For more than 2 decades, the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime franchise has been regarded as one of the most popular and beloved in history. The series has brought joy and entertainment to millions of fans with the release of each new show. Nonetheless, with time, viewers have stopped showing the same interest in this amazing series.
This is a true shame, as the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise still has many amazing qualities that fans would enjoy. From an endearing cast to some of the most iconic monster cards in history, the series might be exactly what fans want, if they can deal with the less-than-ideal traits that it has.
Love: Amazing Main Characters
Fans Will Love the Protagonists and Their Friends
While this might not be as true for the latter seasons of the anime, the first two or three Yu-Gi-Oh! shows have some of the most recognizable characters in the industry. Yugi and the other skilled heroes introduced have all inspired fans for decades to be kind and fight for what is right. Their strategic minds and determination to never give up make them amazing role models for viewers.
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However, the main cast are not the only incredible characters who play a major role in the anime. The rivals have always been considered among the best cast members and duelists in the franchise. Some, like Duel Monsters‘ Seto Kaiba, are arguably as popular, if not more so, than their counterparts. Other smaller characters, like the best friends or mentors, while not as memorable, bring a sense of realism and hopefulness to the series, always helping the heroes achieve their goals.
Overlook: The Filler Is Not the Best
Prepare for Some Boring Duels
The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise might not be known for having the most epic of storylines, but the plots of the several different anime have always been fairly enjoyable. Lamentably, the same cannot be said about the filler arcs and episodes. Duel Monster is a perfect example of this trend, as the original show had entire seasons that contributed little to nothing to the main story.
Events like the heroes being trapped in the virtual world – twice – or having to participate in rushed and anticlimactic competitions have always sat wrong with fans. The original series is arguably the worst offender, as it contains the most filler, but the rest of the shows are not free from this issue. There are several one-episode duels and recaps that most fans agree would be better not existing.
Love: Unique Battle Concept
Dueling Is Such an Incredible Battle System
When thinking about the best Shōnen anime, most fans will understandably imagine strong warriors putting their lives on the line while fighting to save their world. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a series that tries to subvert this genre by having the heroes compete against their villains not on a battlefield, but with a game of strategy and luck. This by no means implies the series lacks action or excitement, as the heroes would often bet their lives on winning the duel.
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Additions like the terrifying and trauma-inducing Shadow Realm helped the series increase the tension even by revolving around a card game. The decks of the characters were also an amazing storytelling device to let fans know more about them without using words. Yusei’s best cards symbolize his humble origins and determination, while other characters like Joey use brute force strategies that go perfectly with their personalities.
Overlook: The Rules of the Game Are Not Always Followed
Fans Will Meet Many Cheaters
Duel Monsters is a complex game that has continuously grown and expanded over the years. The TCG version of this entertaining hobby is vastly known for being among the most difficult to learn, as its rules and regulations have only become more difficult to understand with time. The anime, on the other hand, tends to avoid following the rules whenever possible, a flaw that fans have been pointing out for several decades.
Once again, the original series stands as the biggest exponent of this practice, seeing as most of its cast members broke the rules of the game on several occasions. Yugi himself has become famous for being considered a massive cheater, bending and ignoring the regulations as long as he could win a game. Following entries tried to keep cheating to a minimum, but there have been several times in which they have ignored the game’s rules to make a scene feel more exciting.
Love: Memorable and Epic Monsters
These Monsters Are Hard to Forget
It is no surprise to any anime fan that a series based around summoning and controlling powerful creatures is known for its monsters. Yu-Gi-Oh! is not the exception to this rule, as the cards used by its characters have gone on to be even more iconic than the duelists themselves. The signature monsters of the protagonist have always been a massive part of the franchise, being the face of their respective series even years after their release.
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The Blue-Eyes White Dragon, one of Kaiba’s best cards and his most prized possession, is synonymous with the franchise at large, having been the face of the anime and card game for decades. The designs and abilities of the creatures introduced in the series will no doubt capture the hearts of fans who choose to give it a try.
