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The '''Shadow Realm''' was alleged to be is a place of eternal suffering where people could be sent to, explicitly designed by [[4Kids Entertainment]] for the Dubbed dubbed version of the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! second series (anime)|''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' anime]] (with reference . When a death would occur in the Japanese version, it would usually be censored in the dub, sending the victim to the Shadow Realm instead. The concept is also mentioned in the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]] to replace the concept of '''death''')anime.

The '''[[Shadow Realm''' Game]]s were depicted as presented occurring in another dimension which is also called the English-language version of the anime does not exist in either the original Japanese-language Shadow Realm. It was this dark dimension (so named by [[Yu-Gi-Oh! mangaMaximillion Pegasus]] or anime series, although a "Dark World Series" (''Yami no Sekkai'') is mentioned that formed the basis for the Shadow Realm in the manga and anime, but was never referred to as a place of eternal suffering that a human could be sent toEnglish version.

==Japanese version==The [[Shadow Game]]s were depicted Realm as occurring presented in "another dimension", purported to be the Shadow Realm. It was this "dark dimension" (so named by [[Maximillion Pegasus]]) that was to form the basis for the English-language Shadow Realm, and as mentioned above, it was essentially created to serve as a substitute for death, or characters dying. The Loss version of a the anime does not exist in the [[Shadow GameYu-Gi-Oh! (manga)|''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' manga]], a fatal wound inflicted by a Duel Monster, and the power Japanese version of a [[Millennium Item]], or any other mystical means will, rather than outright kill a character, condemn their soul to the Shadow Realm - "a softer defeat" in essence, as it is established that a soul could be extracted from the Shadow Realm if need beanime. IndeedHowever, this was the entire basis for concept is based on an occasionally mentioned place called the storyline '''World of the dubbed version of [[Duelist Kingdom]], where [[Maximillion Pegasus]] was hoping to assemble all seven [[Millennium Items]] in the hope of restoring the body of his late wife, [[Cecelia PegasusDarkness''' ({{Ruby|闇|やみ}}の{{Ruby|世界|Cecelia]]せかい}} ''Yami no Sekai''), and rescuing her consciousness from the Shadow Realm. It is unclear if which the souls or consciousness of a person is sent to official subtitles call the Shadow Realm if someone were to die from natural causes, as appears to be the case with [[Cecelia Pegasus|Cecelia]].

The very concept of [[Solomon Muto]] was sent to the Shadow Realm is often derided, mostly for the basic fact that it is after being absorbed into a result of the censorship of some of the darker aspects of the show, but it is also partly because some of the more preposterous insertions of the Shadow Realm"[[Soul Prison]]" card by [[Maximillion Pegasus]].<ref name="dm16">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh!|16|ref}}</ref>

For example, when facing The [[Millennium Ring merchant|merchant]] who sold the conjurer [[ArkanaMillennium Ring]], Yugi Muto comes under threat from a "to [[Dark Energy DiscBakura's father]]" which, if it touched him, would send him was said to be from the Shadow Realm. In the Japanese version, the disks were simply buzz saw blades that would dismember the loser's feet, probably resulting in death.<ref>{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh!|13|ref}}</ref>

Similarly, The loser of the Shadow Realm was used during a tag-team duel that involved Game between [[Yami Yugi Muto]] and the [[Seto Kaibajersey man]] dueling [[Lumis]] and [[Umbra]] atop a skyscraper in [[Domino City]], famous for its hollow interior. In the English-language version, the windows they stood on has a small explosive device on them, which would cause a small explosion, resulting in the glass shattering when each Duelist lost, dropping them into a "portal", which would then transport the unfortunate victim was to be sent to the the Shadow Realm. In the Japanese<ref>{{episode|Yu-language version, the windows shatter as they do in the Dub, but here, the duelist would simply fall to their death, falling all the way to the floor. This can be further evidenced by [[Umbra]] being prepared with a parachute, which he deployed when his window shattered, after he lost all of his [[Life Points]], leaving his teamGi-mate [[Lumis]] to surrender the Duel, and eventually has his mind taken over by [[Marik]] and his [[Millennium Rod]].Oh!|22|ref}}</ref>

