The cast of Digimon Tamers. Chiaki Konaka, the head writer of Tamers, provides a fascinating set of notes concerning the conceptualisation and characterisation of the cast on his website.
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Tamers
Birds of a Feather: All of the children are fans of the Digimon franchise.
Character Development: The difference between each character's initial and final appearance is tremendous; it even gets Lampshaded by Takato in episode 50.
The final song heard in the original Japanese Dub Primary Colors lyrics are basically about this.
Determinators: Yamaki points this out on more than one occasion.
A complete Digimon fanboy, that reacts strongly to his emotions, who watches both the shows and plays the card game obsessively, to the point of creating his own fan-character Digimon partner. And then it comes to life...
Beware the Nice Ones: He's a sweetheart and even shy, compared with Taichi, Daisuke, Takuya, Taiki, Tagiru, and certainly Masaru. But when he does get upset?
Brown Eyes in terms of personality, since the eyes themselves are actually red.
Out of the Inferno: As Dukemon/Gallantmon (who made said inferno), combined with the slow walk.
Psychic Link: By the end of the series he was able to hear Juri/Jeri's desperate plea from inside the Mother D-Reaper despite being miles away.
Puppy Love: Notable for being the (10 year old in the original) character in Digimon Anime that went further, to the point of confessing himself to the disguised as Juri/Jeri D-Reaper Agent 01.
Rookie Red Ranger: Last of the power trio to get a partner, have it digivolve, or learn to fight effectively. He does try to make up for this by asking the others if he can learn from them.
Screaming Warrior: Once in the series, Takato used his connection with War Growlmon to channel power into him with a little primal scream therapy.
Spider-Sense: He notices the J-Reaper's presence faster than Renamon.
Tender Tears: Early on in the series he cried often, because he had never even had a pet before, and he was extremely worried of losing the (literal!) dream that came true that was Guilmon. Ouch
The Kid with the Remote Control: His relationship with Guilmon is one of the best deconstructions of this trope. Its darker consequences are displayed in episode 34 when Takato orders Guilmon to digivolve and eat Beelzebumon. This action makes him realize that he had, and could at any time use his Guilmon as a puppet. Fortunately he isn't tempted by the power offered and makes the final decision of becoming Guilmon's partner.
Unstoppable Rage: It manages to shadow Takeru's "kill all darkness" side of his personality.
For example, in the Cd Drama "Message in a Pocket", he states that he somehow (he doesn't specify) singlehandedly brought down a firewall designed to stop humans from entering the digital world, putting everyone in danger and worrying his parents in order to reunite with Guilmon. That's right, he did this without a Digimon partner. Although he stops himself, just to be sure Hypnos cover it with Concrete, enough to make the place not recognizable.
Li Jianliang/Li Jenrya/Lee Jenrya (Henry Wong)
"I always felt that I had to hold back, that fighting was wrong. But this is different, this is a battle that means something."
Another Digimon fan who prefers the video games, and the more level-headed one of the trio.
Badass Normal: First Digimon anime human to take an Hangyomon barehanded and win. Points for doing it under water.
Big Brother Instinct: But it bites him hard with Xiaochun's untimely arrival in the digital world. It not only leaves him uncharacteristically stressed out and temperamental, but unable to provide much, much needed emotional support for Takato, Juri, or even Xiaochun.
In the English dub, most of the characters had pseudo-Japanese sounding names but he and his sister get the obvious American names Henry and Suzie, respectively.
Face Your Fears: Once Suzie entered the Digital World, he became more hasty in trying to resolve all their problems and return home that he was the only human not terrified by Zhuqiaomon at first sight.
Freudian Excuse: Before the start of the series, he once baldly wounded another boy and vowed never to use violence as a solution. It doesn't help that later he ended up getting Terriermon injured in the video game.
Genius Bruiser: He is a very competent hacker as well as a tai-chi practitioner.
Guilt Complex: A lot. When someone gets hurt in a fight, he puts the blame on his shoulders for not being "competent" enough. See also Control Freak above.
My God, What Have I Done?: His reaction to finding out the Terriermon in his video game, that he forced to battle for his own amusement, was in fact a living, sentient creature (very similar to Ken in 02). He swore afterward he would never make him fight again.
Heroic Neutral: He mostly wants to ignore conflict but comes around when it's obvious the danger can't be ignored.
