Yu-Gi-Oh! (Japanese: 遊☆戯☆王, Hepburn: Yū Gi Ō, lit. 'Game King') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuki Takahashi. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump between September 1996 and March 2004, with its chapters collected in 38 tankōbon volumes. The series follows Yugi Mutou, a teenager who solves the ancient Millennium Puzzle. Yugi becomes host to a gambling alter-ego or spirit who solves his conflicts with various games. As the manga progresses, the focus largely shifts to the card game Duel Monsters (originally known as Magic & Wizards), where opposing players "duel" one another in mock battles of fantasy monsters.
The manga series has spawned a media franchise that includes multiple spin-off manga, anime series, video games, and a real-world card game, the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, based on the fictional Duel Monsters game. The first anime series adaptation, simply titled Yu-Gi-Oh! and produced by Toei Animation, aired from April to October 1998, while the second one, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, produced by NAS and animated by Gallop, aired from April 2000 to September 2004.
Yu-Gi-Oh! has become one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
PlotSee also: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! characters
Yu-Gi-Oh! follows Yugi Mutou, a timid high schooler who is frequently bullied. Yugi loves to play games and, at the beginning of the series, is solving the Millennium Puzzle (千年パズル, Sennen Pazuru), an Ancient Egyptian artifact, hoping that it will grant him his wish of making friends. Yugi eventually completes the Puzzle, causing his body to play host to a mysterious spirit with the personality of a gambler. From that moment onwards, whenever Yugi or any of his friends is threatened, the spirit, briefly possessing Yugi, challenges the antagonist to Shadow Games (闇のゲーム, Yami no Gēmu, lit. "Game of Darkness") that reveal that person's true nature, with the loser often being subjected to an adverse Penalty Game (罰ゲーム, Batsu Gēmu). Yugi and his friends gradually learn of the spirit's existence, referring to him as the "other Yugi".
As the series progresses, Yugi and his friends learn that the spirit is actually that of a nameless Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, who had lost his memories after being sealed inside the Puzzle. As Yugi and his companions attempt to help the Pharaoh regain his memories, they find themselves going through many trials as they wager their lives facing off against those who wield the other Millennium Items (千年アイテム, Sennen Aitemu) and the dark power of the Shadow Games.
Development
In the initial planning stages of the manga, Takahashi had wanted to draw a horror manga.[2] Although the end result was a manga about games, some horror elements influenced certain aspects of the story. Takahashi decided to use "battle" as his primary theme. Since there had been so much "fighting" manga, he found it difficult to come up with something original. He decided to create a fighting manga where the main character does not hit anybody, but also struggled with that limitation. When the word "game" came to mind, he found it much easier to work with.[3]
When an interviewer asked Takahashi if he tried to introduce younger readers to real life gaming culture referenced in the series, Takahashi explained that he simply included "stuff he played and enjoyed", and that it may have introduced readers to role-playing games and other games. He added that he created some of the games seen in the series, stressing the importance of "communication between people" that is often present in tabletop role-playing games but absent in solitary video games and especially over the Internet, where quality communication is near impossible.[4]
Takahashi had always been interested in games, claiming to have been obsessed as a child and remained interested in them as an adult. In a game, he considered the player to become a hero. He decided to base the Yu-Gi-Oh! series around such games and used this idea as the premise; Yugi was a weak childish boy, who became a hero when he played games. With friendship being one of the major themes of Yu-Gi-Oh!, he based the names of the two major characters "Yūgi" and "Jōnouchi" on the Japanese word yūjō, which means "friendship". Henshin, the ability to turn into something or someone else, is something Takahashi believed all children dreamed of. He considered Yugi's "henshin" Dark Yugi, a savvy, invincible games player, to be a big appeal to children.[5]
Takahashi said that the card game held the strongest influence in the manga, because it "happened to evoke the most response" from readers. Prior to that point, Takahashi did not plan to make the story about cards.[6]
Takahashi said that the "positive message" for readers of the series is that each person has a "strong hidden part" (like "human potential") within himself or herself, and when one finds hardship, the "hidden part" can emerge if one believes in him/herself and in his/her friends. Takahashi added that this is "a pretty consistent theme."[6]
The editor of the English version, Jason Thompson, said that the licensing of the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga had not been entirely coordinated, so Viz decided to use many of the original character names and to "keep it more or less violent and gory". Thompson said that the manga "was almost unchanged from the Japanese original". Because the core fanbase of the series was, according to Thompson, "8-year-old boys (and a few incredible fangirls)", and because the series had little interest from "hardcore, Japanese-speaking fans, the kind who run scanlation sites and post on messageboards" as the series was perceived to be "too mainstream", the Viz editors allowed Thompson "a surprising amount of leeway with the translation".[7] In a 2004 interview, the editors of the United States Shonen Jump mentioned that Americans were surprised when reading the stories in the first seven volumes, as they had not appeared on television as a part of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters anime. Takahashi added "The story is quite violent, isn't it? [laughs]"[6]
The English language release by 4Kids has been subject to censorship to make it more appropriate for children; for example, mentions of death or violence were replaced by references to "being sent to the Shadow Realm".[8]
The Japanese title, Yūgiō (遊戯王), stylized as "Yu-Gi-Oh!" (遊☆戯☆王), translates into English as "Game King". Yūgi (遊戯) is also the name of the protagonist, while Yūgiō is also the title the second personality inhabiting his body holds as an invincible game master. Additionally, the character names "Yūgi" and "Jōnouchi" are based on the word yūjō (友情, "friendship").[9] Yūjō is pointed out by Jōnouchi to Yūgi at the end of the first manga chapter, as "something visible yet invisible" (what's visible is the two of them, what's invisible is their friendship), as a way to tell Yūgi that he wants to be his friend. The pun was represented with a Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game card titled "Yūjō Yu-jyo" (友情 YU-JYO, "Yu-Jo Friendship").
