Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998) is the first anime adaptation of the popular manga by Kazuki Takahashi. Many fans call this series "season zero" even though it actually has nothing to do with the second series anime (the one 4Kids dubbed) other than sharing the same name and characters. This series essentially adapts the first 7 volumes of the Yu-Gi-Oh manga, before it became only card game oriented. Manga readers be warned, this is not a 100% faithful adaptation, there are quite a lot of differences such as Miho being a primary character and Kaiba having green hair. Story elements are changed and some chapters from the manga don't make it into the anime. However, despite these flaws, this is still a very enjoyable and fun adaptation. It keeps the soul of the manga intact and has fun with the changes. For one, Honda (Tristan) is a much more funnier character in the anime than he is in the manga. Anyway, I don't know if this really counts as a review, it's more a random assortment of my thoughts of the anime vs the manga, the manga is better overall but there's a lot of welcomed changes in the anime, making it a superb adaptation. 9/10.
9 Reviews
A very nice Anime
gokulchandanirinkesh27 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is a very good anime.For someone who loves games,this anime is a must watch as Yu-Gi-Oh actually means the king of games.The games showed in this anime are really Entertaining.A sweet,simple and a entertaining anime.Even though made in 1998,This anime still didn't bore me for a Single Moment.Recommended.
A different take on the Yu-Gi-Oh! story
briancham19943 June 2020
I watched the popular 2000s series before watching this one, so it was a bit of a shock. This series feels like it has a lot more variety of games and stories. For that reason, it is less focused and has less overall arcs. At the same time, it is a bit more grounded and the characters are less cheesy. Viewed as a prototype of the main series, it is interesting and strange.
Different, Satisfying, and Deserves More Attention!
dwfcjj26 September 2021
While this show can be very "monster of the week" it's formula is satisfying, and its characters and plotlines are quite charming. I don't think traditional Yu-Gi-Oh fans will get a lot out of it, but for people who found the other series dull or two repetitive, it can be quite fun.
Worth Watching Despite The Changes From The Manga
jeremycrimsonfox19 August 2022
While Yu-Gi-Oh is still going strong with the card game still ongoing and new anime series being release, it's interesting that I one day learned of this incarnation of Yu-Gi-Oh! Basically, the series we Americans started out with was not the first anime series for the franchise that would be one of 4Kids' popular dubs (as well as the one that got into legal trouble and eventually into bankruptcy), but this is the first one, an anime that was never dubbed, and for good reason.
This anime (referred to by fans as Series 0 or Season 0) is based more on the manga, as the card game the franchise is known for is not the main focus. Instead, it is about Yugi building the Milennium Puzzle, but in doing so, he awakens the spirit of a pharaoh who takes over his body when he or his friends is in danger to challenge bullies and criminals with Yami Games, where losing or getting caught cheating is punished by a grim fate (although the grim demise is actually an illusion that ends up breaking the villain of the episode mentally). Yeah, this is reason why this anime was never localized: other than not dealing with the Duel Monsters card game that the franchise would focus on (even though it featured in some episodes), the anime was dark and violent to the point where 4Kids probably decided that no amount of editing can tone it down for the company's target audience of kids like Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters was, despite the fact the series' violence was already toned down from the manga it was adapted from, as here, Yami Yugi is more of an anti-hero who punishes people instead of the noble pharaoh who, in the 4Kids dub, would lecture some villains about the folly of their ways and the heart of the cards, although he does change his ways near the end of the series.
While the anime is good, it does have some flaws when compared to the manga. Being at only 27 episodes, most chapters are not adapted, and a minor character from the manga, Miho Nosaki, who was only in one chapter, was promoted to a main character here, and sadly, some people has claimed her to be annoying and only being there to mess up, so chances are whether or not you'll like the character will be based on how you can handle her actions. While the series was never localized, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters did adapt some scenes for flashback sequences to explain some events (with some stuff changed), but this is a neat curiosity to check out.