I Know Karate: Early on he is shown practicing Tai Chi with his master, and since the Mega level is a merger, it also allows him to kick but when he runs out of ammo with some very loud Kiais.
Nicknamed 'The Digimon Queen', she's one of the best Digimon card game players around, to the point where real Digimon seek her out as a partner! It takes her a while to break out of that mentality, especially since her Digimon partner shares it.
Arrogant Kung Fu Girl: To the point where she has Renamon try to kill Guilmon just to get stronger.
Badass Longcoat: According to Chiaki Konaka, an early inspiration for Ruki was Trinity from The Matrix. Still, that coat never appeared beyond a dream sequence in the first episode.
Cool Big Sis: They're the same age, but Ruki takes Juri under her wing early on, teaching her to use her cards, holding her hand through the digital field, etc.
One of the Boys: In fact, she is much more willing to fight and upfront about things than any of the boys.
Please Don't Leave Me: Shows great care for Renamon by episode six, and flips out in episode 15. When Renamon is forced to leave her and return to the digital world at the end of the last episode, she actually cries openly, something almost never seen from her in the series.
Tsundere: A Type A example. She's rude to everyone else, but eventually warms up to her team mates.
What Measure Is a Non-Human?: Early on, she saw Digimon as just data, including her own partner, and not as thinking, feeling beings. She grew out of it soon enough. Ironically, Renamon is of the data type.
Why Couldn't You Be Different? We can see that mom wanted a girly girl. In the original version, we learn that dad wanted a boy. Rika's mom eventually makes her peace with this.
Juri Katou (Jeri Kato)
A sweet girl who Takato has a crush on. Has issues with her mother she lives with her step-mom. Ends up in the end of a lot of bad luck. You can see where this is going.
Mind Rape: After she's broken. Comparable to Asuka's, except it lasts weeks. She recovers by the end, since others openly support her.
Broken Bird: Juri hides behind an upbeat, cheerful, optimistic persona, but even before the events of the series she had serious issues relating to the death of her mother and how she treated her dad's second wife. The death of Leomon merely shattered this facade and exposed her inner vulnerability, leaving her ripe for her subsequent Mind Rape by the D-Reaper. After all this she is completely and utterly broken, her despair fueling the D-Reaper's power and giving it the impression that all humans crave is obliteration.
Crucified Hero Shot: Suffers from this (by cables), twice in a row, because she is fighting the aforementioned mind rape. It's only once in the English dub, though.
Dead Sidekick: Unlike Patamon and Wormmon, Leomon doesn't get reborn.
Always With You: His spirit always remained with her, which is why her digivice didn't die.
Demonic Dummy: Juri's sock puppet is usually benign, and she uses it entertain her little brother. Yet she uses it whenever she has to point out something bad, and that is why the D-Reaper impersonates it during her Mind Rape, turning even the happiest and least threatening things terrifying.
Hair Decorations: She has a green ribbon which she uses to tie her hair up.
Four is Death: Although chronologically, she isn't the 4th Tamer in the series That one is actually Takato'' she is the first addition to the trio and the 4th Tamer that the audience sees getting a digivice.
Took a Level in Badass: Brutally subverted. Good lord the girl tries so hard. She wants to toughen up to be worthy of Leomon and it slowly happens. Then it all goes to hell in a hand basket at... well...
It FINALLY ends up working for her in the end when she stands up to the D-Reaper on her own without Leomon OR Takato there and choses to Screw Destiny and make her own fate. Of course, she and Calumon still need to be rescued in the end...but so does everyone, actually.
Hirokazu Shiota (Kazu Shioda)
Takato's best friend and rival playing the Digimon card game. when he discovers Guilmon, he decides to try and help the other Tamers in their plight. Mostly used as comic relief.
A mysterious Digimon tamer and former champion of the card game, who has some sort of rivalry with Rika. To everyone outside of Japan, he seemed to come pretty muchout ofnowhere.
No Export for You: None of these games were released in the west, meaning that's one long manual no-one got to read. *** Because of this, Chris McFeely of The Digimon Encyclopedia helped create a comic explaining Ryo's origins for Western fans. "Ryo's Story" appeared in Wickid magazine (the UK Fox Kid's magazine) issue #43, on September 28th, 2003.
Energy Weapon / Whip It Good: He can project an energy whip from his Digivice to discipline Cyberdramon.
