CXCVII: "Yu-Gi-Oh! GX"

The successor to Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX features a new setting, new characters, new cards and monsters, but revolve around the same old game. As opposed to Yugi Moto, another duelist takes the stage as out focal character. In chronology, it takes place 10 years after Duel Monsters.

The triagonist from the previous series, Seto Kaiba, founded the Duelist Academy, an institution that guides young people in the ways of Duel Monsters. To graduate, the student must give it their best and stand above all in skill. In the Duelist Academy, there exist different instructors and students are placed in 3 Dorms named after the Egyptian God Monsters: Obelisk Blue, Slifer Red, and Ra Yellow. In order, the class scales range from Obelisk, Ra, and then Slifer as the lowest tier. Jaden, who has skill and potential yet isn't critical about dueling, is a Slifer Red at the start, after obtaining a Winged Kuribo from champion Yugi Muto, the monster being Jaden's spirit monster akin to Yugi's Kuriboh. From then on he duels like a good sportsman, but when things take a darker turn, he isn't above fighting for what's right. Assisted with various monsters he gains, as well as friends/fellow duelists, Jaden must make it through Duelist Academy, mowing down whatever comes his way as a threat. Once again, It's Time to Duel!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, like it's predecessor, is relatively long, lasting for 180 episodes, the season count being 4. While not addressed here in America, here's how they were broken up:

•  Season 1: Seven Stars - Eps. 1-52
•  Season 2: Society of Light - Eps. 53-104
•  Season 3: Dimension World - Eps. 105-156
•  Season 4: Darkness - Eps. 157-180

 In the US, it was shown on Cartoon Network, Toonzai (even when it was still TheCW4Kids), and even Funimation's channel. Only Studio Gallop was the one working on the animation itself for this title. As with Duel Monsters, GX had some differences in dubbing nature, but more so from anime to manga, as unlike the original, they actually use the English names from the dubbed anime. Jaden, originally called Judai in the subbed version, is voiced by Matthew Charles, and rival Chazz Princeton is voiced by Tony Salerno for the first half, succeeded by Marc Thompson from 90 to the end. Dubbed under 4Kids, episode 156 onwards were not released in the English language, and even after Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds and Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal surfaced, this episode and GX's final season is still undubbed. The conclusion coincides with the film Bonds Beyond Time, which focuses on the teamwork of Jaden/Yubel, Yugi/Yami, and 5Ds' Yusei Fudo. Characters of the original, like a headless shot of Yugi Muto, and the creator Maximilion Pegasus, also appear in the anime, with several other original characters. As stated before, it also features newer monsters, with cards released in boxes, tins, and booster packs under the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX label. Like before, there is some originals that weren't made into cards, while some have been toned down to avoid unfair play. As such, it was this series that introduced Elemental Heroes, and their E. Hero polymerization. It starts as a light-hearted series, but as with anime in general, takes a darker turn as the story progresses. Also, akin to the original, it has an Americanized theme song named "Get Your Game On!" which also happens to be one of the common phrases Jaden says in the anime. In the subbed version, it features different themes as well, with one of the ending themes done by JAM Project, who are known for the openings and inserts to both Gravion and Gravion Zwei.


Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is a mainstream successor/spinoff, with just as much games, cards, and other media to offer as Duel Monsters. GX scores 7 of 10, which is slightly less than it's predecessor, which was still between that and an 8 of 10.