#So ygo focused XD

[pocketsonny]

8, 9, and 10

sonny choose violence today

8 - common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

it's been a while since i've seen it out in the wild but talking about vrains it was (is???) common for the "ryoken is ALSO to blame for the L.I incident!!" from ppl who don't like him which LOL that's dumb, he was a kid back then, this is a stupid take sorry. at most we can argue if he was used somehow back then by kogami to reach the L.I kids (like how he bumped into yusaku, we don't have much context on what happens after or if that was staged or not, which could explain part of the guilt ryoken carries over it!). like, hate him as a character all you want, i don't care, but ur wrong <3

also this is just my personal opinion (it's not a hill i die on like the previous one LOL) but rev and pm don't feel like THE vrains rivals. s1 establishes them as enemies and yusaku was too focused on revenge to care about having a rival; revolver was his enemy for most of the season. at the end when he finds out who he is, we can say he saw him as less of an enemy and more of a potential friend(?) but after s1 there's not rivalry feels between them. they never do duel again tho i wish they had but rivals are meant to push at each other and make each other stronger and i don't get that vibe from them? like THEY COULD HAVE BEEN but it didn't happen......you know who it did happen with, sobarevo, am i a bit biased, maybe

9 - worst part of canon

this varies from canon to canon tbh xD if we're talking ygo, for example in vrains i wish we had MORE SLICE OF LIFE EPISODES!!! MORE CHARACTER INTERACTION MOMENTS!! that for me is vrains' weakest point cause i wanted to see my faves being silly or in chill situations, no high stakes moments, they all deserve a break (which for example is something i really like in CFV where characters often got beach episodes or low stakes moments for character building)

honestly i think this can apply to a lot of media; give your characters breathing room! give them that beach episode, let them interact with each other outside of "story plot" ! those episodes often give random trivia abt characters that is so fun to know about.

10 - worst part of fanon

i understand that some fanon interpretations are popular for a reason but people who take those as CANON and shit on ppl who have headcanons that do not agree with the popular take irk me so much....bro we're all trying to have fun, chill!

also lots of fanon interpreations of characters just feel very bland and one dimensional/reducing a character to two characteristics only. people can enjoy content/shows/characters/etc however they want but for me it sucks when a cool character gets reduced to being one(1) thing only ("the mean one" "the angry one" "the dumb one" etc. sometimes canon suffers from this too!)

#ask #answered #thank u caro :3

[cardrisen]

YOUR FANDOM: Yu-Gi-Oh! (and technically Concrete Genie) YOUR MUSE(S):  Kiku Kamishirakawa and Makoto Takuma (canon and OC for Vrains, @sworntolight); a little bit of everyone from like, three of the series here, along with a crossover in Ash from Concrete Genie ( @cardrisen) OTHER MUSES YOU HAVE PLAYED FROM THE FANDOM:  None; all my active muses are between here and Sworntolight, though f you include OC’s I have three on just as many other blogs still technically active, too.

MUSE(S) YOU’D WANT TO PLAY FROM THE FANDOM: Possibly Aki from 5D’s, Akari from Zexal, and Miyu from Vrains. Personally, I find I do a lot better with characters with little to their name (Kiku, Rin, Ruri, Ray, Windy’s origin-) than a fully fleshed out main thanks to my OC roots, but after falling in love with the muses I have here, this could be anyone at any time XD

FAVORITE CHARACTER(S):   Takeru, Judai, Jou, Edo, Flame, Kiku~ FAVORITE EPISODES/BOOKS: Takeru’s Flashback episodes with Kiku,, Soulburner/Revolver and Soulburner/Windy duels, and just about the entirety of the GX manga. Honestly there’s so much between DM, Vrains, ARC-V, and GX I love that we’d be here all day, so this is just a tiny sample off the top of my head. XD FAVORITE PLOTLINE(S): All of Vrains, the GX manga, and a tosup between the anime and manga of ARC-V. I’m also really partial to the Duelist Kingdom season from DM just because that’s what had just started in the dub when I got into the series all those years ago. <3 LEAST FAVORITE CHARACTER(S):  Pegasus, Spectre, Weevil/Haga, Yubel, Mai... I don’t have too many characters I super really dislike or hate? Majority of the time I dislike but respect their characters? SOMEONE YOU FEEL IS UNDERRATED: KIKU, KIKU, KIKU! <3 She didn’t get much development on her own, no, but she’s looked over a lot for the impact she had/has on Takeru and her role in his life, largely because she’s just not there. She just kindda gets glanced over a lot. Also, Ruri and Rin, against because they didn’t get much development.

FAVORITE THEORY: That the bracelet girls are still alive in Yuzu the way the boys are in Yuya. LEAST FAVORITE THEORY: That the bracelet girls and the boys can spit somewhere post-canon. Also that Takeru was some kind of secret agent for the bad guys all along, which while I’m not sure is even still a thing, THAT. Does ‘Kiku is a bossy brat’ apply here too? A STORYLINE YOU’D CREATE: A continuation to Vrains to wrap up loose ends, like Ai’s fate and solidly seal in what everyone’s up to some time post-canon, not just ‘three months later’. I’d also love a storyline from a female viewpoint? Like a girl on the level of Akari, who can hold her own but still be willing to let a guy in to help. A STORYLINE YOU’D CHANGE:  I’m gonna side with Kasa here and second the ‘rewrite the end of ARC-V’s manga’ XD That pairing used for it was a hardcore NOPE from me, too! Though I think I’d also change Vrains’ third season to slow down a little bit, Aoi’s story mid-season 2 and on, and a smidge of ARC-V’s to at least give the other girls a chance to shine without being possessed. Also give me more canon Entrust I crave it

WHAT CROSSOVER DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR FANDOM: I’ve technically got one here myself with Concrete Genie being a small bit of this blog, but again seconding Kasa with saying something that has a similar feel to ygo already. Dropping something with a really different air to it in the middle of a card game series doesn’t always make for a good crossover. XD WHAT CHARACTER FROM ANOTHER FANDOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE APPEAR IN YOUR FANDOM?: Honestly? Gimmie a little bit of Noragami with Yato, or like, Chain of Memories era Kingdom Hearts? I’m not sure past that? IN THE WORLD OF MY FANDOM, I’D BE: A nobody background character standing in a card shop. XD Tagged by: Hijacked from @duelrisen​ and regret nothing <3 Tagging: Grab it~! <3

#Dash Games tbt; #Out Of Poms [OOC] #I can't say much on Concrete Genie - It has legit /no fandom/ #So ygo focused XD

[my-artblog-is-ssjumi]

please tell me about "YGO shots whatever" and also bless you for the running cat

it's pretty much what it says on the tin: random ygo stuff that doesn't belong to any already existing story yet XD

rn most of it is a draft for a potential English reboot of the fanfic my Aileen Sue is from like, just experimenting around with how i would retell the story and what changes i would make.

i'm not good with drafts so. i kind of never revisited it since first writing it down? bc it's no fun to reread bc it's not up-to-my-standards-good yet? XD' but hey, whatever, some snippets of it i do already like so here's some (=most) of it:

Surprising as it may seem, given how his image is plastered all over the city they live in, Yugi and his friends don't really think much about Seto Kaiba in their everyday lives.

They're doing their thing and he does his. ... Whatever his thing is.