This anime (referred to by fans as Series 0 or Season 0) is based more on the manga, as the card game the franchise is known for is not the main focus. Instead, it is about Yugi building the Milennium Puzzle, but in doing so, he awakens the spirit of a pharaoh who takes over his body when he or his friends is in danger to challenge bullies and criminals with Yami Games, where losing or getting caught cheating is punished by a grim fate (although the grim demise is actually an illusion that ends up breaking the villain of the episode mentally). Yeah, this is reason why this anime was never localized: other than not dealing with the Duel Monsters card game that the franchise would focus on (even though it featured in some episodes), the anime was dark and violent to the point where 4Kids probably decided that no amount of editing can tone it down for the company's target audience of kids like Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters was, despite the fact the series' violence was already toned down from the manga it was adapted from, as here, Yami Yugi is more of an anti-hero who punishes people instead of the noble pharaoh who, in the 4Kids dub, would lecture some villains about the folly of their ways and the heart of the cards, although he does change his ways near the end of the series.
While the anime is good, it does have some flaws when compared to the manga. Being at only 27 episodes, most chapters are not adapted, and a minor character from the manga, Miho Nosaki, who was only in one chapter, was promoted to a main character here, and sadly, some people has claimed her to be annoying and only being there to mess up, so chances are whether or not you'll like the character will be based on how you can handle her actions. While the series was never localized, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters did adapt some scenes for flashback sequences to explain some events (with some stuff changed), but this is a neat curiosity to check out.
Its the best anime that I have ever watched
chera_khalid23 September 2023
"Yu-Gi-Oh!" is a thrilling anime that takes us on a captivating journey into the world of card dueling and ancient mysteries. The voice acting is both intense and heartfelt, making Yugi and his friends feel like lifelong companions. The film editing keeps the duels fast-paced and suspenseful, although the repetitiveness of certain episodes may be seen as a weakness. The music adds an extra layer of excitement, enhancing the intensity of the battles. The show's strength lies in its message of strategy, friendship, and the importance of believing in oneself. While the cinematography isn't groundbreaking, it effectively captures the energy and strategy involved in each duel. With an 8/10 rating, "Yu-Gi-Oh!" is a beloved classic that continues to enchant fans with its dueling magic, offering a thrilling ride filled with heart and strategy.
Interesting...
guipastura29 November 2021
The Yu-Gi-Oh anime adaptation from 1998 that isn't well known is way different then what people know about Yu-Gi-Oh. This series has a way darker tone and instead of being only a card anime it actually has different games that Yami make (even though it also has the famous duel monster) that are made from the victim's sin. The lore is decent, but the way it was executed made it look cliche and stupid (like the really irritating power of friendship thing that we are tired to see). The characters are so so, Miho is just a girl who is too innocent made for fan service and comic relief, Anzu is the girl that is cold but friendly and has some lore involving her atleast, Honda is the second comic relief in love with Miho who just see him as a friend, Kaiba is the main villain who has a past story to not make him just a villain, Yumi is the typical innocent boy who is 100% good but has a dark side which is Yami (the best character by far) and Jonouchi which is comic relief with some completely forgotten lore.
The only thing that makes me want to rewatch it is Yami to be honest, his games are all so cool and explore the personalities of each victim.
The only thing that makes me want to rewatch it is Yami to be honest, his games are all so cool and explore the personalities of each victim.
Entertaining, but somewhat lacking.
sonikuu-706-74445224 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The original Yu-Gi-Oh anime loosely follows the first volumes of the manga, and is considered as being a darker anime than the duel monsters one, released two years after.
The show is not without merits, the scenarios are quite entertaining and they try to keep things fresh, however they do milk some running jokes and formulas (like the attraction between Honda & Miho, the latter being much more present in the anime than in the manga, even though she mostly serves as comic relief and fan service). Some of the characters are indeed more flanderized than their counterparts from the 2000s series, Honda is especially lousy and annoying. The voice acting, being of course only in Japanese, sounds weird when you make the transition from the 2000s series to this one, mostly Yugi who is clearly voiced by a female in this version, Yami/Atem as well who sounds like a sassy teenager, it isn't bad by any means, but it takes some time to get used to. The music is mostly generic, some tracks do stand out though, like Yami's theme when he emerges is always a treat to listen to.
