

[@bryansuminski7543]

I can appreciate Frontier for something like Tokusatsu being a major inspiration for the show but, much like anything new that comes out for Adventure I can never get over how much of a metaphorical blow job the writers give both Takuya and Koji over everybody else. Side note, I totally ship JP and Zoe. As JP felt like the only one who actually cared that Zoe lost her sprits and worked to get them back. And the whole Takuya and Zoe blushing moment came right out of nowhere for me as it's never brought up again.

[@AJSmashing]

Jp and Zoe is a ship I never thought I would approve of. It definitely plays into frontiers trait of characters being dicks but learning not to be dicks in the end. JP being a pervert to Zoe in the beginning but eventually growing a proper relationship is something I could see happen. But yeah I’m mostly a Takuya/Zoe guy but kinda cliche the main character hooks up with the token girl member.

[@HORRIOR1]

@@AJSmashing The thing is, JP never was a pervert about Zoe. Him offering her to go first up the ladder had nothing to do with him wanting to look up her skirt, he just didn't consider that fact. So yeah, I fully ship the two of them. It also works with the whole team mechanic as Koichi and Koiji have their sibling relationship, and with Takuya showing Tommy the ropes as they act as substitute for their brothers. That leaves Zoe and JP, who both have difficulties making friends.

[@AJSmashing]

@@HORRIOR1 I respect all ships here. Even Zoe and Koji to an extent.

[@HORRIOR1]

The four evil spirits aside from Duskmon are my favorite villains of this series. Their group dynamic is nice and it is always fun to hear banter between villains. Plus Mercuremon is such a boss, with him using cunning, strategy, and his personal abilities, to truly mess with the heroes and flex on them. As for the unshown fusion spirits, i am fine with most of them. JetSilphymon and Raihimon are fine in their design. RhinoKabuterimon didn't at first feel that interesting to me, but then I saw it in the games and it is a whole different beast when viewed from the side with its wings spread open. Daipenmon is the only one that really requires a replacement.

[@Freezient]

However i feel about this season, it does have a special place in my heart, also I love how the main characters are drawn and their designs

[@Asaylum117]

Can I say that I absolutly LOVE the opening Japanese theme of Frontier? That theme song just fills me with a feeling of adventure & hope.

[@AJSmashing]

Fire is a true banger. But nothing could top the English theme.

[@joaocisne556]

yeah, Fire was great

[@Asaylum117]

Digimon Frontier is a series I actually enjoyed. It's one of the only Digimon series that gave me an idea for a Bionicle animated series were 6 different chosen children that live in 6 different continents on Earth get the original Toa masks & the chosen children use the Toa powers to fight the evil forces of Makuta while also trying to protect the innocent from Makuta & his evil minions. Also the characters in the story aren't related, but become close friends when they spend more time with each other & get to know one another. I also found it funny how the Dub of Digimon Frontier tried to push Takuya & Zoe to be a couple, even to the point Zoe in the Dub saying that she wants to kiss Takuya after both survived a literal fall to their deaths. That moment still makes me laugh to this day. XD

[@AJSmashing]

Seeing a Bionicle similarity is something I didn’t expect but I could see. Never really got into the lore of that despite having a lot of legos.

[@Asaylum117]

@@AJSmashing Hence why it's a real shame that the original Bionicle never got a full TV series out of the lore. It would have been a great TV show for my younger self to watch, since I became a Bionicle fan since 2001, but my Bionicle collection isn't that huge unfortunately. But the story for the original set seemed very interesting.

[@clown-chan989]

I have to admit I didn't really like Frontier as a kid. And though I still find it very flawed, rewatching this as an adult gave me a newfound appreciation. And yeah, the ending never failed to warm my heart with an Endless Tale playing in the background, especially understanding the lyrics. Also, I never saw the English dub so Izumi (Zoe) being half-Italian was interesting. If I remember correctly, she's 100% Japanese in the Japanese dub, just that she spent most of her childhood in Italy and having a hard time fitting in because of it.

[@AJSmashing]

I could have misremembered her being half Italian but considering her using Italian words throughout the season made me assume she was half and half.

[@dragonstormx]

"See the connection?" Yes, I see that you are calling for a Digimon crossover with Shin Megumi Tensei! Lucemon was threatening in the dub at first, but Mona Marshall raising her voice took a lot of the menace away. In the Japanese version his evolved forms were far more threatening since he was voiced Ryūsei Nakao, aka FRIEZA! That made him downright scary. Watching the dub and sub of the final battle, I find it weird that the dub cut some of Lucemon's dialogue. I am used to dubs adding dialogue, rather than the other way around. A small detail I love about the dub is that Susanomon only had Takuya speak in the original. In the dub, Takuya and Kouji provided Susanomon.