MediaMangaMain article: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! chapters
Written and illustrated by Kazuki Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh! was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from September 17, 1996, to March 8, 2004.[10][11] Shueisha collected its chapters in thirty-eight tankōbon volumes, released from March 4, 1997,[12] to June 4, 2004.[13] Shueisha republished its chapters in twenty-two bunkoban volumes from April 18, 2007,[14] to March 18, 2008.[15]
In North America, the manga was licensed by Viz Media. The company started publishing it in its Shonen Jump magazine from November 2002 to November 2007.[16][17] The company also released the manga in volumes, divided in three series; the first series, Yu-Gi-Oh!, includes the first seven volumes, and were released from May 7, 2003;[18] to December 7, 2004.[19] the second series, Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelist includes the original volumes 8–31, and Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World, includes the original volumes 32–38. Both series started publication in 2005; The first volume of Duelist was released on February 1,[20] and the first volume of Millennium World on August 2.[21] The 24th and last volume of Duelist was released on December 4, 2007,[22] and the seventh and final volume of Millennium World was released on February 5, 2008.[23] Viz Media republished the series in thirteen three-in-one volume edition from February 3, 2015,[24] to February 6, 2018.[25]
A two-part short story by Takahashi, titled Yu-Gi-Oh! Transcend Game, was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump on April 11 and 18, 2016.[26][27] Takahashi created the story to link the end of the original manga with the story of the Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions anime film.[28] Viz Media published the manga in its digital Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.[28]
Yu-Gi-Oh! RMain article: Yu-Gi-Oh! R
A spin-off manga titled Yu-Gi-Oh! R was illustrated by Akira Ito under Takahashi's supervision. It was serialized in V Jump between 2004 and 2007, and its chapters were collected in five volumes. Viz Media released the series in North America between 2009 and 2010.[29]
AnimeAnime franchise overviewNo.TitleEpisodesOriginally aired / Release dateDirectorStudioNetwork1Yu-Gi-Oh!27April 4, 1998 – October 10, 1998Hiroyuki KakudōToei AnimationTV AsahiFilmYu-Gi-Oh!March 6, 1999Junji Shimizu2Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters224April 18, 2000 – September 29, 2004Kunihisa SugishimaGallopTXN (TV Tokyo)FilmYu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of LightNovember 3, 2004Hatsuki Tsuji4Kids Entertainment
Gallop3Yu-Gi-Oh! GX180October 6, 2004 – March 26, 2008GallopTXN (TV Tokyo)MiniseriesYu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters12September 9, 2006 – November 25, 2006Eric Stuart4Kids Entertainment
Gallop4Kids TV4Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's154 + 1April 2, 2008 – March 30, 2011Katsumi OnoGallopTXN (TV Tokyo)FilmYu-Gi-Oh!: Bonds Beyond TimeJanuary 23, 2010Kenichi Takeshita5Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal73 + 1April 11, 2011 – September 24, 2012Satoshi KuwaharaTXN (TV Tokyo)6Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II73 + 1October 7, 2012 – March 23, 2014TXN (TV Tokyo)7Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V148April 6, 2014 – March 26, 2017Katsumi OnoTXN (TV Tokyo)FilmYu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of DimensionsApril 23, 2016Satoshi Kuwabara8Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS120May 10, 2017 – September 25, 2019Masahiro Hosoda (#1–13)
Katsuya Asano (#14–120)TXN (TV Tokyo)9Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens92April 4, 2020 – March 27, 2022Nobuhiro KondoBridge10Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!!151April 3, 2022 – March 30, 2025ONAYu-Gi-Oh! Card Game The Chronicles1April 21, 2025 – presentTakashi KaigaKonami AnimationYouTubeTotal13
1234 + 7
April 4, 1998 – present-Television seriesYu-Gi-Oh! (1998 TV series)Main article: Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998 TV series)
The first Yu-Gi-Oh! anime adaptation was produced by Toei Animation and aired for 27 episodes on TV Asahi between April 1998 and October 1998.[30]
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (2000 TV series)Main article: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
A second anime television series adaptation, produced by NAS and animated by Gallop, was broadcast for 224 episodes on TV Tokyo from April 2000 to September 2004.[31]
Capsule MonstersMain article: Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters
Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters is a 12-episode spin-off miniseries to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters series, commissioned, produced and edited by 4Kids Entertainment, which aired in North America between September and November 2006.[32]
Films
Four animated films based on the franchise have been released.
Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999)Main article: Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999 film)
Based on the Toei animated series, the thirty-minute Yu-Gi-Oh! film premiered in March 1999.[33]
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of LightMain article: Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light, often referred to as simply Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie, was first released in North America in August 2004.[34] The film was developed specifically for Western audiences by 4Kids based on the success of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise in the United States.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Bonds Beyond TimeMain article: Yu-Gi-Oh! Bonds Beyond Time
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Bonds Beyond Time is a 3-D film that premiered in Japan in January 2010 and in North America in February 2011.[35][36]
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of DimensionsMain article: Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions, which was produced to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the franchise, premiered in Japan in April 2016 and in January 2017 in North America.[37][38]
Spin-offsMain articles: Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V, Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!!
Seven anime spin-offs have been produced. The first, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, was broadcast from October 2004 to March 2008.[39] It was succeeded by Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, which aired from April 2008 to March 2011.[40] Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal aired from April 2011 to March 2014.[41][42] Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V, premiered the following month and aired until March 2017.[43][44] Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, was aired from May 2017 to September 2019.[45][46] Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens aired April 2020 to March 2022.[47][48] Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!!, an interquel to Sevens, premiered in April 2022.[49] An original net animation (ONA) series consisting of promotional shorts, titled Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Game The Chronicles, is set to premiere on YouTube in April 2025 with new episodes debuting every month.[50]
Novel
A novel adaptation of some of the beginning parts of the manga and the Death-T arc, written by Katsuhiko Chiba [ja]. It was published in Japan by Shueisha on September 3, 1999, and has four sections.[51] The fourth section is an original story, occurring only in the novel. Two weeks after Yugi's battle with Kaiba in Death-T, Yugi gets a call from Kaiba, who tells him to meet for a game at the top floor of Kaiba Corporation. Yugi accepts, and when the game begins, they use a special variation of Magic & Wizards called the "Bingo Rule," which prevents the used of a specific card in each player's deck. Mokuba stumbles in on them, and tells Yugi that Kaiba has not yet awoken from his catatonic state. It turns out that the Kaiba that Yugi is playing against is a "Cyber Kaiba", controlled by the KaibaCorp computer, using all of Kaiba's memories.
Other booksThe Gospel of Truth series guide for the manga
Yu-Gi-Oh! Character Guidebook: The Gospel of Truth (遊☆戯☆王キャラクターズガイドブック―真理の福音―, Yūgiō Kyarakutāzu Gaido Bukku Shinri no Fukuin) is a guidebook written by Kazuki Takahashi related to characters from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga universe. It was published in Japan on November 1, 2002, by Shueisha under their Jump Comics imprint.[52] The book contains profiles for characters, including information which has never been released elsewhere, including birth dates, height, weight, blood type, favorite and least favorite food. It also contains a plethora of compiled information from the story, including a list of names for the various games and Shadow Games that appear in Yu-Gi-Oh! and the various Penalty Games used by the Millennium Item wielders.
