Kari Kamiya, known as in
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of 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
animeis animation originating in Japan. The world outside Japan regards anime as "Japanese animation". Anime originated about 1917.Anime, like manga , has a large audience in Japan and high recognition throughout the world...
and
mangaManga consist of comics and print cartoons , in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 20th century...
series
Digimon Adventureis the first season of the anime saga Digimon: Digital Monsters. Its premise involves a group of boys and girls being whisked to a parallel reality called the Digital World while at summer camp...
and
Digimon Adventure 02, also commonly written as , is the direct sequel to the previous season 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 the form of the...
. She is usually called "Kari" in the English versions. Hikari means light in Japanese and she bears the Crest of Light and the Digi-egg of Light.
She is partnered to
GatomonGatomon is a Digimon creature from the Japanese Digimon media franchise that comprises anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media. In the Japanese version, she is known as "Tailmon."...
and is the younger sister of Taichi "Tai" Kamiya. Kari, by nature, is kind and sweet-hearted, looking for the best in people and avoiding fights when possible. However, she can be serious, especially in dangerous or difficult situations, and has a dark side that is used by her enemies.
Lara Jill MillerLara Jill Miller is an American television, stage and voice actress.-Biography:Miller was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Allentown's William Allen High School in 1985...
provides her voice in the English dub of the series and
Kae Araki, born on November 6, 1974 in Osaka, Japan, is a seiyū. After standing in for Kotono Mitsuishi when Mitsuishi had appendicitis, Araki originated the role of Chibiusa in the same series soon after...
does her voice in the Japanese version.
Prelude to Digimon Adventure
Kari and Tai originally lived in Highton View Terrace (Hikarigaoka in the Japanese version) when they were young. One day, they found a Botamon, raising it to a Koromon. This was the first encounter with a digimon for both of them. When Parrotmon attacked the city, Koromon (now
AgumonAgumon is a Rookie Digimon creature from the Japanese Digimon media franchise that comprises anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media. He is the unofficial mascot for the Digimon franchise as he and his alternate forms are featured in almost all Digimon media/merchandise...
) digivolved into Greymon and battled the invader in order to protect Kari and Tai. The destruction that the two Digimon caused was labeled as a terrorist attack, and Kari and Tai's family moved away. Witnessing this event would be the reason for their involvement in their first adventure in the Digital World.
During the episode entitled "My Sister's Keeper" in Digimon Adventure, Tai reveals that Kari had pneumonia when she was younger. He recalls one incident when Kari was sick, but he, assuming she was feeling better, took her outside anyway and kept a watch on her as he kicked a soccer ball around. She later collapsed when he passed the ball to her; she was in the hospital for weeks and nearly died. Needless to say, their mother was extremely upset with Tai and slapped him for his foolishness. He expected that when Kari returned from the hospital, she would hate him, never wanting to talk to or play with him again. However, when Kari came back, she said that she was sorry that she didn't kick the ball right and that she'd understand if he never wanted to play with her again (in the Japanese version she said she was sorry for bothering him and making him worry). The incident, along with Kari's comments, made Tai feel very guilty; this is contributes to how protective he is of his sister when she falls ill in the episode.
Digimon Adventure
Kari was not among the original seven DigiDestined who entered the Digital World from summer camp; she was at home with the flu. However, Kari was reunited with Tai when he was sucked into a dimensional warp following his successful victory over Etemon. He could only stay for a short while, leaving when he realized that the Digital World was in bad shape and needed his help.
Tai would later reunite with Kari again when he and the other DigiDestined entered the real world to pursue
MyotismonMyotismon 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:...
, who was seeking to find and kill the eighth DigiDestined. He, along with the seven original DigiDestined, were specifically looking for the eighth Digivice. Gatomon, one of Myotismon's henchmen, was the first to suspect that Kari was the eighth DigiDestined when she recognized her as a Digimon, deciding to kill her just to play it safe. However, Kari turned around and Gatomon hesitated, running away while confused on why she couldn't kill Kari.
With
WizardmonWizardmon is a fictional character from the Digimon franchise consisting of Japanese manga, anime, collectible trading card games, and more. Wizardmon is a Majin Digimon. He comes from "Witchelny", which is a separate part of the Digital World. He is a shy and caring dealer by nature, though he...