Building theme parks probably? Yugi remembers him mentioning something like this the last time they spoke but he's not sure anymore. The fact that Kaiba's been gracing class with his presence for the past few days probably means that things are going well enough for him to have the spare time. Although he's spending most of that time on his laptop anyway, not participating in class at all and left alone by the teachers as well.

No, really. Neither Yugi nor his friends know what Kaiba's thing actually is.

So they're a little surprised when after class, during cleaning duty[that anime trope/Japanese school thing?????????], a girl in another school's uniform slips through the door and bee-lines for the desk in the far corner of the room where Kaiba, true to his famous team spirit, is still fully focused on his personal work instead of helping his classmates.

One of her long, black pigtails slips over her shoulder as she snatches a glance at his laptop screen. To which Kaiba just reacts by closing said laptop and shoving it into his schoolbag. Which in turn puts a slightly too sweet, almost teasing smile onto her lips. "Want me to give you a ride home?" He sighs and mumbles something that sounds a lot like "There are worse ways to die, I guess" before getting up and following her outside.

It finally becomes apparent why a few of the guys in the class have spent the past couple minutes at the window - the car Kaiba follows that stranger to is a red Porsche cabriolet that looks like right out of a Hollywood movie.

Jounouchi doesn't know what to be more scandalized about - that Kaiba of all people is getting picked up by a cute girl while he doesn't or that some of his female classmates seem completely unimpressed by all of this because "everyone knows he has a girlfriend, duh".

He and his friends exchange confused glances.

Seto Kaiba is weird in occasionally dangerous but usually just a little annoying ways and overall just not that interesting. And, as far as they're aware, he's also completely uninterested in making friends or even just understanding the basic concept of friendship - or interpersonal relationships in general.

And yet.

Seto Kaiba has a girlfriend.

___

(the fic is an Aileen/Seto/Ati love-triangle-resolved-by-cheating-and-getting-dumped-for-it thingie)

i think the plan(???) was(????) to have each chapter actually be more of a oneshot, and them not even be in chronological order but in whatever order i vibed with while writing lol

... ok you know what? let's post the Ati part, too

___

The other Yugi, the nameless pharao, the boy without an own body, he didn't think much about what he wanted. It didn't matter. There was a purpose to his existence and it seemed to align with his feelings of not belonging to this time and place. So he dedicated his everything to fulfilling that purpose and spared himself the hassle of reflecting on his situation too much.

All was well.

Until the one whose body he had once taken over without asking didn't just allow him to stay, didn't just welcome him and promised to help him fulfill his destiny, but also offered him a bit of a life of his own. Privacy even. At least for a few hours a week. To take walks, smell the air, try new food, get lost in his thoughts without the pressure of having to justify them.

To just be.

Truth be told, it was a bit much.

What does one even do with a body of his own when there are no cards to hold, no lives at stake?

This whole time all he had was duels and words to connect to the world.

By now he barely remembered what else there was.

Until someone else who always seemed at least just as disconnected from the world as him turned out to be a lot closer to it than he thought.

Until it turned out that Seto Kaiba, of all people, had a girlfriend.

Until the nameless pharao passed a young couple holding hands on one of his walks and suddenly had to ask himself if that was something that Kaiba did with his girlfriend, too.

And what about the other things couples did?

Did they kiss?

Was Kaiba someone who would kiss someone? Who liked kissing? Who let someone kiss him?

He felt heat creep up Yugi's, no, his face just imagining it.

It seemed impossible.

Not Kaiba.

Never Kaiba.

But what if...

And did that mean they also...

Such a small question of so little consequence.

At least in theory.

And yet it did something to that borrowed body he inhabited.

That tickle on his lips and the urge to bite them to make it stop, the fine hair rising on his neck and arms, this sudden restlessness in his chest, all of these sensations were his experiences and just his.

Caused by only his thoughts, no one else's.

His own want.

Only his.

#The WIP Title game #ask game #:D #fanfiction #own stuff #ok i gotta admit the more i reread it the more i like it lmao #i still don't feel it's... idk an English word for this... knackig enough to consider posting it #also rn chances are still too big that i wouldn't finish it which would bug me probably once it's up #so i'm gonna brood on it a little more for now XD #tumblr's text formatting is so... unpleasant. idk how ppl can post longer fic here and not like. die or something #OH OH OH! SAM! ALSO! ofc you're free to steal the kitty and use it as well >:3 #plz don't think it's mine in any way #kitties for everyone!!

[shifuto]

Day 4: 6th 4th of August Power of Love/Friendship​ Tell us about your favourite ships! We welcome familial, platonic and romantic love here! @zexalmonth​​

oh boy, here we go, let me start this off with a meme..

so...... shipping, huh?! Buckle up!

shipping is one of the things I like to do when I like characters and can see them together, and Zexal have lots of characters I like.. lots. Back when I started watching it, I didn’t really pay much mind to ships other than Yuma x Astral (keyshipping), but as I got deeper and deeper into the series, and started coming up with my own ideas to fill the plot holes and make canon better for me.. this shipping thing started getting a little out of hand XD in the best way possible, of course

when I started getting interested in Zexal ships and tried to research any lists or something around internet, I found a lot of YGO mixed lists and a few Zexal-focused ones. A few weeks ago, I decided to unravel the lists I found, re-organize and compile everything in a new, updated masterlist, that I intend to maintain and add or modify things as people contribute (it’s not my list! It’s everyone’s, feel free to grab it and do whatever, but @ me so I can follow you and edit mine too)

talking about my Zexal ships themselves.. platonically, I just ship about everyone I guess? Romantically, I have several favorite ships, OT3s, polyships, rare pairs and a few crack ships too.... these ship set sail themselves... that about 109 out 400 ships O: ..sadly, some of my ships have no name so.. oh well..

now now, here is an interesting thing.. considering Yuma x Astral has many variations.. almost 69 (I know right?) and I ship all of them.. the list could be much longer lol ー also complied them all here

TL;DR I ship everyone in this goddamn show

#zexal month #ygo #zexal #shif writes #someone save me from Zexal shipping hell #zexal shipping #dude shut up about Zexal dude no one cares dude

[fireballofinsanity]

The rut continues XD I have a couple of threads drafted for reply and will be getting replies out soon! But I’ve also gone through and started taking a couple steps towards changing things here too, as a heads up-

-Sera’s verses have now been split! While she will remain as a muse here and still be this blog’s main/frontrunner, her Yu-Gi-Oh! and Final Fantasy (primarialy FF7) verses, specifically, are now located at @sakurarisen​, a side to one of my YGO blogs, after some heavy planning with a dear friend, @duelrisen​​!

-HOWEVER, if you do click on over to the new blog, please read the rules first. I am not hiding Sera’s life’s story on there, and have an entire section of my rules there dedicated to warnings for what her story entails. I nor Sera focus on her backstory, but it does contain some highly sensitive and potentially triggering topics I will be putting under read more cuts and tagging, should talk of it ever arise there - And the same still does and always will apply to this blog, as well. If it comes up, I will take any steps available to me to make things comfortable for my partners, but I also won’t leave it to be sprung on anyone last minute, either.

-As for this blog, I’ve done some muse re-arranging. Sera and Seun are remaining as main muses, but Maika, Casey, and Cyan have been shifted to the guest list. I’m not removing them, but even before falling into my current rut, they were the three who saw the least interaction. All this means is that they’ll not be as focused on for the time being, and largely only around under request.