An art book titled, Duel Art (デュエルアート, Dyueruāto) was illustrated by Kazuki Takahashi under the Studio Dice label. The art book was released on December 16, 2011, and contains a number of illustrations done for the bunkoban releases of the manga, compilations of color illustrations found in the manga, and brand new art drawn for the book.[53] It also contains pictures by Takahashi used for cards with the anniversary layout, pictures he has posted on his website and a number of other original illustrations. Udon Press published an English version, translated by Caleb D. Cook.[54]
The Theatrical & TV Anime Yu-Gi-Oh! Super Complete Book (劇場&TVアニメ『遊☆戯☆王』スーパー・コンプリートブック, Gekijō & TV Anime Yūgiō Sūpā Konpurītobukku) was released in May 1999 following the release of Toei's Yu-Gi-Oh! film earlier that year. The book includes episode information and pictures regarding the anime and film, some pictures with the original manga with a section covering the making of certain monsters, and interviews regarding the film. It also features an ani-manga version of the film and is the only supplemental work released for the Toei anime.[55]
The Yu-Gi-Oh! 10th Anniversary Animation Book (遊☆戯☆王 テンス アニバーサリー アニメーション ブック, Yūgiō! Tensu Anivāsarī Animēshon Bukku) is a book released to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the NAS adaption of the anime (as opposed to the manga), released on January 21, 2010. The book features scenes from Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D Bonds Beyond Time, a quick review of the three Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters series, character profiles, duels and interviews with the staff of the film. A fold-out double-sided poster is included with the book.[56]
Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game Duel Monsters Official Rule Guide — The Thousand Rule Bible - ISBN 4-08-782134-X, This is a rule book and strategy guide for the Junior and Shin Expert rules. This also has a Q & A related to certain cards, and the book comes with the "multiply" card.Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game Duel Monsters Official Card Catalog The Valuable Book - This is a collection of card catalogues.Volume 1 ISBN 4-08-782764-XVolume 2 ISBN 4-08-782041-6Volume 3 ISBN 4-08-782135-8Volume 4 ISBN 4-08-782047-5Volume 5 ISBN 4-08-782053-XYu-Gi-Oh!: Monster Duel Official Handbook by Michael Anthony Steele - ISBN 0-439-65101-8, Published by Scholastic Press - A guide book to Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and charactersYu-Gi-Oh! Enter the Shadow Realm: Mighty Champions by Jeff O'Hare - ISBN 0-439-67191-4, Published by Scholastic Press - A book with puzzles and games related to Yu-Gi-Oh!Trading card gameA group of young men playing the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card GameMain article: Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
The Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game is a Japanese collectible card battle game developed and published by Konami. Based on the Duel Monsters concept from the original manga series, the game sees players using a combination of monsters, spells, and traps to defeat their opponent. First launched in Japan in 1999, the game has received various changes over the years, such as the inclusion of new monster types to coincide with the release of new anime series. In 2011, Guinness World Records called it the top-selling trading card game in history, with 25.2 billion cards sold worldwide.[57] As of January 2021, the game is estimated to have sold about 35 billion cards worldwide.[58][59][60]
Video gamesMain article: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! video games
There are several video games based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise which are published by Konami, the majority of which are based on the trading card game, and some based on other games that appeared in the manga. Aside from various games released for consoles and handheld systems, arcade machines known as Duel Terminals have been released which are compatible with certain cards in the trading card game. Outside of Konami's titles, Yugi appears as a playable character in the crossover fighting games Jump Super Stars, Jump Ultimate Stars, and Jump Force.[61][62]
Reception
The manga has sold 40 million copies.[63] In December 2002, Shonen Jump received the ICv2 Award for "Comic Product of the Year" due to its unprecedented sales numbers and its successfully connecting comics to both the television medium and the Yu-Gi-Oh! collectible card game; one of the top CCG games of the year.[64] In August 2008, TV Tokyo reported that over 18 billion Yu-Gi-Oh! cards had been sold worldwide.[65] By 2011, it had sold 25.2 billion cards worldwide.[57]
John Jakala of Anime News Network reviewed the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga in 2003 as part of reviewing the U.S. Shonen Jump. Jakala said that while the commercials for the second series anime made the anime appear "completely uninteresting," the comic "is unexpectedly dark and moody." Jakala added that at one moment the series "reminded me of Neil Gaiman's work: Yugi finds himself drawn into a magical world of ancient forces where there are definite rules that must be obeyed." Jakala concluded that the fact the series uses games as plot devices "opens up a lot of story possibilities" and that he feared that the series had the potential to "simply devolve into a tie-in for the popular card game."[66]
Jason Thompson, the editor of the English version of the manga, ranked Yu-Gi-Oh! as number three of his five personal favorite series to edit, stating that he thinks "the story is actually pretty solid for a shonen manga" and that "you can tell it was written by an older man because of the obsession with death, and what might come after death, which dominates the final story arc," enjoying all the RPG and card gaming terminology found within the series.[7]
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen argued that the manga series started to garner more popularity among Japanese children with the second series because of its somewhat "dark story lines, leggy girls and terrifying monsters". Cullen speculated that the series was not popular among Japanese parents, due to it being more intended for teenagers rather than the young kids that make up the audience for franchises such as Pokémon.[67]
In TV Asahi's 2006 poll of the Top 100 Anime, Yu-Gi-Oh! came in 96th.[68] Yu-Gi-Oh! was used by Bandai as part of their Candy Toy toyline.[69][70][71]
Cultural impact
A fandub parody video of Yu-Gi-Oh! was uploaded on YouTube on July 15, 2006, by Martin Billany (also known as LittleKuriboh) titled Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series – Episode One Redux. After becoming popular, it started a trend among anime communities to produce abridged series for different works.[72][73]
In 2024 US Olympic track and field trials, Noah Lyles showed off Yu-Gi-Oh! cards Blue Eyes White Dragon and Exodia to the camera before running.[74][75]
References^ Jump up to:a b "The Official Website for Yu-Gi-Oh!". Viz Media. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.^ Takahashi, Kazuki (January 2, 2007). Foreword. Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World. Vol. 5. Viz Media. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-4215-0694-4.^ Takahashi, Kazuki (October 10, 2005). Foreword. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist. Vol. 9. Viz Media. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-4215-0052-2.^ "Interview: Kazuki Takahashi (part 2)". Shonen Jump. 2 (8). Viz Media: 140. August 2004.^ Cullen, Lisa Takeuchi (December 18, 2002). "'I've Always Been Obsessed With Games'". Time Asia. Archived from the original on July 2, 2002. Retrieved November 13, 2018. In a game, the player becomes the hero. [...] The main character, Yugi, is a weak and childish boy who becomes a hero when he plays games. 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Retrieved August 30, 2024.^ Pineda, Rafael (March 5, 2020). "Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens Anime Unveils Visual, April 4 Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2024.^ 遊戯王ＳＥＶＥＮＳ(セブンス) 「デュエルの王」 (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2024.^ Loo, Egan (March 5, 2022). "Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! Anime Announces Cosplayer Enako in Cast, Song Artists, April 3 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 21, 2024). "Yu-Gi-Oh! Gets Series of Promotional Net Anime Shorts in April 2025". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.^ 遊・戯・王 [Yu-Gi-Oh]. Shueisha. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2022.^ "集英社の本 公式". Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2022. Shueisha^ "集英社の本 公式". 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Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, also known in Japan as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX (Japanese: 遊☆戯☆王デュエルモンスターズGX, Hepburn: Yūgiō Dyueru Monsutāzu Jī Ekkusu), is a Japanese anime television series. It is a spin-off and sequel to the original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series, which itself is based on the original manga series of the same title by Kazuki Takahashi. It was broadcast for 180 episodes on TV Tokyo from October 2004 to March 2008. Yu-Gi-Oh! GX follows the exploits of Jaden Yuki (Judai Yuki in the Japanese versions) and his companions as he attends Duel Academia (Duel Academy in the 4Kids version). The series was released in English in North America by 4Kids Entertainment. A manga adaptation by Naoyuki Kageyama was serialized in Shueisha's magazine V Jump from December 2005 to March 2011, with its chapters collected in nine tankōbon volumes. The series was followed by Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's in 2008.
Plot[edit]See also: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX characters
Taking place several years after the events of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX follows a new generation of duelists including a young boy named Jaden Yuki (Judai Yuki) who attends Duel Academy, a school founded by Seto Kaiba, where aspiring duelists train in the field of Duel Monsters. The academy has an internal ranking system based on the "Egyptian God" cards from Battle City. Obelisk Blue is the highest dorm and is filled with only the best duelists or those who come from elite families. Ra Yellow is the second-highest dorm and is made up of duelists who score and perform well in school and have the potential to be the best. Slifer Red is the lowest dorm and consists of those who do not perform well and need much help to improve. Students are able to graduate to the next dorm if they show improvement. In the universe of Yu-Gi-Oh!, this series focuses on the type of summoning called "Fusion Summon", which the protagonist and many characters perform.
