Yu-Gi-Oh 30th Anniversary Fan Fest

"Official" account for the unofficial Yu-Gi-Oh 30th Anniversary Fan Fest. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/YGO30thFanFest Twitter/X: https://x.com/YGO30thFanFest

[ygo30thfanfest]

Yu-Gi-Oh! 30th Anniversary Fan Fest: July Favorite Memory

July’s prompt is “favorite memory”!

Kazuki Takahashi sadly passed away July 4, 2022. In memory of him, please share your favorite memory relating to Yu-Gi-Oh. Is there a particular moment in the anime? Maybe when you met your favorite voice actor? Even playing the card game with your friends! What is something you fondly remember?

Remember, use the hashtag #YGO30thFanFest to share your response and to see other’s responses!

[violetganache42]

YGO 30th Anniversary Fan Fest - June: Favorite Main Character

For this particular prompt, I already had my answer figured way ahead of time: Yugi! I previously explained why he's one of my favorites back in February, so for this one, I decided to change things up with a drawing. I initially had a different idea on what to draw, especially considering today is his birthday, but I don't think that will be done in time because things have been pretty busy recently in anticipation of some particular summer plans, something I will explain in another post. Fortunately, I do have a plan B that I hope will count.

This sketch was something I've been working on and off for a while. Years ago, I watched a chibi glomp tutorial from Mark Crilley and drew a Replayshipping version because it worked so well. Fast forward to a few months ago when I came across that video again; watching it got me thinking of that illustration I did, so I decided to redraw it. While I don't have the original with me to compare, I do have plans to color it digitally, so stay tuned for that. 😉

For now, happy birthday, Yugi! 🎊🎉

[harmonicseptet]

the question for yugioh 30th anniversary fanfest this month is about your favorite protagonist and as a certified protagonist fan I gotta say something

But it’s really really hard for me to pick a favorite protagonist tbh so I’m going to say something about all of them!!!

Yugi: can’t go wrong with the original. I was never really bullied, but one thing that drew me into the original manga was that I relate to feeling alone because not many other people share your interests, and his friendship with the rest of the gang give me hope that I can make new friends and strengthen my connections with the ones I already have.

Judai: there’s a lot to be said here about growing up. GX is about becoming an adult and, ultimately, still holding onto what makes you yourself. I can relate to that too, and honestly I think it’s something everybody has to learn at some point. I also enjoy the energy he brings to GX’s earlier episodes.

Yusei: there are a lot of things I like about him as a character. The themes of sacrifice, his relationships with the rest of the team, and particularly the way the overall theme of sacrifice is expressed through the effect of stardust dragon and how that changes through its forms to show his character arc. There are people who’ve explained this much more articulately than I can, but he’s a really interesting character

Yuma: kattobing has gotten me through more things than I could’ve thought, no joke. I also like how he starts off not being very good at dueling, but gradually improves until he’s arguably one of the strongest characters even among the protagonists

Yuya: there’s a lot to be said about Yuya, but he’s fun to watch :) and also a lot of his flaws that people mention in relation to how his smiling thing goes too far can probably be tied to what we know about zarc if you think about it which is pretty interesting. Also even though I think arc-v’s messaging could’ve been handled better there are some good points there

Yusaku: His relationship with Ai is done really well and i really like their dynamic. (Also I honestly wish we saw more of him outside of VR because a lot of what was set up had good potential.) I’m in the middle of a vrains rewatch so I’ll probably have some more detailed stuff to say later

Yuga: I LOVE YUGA !!!!! THATS MY BOY !!!! anyway in Sevens he’s a really interesting character with how little he tells everyone which gets you thinking about what’s going on in his head. Also sevens uses his talent for making things for good comedy (first thing coming to mind is the ladybug extermination bomb thing) and as for Go Rush, I’d have to make a whole other post for that

Yudias: I really like Yudias for a multitude of reasons. It’s hard to put into words right now honestly uh even though his naivety is called out as a bit of a flaw when things get more hostile in season three, I do like the way he sees the best in people. I like how he has a somewhat similar arc to Judai in terms of maturing but he never really falls into that same low point, at least as long as Judai did. I also like how the hardships he faces actually lead him to end up questioning that naivety (with some “help” from kuaidul) instead of just getting through it stubbornly without self-reflection like a lot of people say Yuya does (I’m gonna have to figure out a way to word my opinions on Yuya later but that’s another matter)

[ygo30thfanfest]

Yu-Gi-Oh! 30th Anniversary Fan Fest: June Favorite Main Character

June’s prompt is “favorite main character”!

With eight distinct installments of the franchise, each with their own protagonist. From the original with Yugi and Yami to the most recent Yudias, there are quite a few to pick from. Which number one is number one in your heart?

Remember, use the hashtag #YGO30thFanFest to share your response and to see other’s responses!

[violetganache42]

YGO 30th Anniversary Fan Fest - May: Favorite Spell

"Duel Monsters is all about combining your Monster cards with your Magic cards to increase their strength. With no Magic in your deck, your Monsters will get creamed every time." —Yugi Muto

Unless you're running a Superheavy Samurai deck, this quote rings true for Duelists in both the YGO anime and the real world. Spells are an integral staple for running virtually any kind of deck, from generic staples to those that support certain archetypes, Attributes, and Types. Whether it's boosting your own Monsters' ATK or shutting down your opponent's strategy, they are extremely useful in turning things around in your favor. Some have even made long-lasting impacts on the fandom in different ways, which is why I'll be going over some of my favorites based on which ones I used or which one I cherish for more sentimental reasons.

