Digimon Adventure has been considered one of the best kid-centric anime ever created for decades, and with good reason. Its cast, story, and impressive monsters left a mark on millions of fans who enjoyed this show during their childhoods. Few anime have been able to inspire and entertain entire generations, like the original Adventure series, which has lamentably come to an end in 2025.

Yet, despite how objectively amazing the series is, there is another entry in the franchise that has left a much deeper impact on the industry at large: Tamers. The third season of the anime took everything that made the original show so beloved and improved every aspect. Although both are among the best series Digimon has to offer, there is no denying that Tamers is superior by a long margin.

Digimon Tamers Is the Franchise’s Absolute Best

The Anime Is Virtually Flawless

Following the success of the Digimon Adventure 02 anime, a direct sequel to the original series, the team behind the franchise decided to create an entirely new story for fans to enjoy. Their desire to explore different characters, creatures, and locations led to the creation of the Tamers anime, a show that took everything viewers enjoyed from its predecessor and tried to improve on it. The result was one of the most complex, endearing, and memorable shows of all time. The story follows Takato, an elementary school student who grew up watching the Adventure show.

His desire to live in the universe of the series manifests itself in the form of a Digivice, a powerful tool that helped him achieve his dream of becoming a Digimon tamer. With Guilmon by his side, an incredibly imposing beast he created, he began to discover the secrets and dangers of the Digital World, while trying to keep his universe safe from some of the most powerful monsters in the series.

The show’s story did take some inspiration from its predecessors, putting a major emphasis on topics and themes that few other kids’ anime touched upon. To distance its story from the original series, Tamers abandoned many of shōnen's typical tropes and created a unique story that helped children understand themes such as loss and anger. The series also introduced some of the most terrifying monsters in the franchise and used them to tell a compelling story that has withstood the age of time.

Tamer’s Cast Is More Realistic Than Adventure’s

Takato and His Friends Are Amazing Protagonists

Despite Tai and Agumon being among the best tamer and Digimon partner duo in the franchise, their story and personalities reflect many of the tropes present in 90s shōnen anime. The leader of the original Digidestined was a brave and charismatic child, but he had a hard time demonstrating his emotions. While not one-dimensional by any means, Tai lacked some of the depth found in the protagonists of the following series. Takato is a perfect example of this trend, being among the most realistic and interesting characters in the franchise.

Takato did not begin the series as a fearless leader ready to guide his friends through danger and peril. He was a child scared of the new and terrifying world that he stumbled upon by pure coincidence. He was not afraid to cry or show his fear, a trait difficult to find in anime heroes at the time. Nevertheless, as the series progressed, the hero became more confident, transforming into a reliable leader that his friends could look up to and feel safe with. Rika and Henry, Takato’s friends and the deuteragonists of the story, were also complex and relatable characters.

The Digimon Queen pretended to be a cold-hearted warrior looking to become stronger, a front she used to hide her vulnerability and insecurities. Henry acted as the voice of reason, trying to find the most peaceful resolution and avoiding unnecessary danger. These qualities gave them a degree of realism that helped them stand out among the heroes of other shōnen anime. The best episodes in the series saw these amazing characters grow and mature, learning from their mistakes and becoming better people and heroes.

Tamer’s Dark Themes Encapsulate What Makes Digimon So Beloved

The Show Is Far More Terrifying Than Its Predecessors

As time has ed, anime fans who grew up alongside the Digimon franchise have realized that the series was far different from other kids’ anime for one reason: its dark themes. Despite shōnen shows often addressing more mature topics, they tend to do so in a fast and easy-to-digest fashion, trying to avoid leaving a mark on the viewers. Digimon Tamers is the living embodiment of how twisted the series could get, being one of the most messed-up child-centric shows ever produced.

From evil Digimon, who tried to impose their will on innocent children, to the nightmare-inducing D-Reaper, the show had plenty of scary monsters to horrify viewers with. Nevertheless, the most memorable frights had nothing to do with the creatures themselves, but with the daily issues the children had to deal with. The death of Leomon, the most tragic character in the franchise, left his tamer, Jeri, with a deep depression. Rika’s family was broken after her father abandoned her with her work-obsessed model mother.

Even Takato, the most collected of the heroes, became driven by rage and vengeance during the final half of the season. His dark emotions created what is perhaps the most dangerous Digimon in the franchise, Megidramon. Tamers is by far one of the most beloved entries in the franchise, and its darker atmosphere is a major reason why. The third season evolved with its audience, handling more mature topics, so the fans who fell in love with Adventure would continue to follow the series. It was an amazing move that greatly helped Tamers remain relevant even decades after its release.

Fans Know Adventure Is Iconic

​​​​​​​The Franchise Would Not Exist Without the Original

Even though there are many reasons why fans might believe Tamers is the superior Digimon season, the series would have never been created without Adventure to pave its way. Tai and his friends went on one of the best journeys anime fans have ever seen, with many considering the original show among the best Isekai in existence. Their legacy kept the franchise alive despite the fandom's loss of interest over the years. Adventure will forever be the pillar that helped Digimon become the giant of anime that fans know and love today.