Compared to the chopped up version in the English dub, the original Japanese version of this short film is more substantial and fleshed out. Yet there is still something that feels quite "missing" about it. A lot of important plot points are ultimately unexplained - the audience just has to accept that this is what is happening and this is the way things work here. At times I felt like perhaps I had missed a key scene or piece of dialogue that set up the scenario. Otherwise, it's a rather surreal diversion with some cool imagery and battles, though the canon consistency and soundtrack leave much to be desired (so much harmonica!).
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A beautiful story of hatred, neglect, love and care
jeremychng7 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
As a kid I loved this movie with all my heart yet lacked the words to explain why. Now as a young man, having revisited the movie has moved me just the same if not more for the emotional depth and weight it portrays with proper care in handling.
The movie mainly revolves around the relationship between two twin Digimon brothers and their beloved partner, one having been taken away suddenly. It's a representation of the struggle through trauma and neglect, needs unmet coming up in unhealthy and destructive ways. And ultimately it displays the way hatred, pain and hurt all stem from the same place that compassion, love and care does. That to overcome hatred and pain is to be there for those in pain, even when they hurt others. Not to try and get rid of them, not to try and condemn them or to hurt them back. That each time the kids tried to get more powerful, even with the right intentions and motives to protect and keep their loved ones safe and happy, it fails. It fails not because hate wins, but because they were neglecting Chocomon. They couldn't understand and feel the struggle and pain they felt that led them so far down into their world of pain and hatred and so their response was hostility which only stirs hatred more.
It is clear Wallace is one that heavily treasures his relationships and experiences with his Digimon, to the point where he still refers to them as their baby names. Chocomon and Kokomon. He tries to deny the way his loved one has changed for the worse and believes that if they show them vulnerability and care that they'll come back to how they were. Yet on the other hand, Gumimon had long accepted the loss of his brother, focusing on trying to protect, and drive Wallace away from seeing Chocomon again, as they display destructive tendencies. They both staunchly disagree on how they should approach the subject and keep it a private matter between them. The question is constantly posed throughout their journey to the flower field though, the tension of their opposing views almost always boiling over.
You can tell that they're both not truly satisfied with the way they see Chocomon. Their constant avoidance, silence and and redirection of the topic a sign of that. Wallace is all that Gumimon has left now that his brother is gone, and his response is to try and ensure that nothing can ruin that, not even someone that they used to love just as deeply as Wallace (Chocomon). And Wallace still deeply cares for Chocomon, the memories of their time together strong in his heart, yet he cannot help but feel uncomfortable with the fact Chocomon is destructive. He avoids confronting that.
Eventually, Wallace gets confronted by Davis on the complexity of his relationship with the Digimon that had been kidnapping and hurting them. They come to the conclusion that if they try to show love and compassion that Chocomon will no doubt return. Here, even though the kids don't understand what Chocomon is going through, they understand that Chocomon is still there. This sentiment is later challenged in the climax when Chocomon is refused affection and care from Wallace by Gumimon, causing him to lash out and hurt Gumimon. It is then they decide to get rid of them for good. They think there is no saving Chocomon; only harm to follow if they let Chocomon continue.
It is here we see the pain and hurt that has lingered in Chocomon for all the years he was abandoned and lost. The world in which it creates out of black beads of hate and pain scour and sear the real world with its emptiness and grief. Everything is overtaken and the field of flowers is now the years of Chocomon's pain and hurt manifest into reality. A lonely, cold, heartbreaking landscape. Many times the movie lingers on scenes and it is all done to carry the weight of words, looks, thoughts and it lingers on the scene of Chocomon standing in the field. The massive hulking rabbit looks small in comparison to the sheer and immense plains around it. It had been sitting in this world so long, alone and empty.
The kids do their best to fend off Chocomon. Now consumed by rage and hatred, all that Chocomon wants to do is to hurt others so that they can understand the pain he is going through. He starts to play with the Digimon, dehumanising them and objectifying them into things to play with. The lack of care he received is now his lack of care in how his actions negatively affect the digimon. The kids stay strong and steadfast, holding onto the sentiment that they have to destroy Chocomon.
However, even with the mega evolutions of angemon and angewoman, with all the might they muster, with all the righteous motive and compassion for their loved ones, it fails to overcome Chocomon. Because they still see Chocomon as a threat to be dealt with and not a friend who lacks love. And what ultimately beats Chocomon is when the kids are driven to their end, they grip tightly onto what mattered to them. Their friends and relationships, the care and love they have for one another. They scream and shout for their loved ones and Chocomon begins to step out of his stupor of rage and hate. He begins to see he is hurting the people he loves and that the people he is hurting similarly don't deserve it. Chocomon feels immense guilt and regret for what he's done, feeling like they cannot be redeemed or saved. He tells the golden digimentals to kill him.