Normal: Ties That Bind

The card game is no stranger to making cards based on anything from the YGO franchise, but out of all of those cards, I've been quite partial to this one lately. For starters, it is named after the 340th chapter of the manga, aka the fourth-to-last chapter as it was during the Ceremonial Battle between Yugi and Atem. More importantly, you know that one Duel Art illustration that featured Yugi with his own iconic monsters? That served as the basis for this card's artwork as it's recreated by the Shining Sarcophagus counterparts. Whenever I see that wallpaper on the Master Duel shop, I am always reminded of that drawing Kazuki Takahashi did. Heck, on the 3rd anniversary of his death last year, I finally purchased it to commemorate his memory. The description for the wallpaper is also touching:

Although millennia have passed, they are still united by bonds forged through battle. Even with no words exchanged, the deep meaning that Dueling holds for them is clear.

Even as Shining Sarcophagus versions, you can still get the sense of how close Yugi's monsters are with each other and him through Dueling. Funnily enough, Yugipedia embedded the Wiki pages for Yugi, Yami, and the Ceremonial Battle in the wallpaper description; I think that was done to both emphasize the two protagonists' own unbreakable bond and circle back to what this card is named after. I find that simultaneously touching and bittersweet. 🥲

Continuous: Gateway of the Six and Toon World

Six Samurai is an archetype I quite enjoyed playing in its Solo Mode gate; I even used a loaner deck modeled around it during last year's Theme Chronicle event. With an archetype as large as this containing support through other archetypes and series, I think this card is especially beneficial. Since this card gets 2 Bushido Counters per Normal/Special Summon instead of 1, it makes things faster to activate certain effects, usually adding Secret Six Samurai monsters to my hand for Special Summoning purposes or even ressurecting Great Shogun Shien from the Graveyard. Of course, there were times where a 500 ATK buff doesn't hurt as it can help increase the chances of inflicting battle damage. lol

Alright, cue the music. XD

Come on, I couldn't not choose this card. When this card was first introduced, it was an absolute menace, from turning regular monsters into their Toon counterparts to preventing them from being destroyed by regular means. AND IT HAD NO LIFE POINT COST TO ACTIVATE IT! Post-Duelist Kingdom, its effect became what it is today, with GX repurposing its original abilites from the anime into the improved Toon Kingdom Field Spell. Needless to say, you can guess I chose this card because of the memories it brought, including the iconic theme music. lol

Equip: Black Pendant

Out of all the Equip Spells, I have been particularly fond of this one. It's mainly because it was one of the first YGO cards I pulled when I got Legendary Collection 4: Joey's World for Christmas back in 2013. That, and I like the design of it. It's also great for giving the equipped monster a 500 ATK boost, especially when said monster is Maha Vailo, its retrained counterpart, or even one from the Mikanko archetype as they have their own benefits for using Equip Spells.

Quick-Play: Ultimate Fusion and Berserker Soul

This one was rather harder than the others in this post because there are a decent chunk of Quick-Play Spells I like. After spending a few hours going over the list of Quick-Play Spells and thinking it over, I decided to go with this one as the first of my two picks. When I used the Blue-Eyes loaner deck for most of the Solo Mode Gates, a major strategy I used was using this card to Fusion Summon Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon; after that, I typically destroyed a face-up card on the CPU's field since the loaner has one copy of Blue-Eyes White Dragon. If I were to run my own Blue-Eyes deck, I know this would easily be included.

Okay, if I'm gonna be talking about this card, then I gotta do this correctly.

That's more like it. ^^

Come on, you knew I couldn't not choose this one. lmao If your name is Weevil Underwood, then you deserved nothing but karma in the form of this card. Contextually speaking, even though Yami was not in a good headspace after Yugi's sacrifice, there was still a possibility that he planned to use this Quick-Play Spell to draw Monster cards until he won and stop right there. That was tossed right out the window due to Weevil's despicable excuse of a joke by pretending the Gokibore card he tore was Yugi's soul card. The raw, visceral emotions took Yami over as he drew Monster after Monster after Monster, only to be stopped by Téa by the time he was about to discard his eighth Monster card: Dark Magician Girl. That entire scene has since been cemented as one of the most unforgettable moments in not just season 4, but in the entire series as well. Hell, prior to the March 20, 2015 ruling changes on victory conditions, Duelists could actually pull off similar circumstances and keep excavating Monster cards despite winning, especially in the Tag Force series! Even after the ruling changes, it still remains one of the most iconic Spell cards to date. So iconic that it can be easily recognized by three words: DORŌ! MONSUTĀ KĀDO!

Field: The Seal of Orichalcos

Do I really need to explain this one again? XD While I'm at it, here are the themes for it.

…I'm sorry, is my season 4 bias showing again?

Ritual: Rise of the Salamangreat

Out of all the Ritual Spells, I think I'm gonna go with this one and for good reason. It was six days after my first year of college ended, and I was watching the premiere of ep. 52. It was that episode where Soulburner activated this card and Ritual Summoned Salamangreat Emerald Eagle; needless to say, I was blown away by it. So much so that I made sure not to tell @real-life-pine-tree about it because…

she likes Soulburner too as much as I do.

she is particularly fond of Ritual Summoning.