What I like about this anime compared to the more recent one is that the games/duels don't take 3 episodes to end, with the exception of the last arc, in which case it's not much of a problem. As such, the pacing is much better. However, since this is the pre-Duel Monsters era, the card game we're all accustomed to nowadays makes almost absolutely no sense in the 1998 anime (during the 1st season of the Duel Monsters era it was still unpolished, but this is so much worse), it's like a prototype without much rules and filled with Deus Ex Machinas, dueling is probably the worst part of this anime. But still, I like that the stakes are always pretty high, even though sometimes it just doesn't make sense to have some characters being threatened by death.
This series is animated by... ugh... Toei. As a result, the animation and quality of the artwork is probably the worst thing about this anime, being only available on VHS doesn't help. It's incredibly stilted, poor, and it's inferior to the 2000s series in every way. While Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters has aged surprisingly well by today's standards (it's not without flaws, it has badly animated episodes), Yu-Gi-Oh by Toei looks bad and old even by 1998's standards and makes early Sailor Moon look like a masterpiece. The series would indeed be much more bearable with better artwork and animation, the colours look odd as well, being washed out, but I'd blame the VHS quality for that.
It's nothing spectacular, but I think Duel Monsters fans and non- fans alike can give this series a fair shot. This series is only 27 episodes long and isn't linked to the Duel Monsters arcs, so you can watch it as its own thing.
The show is not without merits, the scenarios are quite entertaining and they try to keep things fresh, however they do milk some running jokes and formulas (like the attraction between Honda & Miho, the latter being much more present in the anime than in the manga, even though she mostly serves as comic relief and fan service). Some of the characters are indeed more flanderized than their counterparts from the 2000s series, Honda is especially lousy and annoying. The voice acting, being of course only in Japanese, sounds weird when you make the transition from the 2000s series to this one, mostly Yugi who is clearly voiced by a female in this version, Yami/Atem as well who sounds like a sassy teenager, it isn't bad by any means, but it takes some time to get used to. The music is mostly generic, some tracks do stand out though, like Yami's theme when he emerges is always a treat to listen to.
What I like about this anime compared to the more recent one is that the games/duels don't take 3 episodes to end, with the exception of the last arc, in which case it's not much of a problem. As such, the pacing is much better. However, since this is the pre-Duel Monsters era, the card game we're all accustomed to nowadays makes almost absolutely no sense in the 1998 anime (during the 1st season of the Duel Monsters era it was still unpolished, but this is so much worse), it's like a prototype without much rules and filled with Deus Ex Machinas, dueling is probably the worst part of this anime. But still, I like that the stakes are always pretty high, even though sometimes it just doesn't make sense to have some characters being threatened by death.
This series is animated by... ugh... Toei. As a result, the animation and quality of the artwork is probably the worst thing about this anime, being only available on VHS doesn't help. It's incredibly stilted, poor, and it's inferior to the 2000s series in every way. While Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters has aged surprisingly well by today's standards (it's not without flaws, it has badly animated episodes), Yu-Gi-Oh by Toei looks bad and old even by 1998's standards and makes early Sailor Moon look like a masterpiece. The series would indeed be much more bearable with better artwork and animation, the colours look odd as well, being washed out, but I'd blame the VHS quality for that.
It's nothing spectacular, but I think Duel Monsters fans and non- fans alike can give this series a fair shot. This series is only 27 episodes long and isn't linked to the Duel Monsters arcs, so you can watch it as its own thing.
Pretty great
enricoshapka21 April 2022
This is the uncensored japan only, prequel to the main series but also a more shortened version of it. The dark tone and the style are weird but great. One thing I like is that this version has more tea and yugi moments. This is a yugi that starts shadow games. I honestly don't understand why this never was released outside japan, it's not that much violent (except just 1-2 episodes about death)
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