Conversely, on occasion, the idea intersects with some of In the original visuals - for instancefinal manga arc, when it is also mentioned by [[Marik IshtarAkhenaden (manga)|the High Priest of Darkness]] does away with [[Mai Valentine]]'s soul, visuals distinctly show her soul that the loser of the Ultimate Shadow Game would not be sent to have been relocated the afterlife when they die but to another plane"a void of eternal darkness", which the English-language version is then able to refer to as reminiscent of descriptions of the Shadow Realm.

Tying In the concept together towards the showJapanese version of ''Yu-Gi-Oh! GX''s conclusion, [[Titan]] mentions that he was taken to the demonWorld of Darkness after losing to [[Jaden Yuki|Jaden]].<ref name="gx6">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! GX|6|ref}}</ref> Here, he met [[Zorc NecrophadesKagemaru]], is credited with the creation who gave him his [[Shadow Charm]] mask, letting him return to Earth as one of the [[Shadow Realm in the English-language versionRiders]]. Some characters are pulled out He Dueled [[Alexis Rhodes]], one of the Shadow Realm in holders of the English anime [[Spirit Key]]s, intending to defeat her and drag her to the EnglishWorld of Darkness, just as [[Atticus Rhodes|her brother]] previously had been. However, he lost to her and was dragged back there himself.<ref name="gx41">{{episode|Yu-language video games.Gi-Oh! GX|41|ref}}</ref>

==Purpose==The Shadow Realm does not exist in Japanese media, and it is always used euphemistically. The Shadow Realm was created to serve as a substitute for a character dying. Losing a [[Shadow Game]], a fatal wound inflicted by a Duel Monster, the power of a [[Millennium Items|Millennium Item]], or any other mystical means would condemn their soul to the Shadow Realm. This was less permanent than explicitly stating that the character was killed, as it was established that it is similar possible to retrieve a soul from the Shadow Realm.  ==Replacements==The Shadow Realm is often criticized for censoring some of the darker aspects of the show, and for some of the more preposterous ways in which characters are banished there. For example, in [[Yugi Muto]] and [[Arkana]]'s Duel, the loser was to be sent to (the Shadow Realm if touched by the "[[Dark Energy Disc]]". In the Japanese version, the disks were simply buzz saw blades that would dismember the loser's feet, presumably resulting in death from blood loss or shock. Likewise, Yugi Muto and [[Seto Kaiba|Seto Kaiba's]] had a Tag Duel against [[Lumis and probably based Umbra]] atop a skyscraper in [[Domino City]] famous for its hollow interior, with each Duelist standing on) top of a glass window rigged with a small explosive that would cause it to shatter upon losing. In the dub, the religious concept Duelist would fall into a portal to the Shadow Realm. In the Japanese version, the Duelist would simply fall to their death. This is why Umbra was prepared with a parachute, which he deployed when his window shattered, leaving his team-mate Lumis to surrender the Duel, before [[Marik Ishtar]] used the [[Millennium Rod]] to take control of his mind. When [[Yami Marik]] banishes [[Mai Valentine]]'''s soul, her soul had been relocated to another plane in the Japanese version. In the dub, her soul was stated to have been sent to the Shadow Realm. After winning a Duel, [[Yami Bakura]] sent [[Bonz]], [[Sid]] and [[Zygor]] to Hellin the Japanese version. In the dub, they were instead sent to the Shadow Realm.  Later, both Yami Bakura and his host [[Bakura Ryou]] were sent to the Shadow Realm when they lost to Yami Marik, whereas in the Japanese version they were turned into dark vapor. Sometimes, the Shadow Realm can produce darker themes in the dub. Whenever a [[Rare Hunter]] lost a Duel to Yugi, Marik would take over their mind to talk to Yugi. Once finished, Marik would send them to the Shadow Realm without mercy, whereas in the Japanese version, the Rare Hunter would simply be knocked out. Some fans argue that being sent to the Shadow Realm is worse than being killed since the characters sent there are subjected to eternal torment rather than a peaceful "afterlife" when killed. Tying the concept together towards the show'''s conclusion, [[Zorc Necrophades]] is credited with the creation of the Shadow Realm in the dub. Some characters are pulled out of the Shadow Realm in the dub of the anime and localized video games.