Plus, with Ritual Summoning returning in VRAINS thanks to Cyberse Magician, I definitely wanted her to be surprised by Soulburner's Ritual Summonn. It worked. ^^

[pastelprincessholly]

April's prompt: favorite arc/story

So I have two arcs that I just love. In terms of Duel Monsters anime, I love the Virtual World. I know it's filler and breaks the flow of Battle City, but it is so good. Not only do we get to cover some lore that is lost due to not adapting the first seven volumes of the manga, but so much builds up to the ending that makes great writing. Plus I just adore Noah. Speaking of the manga, my favorite arc overall is Death-T, specifically the manga version. Not only was it dark, but there was so much revealed about the Kaiba brothers.

I thought it would be interesting to combine the two arcs in one image. To balance Noah, I went with Toei (Season Zero) Kaiba as he has the same outfit he wears in the Death-T arc.

[pastelprincessholly]

Holy shit! I didn't realize I never posted my response to January's prompt for the Yu-Gi-Oh 30th Fan Fest! (To be fair, I made this account around February and this went up on time on my Instagram.)

For those who don't know, January's prompt was what got you into Yu-Gi-Oh. I had a subscription to Beckett Pokemon Collector in the early 2000s and they were advertising a new anime called Yu-Gi-Oh at the back of the magazine. Me being into Ancient Egypt at the time had to check out this new series. The rest is history.

So for my response I drew Pikachu and Kuriboh to represent the connection they have that got me into Yu-Gi-Oh.

[violetganache42]

YGO 30th Anniversary Fan Fest - April: Favorite Arc/Story

In a franchise as massive as YGO, there are bound to be multiple narratives spanning across several series. Even as the original manga shifted from horror to card game-based action, those darker elements were still present, and even the spinoffs did not hesitate to get darker every now and them. Of course, that's not the only aspect of some of these arcs as some of them are more lighter in tone. What truly makes an arc stand out is its place in an anime/manga, how it tells its story with its characters, and its overall impact on the fandom. For those reasons, I'll be going over which arcs I enjoyed that not only became fandom staples, but also helped shaped some of my experiences as a YGO fan.

DM: Battle City and Waking the Dragons

Out of all the arcs based on the manga, I enjoyed this one the most. For starters, it cemented huge ways Duelists both fictional and IRL Dueled—the introduction of Duel Disks, revamped rules to include Tributes, higher starting Life Points, and direct attacks, you name it. More importantly, in a tournament as exciting as Battle City, there are bound to be enemies for our heroes to face, and one such enemy is none other than Marik! He ranks up there as one of my favorite characters and antagonists/villains because of his personality and how genuinely tragic his childhood is. Coincidentally enough, this circles back to what makes Battle City a big deal: the Egyptian God cards. Marik wanted to obtain them so that he could claim the powers and title of Pharaoh, Yugi was determined to get them in order to help Yami regain his lost memories, and Kaiba wanted them in his possession as a means of regaining his status as the strongest Duelist. Three God cards and lots of different motives and intense Duels make one hell of an arc spanning one and a half seasons. :)

Now onto the filler arcs, and if you've been following me for the past decade, you should know season 4 is my favorite of them. Back during my DeviantArt browsing days in 2013, I was introduced to The Seal of Orichalcos thanks to some fanart of Orichalcos!Yami. It had piqued my interest because I am a sucker for main protagonists controlled by an evil force (if done well or captivatingly; looking at you, GO RUSH!! 😠). Not long after, Nicktoons aired the first several episodes of the fourth season up until ep. 155, and I had to pirate the rest. Needless to say, I was hooked on this arc from the very beginning. An evil organization stealing souls as a means of ridding the world as we know it and starting anew, the introduction of the Duel Monster Spirit World, the struggles of one's inner darkness to where they give in to it and the consequences it brings. What else can I say? Oh, right. The elephant in the room: the angst in the form of Yugi sacrificing himself. God, to this day, that STILL emotionally destroys me, both dub and sub! 😭 In the grand scheme of things, a strong point can be made about it: this arc was integral to Yami's character development, something we didn't exactly get in the mangaverse in between Battle City and Millennium World. What he went through, from giving into his darkness and pride to getting knocked down a few pegs as a result, were definitely needed for him to come back stronger and closer to his friends, especially Yugi. That actually ties back to a huge theme for the season: no matter how deep in the darkness you are, there are people who will bring you back into the light. Whether it's someone giving you a needed reality check or your loved ones determined to help you, it's okay to allow yourself to be vulnerable and lean on one's shoulder. By letting yourself grieve, taking accountability for your actions, confronting your trauma, and/or cherishing those closest to you, the pain becomes easier to manage and you'll find yourself turning into a better, wiser person.

GX: Dimension World

Perhaps the most popular arc/season in the series, and rightfully so, this marked a huge turning point in many ways. I enjoyed the first two seasons, don't get me wrong; you can't go wrong with some good ol' adventures around Duel Academy and even dealing with the likes of the Society of Light. It's just that this particular seasons takes a darker turn, especially in the second half of season 3, as we get to uncover a huge mystery surrounding Jaden and Yubel. For starters, Viper's Survival Duels were pretty ominous as many students—including some of our heroes—kept feeling fatigued whenever a Duel ends. It got to a point where it reached epidemic levels of serious! If that wasn't enough, while Duel Academy was stuck in the Duel Monster Spirit World, many students ended up becoming Duel Ghouls, including Chazz and Syrus. It's not everyday that YGO does a zombie storyline of sorts, so I definitely consider that to be a great Halloween treat. 🎃 Finally, we get to the darkest portion of the season: most of Jaden's friends had seemingly died, Jaden himself had become the Supreme King, Zane goes toe-to-toe with a Yubel-possessed Jesse and also temporarily dies, Adrian and Echo both die at the hands of Yubel and don't return, all 12 dimensions of the Duel Monster Spirit World hang in the balance. It was intense! An entire season dedicated to focusing more on Jaden's past, and they did NOT hold back at all!