For the first year at Duel Academy, Jaden befriends many students such as Syrus Truesdale (Sho Marufuji), Jaden's roommate with low self esteem and Zane's brother, Chumley Huffington (Hayato Maeda), a portly Slifer student who secretly dreams of being a card designer, Alexis Rhodes (Asuka Tenjoin), one of the top female duelists, Bastion Misawa (Daichi Misawa), an excellent duelist with an extremely high intellect, Chazz Princeton (Jun Manjoume), one of Jaden's rivals with an elitist personality, and Zane Truesdale (Ryo Marufuji), Jaden's other rival and the best duelist in the school. Together the main cast faced major threats including the Shadow Riders (Seven Stars), who intended to revive the Sacred Beasts, powerful cards that could destroy the world. This group was led by Kagemaru and consisted of Nightshroud (Alexis's brother Atticus possessed by darkness), Camula (a vampire), Tania (an Amazon Warrior), Don Zaloog (a duel spirit), Abydos (an Egyptian pharaoh), Titan (an illusionist) and Amnael (an alchemist who posed as the Slifer Red's dorm advisor, Professor Banner). After the Shadow Riders are defeated, Zane chooses Jaden to duel him in his graduation match which ends in the only draw of the series, after which he passes on the title of top duelist in the school to Jaden.
In the second year, Jaden meets Aster Phoenix (Edo Phoenix), a dueling prodigy, and Tyranno Hassleberry (Tyranno Kenzan), a duelist with a love for the army and dinosaurs. The main cast then face off against the Society of Light, a cult-like organization who infiltrated Duel Academy. They are led by Sartorius, Aster's manager, and intend to brainwash humanity with the powerful "Light of Destruction", a light in space that has the ability to corrupt. It is revealed that when one duels someone from the Society of Light, they also become brainwashed and become one of their members. This caused many of Jaden's friends, namely Chazz, Alexis, and Bastion, to become Jaden's enemy. Jaden learns that he has the ability to talk to Duel Spirits (similar to Yugi Mutou) due to his ability to use the "Gentle Darkness", a force created to balance out the Light of Destruction. He uses this to beat Sartorious and free everyone from the influence.
In the third year, Duel Academy is transported to another dimension, a desert plane with three suns and resident Duel Monster spirits, ruled by Yubel, a duel monster who was corrupted by the light. Upon returning home, Jaden and a select group of his partners dive back into the alternate dimension to recover their missing companions. After seeing his friends sacrificed, Jaden falls into despair and becomes possessed by the Supreme King, a ruthless and merciless ruler and the original wielder of the Gentle Darkness, which granted him immense power. During his time as the Supreme King, Jaden commits many crimes such as burning down villages, enslaving civilians, and sometimes even executing others. He is later freed of the influence by his friends in a duel, but is left with an immense amount of guilt. It is later revealed that Jaden in fact is the reincarnation of the Supreme King, and the Supreme King's power is a part of him. Jaden faces off against Yubel and learns that Yubel actually was the guardian of the Supreme King who was sworn to always be with him and protect him. Yubel was driven insane by the Light of Destruction and wishes to fuse all dimensions together so she could always be with Jaden. Seeing that Yubel was just trying to fulfill her promise, Jaden decides to use "Super Polymerization" and fuse himself with Yubel to help fulfill that promise and cleanse her of her corruption.
Later in the third year, Jaden returns to Duel Academy for his graduation period. Since he fused himself with Yubel, he has gained her powers as well as her bi-chromatic eyes when he uses her powers. However, since he came back from the alternate dimension, he has become more solitary and distant from his friends as he does not wish to cause trouble for anyone anymore. He also lost his happy-go-lucky personality and his love for dueling; having endured such horrors over the past three years at Duel Academy, his belief that one duels for fun and enjoying themselves has been sapped out of him, and he only duels for survival. Despite this, Jaden is confronted by Nightshroud, the same spirit that possessed Atticus back in his first year, who tells Jaden that he will engulf this world in darkness by feeding off the negative emotions of humanity. Jaden originally fights off his minions until he comes face to face with Nightshroud himself. He duels him and successfully defeats him, freeing everyone of their darkness. During their remaining time, Jaden had slowly grown closer to his friends once again and began to reclaim his love for dueling, but on his final night, Jaden decided to leave the academy without saying goodbye. He is then stopped by an adult Yugi Mutou who transports him back in time for his 'graduation match' against Yugi Mutou from the past. During this duel, Jaden reflects on his time at Duel Academy and the great friendships he has made along the way. He expresses his gratitude towards Yugi and officially reclaims his old personality and, spurred on by the opportunity to battle one of Yugi's Egyptian God cards (in this case, Slifer the Sky Dragon), his love of dueling once again.
Production[edit]
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is produced by Nihon Ad Systems and TV Tokyo, and the animation is handled by Studio Gallop. The series was directed by Hatsuki Tsuji[2] and scripts were prepared by an alternating lineup of writers–Shin Yoshida, Atsushi Maekawa, Akemi Omode, Yasuyuki Suzuki–with music arrangements by Yutaka Minobe.[2] Takuya Hiramitsu is in charge of sound direction, supervised by Yūji Mitsuya. Character and monster designs are overseen by Kenichi Hara, while Duel layout is overseen by Masahiro Hikokubo.[2] The "GX" in the series' title is short for the term "Generation neXt". "GENEX" was conceived as the series' original title, as can be evidenced in early promotional artwork. It also refers to the GX tournament that takes place between episodes 84 and 104.
A remastered version, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, is set to air on TV Tokyo starting in April 2025.[3]
Media[edit]Anime[edit]Main article: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX episodes
The 180-episode series aired on TV Tokyo between October 6, 2004, and March 26, 2008, and was followed by Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's.[4]
It was subsequently licensed by 4Kids Entertainment and adapted into English, picked up by Cartoon Network[5] and 4KidsTV in North America. Like previous 4Kids adaptations, several changes were made from the original Japanese version, including the names and personalities of characters, the soundtrack, the sound effects, the appearance of visuals such as Life Point counters, and the appearance of cards. The story and some of the visuals are also edited to remove references to death, blood, violence and religion in order to make the series suitable for a younger audience.[6] Also any written language text, either Japanese or English is erased or replaced with unreadable content. These edits are also used in various localizations of the show in countries outside of Asia where 4Kids had distribution rights. For unknown reasons the US broadcast of the third season was first delayed from broadcast for two months after the conclusion of the second season, then its airing period extended to run over the course of 16 months until the end of August 2008. The last episode of the third season and the fourth season in its entirety were not dubbed for unknown reasons (possibly as consequence of the third season's delays leading to too large of an episode gap between the Japanese and North American airing schedules), leaving them for many years as Japanese-exclusive; with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's beginning to be run in September 2008, three weeks after the US broadcast airing of GX season 3's last dubbed episode.
Dubbed episodes were uploaded onto 4Kids' YouTube page until March 29, 2011, when Nihon Ad Systems and TV Tokyo sued 4Kids and terminated the licensing agreement for the franchise. The series is currently licensed by 4K Media Inc.[7] Hulu and Crunchyroll are currently streaming dubbed episodes, with the latter beginning to stream the subtitled Japanese version of the series in August 2015.[8]
Music[edit]JapaneseOpening themes"Fine Weather Hallelujah" (快晴・上昇・ハレルーヤ, Kaisei Josho Harerûya) by Jindou (episodes 1–33)"99%" by Bowl (episodes 34–104)"Teardrop" (ティアドロップ, Tiadoroppu) by Bowl (episodes 105–156)"Precious Time, Glory Days" by Psychic Lover (episodes 157–180)Ending themes"Genkai Battle" (限界バトル, Genkai Batoru) by JAM Project (episodes 1–33)"Wake up your Heart" by Kenn (episodes 34–104)"The Sun" (太陽, Taiyou) by Bite the Lung (episodes 105–156)"Endless Dream" by Hiroshi Kitadani (episodes 157–180)English"Get Your Game On" by Lucas PapaeliasManga[edit]Main article: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX chapters
Written and illustrated by Naoyuki Kageyama, under supervision by Kazuki Takahashi, the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX manga series was serialized in Shueisha's V Jump magazine from December 17, 2005,[9] to March 19, 2011.[10] Shueisha collected its chapters in nine tankōbon volumes, released from November 2, 2006,[11] to June 3, 2011.[12] A one-shot was published in V Jump on June 21, 2014.[13]
In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media. The series ran in the Shonen Jump manga anthology from the January 2007 to the January 2010 issues.[14][15] Viz Media released the nine volumes from November 6, 2007,[1] to August 7, 2012.[16]
Video games[edit]See also: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! video games
Several video games based on Yu-Gi-Oh! GX have been developed and published by Konami.
