Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution – Kizuna (Japanese: デジモンアドベンチャー Last Evolution 絆, Hepburn: Dejimon Adobenchā Last Evolution Kizuna) is a 2020 Japanese anime adventure film produced by Toei Animation and animated by Yumeta Company.^[5] The film was released in Japanese theaters on February 21, 2020.^[6] Set in the same continuity of the first two Digimon television anime series, the film serves as the series finale of the original Digimon Adventure story.

The feature film is a commercial success, grossing more than 24 million dollars worldwide.^[7][8] Due to its exploitation in limited releases in most countries of the world, and the total absence of a theatrical release in the United States, the vast majority of these revenue respectively comes from China (more than 19 million US$^[9]), Japan and Hong Kong.^[10][11][12] A solid business amid the COVID-19 pandemic-related reopening process in various parts of Asia.^[13][14][15] Originally scheduled to have a limited release in the U.S. by Fathom Events, the event was cancelled due to the pandemic and its impact on cinemas ;^[16][17][18] the film was released in the U.S. on home media formats on October 6, 2020.

Last Evolution Kizuna received little attention from film critics, it drew extremely positive reviews from the pop culture and anime media in North America, which viewed the film as a satisfactory conclusion to the Adventure arc and praised the story, the animation, the English vocal and the bittersweet execution of the film's themes.^[19][20] In Europe, experts were more severe, especially with regard to its loaded dialogues and a particular stylistic approach, susceptible to lose a large audience.^[21][22]

A sequel titled Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning, which serves as the series finale of the Digimon Adventure 02 story, was released in Japanese theaters on October 27, 2023.^[23][24][25]

Five years after the events of Digimon Adventure tri., Tai and the other DigiDestined are approaching adulthood; however, Tai and Matt still remain undecided about their future goals. The DigiDestined later meet Menoa Bellucci, a professor at Columbia University in New York City, and Kyotaro Imura, her bodyguard. Menoa claims that Eosmon is targeting DigiDestined around the world by robbing both them and their Digimon partners of their consciousness. With Menoa's help, Tai, Matt, Izzy, T.K., and their Digimon fight Eosmon on the Internet.

When Tai and Matt fuse their Digimon into Omnimon, their form falls apart, allowing Eosmon to escape. In the real world, Tai and Matt find countdown rings on their Digivices. Menoa explains the Digivices are powered by the infinite potential of children, and because Tai and Matt are growing up with their potential fulfilled, they have a time limit before they are separated from their Digimon forever. She also warns them that Digivolving will accelerate the countdown. While Izzy examines Eosmon's gems, Matt suspects Imura is involved with Eosmon, and asks Davis, Yolei, Cody and Ken to investigate Menoa's job in New York. Meanwhile, Gennai visits Tai and Agumon, corroborating Menoa's statement.

After Eosmon leaves Mimi unconscious, Matt gives Tai and Izzy prepaid mobile phones out of suspicion they are being tracked and also shows them a news article revealing that Menoa used to have a Digimon partner. As Matt continues to investigate Imura, he learns from Davis' group that Imura's identity is fake and Eosmon's data was found on his hard drive, deducing that he is the culprit. Izzy is sent a link to a live stream video of T.K. and Kari held hostage, prompting Tai and Matt to rescue them, while Joe goes missing. By the time they arrive, T.K. and Kari are already unconscious from Eosmon. On the way, Matt confronts Imura, who reveals he is an FBI agent investigating Menoa, and he realizes that Menoa orchestrated the kidnappings and Eosmon as a distraction to target Izzy for the list of DigiDestined. Realizing this as well, Izzy texts Tai with the coordinates to Menoa's location in the Digital World, before she renders him unconscious.

In the Digital World, Menoa confirms that she lost her Digimon partner, Morphomon, prematurely from growing up, and discovered Eosmon's digi-egg during the recent aurora. To prevent the other DigiDestined from experiencing loss, she has captured their consciousness to allow them to be with their Digimon partners as children forever. Menoa sends a swarm of Eosmon clones to the real world to kidnap more DigiDestined, sparking battles worldwide. Tai, Matt, and their Digimon resolve to stop Menoa even if it quickens their separation, and Agumon and Gabumon fuse into Omnimon to fight her and the Eosmon clones. After Eosmon digivolves to its Mega level, it cuts Omnimon into pieces, causing it to split again. Tai and Matt are assaulted by the DigiDestined and their Digimon partners, but Tai awakens and turns them back to normal with Kari's whistle. While the DigiDestined and their Digimon partners join the battle, Tai, Matt, and their Digimon make one final Digivolution, forming Agumon (Bond of Courage) and Gabumon (Bond of Friendship). The two Digimon defeat Eosmon, with Menoa finding closure with Morphomon.

After the battle, Imura arrests Menoa. Tai and Matt spend their remaining time with Agumon and Gabumon respectively, until they vanish and their Digivices turn into stone. The next spring, Tai and Matt move on with their lives and pursue their dream careers, under the belief that they may see their Digimon partners again in the future.