5Ds: Dark Signers

Much like Waking the Dragons, this arc definitely holds a special place in my heart. Like I said back in February, World Championship 2010: Reverse of Arcadia was my introduction to Crow, who also made his debut in this arc; likewise, that's how I was introduced to the Dark Signers themselves. From the members being spared from certain death to the disappearance of the Nazca Lines, the battle against the Earthbound Immortals began once more after 5,000 years. Along the way, we got to learn about Yusei, Jack, Crow, and Akiza's pasts, how they're tied to the Dark Signers—namely Kalin, Misty, and the Goodwins—and why the same city that Yugi, Jaden, and their friends and families lived in split into New Domino and Satellite. We even got to see what the Dark Signers were capable of thanks to the Earthbound Immortals, Dark Synchro monsters, and of course, Shadow Duels. Like, come on. We all know Shadow Games/Duels are synonymous with YGO. XD What makes this arc stand out, in my opinion, is the overall designs of the Dark Signers, from their outfits and dark sclera to their dark red criminal marks and Marks of the Shadows. There were times where I came across fanart of what other YGO characters would look like if they were Dark Signers, and they all were so cool! …I think I'm beginning to see a pattern going on.

ZEXAL: Barian Invasion

I couldn't not go with this because it was one of the first arcs I ever watched, which was what got me into ZEXAL in the first place. As per YGO tradition, you couldn't not include a villainous card, and we got that in the form of Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force, so that alone grabbed my attention. lol Furthermore, we got some adventures in Heartland Academy out of it, including the proper introduction of a fully healed Rio—whom I've rambled about back in February—and the arrival of the upbeat Ray… or should I say the batshit crazy Vector?! That revelation was such an absolute gut punch, yet it still made for one hell of a dramatic moment that impacted both Yuma and Astral.

…Okay, yeah. Between Barian's Force and said impact that lead to Dark ZEXAL, there is definitely a pattern going on. lmao

Speaking of the Barians, can I also mention the Over-100 Numbers? Because sometimes, I still find it crazy that they're a thing; I remember watching Mizar's Duel against Yuma and being left shocked at him XYZ Summoning Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon. Another Galaxy-Eyes monster is one thing, but the bombshell that there are actually even more Numbers instead of 100 of them? I needed to process that because holy shit! Later arcs revealed that these Over-100 Numbers were all Don Thousand's doing, which makes sense, but that doesn't take away the shock of seeing one of these for the first time.

ARC-V: Arc League Championship

I think it's pretty safe to assume that quality-wise, this was most likely peak ARC-V and for good reasons too. lol Action Duels were already cool on their own, but an Action Duel tournament? I just knew that was gonna be loads of fun! And that's what it seemed like based on some of the first preliminary matches. Of course, it wouldn't be a YGO tournament without it having some major narrative significance, and we got that with Shay and Sora's Duel, marking it the turning point of the season. At first, it was amazing to see Heartland City returning via its own Action Field, but that cheerful mood did a 180 thanks to the revelation that it exists in ARC-V—not just ZEXAL—and was destroyed, with the cherry on top being Sora revealing his true colors. As for the rest of this arc, you can say said Duel lead to a domino effect of sorts as what followed was many more unfolding crazy shit: Yuya entering his Berserk mode for the first time (I remember it giving me season 0 flashbacks), Celina making her debut and meeting Zuzu, Obelisk Force invading the tournament, Dennis and Yuri's debuts, you name it. Hell, this arc also served as the starting point for me and @real-life-pine-tree's ARC-V/Cardfight!! Vanguard crossover AU called Seed of Darkness, which I hope we can get back to doing one day. It was always one of my favorite fanfic collabs.

VRAINS: Knights of Hanoi

According to Yugipedia, each season of VRAINS was pretty much its own arc. In this regard, you can say season 1 was my favorite as its emotional turmoil wasn't maxed out yet—and this is coming from someone who enjoys Waking the Dragons, angst included! lmao. That doesn't make the other seasons bad, far from it. I guess you can say I particularly enjoyed the "simpler" times of the series so to speak, from Ai's banter with Yusaku and Kolter to Playmaker becoming a big name in LINK VRAINS. This season also continued the trend of having different ways to play Duel Monsters by bringing Speed Duels to the anime; I still remember the rules being explained, and I quickly realized, "Oh, shit! That's the same format we got in Duel Links!" I also enjoyed the moments where Skye wanted to get the recognition from Akira and show him that she is capable of holding her own, something she managed to succeed after winning her Duel against Baira and ending the Deleted phenomenon. That being said, this season was no sloucher in having serious stakes and moments, and the Lost Incident is one of them. While the horrific nature of child experimentation was something YGO had tackled before through the Arcadia Movement, it doesn't change the fact that the Lost Incident was a truly terrifying experience, especially for Yusaku and Jin. I remember being absolutely speechless at seeing the flashbacks for the first time and how the joy and smile Yusaku once had as a child were robbed from him. None of the six children deserved to go through something this traumatizing; Spectre is a different case since he enjoyed the circumstances he was in, but my point still stands for the other five victims. The Lost Incident and its connection to the Knights of Hanoi made this arc pretty straightforward, but it still managed to make good use of its 46-episode run. :)

[ygo30thfanfest]

Yu-Gi-Oh! 30th Anniversary Fan Fest: May

Favorite Spell Card

May’s prompt is “favorite spell card”!

