Ask John: Will Digimon Ever Reach American DVD?

Question:
Taking any possible factor into account, is there any chance at all that the Digimon series, even dub-only, will ever see the light of day in the R1 market, or is it really just a pipe dream at this point?

Answer:
This one is difficult to predict. If this question had been submitted a few weeks ago I would have said, “No.” However, right now the answer isn’t quite as obvious.

Toei Animation has recently made some public inquiries about digitally distributing a number of its anime titles in America, including Digimon. If there’s enough interest in that prospect, Toei may decide to go further and even attempt DVD releases.

Presently there’s really no sign of an American DVD release for Digimon and no reason to expect a future release. But considering that the Toon Disney has licensed “Digimon Data Squad” (Digimon Savers) for American television broadcast, proving that there’s still some interest in the franchise among American viewers, and the fact that Toei is still eager to distribute its anime franchises in America, the possibility of a future Digimon DVD release in America isn’t zero.