Anime Manga Explosion Digimon Special

・Special episode about the “DIGIMON” series!
・Featuring “DIGIMON” designer Kenji Watanabe!
・“DIGIMON ADVENTURE” producer Hiromi Seki shares the inside story on developing the anime!
・Behind-the-scenes of the new “DIGIMON BEATBREAK”!
・Featuring series director Hiroaki Miyamoto!

The ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION documentary series (NHK World TV) dives deep into the artistry of the creators behind Japanese manga and anime that electrify audiences worldwide.

On October 26, 2025, ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION will air a special episode about the “DIGIMON” anime series. “DIGIMON” debuted in 1997 as a handheld game featuring Digimon that players raised from eggs and used in battles. In the 1999 anime adaptation “DIGIMON ADVENTURE” produced by Toei Animation, humans and Digimons deepen their bonds as they overcome hardships together. The series stood out from children's anime at the time for interweaving serious drama into the storyline. Building on the success of “DIGIMON ADVENTURE,” the multimedia franchise has continued to be embraced by fans worldwide for 25 years and counting.

We interview “DIGIMON ADVENTURE” producer Hiromi Seki. The game's selling points were virtual pets and battles, and we asked Seki about the reasons behind adding the themes of human relationships and personal growth for the anime. Plus, find out the strategies they used to differentiate the series from the “Pokémon” TV series that was already on air.

This episode also takes you behind-the-scenes for the latest “DIGIMON BEATBREAK” anime that begins airing in October 2025. We delve into the renewed Digimon character designs that shift the target audience from children to teens and young adults. Series director Hiroaki Miyamoto and character designer Takahiro Kojima had extensive discussions about the design for the 15-year-old protagonist Tomoro to craft a complex character with strengths and weaknesses. We show how they created a scene with impressive emotional expression from Tomoro in episode one.

Gekkomon is Tomoro's partner Digimon for this series. The design was handled by Digimon designer Kenji Watanabe, who has designed over 1,000 Digimon since the game's release in 1997. We talked with him about the secrets behind his Digimon designs and his vision when designing Gekkomon. Plus, we show the creation of a Digimon evolution scene, the highlight of battles in the anime. Get a rare glimpse into the sakuga (animation drawing) process.

Don't miss these valuable interviews of the people who keep the “DIGIMON” series in evolution, plus the rare behind-the-scenes coverage of the anime production process.

On air: October 26, 2025 (Sun) NHK World TV
28-minute episode broadcast from 12:10, 18:10, 23:10 and next day 5:10 (Japan time)

Free VOD streaming on the NHK World Japan website from the following day.
See the viewing guide for details:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/ja/tv/howto_watch_in_japan/

Featuring: Kenji Watanabe, Hiromi Seki, Hiroaki Miyamoto, Takahiro Kojima, Volcano Ōta

Narrator: Michael Turpin

Official website: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/anime_manga/