Kari Kamiya
Encyclopedia
Hikari "Kari" Kamiya, known as in Japan
, is a fictional character in the anime
and manga
series Digimon Adventure
and its sequel, Digimon Adventure 02
. Although her first name is "Hikari", in the English version, she primarily goes by her dub-given nickname, Kari. First appearing in the film Digimon Adventure (1999), Kari has made regular appearances in the television series as a main character and also in other supplementary medias.
Titled , Kari is partnered to Gatomon
and is the younger sister of Taichi "Tai" Kamiya. She is also the rightful holder of the and the .
In the sequel, Digimon Adventure 02
, Kari has matured into a "smiling, charmingly energetic, and bright girl", but has also become "mischievous" and "playful". She now dons a digital camera
as a trademark item instead of her camp whistle. Davis Motomiya
develops an unrequited crush on her and vies for her affections several times.
(2001) was localized. The film depicts her first encounter with a Digimon as a toddler as well as the events that drove Tai and herself to live in Odaiba
.
(1999) as a new main character, where she is awakened as a new DigiDestined. Initially known by the title , she joins the other DigiDestined to fight Myotismon
. The trip results her in making her first trip to the Digital World, where she is faced with a new danger that threatens the world's existence. In this series, Kari is in second grade and is eight years old.
Kari becomes one of the main characters in Digimon Adventure 02
(2000) along with T.K. Taking place roughly four years after Digimon Adventure (two and a half years in the original version), Kari is now in seventh grade and twelve years old (fifth grade and eleven years old in the original version). She is in class A with T.K. and Davis and regularly lends a helping hand in taking care of the Digital World. At the end of the series, Kari becomes a teacher and has a son who is partnered with Salamon.
game Digimon Adventure: Anode/Cathode Tamer
, where she is captured by Milleniummon and jailed with Matt
and Joe
until Ryo Akiyama comes to their rescue.
In the game Digimon Tamers: Brave Tamer, Kari and Gatomon are attacked by Myotismon, and Ryo has the option to save her over T.K. and Mimi Tachikawa
. Following the end of the battle, he allows Gatomon to join his party.
When the film featurette release of Digimon Hurricane Landing! and its second part, Supreme Evolution! The Golden Digimentals, which also made the third part of Digimon: The Movie, Kari makes her first appearance in the Digimon Adventure 02 timeline as she races across the United States to help stop Wendigomon, succeeding in releasing the Digi-eggs of Miracles and Fate for Willis.
The sequel of Our War Game!, Revenge of Diaboromon (2001), takes place on the spring break after Digimon Adventure 02. Unlike Our War Game!, however, Kari is actively involved in stopping Diaboromon's second attempt at destroying the world before the final battle.
. In an audio drama released years after the end of Digimon Adventure 02, Kari reveals that she is making a video tutorial for new DigiDestined children.
that related to "luck." Kari's Japanese name, , which meant "light", was coincidential in regards to her Crest and Digi-egg. Originally, Kari was not supposed to appear as the eighth DigiDestined, but as a side character who was only Tai's little sister with a sixth sense. However, the producers decided to include her when wanting to introduce a new character.
In Japan, all of Kari's appearances were voiced by Kae Araki
. In the English dub, Lara Jill Miller
provides her voice.
. Her only character CD single, , which also included Gatomon's (Yuka Tokumitsu
) solo "Getting Up" and their duet "Shining Star", debuted at #83 on the Oricon Weekly Charts
and stayed there for one week.
Digimon website, Kari was ranked 4th by Japanese voters as their favorite DigiDestined. When the same question was asked two more times, her rank fell to 5th, and then 6th, but finally landed at 1st. In addition to this, Kari is ranked 1st as whom the voters would want as a younger sister and as the best-looking DigiDestined in the spring. She placed in 3rd as the DigiDestined who the voters thought was the strongest and as the best-looking DigiDestined in the winter.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, is a fictional character in the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series Digimon Adventure
Digimon Adventure
is a Japanese animated television series created in 1999 by Toei Animation based on the Digimon virtual pet made by Bandai. It is the first series of the Digimon anime "metaseries"...
and its sequel, Digimon Adventure 02
Digimon Adventure 02
, also commonly referred as Digimon Zero Two, is the direct sequel to the previous series and takes place three years after the original series. With most of the original characters now in junior high school, the Digital World was supposedly secure and peaceful. However, a new evil has appeared in...
. Although her first name is "Hikari", in the English version, she primarily goes by her dub-given nickname, Kari. First appearing in the film Digimon Adventure (1999), Kari has made regular appearances in the television series as a main character and also in other supplementary medias.