Honor Before Reason: In series, and in his backstory. Choose to be Cyberdramon's partner, even if it meant going to the Digital World and be separated from his parents (since Cyberdramon would attack everyone close to him) and he did not see them again for more than a year. After the Tamers returned he pushed Cyberdramon and himself day after day to fight the D-Reaper's Agents to the point of exhaustion.
Friendless Background: Throughout his backstory. Also notable is that he is the Tamer that spends most of his time alone, not to mention that he never tries to stick with the group or make it stick together at all, in contrast with Takato.
Laser-Guided Amnesia: The CD Drama indicates that at the start of the series he didn't remember digimon were real (i.e had forgotten his adventures in the games), but imply that he may have started to remember.
Stepford Smiler: Not once in the series does he lose his cool, but his backstory indicates it's nothing more than a cover-up of deeper issues.
The Drifter: Both in this series and in his backstory.
Li Xiaochun/Li Shuichon/Lee Shuichon (Suzie Wong)
Jianliang's younger sister who winds up dragged into the digital world with the others. Lucky for them, as her power of cute helps convert one of the Big Bads to their side.
Spell My Name with an S: Like all the other members of her family, this is in full effect. The dubbers more or less gave up the internal debate about what it was and went with Suzie instead. Fandom sometimes adds to this by calling her 'Shuchun', because the Japanese VAs pronounce her name that way sometimes.
Sixth Ranger: Over Jianliang's objections, she is this.
Technical Pacifist: After becoming a Tamer, she develops a bit of her brother's old attitude.
The youngest humans partnered to a Digimon in any Digimon canon, these toddlers turn out to be the Tamers of Impmon, and are part of the reason behind his disdain for humans.
Ai is voiced by: Haruhi Terada (JP), Rebecca Olkowski (EN)
Mako is voiced by: Miwa Matsumoto (JP), Wendee Lee (EN)
Age Appropriate Angst: They react to Impmon leaving them by learning to share and being the best they can be, and they apologize profusely to him when he returns. Given that they were three or four when he left, this is probably all the angst they're capable of.
Eleventh Hour Rangers: They become Tamers in the final episode; sadly, they don't have a chance to do anything. (Unless it was them that healed Impmon of course, but then it happened off-screen.) This is justified due to their ages.
Love Redeems: Platonic love, as the case might be.
Japanese Honorifics: Both refer to each other without any. In the past this was part of their fighting. In the present it's simply part of their characterization that they're close enough to each other to do so. Not present in the English version because it would have been nigh-impossible to do in this language.
Noodle Incident: Their grandma mentions something about Mako having once been glued to the floor, presumably by Ai.
Only Known by Their Nickname: "Mako" (or "Mako-chan") is Impmon's term of endearment for Makoto, but the dubbers must not have realized this since everyone, whether they know Makoto personally or not, calls him "Mako" in the dub. Impmon even introduces him as "Mako" to Takato and the gang.
Parental Abandonment: In flashbacks, they live with their parents, who spoiled them rotten. In the present they live with their grandmother and no explanation is given for why.
They are next seen with their grandmother because their families have evacuated due to the D-Reaper, though that still doesn't explain where they were during Impmon's visit.
Redemption Promotion: Impmon gets a lot stronger once he makes amends with Ai and Mako, and his actions inadvertently made them grow up enough to be the people they are today.
Satellite Characters: They barely interact with any relevant character other than Impmon or themselves.
Sibling Yin-Yang: Played far more realistically than most uses of this trope; they're different but not night and day different, and get along very well now.
Spoiled Brat: Due to their parents showering them with gifts. They get better, though.
Tagalong Kids: Averted. Impmon makes them stay home where they're safe since they're even younger than the already young main characters, and they're smart enough to obey him.
Vague Age: Word Of God says they're younger than Xiaochun. Other than that, fandom can only guess. Different dubs have said different things about them.
Partner Digimon
Guilmon
"Takatomon...I need a new box."
Quite literally a fan character drawn and named by Takato and brought to life. A red dinosaur-like Digimon who is bigger than a human, very powerful, very innocent and completely lovable. Has a bit of trouble distinguishing between humans, animals and Digimon.His digivolutions are as follows:
In-Training: Gigimon, a blob resembling Guilmon's head, but with a tail protruding from him.
Rookie: Guilmon, his default form
Champion: Growlmon (Growmon), similar to Guilmon but taller.
