For most fans, the Digimon franchise is ed as a charming series filled with endearing characters, unique monsters, and exciting battles. Most of the anime created around the original concept have been made with a young audience in mind, which can be seen in their bright colors and cute designs. Nonetheless, behind the adorable façade, the Digimon franchise hides some of anime’s most perturbing scenes.

Although somewhat strange, it is the franchise’s darker side that has helped it remain relevant for more than 2 decades. The anime was never afraid to shock its audience, whether with tragic deaths or nightmare-inducing monsters. Fans are fond of these peculiar yet exhilarating moments, and they give the series a sense of self that no other kid’s anime has.

Digimon Is Much Darker Than Other Anime, and It Is Great

The Series’ Fearless Approach To Storytelling Is Its Biggest Strength

When thinking about the Digimon anime series, most fans will first characters like the lovable Agumon, who helped the series remain comical and lighthearted. Others could imagine one of the powerful and imposing monsters that have been introduced over the years. Regardless, after some moments, they will always picture the moments that left a mark on them, those that could be considered too dark for a children’s show. Scenes like the tragic death of Leomon or the cruelty of the pain Agumon felt when transforming into SkullGreymon will forever scar those who witness them.

Still, no fans will ever complain about having been a part of these perturbing moments, as they helped the series shine in ways that other similar franchises could not. While other kids’ shows would try their best to prevent any sort of dark material from being shown to children, such as Pokemon’s vast censorship, Digimon gladly embraced how dark the world could be. Their approach to topics like death or trauma was always respectful, but it was no less shocking and memorable because of it.

Digimon Tamers Is One of the Best Seasons and the Darkest

Its Finale Still Causes Nightmares

Out of all the shows Digimon has released, the third entry, Tamers, is often considered one of the best in history. Not only was this the first time the franchise introduced characters outside the Adventure timeline, but it also included a new cast of endearing and relatable characters. Nevertheless, for many, it is not Takato’s friendly demeanor or Henry’s maturity that makes this show special, but rather the terrifying and significant moments that were a part of the plot. One of the best examples of this trend was the introduction of Megidramon, one of the most dangerous Digimon.

Seeing Guilmon and Takato lose themselves to anger and awaken a monster capable of killing even its allies was a profoundly scary scene. Even then, there is no moment more terrifying in the franchise than the battle against the D. Reaper, a computer program that escaped to Earth to delete everything in its path. The fact that this already perturbing monster was fueled by the trauma of Jery, a girl who saw her Leomon die, only served to make it much more traumatizing for viewers.

While it is true that the horrifying moments in Digimon are not as prevalent as the exciting adventures of the heroes, they are undoubtedly a vital piece of the franchise. The recently announced new anime, Beatbreaker, seems to be ready to continue this cherished tradition, as its cover image looks straight out of a horror show.