Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999 film)

For the 2004 film, see Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light.

Yu-Gi-Oh! (Japanese: 遊☆戯☆王, Hepburn: Yū-Gi-Ō) is a 1999 Japanese animated fantasy adventure short film based on a manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Kazuki Takahashi. The short film is directed by Junji Shimizu, written by Yasuko Kobayashi, and produced by Toei Animation. The short film was released in Japan on March 6, 1999, as part of Toei Animation Spring 1999 Animation Fair, featuring alongside Dr. Slump: Arale's Surprise Burn and Digimon Adventure.^[2]

Yu-Gi-Oh!
VHS cover art
Kanji	遊☆戯☆王
Revised Hepburn	Yū-Gi-Ō
Directed by	Junji Shimizu
Screenplay by	Yasuko Kobayashi
Based on	Yu-Gi-Oh! by Kazuki Takahashi
Starring	see below
Cinematography	Junichi Takeda
Edited by	Shigeru Nishiyama
Music by	BMF
Production company	Toei Animation
Distributed by	Toei Company, Ltd.
Release date	March 6, 1999 (1999-03-06)
Running time	30 minutes[1]
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Box office	¥650 million

Taking place in the same continuity of the first anime series, specifically after the final episode of the first series, the short revolves around a boy named Shōgo Aoyama, who is targeted by Seto Kaiba after obtaining a powerful rare card; the legendary Red-Eyes Black Dragon.

Plot

A shy boy named Shōgo Aoyama buys Duel Monsters cards at a card shop and obtains Red-Eyes Black Dragon, a card that brings potential to those who duel with courage. Despite having never won a game of Duel Monsters before, Shōgo boasts that he does not need to duel others since he believes the threat of having Red-Eyes Black Dragon alone would win duels before they even begin. Having noticed Shōgo possessing this card, Seto Kaiba sends out invitations to him, as well as Yugi Muto, for a tournament against him. When Shōgo refuses the invitation, Kaiba sends one of his men to force him to attend, which catches the attention of Yugi and his friend, Katsuya Jonouchi. As Jonouchi holds off the man, Yugi and Shōgo try to escape but are attacked by another guard who steals Shōgo's Red Eyes Black Dragon and Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. As Jonouchi manages to retrieve the card, Shōgo admits he didn't want to duel in case he lost with the card, so Yugi decides to duel in his place.

Yugi retrieves his Millennium Puzzle from Kaiba and transforms into his alter ego, as Kaiba prepares the duel using a new holographic Duel Disk system. Although Yugi takes an early lead, Kaiba brings out his Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Yugi manages to defeat it, but Kaiba laughs as he summons another one and combines it with his other two dragons. As Yugi moves onto the defensive, Shōgo attempts to run away, but Jonouchi stops him. Jonouchi reveals he had sneaked Shōgo's Red-Eyes Black Dragon into Yugi's deck, though Yugi refuses to use it until Shōgo shows courage. When Kaiba stops Yugi's ability to defend, Shōgo is inspired by Jonouchi's words and Yugi's determination and finally shows courage, encouraging Yugi to summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon. He fuses Red-Eyes with his Meteor Dragon to form Meteor Black Dragon and defeats Kaiba.

The credits show Shōgo playing Duel Monsters with other people.

Voice cast

See also: List of Yu-Gi-Oh! characters

• Megumi Ogata as Yugi Muto^[3]
• Hikaru Midorikawa as Seto Kaiba^[3]
• Toshiyuki Morikawa as Katsuya Jonouchi^[3]
• Yumi Kakazu as Anzu Mazaki^[3]
• Ryōtarō Okiayu as Hiroto Honda^[3]
• Eiko Yamada as Shōgo Aoyama^[3]
• Hisako Kyōda as Shopkeeper^[3]

Production

The short film is directed by Junji Shimizu and written by Yasuko Kobayashi, who have written few episodes for the series. Michi Himeno and Shingo Araki returned from the television series to design the characters and animation direction, along with BMF providing the music for the film.^{[citation needed]}

Release

The short film was released in theaters in Japan on March 6, 1999, as part of Toei Animation Spring 1999 Animation Fair, and was featured along with Dr. Slump: Arale's Surprise Burn and Digimon Adventure.^[2]

Reception

The short film, along with Dr. Slump: Arale's Surprise Burn and Digimon Adventure collectively grossed ¥650 million (2001)^[4] (equivalent to ¥670.41 million or US$6.15 million in 2019)^[5].