Ultimate: WarGrowlmon (MegaloGrowmon), a giant dinosaur with a robotic upper half, akin to Adventure's MetalGreymon.
Mega: Gallantmon (Dukemon), an imposing white knight with a red cape. Achieved by Bio-Merging with Takato.
Crimson Mode: Merges with Grani, giving him Wings and a red-and-gold makeover.
Megidramon, a vicious and mindless winged serpent who embodies the apocalyptic end of the Digital World. A dark evolution born of Takato's Unstoppable Rage.
Art Initiates Life: Rather than being an existing Digimon who chose to join a human, Guilmon was created when Takato scanned his hand-drawn fan art through his digivice.
Ascended Fanon: In-universe, being thought up by Takato. This extends to Growlmon and WarGrowlmon.
Dark Is Not Evil: Growmon is a Demon Dragon type. Also, Guilmon himself is of the Virus attribute, generally associated with villains in the anime (though an exception already existed previously with Wormmon).
Deadly Upgrade: Megidramon. Most villains would take an entire game/series/film to deploy their plan to destroy the world. Megidramon? It exists, shines red, and the entire universe (both digital and real one) start being destroyed. Oh, and he also drools acidic saliva.
Dumb Muscle: Very childlike, but is the strongest of the main three Digimon. In his fight with Renamon he was beating her despite Rika using a modify card.
Expy: Takato was specifically thinking "Agumon, but better" when designing Guilmon, so his entire evolutionary line (minus crimson mode) has many parallels with Agumon's.
Eyes of Gold: More of a yellow, but the animation changes the color to fit the lighting much like how Serial Experiments Lain would for main characters.
Jianliang's partner. A pretty mild mon, but initially has trouble controlling himself when he Digivolves. Resembles a plush toy with big, floppy, ears.His digivolutions are as follows:
In-Training: Gummymon, a green blob-like Digimon with a horn.
Rookie: Terriermon, his default form.
Champion: Gargomon (Galgomon), a bipedal terrier wearing jeans and has miniguns for hands
Ultimate: Rapidmon, a giant green flying robot with long ears.
Mega: MegaGargomon (SaintGalgomon), a Humongous Mecha with a dog-like face. Achieved by Bio-Merging with Jianliang.
The Cynic: A lighter version, but he often shows signs of being one. He never hesitates to speak his mind whenever and wherever and to whoever he feels like – normally, he doesn’t mean any harm, but just can’t seem to stop himself from saying something out of place, be it a quip he thinks is amusing, or an unintentionally insulting observation. All very possibly the result of being a wild Digimon, fighting by the rules of survival of the fittest in the Digital World before meeting Henry.
Happy Dance: After Jianliang orders him not to absorb Gorillamon's data, he at least wants to do a happy dance.
Head Pet: Tends to sit on Jianliang's head or shoulder. Since he's pretending to be a stuffed animal, this results into some rather amusing stares from people Jianliang walks past.
Unorthodox Reload: Until Jianliang swipes the Recharge card, he's basically stuck when he runs out of ammo.
Renamon
"As you wish, Ruki."
Ruki's partner, a tall and powerful fox-like Digimon who joined up with her to become even more powerful. Originally ruthless and standoffish, and one of the first partners who has to learn about friendship even more than her human partner.Dear digi-god, the furriescan't get enough of her.Her digivolutions are as follows:
In-Training: Viximon (Pokomon), a small ball-shaped fox.
Rookie: Renamon, her default form.
Champion: Kyuubimon, a mythical nine-tailed fox.
Ultimate: Taomon, a humanoid fox with Taoist garb.
Mega: Sakuyamon, a Miko Digimon with ceremonial armour in the shape of a fox. Achieved by Bio-Merging with Ruki.
Extreme Doormat/My Tamer Right Or Wrong: In a sense, her absolute devotion to Rika makes her this since Renamon almost never objects Rika's commands even if she's on the wrong side.
Some of the dialogue in the English dub doesn't help matters either, as early episodes have Renamon taunting her opponents in a way that almost sounds like she's flirting with them.
Friendto All Living Things: Ruki and Renamon describe feeling a compassion for all life when they become Sakuyamon.
Gratuitous Foreign Language: Renamon is one of the few lead Digimon in the franchise as a whole to avert this with her attacks.
Miko: Sakuyamon. Her alternate costume◊, seen only in the Japanese card game, reflects this.