The Japanese voice actors from the Digimon Adventure tri. OVA series returned to reprise their roles, as the cast from the 1999 TV series was not retained in 2015 due to Toshiko Fujita's health.^[26][27] As was the case with that series of films, the DigiDestined characters from Digimon Adventure 02 (now young adults) were recast with new actors while their Digimon retained their original actors. The English cast from Digimon Adventure tri., which reunited several voice actors from the original series, reprised their roles with two recast roles. As for the Digidestined and their Digimon from Digimon Adventure 02, all characters were recast to new actors, except Ken, Veemon and Wormmon who retained their original actors. Internationally and in Europe, the protagonists and their respective Digimon were generally voiced by the same actors as in the original 1999 series.^[28]

A new film project was announced on July 29, 2018, as part of the series' 20th anniversary.^[35] The film, titled Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, is directed by Tomohisa Taguchi and written by Akatsuki Yamatoya, featuring animation by Yumeta Company.^[36] It was then teased on Toei's YouTube film account that Toei Animation is producing the film, and the rest of the staff and cast are returning to reprise their roles.^[37] It premiered on February 21, 2020.^[38]

Development for Last Evolution Kizuna started in 2017, whilst Digimon Adventure tri. was in the middle of airing. It was made as the staff realized the Digimon Adventure series was the most popular part of the Digimon franchise as a whole after the positive reception to Adventure tri., so they decided to make another Adventure movie for its 20th anniversary. Toei aimed the main cast to become far more likable as characters. While the teenagers were known as heroes in television series, they had yet to mature in the narrative to be appeal more to the audience.^[39]

On May 28, 2018, original Director of Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02, Hiroyuki Kakudo revealed he had quit the staff of Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna after something was approved that he claimed was incompatible with what the previous series had established.^[40] On September 20, 2020, Producer Yosuke Kinoshita stated that Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna is in continuity with Digimon Adventure, Digimon Adventure 02, Digimon Adventure 02: Digimon Hurricane Landing!!/Transcendent Evolution!! The Golden Digimentals, and Digimon Adventure tri.. This included the end of the final episode of 02, set in 2028, where the DigiDestined are adults.^[41]

Before the film's release in the U.S., Comic Book Resources held an interview with Executive Producer Yosuke Kinoshita regarding the franchise itself and what he wanted the fans to take away from the film. During the interview, Yosuke stated, "As we go through life, I believe that it is not only success and joy that makes you grow as a person but also overcoming failure. Hard and sad realities are what keeps us alive. I'm sure there will be a lot of obstacles in the future, but let's go live our lives forward strongly! This is the message that we are trying to convey."^[42]

In Japan, the film was released on February 21, 2020^[6] in 48 theaters, then in 61 theaters from its fourth week in March, due to a number of postponements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[62] Set in the same continuity of the first two Digimon television anime series, the film serves as the finale to the original Digimon Adventure story.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic over Tokyo and the whole of Japan, a state of health emergency was gradually applied in various regions; to the whole of Japan from April 7 to 16, 2020, and was extended in several regions. From May 14 to May 25, 2020, while the state of emergency was relaxed in some regions, it was progressively re-imposed throughout Japan until the end of July. Causing gradual shutdowns, cancellations and postponed screenings of the film over the weeks due to the closures (and reopenings) of Japanese cinemas, the film has its final showing on July 23, 2020,^[63][64] "It's frustrating, but we never thought the film would be shown for so long and that people would respond in this unimaginable situation, with lots of feedback from you. We hope the day will soon come when we can see the film in cinemas in better conditions and in the way we want", communicated the film's social network.^[65] Two sets of the Digimon Card Premium Edition card game were produced for the film's release and sold in selected cinemas showing the film on February 21, 2020, followed by limited pre-orders on Bandai's Premium website.^[66]

The Japanese release of the DVD and Blu-ray was released on September 2, 2020, along with an audio drama to come with it on CD.^[67] A Deluxe Blu-ray edition was also released in Japan.^[67] The film was selected for the Tenjin Cinema Selection 2021 Summer, August 7–8, 2021.^[68]

Last Evolution Kizuna, while unnoticed by cinema reviewers, received very positive reviews from pop culture and anime media when it was released in the US. European film critics, though, were more severe.

Kambole Cambell from IGN gave the film a 9/10, stating, "An impressively bold and mature final installment, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna realizes the full potential of its cast and the power of a definitive ending, driven by an inventive visual sensibility, exciting set-pieces, and heart-wrenching emotional stakes [...] It's ultimately bittersweet, but the film's embrace of change is tackled with inspiring optimism, positing that moving forward shouldn't be treated as a loss, but as a new direction, definitively closing this chapter of Digimon Adventure while looking forward to what new things might spring from it."^[20] Common Sense Media gave the film a 4/5, stating, "This is a bittersweet coming-of-age story that manages to transcend the expected anime battles and action. For those coming into the movie without knowing all of the ins and outs of this particular anime universe, the movie's heady themes of life and death, growing up and moving on, and making your own way in the world are poignant, universal, and relatable."^[81]

