Episode 004

Episode Stats:

Japanese Episode 004: Red Hot! Birdramon
American Episode 104: Biyomon Gets Firepower
Japanese Air Date: March 28th 1999
American Air Date: September 4th 1999
Important Characters: Meramon, Birdramon
Important Places: Pyocomon Village (Yokomon Village), Miharashi Mountain (Mt. Miharashi)

As the Chosen Children are walking through a desert they find the Pyocomon Village. While there they are offered food & water which comes from Mihirashi Mountain. Little does everyone know that the leader of the mountain, Meramon is affected by a Black Gear which makes him an antagonist. Meramon attacks the village and everyone runs while Piyomon thinks about everybody else's safety over hers which lead into a fight between her & Meramon. Sora is very worried about her friend and wants to protect her which triggers Piyomon's evolution into Birdramon. Birdramon is able to put up a fight with Meramon and destroys the Black Gear inside of him. Meramon apologizes for what he has done and the Children eat with the Pyocomon.

Thoughts
This episode (and the next 2) mean a lot to me as they were the very first episodes of Digimon that made me a fan of the show. I really loved the fight between Birdramon & Meramon. This episode starts showing how much Piyomon means to Sora as well.

The dub was OK, but not as good as the last 2 episodes were. Saban changed Sora & Piyomon's relationship in this episode, but after she evolves it matches up in both versions. Other than that it's decent.


Side Note
In the Japanese version Tentomon speaks with a Kansai dialect which is why he calls Koushirou "Koushirou-Han". The dub doesn't carry this over obviously, but if it did Tentomon would speak with a New York dialect.


Removed Footage-1 second
This has to do with the first commercial break in the dub . In the Japanese version when the camera pans up when Mimi is yelling it fades to the shot of the Black Gear in the mountain. In the dub it cuts to commercial  and the scene is played in reverse and then it cuts to the shot of the Black Gear in the mountain.

Side Note
Sora & Piyomon's relationship in this episode is different from Sora & Biyomon's relationship. In the Japanese version Sora thinks Piyomon is a nuisance and doesn't want her to be around. In the dub Sora doesn't mind Biyomon being around. After this episode their relationship is the same in both versions.

All the Pyocomon have individual voices, some even sound male, but all the Yokomon are clearly voiced by Tifanie Christun.

Dialogue Edit
This is while Tai is dancing around the well with fire coming out.

Pyocomon: "I saw something land on Miharashi Mountain earlier!"

American Mimi: "Look Tai's doing a little dance for us. Is that supposed to stop the fire or bring down the rain?"

Yeah, that's a stupid thing to say Mimi.

Side Note
I really like Meramon's voice in the dub. It sounds almost like his original voice. Good job Peter Spellos.

Dialogue Edit
Before Meramon's attack.

"No Dialogue"

American Meramon: "Is that the best you can do."

I'm putting this down because he doesn't say anything in the original. This happens a few other times as well.

Also his attack name changes from Burning Fist to Fireball.

Paint Edit
During Piyomon's evolution sequence the Romaji is changed to the English name.

Side Note
Melodee Spevack's voice as Birdramon is fine and is a perfect match to Atori Shigematsu, but I hate that Saban made her make these horrible bird cries.

Dialogue Edit
In this episode Birdramon's Meteor Wing is changed to bird cries, but when she shows up later the attack keeps its original name.

At the end we get some Joe stupidity

Jou: "If you chew it enough, it's not so bad."

Joe: "I'm skipping this one too. I just don't like to eat on an empty stomach. Besides I don't even know what that stuff is, but I'm sure I'm allergic to it."

In the original he obviously eats it. I hate how Joe is written sometimes.



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