There are six types of Spell Cards: Normal, Field, Equip, Quick-Play, Ritual, and Continuous. Out of all the Spell Cards, what is your favorite? Is it the classic Pot of Greed? Something new like "A Case for K9"? All are on the table!

Remember, use the hashtag #YGO30thFanFest to share your response and to see other’s responses!

[violetganache42]

YGO 30th Anniversary Fan Fest - March: Favorite Monster

From the sands of Egypt to the modern day, Duel Monsters and its OCG/TCG adaptations are perhaps the most defining staples in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. Over the years, we have seen our favorite characters stack their decks with some of the most memorable monsters to vanquish evil and duke it out in tournaments. In more recent years, Konami started their own animation studio to showcase the lore of certain monsters and archetypes. With so many monsters, there are bound to be so many favorites, which is why I'll be choosing the ones that have always been more personal to me during my almost 13 years as a YGO fan; otherwise, we would be here all day. lol

Slifer the Sky Dragon

Of the three behemoths known as the Egyptian God cards, I have always been partial to Slifer. For starters, his debut episode was NUTS; I remember watching it for the first time on Nicktoons and being left as stunned as Yami at the effectiveness of Marik and Strings' five-card combo. Him turning that combo against them to secure the win in the next episode is one of the most badass moments I ever saw, as well as an important reminder of balancing draw-based effect monsters like Slifer with cards that can replenish your deck to reduce your chances of decking out.

On top of his crazy effects, a huge reason why Slifer is my favorite is because of personal reasons. He was the very first God card I got when I purchased Premium Gold back in 2014, with my older brother telling me a few days later he used to have a copy of Slifer. With his Japanese name being derived from Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld, resurrection, and the afterlife, that means my birthday falls under the Osiris sign according to the Egyptian zodiac. There was even an old GX quiz I took on quotev.com that assigned me as a Slifer Red student, and even though Kaiba's bias towards Slifer is why the Red dorm is ranked low, he still has a lot of confidence in them and all the students at Duel Academy. It also helps that Jaden, Chazz, and Syrus demonstrate that they may be Slifers, but they're not slackers when it comes to Dueling. …Okay, I might be getting carried away, but the point I'm trying to make is I have always felt some kind of connection with Slifer thanks to those personal reasons. I have said this several years ago, and I will say it again: SLIFER PRIDE!

Kuriboh

Do I even need to explain this one? He is an adorable ball of fluff! He is one of the most loyal, dependable, and protective monsters ever! He has a powerful effect that makes up for its low stats! He has a dedicated archetype of equally adorable and effective Kuriboh members! HE IS THE OG HAND TRAP!

Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon and Toon Dark Magician Girl

With the Toons getting some new support this year, I couldn't not give two of my favorites a moment in the spotlight. Functionally speaking, the Toons are absolute menaces, from the beatdown-style direct attacks to powerful cards that depend on Toon World and Toon Kingdom. Visually speaking, however, I adore how cartoony they look, and I think that adds a sense of charm to them. We see that toon caricature reflected in not just their designs, but their personalities as well. Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon has the spirit of a mischievous gremlin just from his expression alone and the way he dodges Kaiba's attacks. Hell, I also love how very expressive he is whenever he is on the Duel Field. XD As for Toon Dark Magician Girl, she is perhaps the cutest Toon there is. Unlike Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon, her brand of mischief is more playful; whether she's using her hat to absorb attacks or stretching her body like Elastigirl, she is always dodging attacks with a smile. Her playfulness can also be seen when Attack Guidance Armor redirected her attack to Toon Gemini Elf, and she couldn't help but laugh upon their revival. Separate or together, their antics and designs won me over, and there is clearly no stopping them anytime soon.

Apple Magician Girl

I remember watching Dark Side of Dimensions back in 2017 and being surprised at seeing new Magician Girl monsters, but it was a welcome surprise. Of all the Magician Girls we got, Apple may be my favorite. She has a cute design, and between her effect and Magician's Defense, I like to imagine she is one of the more protective Magician Girls as her schtick is reducing battle damage. For starters, if she's targeted for an attack, a Level 5 or lower Spellcaster can be Special Summoned as the attack target, and the attacking monster's ATK is cut in half in the process. Furthermore, Apple also appears in Magician's Defense, a Continuous Trap that halves any damage you take as one of its effects. She was such a fun monster in the movie, and I hope we get more of her in the future. Hell, maybe even a Shining Sarcophagus counterpart of her! That would be cool!

Dictator of D.

Over on Master Duel, I had used a loaner deck centered on the Blue-Eyes archetype to do most of the Solo Gate stuff. There were a handful of monsters I enjoyed using, but this one may be my favorite of the bunch thanks to his effects. Special Summoning him and then the Blue-Eyes White Dragon that was sent to the GY was one of my go-to moves, especially if I wanted to Fusion or Synchro Summon. That said, my favorite effect of his easily has to be this one: "While you control a 'Blue-Eyes' monster, you choose the attack targets for your opponent's attacks." You have no idea how fun it was redirecting the CPU's attacks to my stronger Blue-Eyes monsters and making it lose Life Points instead of me; that tactic was also useful for decreasing any damage I took if its monsters were stronger than mine.

…Maybe I should plan on making my own Blue-Eyes deck on MD and see if I can incorporate Dictator in it.

Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow

Yeah, I'm letting this speak for itself. 😂

[ygo30thfanfest]

Yu-Gi-Oh! 30th Anniversary Fan Fest: April Favorite Arc/Story

April’s prompt is “favorite arc/story”!

Do you have a particular storyline you like the best? From Yugi's early school days in the original Yu-Gi-Oh to Yuhi and Yuamu meeting Yudias in Go Rush, there are so many stories to choose from! If you don't have a favorite arc, you can share your favorite duel or game!

Remember, use the hashtag #YGO30thFanFest to share your response and to see other’s responses!

[pastelprincessholly]

March's prompt: favorite monster

I honestly couldn't choose between Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Red-Eyes Black Dragon, mostly because the reason I love both is because of how they are basically foils of one another. Even the 1999 movie helps prove this by the quote "Blue-Eyes White Dragon brings victory while Red-Eyes Black Dragon brings only the potential for it". Basically, Blue-Eyes is raw power while Red-Eyes is potential. Not to mention they give a cool ying-yang vibe. Plus, dragons.

I honestly hate being sick and got lucky I was able to draw this at work when the kids wanted to do a mini drawing contest. I took the opportunity to draw the two, resulting to using crayons because that was what was available. (I ended up having to almost everyone a dragon after the initial sketch because they thought it looked cool and had to color it when most of the kids left.)

[violetganache42]

YGO 30th Anniversary Fan Fest - February: Favorite Character

For those of you have been following me for the past decade, it's a known fact that each of my favorite media always comes with multiple favorite characters, and Yu-Gi-Oh! is no exception. For this month's prompt, I'll be deciding on who my top favorite chatacter(s) are from each series. This one took way too long to answer, and I apologize for that. Expect my full response to be under the cut again. lol

Duel Monsters: Yugi Muto and Yami Yugi

The duo that started it all! I know this is a pretty basic answer, but when it comes to characters from the original that I enjoy the most, these two come to mind.

I have already said this many times in the past, but I LOVE how kind, friendly, and selfless Yugi is. Bonus points for how downright adorable he is! He is always willing to face up to whatever challenge presents itself alongside his friends, protecting and even saving those he cares about or even an enemy like Arkana, and never gives up. He is so compassionate that he stopped Dark Magician from attacking; even if it was scary and upsetting for him, he still saved Kaiba's life, something Téa was vocal about during the episode. However, that's not gonna stop me from saying that his martyr complex is gonna be the END OF ME one of these days! I swear to Ra, that Anchor Duel and the first bout against Rafael fucking scarred me! 😭 *clears throat* Sorry about that. Where was I? …Oh yes, that's right! Another trait I like about him, and it's the fact he is so talented at all kinds of games, even before the Duel Monsters days! Why else is he named Yugi? lmao

Now onto Yami. Whether it's his season 0 iteration or the most well-known Duel Monsters version, he is such a fun protagonist. Full of confidence and equally skilled at games, he also never backs down from a challenge, even if it was retribution for trespassing upon his soul. That confidence is both his greatess strength and weakness as it does get the better of him at times, namely in seasons 1 and 4. Both times, it led to some major consequences, especially in the latter season. Look, even if he was wearing the Orichalcos Stone at the time, it's still worth mentioning! 😭 Fortunately, he was able to take accountability for what he did, and in turn, strengthen his bond with Yugi and give himself some development of his own, especially in the second half of season 4. And before I forget, he is also a huge dork at times, and it always get a good laugh out of me. 😂 The masterpiece that is the date episode, him pretending he isn't there when he spontaneously switched places with Yugi as payback, his awkward greeting during his coronation ceremony, you name it.

Now onto what I enjoy the most about the two: their bond. They both came a long way ever since they first met each other during their first encounter with Bakura. From rescuing captured souls and saving the world from imminent peril, they have been through some intense adventures and always came out on top. Their partnership is so strong that Yugi made sure Yami got a second chance and put all his trust in him, even if his sacrifice emotionally devastated him and us. Additionally, them becoming partners reflected on their own individual arcs and journeys: Yami needed someone to reteach what he forgotten during his multi-millenia slumber, and Yugi needed someone to demonstrate self-confidence and help him build it. The answer is each other. They both view one another as the most important person in their lives as they helped change them for the better. They represent trust, heroism, courage, and bravey. They embody what it means to be partners.

GX: Chazz Princeton

Where do I begin with him? He is an absolute dork. XD Okay, but in all seriousness, his dorkiness really shined as the series progressed, from being head over heels for Alexis to the fact he's often in comical situations. Of course, despite being the comic relief at times, that doesn't nullify his character development. Coming from a wealthy and powerful family, he believed himself to be elite and that Duel Monsters was all about strong cards, not unlike Kaiba at the start), but in Chazz's case, that's mainly due to the treatment and pressure he got from Slade and Jagger. Thanks to the inter-school match between Duel and North Academies and saving Duel Academy from being owned by his brothers, Chazz came to value and usefulness of every cards, regardless of their strength. Furthermore, he is shown to have a fear of failure, which is something I can relate to. His dreams of becoming a pro Duelist comes with another set of pressure and expectations to where he feels like has to win by any means nevessary, leading him to join the Society of Light and fall victim to Nightshroud's World of Darkness. Fortunately, he soon comes to realize failure is a natural part of everything, including making it to the pro leagues, and as long as he never gives up and continues improving, he will make it big. That is definitely a life lesson everyone should take to heart, myself included.

