A (Japan-only) three-installment novelization of Digimon Adventure, released in Japan between April and July of 2001. The novels are co-authored by Hiroyuki Kakudou, the original series director, and Hiro Masaki, a main screenwriter.
The first novel, entitled "The Adventure Begins Now," covers the Devimon through Etemon arcs. The second, entitled "The Eighth Chosen Child," covers most of the Vamdemon arc, and the third, "The Adventure Continues," finishes the Vamdemon arc before covering the remainder of the series.
The novels were never released in English, but the full translation can be found here.
Tropes present in the novels include:
- Adaptation Distillation: Several episodes are condensed into passing mention.
- Adaptation Expansion: The novels go into detail on several of the characters' personalities, and on their lives in Tokyo. For example, the first volume includes Yamato visiting him and Takeru's mother briefly in Sangenjaya, and the conflict he feels about it due to their parents' divorce.
- Adapted Out: Several minor characters from the anime do not appear in the novelization.
- All There in the Manual: Provides some background on the children's families and their characterization.
- Alternate Continuity: Several episodes' events play out differently in the novel. For example, Cyclomon, a Digimon who never appeared in the anime, makes an appearance during the Etemon arc, plus Togemon and Angemon's evolutions occur at different points than in the anime.
- Continuity Cameo: Daisuke Motomiya from the second series makes a brief appearance in the third novel. Yukio Oikawa is also briefly mentioned during a conversation between Takeru and his mother.
- Continuity Nod: The Devimon arc chapter closes with the four Dark Masters facing and sealing away the Digimon Sovereigns from 02, though the nature of their fight, and how they got the upper hand against such powerful creatures remains unexplained.
- Darker and Edgier: Some of the fight scenes from the anime are a lot more violent in the novels. For example, the SkullGreymon fight has the Etemon-controlled Greymon crushed to a pulp, and Piemon pulls a chainsaw on War Greymon instead of turning everyone into dolls.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: Etemon does not come back as Metal Etemon in the novelization.
- I'm a Humanitarian: In a possible Mythology Gag, Apocalymon eats Piemon's data a la Digimon Tamers.
- Lampshade Hanging: Takeru states that Leomon reminds him of his father, a nod to the fact that both were voiced by Hiroaki Hirata.
- One of the Boys: Sora takes on many more masculine responsibilities.
- Ship Tease: Between Sora and Yamato such as Yamato seeing his mother in Sora and both of them thinking Taichi is too immature or insensitive.