Hory mory dude..... That was heavy..... But this movie is pawsome as all hell.... It shows that Chocomon's solution wasn't the end. The answer isn't to get rid of Chocomon or to make him suffer for all he's done. Once all was over, Wallace and Gumimon could understand better and loved him still with all their heart despite the hurt he caused. It was a full acceptance of Chocomon by his loved ones; the beginning of his repentance and reform. To start anew. This time in the presence of their love and care. With mirth, the egg at the end is unequivocally Chocomon.
The movie mainly revolves around the relationship between two twin Digimon brothers and their beloved partner, one having been taken away suddenly. It's a representation of the struggle through trauma and neglect, needs unmet coming up in unhealthy and destructive ways. And ultimately it displays the way hatred, pain and hurt all stem from the same place that compassion, love and care does. That to overcome hatred and pain is to be there for those in pain, even when they hurt others. Not to try and get rid of them, not to try and condemn them or to hurt them back. That each time the kids tried to get more powerful, even with the right intentions and motives to protect and keep their loved ones safe and happy, it fails. It fails not because hate wins, but because they were neglecting Chocomon. They couldn't understand and feel the struggle and pain they felt that led them so far down into their world of pain and hatred and so their response was hostility which only stirs hatred more.
It is clear Wallace is one that heavily treasures his relationships and experiences with his Digimon, to the point where he still refers to them as their baby names. Chocomon and Kokomon. He tries to deny the way his loved one has changed for the worse and believes that if they show them vulnerability and care that they'll come back to how they were. Yet on the other hand, Gumimon had long accepted the loss of his brother, focusing on trying to protect, and drive Wallace away from seeing Chocomon again, as they display destructive tendencies. They both staunchly disagree on how they should approach the subject and keep it a private matter between them. The question is constantly posed throughout their journey to the flower field though, the tension of their opposing views almost always boiling over.
You can tell that they're both not truly satisfied with the way they see Chocomon. Their constant avoidance, silence and and redirection of the topic a sign of that. Wallace is all that Gumimon has left now that his brother is gone, and his response is to try and ensure that nothing can ruin that, not even someone that they used to love just as deeply as Wallace (Chocomon). And Wallace still deeply cares for Chocomon, the memories of their time together strong in his heart, yet he cannot help but feel uncomfortable with the fact Chocomon is destructive. He avoids confronting that.
Eventually, Wallace gets confronted by Davis on the complexity of his relationship with the Digimon that had been kidnapping and hurting them. They come to the conclusion that if they try to show love and compassion that Chocomon will no doubt return. Here, even though the kids don't understand what Chocomon is going through, they understand that Chocomon is still there. This sentiment is later challenged in the climax when Chocomon is refused affection and care from Wallace by Gumimon, causing him to lash out and hurt Gumimon. It is then they decide to get rid of them for good. They think there is no saving Chocomon; only harm to follow if they let Chocomon continue.
It is here we see the pain and hurt that has lingered in Chocomon for all the years he was abandoned and lost. The world in which it creates out of black beads of hate and pain scour and sear the real world with its emptiness and grief. Everything is overtaken and the field of flowers is now the years of Chocomon's pain and hurt manifest into reality. A lonely, cold, heartbreaking landscape. Many times the movie lingers on scenes and it is all done to carry the weight of words, looks, thoughts and it lingers on the scene of Chocomon standing in the field. The massive hulking rabbit looks small in comparison to the sheer and immense plains around it. It had been sitting in this world so long, alone and empty.
The kids do their best to fend off Chocomon. Now consumed by rage and hatred, all that Chocomon wants to do is to hurt others so that they can understand the pain he is going through. He starts to play with the Digimon, dehumanising them and objectifying them into things to play with. The lack of care he received is now his lack of care in how his actions negatively affect the digimon. The kids stay strong and steadfast, holding onto the sentiment that they have to destroy Chocomon.
However, even with the mega evolutions of angemon and angewoman, with all the might they muster, with all the righteous motive and compassion for their loved ones, it fails to overcome Chocomon. Because they still see Chocomon as a threat to be dealt with and not a friend who lacks love. And what ultimately beats Chocomon is when the kids are driven to their end, they grip tightly onto what mattered to them. Their friends and relationships, the care and love they have for one another. They scream and shout for their loved ones and Chocomon begins to step out of his stupor of rage and hate. He begins to see he is hurting the people he loves and that the people he is hurting similarly don't deserve it. Chocomon feels immense guilt and regret for what he's done, feeling like they cannot be redeemed or saved. He tells the golden digimentals to kill him.
Hory mory dude..... That was heavy..... But this movie is pawsome as all hell.... It shows that Chocomon's solution wasn't the end. The answer isn't to get rid of Chocomon or to make him suffer for all he's done. Once all was over, Wallace and Gumimon could understand better and loved him still with all their heart despite the hurt he caused. It was a full acceptance of Chocomon by his loved ones; the beginning of his repentance and reform. To start anew. This time in the presence of their love and care. With mirth, the egg at the end is unequivocally Chocomon.
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