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Yugioh: Duel Monsters (KC Grand Prix)

» written by hinatasou [Discuss]

Synopsis
Wake up! Rise and shine. Breakfast is ready. Time to enjoy some quality time in the great outdoors. No need to return to Japan so hastily. Do some sightseeing while you’re in the States. What’s this? Mokuba? What are you doing here? A new tournament, the KC Award Dueler’s Championships hosted by Kaiba Corporation, is about to start. Yugi, Joey, even Rebecca make themselves ready to participate.

Review
In December 24, 2003, a new series of Yugioh aired following the Doma Organization. KC Grand Prix, like a NASCAR Grand Prix speedway, is a side story, an interlude. It is hopefully the last precursor to the Egyptian Memory Arc. Like Doma and the Neia (Noah) Arc, the events did not take place in the original manga and are exclusive to the anime only. It is the shortest mini-series only spanning 13 episodes. Volume 23 shown above includes episodes 184 - 191.

For episode summaries visit http://www.yugioh.esmartkid.com/.

The Breakdown
So it’s a filler series. But you gotta love Yugioh nevertheless.

» The Pros

Construction of Kaiba's Paradise Park (Kaiba Land) in the United States is completed. For the opening ceremony Kaiba has organized a tournament. This is different from the Battle City tournament in that it is more of a business strategy, propaganda, to gain the general public's focus. Despite having successfully retrieved all the stocks that Dartz purchased, because of the Doma incident, many shareholders have sold their assets and the price of his company's stock has fallen. Kaiba says he will not take part himself. Instead he recruits the top 16 duelists from all corners of the world - America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Russia, from all professions and walks of life, with Yugi facing the last person standing putting his title on the line.

» The Cons

In Duelist Kingdom, the antagonist was Pegasus who possessed the millennium eye. Battle City the villain was Marik who has the millennium rod. Doma the foil is Dartz, the Atlantian King. In the following Memory Arc the enemy is the thief Bakura. KC Grand Prix has the lamest excuse for a baddie. Jeek (Jiku, sounds like Geek) Sieg Lloyd, the European Champion, aka Seigfried von Schroider, is a businessman and dresses in the same style as Pegasus, both having long hair. The rose reminds me of Touga from Revolutionary Girl Utena. He owns no millennium item, cannot perform any magical powers, no soul snatching ability. He purely is out for revenge against Kaiba. He lives in a castle like Pegasus's Duelist Kingdom fortress, and is a babe magnet, a womanizer.

» Animation

8.5

Most of the monsters are anime stylized human-like creatures and less like ferocious monster cards. Joey has a new Swordsman of Landstar series, one of which he equips with a machine gun. You know that'll be edited big time if it ever airs on KidsWB. In addition Joey uses the Goblin Attack Force card that he obtained while facing Otogi (Duke) way back just after Duelist Kingdom. Jeek summons the three celebrated goddesses: Belldandy, Skuld, and Urd from Ah! My Goddess. Leon Wilson has a fantasy deck that includes monsters from Disney fairy tails such as Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Hansel & Gretal. Yugi does not use the God Cards in the tournament, or is prohibited from using them. Mai makes a cameo appearance, dressed in her first white outfit, not black as in Doma. You also get to see Seto Kaiba sleek in a business suit and tie.

» Sound

9.6

I thought nothing could top Warriors, the fourth opening if we don't count the first season's Kawaita Sakebi. Overlap by Kimeru is the newest intro theme to Yugioh and it is a smash hit. Some of the background music is the same as in the Doma Arc, but I do not see a reason why they kept it since there are no three legendary dragons. In addition, when Jeek summons Walkuren Ritt the background is classical. The ending theme Eyes pictures Pharaoh Yugi's famous horse ride in pursuit of thief Bakura like Paul Revere (jk). It was the same scene that Dartz witnessed. Eyes also shows all of the millennium item holders: Yugi, Kaiba and Bakura, their current reincarnation and past lives, and Mahado, the Black Magician and original owner of the Millennium Ring. For those who have read the manga the images should be familiar.

» Story

8.0

Weevil (Haga) and Rex Raptor are the comic relief in the series. They pull a DBZ stunt. In the Majin Buu series, Trunks and Goten wanted to participate in the grown up tournament so they steal Mighty Mask's clothes and poses as him in disguise. Weevil and Rex do the same, steal the identity of Fortune Simon, in order to fight against Jeek. Funny how the both of them teamed up lose to Jeek in one turn. The match of interest is Joey versus Mask the Rock, Grandpa! Yes for the first time in Duel Monsters history we finally get the chance of witnessing a live duel (he did duel Kaiba in the first episode of Duelist Kingdom but that wasn't shown, and we saw flashbacks of him dueling with Arthur after Duelist Kingdom), and not with an Exodia deck as in all the gameboy games. His face on one of his trap cards, the Legendary Gambler. Even though KC Grand Prix is a side quest, there is still the underlying rivalry between Yugi and Kaiba. They are eternal rivals yet they have a certain respect for each other. Kaiba punishes Jeek personally for daring to disrupt with Kaiba Corporation. Kaiba allows Leon to duel Yugi knowing that no one, not even a genius kid, can beat Yugi.

» Recommend

7.5	Doma Organization and Battle City series are superior. The one feature KC Grand Prix has over Duelist Kingdom is that the duels use the official rules, sort of. Most of the decks have not been released in Japan. As always, a tribute to Konami - Be Creative.

» Other Information

Language: Japanese, or Japanese with English or Chinese subtitles

Extras: None.

Package: Center Seto Kaiba in all his glory and to the left his most loyal of all servants the roaring Blue Eyes White Dragon, on the right Yugi