Toei Animation Co., Ltd. Digimon Project Why are Digimon so loved around the world? NHK World JAPAN’s “ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION” will broadcast a “DIGIMON Special” on Sunday, October 26th.

【Toei Animation Co., Ltd. Digimon Project】Why are Digimon so loved around the world? “DIGIMON Special” to air on NHK World JAPAN’s “ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION” on Sunday, October 26th ​
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. Digimon Project Press Release: October 23, 2025 To Members of the Press Why is Digimon so loved around the world? “DIGIMON Special” to air on Sunday, October 26th on NHK World JAPAN’s “ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION” ~25 Years of Evolution and Behind the Scenes of the Latest TV Anime Series “DIGIMON BEATBREAK”~ ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION, broadcast on NHK World JAPAN, will air a “DIGIMON Special” featuring the Digimon series produced by Toei Animation Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Katsuhiro Takagi) on Sunday, October 26th.
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“ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION” is an English-language documentary program for overseas audiences that focuses on Japanese manga and anime that are popular overseas and delves into the creative process through interviews with their creators. ■The secret behind its 25-year-plus success: A look into its differentiation strategy from Pokémon In this special feature, we explore the appeal of the Digimon series, which has been loved around the world for over 25 years. The anime “Digimon Adventure” was produced in 1999 based on the handheld game console “Digital Monster,” which was released in 1997. This program features an interview with “Digimon Adventure” producer Hiromi Seki. We’ll hear the story behind why the anime incorporated the original themes of “human bonds” and “growth” in addition to the game’s appealing “training and battling” themes. Additionally, valuable strategies will be revealed, such as how the series differentiated itself from the then-leading “Pokémon.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/160365/27/160365-27-63b5df8aa17d00ccd486bfab74788640-1920×1080.jpg ■A close look at the production of the latest series, “DIGIMON BEATBREAK” A close look at the production of the latest series, “DIGIMON BEATBREAK,” which began airing in October 2025. This ambitious series shifts its target audience from the traditional kids’ audience to those in their teens and twenties. This program reveals how series director Hiroaki Miyamoto and character designer Takahiro Kojima discussed and developed the 15-year-old protagonist, Tomorrow, as a “protagonist with both strengths and weaknesses.” Don’t miss the behind-the-scenes footage of the first episode, showcasing the protagonist’s impressive emotional expression.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/160365/27/160365-27-08980692e4671c99c136cd085f1dd56e-1920×1080.jpg ■Kenji Watanabe, the legend who created over 1,000 characters, talks about the “secrets of design” Tomorrow’s partner Digimon in this work is Gekkomon. The designer in charge of this design is Kenji Watanabe, a Digimon designer who has worked on the designs of over 1,000 Digimon to date. Watanabe discusses the “secrets of Digimon design” and the special attention he paid to Gekkomon. He also closely follows the creation of Digimon evolution scenes, which are the highlights of Digimon anime battles. This video showcases the rarely seen process of drawing.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/160365/27/160365-27-441c38137f76ad3abd331a29cbcef55b-1920×1080.jpg The Digimon series has grown thanks to the efforts of many different people and continues to evolve. Don’t miss out on these valuable interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses of anime production! Even if you miss the broadcast, you can watch it for free on VOD from the day after it airs. ■Broadcast Schedule Sunday, October 26, 2025 NHK WORLD-JAPAN (Japan time) From 12:10, 18:10, 23:10, and the following Monday from 5:10. *28-minute program, broadcast four times. *From the day after the program airs, you can watch it for free on the NHK World-JAPAN website via VOD. *For more information, please see How to Watch NHK World-JAPAN Programs.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/ja/tv/howto_watch_in_japan/ ■Cast Digimon Designer: Kenji Watanabe TV Anime “Digimon Adventure” Producer: Hiromi Seki TV Anime “DIGIMON BEATBREAK” Series Director: Hiroaki Miyamoto TV Anime “DIGIMON BEATBREAK” Character Design: Takahiro Kojima TV Anime “DIGIMON BEATBREAK” Animator: Noriyuki Hirota Voice Actor (Former Toy Development Officer at Bandai Co., Ltd.): Volcano Ota ■Narrator Michael Turpin ■Program HP
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/anime_manga/ New TV anime DIGIMON About BEATBREAK (Digimon Beat Break)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/160365/27/160365-27-bd1c6ad3f58c5680fc172cdfd06c6a25-1420×2000.jpg ▼INTRODUCTION “E-pulses,” born from human thoughts and emotions, are used as a power source for AI support devices called “Sapotama.” Behind this remarkable development, terrifying monsters appear: Digimon, lifeforms that feed on e-pulses and evolve. When Tomorrow Tenma encounters Gekkomon, born from the Sapotama, he finds himself drawn into an extraordinary experience. While living with Kyo Sawashiro and the other members of the bounty hunting team “Growing Dawn,” Tomorrow renews his resolve. What is the new future envisioned by humans and Digimon? ▼STAFF Original Story: Akiyoshi Hongo Series Director: Hiroaki Miyamoto Series Composition: Ryota Yamaguchi Character Design: Takahiro Kojima Digimon Design: Kenji Watanabe Animation Digimon Design: Akihiro Asanuma Art Director: Ayaka Kami Color Design: Sayoko Yokoyama CG Director: Yusuke Ozone Director of Photography: Tomoyuki Ishiyama Editing: Eiichi Nishimura Music: Arisa Okehazama Produced by Fuji Television Network, Yomiuri Advertising Agency, and Toei Animation ▼CAST Tomorow Tenma / Miyu Irino Gekkomon / Megumi Han Rena Sakuya / Tomoyo Kurosawa Pristimon / Mutsumi Tamura Makoto Kuonji / Arisa Sekine Kilopmon / Misaki Kuno Kyou Sawashiro / Yohei Azagami Murasamemon / Daiki Hamano ▼Broadcast Information Airing every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM on Fuji TV and other channels starting October 5th *Broadcast times and days vary by region. ▼Streaming Information ■Catch-up streaming starts every Sunday at 9:30 AM, immediately after the terrestrial broadcast TVer/FOD ■Streaming starts every Wednesday at 0:00 ・Unlimited streaming FOD Premium/Prime Video/U-NEXT/d Anime/Hulu/DMM TV/ABEMA/TELASA/Toei Anime Channel, etc. ・Rental streaming Bandai Channel/Lemino/HAPPY Video/Videx/Prime Video, etc. *The distribution start date may change without notice. Please check the information for each distribution service for details. ▼“DIGIMON BEATBREAK” PV just before broadcast
https://youtu.be/WgCglA2Twnw ▼“DIGIMON BEATBREAK” official website https://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/digimon_beatbreak/ ▼“DIGIMON BEATBREAK” Official X @digimon_tv(https://x.com/digimon_tv) ■What are Digimon? “Digital Monster” is a mobile LCD game released in 1997. Despite being a palm-sized mobile LCD game, it not only allowed players to raise monsters, but also offered the innovative ability to battle monsters with friends, making it a huge hit with children. The anime series began with “Digimon Adventure” in 1999, and has since spawned nine TV series and 13 films, continuing to delight generations. Starting in October 2025, “DIGIMON BEATBREAK,” the first new series in about two years, will begin airing. With a history spanning over 25 years, Digimon continues to evolve.