Two games were released for Game Boy Advance; Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters: World Championship Tournament 2006, and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Duel Academy.
Three games have been released for Nintendo DS; Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Spirit Caller, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters World Championship 2007 and Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008. A fourth title, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Card Almanac, is not actually a game, but a catalog of cards up to 2007.
The Tag Force series has appeared on the PlayStation Portable, which adds the ability to form tag team duels, with the first three games in the series being based on the GX series (subsequent games are based on Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's). The titles are Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 2 and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 3. The first game was also ported to PlayStation 2 as Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Tag Force Evolution. So far, Tag Force 3 has not been released in North America. It was however, released in Europe, and its follow up, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 4, has been released in all regions including North America.
Other media[edit]
In 2007, Eaglemoss productions signed a deal to release a magazine based upon the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX franchise named Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Ultimate Guide.[17][18]
The artist Inu Mayuge wrote a Yu-Gi-Oh! GX parody titled De-I-Ko! GX (犬☆眉☆毛DE-I-KO! GX), posted in V Jump on June 25, 2009.[19]
References[edit]^ Jump up to:a b "Read a Free Preview of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.^ Jump up to:a b c "Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Televising Data". biglobe.ne.jp. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2007.^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 21, 2024). "Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Anime Gets 20th Anniversary Remaster". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.^ Loo, Egan (February 21, 2008). "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Game Anime Sequel Confirmed". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2016.^ "4Kids Entertainment Announces Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx To Air On Cartoon Network" (PDF). 4kidsentertainment.com. August 10, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 14, 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2016.^ "Kirk Up Your Ears". Anime News Network. July 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2016.^ "TV Tokyo, Nihon Ad Terminate Yu-Gi-Oh! Deal, Sue 4Kids". Anime News Network. March 29, 2011. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2015.^ "Crunchyroll To Stream English Subtitled "Yu-Gi-Oh! GX"". Crunchyroll. July 4, 2015. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.^ Vジャンプ 2006年2月号 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2023.^ "Yu-gi-oh Gx se termine". manga-news.com (in French). March 19, 2011. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ 遊・戯・王GX 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ 遊・戯・王GX 9 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ Nelkin, Sarah (April 17, 2014). "Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V & GX Get Manga One-Shots". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.^ Mays, Jonathan (July 18, 2006). "Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Coming to Shonen Jump". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ Loo, Egan (November 28, 2009). "Yu Yu Hakusho, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX End in Shonen Jump USA". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ "Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Vol. 9". Viz Media. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ "Welcome to the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Ultimate Guide website". yugioh-gx-guide.co.uk/. Archived from the original on June 18, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2016.^ "Eaglemoss signs Yu-Gi-Oh TV deal". Campaign. January 23, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2016.^ V Jump. June 25, 2009. 237-243
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (遊☆戯☆王5D's, Yūgiō Faibu Dīzu) is the second main spin-off of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, succeeding Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Weekly Shōnen Jump and the 15th anniversary of V Jump. The series aired from April 2008 to March 2011.
The story focuses on characters playing a card game called Duel Monsters. This series introduces Synchro Monsters to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. A new method of duelling exists where motorcycle-like vehicles called D-Wheels (Duel Runners in the English version) are used, and the duelists engage in games called Riding Duels (Turbo Duels in the English version).[4] The show is set in the distant future, where the upper-class population live in Neo Domino City (New Domino City in the English version) and the lower class in a remote island where Domino's sewage is transported, Satellite. Yusei Fudo, the 18-year-old protagonist, lives in Satellite and makes it his objective to reach his rival Jack Atlas, who lives in Neo Domino. The series focuses on the five Signers, people embodied with a mark of one of the legendary Five Dragons who serve an ancient deity called the Crimson Dragon, their conflict with the Dark Signers, and the Three Emperors of Iliaster.
As with the previous two anime series (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX), Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's was acquired by 4Kids Entertainment for broadcasting in the United States in September 2008.[5] The series aired on The CW4Kids, from September 13, 2008 to September 10, 2011, though 31 episodes were left unaired as well as undubbed.[6] The English-language version premiered on July 24 at San Diego Comic-Con 2008,[7] where the first English-dubbed episode was previewed. Like the previous two English dubs, changes have been made to the plot, cards, and character names. On June 1, 2009, the series began airing 5 days a week on Cartoon Network.[8][9] A manga based on the show began serialization in V Jump monthly Magazine from August 2009 to January 2015.
The series was succeeded by Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal.
Plot[edit]See also: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's is set in the distant future, in Neo Domino City.
Seventeen years prior, a reactor called Moment within the city malfunctioned and caused a great earthquake that split the city in two parts: Satellite, the rundown and poverty-stricken part (also the former Domino City), and Neo Domino City, the wealthier and urban part. In order to keep the two areas separate, access to the city from the Satellite is strictly prohibited and can result in imprisonment. Yusei Fudo, an aspiring duelist from Satellite, builds his own Duel Runner (D-Wheel in the Japanese version), but his best friend Jack Atlas betrays him and steals his vehicle along with his most precious monster, Stardust Dragon, escaping to Neo Domino.
Two years later, Yusei builds another Duel Runner and secretly travels to the city to win back his Dragon. Jack has made a name for himself and his monster, Red Dragon Archfiend, as the current Turbo Duel King in Neo Domino City. Yusei and Jack face each other in a turbo duel, Yusei and Jack's arms glow red, a third red dragon appears, and brings an abrupt end to the fight. This attracts the attention of Rex Goodwin, the head of the Public Security Maintenance Bureau, who reveals to Jack a five thousand year old secret, involving the "People of the Stars" (星の民, Hoshi no Tami), a pre-Incan civilization, the "Crimson Dragon" (赤き竜, Akaki Ryū), and "Signers" (シグナー, Shigunā), identified by a red birthmark on their arm that represents a part of the dragon. Goodwin also reveals that Jack and Yusei are both Signers and holds a tournament to find the other three. Two of the other signers turn out to be child duelist Luna and psychic duelist Akiza. In the final battle, all four Signers see a vision of the future with the Satellite in ruins.
Goodwin reveals that the Signers are destined to face the Dark Signers, duelists resurrected from the dead to serve the evil Earthbound Gods. The Signers head to Satellite to face the Dark Signers which consist of: Roman Goodwin (Rex's brother, a former Signer with the dragon's Head mark and leader of the Dark Signers), Kalin Kessler (a former friend of Yusei, Jack and Crow Hogan), Devack (the one who stole the Ancient Fairy Dragon card, Luna's Signer Dragon), Misty Tredwell (a model who blames Akiza for the death of her brother Toby), Greiger (who blamed Rex Goodwin for his village's disappearance), and briefly Carly (a blogger with feelings for Jack). With the help of Leo, Luna's twin brother, and Crow Hogan, Yusei and Jack's best friend, they are able to defeat all the Dark Signers. However, Rex Goodwin reveals that he has become a Dark Signer and uses his brother's severed arm to become a Signer as well. With the power of both the light and the shadows, he wishes to rebuild the world in his image. Yusei, Jack and Crow then face him in a turbo duel in order to stop him and King of the Netherworld from finishing off the Signers and destroying the world. Before the final attack, Yusei gains the Head mark, making him the new leader, while Crow gains his former Tail mark, making him the fifth Signer. With the power of the Crimson Dragon and Yusei's Majestic Star Dragon, he defeats Goodwin who, along with Roman, sacrifice themselves to destroy the King of the Netherworld and revive the Dark Signers as normal people again.