[@AJSmashing]

I think it works best for Takuya and Koji being Susanonon since it is a merge of both characters unified spirits.

[@dragonstormx]

@@AJSmashing I do wish that when the whole team merged we heard all their voices come out of Susanomon, but we did still get to see them talking to each other telling us the Fusion was a team effort. Looking back I feel the issues with Takuya and Koji doing all the fighting could have been helped somewhat if rather than just giving up their spirits, they would merge with them like they later did as Susanomon. That would require rewriting some of the action scenes though to keep in the foreshadowing of Koichi's status but I feel it could be done. We could see one of the unified evolutions KOed a couple times and get the same scenes.

[@alejandromolina7270]

I remembered when Fusion aired on UPN. I was channeling surfing one day and all of a sudden I saw Gotsumon with Lobomon saving a bunch of baby Digimon. It was wild.

[@royrogers4732]

The end of this review literally made me tear up good job thanks for the review

[@kendradupree1094]

one thing i found funny is i was reading a oldish (like 1970-60) folklore and i had a whole chapter of stories about Italian wind fairies i doute it was on prepose

[@LoneDewott]

As someone with lesser nostalgia for Digimon (saw it as a kid, only got really into it recently cause' of the V-Pets) Frontiers is my favorite season. My favorite anime is Gatchaman and my favorite Live-Action show is Jetman so I am. Extremely Biased

[@royrogers4732]

He actually time traveled it was not an illusion he saved his own life a reference the first episode

[@AJSmashing]

Wished it was explained a little better in the episode.

[@DerwinLRose]

21:57 In the last episode of Tamers remember that digigate that Guilmon found while digging and Takato went back to and to add both Takato & Takuya show up In the Digimon Xcros Wars crossover episode with all leaders from Adventure 01, 02, Tamers, Frontier and Savers/Date Squad with Marcus making a grand entrance of punching and knocking out 3 Venommyotismon and shocking everyone 1. Takato finds Guilmon digigate: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmicg6GhZ7mrf9k 2. Digimon Xcross Wars Legendary Heroes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJiamoSkp7eoas0

[@AJSmashing]

I did address that in the other videos to this retrospective about the “plot holes” you mentioned. Plus how the digital world has so many inconsistencies in the anime was done intentionally in the finale video.

[@tatsukinomiya]

6:26 Best opening theme for Digimon TO THIS DAY!!! I AM THE ONE HYUAAAHH I AM THE ONE

[@robbycooper6787]

Is your shareverse an actual fan work I can hunt down or is it only in these videos

[@gabrieldevoogel6225]

So because gale and JP both have to learn to lean on their teams for emotional and physical support doesn’t that mean by the end of their arcs their new phrase should be “I do comprehend”?

[@AJSmashing]

Probably, but at least Gale never bribed Sera into leaving Embryon to suit his financial gain. That or looking up Argilla’s skirt lol.

[@gabrieldevoogel6225]

@@AJSmashing fair and true lol

[@lilboygthorns7373]

It’s a problem that I experienced Hyperdimension Neptunia before watching the Tamers dub, because all I can hear from Rika is Neptune, the voice actress did the same voice

[@zeroattentiongaming820]

Video starts with the best track in the MMZ series? Alright you've got my attention

[@TheBarkShark]

I can confirm that Digimon Frontier aired on Disney Family Channel in the early 2000s around 7:00 AM EST. Definitely before 2008.

[@AJSmashing]

Yeah it did air on abc family’s action block and then when they had Jetix until it was fully on Toon Disney’s Jetix before it became Disney XD

[@SJ_RANKS]

I like data squad but if I’m being honest I think digimon should’ve ended here hell that line susanoomon said “and so it ends” was a reference to the very first digimon episode “and so it begins…” I’m not kidding I feel like I’m watching the series finale to all of digimon when I watch frontier

[@AJSmashing]

I did briefly address it in data squad where they tried to start a new phase for the franchise with that season. Frontier definitely felt like the end of the series having a annual season on tv.

[@benjaminpeters6729]

I remember getting worn out by the royal knights arc. It was like every episode theyd lose but for some reason never get finished off. I powered my way through but never actually saw the end of the show. Then about 8 years later I tried watching the show with my kids...and I fell asleep on the last episode

[@AJSmashing]

Understandable. Dynasmon and Crusadermon had the same repetitive formula until finally Lucemon showed up and progressed the plot forward.