-I’m debating a new, neater theme, but I’ll be going through soon and clearing out my follows. With a new year comes a fresh start, and I really want out of this rut - But with how busy things are here, I need to make some choices and ease my dash up some so it’s less anxiety-inducing. Current partners, friends, and longtime partners will not be unfollowed.

Here’s to a new year - And a late happy new year to everyone! <3

~Pom

#PSA #OOC #Wow tumblr forgot my tags again XD #But yeah - I'm still in a dumb rut and that applies to ALL my blogs right now; not just this one #The holidays really took it out of me #Especially with a surprise hospitalization of a family member briefly last month #But one of my resolutions this year is to get back into full swing and by god I'mma do it #Starting with this #The verses moved for Sera are ones that WEREN'T super developed in the least here? So I'm just splitting her verses between blogs #And leaving the more developed things here while she hangs out with her Zack over there #For more development <3 #And I WILL NOT be dropping any threads I have with Cyan; Maika; and Casey? I just won't be jumping like crazy for more #But as it's late here now I'll tackle more work here later <3 #Love you all~ #If anyone has an issue with things over there or Sera as a whole just talk to me- #I'm always willing to work with my partners for everyone's comfort~ #I won't fully remove anything but I will work with everyone owo #UPDATE: Url for Sera's sideblog changed so tag changed here <3

[jczala]

yaaaaaaass, let's play "send me an YGO character": Yusaku, Ryoken + Ai, please?

Hi! Thanks for the ask. (=^-ω-^=)Also answering for the two Anons who sent me Yusaku

Time for VRAINS protagonist himself, Yusaku Fujiki, aka Playmaker! I already answered for Ryoken’s, and I’m planning to do Ai’s on a separate post. 

Let’s get started! (^._.^)ﾉ

Why I like them/why I don’t

Strong and steadfast, the cyber vigilante of Link VRAINS has a presence unlike that of previous franchise protagonists. He isn’t as high-spirited and youthful as Yuya or Yuma, or as carefree as Judai. Some people say he’s Yusei 2.0, but he has unique traits that make him so much different than Yusei. And unlike the previous protagonists who focused on bonds and friendships, Yusaku is a solitary character in a quest for revenge.

Yusaku has been through very traumatic experiences that changed him from his very roots. He was kidnapped at the age of 6, in addition to being imprisoned and forced to duel for six whole months. It seemed like a hopeless situation, but a single glimmer of light kept him going. When he was about to give up, one voice kept him strong.

Psychologically, all these factors and changes would scar anyone’s mind. Since then, the trauma would often disrupt Yusaku’s sleep, and he would wake up screaming and in cold sweat. The pain only grew as he grew older. 

Then later on, he decided to embark on a quest in search for the truth and becomes a very self-driven person. For him it was a personal feud. He wants to destroy the Hanoi, settle his past, and save the person who saved him. The Ignis, or more specifically Ai, just happens to be a part of that. 

Yusaku is quite sassy and edgy, presented in a way that it never cockiness, but instead it’s cool confidence with a bite. He is portrayed as a loner in school, and his actions and characteristics showcases his aloofness. His interaction with his classmate shows this–not fully caring about school and peers, and purposely building a wall to push away people who are friendly (except for Kusanagi). Needless to say, Yusaku is being unapproachable due to his past history. He is also shown to be incredibly intelligent and a natural computer-whiz with a knack for hacking. 

As a Duelist, it is made clear in his character that he is well-rounded, versatile and understands his capabilities, not to mention that he is also a risk-taker. He doesn’t want to be top Duelist for glory or to selflessly help people. He was an emissary of revenge. 

What I like about their appearance  (≚ᄌ≚)ℒℴѵℯ❤

When news about VRAINS was released, it was love at first sight as the franchise introduced me to see what was seemingly like a male version of Serena from Arc V. He bears a striking resemblance that I immediately headcannoned him to be a Predatorshipping child. XD I was still a hardcore Arc V fan back then… 

But honestly? Yusaku’s and Playmaker’s designs are both so good. I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. 

We have sexy and cool…

Cute and pretty… 

Do I prefer their dub names or original names?

His name is still the same in the dub. XD 

OTP

“I can tell you my true feelings! Even my suffering and my weaknesses! You live in the same world as me. You’re able to save me. And I’m able to save you.” 

The prisoners of destiny…To Yusaku, Ryoken represents hope, and the show makes it clear that Yusaku’s feelings for Ryoken have been nothing but genuine feelings of gratitude, appreciation, devotion and forgiveness. The fact of the matter is that Yusaku would have never been able to survive the Lost Incident had it not been for Ryoken. And while Yusaku continues to live with his trauma, it’s also Ryoken’s “three things” that gives him strength and later on the motivation to pursue his goals. 

But it’s not as if Yusaku’s feelings for Ryoken is just blind devotion. It’s a different brand of loyalty than that of the Knights of Hanoi. Yusaku truly understands the extent of Ryoken’s goals and cares for him so much to the point he’s willing to stand in his way and save Ryoken’s life. 

When he learned Revolver’s identity, not once did Yusaku blame Ryoken for the Lost Incident, because he believes the good in Ryoken. He believes in the boy that became his voice of hope. Even when Bohman claimed that he was a fake, he didn’t waver and confirms the truth inside him because his connection and history with Ryoken are real. 

As for Ryoken’s feelings for Yusaku, it’s quite clear that Ryoken both respects and cares for Yusaku. Season 1 made it especially interesting to see how much his past with Yusaku affected him. He is shocked and torn at the very knowledge that Playmaker is the same child he saved all those years ago, and fate really has a weird way of getting in your face. And in despite the difference in their goals, Ryoken continues to look out for Yusaku in his own way, like giving him the protection program and entrusting him with one of his ace monsters. If circumstances were different, they would have become good friends. 

The rivals of this series are so much more than just ‘rivals’. It’s not just about the card game itself, or a show of strength and superiority. The show does a great job showing how far the both of them had gone as rivals and perhaps, more. 

NOTP - Hotdogshipping 

OT3

Yusei x Ryoken X Yusaku… (⁎˃ᆺ˂) Don’t ask why… 

Ai x Ryoken x Yusaku… ~(=^‥^)/ 

Favourite card they use

Favourite moment they were in

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FTW! (^･o･^)ﾉ”

Least favourite moment (=｀ェ´=)

Would I fuck, marry or kill them

I would hug him and marry him off to Ryoken. ฅ( ͒ᵕ̳ωᵕ̳ ͒)｡o○

#vrains #datastormshipping #yusaku fujiki #ryoken kogami #yugioh #serena (arc v) #arc v #ygo character discussions #reply #breakdawn-avenue

[sevi007]

Sevi experiences YGO: DSOD

 Promised a rambling, and ramble I will! Took notes of what stood out to me while watching, so, have a jumbled of hyped thoughts here guys! =D:

* The animation is so amazing! I love it!

 * More grown-up Yugi looks so much like the pharaoh – but somehow still like himself – it’s like… a mixture. Makes me both nostalgic and so very proud of Yugi. He used to be this nervous, chubby-cheeked kid, and now he’s… all grown up! He’s even holding a SPEECH! Boy’s a man now! So proud. =D

 * It’s kinda weird to here Tea and Joey call the Pharaoh “Atem” now – they didn’t get to use his name for long before he left, it’s still so new to me that hearing it like that is… weird XD  

 * Diva – or Aigami – has an interesting design, looks-wise as well as his drive and goal. It especially the later reminds me of Yami Bakura (initially) and Marik both. Poor kid who wants to change the world with his power, wants the pharao’s power for it? Yeah, I see both of them in there. The mix makes it just unique enough to be interesting though. (Also, his powers are quite unique. I like them!)

