The Shout! Studios and Toei Animation Inc. announced this week a new home entertainment distribution deal that will bring DIGIMON ADVENTURE 02 THE BEGINNING, the 2023 feature film based on the original TV sequel series for the popular Digimon anime franchise. The franchise hits its landmark 25th anniversary this year.
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The announcement was recently made by Shout! Studios Executive Vice President Melissa Boag and Toei Animation Inc. President and CEO, Masayuki Endo. This is part of a new multi-year partnership with Shout! Studios with North American home entertainment distribution rights for DIGIMON ADVENTURE 02 THE BEGINNING for cross-platform releases in the United States and Canada. This includes all packaged media and electronic sell-through digital rights.
SHOUT! STUDIOS ANNOUNCES US DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR DIGIMON ADVENTURE 02 THE BEGINNING
In the coming weeks, Shout! Studios will plan a strategic rollout of the new movie across multiple entertainment platforms and home entertainment shelves later this year. Shout! Studios and Toei Animation also plan to announce additional news and activities for fans in the months to come.
Speaking on the announcement, Boag stated, “We are delighted by this new opportunity with Toei Animation and excited by this contemporary story of the DigiDestined from Digimon Adventure 02.” She continued, “Over the years, we enjoyed tremendous success with Digimon Adventure tri. film series and Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna. We look forward to presenting Digimon Adventure 02 The Beginning to anime fans and families through home entertainment very soon.”
Meanwhile, TOEI’s Endo commented, “Digimon Adventure 02 The Beginning was a hit with franchise fans around the world and we’re thrilled to bring it to homes across North America through this partnership with Shout! Studios.” He added, “Today’s news is one of many exciting things planned during 2024 as part of Toei Animation’s year-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of Digimon.”
The movie was previously released in Japan and around the world last year, along with a two-day U.S. theatrical release on November 8-9 by Toei Animation and Fathom Events. The film is based on the TV sequel series Digimon Adventure 02 and its new cast of DigiDestined that aired in 2000. The new movie is a contemporary continuation of the series, but with the DigiDestined now 20-year-old young adults.
The film is directed by Tomohisa Taguchi and written by Akatsuki Yamtoya, with production by Toei Animation, the same team behind Last Evolution Kizuna as they reunite to craft a new story. The last scene in Digimon Adventure 02 depicted a future where all people and Digimon live together. Meanwhile, the new movie shows a time when all the children and adults who have walked with Digimon.
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The home entertainment release for the anime movie will feature an English dub produced by Toei Animation specifically for its U.S. theatrical run. The dub features the return of Brian Donovan who voiced the character Daisuke Motomiya in the TV show, and he returns to the role for the feature. It also features a cast of Digimon alums, including Jeanie Tirado, Bryce Papenbrook, Tara Sands, Johnny Yong Bosch, Derek Stephen Prince, and more.
About Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning
Release Date: October 27, 2023 (JP), November 8, 2023 (US)
Director: Tomohisa Taguchi
Writers: Akiyoshi Hongo, Akatsuki Yamatoya
Production: Toei Animation
Cast (Japanese): Fukujurou Katayama, Junko Noda, Arthur Lounsbery, Naozumi Takahashi, Ayaka Asai, Kôichi Tôchika, Yoshitaka Yamaya, Megumi Urawa, Junya Enoki, Miwa Matsumoto, Mao Ichimichi, Yuka Tokumitsu, Megumi Ogata, Rie Kugimiya
Cast (English): Brian Donovan, Steve Prince, Jeannie Tirado, Tara Sands, Johnny Yong Bosch, Bryce PapenBrook, AJ Beckles, Erin Yvette, Giselle Fernandez, Kate Higgins, Neil Kaplan, Laura Summer, Chris Swindle, Robbie D
Synopsis: It’s 2012, and ten years have passed since the adventure in the Digital World. Daisuke Motomiya is now twenty, and he and the rest of the DigiDestined seem to be changing bit by bit in terms of appearance and lifestyle. Then one day, a giant Digitama suddenly appears in the sky over Tokyo Tower. Daisuke and the others encounter a mysterious young man named Lui Ohwada, who informs them that he’s the first-ever DigiDestined in the world…
What do you think of the news? Are you looking forward to DIGIMON ADVENTURE 02 THE BEGINNING? Did you see the movie when it hit theaters? What’s your favorite Digimon series? Let us know your thoughts about the news on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: Shout! Studios
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