What Is Digimon? Complete Beginner's Guide (2026)

What Is Digimon? The Complete Beginner's Guide (2026)

If you've heard the name but never dived in, you're probably wondering: what is Digimon, exactly? A Pokemon clone? A dead 90s franchise? An anime? A game?

The answer: Digimon is one of Japan's longest-running multimedia franchises — spanning anime, games, virtual pets, and trading cards — and in 2026, it's more alive than it's been in a decade.

This guide answers every beginner question in one place.

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What Is a Digimon?

A Digimon — short for Digital Monster — is a lifeform born from data inside a parallel "Digital World" created by computer networks.

What is Digimon about at its core? Kids (called DigiDestined or Tamers) get partnered with these creatures and travel between the real and Digital Worlds, fighting threats that endanger both. Unlike Pokemon, Digimon are intelligent, talk, and form deep emotional bonds with their partners.

Think of it as: virtual pets + internet mythology + coming-of-age storytelling.

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Who Created Digimon and Who Owns It?

Digimon was created in 1997 by Akiyoshi Hongo — actually a pen name for the Bandai team behind it (including Aki Maita, creator of Tamagotchi). It launched as a battle-focused virtual pet for boys, a counterpart to the Tamagotchi.

So who owns Digimon today? Bandai Namco owns the franchise, with Toei Animation producing the anime series. That's why Digimon games appear on PlayStation, Switch, and PC — unlike Pokemon, it has no Nintendo exclusivity.

Confused about the Pokemon connection? We settled the full debate in Digimon vs Pokemon: which came first.

How Does Digimon Evolution Work?

Digimon evolution — called Digivolution — is the franchise's signature mechanic, and it works very differently from Pokemon:

• It's temporary. A Digimon can Digivolve for battle and revert afterward.
• Standard stages: Fresh → In-Training → Rookie → Champion → Ultimate → Mega.
• It's branching. One Digimon can evolve into many different forms depending on care, bond, and stats — a core mechanic in games like Digimon Story: Time Stranger.
• Special types exist: Armor Digivolution, DNA Digivolution (two Digimon fusing), and Warp Digivolution (jumping straight to Mega).

Do Digimon Die?

Yes — and this is where Digimon earns its reputation for emotional storytelling. When Digimon die, they typically dissolve into data and are reborn as Digi-Eggs, losing memories of their past life. Some deaths in the anime are permanent and genuinely devastating; ask any fan about Wizardmon.

Do Digimon Have Genders?

Officially, most Digimon are genderless — they're data. However, many have feminine or masculine presentations (Angewomon, LadyDevimon), and the anime often uses gendered pronouns for personality. The games list most Digimon as gender-free.

Are There Shiny Digimon?

Not in the Pokemon sense of rare recolors found in the wild. But Digimon has variant and recolor Digimon as separate species — like BlackAgumon or ShineGreymon — plus special color variants in certain games and virtual pets. Collectors treat these like Digimon's answer to shinies.

How Many Digimon Are There in Total?

There are over 1,400 official Digimon species as of 2026, and the number grows every year with new games and card sets. For comparison, that's larger than Pokemon's roster — one reason the strongest Digimon debates get so heated.

Is Digimon an Isekai?

Sort of — and it arguably did isekai before isekai was cool. Kids being transported to another world (the Digital World) is textbook isekai structure, and Digimon Adventure (1999) predates the modern isekai boom by 15 years. The difference: characters move freely between both worlds, and the real world stays central to the story. Most fans call it "proto-isekai."

What Happened to Digimon? Is It Still Going?

Short answer: yes, Digimon is still going strong in 2026.

The "what happened to Digimon" feeling comes from gaps between anime seasons in the 2010s, when Pokemon dominated screens non-stop. But the franchise never stopped:

• Anime: Digimon Beatbreak is currently airing, with Digimon Alysion on the way.
• Games: Digimon Story: Time Stranger became one of the franchise's biggest game launches ever.
• Card game: The rebooted Digimon Card Game (2020) is now a global competitive TCG — see our Digimon cards value guide.

How Did Digimon End? (It Didn't — But Adventure Did)

If you're asking how did Digimon end, you likely mean the original story. The Adventure continuity concluded with Digimon Adventure Last Evolution Kizuna (2020) and the epilogue film The Beginning (2023), giving Tai's generation an emotional farewell. The franchise itself continues with new casts and worlds.

Did They Remake Digimon? Is Digimon Adventure 2020 a Remake?

Yes. Digimon Adventure: (2020) is a full reboot/remake of the 1999 original — same kids, same partners, but a new story with modern animation. Fan reception was mixed: gorgeous fights, but many missed the original's slower character writing. If you're choosing between them, our complete Digimon watch order guide breaks down exactly where to start.

Where Should a Beginner Start?

• Anime: Start with Digimon Adventure (1999) — full details in the watch order guide.
• Games: Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth or Time Stranger — see our Cyber Sleuth guide.
• Lore: The official Digimon Reference Book catalogs every species if you want to go deep.

Conclusion

So, what is Digimon? A 29-year-old franchise about digital lifeforms, human bonds, and stories that respect their audience — created by Bandai in 1997, owned by Bandai Namco, and thriving in 2026 with new anime, hit games, and a growing card scene.

It was never a Pokemon clone. It was always its own thing — and there's never been a better time to jump in.

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