's aid, Gatomon learns that Kari is not only the eighth Digidestined, but she is her Digimon partner as well, regaining her memories of searching for someone. However, when Myotismon discovered that Gatomon was the eighth DigiDestined's partner, he held her captive to try to find the eighth DigiDestined. Kari turned herself in to stop the pain his minions were inflicting. During the battle with Myotismon, Wizardmon gave Kari her Crest of Light while Tai vainly tossed over her Digivice, with DemiDevimon intercepting. Myotismon attempted to end the battle by killing Kari, but Wizardmon stepped in and took the deathblow for her. When he died, Kari cried as her Crest is evoked and her Digivice began glowing, forcing DemiDevimon to let go. Tai then caught it and threw it to Kari. When she caught it, a fearful Myotismon, realizing Kari's true power, shouted "Not her, no!" Then with her Digivice in hand, her crest glowed to enable Gatomon to digivolve into Angewomon and kill Myotismon. However, when Myotismon resurrects into Venom Myotismon, Angewomon shot an arrow of light into Tai, allowing Agumon to Warp Digivolve into WarGreymon, who was able to destroy Venom Myotismon.
Kari accompanied the seven other DigiDestined when they returned to the Digital World. During this time, an odd spirit spoke and acted through Kari's body; Kari appeared to be the only person who could communicate with this spirit. When Tai and Matt started to fight one another, the spirit took control of Kari's body and ended the scuffle. Kari was possessed once again when she was underneath Machinedramon's city and saw the enslaved
Numemon-Description:Numemon made his first appear in the episode "Togemon in toy town" when a group of Numemon attacked the digidestined, and Numemonalso helped Palmon and Mimi Tachikawa when they was nearly to fell in the spell of Monzaemon.Attacks : ...
. She led a revolt, disposing WaruMonzaemon; the freed Numemon pronounced her "Queen Kari" before they sacrificed themselves to protect her from Machinedramon.
In the final confrontation with Piedmon, after everyone but T.K. and Kari have been turned into key chains, the two young DigiDestined were left in great peril, hanging on to but a lone rope stretching to the sky, Piedmon cut the rope saying "It looks like you two are falling for each other". As she began to fall faster than T.K. Kari mentioned her fright, which gave T.K. the hope to evoke Angemon's digivolution into MagnaAngemon, and save them from certain death.
Our War Game!
Kari was at a friend's birthday party during the entire event. Although Tai asked for her help (twice), Kari replied both times that she could not leave the party, since that would be rude to her friends. In the English dub, Kari gave the excuse that a magician was coming to the party later and that she had "already volunteered to be sawed in half". Tai responded angrily, telling her to get the "half with feet to run home soon."
In May 2000, Kari arrived in the Digital World, she gave up her Crest power to free the Sovereigns. As a result, Gatomon lost the power to become Angewomon.
Digimon Adventure 02
Kari grew in a number of ways during the two and a half years between Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02 (three and a half years in the dub); she became more mature, perkier and braver. Physically, Kari grew taller and replaced the whistle around her neck with a digital camera (She had given the whistle to Gatomon when she left the Digital World the first time). She now enjoys taking pictures, and likes to play practical jokes and to tease her friends. When the DigiDestined come to the Digital World their outfits change; while Davis, Yolei and Cody receive entirely new outfits, T.K. and Kari only change footwear, though Kari also obtains a pair of pink fingerless gloves. Because
Davis MotomiyaDavis 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:...
- a new DigiDestined and leader - has a crush on her, Kari often teases him by flirting with T.K. T.K. and Kari share a special bond created not only by their previous adventures in the Digital World, but also through the course of events when he senses her feelings in the Dark World. Both T.K. and Davis seem to like Kari, while she never fully makes her feelings known; Davis often becomes jealous, which sometimes frustrates Kari and sometimes makes her giggle and laugh.
While searching for Gatomon's lost Tail Ring, Kari,
Yolei InoueYolei Inoue, known in Japan as , is a character in the anime and manga Digimon Adventure 02.She is partnered to Hawkmon and as such is the first central DigiDestined to be partnered with an opposite sex Digimon, as Hawkmon is male. Yolei is a touch on the geeky side, stubborn, cheeky and impulsive...
(another new DigiDestined) and
Ken Ichijoujiis a fictional character in the Digimon Adventure 02 anime series.Ken is the final member of the 02 DigiDestined, partnered with Wormmon and holder of the Crest of Kindness. Unlike the other 02 DigiDestined, he lives in Tamachi, which is next to Odaiba...
(the former Digimon Emperor of the Digital World who became a new DigiDestined) found their way into the Dark World and eventually to the Dark Ocean, where Kari began to lose her composure due to her previous visit. She and Ken struggled under the hold of the Dark Ocean. This difficult situation was taken advantage of by a Blossomon. It took Yolei's words and a slap to help Kari return to her normal self. This bonding experience gave Aquilamon and Gatomon the power to DNA digivolve to Silphymon; it also gave Kari the heart to help Ken.
During Christmas, Kari,
IzzyIzzy is a common nickname for the given names Israel, Isabel, Elizabeth, Isabella, Isaac, Isambard, Isidore or Ismael.It may also refer to:* Izzy, the informant for Sonny and Rico in Miami Vice* Izzy , the 1996 Summer Olympics mascot...