  * I actually love that the dreams and goals of the characters from way, way back in the series were picked up again and it shows them going for them after the whole Millenium Battle is over. Tea becoming a dancer, Ryou living his life without a ghost taking over all the time, Tristan working with technical stuff, Joey still a passionate duelist all the way, Yugi planning to design games… I’m so happy they focused on that. It all was ignored completely during the series - predictably, but still, it made up a lot of their character, and that was just never developed during the series… I’m happy they are doing it now, at least.

 * Kaiba is still… well, Kaiba. It’s actually kinda reassuring to have his snark and pride right there – refusing even to be sent into a different dimension by magic by just… not wanting to. (Okay, by his new technical advancement, but you know what I mean.) Or calling back a god who was not even supposed to exist anymore. “It’s no monster – it’s a god!” Nice to see some things don’t really change. XD

(You know, at least he finally accepted the magic, the pharaoh and Yugi being two different entities, and so on. That took a whole damn long time, okay.)

  * Dimension summoning? Really? Hello? They just made up an entire new duel monster summoning for one movie instead of a whole series. Okay then. (I like it, I was just speechless for a second.)

  * Nice to see that Bakura’s trauma of having been the vessel to a murderous ghost – forced to kill people with his body, but no chance of stopping it – is actually addressed. Painful to watch, but very nice that it isn’t just glossed over. (Also, Ryou is just… so sweet and good. There’s a guy trying to kill him, and he… feels sorry. Com’ on, give the guy some slack already!)

  * Not really happy how they turned the story of Bakura’s father though – he was supposed to be just a naïve guy who didn’t know what the Millenium ring was and ultimately, a good guy. Here he was… just a crazed, greedy dude, asking for the ring even when his worried son was right beside him. And anyway, wasn’t Shadi still alive much later? He met Yugi – a teenage Yugi – before he was killed. I am confusion  

  * Pharaoh not only appearing in the great finale, but also to help Joey out… you know what? I’m gonna go ahead and think he’s just constantly watching over his friends, only appearing to help when it’s absolutely necessary – choosing to let them handle it themselves as long as they can because he believes in them. (It’s also interesting to note that in Ancient Egypt, pharaohs who went to the afterlife were believed to become gods – so technically? Atem’s a god now. Basically explaining why he can still influence the living world if he wants to.)

  * “Back off, or we’re gonna have a problem!” – can I once again point out how proud I’m of Yugi? Yelling at Kaiba? Threatening him? Making him chance his mind? (That’s like a miracle in itself) I want to hug Yugi. HE’S SO GROWN UP NOW

  * I like how Yugi’s – and Kaiba’s – monsters are still the same at the core, but got a little glow-up fitting for the new animation and new story. Nice mix of nostalgia and hype for the new stuff!  

  * Does “Cool motive, still murder” apply to Diva, too? I see where’s coming from – I feel sorry for him - but if someone has the power to chance reality itself why go around and send “bad people” to another dimension, instead of going around and bringing good things into existence? I’m just saying. (Shadi, I’m looking at you, too. Never really liked your methods, either.)

  * Kaiba not realizing that Yugi is right there and he could have him as his rival – the guy who beat the pharaoh after all – is also… just very Kaiba. It took an entire series of over 200 episodes for him to accept that there is magic, there are rebirths (he was one of them) and now it takes kicking his ass for another few years until he realizes that Yugi is the rival he is looking for. Sigh. XD

  * “You really hate dragons, don’t you” – no I more hate that Kaiba gets the funniest lines all the time. XD

  * Yugi solving the puzzle and nothing happening… I think what hurt the most was that Yugi didn’t look surprised. He was absolutely calm. He knew all along. He knew very well, because he was the one who felt pharaoh’s passing the most. He had to live with that every day and he had accepted that all along. Not like Kaiba, who was still chasing after – well, a ghost.

That was so well done – especially given that the series was sometimes unnecessarily dramatic. Here, it wasn’t. It was completely silent as it told you “He’s not coming back (fully) guys”.

  * “Well, he has looked better” – “I’m getting really tired of that laugh” - again, Kaiba with the freaking lines.

  * Kaiba sacrificing himself to have Yugi win – look, sometimes I want to slap him, but honestly, he’s not that bad of a guy. How many times has he done something like that now? He always comes through in the end.

  * Not even embarrassed to say I had tears in my eyes when Atem made an appearance. I was a kid when I watched the final episode. Seeing him return in such a fashion - in almost complete silence, no words needed there, not fully returning, but only a support for Yugi – I’m emotional, okay. That’s my childhood coming by to say hello. (Also, Yugi wasn’t just along for the ride – they were doing this together. Made it even better.)

  * “How is he doing?” – that’s probably the best reaction they could have had to that. Not “Is he coming back?” or “Will we see him again?” Nah, just is he okay?

  * EVERYONE GOT THEIR NEW BEGINNINGS and Kaiba literally just went back in time. Is there anything he can’t do? Is there someone who can stop him? AND HE JUST SAID THANK YOU TO MOKUBA. Out loud! On cam! He has lost his mind! Where will this madness end?! XD (I’m kidding)

 Ah well. I’m happy everyone is gonna be alright and happy. This was a fantastic way to say hello again and goodbye to all of them at the same time. I’m absolutely hyped and delighted by this entire movie. =D

#ygo: dsod #dsod #yugioh #yugioh: dark side of dimensions #long post #i absolutely adore it #GONNA SPAM NOW

[thewittyphantom]

DSOD Review/Thoughts

Watched DSOD in full, and I’ll stick most of my thoughts under a Read More. Overall, while it’s a spectacle for the eyes and parts of it were very vibrant, as a whole I think it’s just okay. The parts that work work well, but the rest I find  confusing, a bit hard to follow with the various plot threads all happening at once, and very saddening in terms of favorite characters and the series as a whole. I kinda wish it’d been a slice of life movie with duels on the side XD;

The numerous retcons and inconsistencies with the manga AND anime can make following it hard even if you have read/watched all of the original story as well, particularly involving the new villain Aigami, Ryou Bakura, Shadi, and Yugi’s final duel with Atem.

Another thing to note is how the movie was made in the first place. DSOD was commissioned without the creator's involvement originally, but upon being asked to work on it he agreed and took control of the project, being solely responsible for the script, story, and designs. Also, originally it was going to star Seto Kaiba alone, without Yugi or his friends showing up, but adding Yugi and co. made it 3 hours long so an hour had to be cut from the script, which may explain lack of exposition regarding certain plot points. A prequel manga called Transcend Game fills in some of the gaps but seems to have been made back when it was Seto Kaiba: The Movie, as several characters act differently than they do in this movie and Yugi and co. don't appear at all.