Older Sidekick: After Rika melts out of her Ice Queen persona (pun intended), Renamon's relationship with her mostly follows a "big sister/little sister" dynamic, with Renamon as the big sister. Reinforced in the CD Drama Message In The Packet, where Rika explicitly calls Renamon a big sister several times.
Interestingly, Word Of God and a few comments from Renamon suggest that she originally didn't consider herselfas having a gender, only gaining an understanding of the concept and settling on a feminine gender through her relationship with Rika.
"Suggest"? When the subject comes up, Renamon states outright that the distinction of gender does not exist among Digimon.
Death Is Cheap: This series as a whole averts the normal Digimon usage of the trope, and his death is treated very seriously and is very permanent as a result.
Dub Induced Plothole: The dub fumbles his last words a bit - they were changed in his death scene and according flashbacks, but instances of Juri quoting them herself later acted as though they weren't modified.
Warrior Therapist: His fight with Beelzemon and pleas for him to stop is this trope.
Leomon: To have power is not to be strong.
Guardromon
Hirokazu's partner. A slightly small but sturdy mechanical Digimon who doesn't say much. He first appears as Andromon, but is reduced to his Champion level after a beating from an ultimate named Orichimon shortly before partnering up with Hirokazu and...stays that way for the rest of the show.His digivolutions are as follows:
In-Training: Kapurimon (Caprimon), a fox-like blob with metal casing on his top half.
Champion: Guardromon, his default form
Ultimate: Andromon, a tall android with bits of casing exposed.
Ascended Extra: In previous incarnations, Andromon was just a supporting Mon and Guardromon were just robotic Mooks.
Dark Is Not Evil: No, Andromon, the cyborg with mechanical parts resemblng a skeleton and flesh parts resembling rotting flesh, is not evil.
Only Sane Man: More reasonable than his partner. In the time Kenta, Hirokazu, MarineAngemon and he are together, he fits this role in their group dynamic.
Kenta's partner. A small pixie-like Digimon that swims in water and packs a big punch, although he prefers to deal with things without violence. Talks even less than Guardramon, only saying Puu.
Ridiculously Cute Critter: Kenta was stunned that someone so small and cute was a Mega. Though he's certainly not the only Mega of such stature and design, most of them are quite huge and have complex designs by comparison.
Ryo's nearly fully evolved partner who likewise comes out of nowhere. He resembles one of the demon-type Digimon, but is apparently a Cyborg.His digivolutions are as follows:
In-Training: Hopmon, a purple, scaly blob
Rookie: Monodramon, a small, fairly unthreatening dinosaur.
Canon Immigrant: He is the forced Jogress between Milleniumon and a separate Monodramon, which is why he can't stay in Monodramon form for long and why Cyberdramon is seeking a powerful "enemy" (Milleniumon, his Dark God Side).
Xiaochun's partner, and a counterpart to Terriermon (a distaff onein the dub). Originally known as Antylamon, the rabbit Deva, she is forced to regress to her Lopmon form when she becomes Xiaochun's partner.Her evolutions are as follows:
In-Training: Kokomon (Chocmon), a chocolate-coloured blob with spikes protruding from her head.
Rookie: Lopmon, her default form after her Face Heel Turn.
Ultimate: Antylamon (Andiramon), a tall bipedal rabbit with enormous hands. One of the Deva.
Badly Battered Babysitter: Antylamon when she first meets Xiaochun. Not only does she have to put up with her antics, but she also gets injured by Makuramon when he tries to kidnap Xiaochun. This sets the tone for later Antylamon interactions with Suzie, while Lopmon is more of a lovingly battered pet.
A rogue Digimon that resembles a court jester, content to run around the city and annoy everyone. He had a strange relationship with Renamon. Then he gets a power boost, and it kind of goes to his head...His digivolutions are as follows:
In-Training: Yaamon, a mischievous-looking blob.
Rookie: Impmon, his default form.
Mega: Beelzemon (Beelzebumon), a menacing humanoid in leather with a long tail. One of the Seven Great Demon Lords, though none of the others have anything to do with Tamers.
Badass Biker: The first thing he did as Beelzebumon was take control of a motorcycle that had, until then, possessed anyone who tried to ride it. Gallantmon vaporised it during their fight, but it showed up again in the second movie.