* [[PanikImpersonator of Death]]: Sent there twice, once after Yami Yugi's and Seto Kaiba's Duel via Mind Crush, then again when he lost to Yami Yugi at Duelist Kingdom with another Mind Crush.*[[PaniK]]: After losing to Yami Yugi beat Panik in a duelDuel, Panik PaniK attempted to kill him, but the Millennium Puzzle shielded him and he banished Panik PaniK to the Shadow Realm with a Mind Crush.* The [[Mugger]]: While threatening Téa, the mugger was challenged to a card draw game by Yami (who had taken over the unconcsious unconscious [[YugiMuto]]), who won and used a Mind Crush to banish the mugger's soul to the Shadow Realm.* [[Seeker]] the Rare Hunter: After losing to Yami Yugi in a duelDuel, [[Marik]] Ishtar used the [[Millennium Rod]] to take control of the Rare Hunter's body and trap his mind in the Shadow Realm.* [[Arkana]]: After losing to Yami Yugi in a duelDuel, [[Marik]] Ishtar used the [[Millennium Rod]] to take control of Arkana's body and trap his mind in the Shadow Realm.* [[Lumis]]: Once it was clear there was no way Lumis could win, Marik took over his body and trapped his soul in the Shadow Realm, as after Marik left him and he collapsed, Kaiba walked over to his lifeless form and picked up his locator cards.* [[Bonz]]: After being defeated by [[Yami Bakura]] in a duelDuel, Bakura trapped him in the Shadow Realm, along with Sid and Zygor. Presumably he never chose to release them.* [[Sid]]: After Yami Bakura defeated Bonz, he trapped Sid in the Shadow Realm along with him Bonz and Zygor. It is unknown if he ever released them.* [[Zygor]]: After Yami Bakura defeated Bonz, he trapped Zygor in the Shadow Realm along with him Bonz and Sid. If It is unknown if he ever released them.* [[Mr. Ishtar]]: Who was sent to the Shadow Realm by [[Yami Marik]] with the Millenium Millennium Rod.* [[Mai Valentine]]: After [[Yami Marik]] defeated her in a duelDuel, he used his Millennium Rod to trap her soul in the Shadow Realm, which looked slightly similar to a Mind Crush in that the negative effect was used (but not the glass effect). She was later released when Yami Marik was destroyed.* [[BakuraRyou]]: After Yami Bakura was beaten by Yami Marik, he vanished into the Shadow Realm, along with the original Marik's soul. However, Marik was still able to control Téa, and Yami Bakura hid inside Yugi's [[Millennium Puzzle ]] (as he had placed a bit of his soul there in an earlier episode), thus the only one who was truly fully banished to the Shadow Realm was the original Bakura(however Yami Bakura's complete form and Marik's full form were still trapped there). He was later released when Yami Marik was destroyed.*[[Yami Bakura]]: After he was beaten by Yami Marik, he was sent to the Shadow Realm along with the real Marik, however, a portion of him still existed in the Millennium Puzzle. He returned when Marik undone all of Yami Marik's Penalty Games.*[[Marik Ishtar]]: After Yami Bakura was beaten by Yami Marik, he was sent to the Shadow Realm along with Yami Bakura and Bakura Ryou, however, a portion of him still existed in Téa's mind. Yami Marik then brought him back as he was going to use him as part of Yami Yugi's and Yami Marik's Shadow Game, where if Yami Marik lost Life Points, then Marik will lose parts of his body to the Shadow Realm. Later fully returned when he switched places with Yami Marik.