Titled , Kari is partnered to Gatomon
Gatomon
Gatomon, known as in Japanese, is a Digimon creature from the Digimon media franchise that comprises anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media. Despite her size and mischievous nature, Gatomon is stronger than she looks as long as she has her Holy Ring on her tail....
and is the younger sister of Taichi "Tai" Kamiya. She is also the rightful holder of the and the .
Description
Kari is described to have a "gentle personality" but "balances it out with her unresting heart's strength" when faced with an enemy. Although she is a "pocket mystic", she is full of compassion and patience, and everything she does is for the right reasons. Because she had a weak body, she was ill before summer camp started, and thus was not able to travel to the Digital World on the DigiDestined's first trip. Kari admires her older brother Tai and is seen as an equal to T.K Takaishi.In the sequel, Digimon Adventure 02
Digimon Adventure 02
, also commonly referred as Digimon Zero Two, is the direct sequel to the previous series and takes place three years after the original series. With most of the original characters now in junior high school, the Digital World was supposedly secure and peaceful. However, a new evil has appeared in...
, Kari has matured into a "smiling, charmingly energetic, and bright girl", but has also become "mischievous" and "playful". She now dons a digital camera
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
as a trademark item instead of her camp whistle. Davis Motomiya
Davis Motomiya
Davis Motomiya, known in Japan as , is the main character in the Digimon Adventure 02 anime series. He is partnered to Veemon. He's extremely stubborn in personality.-Digimon Adventure:...
develops an unrequited crush on her and vies for her affections several times.
Pilot film
Kari made her first appearance in the short pilot film Digimon Adventure (1999), which was combined as the first part of Digimon: The MovieDigimon: The Movie
Digimon: The Movie is a 2000 American film adaptation of the first three Japanese Digimon films distributed by 20th Century Fox. The film used footage from the films Digimon Adventure , Our War Game!! , and Digimon Hurricane Touchdown!! / Supreme Evolution!! The Golden Digimentals .In comparison to...
(2001) was localized. The film depicts her first encounter with a Digimon as a toddler as well as the events that drove Tai and herself to live in Odaiba
Odaiba
is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan, across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. It was initially built for defensive purposes in the 1850s, dramatically expanded during the late 20th century as a seaport district, and has developed since the 1990s as a major commercial, residential...
.
In the television series
Succeeding the film, Kari later made regular appearances starting in the second half of Digimon AdventureDigimon Adventure
is a Japanese animated television series created in 1999 by Toei Animation based on the Digimon virtual pet made by Bandai. It is the first series of the Digimon anime "metaseries"...
(1999) as a new main character, where she is awakened as a new DigiDestined. Initially known by the title , she joins the other DigiDestined to fight Myotismon
Myotismon
Myotismon is a fictional character from the Digimon franchise. He is the third major villain in the first season, and the main antagonist of the second season of the anime series.-Appearance and characteristics:...
. The trip results her in making her first trip to the Digital World, where she is faced with a new danger that threatens the world's existence. In this series, Kari is in second grade and is eight years old.
Digimon Adventure 02
, also commonly referred as Digimon Zero Two, is the direct sequel to the previous series and takes place three years after the original series. With most of the original characters now in junior high school, the Digital World was supposedly secure and peaceful. However, a new evil has appeared in...
(2000) along with T.K. Taking place roughly four years after Digimon Adventure (two and a half years in the original version), Kari is now in seventh grade and twelve years old (fifth grade and eleven years old in the original version). She is in class A with T.K. and Davis and regularly lends a helping hand in taking care of the Digital World. At the end of the series, Kari becomes a teacher and has a son who is partnered with Salamon.
In the video games
Kari makes a cameo as a non-playable character in the WonderSwanWonderSwan
was a line of handheld game consoles produced in Japan by Bandai between 1999 and 2003. It was developed by the late Gunpei Yokoi's company Koto and Bandai...
game Digimon Adventure: Anode/Cathode Tamer
Digimon Adventure: Anode/Cathode Tamer
Digimon: Anode/Cathode Tamer is one of two Digimon WonderSwan games that are available in English. It combines two separate Japanese games, Digimon Adventure: Anode Tamer, and Digimon Adventure: Cathode Tamer, into one...
, where she is captured by Milleniummon and jailed with Matt
Yamato "Matt" Ishida
Yamato "Matt" Ishida, known as simply in Japan, is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02. Although his first name is "Yamato", in the English version, he primarily goes by his dub-given nickname, Matt...
and Joe
Joe Kido
Joe Kido, known in Japan as , is a character in the anime and manga series Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02. He is partnered to Gomamon....
until Ryo Akiyama comes to their rescue.
