For Digimon fans, the original Adventure anime is by far one of the best entries the franchise has ever produced. Its story, characters, and lessons left a mark on an entire generation and forever changed the way in which kids’ anime was produced and consumed around the globe. Its direct sequel, 02, is also an incredibly enjoyable show, a fact that helped cement the overall story as a classic for fans.

It is due to this success that most fans find it disappointing that Digimon Tri and Kizuna films failed to recapture the magic of the original anime. Worst of all, according to the director of the series, Hiroyuki Kakudo, the sequel planned by the original team would have been an amazing and fascinating journey. Lamentably, this project was abandoned before it began production.

Adventure’s Sequel Would Have Been Beyond Epic

This Idea Greatly Sures Tri and Kizuna

Digimon Tri, a series of films that served as a continuation of the Adventure story, was supposed to be a project that would help revitalize the franchise. The movies followed the beloved DigiDestined and the original group of Digimon as they grew, leaving behind the innocence of childhood and facing new challenges. The plot also revolves around an insidious plan to destroy the human world being carried out by some of the most powerful forces in the Digital World. Its direct continuation, Kizuna, was a bittersweet ending to the story of Tai and Matt, two of the most important characters.

While the movies were by no means bad, many fans consider them mediocre attempts at utilizing nostalgia to bring back the audiences the franchise had lost over the years. The overall plot and new characters felt forced, with no real connection or significance to the Adventure series. Many fans wish these films would not have been considered direct sequels to the original Digimon anime, as they believe their performance put a stain on the franchise’s record. Some other fans have also pointed out that their existence prevented the original sequel from being released, which is an absolute shame.

When the Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning movie was released, Kakudo, one of the most beloved and important directors of the franchise, gave a short interview to commemorate the occasion. When asked about his opinions on the movie, he voiced his praise for the team behind it but also commented that the original Adventure team had a different vision in mind. Among his most shocking revelations was the fact that the epilogue of the series, which revealed the fates of the main DigiDestined, was hinting at an epic space adventure with Matt and Gabumon as the heroes.

An Evil Force Awaited the Heroes in Space

The Epilogue Was the Beginning of This Memorable Journey

During the Digimon Adventure and 02 anime shows, fans were introduced to a still unresolved plot point concerning the difficulty of Digivolving. The series explained that an unknown force had been responsible for the heroes not being able to increase the power of their partners. This idea was never fully explored, as the journey of the heroes ended after MaloMyotismon was defeated. Kakudo’s words explained that the origin of this mysterious force would be explained in a sequel, which would take place on a different planet.

Matt becoming an astronaut at the end of the show was a hint at this future continuation, implying that he would have been the main character of this unreleased anime. For many fans, the revelation that Matt, who had been very vocal about his dreams of being a musician, became a space explorer seemed to come out of nowhere. Kakudo’s words made this ending much more understandable by revealing that Matt was selected as the leader of the team who would go to space to fight the mysterious alien force.

He and Gabumon were sought after because they were one of the original heroes that saved the human and Digital worlds. As such, the team behind the mission wanted to use their strength, given that Gabumon can be considered one of the franchise’s strongest Digimon, to defeat this new evil. This concept was not fully developed, as Kakudo and his team were not included in the creation of the sequel movies. This incredible follow-up to the series will likely never see the light of day, as the franchise has officially announced the original anime’s story will end after 25 years.

Kakudo’s Words Change the Perception of the Epilogue

​​​​​​​02’s Ending Is Much More Meaningful

Even though the concept of Matt flying to space to fight an unknown evil is by far the most interesting revelation in Kakudo’s interview, the director also helped the epilogue of 02 feel much more important. According to him, the scene shown at the end of the series was the first time in years the DigiDestined had been able to meet, as the world went into chaos soon after the defeat of MaloMyotismon. The connection between the world of humans and the Digital World became much stronger, to the point where new DigiDestined began appearing every year.

By the time the epilogue occurred, all humans had a Digimon partner, forcing the governments of the world to adapt to this new reality. Tai’s job as an ambassador for the Digital World, another decision heavily criticized by fans for how unexpected it was, becomes a lot more logical with this explanation. The original hero and his partner were among the first teams of Digimon and humans, making them a perfect option for peace talks between the species. Woefully, the fact that this sequel, which would explain the epilogue, will never be released only serves to hurt the controversial ending.

Could -BEYOND- Include This Plot?

​​​​​​​The Text-Only Entry Could Be Based on This Idea

Although the Digimon Adventure anime might have already ended with the release of the 25th anniversary celebratory video, -BEYOND-, there is a chance that Kakudo’s idea might become canon. The video is supposed to be accompanied by a still-unreleased text that explains the story and final years of the DigiDestined before becoming adults. It could be possible that the adventure they will go on during this entry is based on the director’s sequel.