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Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS

From Alfawiki
Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS
Company typeAnime series
IndustryAnimation, Entertainment
PredecessorYu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V
FoundedMay 10, 2017; 9 years ago (2017-05-10)
FounderStudio Gallop
DefunctSeptember 25, 2019 (2019-09-25)
FateEnded
SuccessorYu-Gi-Oh! Sevens
Headquarters
Tokyo
,
Japan
Area served
Japan, international (via Crunchyroll, Pluto TV)
Key people
Masahiro Hosoda (director), Shin Yoshida (screenplay), Ken'ichi Hara (character design)
ProductsAnime television series
OwnerKonami Cross Media NY (licensing outside Asia)
ParentStudio Gallop
Websitewww.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/vrainds/
is a Japanese anime series developed by Gallop, marking the fifth spin-off installment within the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from May 10, 2017, through September 25, 2019.[1] Outside Asia, Crunchyroll streamed the show simultaneously, with licensing managed by Konami Cross Media NY. The series made its American debut on November 3, 2020, via Pluto TV.

The name 'VRAINS' is derived from the fusion of Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Network System (NS). The storyline centers on Yusaku, who explores the virtual realm known as VRAINS. This installment retains earlier summoning methods while introducing the innovative "Link Summon," adding new layers to the dueling mechanics.

Following Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, the series Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens premiered in Japan on April 4, 2020.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Plot

Set in Den City, thousands participate in LINK VRAINS, a virtual reality environment developed by SOL Technologies where players engage in Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game battles using distinctive avatars. The virtual world faces threats from the hacker faction Knights of Hanoi, led by Varis. High school student and expert hacker Yusaku Fujiki combats them under the alias Playmaker.[2] Both SOL Technologies and the Knights seek a sentient artificial intelligence that holds secrets to the hidden Cyberse World within the network. Yusaku captures this AI named Ai, which triggers a phenomenon called the Data Storm.[3] This event introduces Speed Duels, where duelists ride gusts of wind during matches. Yusaku confronts Hanoi to uncover truths linked to a personal event from a decade earlier.[4] With assistance from Charisma Duelists Go Onizuka and Blue Angel, Playmaker overcomes Varis and safeguards the network. Ai returns to his origin—the Cyberse World.[5]

Three months later, Ai discovers that the Cyberse World has been destroyed and comes back to Yusaku. Resuming his role as Playmaker, Yusaku faces new challenges when Cal Kolter’s younger brother’s consciousness is stolen by Bohman. Alongside Theodore Hamilton (Soulburner) and Aqua (Skye’s partner), they confront emerging dangers as Varis revives the Knights of Hanoi. Bohman is unveiled as an AI created by Lightning—the Light Ignis responsible for destroying Cyberse World—who aims to annihilate humanity. Assisted by Windy (Wind Ignis), Lightning engages Yusaku’s group in battle. To counter Lightning’s forces, Yusaku forms an alliance with Knights of Hanoi and launches an assault on Lightning’s base. After fierce combat leaves only Playmaker, Ai, and Bohman standing, Flame and Aqua empower Ai before sacrificing themselves, enabling Playmaker and Ai to defeat Bohman.

Following Bohman’s defeat, LINK VRAINS ceases operation and Ai vanishes alongside Yusaku’s robot companion Roboppi. SOL Technology unveils humanoid robot SOLtis; Ai and Roboppi infiltrate SOL Technology to target executive Queen. Skye’s brother Akira seeks protection from Playmaker and Knights of Hanoi. Ai defeats all opponents except Playmaker, Soulburner, and Varis who engage decoys. After seizing control of SOL Technology, Ai reactivates LINK VRAINS and challenges Playmaker to a duel. Ai reveals that Lightning left a simulation predicting global catastrophe if Ai remains the last Ignis. Fearing becoming like Lightning or Bohman, Ai opts to end his existence—either through defeat by Playmaker or dispersing his will upon victory. Despite Playmaker’s appeals to reconsider, Ai insists on battling and is ultimately defeated. Before fading away, Ai discloses that in every simulation Yusaku sacrifices himself protecting him—a future he wishes to prevent. Three months later life continues; Yusaku sets out on a journey while Ai persists within the network.

Yusaku is determined to serve as a positive example for children.

Production

Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS was officially revealed on December 16, 2016, and premiered on TV Tokyo on May 10, 2017. The series was directed by Masahiro Hosoda at Studio Gallop, with Shin Yoshida responsible for the screenplay and Ken'ichi Hara handling character design. This installment marked the last Yu-Gi-Oh! anime produced by Gallop before subsequent series transitioned to Bridge. The show concluded its run on September 25, 2019.

Outside of Asia, Crunchyroll provided the first-ever official simulcast of the franchise with English subtitles. The English-language adaptation was developed by Konami Cross Media NY, debuting its pilot episode during a digitally remastered screening of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light in the United States (March 2018) and the United Kingdom (June 2018). The English dub began broadcasting on Teletoon in Canada on September 1, 2018, followed by an Australian premiere on 9Go! starting April 6, 2019.

In November 2020, Cinedigm announced that streaming platform Pluto TV had acquired exclusive distribution rights to VRAINS across various regions, including the United States and Latin America. Pluto TV introduced a dedicated Yu-Gi-Oh! channel featuring episodes from the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters metaseries, encompassing VRAINS, accessible in English as well as several dubbed languages.

Trading Card Game

The Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS series brought notable changes to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, introducing the "Link Strike Starter Deck" alongside the New Master Rules (Master Rule 4). Under these updated regulations, players are restricted to summoning only one monster from their Extra Deck at a time, which must occupy one of two newly designated "Extra Monster Zones." This revision introduced Link Monsters—distinctive blue cards featuring a honeycomb pattern that lack Levels or Ranks but possess a Link Rating indicating both the number of Link Arrows and required summoning materials. These Link Arrows direct toward Main Monster Zones, enabling summons from the Extra Deck, including face-up Pendulum Monsters. Additionally, Pendulum Zones were repositioned to the ends of the Spell & Trap Zones and can serve as regular monster zones if left unused.

In 2019, a simplified format called Speed Duels was launched within the TCG, mirroring mechanics found in the mobile game Duel Links. Tailored for newcomers, Speed Duel decks contain between 20 and 30 cards and limit players to three Main Monster zones each. Turns conclude immediately after the Battle Phase. A unique feature of this format is the use of one Skill Card per player, placed face down at the start of a duel and playable at any point during gameplay.

Reception

At the Tokyo Anime Award Festival, the series was ranked 52nd among the Best 100 TV Anime of 2017 and improved significantly to achieve 8th place in 2020 with a total of 28,369 votes.

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ANN Weekly Shonen Jump
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