Berserk Button/Freak Out: As Beelzebumon, do NOT refer to him as Impmon. Post Heel Face Turn he won't hurt anyone over it, but he'll lose his composure and start gesticulating and stamping in indignation.
Big Damn Hero: Swooping in and saving the day when the D-Reaper is about to mop the floor with the other Digimon following his transformation to Beelzemon Blast Mode.
Crucified Hero Shot: Oddly enough, Beelzebumon gets one. When he and Culumon enter the D-Reaper Kernel Sphere to save Juri, the D-Reaper ensnares him in its cables and he ends up in crucified position. Symbolic? It's doubtful.
Early-Bird Cameo: In the original intro there's a very ominous shadow walking behind Impmon that's later revealed to be Beelzemon. However, the silhouette can actually be seen just a few seconds ahead if one pays close attention.
Evil Is Hammy: As Beelzemon before his Heel Face Turn, he often would scream out the last word of his sentence to get his point across. See Power High.
Evil Overlooker: He was shown in this fashion in the early promos for the show, except he was underneath the Tamers rather than above.
Improbable Aiming Skills: A whole herd of Chrysalimon are killed from just a few shots. Justified in that a Mega level Digimon wouldn't be using normal bullets.
More Dakka: Beelzemon Blast Mode upgrading from akimbo double-barreled pistols to a huge arm cannon in Blast Mode (though he keeps his previous weapons as backups). Even moreso when said arm cannon started out as a harmless toy ray gun.
Humans Are Bastards: He felt this way for a long time due to his Tamers treating him like a possession. It isn't until Jeri convinces Gallantmon to spare him, that he drops this trope.
Not to mention the original Japanese name for his Blast Mode arm cannon; "Death Slinger". So scary that they changed it to "Corona Blaster" in the English dub.
The Nicknamer: In the dub, at least. The most common one he used was "Pineapple Head" for Guilmon, but he occasionally used "Fox Face" for Renamon (or something having to do with her being a fox) and "Cream Puff" for Calumon. These became almost like Terms of Endangerment when he first became Beelzebumon. "Pineapple Head" doesn't sound as silly and innocent when it's said with a gun in your face.
Power High: Thinking over his actions, “At last, I was the one in control. The power was intoxicating, it was addicting, I couldn’t get enough. I had to have more and I would do anything for it. ANYTHIIING!!!!
Redemption Equals Death: Not quite for Impmon, but trying to redeem himself to Jeri before being struck down by the D-Reaper is the last time we ever see Beelzemon.
What Could Have Been: Word of God states that he was originally conceived as the main character. He was also at one point planned as the series' Big Bad (a fashion in which early promotional material depicts him), but this was later changed.
"Hello hello hello hello hellooo!!"A goofy little critter who befriends Guilmon and turns out to be the most important Digimon of all. Him/her (opinions vary) getting captured/lost sets off the digital world portion of the series.
Jianliang and Xiaochun's father, and one of the Monster Makers, a 1980s group of programmers who created the Digimon. Helps get together the rest of the creators to help the kids save the world.
A member of the Monster Makers, who continued to work on the project after the others left. After an accident, his spirit project itself into the Digital World, where he met Takato and Henry.
Shrug of God: Chiaki Konaka notes that, after hearing Masami Kikuchi's portrayal of Dolphin and the way he called Alice's name, it occurred to him that Alice might—heavy emphasis on might—be dead. She's never seen interacting with anyone but the Tamers and Dobermon, and she seems to vanish before their eyes.
Grani, formerly known in a different form as "The Ark", is the name of an ark that was created by the reunited Monster Makers to bring the Tamers back from Digital World to the Real world. It is later upgraded to be used against the fight against the D-reaper.
Sentient Vehicle: The monster makers were initially surprised that the Ark could make decisions for itself when it chose to stop and wait for Takato in the Digital World. It's later explained that it was created using the same program to make the Digimon.
A mysterious man in black who tends to stand around watching the kids and their Digimon, absently and creepily flicking his lighter. Is researching Digimon and capturing the weakened ones for reasons unknown...
My God, What Have I Done?: When Juggernaut is activated the first time and the first Deva appears, triggering a Villainous Breakdown. It doesn't really sink in though for several more episodes as more Devas use the portal he opened to cross over.
When He Smiles: He is in fact capable of smiling with sincerity.
Villainous Breakdown: When he realizes Juggernaut is allowing the most powerful Digimon yet an express ticket to the real world, he walks away from the scene ranting about "Digimon-loving freaks" and threatens Henry when they cross paths seconds after. In the original version, he's actually throttling Henry!