5Ds: Crow Hogan

My favorite Signer, everyone! I remember playing World Championship 2010: Reverse of Arcadia back in high school, and the chapter dedicated to Team Satisfaction/The Enforcers was my proper introduction to Crow (after first learning about him in LittleKuriboh's BBT Abridged video). I enjoyed his interactions with the playable character, highlighting how loyal and caring he is to those close to him. While watching 5D's, I also admire his daring streak and how he never says "no" to a challenge; if he was a Glimmer in the Lorcana TCG, he would definitely be Ruby. I particularly adore how he took up being a caretaker for children, and that's a trait I'm certain many agree is an admirable strength. It's not easy living in Satellite, and with a childhood as rough as his prior to meeting Yusei and Jack, Crow was determined to make sure the children don't go through the same circumstances as him. That alone is enough to earn some great respect. :)

ZEXAL: Rio and Reginald "Shark" Kastle

As I previously mentioned, ZEXAL was my proper introduction to the spinoffs, and on top of that, another reason why it's my favorite spinoff is the characters. There was a fun blend of heroes and villains with loads of personality, so I enjoyed a lot of them. That being said, I have always been particularly fond of the Kastle twins.

In Shark's case, I think it's because he kinda reminds me of Shadow: aloof, highly skilled, distant/prefers to be alone, has a softer side, and cares about those who are the most important in their lives. Speaking of skills, his namesake archetype and even his Barian Number are BEASTS, both in the show and in the actual card game. When Shark Drake, Silent Honor ARK, or their Chaos counterparts are on the field, you better be dealing with them as fast as you can. And who could ever forget his relationship with Yuma? Even though the two are rivals, they are also good friends and allies who have no issues with working together in Tag Teams. Shark values bonds to where he Dueled against Kite to take back the Emperor's Key and even against Yuma himself to regain his fighting spirit after Mizar's arrival. He was even devastated to learn he was a Barian because that meant betraying Yuma, but he ultimately accepted his fate and joined them along with his sister; if I was him, I would feel the same way. 😔 Despite everything, his defeat meant the two's friendship was thankfully and successfully restored upon his revival, and I couldn't be happier.

As for Rio, originally having minor appearances in the first half of the series, she quickly became a favorite of mine after her recovery from the hospital. I love her spunk and fierce determination, with some remarkable athleticism to boot. Something I think that doesn't get talked about enough is she firmly believes women are so much more than being "pretty decorations," indicating she is an advocate of feminism. I also like her Ice deck and how it focuses on effect damage; between more anime-exclusive cards getting printed and even lesser known monsters/archetypes getting printed like Bastion's Magnet Warriors, I hope the same will also apply for Rio's cards. My favorite thing about her is her bond with Shark, which is also another aspect I like about him. Yes, they tend to squabble and get on each other's nerves, but that is to be expected with siblings, both fictional and IRL. Seriously, 100 Squabble Duels since childhood? How did they even keep track of this record? lol Still, they genuinely care about one another, from Shark visiting Rio in the hospital after Flaming Hell Blessing injured her to their past lives as Nash and Marin. Even after learning the two were Barians, her loyalty to her brother never faltered and sided with him in rejoining the Barian Emperors despite her own friendships with Yuma and the gang.

ARC-V: Lulu Obsidian

Out of Ray's reincarnations, I feel like Lulu is who I like the most. I adore her kind-hearted nature and how close she is with Shay and their friends, especially Yuto. They are so cute together! >v< My favorite trait of hers is her politeness, something that noticably sets her apart from her counterparts. Of course, like the other Bracelet Girls, she is equally confident and never backs down from a challenge, even if the situation is against her. Hell, @real-life-pine-tree and I even explored more of her character in our old ARC-V Aftermath fics by headcanoning she comes from a well-mannered, wealthy, and loving family, and her lifestyle is why she is polite with others yet stubborn with whatever challenge she faces, including reaching her own dreams. She was also one of my most anticipated characters to join Duel Links, and I was not disappointed in the slightest at how they handled her and all her interactions. ^^

VRAINS: Ai, Flame, and Theodore Hamilton

(Yes, I HAD to use this clip. I remember cracking up so hard at that. 😂)

This one was one of the harder ones as there are a lot of great characters, but after some thinking, these three are among those I had the most fun with.

Ai being on this list was a no-brainer because he is such an absolute delight; I love his playful, comedic demeanor and how much of a goofball he can be, even in his SOLtis form. I especially also like how his silliness and brashness are balanced out with moments where he does take things seriously so that neither feel excessive. It was upsetting to see his regrets for not saving his fellow Ignis, his shock of seeing humanity's destruction (especially Yusaku's death), and his fear of becoming like Lightning and Bohman consume him so much to where he wanted to end his own existence. I felt really bad for him and still do. :( Thankfully, with Duel Links continuing right where VRAINS ended, it feels amazing to have him back with essentially a clearer head.

Now on to Flame. Man, where do I begin with him? At a first glance, he looks and act quite haughty when in reality, he's actually quite factual and more level-headed. He serves as a fun contrast to Ai; they both wanted to stop Bohman and later Lightning from threatening humanity, but they do have their moments of teasing and snarking each other. My favorite exchange from the two will always be this:

Post by @nightfurylover31 · 1 video

💬 2  🔁 78  ❤️ 182 · “How... DARE you...”