Overlook: Side Characters Are Irrelevant
If They Are Not a Part of the Main Cast, They Are Not Important
Even though it is true that the protagonists, their friends, and powerful villains are massively popular among Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, this love is not shared among the rest of the cast. There are several duelists who, despite their best efforts, never managed to achieve the same level of relevance as the main cast.
Characters who were only used for filler duels, whose only purpose was to explain the plot, or minor villains have mostly been forgotten by fans. This most likely can be attributed to the boring and generic villains who would challenge the heroes. The lack of a distinctive personality and their underwhelming strategies make it easy for fans to ignore them.
Love: Some of the Best Tournament Arcs in Anime
Card Game Competitions Have Never Been More Epic
The tournament arc trope is one of the most beloved and representative of the Shōnen genre, as it allows the creators a chance to demonstrate the power of their characters in a fun and easy way. Despite Naruto being the series that perfected this concept, Yu-Gi-Oh! is known for having some of the best examples of this trend. Making the heroes, villains, and side characters face in a tournament was an amazing narrative device that helped the story progress without becoming too complex.
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These cards had incredible powers that extended outside the game, with time manipulation, mind control, and even reality control.
Several of the best arcs in the original Duel Monsters, as well as the following shows in the series, were based around a tournament where the heroes had to reach the finals to save the world. Battle City is still remembered fondly by all the fans who had the fortune to watch it unfold in front of their eyes.
Overlook: The Decks Used in the Anime Are Far From Competitive
Characters Should Rethink Their Strategies
Whilst the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime is remembered fondly as one of the best from the early 2000s, there is no doubt that the series was created primarily as a way to market the card game. To achieve the goal of selling the product effectively, the show would often disregard sound consistent strategies and give the characters decks that would showcase the greatest number of cards.
As such, some important characters like Gx’s Syrus would be given strategies that would never become competitively viable in real life. Due to this, the number of anime decks that have found success in the real-life version of the game is surprisingly small, despite how many different archetypes are introduced in the show.
Love: Important Life Lessons
A Series That Teaches Fans How to Live
Watching anime should be more than just a pastime to get one’s mind away from everyday problems, it should also enrich the viewer. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a series that found a perfect balance between fun duels and life-changing lessons that all fans should take to heart. From the franchise’s very beginnings, the heroes have always been fervent believers in the idea that friendship and cooperation can conquer any obstacle.
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Without his friends, Yugi would never have won against Pegasus in one of the original series’ best duels and most important duels. Yusei’s journey is all about acknowledging that even the most unassuming of duelists can become the best by first trusting in themselves. Jaden’s time at Duel Academy is a beautiful story of self-discovery and maturing. Fans can always count on Yugi and his friends to teach them important lessons about life.
Overlook: The Game Becomes More Complex With Each New Show
Get Ready to Be Confused
Duel Monsters, albeit a fun game, has gone through a rough patch over the last couple of years. Whenever a new anime was announced, the team behind the franchise would feel the need to introduce a new type of summoning mechanic to the card game. This decision helped each new season feel distinctive from its predecessors, which helped their popularity. Nevertheless, it also caused the game to become significantly more difficult.
By the time the third Yu-Gi-Oh! anime was released, a large majority of fans believed the series had irreparably altered the game they loved. Regardless of how amazing and powerful the cards used by Yuma Tsukumo were, fans had no interest in playing them. Sevens and Go Rush!!, the two latest entries in the franchise, tried to correct this by creating a new, simpler format, but they have been the least popular shows so far.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
- Release Date
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April 18, 2000
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TVh, TSC
- Directors
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Masahiko Watanabe, Naoki Hishikawa, Kimiharu Muto, Yasuhiro Minami, Kenichi Kasai, Hiroaki Shimura
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Hiroki Takahashi
Katsuya Jonouchi (voice)
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Hidehiro Kikuchi
Honda Hiroto
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Mika Sakenobe
Kawai Shizuka