While Yugi and his friends have returned to a peaceful life, Seto Kaiba is determined to see and duel the Pharaoh no matter what by excavating and completing the Millennium Puzzle, and both sides are menaced by Aigami, a mysterious classmate of Yugi's with magic powers who is determined to stop the Pharaoh's resurrection even if it means killing Kaiba or Yugi. Yugi's friends mainly have a supporting role, with the exception of Ryou Bakura, who has a role in Aigami's backstory. Nothing of the cut-short Ancient Egypt arc is mentioned, and while Kisara appears in the prequel manga she isn't seen or mentioned in the movie itself. Pegasus does not appear as he was killed in the manga, and the Ishtars only appear in a flashback. The animation quality and music is the best Yu-Gi-Oh has ever seen, and hearing the old voice actors in English and Japanese again was a treat. Aigami also has a very good design and voice, as do his sister Sera and confidant Mani. However, some of the plot threads as presented in the movie don't align with the manga OR the anime, particularly with Shadi, the Ring, and Bakura. Those three are probably the biggest outliers in the movie for several reasons, listed below:

Shadi's appearance is changed slightly, he raised Aigami, Sera, Mani, and the planners, and he has powers he's never had before in any continuity, such as wielding the Quantum Cube, which can directly erase people from existence, grant teleportation for one’s self and others, and send people to other dimensions. He can also transfer these powers to others, which will activate upon the Pharaoh leaving, but they will lose them if the Pharaoh is reborn into the world a second time.

Bakura's father got the Millennium Ring from Shadi instead of from an antique shop/bazaar in Egypt, and was killed by it despite being alive to curate the museum in the manga, which allowed the Millennium World to happen. Bakura himself also tagged along for the trip, despite it being implied in the manga and stated in the anime that he got the Ring when his father returned.

In the manga it was stated pretty clearly that as long as Bakura didn't wear the Ring it couldn't do any harm, but in this movie it corrupts several people without the need to wear it, in Aigami's case without even needing to touch it.

The climax has the Millennium Ring corrupting others, and bonding with Diva to create a reality-warping monster, but how it does so with Zorc and Yami Bakura gone is never explained, nor is it explained who/what the resulting monster is.

Characters who were very active in the manga, such as Joey, don't get to do much at all, with Joey even wearing a dog suit like in an anime arc infamous for putting him down. Ryou Bakura also gets the short end of the stick despite his backstory role, as he doesn't have a dream for the future, nobody asks him what it is, he gets stuck in another dimension for the last third of the movie, and his father is also apparently dead despite being alive in the manga and anime. While Mokuba Kaiba gets some time to shine, his relationship with Seto isn't as close as it was, as Seto is mainly focused on seeing and dueling Atem. Tea and Tristan are mostly filler, but they get off relatively easy, while Yugi himself tends to react more to what Kaiba and Aigami do than act on his own.

How Aigami's powers work is a mystery even if you have read the prequel manga, and if you haven't, then how Kaiba's VR tech works--by constructing solid images and transcending dimensions through his brainwaves and a collective consciousness of duelists--will be hard to follow. Aigami's motivations and methodology in the Japanese version revolve around quantum physics, which are also hard to understand, and his goals sound noble but are pretty selfish, as he wants to remake the world into a place of beauty as fits his desires, get rid of anything in his way to keep his powers, and believes so much in better worlds he feels Yugi’s is static, meaningless, and hateful.

Since the Plana’s powers activated upon the Pharaoh’s disappearance, it turns what was a bittersweet but powerful ending for the original series--Yugi defeating his other self, seeing him off, and proving he could be on his own--into a tragic moment as Yugi almost dooms the world by winning. The Pharaoh leaving causes the whole movie to happen, not only with Aigami's escalating war, but also Kaiba's plot to find and assemble the Puzzle, which is what starts Aigami targeting them.

More significantly, the final duel of the movie also breaks the lesson of the main story by having Yugi need help to win when he couldn't do it alone, despite his entire arc being about standing up for himself on his own and beating the Pharaoh to prove he was ready. (Making this worse is a comment from volume 8 of the bunkoban about a canceled YGO vs GX movie, where Takahashi said that reviving Atem, which he considered, would betray the themes of the original story.)

The movie kinda paints itself into a corner--Atem had to return to stop the Plana since him leaving started it, despite the movie also enforcing the idea that he couldn't return and everyone had to move on, including Yugi and Kaiba. And speaking of Kaiba, there’s the ending to the movie.

Kaiba spends much of the film in an obsessive state, trying futilely to see Atem while being told that he has moved on and isn't coming back, with Yugi recompleting the Puzzle to prove it. (Kaiba is crushed when this doesn't work.)  Throughout the movie Yugi and his friends have moved on from the loss, Yugi gives Kaiba a speech directly telling him to move on, and Atem himself takes the Puzzle to the afterlife with him. Kaiba  decides that if he can't bring Atem back, he'll meet Atem by going to the afterlife instead, leaving Mokuba to run his company in his stead. Whether or not he’ll return or can return is ambiguous, and the movie ends before the duel starts, figuratively leaving us in limbo.

I know all this harping on sounds like I hate the movie. I don’t. I loved hearing the old voice actors again and the new cast, the character cameos and call-backs were cool, the animation and music is amazing, and Yugi and his friends graduating and just hanging out and having fun is really sweet. DSOD is at its best in its joyful, quiet moments when the fate of the world isn’t on the line.

It’s just... When I get into a new series or rediscover an old one I want to learn as much as I can about it so I can fit all the pieces together, like a puzzle. I want to know why things are the way they are, not only out-of-universe, but in-universe. Before DSOD it was fairly simple--the manga did X, the anime did Y, the Toei anime did Z, the video games tend to mix the continuities, and spinoffs either follow the manga, anime, or are set in their own worlds. After DSOD, it feels like pieces are missing from the puzzle, and I’m frustrated by my lack of ability to comprehend it.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn’t set after the ending and thus necessitating new conflicts, or maybe I shouldn’t be writing this review at 7 AM after staying up all night. Maybe I will understand it someday, but for now my favorite YGO movie is still Pyramid of Light. (Joey getting to fight and duel plus Pegasus being involved helps. XD)

#yu gi oh #the darkside of dimensions #analysis #yugi mutou #yami yugi #seto kaiba #mokuba kaiba #joey wheeler #tristan taylor #tea gardner #ryou bakura #yami bakura #shadi #aigami #sera #mani #kisara #yu gi oh manga #yu gi oh toei #pyramid of light #maximillion pegasus

[jacesmindsculpture]

SO I HAVEN’T DONE AN ARC V POST IN A LONG TIME DUE TO LIFE, BUT IT’S THE LAST EP AND IT MUST BE DONE.

I’m all teary because I’ve been watching this show since ep 1, so 3 full years of my life has been really focused on this, the characters, the story, and fandom.

I wasn’t happy with the fact that all the counterparts are stuck inside one another now, because...well, I love everybody as individuals and I feel like the girls in particular got a bit shafted screen time wise. That being said, I’m cracking up imagining how everyone starts screeching in Yuya’s head when he tries to get intimate with Yuzu (or anyone, really--especially because I’m a fan of Yuya/Sora/Yuzu lol), and the girls all giving their reviews or comments in Yuzu’s head. XD

I’m VERY glad I didn’t have to watch Sora or Dennis get sent back to Fusion to be all alone and without the few friends they’ve finally made. That would have made me SO mad, especially for Sora, because he’s my precious demon child and I adore him. Knowing that I can canonically keep my headcanons up for him (that Yuya’s mom basically adopts him and he moves in with them, and that when Fruitshipping becomes canon he basically just shoves himself in the middle of that relationship because they’re //his// people after all) makes me very happy, too.