You have no idea how often I quote this. lmao

As much as I like Yusaku and Ai's dynamic, I feel like we don't talk enough about how close Flame is with Theodore. He helped his Origin overcome his trauma from the Lost Incident and gave him the courage to fight alongside Playmaker. The two tend to tease one another, but that's because of how lighthearted their relationship is. He even sacrificed himself to save Soulburner from Windy! That still hits me so hard! 😭 Like with Ai, I'm glad he was also revived in Duel Links and can be with his partner again. :)

Speaking of Theodore, he is perhaps my favorite of the six Origins. It wasn't easy for him to recover from his trauma, but when he did, he became who we came to know as: someone full of life and energy. We see that with how he interacts with his closest friends and allies, as well as how he Duels. His Salamangreats are an absolute treat, and given his beatdown strategy, they help emphasize his hot-bloodedness. His decision to reincarnate during his Duel against Ridley is reflected in his Reincarnation Link and even XYZ Summons, and they are some of the coolest things I have ever seen! It's honestly a creative way of utilizing more than one copy of the same monster! Theodore's fire motif also makes his moments more amazing and further hammers in his Reincarnation Summons, and what creature is best known for flames and reincarnation? A phoenix, of course, hence Pyro Phoenix being one of his ace monsters!

What About the Bridge Era?

*sigh* Alright.

If you haven't already noticed, I'm not a fan of the Bridge era. No, it's not because of the art style change; that's not a good reason, and I've long since gotten used to that change. -_- I've already voiced my reasons in previous posts, so I'm not gonna rehash them here. Just know this: I do not have a favorite character in GO RUSH!! anymore, meaning I'm not even gonna bother tackling that show. As for SEVENS, although its enjoyment has been tarnished for me because of GR constantly pandering to it to where it became SEVENS 2.0, its own list of grievances are not even as long as its sequel, so I guess I can choose a favorite character from there. If I were to choose, I would go with Romin Kassidy.

What make her circumstances with Dueling unique is unlike the other female leads we have seen, who either have a bit of experience or are skilled at it, Romin claimed to have a disinterest in Dueling despite being knowledgable about certain aspects of it. After Rush Duels were implemented, she soon gradually came to enjoy the format and Dueled more on a regular basis. When it was revealed she was spying for Roa, she was shown to value her friendship with Yuga, Gavin, and Luke and was determined to mend her bonds with them. Well, specifically her and Luke's friendship since Yuga and Gavin were easier to forgive her, but my point still stands. Like Téa and Tori, she is quite a fashionable girl and cycles through some different outfits throughout the series. She is talented in a lot of things and famous for them, especially in her elementary school band, but she never lets her reputation get to her head.

Most importantly, out of all the female leads, I feel like Romin was the one who got treated the best. I mean, yeah, the writers made her into a curry joke for a bit in season 2, but it wasn't Rovian levels of bad and didn't ruin her characterization. More importantly, she wasn't truly brainwashed or anything; the closest we got was her falling victim to the memory erasing effects of Monster Reborn, but she thankfully regained all her memories, which led to such an amazing episode. I still remember being so proud of her and how much she had grown since the first episode. :)

[ygo30thfanfest]

Yu-Gi-Oh! 30th Anniversary Fan Fest: March Favorite Monster

March’s prompt is “favorite monster”!

Over the years so many different monster cards have been created on top of the different methods they are used. All are on the table: normal, effect, fusion, syncro, link, whatever! All you need to do is share your favorite!

Remember, use the hashtag #YGO30thFanFest to share your response and to see other’s responses!

[pastelprincessholly]

February's prompt: favorite character

I am cutting it close here! While I could have simply done my favorite, I wanted to go through my top 5 for Duel Monsters. (Bonus on getting more practice in with soft pastel after being away from it for almost a decade.)

1. Seto Kaiba: I was a day one Kaiba fangirl after reading the description in the Beckett magazine. I could tell he was going to be special and not in the way everyone was going to think. I honestly love how he would do anything for his younger brother, not to mention his attitude!

2. Mokuba Kaiba: this one is interesting. I was okay with him at first until my friends assigned him to me for our nicknames. It was awkward since I had a major crush on Kaiba at that point and they all knew that. As the series progressed and I really studied the characters, I realized we are way too similar, down to our least favorite food (at least when I was his age) and our birthdays being so close! Not to mention how much of a little gremlin he is in the manga!

3. Noah Kaiba: he was my number 4 for the longest time before my friend made me really think my list. While I could argue it's because of what he adds to Kaiba and Mokuba, I really love him as a character as a whole. Sure he's a spoiled brat for most of the arc, something about him makes it work.

4. Joey Wheeler: now he used to be my number 3, but I realized he was that high because of an ex-friend who he was their favorite. I love his attitude and never-give-up outlook. Still not enough to break the top 3.

5. Rex Raptor: this spot would change every so often, but I think he's set in this spot now. It's also really simple: he's funny and I love dinosaurs. Yeah, that's really it.

[yami-no-kea]

February's prompt of the Yu-Gi-Oh 30th Anniversary Fan Fest is "favourite character" then ; of course ; I drew Marik ishtar !

[ygo30thfanfest]

Yu-Gi-Oh! 30th Anniversary Fan Fest: February Favorite Character

February’s prompt is “favorite character”!

This month is all about your favorite character from Yu-Gi-Oh! Are you a fan of Seto Kaiba? Akiza Izinski? Yuya Sakaki? Maybe even Yako Tenma? Whoever it is, tell the world who it is in your own way!

Remember, use the hashtag #YGO30thFanFest to share your response and to see other’s responses!