Polygon's Rafael Motamayor gave the film a positive review and felt that the editing, which used the conventions of the TV series, might could put off newcomers, and that the film was aimed at "millennials who grew up with the franchise and want a little more than constant battle scenes", commenting on the tone being "much more melancholic than most modern anime movies and stating, "It's a love letter not only to the entire franchise, but to those who have grown up watching these characters throughout the years. This is the conclusion fans have been waiting for [...] providing a nice returning point for fans who may have skipped the underwhelming Tri series of films."^[82] Comic Book Resources also gave the film a positive review, stating, "Last Evolution isn't a cinematic masterpiece (no surprise there) but what it is a masterclass on how to age a long-running, commercial property with grace and bring it to a conclusion with dignity. The original DigiDestined's journey, as we once knew it, is over, but this isn't a story about putting away childish things."^[19]

Critics praised the film for its themes of adulthood and, "letting things go."^[82][81][20] Daryl Harding of Crunchyroll states that, "it is about growing up and letting go. For the characters, it's hard to be a DigiDestined and still have a job – apparently saving the world doesn't pay well. It's not about them choosing what to focus on, it's about them learning how to juggle both responsibilities without cracking."^[83] The film drew comparisons to Mamoru Hosoda's previous works on Digimon, as well as drawing comparisons to Toy Story 3.^{[19][82][81][20][83]} The production as a whole was well received, though the reduced representation of female characters was pointed out and deplored by Courtney Lanning for the daily Arkansas Democrat-Gazette^[84] and Den of Geek.^[85]

In his review, Christopher Farris of Anime News Network gave the film a C-, acknowledging its minimalist graphic charm and some interesting ideas, but criticizing the insincerity of this production "at odds with itself", citing unnecessary metatexts and several nonsensical plot points dragged out with "conceptual declarations hindering the pacing,", Farris also noted frustratingly uneven character development, stressing the sidelining of protagonist Sora. Regarding the English dubbing, he felt it was a "key selling point" for the film due to the effectiveness of the adaptation ;^[86] this was also the opinion of Courtney Lanning for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette^[84] and Christopher Zabel of DoBlu.com, "a slightly different directions than the Japanese cast" which was well welcomed.^[87]

In stark contrast, however, European reviewers were more critical of the film. For the European daily El Correo, it is an opus "that does not dare to describe with the necessary thoroughness the theme it tries to develop", and deplored the lack of risk-taking in its direction and codes, "Last Evolution Kizuna replays a tape already played" and gave the film a 1/3.^[88] For Deciné21, it is a film that falls into the pitfalls of Japanese anime films "with repetitive passages and endless dialogue. Above all, it is aimed at fans, so newcomers will find it difficult to assimilate all the concepts of the series too quickly", while nevertheless praising "certain passages that are quite moving. In addition, the animation is of a high enough quality to be a surprise" and gave the film a 5/10.^[21] The Italian film website MyMovies.it found the codes of the original television product too much in evidence, "a typical example of animated films in cinema today, aimed at an ultra-specific audience that will master everything about their subject and, ideally, grasp every twist and self-reference", but praised the "more melancholic atmosphere than usual and a more mature awareness of the transience of things" and gave the film a 2.5/5.^[22] The daily El Punt gave 2/5 to the film.^[89] For Ray Laguna of Animacionparaadultos.es, whose verdict was based on "strictly cinematographic" criteria, attributed 7/10 to a film "not always very exciting [...] the plot development is a little conventional, it falls into a few melodramatic excesses - the denouement is already moving enough - and, probably for budgetary reasons, there are passages with limited animation", Laguna nevertheless considered Last Evolution Kizuna touching enough for its audience of die-hard fans.^[90]

Regarding audience reception, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna received recognition in various platforms and surveys. In Japan, readers of Anime!Anime! magazine ranked it as the 14th best animated film of 2020.^[91] Additionally, in a survey on Bandai's Digimon website, it was in 3rd place out of 18 Digimon films, garnering 16% of the votes.^[92] At the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2021, the film attained the 8th position among the 'Best 100' votes for 'Best Anime Film'.^[93][94] Furthermore, it stood out in the "Letterboxd 2020 Year in Review", securing the 5th position among the highest-rated animations of 2020 by members.^[95] Similarly, it ranked 5th among the 'Best Anime Movies Of 2020' on MyAnimeList, with an average rating of 8.18.^[96]

Digimon Adventure 20th Memorial Story (Japanese: デジモンアドベンチャー20th メモリアルストーリー, Hepburn: Dejimon Adobenchā 20th Memoriaru Sutōrī) is a series of Japanese anime shorts related to Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, the first of which, To Sora, being a prequel set a day before the film. The rest feature side stories about the DigiDestined and their Partner Digimon going about their everyday lives that were unable to make it into the film itself.^[160][161]

Between August 2021 and July 2022, a sequel titled Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning was announced. The film will serve as the series finale of the Digimon Adventure 02 story.^[23][24][25] The film is set to premiere on October 27, 2023.^[163]