Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning

AquamarineGem Nov 9, 2023

7

[SPOILER] Imagine meeting a Digimon named Ukkomon that grants your deepest desires and wishes. What would you wish for? Ukkomon is a very selfless, loyal, and devoted Digimon (digital monster) and partner to Rui Owada. Ukkomon’s only wish is to make Rui Owada happy by granting Rui’s birthday wish. Its large and bubbly lime-green eyes gaze affectionately at Rui Owada. This movie illustrates how the Digidestined were born from Rui Owada’s yearning for protection, friendship, and social acceptance. Every year, Ukkomon would grant Rui’s wish of making friends. Ukkomon would help forge friendship bonds between Digimon and humans by granting them a Digidevice. This movie takes place in 2012 when the second generation of Digidestined are adults. Rui Owada can be described as a  character in distress. Since childhood…Rui was plagued with the scars of domestic abuse and domestic violence. His childhood body was battered with bruises from his mother’s beatings. Nevertheless, Rui still loves his mom despite his maltreatment. Rui only wishes that his mother listens, and pays attention to him. Ukkomon saves Rui from nasty situations by manipulating the people around Rui including his parents, neighbors, etc. Ukkomon also gathers the neighborhood children to celebrate Rui’s birthday on February 29 (the leap year date). After Rui realizes Ukkomon is manipulating his parents and preventing Rui’s parents from maltreating Rui…Rui tries to sever ties with Ukkomon.  Ukkomon is reborn as a gigantic egg. The Digidestined gather near the Tokyo Tower to prevent Ukkomon from granting a single Digimon to every human on Earth. A strong waft of nostalgia hits when the Digimon merge and  transform into familiar forms. This movie gives the audience a glimpse of Rui Okawa’s childhood memories with Ukkomon, and a nostalgic meeting of the adult Digidestined characters from Digimon Adventure 02. It’s a bittersweet and compelling story of friendship filled with action-packed scenes.