After the Dark Signers' defeat, Neo Domino City and Satellite are finally reunited into one prosperous city with the building of the "Daedalus Bridge", an intricate net of roads linking both Satellite and Neo Domino City with some sections also used for turbo duels. Yusei and his friends, now calling themselves "Team 5D's", prepare for the upcoming World Riding Duel Grand Prix (WRGP) tournament. A new threat appears, the Three Emperors of Iliaster, whose main monsters, the "Machine Emperors", can absorb Synchro Monsters from their opponents to empower themselves. Yusei encounters a fellow competitor, Sherry LeBlanc, who is investigating the Iliaster organization, that is reportedly responsible for her parents' deaths. Team 5D's is also joined by a mysterious amnesiac mechanic named Bruno, who quickly befriends the team and helps them prepare for the WRGP. The WRGP soon begins, with Team 5D's facing tough opponents such as Team Unicorn, a world-ranked dueling team, Team Taiyo, a new dueling team who started with nothing, and Team Ragnarok, who possess special abilities like the Signers. Yusei and Jack develop the "Clear Mind" and "Burning Soul" abilities, respectively, upgrading their ace monsters into forms capable of dodging the Machine Emperors' absorption effects. Team 5D's eventually confront the Emperors themselves, who are revealed to be three different incarnations of Aporia, a cyborg sent from the future to destroy Neo Domino City to prevent a great calamity from befalling mankind in the future.
Although Team 5D's defeats Aporia and wins the WRGP, a massive citadel known as the Ark Cradle appears and threatens to crash into Neo Domino City and destroy it. Team 5D's climbs aboard it to stop it. Before reaching the core of the fortress, they confront three individuals guarding its access: Akiza and Crow face Sherry, who was promised to have her parents returned to her; Yusei faces Bruno, who recovered his memories of being Antinomy, another member of Iliaster; and Jack, Leo and Luna face Aporia. Leo dies during the duel and is revived by the Crimson Dragon, becoming the sixth Signer bearing the mark of the dragon's Heart. When the Signers finally reach Z-one, Iliaster's leader, Yusei borrows his friends' dragons to add them to his deck, and challenges Z-one to a final turbo duel to decide Neo Domino City's future. Z-one is revealed to be a scientist from the future who assumed Yusei's identity and traveled back in time to prevent the destruction of humanity. Yusei manages to use his friends' cards to perform a "Limit Over Accel Synchro" and summon his strongest monster, "Shooting Quasar Dragon". After Z-one is defeated by Yusei, he decides to entrust the future of mankind to Yusei, and sacrifices himself to destroy the Ark Cradle and save Neo Domino City from destruction.
A few months pass after the Signers' victory over Iliaster, and the former members of Team 5D's move on with their lives following separate paths. With one final duel between Jack and Yusei, they all part ways, except for Yusei, who decides to stay in Neo Domino City and research for a way to stop the destruction of humanity in the future. As they drive off, the Crimson Dragon appears for the final time and removing all of the Dragon Marks on the Signer's arms, letting them know all the danger has now passed. The other Signers leave the city knowing they will be connected with each other and will return after fulfilling their dreams.
Themes[edit]This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
The first story arc addresses themes such as social class division, segregation, and discrimination, depicted through the interactions between residents of Neo Domino City, and Satellite.[10] The Dark Signer arc deals with the relationship between past and present, as the heroes (especially Yusei, Aki, and Jack) must come to terms with the questionable actions they, or their family members, have made. The final two arcs, the World Grand Prix and Ark Cradle, build on the previous arc by exploring the connection between present and future, as Time Travel plays a major role in how the story unfolds. Synchro Monsters also play a major role in the final two arcs, as their subsequent overuse in the future prompts the final antagonists to seek the destruction of Neo Domino City. Lastly, just like all Yu-Gi-Oh! series, 5D's places a huge emphasis on bonds and friendships.
Similar to how the original series utilized elements of Egyptian mythology to drive the plot, 5D's loosely used bits of Incan Mythology (such as the Nazca Lines) early on to set the groundwork for its supernatural phenomena and lore. To push this motif even further, the manga (which featured an entirely different plot from the anime) depicted the origin of Riding Duels being played on horseback, in coliseums, by Ancient Incan civilizations.
Media[edit]Anime[edit]Main article: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's episodes
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's was produced by Nihon Ad Systems and TV Tokyo, and the show's animation was handled by Studio Gallop. It aired on TV Tokyo between April 2, 2008 and March 30, 2011, following the end of the previous series, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX. As with the previous two series (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX), this series was acquired by 4Kids Entertainment for broadcasting and began airing in the United States in September 2008. The English adaptation of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's is also distributed by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Animation.[5] Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's began airing on The CW4Kids, starting on September 13, 2008, and later aired on Cartoon Network. On May 29, 2010, the series once again began airing in 1-hour episode blocks on the CW4Kids. The series moved over to the Toonzai block on September 18, 2010. The last episode of the dubbed series aired on September 10, 2011, leaving out several episodes from the Japanese broadcast due to low ratings, pressure to air its successor Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, and an ongoing lawsuit from TV Tokyo and NAS. As a result, 5D's became the second series to not have a complete English dub. Changes have been made to the plot and cards, character names have been localized, and violent scenes have been edited.
In Germany, however, the dub stopped using the 4Kids version and began adapting the show directly from Japan from episode 65 onward for unknown reasons. While the original voice cast from the first 64 episodes was still used, the show no longer edited quite as much, used the original music (including the original Japanese opening and ending themes), and adapted their scripts directly from the original Japanese scripts rather than from the revised English scripts.[citation needed]
On September 22, 2010, Toonzaki and Hulu uploaded unedited, subtitled and edited, dubbed episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's.[11] These episodes use the English names for the cards instead of the Japanese names. In an Anime News Network interview with Mark Kirk, Senior Vice President of Digital Media for 4Kids Entertainment, Kirk claimed this was for legal reasons.[12]
On April 2, 2018, the series was released with Latin American Spanish dubbing in the United States (for US Hispanic audiences) on ¡Sorpresa!.[13] Subsequently, the series was uploaded on the streaming service VEMOX, also in Spanish.
Manga[edit]
A manga adaptation, written by Masahiro Hikokubo[14] and illustrated by Masashi Sato, was serialized in Shueisha's V Jump magazine from August 21, 2009,[15] to January 21, 2015.[16][17]
The series has been licensed by Viz Media for North America.[18]
Trading card game[edit]See also: Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's added a new gameplay element to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, in which Master Rules came into effect by introducing Synchro Summoning to the game. To Synchro Summon the new white-colored Synchro Monsters, a Tuner Monster and a non-Tuner monster is required to be on the field, and their added levels must equal to the desired Synchro Monster to be summoned. A new monster type known as Psychic was also added to the game.
