Digimon Beatbreak Episode 1, “The Beat of Emotions,” introduces a new world for the next entry in the long-running franchise. When humanity adopts new AI assistants called Sapotamas, who run on an emotional energy called e-pulse, they come with the promise of helping people reach their “ideal self.” However, strange monsters are emerging from some Sapotamas, as Tomoro Tenma (Miyu Irino, Platinum End) is about to discover.
Digimon Beatbreak Episode 1 attempts to accomplish several things. Establish characters, introduce core concepts, and provide an entertaining experience that introduces fans both new and old to the latest iteration of Digimon. It’s a lot to ask of a 23-minute program, and as one might guess, it doesn’t manage to land all its elements.
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After a brief overview of Sapotamas, Digimon Beatbreak Episode 1 dives right into battle as we see a pair of do-gooders confront a thief on the run with his ill-gotten gains. The decision to jump right into combat is solid, but elements of the moment create some confusion. While full explanations would bog down the moment, some clues dropped into the dialogue would help orient the viewer’s perspective, allowing them to get their bearings on what is happening.
Digimon Beatbreak Episode 1 lays down the groundwork for what’s to come.
The battle itself is fine. Toei Animation delivers a serviceable moment of action. The style will be familiar to fans. The Digimon trade attacks at a moderate pace. Explosions and transformations are handled well, but never truly create anything exciting. The evolved forms are impressive compared to the introductory ones, allowing for some creative design work.
After the battle ends, Digimon Beatbreak Episode 1 returns to more mundane issues, as we are introduced to the everyday lives of people with Sapotamas. The episode does a good job of showcasing how the digital assistants work, what they do, and how they are powered. Using a montage of individuals and situations to show the function of the egg-shaped devices helps the introduction flow more smoothly than if it simply explained it all in exposition.
It is during this introduction that our protagonist, Tomoro, makes his appearance. A chance encounter with a young girl named Hitomi brings Tomoro into the spotlight when he accidentally causes her Sapotama to glitch. It appears that the devices don’t like him, leading to numerous such issues.
This character detail lays the groundwork for Tomoro’s starring role. What comes of his interaction with Hitomi is soon the subject of news coverage, leading him to fear what may be wrong with him—prompting comfort from his older brother, Asuka, and the promise of explanations once he gets home from his job.
Gekkomon’s emergence signals the start of something entirely new and strange for Tomoro.
But before his brother can return, Tomoro’s day takes a wild turn when a digimon, Gekkomon (Megumi Han, Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers), springs from his Sapotama, leading him outside, despite his brother’s warning against leaving the house.
The final sequence in Digimon Beatbreak Episode 1 introduces Tomoro to the perils of the new world he’s stumbled into. There is a solid attempt to build tension here. The threats he runs into are well-handled, but not overdone for a first encounter. However, much like the opening battle, this sequence leaves some glaring questions about the world that remain unanswered by the time the credits roll.
The biggest flaw in the episode’s closing moments is its attempt to create an emotional moment. The scene is heavily foreshadowed, with little buildup, since it’s still the pilot. The characters involved have been on screen for less than 15 minutes, limiting their emotional impact, as no emotional connection to them exists.
Digimon Beatbreak Episode 1 gets the plot going in some solid ways, but also leaves a fair amount of confusion in its wake. If subsequent episodes can clean up some of the missing elements, the series should be able to move forward unimpeded. Otherwise, the lack of clarity could snowball, rendering the series a difficult-to-unravel mess.
Digimon Beatbreak Episode 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.
