Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (Japanese: デジモンアドベンチャー02 THE BEGINNING, Hepburn: Dejimon Adobenchā Zero Tsū Za Biginingu) is a 2023 Japanese animated adventure film directed by Tomohisa Taguchi and written by Akatsuki Yamatoya based on the Digimon franchise by Akiyoshi Hongo. Produced by Toei Animation with animation by Yumeta Company and distributed by Toei Company, The Beginning is a sequel to Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020) and serves as the series finale to the Digimon Adventure 02 story. The Beginning was first released on October 5, 2023 at Shinjuku Wald 9, and then in Japanese theaters on October 27.
On October 5, multiple movie theaters in the United States announced they would be releasing an English dub of the film on November 8. The English dub was then officially confirmed on October 10. Warner Bros. Pictures distributed the film in Thailand on November 2, 2023. Sugoi Co. distributed the film in Australia and New Zealand on November 23, 2023. PVR Inox Pictures distributed the film in India on January 5, 2024.
Contents
Plot
In 2012, a giant Digi-Egg appears over Tokyo, transmitting a mysterious message that wishes for everyone on Earth to have a Digimon friend. The Adventure 02 DigiDestined encounter Lui Ohwada, who claims to be the first chosen child and attempts to reach the Digi-Egg. While assisting Lui, Davis, Ken, and their Digimon accidentally fall through the Digi-Egg and are transported back to 1996. They witness a younger Lui, who is abused by his mother, discovering a Digi-Egg. Older Lui tries to stop him, but they are then returned to the present.
Lui shares his life story with the DigiDestined. The Digi-Egg he encountered in the past hatched into Ukkomon, a Digimon that could grant wishes, who gave him the very first Digivice. Over the years, Ukkomon gleefully manipulated Lui's parents, friends and neighbors into treating him kindly. However, Lui eventually learned that his wish had led to the increase in number of other DigiDestined who were risking their lives in battles alongside their Digimon partners, much to his horror. Lui confronted Ukkomon, but the Digimon innocently declared that everything had been done for Lui's happiness. Lui accidentally injured his right eye in anger, and Ukkomon gave him his own eye as a replacement. A mentally unstable Lui insulted Ukkomon furiously, causing the Digimon to melt away and disappear, also as a result, Lui's parents suddenly ended up dropping dead due to Ukkomon puppeteering them for too long.