Two young women who operate the Digimon detection thingy that, well, detects Digimon.
Reika is voiced by: Ai Nagano (JP), Tifanie Christun (EN)
Megumi is voiced by: Fumiko Miyashita (JP), Peggy O'Neal (EN)
Ascended Extra: Riley actually gets to do stuff oustisde of Hypnos once it's revealed that she's Yamaki's girlfriend (Tally, however, is still just "that blond that works at Hypnos").
Twelve Perfect-level Digimon based on the twelve heavenly generals of Eastern mythology, and on the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. They serve the Sovereign Zhuquiaomon and try to invade the real world. Later the surviving Deva focus on capturing Calumon and manipulating Impmon instead.The Twelve Devas are, in order of appearance:
Animal Motifs: The twelve heavenly generals are lined up with the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac.
Beware the Silly Ones: The dub makes repeated jokes about Vikaralamon being a 'big pig', but it's pretty obvious that the 'big pig' is a serious threat.
Bullying a Dragon: Makuramon, an Ultimate, taunts Beelzemon, a Mega, in the middle of a battle that could destroy the Digital World. Unfortunately for Makuramon, Beelzemon does retaliate.
Canis Major: Catsuramon/Caturamon is the Dog Deva, and fairly large.
Instant Awesome, Just Add Dragons: Subverted with Majiramon who was the least impressive out of the Devas, due to getting minimum screentime with no lines or characterization, only serving as Makuramon's transport before being defeated by Cyberdramon.
More like Negated Momentof Awesome. He was easily beating the Tamer's Champion level digimon and did get Cyberdramon on his knees. He just had the bad luck of going up against Ryo.
Interspecies Romance: Because of all the flirting that goes on during the battle, Vajramon appears to be enamoured by Renamon during their first encounter. He later singles her out to persuade her to join him. Renamon, however, is only pretending to be interested so that she can extract information about him.
Killer Rabbit: Kumbhiramon looks pathetic, but he can give Leomon a hard time (at least at first).
Light is Not Good: Several of them are Vaccine types. They're still the bad guys.
Maniac Monkeys: Makuramon does some weird things even before his reveal.
Messy Pig: Vikaralamon is the Pig Deva, and easily the most destructive of the nine Devas who bio-emerge, causing massive amounts of damage during his rampage.
Not Evil, Just Misunderstood: Even though almost all the Devas held a disgust for humans, over the course of series Henry has a few conversations with his sensei concerning if the Devas are evil or not. His sensei mentions from legends that they only serve their God and fight for what they believe is right. In the end, they conclude that this was right and the Devas only fought to protect the Digital World. Within the Digital world they were unheard of by the inhabitants and the Heroes were often surprised they didn't hold some kind of jurisdiction.
Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism: They range from souped-up animals (Mihiramon, Majiramon) to strongly humanoid beasts (Vajramon, Indramon).
Smug Snake: Two of them. Sandiramon (a literal snake) tries to break the Tamers' confidence with his last words, and Indramon repeatedly taunts and laughs at Impmon and the Tamers.
The four supreme Digimon in this version of the Digital world. Alluded to (or shown in Azulongmon's case) in Digimon Adventure 02, in this version of the story, they are the supreme Digimon of the digital world, and live in the highest plane. Ironically, they are the closest physically to the human world this way, though in Zhuquiaomon's case, not emotionally.The powers of the sovereign include overseeing the Light of Digivolution (Calumon's power), and it is this capacity that starts the plot of the season.
Extra Eyes: All of the sovereign have four eyes. Ebonwumon is the only one to have two eyes on two heads.
Physical God: The Sovereigns are Digimon who digivolved to such an advanced level that even multiple Mega level Digimon have a hard time beating them. They act as protector Gods to the Digital World.
Power Glows: Each Sovereign glows their own color, and has 12 orbs of their glowing color encircling their bodies.
Zhuqiaomon
A giant phoenix and one of the four Holy Beasts. He sent the Devas into the real world in order to fight the humans, and then later has Calumon imprisoned in the belief that Calumon will help the Digimon evolve fast enough to face the "True Enemy".