(one of the original Digidestined) and their Digimon were sent to Hong Kong to help the Asian DigiDestined, where all three of the Poi Brothers (Chinese DigiDestined) developed a crush on her. After sending all of the Digimon back to their world and destroying all the Control Spires, she and the other DigiDestined faced the threat of
Yukio OikawaYukio Oikawa is a fictional character in the anime series Digimon Adventure 02. He is voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa in the original version and by Jamieson Price in the English dub version....
. He kidnapped Ken and planted Dark Spores into other children. Kari and the other DigiDestined didn't realize that he was being controlled by the disembodied spirit of Myotismon.
After harvesting the Dark Spores, Myotismon emerged from Oikawa, becoming MaloMyotismon. After some fighting, MaloMyotismon created a world of illusions; each DigiDestined was subjected to their true desires and wants. Kari's desire was for humans and Digimon to live side by side, making it a better world for everyone. Gatomon and Raidramon broke her free of the illusion, by reminding her that as great as it was, it just wasn't how things were (yet). She then joined with the other kids, who were in the process of breaking free from their illusions. Kari used the power of the dream dimension, wishing for Gatomon to become stronger; she split into Angewomon and Nefertimon and DNA digivolved with Aquilamon to become Silphymon; all three forms appeared at the same time. After the fighting ended, Kari saw one of her dreams come true. Both the real world and Digital World lived in peace together.
Hurricane Touchdown/Supreme Evolution! The Golden Digimentals
When Kari and T.K. visited
Mimi-People:* Mimi Rogers , American actress* Mimi Miyagi , adult film actress* Mimi Parent , artist* Mimi Parker, drummer and singer for the band Low.* Mimi Smith , John Lennon's maternal aunt and guardian....
(another original Digidestined) in New York, they encountered
WillisWillis, known as in the Japanese version, is a fictional character in the anime series Digimon. He appears in the film Digimon Hurricane Touchdown/Supreme Evolution! The Golden Digimentals, as well as in the CD drama, Natsu e no Tobira...
and his two Digimon,
TerriermonTerriermon is a fictional character from the Digimon media franchise. Terriermon is the partner digimon of Henry Wong. He appears as a main character in the Digimon Tamers anime series .-Appearance:In the English dub, Terriermon was called a bunny because of his long ears and his similarity to...
and Wendigomon, who caused a great deal of damage while fighting each other. Kari and T.K. decided to help Willis, joining him on a train for Colorado; Kari sent an e-mail to the other DigiDestined, who began to make their way to America to help their friends. Shortly afterward, the train was hindered by Wendigomon, so Willis, T.K. and Kari continued on foot. They managed to join up with the others during the fight with Cherubimon. Angewomon and Angemon digivolved to their mega-forms to release the powers of the golden digi-eggs so
Veemonis a Digimon creature from the Japanese Digimon media franchise that comprises anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media."Veemon" is the name that all members of this particular Digimon species share...
- Davis's Digimon - and Terriermon could golden armour digivolve.
Michi e no Armor Shinka
Kari was kidnapped by Boltmon, along with Mimi and Sora. When Pukumon entered the scene with a Control Spire, Joe was knocked into the Adventure 02 Digital World and Kari somehow ended up with
Cody-Places:United States* Cody, Wyoming, a city* Cody, Florida, an unincorporated area* Cody , Minnesota, a neighborhood* Cody, Nebraska, a villageCanada* Cody, British Columbia, a ghost town in British Columbia-People with the surname Cody:...
's D-Terminal, allowing Gatomon to Armor Digivolve to Butterflymon.
Revenge of Diaboromon
Three years after the events of 'Our War Game', the evil Digimon virus,
DiaboromonDiaboromon is a fictional character from the Digimon franchise. His name originates from diabolus, the Latin word for devil, and his design and actions are a reference to the Y2K Bug. In the dub of the movies that he appeared in, Diaboromon and Infermon are voiced by Paul St. Peter while Kuramon...
, resumed his reign of terror on the Internet. The Kuramon were bio-emerging via e-mail, so while Tai, Matt, and their Digimon entered cyberspace to battle Diaboromon once more, the others had to track down the Kuramon. Yolei and Kari found the first one and caught it for Izzy to examine. While Omnimon was being overpowered by Diaboromon, Kari and T.K., with their Digimon, had gone to help their big brothers; unfortunately, she could only watch the battle between Imperialdramon and Armageddemon.
Digimon Adventure 02 Series Finale Epilogue
In 2027 (25 years later) Kari is a kindergarten teacher and has one son, who has a Salamon as a Digimon partner.
Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01
During one of her battles as a child, Kari 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.
Songs
- Kari has three Japanese image songs, "Holy Light," "Yasashii Ame" ("Gentle Rain") and "Reflection," as well as a fourth one sung with Gatomon (Yuka Tokumitsu) called "Shining Star."