Digimon Data Squad

CONTACT _Con-41598BC6419 c s l TV
Kids Weekly, May 22, 2007

ORIGIN: The concept for the Digimon series started off as a toy created by Bandai. Since then,
Toei Animation has created five seasons of this franchise.

CREATOR: Akiyoshi Hongo

TV SHOW: The fifth season of Digimon is traditional animation with a mix of CGI during the
transformation sequences.

Its protagonist is Daimon Masaru,
who has a penchant for schoolyard brawls. During another day spent fighting
away, a strange creature resembling a dinosaur appears in front of Masaru. This
strange creature calls itself “Agumon” and claims to be from another world
known as the “Digital World”. Masaru and Agumon butt heads during their initial
encounter, but soon they begin to appreciate each other as fighters. What
Masaru doesn’t know is that Agumon is a runaway Digimon who is being chased by
the Digital Accident Tactics Squad (DATS). DATS is an organization created to
deal with the issues that come with the territory of Digimon appearances in the
human world. It is their job to operate hidden from the public eye. When DATS
catches up to the newly formed pair, they try to retrieve the Digimon and
return it to their facilities.

In the midst of this custodial
scuffle, an evolved Kokatorimon appears in front of the arguing parties. The
threat of the huge creature sparks the fighting spirit within Masaru as he
challenges the Digimon to a fight. He leaps and lays a punch on the giant
Kokatorimon! To Masaru’s surprise the fist that he punched the Digimon with has
now been charged with the “Digisoul”. Agumon receives the Digisoul to evolve
into GeoGreymon to finally take down the Kokatorimon. Commander Satsuma, who’s
been watching the battle the whole time, officially welcomes Masaru and Agumon
into DATS as a team.

Follow reformed schoolyard punk
Masaru Daimon and his digital partner Agumon as they lead the DATS team in
protecting the human world from evil Digimon who threaten it. Unfortunately,
the increase in the number of appearances by Digimon in the human world has
been detrimental as the unearthly creatures wreak havoc.

CREDITS: Producers: Koji Kaneda (Fuji TV), Atsushiya Takase (Fuji
TV), Shinichi Ikeda, Atsutoshi Umezawa, Hiroki Shibata; Original Work: Akiyoshi
Hongo; Series Composition: Ryota Yamaguchi; Music: Keiichi Oku; Production:
Fuji TV, Yomiuri Advertising Agency, Toei Animation

MAIN BROADCASTER: Fuji TV, Jetix
block on Toon Disney

TV SALES: Japan, U.S.

MAJOR TOY LICENSEES: Bandai for figures, handheld toys, etc. The Digimon video game from Namco Bandai Games America is already
available in the U.S.

OTHER PRODUCTS: Handheld electronic toys/devices, figures, apparel, trading
cards, key chains, lunch boxes, cups, stationary, 3-D puzzles, accessories,
etc.

STRATEGY FOR ROLLOUT: Toei Animation recently licensed Digimon Data Squad, the fifth season of Digimon franchise—which has been sold into more than 40
countries—to Disney ABC Cable Networks in the U.S. for launch on Toon
Disney’s Jetix block in the fall. Toei
is producing 48 new episodes, which will bring the total number of Digimon half-hours to 253. Getting the show off the ground in the
U.S. is key to Toei’s strategy for the fifth season.

“The Digimon franchise has made its greatest evolution in Digimon
Data Squad,” says Yosuke Kobayashi, the
president and COO of Toei Animation, “delivering an entirely fresh look and a
compelling original story line. The show is appealing to broadcasters because
the Digimon franchise is a household
name and it has a proven, successful global track record in the boys' market in
both broadcasting and merchandising.”