Big Bad / The Man Behind the Man: The Big Bad of the Deva arc, though his existence isn't revealed until Sandiramon, Pajiramon and Vajramon speak of him. He later reluctantly does a Heel Face Turn when it is clear that destroying the humans will not help defeat the true Big Bad of the series.
Zhuqiaomon: Trespassers, you have disturbed the lair of Zhuqiaomon, Sovereign of the Digital World and protector of it's inhabitants. Look upon my countinant and tremble with fear, for within my eyes you see your own undoing!
Determinator: He fights Megagargomon, Azulongmon, and Gallantmon each in the same day. After the Tamers return to the real world they take a look into the digital world, and Zhuquiaomon is the only digimon seen fighting the D-reaper.
Fantastic Racism: Hates humans, especially Tamers and their Digimon. Even when he joins the good guys later, he still feels disgust for the Tamers.
Good Is Not Nice: Yeah, he's a Virus type alright, but you sure as hell would not expect a Digimon reffered as a "Holy Bird Digimon" to be evil. Not that he or his peers think he is. He's going his own route to stop the True Enemy.
Playing with Fire: Two of his attacks are fire-based: Blazing Helix and Phoenix Fire.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: Zhuquiaomon wants to protect the Digital World, but is misguided into thinking that the best way to do so is to destroy the humans, especially the Tamers.
Azulongmon
A giant dragon and one of the four Holy Beasts. He believes that it is digivolution that brought about the True Enemy. He saved the tamers from Zhuquiaomon's attack. Also, the only of the Sovereign to have appeared in another series, Digimon Adventure 02.
It's All My Fault: believes that digivolution is responsible for the reawakening of the True Enemy.
A giant two-headed turtle and one of the four Holy Beasts. For all the Darker and Edgier of the series, he brings a little bit of comic relief. At least, one head does.
The Nicknamer: As early as Ebonwumon's second line, he's giving out nicknames.
Talking To Themself: one head does most of the talking, including on behalf of the other.
Scottish English: Ebonwumon is also the only Sovereign to have a peculiar accent in the English dub. Specifically, one of his heads speaks in a rather stereotypical Scottish accent, while the other one is Irish. Try not to think too hard about that.
The D-Reaper / True Enemy
"...That way, this twisted world would never have existed."
A simple data cleanup program, its purpose is to delete other programs before they get too big. Like other digital beings, it has evolved into a more advanced and powerful state, but its parameters on what constitutes "too advanced" haven't changed, transforming it into an Omnicidal Maniac which attempts to delete everything. After hitching a ride to the human world and assimilating Jeri,it gets worse. Much, much worse .
A.I. Is a Crapshoot: The only artificial intelligence to remain a villain the whole series. Unlike all the others, it's doing exactly what it was created to do, just on a larger scale than its creators intended.
Big Bad: Of the final arc, and of the entire series due to being at the heart of the conflict between the Digital and human worlds.
Conspicuous CGI: The D-Reaper is a three dimensional mass in a two dimensional world. Deliberately invoked for a similar reason to the Mugann of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: it shows just how alien, how much of an Eldritch Abomination, and how plain wrong this thing is.
Creepy Monotone: With the voice of a 10-year-old girl. This is what makes J-Reaper terrifying.
Eldritch Abomination: Meeting us puny humans actually makes it worse or at least a good deal crazier.
Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: Naturally, this program breaks the rules by having an unknown type that has advantage over all others. This advantage is lost when the Tamers use the especially designed red card (converting them to the same type) which gives them a fighting chance against the agents as well as nullifying the negative effects inside the D-Reaper's quantum bubble.
Evil Counterpart: Its link with Jeri is something of a corrupted version of Matrix Evolution.
Gone Horribly Right: It does exactly what it's programmed to do. Apparently, the original programmers forgot to account for the fact that Technology Marches On.
The Juggernaut: Even after seven series, it is still likely the most powerful being ever to appear in the anime.
Shaggai (Juggernaut in English) reverted the D-Reaper to its original incarnation. In other words, the D-Reaper is stillalive after the final battle. Though whether or not it could return to its previous state is unclear.
Mind Rape: What the thing does to Jeri to get more power.
Non-Standard Character Design: Invoked by Chiaki J. Konaka, the head writer for a show. He had Kenji Watanabe (the originator of Digimon), Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru (the human character designer), and Shinji Aramaki (the CGI designer) have a competition with each other while designing this thing for the expressed purpose of getting this. And it worked; there's certainly never been anything like this before or after it.
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