This is a rather interesting comparison, and a lot could be added onto it. I originally posted this at the Yamatoholics Anonymous message board, but I felt it was interesting enough to preserve here. As of now it's directly copied from the site, but I plan to expand on this idea and others like it. I also hope to post the veiws of others. Drop me a line if you have anything to add. If I agree, I'll post it here.
- Jacq
Re: This is it. The last episode of 02(I think)
Well, at the risk of a flogging, I'm sort of glad it's over, in a weird way.
Hopes maybe to start a discussion
The closest relation I can think of is Slayers. Let's look at it this way, as both have
three seasons.
1st Season
Slayers: Fast-paced, funny, and exciting, regardless of crappy animation. Introduces us to almost ten "main" charactars, without confusing us the way Digimon and even Gundum wing did for a time (I don't think anyone can honestly say that, without any prior knowledge, they weren't confused trying to keep the five pilots, Zechs, Treize, Relena, Une, ect straight in their heads.) All charactars are well-portrayed and adequately fleshed out through the remainder of the season. Seeing as it's sort of a test ground, the adventures are basic without being shallow, hard-hitting without trying too hard. Being based on a novel, it follows almost exactly to the letter, save a few out-of-storyline bits and one or two charactars. Both endings (As the 26 episode season was basically split in the middle between the Rezo and Kopii sagas) were well-done. By the end of the first ten episodes, everyone has a favorite charactar. (Zelgadiss)
Digimon (1st Season, ZeroOne): Nice, colourful animation, a well-written storyline, and also fast-paced and exciting. Funny as all hell, but in a different way; one which targets younger people and those with a penchat for puns like me =) We are introduced directly to seven main charactars and their Digimon, bringing the count up to fourteen without any supporting chars or antagonists. This is confusing, but once understood is rather funny (Like how Taichi and Agumon are so alike, and Jyou and Gomamon are so...not.) Each charactar has their own, three-dimensional personality and pasts, revealed bit by bit throughout the series. Not being based on anything, the show was written for television, and has a visual element not apparent in books or even manga: And the writing was superb, considering it is a children's show. But also because of this, it suffers in a few areas (The distinct lack of romance, for example, and a few too many fights than I really care to think about). Though Digimon had almost twice as many episodes (50, I think), it is also broken into two/three parts, the Etemon and the Myotismon/Apocalypmon(sp) sagas, or the Digiworld/Heighton Veiw Terrace sagas. Both endings were not bad, but it was obvious the first wasn't really an ending. By the time you actually knew who everyone was, you had a favorite pro- and antagonist. (Matt and Demidevimon).
2nd Season
Slayers (Next): Breaking off from the books about half-way though, it introduces us to two new canon charactars (Xel and Martina), and their respective personalities/backgrounds/motives. The "two" stories are almost self-contained, but fit together as a whole, much like ZeroOne. Things only hinted at become a bit more apparant, or in some cases blatent (*coughcoughLinaandGourrycoughcough*), but still keep to it's old humour.The animation is brighter, but more cartoony; in a bad way. (Examples: Amelia's face shading in the Fighting Dragon's Blood Macho Men episode, and the proportion of the head-to-body-ratio during the Temple Singing spell). The story-line is definately hard-hitting, but there's a distinct sense of trying to one-up the first season's charm. The show also touches a bit on a more adult level, by adding more to the charactars, such as Zelgadiss' obsessive-compulsive disorder and Xelloss' being a demon. The ending is also gushy-sweet beyond all reason, and gives some closure. By far the worst of the three seasons, yet holding it's own sense of nifty-ness in the process.
Digimon (2nd Season, ZeroTwo): Though Tamers hasn't been aired much, from what I've seen of the Japanese episodes, ZeroTwo also looks like the worst of the lot. By introducing us to three new canons, not to mention still having the first season cast, ZeroTwo is a brainful of people. The charactars are a lot hollower than their original counterparts (What's Daisuke's home situation? Don't Miyako's parents care she steals food all the time?) and seem to fit a little too well into the stereo-types given to them (Iori's eight and acts like he wants to be cannonized). The storyline is a bit darker than the original in a few ways, but not so in others. I like to think of Ken as what would have happened if Matt never met the ZeroOne group. There's an amazing buildup, and then a mediocre ending, as if the writers got tired of it halfway through. Again split into two sections (Kaizer saga and World Tour saga) the first is actually more potent, as the second just seems like a massive toy commercial slash global relations infomercial. We see virtually no more charactar development (There is a bit more added to the charactar of Natsuke, and the whole "You've grown up, Tai" bit, but that's about it). By the end of it, Iori's still a Kenshin-wannabe, Ken's still depressive, Miyako's still creepy, and Daisuke still has noodles-for-brains. The ending has such a massive sense of closer and ending, it gives you those little sad feelings. ZeroTwo wasn't created solely to bring new fans to the series, like Next was. It was just a continuation of the original storyline.
3rd Season
Slayers (Try): Different enough to be almost AU (alternate universe). We're introduced to two new canons, a sub-canon, and an insanely sexy antagonist. Completely apart from the novels, the storyline is confusing, dark, and epic as befits the final season. The storyline spans the entire 26 episodes, and only lets up a few times for the cross-dressing episode, Alice-in-Wonderland acid trip, and a few fish guys. There's a bit of charactar development, but mostly in the newer canons, as the original four are pretty well defined (The exception to this being Amelia, who matures some more). The canon couples are shot in the head and non-canon hijinx abound. The animation meshes nicely the bright colours of CG paint and a nice, darkish tone befitting the seriousness. The ending is epic beyond all conscious reason, and the final song (In English, no less!) will make lots of people sad. Thus ends the Slayers saga. (Unless you count Lost Universe, but you shouldn't.)
Digimon (3rd Season, Tamers): I'll admit I've only seen the first three episodes, and raw, so I'm missing bits. But, from what I've seen, it is AU, and a complete off-shoot of the original, the only connection being the monsters themselves. It's cut down to four main chars and their Digimon, which bring the number to the original seven (That's the three kids, their digimon, and the Curumon, folks.) It also looks a lot darker, and has the oppurtunity to get very adult. Only time will tell...
Marissa, SilverMagelet, had this to say:
I'd just like to point out that I LOVE the darkness and emotions in 02, and there's a lot more for love triangles. It seems a lot more mature than 01, and even all the 01 characters are better in 02! Some things in 01 just... irritate me. Like Etemon, whiny Mimi, dorkish Joe, annoying Tentomon, stupid Agumon ect. I haven't come across anything like that in 02.. well, yeah, I rant on and on about all the ways I could kill Davis... but you love to hate him. ^__^ At the very least, his pathetic stupidity can be funny. Thinking back on 01, the only main aspects I liked were: Matt and Gabumon, Kari and Gatomon, Patamon, Myotismon.