Synopsis
When Pegasus J. Crawford went to Egypt in hope of bring back to life his girlfriend, he found some stone carvings of strange monsters, monsters that were created by the pharaoh and his high priests in order to rein the country. Being tempted by those carvings, Pegasus revived the dark game of duel monsters. Finally, he even brought back the three God Cards. However, their combined power was so great that he sealed the three God Cards in Egypt. Now the fate of the world rests on Yugi Mutoh, as the three God Cards are unearthed.
Review
In the 1990s, it was Pokemon that penetrated internationally into the hearts of children in Europe, America, and Asia. Today after the millennium, the anime, video game, and card collecting fad continues once again through a series called Yugioh, meaning ‘King of Game.’ The Yugioh shown on KidsWB is actually season 2 of the original anime. Season 1, 27 episodes total, was aired from April 4th 1998 to October 10th on TV Asahi. Season 1 was not as successful compared to season 2 titled Duel Monsters in part by a disagreement between the producer, Toei, and the author, Kazuki Takahashi and due to a story emphasizing relationships and drama more than actual dueling.
Two years after, Duel Monsters began televising on TV Tokyo since April 18, 2000. Both the anime and manga in Shonen Jump Weekly still continue to this day, well into the Egyptian Memory Arc. The rise in popularity of season 2 is attributed to more of a focus on the game element and digital gadgets, satisfying post-digimon/pokemon addicts. In fact, every episode is a duel with virtual monsters fighting against each other either in an arena or anywhere within the grounds of Battle City with the aid of a duel disk tray, even in the skies.
The Breakdown
For fans of the American show and want to watch it unedited even see it before the general public does, to poke-lovers and other monster fanatics who just can’t get enough, and those who own the card game and want more strategies.
» The Pros
This review is for season 2, Episodes 50-121 (the box in the picture contains episodes 90-120), after Pegasus met his defeat by Yugi Mutoh in Duelist Kingdom to the final rounds of Battle City and the confrontation with Seto's deceased stepbrother Neia Kaiba. The story is linear, each episode a continuation of the other. For a story that simply based around a card game, those 71 episodes are creative and complex. You see the relationship between Joey and Mai flourish. Honda (Tristan) and Duke, creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters (I prefer his Japanese name), comically have the hots for Serenity. Marik intent on destroying Yugi turns his friends against him through the power of his Millennium Rod all the while keeping his true identity secret. Bakura joins up with Marik in exchange to one day have his Millennium item. Last, Isis participates in the tournament in order to save the soul of her brother from his evil personality. During the Neia arc, we finally see flashbacks of Seta and Mokuba's childhood at the orphanage and how the bond of brotherhood kept them strong when they were adopted.
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» The Cons
In Battle City, Yugi and Joey have beefed up decks. How Yugi got the Black Magician Girl and Joey obtained Magic Arm Shield is a mystery. It is stranger why Yugi and Joey decided not to use their more powerful cards in Duelist Kingdom. That aside, the main flaw in the anime is within the dueling itself. With each successive duel more cards and strategies are invented leaving room for little consistency, which is why the real life card game can never perfectly coincide with the anime. In one episode, Yugi uses Black Magician Girl with the powered up abilities of the fallen Black Magicians to win a duel. In another, he equips Kuribo, hardly as cute as Pikachu, with Wish of the Rainbow to strike directly with Gaia the Fierce Knight without two sacrifices. Lastly, he attacks the Mythic Dragon by Polymerizing Black Magician and Flame Swordsman (Why didn't he use this against Gate Guardian in Duelist Kingdom?). With the Chief of Card set during the Neia Arc, the rules change considerably. Neia himself uses rare Spiritual Monsters with their own set of guidelines.
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» Animation
8.5 |
Although much of the characters and monsters were established in season 1, you can consider of the animation of Duel Monsters (by Studio Gallop) as an enhanced, crisper, and superior in form. Little Yugi is not as chubby. The characters themselves are not as short as they were in season 1. Monster designs by Takahiro Kagami are arguably more original than pokemon. Scenes are unedited for violence just as they were shown in Japan such as Weevil's grotesque Insect Queen in episode 64 munching on a centipede (in KidsWB it was a giant green glowing blur to cover her mouth and vicious teeth) and the episode before when the Parasite leeches the Panther Warrior and bursts out of its mouth. However, the characters' arms in Duel Monsters seem a bit skinny. Kaiba's fingers look disfigured as he places a card on his duel tray. |
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» Sound
9.5 |
In the process of the episodes are the two japanese opening and two ending themes. The American opening only shows clips of the japanese intro. A woman sings the first opening 'Voice', while a man sings the second entitled 'Wild Drive.' The lyrics to both themes are done especially for the series, for example: 'Close your eyes and decide with your heart just like the cards.' Background themes and sound effects create the suspense needed for every duel. My favorite is the pacing of the violins right before Kaiba is about to attack with Obelisk Kyoshinhen in episode 94. The change of japanese voice actors from season 1 to season 2 was one for the better; the characters came out much stronger. |
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» Story
8.0 |
On the GameFAQs.com message boards, there is a reoccurring topic of dissatisfaction towards the KidsWB butchering of Duel Monster's storyline, almost as frequent as the Cartoon Network's edits on Rurouni Kenshin. One of the reasons to get the DVDs is to watch firsthand the originals. A significant difference is that Marik does not want the sealed power of the Pharaoh for himself. He wants to KILL Yugi and be free of his cursed fate. Any reference to death like oh I dunno falling down a 130 ft building is translated to sending to the shadow realm. KidsWB in conjunction with Konami of America changed BLACK Magician, BLACK Magician Girl, BLACK hole to a less racist Dark etc. They also swapped Bakura's DEATH deck to the more child appropriate FINAL. The list goes on and on. |
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» Recommend
8.0 |
You'll have to import the DVDs or win multiple box sets off ebay for you won't find these at your local Suncoast. Also available at www.cdjapan.co.jp. You might be lucky to have an import store in your neighborhood. Recommend the Japanese version of Duel Monsters over what is shown on KidsWB any day. Having these entitles you to bragging rights to having seen what will take months to be broadcasted on the television. |
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» Other Information
Language: Japanese, or Japanese with English or Chinese subtitles
Extras: Case
Package: Yugi, Joey, and Seto, above the Wind Dragon of Ra |
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
