Summary
The DigiDestined are group of chosen children who are partnered up withDigimonto defeat evil whenever it arises. Some DigiDestined are witnesses to events where the Digital World and the real one collide, while others are called forth but fail to complete their mission.
In Digimon Adventure, seven children are sucked up during their trip to summer camp. However, by the time this happens, the world is being plagued by a series of natural disasters that could bring forth the end of planet Earth. Luckily, with the help of an eighth member, they can put a stop to this apocalypse while also facing their own personal battles. So which of the original DigiDestined are the greatest of all time?
9The Original Five
An Honorary Mention
The characters we follow in Digimon Adventure are not the first humans to arrive in the Digital World. Later in the series, it is revealed that there were originally five other DigiDestined who arrived before Tai and the others.
These DigiDestined later get a true backstory in Digimon Tri where they failed in their fight against the dark masters. However, in Digimon Adventure, their history became one of the biggest unexplained mysteries of the show. Just goes to show how only a few seconds of screen time can spark curiosity that later gets expanded years in the future.
8Joe
Reliable Old Joe
Joe is one of the oldest members of the Digimon Adventure crew. Because of this, he feels like he needs to look after the other members of the group. He has knowledge of first aid and always looks for more dangerous options when dealing with the many dangers of the Digital World.
Partnered with Gomamon, Joe embodies reliability as he often puts other people ahead of himself. This eventually activates his crest when he saves TK from drowning at the risk of drowning himself.
7Kari
The Missing Light
Kari is one of the more interesting members of the original DigiDestined. Despite joining the group later, she was always meant to be transported to the Digital World at the same time as everyone else. However, being sick prevented this from happening.
As Tai’s little sister, being present in the later half of Digimon gives Tai the same responsibility as Matt in terms of protecting a younger sibling. Kari also has one of the more unique reunions with her partner Digimon, Gatomon, as the feline is originally sent to assassinate her. Luckily, Kari’s kindness is able to win her over and her crest of light enables her to defeat Myotismon’s first form.
6Sora
Love In All Forms
Sora is a tomboy who loves soccer and is partnered with Biyomon. Her backstory isn’t always up front like some of the other DigiDestined, but her crest of love requires her to understandall types of love. Even the kind of love that might seem strenuous at first glance.
She is protective of her friends, the Digimon, and her partner. However, this motherly nature later allows her to understand why her own mother could be so overprotective of her at times. This allows her to heal that strained relationship, and she understands these concerns from both angles.
5TK
A Future Filled With Hope
TK is the little kid of the group. However, he also has one of the more powerful partners on the team. With Patamon by his side and the crest of hope, TK can pull his weight when push comes to shove.
TK is Matt’s younger brother and offers a different perspective to his family situation. With divorced parents, the last thing TK wants to find himself separated from the ones he loves. However, being the younger brother, he still has idealistic hopes about how it can all end up even if Matt knows there is no going back, there is only change.
4Izzy
Knowledge Is Power
Izzy is the kind of kid to bring his laptop to summer camp. In this case, it turns out to be a valuable tool asIzzy becomes the tech wizard of the group. His partner Digimon is Tentomon who gives plenty of exposition on the types of Digimon they encounter on the journey. Izzy himself has a drive to figure out just what makes the Digital World tick.
Unfortunately, he can distance himself from other people due to his curiosity. He can be so caught up in his quest for knowledge that he ignores those around him. Izzy also has a strained relationship with his parents after accidentally finding out that he is adopted, adding a bit more realism to his arc.
3Mimi
Growing Serenity
With eight different characters to juggle around, Digimon Adventure tries its best to give everyone equal screen time. Out of all of them, Mimi is one of the best due to the amount of change she goes through during the series.
She starts off a bit whiny and unwilling to fight. She’s used to the comfortable life. However, every battle makes her a stronger person who is willing to set aside her own needs and get her hands dirty. She even gets the most memorable goodbye during the final episode as she spends most of it trying to find Palmon.
2Tai
A Courageous Lad
Big hair and goggles give Tai a signature look among the DigiDestined. With Agumon by his side, Tai embodies the trait of courage as he takes the role of leader. However, this is also part of his journey as he starts off a bit rash and foolhardy.
Tai can be a bit dumb sometimes and get into fights with Matt over his decisions. As time goes by, he learns that true courage doesn’t mean jumping into every dangerous situation, but rather understanding true weight of the risks that are taken and being able to step up to the challenge.
1Matt
Relying On Friendship
Matt is essentially the second leader of the original DigiDestined, yet in some cases might even be the better character. He always has his own ideas on how to handle things and is constantly looking after his little brother, TK. Due to his protective nature, he often relies on himself to solve problems and, at times, even pushes others aside.
However, this is part of his character growth as he learns that he is strong because he has friends to rely on. This understanding allows him to activate his crest of friendship to get Gabumon to reach his ultimate form. What makes Matt better than Tai is that he has his brother by his side from the start of the series, so viewers get to see more of that sibling dynamic than Tai and Kari.