Finally, I probably feel the absolute worst for Shun because he lost Yuto and Ruri--the two people most important to him. While he’s accepted that yes, they’re still alive in Yuya and Yuzu, I do know he’s going to get lonely and upset and likely feel isolated/depressed because of it at times. That said, he has people who will help him through it and honestly? I can see him cultivating some sort of close relationship with Crow that will help mitigate a lot of it (romantic or more family-like, either way, though I won’t lie I totally ship it and want them to adopt a ton of kids together lol). It wouldn’t surprise me if he packs up and goes off to Synchro once XYZ is rebuilt so he can stay with Crow, who is really the only other person he’s ever seemed to have a real understanding with. It’s funny because earlier in the series I wasn’t a fan of him, but I really like Shun by the end of Synchro Dimension and I’m glad he isn’t totally alone in the world/surrounded by friends who can’t totally understand him.

My biggest complaint for the entire series is lack of screen time for the LDS trio because they are my BABIES and I LOVE THEM MY POLY TRIANGLE OF SNARK AND SPAZZ AND ONE PERSON WITH THEIR SHIT TOGETHER (Masumi ofc). 

In summary: I agree with what others have said about the ending feeling a bit rushed, and that there wasn’t a lot of closure for/it felt like a lot of the characters got shafted. I suppose that can be rationalized as the fact that real life doesn’t always get closure, and not everyone is treated fairly in life either. Story-wise, it kinda sucks, and it also sucks for a character driven story like YGO, but it could have been worse and at least it ended with no one being totally isolated or the friendships built throughout the series being destroyed by the dimensions being split back up or anything like that. I think the fandom will do a good job of exploring the possibilities left by the series ending (I might actually post some of my work eventually LOL), and I’m sort of glad it wasn’t so closed off like some series that there isn’t any potential left. (I...kind of hate series that end with showing the characters married 15 years later with kids because it takes away any sort of possibility, though maybe it’s just me with my ridiculous amounts of headcanons and more-often-than-not dislike of the main pairing).

All of the above said: I’ll miss Arc V, and I’ll have to put more effort into buying the manga from Japan (For “Japanese Practice,” riiiight >.>) so that I have some more story to follow with these ridiculous children. :)

#arc v #ygo arc v #ygo arc v spoilers #arc v spoilers #ygo arc v ending #arc v ending #yugioh arc v ending #yugioh arc v spoilers #good-bye my babies #I'll miss you #jace talks #jace speaks

[kelekiahshadya]

Valentine Fandom Meme

I’m eternally late to the game since Valentine’s Day was a week and a half ago, but I saw this ask meme, and I couldn’t help myself. Since I never get asks, I’ve decided that I’m going to treat it like a meme on its own. Taken from courierhawk’s reblog; original questions from thevirdirthara. Also, apologies in advance. I use a mix of dub/sub names.

Yu-Gi-Oh

Your favorite non-canon ship?

Considering there’s only one, maybe two ACTUAL canon ships, just about any of my ships are valid, though there are slightly more canon ships if you look at the anime instead of the manga. That being said, Polar (MaiXJoey) is probably my favorite non-canon ship. I know, I know, age difference and it’s not present in the manga and blah blah blah, but I don’t care. I love Polar to death.

Is there a ship you didn’t like at first but ultimately started shipping?

Thorn (AnzuXYamiMarik) is a ship I never would’ve considered ever because I don’t ship Yami Marik with anyone, but one fic on fanfiction.net caught my attention, and my secret love for Thorn was born. Honestly, though, it has to be extremely specific circumstances for me to ship this—pretty much only if Yami Marik is human.

What is the rarest rare pair (that you ship)?

Probably Timid (SerenityXYugi). I’m not certain I’ve ever seen content for this ship anywhere. I’m surprised I even know its name. But if I think about it too long, it becomes super cute. A close tie might be Soft (SerenityXRyou) because it is also quite cute. I like cute things.

Name a popular ship you don’t get the appeal of.

Death (YamiMarikXRyou) and Puppy (SetoXJoey). As I said before, I can’t pair Yami Marik with anyone (except Anzu under special human circumstances), and even if I did, Ryou would be one of the last people I’d choose. Under certain circumstances, like years later when they’re both adults, I can maybe see Seto and Joey EVENTUALLY getting along, but as far as I’m concerned, Puppy is not a ship that would ever work. Just, no.

What is your most fluffy + happy ship?

With the power of fanfic, I can make any ship fluffy and happy. As far as pure canon is concerned, I don’t think one exists. So, with the power of my fanfic abilities, I declare that the fluffiest and happiest ship I have is Sibling (SerenityXMokuba). There might be a little angst in this relationship just because their brothers don’t get along, BUT! These two are precious fluffy babies.

What is your most angsty ship?

With the power of fanfic, I can make any ship angsty XD AUs are a particular specialty of mine in this case. Combining both canon with possible AUs, I’d have to say Manipula (AnzuXMarik) just because, canonically, there’s a lot of potential bad blood between them because of what Marik did to her and Joey and Yugi, and Marik’s not exactly a goody-two-shoes either.

A non-canon ship that should be canon?

Sibling because I consider Peach (AnzuXYugi) almost canon, and Sibling is almost the next best thing. I mean, I do ship her with Duke and Tristan, both of which are kinda canon if you look at the manga and anime respectively, but I love Sibling too much to ignore it in this question.

Your oldest ship; the one you’ve shipped for the longest time?

Peach was my first OTP in the YuGiOh franchise, and I still ship it to this day.

What ship represents the kind of relationship you’d love to have?

Peach again. I think the most important part of a romantic relationship is friendship. If you’re not besties with your significant other, then I don’t believe the relationship will work out as well. I want to be able to be myself around my significant other, and I want to be understood by them. I feel like Peach embodies this well.

Is there a ship that makes your skin crawl?

I have never been nor will ever be super comfortable with yaoi and yuri ships, but they’re not so bad as to make my skin crawl, but incest will forever make me sick, and so will pedophilia. NO THANK YOU.

What is a character you can only imagine in one particular ship?

Surprise, surprise, it’s Joey. Blame it on the lack of female characters available in YuGiOh, but I have only ever shipped him with Mai. The only way Joey gets any love in my writing/headcanons is if there are OCs involved, assuming he’s not already paired with Mai.

What is your favorite canon ship?

Rose (CeceliaXPegasus). I’m super sad that it ended so badly in canon because they are adorable, and one of my ultimate favorite YGO pairing fanarts is for this ship.

Name a ship that deserved more content.

Peach if only because I want to see them actually get together. I think that because friendship is a super focus of YuGiOh as a whole, we got a lot less romantic content than we otherwise might have liked, but that’s okay with me. That’s why fanfiction/fanart exists XD

Is there a ship you feel gets undeserved hate in fandom?

Depends on what corner of the fandom you’re in. I personally hate it when people hate on Anzu, no matter the ship she might be in, especially when they hate on her in favor of their yaoi pairings. That’s super unfair to Anzu as a character since she’s awesome and one of my favorite female characters of all time.

What is the first ship you had?

I already mentioned this in the oldest ship question, but I’ll say it again—Peach.

Is there a ship that made you realize something about yourself?

I don’t know if I can cite a specific ship, but shipping in YuGiOh is what made me realize that I like character/ship potential almost more than I like ships themselves, hence why I multiship. Because of this realization and multishipping in YuGiOh, I’ve been able to extend that to other fandoms, especially Harry Potter.

Is there a type of ship you always go for?

