Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters

Overview

Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters is the second anime based from Kazuki Takahashi's Manga. Unlike the previous series Duel Monsters focuses more on the said card game and story behind the Millennium Items. The anime is produced by Studio Gallop and Nihon Ad Systems, and the English-language adaptation was distributed by4Kids Entertainment and first aired on the Kids WB Saturday Morning Block on September 29, 2001 and ended aired the final episode on June 10, 2006. Due to being licensed by 4Kids the anime was heavily censored and localized for the American audience. Eventually a separate "uncut" DVD release was commissioned between 4Kids Entertainment and FUNimation, with a new adaptation that is more consistent with the original, using the original music and sound effects, no edits, and a script following closer to the original. Each uncut DVD contained 3 episodes available both in an uncut English dub and the original Japanese format English subbed, and a total of 3 DVDs were made for a total of 9 episodes. A fourth DVD containing episodes 10-12 was made (and finished), and ready to be released, but after a series of constant delays the DVD was listed as unavailable by sites. 4Kids later said in an interview that the uncut DVDs were 'competing' with the edited ones and they wanted to take out the competition, so they decided to 'indefinitely delay' the uncut DVDs. But to this day even after all the edited DVDs were released they still have yet to re-start the project or even release the last DVD done, and the current status of the uncut project is unknown. Lance Heiskell, a FUNimation representative, has noted legal rights as the reason for cancellation.

On March 29, 2011 TV Tokyo and Nihon Ad Systems sued 4Kids Entertainment, alleging that the company entered into illegal agreements with other companies, including Funimation Entertainment and Majesco Entertainment as part of the suit, the companies terminated the Yu-Gi-Oh! license from 4Kids. But some 4kids are able to air the new series Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal.

Theme Music

Openings

Endings

Merchandise

Figures

There are many different series of figures made for the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, but none as impressive as the recent releases manufactured by Kotobukiya .

The first set released was a set from their One Coin Mini Figures series. The characters included:

• Hiroto Honda
• Seto Kaiba
• Mokuba Kaiba
• Anzu Mazaki
• Ryou Bakura
• Yami Yugi
• Yugi Mutou
• Katsuya Jounouchi
• Red Eyes Black Dragon
• Secret Figure

Each figure includes a base and special dialogue signs that attach to the base, which allows one to display the characters in some of the more unforgettable poses, catch phrase included. Included with each figure are two different signs.

Normally sold separately, each box being unknown until opened, this set is also sold as a complete box, which includes the full set of characters. Each figure is approximately two to two and half inches tall with minor articulation in the neck to allow for personal customizing of each characters pose.

Originally available April 2011 each figure sold individually for $5.99, or $59.99 for the complete set of 10.

A second series was also released entitled: Yu-Gi-Oh! Ancient Battle One Coin Mini Figures. Characters in this set included:

• Dark Magician
• Dark Magician Girl
• Blue Eyes White Dragon
• Ryou Bakura (Egyptian saga)
• Ishizu Ishtar
• Malik Ishtar
• Seto Kaiba (Egyptian saga)
• Yami Yugi (Atem)
• Yami Malik
• Secret Figure