[@patrickzalatoris3206]

Yeah, that was my biggest gripe, I mean come on, every episode with them was so repetitive, and wished every episode they would just end it

[@josebuenrostro1430]

So funny story I first saw this season on UPN weekday mornings in 2002 I had fallen out of digimon during the final part of tamers due to it and Yu-Gi-Oh being on at the same time Saturday mornings. So kinda forgot about Digimon for almost a year which at the age of 10 feels like a long time. So when I saw the new series I actually liked it the spirit evolutions felt like a continuation from Tamers were they merged to make the Megas. This season actually re kindled my love for the franchise for awhile and my friends and I would use the concept when playing. Idea being is we’d act out playing as Digimon we liked and when we took enough damage we could steal spirits from each other.

[@K7TZ]

I like frontiers. It’s my third favourite. 02 being my fourth.

[@xpdev0]

Digimon Frontier ALSO aired on Nicktoons on ONLY a select few stations (i got lucky before they aired... "Fusion") alongside Tamers and Data Squad, besides 02 and Adventure '99, which was my first exposure to the whole series, they did this marathon in mid-late 2012 as well prior to Fusion airing (Data Squad aired less while Tamers, Frontier, 02 and Adventure '99 had more screen time) You were very unlucky with your marathon, with Adventure '99 and 02 reruns every day, ehh?! Frontier was censored on Nicktoons & Disney/ABC Family/FOX Kids removing some scenes, but it was uncensored on UPN.

[@AJSmashing]

I can’t judge what other people from other countries saw. I’m assuming the dvd I have has the season uncensored. Also Nicktoons aired the first two seasons once, and then never again.

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

Angewomon would've been a better fused form for Kazemon and Zephyrmon.

[@dracoscorpio753]

Well it's ultra in the usa or super ultimate in japan

[@LegitMan335]

I love Frontier

[@patrickzalatoris3206]

Wait, frontier takes place in 1991? About 6 to 8 years before adventure took place!

[@AJSmashing]

Please watch the Digimon seasonal reviews in playlist order. This is apart of my shared universe concept.

[@jdmj707]

18:19 my ears were not ready for this in my headphones 😡

[@randomedgygamer2191]

i really disliked frontier after tamers, it was too episodic and childish. the music and human evos were cool tho

[@Pirategod23]

Davis did tamers dub recap

[@Kingofknights1401]

Honestly calling the show sexist is just stupid and not true your criticisms are incorrect

[@AJSmashing]

I mean, my judgments on the “sexism” in the season may have been rash, but considering how Zoe was treated compared to the rest of the cast, it’s hard not to try and make those connections.

[@Kingofknights1401]

@@AJSmashing no it's actually pretty easy to just be a rational human and realise it's not sexist

[@emperortrevornorton3119]

UPN not Fox Kids or Disney's Jetix if I remember correctly UPN was more known for it's black entertainment shows and star trek voyager not animated shows this is the dumbest thing I have heard about the Digimon series. UPN only had 5 other animated shows listed that they aired none of them fit together in something like a animation block of shows because only one other would qualify as action animation that being the incredible hulk otherwise animated sitcoms

[@AJSmashing]

When working on this video last year, finding the UPN commercial for frontier gave me a faint flashback of seeing it on tv once. But yeah I have no idea why Disney decided to make a deal with Paramount to air their programming on their channel, let alone their recently acquired rights to Saban.

[@tatsukinomiya]

AHHAHAHA!!! UPN introduced me to Frontier

[@LegitMan335]

3:25

[@eeveefennecfox]

I never liked frontier,I've always liked the partnet digimon method and it felt off when the kids turned into digimon

[@zuki3264]

"sounds perfect for animal kingdom" -cuts to black people dancing 💀

[@AJSmashing]

The edit was completely unintentional. Before making the review I made a video comparing and contrasting the English theme songs for Frontier and Fusion. It just so happened that I used this particular meme when referring to the music motifs of Frontier.

[@zuki3264]

@@AJSmashing i know man i just think it's funny

[@cttommy73]

I am seriously confused where and why you see sexism everywhere, even when there is none. But you do you I guess.

[@AJSmashing]

Zoe being in a completely unfair situation compared to the others. It’s not entirely sexism but you can see some traces of it.

[@cttommy73]

@@AJSmashing But the guys have been though. This is like competing in who is the one with the worse deal. Which, might I add, you have the beetle guy being put in some really unfaltering situations as well. Should people then looking for things to be offended about? Because if you choose to look for it, there are tons of troupes on both sides. It's fiction and most people are able to separate reality from fiction. Let alone the fact that as a kid's show, there is nothing here that isn't age appropriate.

[@prophecyexe]

i know im getting old this guy didnt know what upn was lol hell naw

[@AJSmashing]

I was only 6 when upn got cancelled but I definitely recall seeing the commercial they had for frontier. I just didn’t know the name of the channel by the.

[@Not_cee]

Cringe