Depends on the situation. I’m a sucker for strong female characters who could be paired with lots of guys because I’m such a multishipper, and I love cute fluffy pairings. I do like ships with interesting conflict, but the fluffy ones always get me.

Is there a ship the writers have ruined for you?

Not that I can think of. I mean, almost no ships are canon in YuGiOh, so rather than “ruining” ships, it’s mostly just unknown for the various potential ships.

Is there a ship the fandom has ruined for you?

Not really. I already had my reasons for not shipping certain ships, and I’ve never been turned away from a ship I already shipped. I will say, though, that I wish people would tag their freakin’ ships so that I don’t have to see stuff on my dash that I don’t ship.

Have you ever created fan created content for a ship?

Yes. I’ve never drawn any of my YuGiOh ships, but I have written a couple oneshots for Peach and one for Polar. I’ve also referenced/included the following ships in stories focused on OC ships: Peach, Polar, Ardent (SerenityXTristan), Kiddy (RebeccaXMokuba), Half (MihoXRyou), Tie (MihoXTristan), Azure (AnzuXSeto), and Sedate (SerenityXMarik).

Favorite thing you’ve ever created for a ship?

Do children count? Or grandchildren? My YuGiOh OC story has an entire second and third generation to follow. I have children/grandchildren for the following ships: Peach, Polar, Ardent, Kiddy, and Half.

Is there a ship you’ll never admit you have?

No. I’m not ashamed of my ships. I admit that I don’t talk about some of them as much, but that doesn’t mean I don’t ship them or that I’m afraid to admit it.

Have you ever started shipping a ship because of the fans?

Yes. It wasn’t until fandom hit really hard in recent years that Sibling joined my roster of ships.

What is one scene you want to see happen for all your ships?

A proposal. Is that cliché? I don’t care XD

Is there a ship you wish you didn’t know existed? 

Any incest ships. I don’t know why they exist or if there are people who ship them, but I wish they’d never been conceived (the ships, not the people).

Name a ship that ended like you wanted it to.

Considering both canon ships ended in death, I’m gonna say none of them. All my ships end nicely in my head.

Name a ship that deserved better in the end.

Rose and Mizu (KisaraXSeth). Both of these ships ended in tragedy, and it makes me so sad. I NEED THEM TO BE HAPPY.

Is there a character you have several ships for?

Oh yes. Many of them. I’m a multishipper XD I have Anzu in the most ships. My Anzu ships are Azure, Host (AnzuXRyou), Manipula, Peach, Persevere (AnzuXDuke), Thorn, and Vex (AnzuXYamiBakura).

What is the ship you ignore 98% of canon for?

I don’t ignore canon, I bend canon *coughAUISMYFRIENDcough* Okay, okay, maybe my two Miho pairings, Half and Tie. Not much info is given in the manga except that Tristan/Honda has a crush on her and that she’s kinda shy, and she doesn’t exist in DM. I ignore season 0 super hardcore when it comes to Miho. To be perfectly honest, she almost feels more like an OC most days.

Is there a ship you like but you dislike the fandom?

Not really. It’s usually the other way around ’cause I love my YuGiOh friends, but most of them ship stuff I don’t.

If you’re curious about the bajillion other ships I ship that I haven’t mentioned, or if you’re wondering what het ships I don’t ship (since I’ve already ruled out all yaoi, yuri, and incest), or if you want to rant about ships we share, feel free to drop me an ask! I enjoy talking about my ships~

#yugioh #valentine fandom ask meme #personal text post #there are a lot of ships #but i'm tagging them all anyway #even the ships i mentioned but don't ship #polarshipping #thornshipping #timidshipping #softshipping #deathshipping #puppyshipping #siblingshipping #manipulashipping #peachshipping #roseshipping #ardentshipping #kiddyshipping #halfshipping #tieshipping #azureshipping #sedateshipping #mizushipping #mazaki anzu

[quarkie-blog1]

Reading YGO Zexal Critics

So I’ve been reading reviews and critics about Yugioh! Zexal after finishing watching it. And it seems like there’s a clear division of the YGO fandom, for the majority it’s either you love or hate it. There are a few recurring/interesting negative criticsms that I do want to comment on as someone who enjoyed most of Zexal. These are just my opinions and you’re welcome to point out any disagreements.

1. Yuma is annoying and is one of the major problems of the series. He fails at many things in duels and refuses to listen to other people’s advice. He can’t do anything without Astral.

(First off, not to offend anyone, but 13-year-olds can be like that. The writers were designing the youngest Yugioh MC after all… and they had to find something to balance him out…)

Some may have told you that he starts off as a noob but gets a rather steady progression in having one of the deadliest decks in the series. Given how consistent it was, the development of Yuma and Astral’s relationship was well-thought out. However, Yuma’s unlikable qualities are undeniable, I guess that’s just preference of what you can or can’t tolerate in a show. For you it might be “goofy, immature and stubborn” kids. But does that make Yuma a bad character? 

If we’re going by that, then I should confess: I’m not a fan of Seto Kaiba. His actions are heavily driven by his power-hungry goals. After what he did to Yugi’s grandfather, I just couldn’t like him even after notable changes. For me, disrespecting and taking something important from others (especially the elderly) is very unethical. But does that make him a bad character? Not at all. The series wouldn’t be the same without him and they gave depth to his character. He is one of the best duelists in the series but I can’t root for him nor do I have the love for him as a good villain. (This doesn’t mean I refuse to be friends with any Kaiba fans though, and blue eyes white dragon decks are very meta). 

In regards to Yuma losing more times than other Yugioh main characters, I actually find that makes me more focused on the anime. Everytime he’s dueling I feel like asking, “Is he gonna win? Is he gonna win?” and get more happy when he does. (And side note, Yuma actually has a good attitude when he loses. It’s a good lesson for everyone, “don’t be afraid of losing and keep persisting”). 

2. Yuma’s friends are annoying. They’re just cheerleaders but don’t really add anything to the plot. 

This is mostly referring to the general friends from Yuma’s school, including Kotori, Kathy, Tetsuo, etc. If you notice, Zexal spends a lot of time building up scenes towards their villains. I think this is why Yuma’s supporting friends, Akari, etc had the short end of the stick. I personally would have liked to see more of how Akari and Yuma got along, since the series does portray quite a lot of different family relationships..

I can understand why they did this. Relationships with siblings and friends are something even kids can understand. Making Yuma a relatable character, one can easily identify “Yuma cares about Akari but they often bicker.” from just a few scenes. But for the stories revolving the villains are more complex, and they decided to spend more focuses on that.

3.  It’s such a disappointment, after 5D’s female lead Akiza… that Kotori does practically nothing but stand and say “Yuma” all the time. 

Touche. Please see part 2. You’re right, though poor female lead character isn’t new in Yugioh series. Anzu and Asuka never won against main characters. Maybe if Konami sees how there’s a fair portion of female fans they might consider having a proper female main character. (Yeah, keep dreaming Quarkie >_>). 

This is why I like Hiragi Yuzu a lot. (I had high hopes for her development when she became the first female lead to beat the main character in episode 2).  

Though at the end of the day, this wasn’t something I was too bothered by, not when Zexal was placing so much complicated story plots in front of me. 

4. The sound and animation is weird. 

For sound, I meant voice acting. If you didn’t like the music that’s just your preference. (Haruto’s theme and Kaito’s theme were my favourite.) If you didn’t like Yuma’s voice in the dub then watch the sub. If you still don’t like it, then I guess it’s just a question of what you can and can’t tolerate, no one’s going to be angry at you for not liking a series. 