In the game Digimon Tamers: Brave Tamer, Kari and Gatomon are attacked by Myotismon, and Ryo has the option to save her over T.K. and Mimi Tachikawa
Mimi Tachikawa
is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02. First appearing in the film Digimon Adventure , Mimi has made regular appearances in the television series as a main character and also in other supplementary medias.As one of the DigiDestined, Mimi...
. Following the end of the battle, he allows Gatomon to join his party.
In other films
Kari makes an appearance in the film Our War Game! (2000), the second part of the localized Digimon: The Movie, which takes place on the spring break after Digimon Adventure. but with little influence in the movie's overall plot. In the film, she attends her classmate Senri's birthday party, and thus is unable to come home to help fight off Diaboromon.When the film featurette release of Digimon Hurricane Landing! and its second part, Supreme Evolution! The Golden Digimentals, which also made the third part of Digimon: The Movie, Kari makes her first appearance in the Digimon Adventure 02 timeline as she races across the United States to help stop Wendigomon, succeeding in releasing the Digi-eggs of Miracles and Fate for Willis.
The sequel of Our War Game!, Revenge of Diaboromon (2001), takes place on the spring break after Digimon Adventure 02. Unlike Our War Game!, however, Kari is actively involved in stopping Diaboromon's second attempt at destroying the world before the final battle.
In the manga
Kari makes an appearance in the manga Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01, where she and the other Adventure 02 DigiDestined encountered Parallelmon, who absorbed her, T.K., Yolei, and Cody, and inadvertently sent Davis into the "V-Tamer 01" world, where he met the Tai of that series. Kari and the others helped Davis from inside the monster by recreating the Digi-Egg of Miracles. With the monster destroyed, Davis and his friends returned to their continuity.In the CD dramas
Kari is featured in supplementary audio dramas released on CD during the television series' run, most of which consist miscellaneous adventures with the other DigiDestined that do not relate to the overall plot of the show. These include a comical battle with Mimi over identifying the person in Izzy's love letter and becoming trapped in a store by Boltmon on Valentine's DayValentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
. In an audio drama released years after the end of Digimon Adventure 02, Kari reveals that she is making a video tutorial for new DigiDestined children.
Development
Kari's character was designed for the pilot movie storyboard by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru. In an exclusive interview released with the Digimon Adventure DVD box on December 21, 2007, producer Satoru Nishizono revealed that as the staff had agreed on deciding Tai's name, he had tried to name the other characters similarly with kanjiKanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
that related to "luck." Kari's Japanese name, , which meant "light", was coincidential in regards to her Crest and Digi-egg. Originally, Kari was not supposed to appear as the eighth DigiDestined, but as a side character who was only Tai's little sister with a sixth sense. However, the producers decided to include her when wanting to introduce a new character.
In Japan, all of Kari's appearances were voiced by Kae Araki
Kae Araki
, better known by the stage name , is a Japanese voice actress. After standing in for Kotono Mitsuishi when Mitsuishi had appendicitis, Araki originated the role of Chibiusa in the same series soon after...
. In the English dub, Lara Jill Miller
Lara Jill Miller
Lara Jill Miller is an American television, stage and voice actress.-Biography:Miller was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania on April 20, 1967. She graduated from Allentown's William Allen High School...
provides her voice.
Merchandise
During the run of the television series Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02, Kari was included in merchandise such as trading cards. In Japan, her character was also given three theme songs: "Holy Light", , and . All songs were performed by her Japanese voice actress, Kae ArakiKae Araki
, better known by the stage name , is a Japanese voice actress. After standing in for Kotono Mitsuishi when Mitsuishi had appendicitis, Araki originated the role of Chibiusa in the same series soon after...
. Her only character CD single, , which also included Gatomon's (Yuka Tokumitsu
Yuka Tokumitsu
Yuka Tokumitsu is a voice actor for various Japanese anime.Some anime she has voiced are:-References:...
) solo "Getting Up" and their duet "Shining Star", debuted at #83 on the Oricon Weekly Charts
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
and stayed there for one week.
Reception
In a series of online polls conducted on Toei Animation'sToei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
Digimon website, Kari was ranked 4th by Japanese voters as their favorite DigiDestined. When the same question was asked two more times, her rank fell to 5th, and then 6th, but finally landed at 1st. In addition to this, Kari is ranked 1st as whom the voters would want as a younger sister and as the best-looking DigiDestined in the spring. She placed in 3rd as the DigiDestined who the voters thought was the strongest and as the best-looking DigiDestined in the winter.