Another type of gameplay mechanic unique to the anime version was also introduced, called "Dark Synchro Summon", which is the thematic opposite of the normal Synchro Summon. In the normal Synchro Summon, the levels of the Tuner monster(s) and non-Tuner monster(s) are added up to be equal to the level of the summoned monster, whereas Dark Synchro Summon subtracts the level of the non-Tuner monster from the anime-exclusive Dark Tuner monster monster's, instead. The card game has released these "Dark Synchro Monsters" as regular Synchro Monsters, though they require a DARK-attribute Tuner monster instead as opposed to Konami releasing Dark Tuners.
Video games[edit]Main article: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! video games
There are several video games developed by Konami based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's franchise.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Wheelie Breakers, released on March 26, 2009, is a racing game for the Wii console in which players can use cards to lower other people's life points and defeat them. Unlike the card game, monsters use Speed Counters to attack their opponents, and players do not lose if their life points hit zero, rather they are unable to continue racing. The Promotional cards are Skull Flame, Burning Skull Head, and Supersonic Skull Flame.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Stardust Accelerator, released on March 26, 2009,[19] is a game for the Nintendo DS that continues the World Championship series of games. The game uses the World Championship 2009 software, and also features a story mode, in which a duelist tries to get his memory back. In the video game Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's World Championship 2009: Stardust Accelerator, winning all single tournaments appears as an unlockable opponent: Endymion, the Master Magician, known as Divine Magician Deity Endymion in the Japanese version, is a character version of the card, "Endymion, the Master Magician". The Promotional Cards are Infernity Archfiend, Infernity Dwarf, and Infernity Guardian.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Reverse of Arcadia, also for the Nintendo DS, is also part of the World Championship series. Set during the Dark Signers arc, the player controls a former member of the Enforcers who has been brainwashed by the Arcadia movement.
The promotional cards are Stygian Security, Samurai Sword Baron and Stygian Sergeants. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's World Championship 2011: Over the Nexus, was released on February 24, 2011. The game features over 4,200 cards, and a Puzzle Editor.[20] This game was released in Japan on February 18, 2010, in North America on February 23, 2010, and in Europe on March 26, 2010. Its promotional cards are Sorciere de Fleur, Z-ONE and Necro Fleur.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 4, released on September 17, 2009,[21] is a game for the PSP system, the fourth game in the Tag Force series. The game features the Dark Synchro and Dark Tuner monsters from the 2nd season of the anime. The Promotional Cards are Warm Worm, Worm Bait, and Regret Reborn.[22] This was followed by Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 5, which was released on September 16, 2010, and set during the third season of the anime. A last game, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 6 was later released that covered up until the end of the series.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Decade Duels for the Xbox Live Arcade was released on November 3, 2010.[23][24] and is a game that features online leader boards and voice chat functionality, as well as the ability to buy extra cards via Xbox Live Marketplace.[25] The game was removed from the service in June 2012. It returned as Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Decade Duels Plus on November 21, 2012, but it was removed on the same day for unknown reasons. It reappeared again on February 13, 2013.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Duel Transer (known as Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Master of the Cards in Europe) was released on April 21, 2011 and is a game for the Wii system features over 4,500 cards and Wi-Fi multiplayer. This game came with promotional cards Fighter Ape, Closed Forest, and Roaring Earth and a Duel Scanner accessory which allows players to scan their real world cards into the game.[26]
Yu-Gi-Oh Online 3: Duel Accelerator was the 3rd installment of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Online series. It was based around Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's. It was released on December 18, 2009, and was shut down on September 30, 2012, due to an internal decision by Konami.[27]
On September 25, 2018 a 5D's World, alongside Synchro Summoning, was added to the mobile game Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links.[28]
Notes and references[edit]Notes[edit]Though "5D's" stands for "5 Dragons", it has been incorrectly quoted as standing for "5 Dimensions" by 4Kids. V Jump magazine printed an issue explaining the correct interpretation.^ Chief director (総監督) for episodes #86–92^ Duel Composition (デュエル構成)References[edit]^ "Read a Free Preview of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2018.^ "あにてれ:遊戯王ファイブディーズ" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 2, 2008.^ Jump up to:a b "あにてれ:遊戯王ファイブディーズ". TV Tokyo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 7, 2009.^ "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Game Anime Sequel Confirmed". News. Anime News Network. February 21, 2008. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2014.^ Jump up to:a b "4Kids to Launch 'Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's'". March 19, 2008. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.^ "TV Tokyo, Nihon Ad Terminate Yu-Gi-Oh! Deal, Sue 4Kids". News. Anime News Network. March 3, 2011. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2014.^ "Comic-Con 2008 :: Programming for Thursday, July 24". Comic-Con. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2016.^ "4Kids Entertainment Reports 2009 First Quarter Results". Business Wire. May 11, 2009. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2016.^ "Cartoon Network Video - Free Games and Videos from Ben 10, Scooby-Doo!, Adventure Time, Gumball and More". Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on November 6, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2015.^ Greenall, Jonathon (June 17, 2021). "Yu-Gi-Oh!: Dueling on Motorbikes Was Kind of Cool, Actually". CBR. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2021. In this setting, there are two main cities, the bustling New Domino City full of the rich and the disgusting island of Satellite, populated by the world's poor underclasses.^ "Toonzaki". Facebook. September 22, 2010. Archived from the original on January 18, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2014.^ Zac Bertschy; Justin Sevakis (July 22, 2010). "Kirk Up Your Ears". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2014.^ "¡Sorpresa! Gets Ready to Rev It Up with the Premiere of Yu-Gi Oh 5D's". Anime News Network. March 29, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.^ Masahiro Hikokubo (April 5, 2016). Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Vol. 9: Eternal Turbo Duelist!!. VIZ Media. ISBN 9781421590028. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.^ Vｼﾞｬﾝﾌﾟ10月特大号予告!. V Jump (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ Ressler, Karen (January 17, 2015). "Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's Manga to End on Wednesday". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ "Ｖジャンプ （２０１５年３月号）" (in Japanese). Kinokuniya. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.^ Manry, Gia (November 4, 2010). "VIZ Media Confirms Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Manga License". News. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.^ Ashcraft, Brian (February 26, 2009). "Nintendo's 120 Game Line-Up, Punch Out, Excitebots Dated". Kotaku. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.^ Parker, Robin (January 5, 2011). "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Over The Nexus Game Announced". GodisaGeek. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2014.^ V Jump October 2009 issue p.159-166, The Newest Tag Duel Bible p.01^ Lynx, Danieru (September 23, 2009). "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 4 (PSP)". Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2014.^ "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Decade Duels". February 22, 2008. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.^ Fahey, Mike (April 13, 2010). "In Case You Missed It, Yu-Gi-Oh! Is Coming To Xbox Live Arcade". Kotaku. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2014.^ "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Decade Duels". konami.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2016.^ V Jump October 2009 issue p.13-14, Yu-Gi-Oh-Koku World of Duelist p.14^ "Notification of "Yu-Gi-Oh! Online DUEL ACCELERATOR" Closure". Konami. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2020.^ "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's World Coming to Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links". Konami. September 25, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.[permanent dead link]
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal (遊☆戯☆王ZEXAL, Yūgiō Zearu, pronounced "Zeyal"), stylized as Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL, is a Japanese manga and anime series and the third spin-off of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, after the preceding Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's. The manga began serialization in Shueisha's V Jump magazine from December 2010 to June 2015 and is licensed in North America by Viz Media.[2] The anime series was produced by Nihon Ad Systems and TV Tokyo, and its animation was done by Gallop. It aired on TV Tokyo from April 2011 to September 2012, with an English-language version airing in North America between October 2011 and August 2013. A sequel series, titled Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II (遊☆戯☆王ZEXAL II, Yūgiō Zearu Sekando, pronounced "Ze-al Second"), aired in Japan from October 2012 to March 2014 and in North America from June 2013 to January 2016.