The animation is actually done better compared to other series. Even arc v, which I suspect was made while they were also doing the Yugioh movie. The summoning sequences are repetitive, but that’s the same for every digimon, shugo chara, magical girl series. 

Everything looks brighter and also clearer, which fits more for the audience (younger boys). I mean, after three series of rather dramatic Yugioh, isn’t it great that the younger kids can have one made for them?

5. Unlike the first three, it’s not connected chronologically. And the whole Zexal change thing… it’s like copying super saiyan mode from Dragonball Z. 

Sorry to hear that you don’t like it as much since it’s a little different. (No sarcasm intended). 

I actually didn’t realise about the similarities until someone mentioned on a critic. Fair enough, it is really different and it’s not as original. Keep in mind that it is not a major plot-driving device. It is focused at times, but I think relationships and revelation of memories were the most important driving force in the series. 

Also I liked DBZ, so if Zexal change is like a fan confession then I love it even more. 

6. The series has way too many fillers. The story doesn’t pick up until like Zexal II starts. 

Or when Tron family appears. Or whenever the series gets interesting for you. Kids are more easily entertained, and a duel with a less important character can probably be just as entertaining. Gauche, Esper Robin, Droite, Anna, etc. They don’t appear often, but anyone who has watched would probably be able to tell you one distinctive thing about that character and what Yuma experienced from there. 

While yes, worlds are in danger because of villains, but there is also the story of Yuma’s growth as a duelist. One thing that I am amazed by is how the story starts off with a “collect the numbers quest” and it continues to spiral downwards to something complicated, conflicting and dark. I feel like it starts already when we meet Kaito (not specifying due to spoilers), but a lot of the disturbing parts sprinkled throughout from the first half are hidden by the generally lighthearted tone of the series. And really, it’s hard to identify it until there is a turning point for Yuma and Astral. (I want to elaborate… but more spoilers. )

As for lots of fillers, I direct you to Yugioh GX. (Shout out to Yuki Judai fans xD). People have said the first half wasn’t that interesting with so many forgettable duels, but you don’t hear a lot of complaints about that. It’s just a matter of what keeps you entertained. 

Overall thoughts: 

Zexal does have flaws, and the different style might not be everyone’s cup to tea. It is made for the younger audience, and the most reliable way of measuring success is how they receive it. Just because it’s not our preference doesn’t mean it’s bad. I can understand that if you don’t want to spend the time watching it, there are plenty of “anime in the sea”. But it’s not really doing justice to other yugioh fans nor the producers if you are going to tell everyone it’s not worth watching. It's not really something we can decide for all fans out there.

If you actually read all that, thanks, and errr… sorry about some parts being so redundant.

#yugioh #yugioh zexal #criticism #yuma tsukumo

[cardrisen]

All evens

A rabbit’s trying to kill me~

2. Have any pets? 

I do! <3 I have two dogs, though if you wanna get technically, Gus is my mother’s and Nicky is my aunt’s. Gus is a shitzhu-Llhasa apso mix, and Nicky’s an Australian Terrier and I love them, they’re such dorks <3

4. Random fact about your muse? 

Yuzu can play piano! <3 She’s been playing since she was little but lately hasn’t kept up with it as much, mostly because of things having to do with the duel school and being nabbed by Fusion but I mean... She still can if you want her to. <3

6. Favorite music genre? 

Pop, rock (light and heavy), J-pop, and J-rock. Honestly I listen to a lot of genres? I’m more of a ‘favorite songs’ person over a ‘favorite bands’ one; I can hate the band and everything else they’ve done but if I like a single song I’ll keep listening to it? XD Not to say I don’t have favorites, but I’m all over the place. XD

8. Coffee, tea, or something else entirely? 

All of the above? XD I actually have Chron’s Disease, which basically is an autoimmune disorder that makes my immune system attack my intestines and brings with it issues like mild lactose intolerance and an inability to have certain foods/drinks, so while I love coffee I can’t have a whole heck of a lot of it. I’m primarially a tea and soda drinker because of that, though I do love me some coffee occasionally too~

10. Believe in aliens? 

Yes? I mean look at the universe and how wide the expanse of space is; you gonna tell me we’re the only things out there? Not likely, though if they are out there I doubt they have any interest in us.

12. Ever tried any out there hair colors? 

Unfortunately no! I’ve never really been super into overly bright and neon colors and such for myself, as much as I like it when it’s done well on other people? When I dye my hair it’s to a nice, bright auburn and I’ve never gone past that, though of late I’ve been thinking of doing a red ombre of sorts...

14. Do you relate to your muse(s) in any way? 

I do. Anxiety (Aoi, Kazumi) is something I suffer from and while mine is way worse than theirs, I can relate to how they struggle with it too well. It’s also possible I may suffer from PTSD due to various past events and I’m looking into seeing someone about that, so I feel them there too. Kazumi’s desire to hide behind a joke and smile is something I do, seeking comfort in friends... I see a bit of myself in every muse I play but if I list them all we’ll be here all day so let’s just move on for now. XD

16. Favorite movie? 

Guardians of the Galaxy and Disney’s Mulan! I’m also going to make everyone who hates movie adaptations of video games cringe and say I also love the live action Tekken movie, the ygo movies, Deadpool, Moana, Interstellar 555 (It’s a movie and I will not see it as anything but), and I’m also kindda fond of Top Gun - I don’t watch a whole heck of a lot of movies these days though.

18. Do you read often? If so who is your favorite author? 

Not as much as I should, probably, but definitely. I love Tamora Pierce (need to get back into her books sometime-), and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-, Were-, and Dream-Hunter series; Sherrilyn’s books are the only romance novels I’ll ever read solely because they don’t read as romance novels. They read as mythology in modern tmes and she brings these myths and characters alive and puts such a unique spin on it that it doesn’t feel like a romance series - It feels like a fantasy-mythology mix with a main romantic plotline, if that makes sense. It probably doesn’t. XD

I’ve only read one book by Emma Bull and that was Finder, but I’d reccommend that, too. <3

20. Vampires or werewolves? 

Phoenixes. XD Okay but no, while I like both and I don’t mind a plot involving them, they’ve gotten to be so overdone? Like cool how about a Phoenix or something for once? So I guess I’d have to say both.

22. Fantasy or sci-fi? 

Both, if they’re done well. Possibly a bit more fantasy because there’s less rules and more diversity to the plots - Scifi always seems to come back to the same ideas, which while there’s nothing wrong with that, I can only watch/read the same idea so many times before I’m headed off for something else.

24. Do you write fics? 

I do! Usually I write drabbles I end up sharing on my blogs if I like them enough (and Kasa gets to see everything I write usually XD), but bigger projects are saved for things like NaNoWriMo, where I can give them the attention and dedication they deserve. This year’s project, if I’m able to take part (too many outside influences make things hard lately), is going to be a Vrains project focused 17 years post-canon and following a muse from one of my other blogs ( @valkyrianflame ) as he gets caught up in a fight that should never have been revived. It actually got started in April, but... Again, outside influences.

#eyesofblueheartofgold #Curious Inquires [Asks] #Out Of Poms [OOC] #Ilu for these tho XD #No matter how I titled it <3 #Other half of this is gonna be fun? XD