Digimon Universe: App Monsters

Smartphone apps are everywhere, and in this series each app can host a living AI called an Appmon, a creature that exists on the border between people and the net. When a hostile program called Leviathan unleashes the L-virus to seize control of Appmon and disrupt real-world systems, teenager Haru Shinkai ends up with an Appli Drive that can materialize Appmon allies. He summons Gatchmon, a search-app AI, and together with friends they face corrupted Appmon, uncover the motives behind Leviathan, and try to protect everyday devices from becoming threats. The show keeps its focus on action and teamwork, and it stays centered on character relationships rather than teasing major plot twists.

The series premiered in 2016 and was created by Yoichi Kato alongside franchise creator Akiyoshi Hongo. Voice leads include Yumi Uchiyama as Haru Shinkai and Cocoro Kikuchi as Gatchmon, reflecting a cast familiar to fans of Japanese animation.

There aren't records of major industry awards for the series, so it didn't make a big splash in award seasons. That said, it found a steady audience among younger viewers and franchise followers who appreciated a fresh digital-era concept.

Within the Digimon lineup, App Monsters updated the core idea for a smartphone generation, making the idea of monster allies feel modern and app-driven. Fans picked up on the show's tech-forward visual design and the Appmon concept, and it added a distinct chapter to the wider franchise conversation about how digital life can interact with kids' media.

Critical and fan reception skews positive, reflected in a solid user vote average of 8.3 out of 10 from a small sample. Reviewers and viewers point to themes about responsibility with technology, the ethics of autonomous AI, and friendship under pressure, while praising the energetic action and accessible tone aimed at a younger audience.