The series aired on The CW as part of the Toonzai and, later, Vortexx Saturday morning blocks. The series was later broadcast on Nicktoons starting April 12, 2013. After Vortexx ended, new episodes were streamed to Hulu beginning July 14, 2014. In Canada, the series aired on YTV starting June 2, 2012, while new episodes of Zexal II moved to Teletoon on May 4, 2014.[3]
The series was succeeded by Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.
Plot and setting[edit]See also: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal characters
Taking place in the near future in a place called Heartland City, the story focuses on Yuma Tsukumo, a young duelist who strives to become the Duel Monsters champion, despite being an amateur. One day, during a duel with a rival named Shark, a mysterious spirit called Astral appears before him, and helps him to win. Astral explains to Yuma he is searching for his lost memories, which have been transformed into 100 Xyz Monster (エクシーズ モンスター, Ekushīzu Monsutā) cards called Numbers (ナンバーズ, Nanbāzu), which have been scattered across the globe. The Numbers have the ability to possess the duelists who own them, and bring out their darkest desires. In order to recover his memories, Astral teams up with Yuma to recover the Number cards. After coming up against a boy named Kite Tenjo for the second time, who is hunting the Numbers, Yuma and Astral gain the ability to combine their forces using the power of ZEXAL (ゼアル, Zearu). Entering the World Duel Carnival tournament, Yuma finds himself up against various rivals, including the vengeance-seeking Vetrix and the maniacal Dr. Faker, who want the Numbers for their own gain.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II takes place right after the end of the first series. In this new story, as the curtain falls on the World Duel Carnival, peace has finally returned to Heartland City. But now, forces from Barian World, a world hostile to Astral's World, are aiming at taking the "Numbers" and Astral for themselves. In order to protect Astral, Yuma, Kite, and Shark stand together to combat the Barian threat.
The gameplay gimmick introduced in Zexal is AR Duels (Augmented Reality Duels), in which both players utilize a head-mounted device known as a Duel Gazer to observe a virtual reality where the Duel Monsters interact with the environment.
Media[edit]Manga[edit]
A manga series written by Shin Yoshida and illustrated by Naohito Miyoshi began serialization in the extended February 2011 issue of Shueisha's V Jump magazine, released on December 18, 2010.[4] The first bound volume was released in Japan on June 3, 2011.[5] Viz Media licensed the manga in North America and began releasing the series from June 5, 2012.[6][7] The manga also began serialization on the digital Shonen Jump Alpha from July 9, 2012.[8] A spin-off manga written by Akihiro Tomonaga and illustrated by Wedge Holdings, titled Yu-Gi-Oh! D-Team Zexal (遊☆戯☆王 Dチーム・ゼアル, Yūgiō Dyueru Chīmu Zearu), was serialized in Shueisha's Saikyō Jump magazine from April 2012 to April 2014.
Anime[edit]Main articles: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal episodes and Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II episodes
The anime was first teased on December 9, 2010, revealing details would be unveiled at the Japanese encore screening of Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time on February 20, 2011.[9] The series' name was revealed on December 13, 2010, via a leak from the February 2011 issue of V Jump. It was revealed that Satoshi Kuwahara would be the director, that scripts would be supervised by Shin Yoshida, that Masahiro Hikokubo would choreograph the duels, and that Hirotoshi Takaya would adapt the character designs for the anime.[2] A one-minute promotional video was released on December 17, 2010.[4] The anime aired on TV Tokyo between April 11, 2011 and September 24, 2012.[10] A second series titled Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II aired between October 7, 2012 and March 23, 2014 in a different time slot.[11] Overall with both seasons, the total number of episodes are 146, plus 3 specials.
An English adaptation by 4Kids Entertainment premiered on October 15, 2011 on Toonzai.[12] Although, TV Tokyo and Nihon Ad Systems filed a lawsuit against 4Kids Entertainment and demanded the termination of the Yu-Gi-Oh! licensing agreement with them in March 2011,[13] a stay of proceedings was ordered preventing the termination of the contract or the resale of the franchise until a ruling was decided.[14] Following the bankruptcy of 4Kids, all Yu-Gi-Oh! assets were acquired by Konami's subsidiary, Konami Cross Media NY (which at the time was named 4K Media Inc.). The series aired on Saban Brands' Vortexx block until it dissolved on September 27, 2014 and aired on Nicktoons from April 12, 2013.[15] Episodes from #114 onwards were streamed on Hulu.[16] Ultra Kidz premiered the series in the United States with Latin American Spanish dubbing on June 1, 2018.[17] Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal's The 1st series since the original to complete the English dub 100%.
Music[edit]
There are five official soundtrack CDs, all released by Marvelous Entertainment.
The first, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel 1, was released on September 28, 2011.[18]The second, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel 2, was released on September 19, 2012.The third, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel 3, was released on May 15, 2013.The fourth, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel 4, was released on November 13, 2013.The fifth, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel 5, was released on November 19, 2014.Opening Themes"Masterpiece" (マスターピース, Masutāpīsu) by mihimaru GT (Eps 1–25, Ep 146 ending)"Braving!" (ブレイビング!, Bureibingu!) by Kanan (Eps 26–49)"Soul Drive" (魂ドライブ, Tamashii Doraibu) by Color Bottle (Eps 50–73)Second season"Unbreakable Heart" (折れないハート, Orenai Hāto) by Hideaki Takatori (Eps 74–98)"Dualism of Mirrors" (鏡のデュアルイズム, Kagami no Dyuaruizumu) by Petit Milady (Aoi Yuki and Ayana Taketatsu) (Eps 99–123)[19]"Wonder Wings" (ワンダーウィングス, Wandā Wingusu) by Diamond☆Yukai (Eps 124–145)Ending Themes"My Quest" (僕クエスト, Boku Kuesuto) by Golden Bomber (Eps 1–25)"Longing Freesia" (切望のフリージア, Setsubō no Furījia) by Daizystripper (Eps 26–49)"Wild Child" (ワイルドチャイルド, Wairudo Chairudo) by Moumoon (Eps 50–73)Second season"Artist" (アーティスト, Ātisuto) by Vistlip (Eps 74–98)"Go Way Go Way" (ゴーウェイゴーウェイ, Gō Wei Gō Wei) by FoZZtone (Eps 99–123)"Challenge the GAME" (チャレンジザゲーム, Charenji Za Gēmu) by REDMAN (Eps 124–145)English Opening Theme"Take a Chance" by Michael Brady, Shane Guenego, Arthur Murakami, & Surefire Music Group (Eps 1–73)"Halfway to Forever" by Michael Brady, Shane Guenego, Arthur Murakami, Jonathan Lattif, & Surefire Music Group (Eps 74–146)Trading Card Game[edit]See also: Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal added new gameplay elements to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, in which Master Rule 2 came into effect by introducing the Xyz Monsters into the game. These black-colored cards do not have levels, but are categorized by Ranks, which are signified by a number of left-aligned stars with a black background printed on the card. Xyz Monsters are summoned from the Extra Deck by stacking multiple monsters on the field of the same level on top of each other and placing the desired Xyz Monster whose Rank is the same as the two stacked monsters' levels, on top of those monsters. During gameplay, the stacked monsters become "Xyz Materials", or "Overlay Units", which are used to trigger the Xyz Monster's effects by being sent to the Graveyard.