* [[Mushara]]: While wanding wandering through the tomb with [[Ahmet]] and [[Solomon Muto|Grandpa]], he was slashed by a statue and fell into a pit of shadows, leading to the Shadow Realm.* [[Weevil Underwood]]: Temporarily sent to the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura while along with Rex attempting to steal Yugi's Millennium Items (mistaking them for god God cards).* [[Rex Raptor]]: Temporarily sent to the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura while along with Weevil attempting to steal Yugi's Millennium Items (mistaking them for god God cards).* [[Mokuba Kaiba]]: Temporarily sent to the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura to make Kaiba duel Duel him.* [[Karim]]: Gave all his diadankh energy [[Ba]] to Shada so the Twin"[[Two-Headed Jackal Warrior]]" could destroy "[[Giant Axe Mummy, and ]]"; since his diadankh Ba was depleted, his soul was trapped in the Shadow Realm. Was later released when Yami Bakura and [[Zorc]] were destroyed. * [[Aknadin]]/Shadow Magus: Destroyed by the "[[Blue -Eyes White Dragon(anime)|Blue-Eyes White Dragon]]", trapping his soul in the Shadow Realm. Was later released when Yami Bakura and Zorc were destroyed. * [[HassanHasan]]: His diadankh energy was depleted when he He jumped in front of the guards to protect them from Zorc's attack, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm. Was later released when Yami Bakura and Zorc were destroyed. * [[Shada]]: His diadankh energy Ba was depleted when he jumpedU jumped in front of the Pharaoh to protect him from Zorc's attack, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm. Was later released when Yami Bakura and Zorc were destroyed. * [[Isis]]: Zorc destroyed her Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress, depleting her diadankh DiaDhankh energy and trapping her soul in the Shadow Realm as she fell. Was later released when Yami Bakura and Zorc were destroyed. * [[Shimon]]: His diadankh energy Ba was depleted when his "[[Exodiathe Forbidden One]] " was destroyed by Zorc, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm. Was later released when Yami Bakura and Zorc were destroyed. * [[Seto]]: His diadankh energy Ba was depleted when his "Blue -Eyes White Dragon " was destroyed by Zorc, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm. Was later released when Yami Bakura and Zorc were destroyed, as was presumably all the other Egyptian characters who were banished there.*[[Yami Bakura|Yami Bakura's fragment]]: Was sent there when he lost a Shadow Game to Yugi Muto.* [[Titan]]: Sent to the Shadow Realm twice. The Great Leviathanfirst time he was sent to the Shadow Realm after losing to Jaden, then again after losing to [[Alexis Rhodes]]. ==Duels that took place in the Shadow Realm==*[[Yugi Muto|Yugi]] vs [[Maximillion Pegasus|Pegasus]] (in the Duel in which Pegasus stole Grandpa's soul)*[[Yami Yugi]]: When vs [[Yami Bakura]] (in the Duel where Yugi, Joey, Téa, Tristan, and Bakura are all cards)*[[Yugi Muto|Yugi]] vs [[Maximillion Pegasus|Pegasus]] (the finals of Duelist Kingdom)*[[Yami Bakura]] vs [[Bonz]] (in Battle City)*[[Mai Valentine|Mai]] vs [[Yami Marik]] (in Battle City)*[[Yami Bakura]] vs [[Yami Marik]] (during Battle City)*[[Joey Wheeler]] vs [[Yami stepped Marik]] (in Battle City)*[[Yami Yugi]] vs [[Yami Marik]] (Battle City finals)*[[Seto Kaiba]] vs [[Yami Bakura]]*[[Lyman Banner]] vs [[Atticus Rhodes]] (off-screen)*[[Jaden Yuki]] vs [[Titan]]*[[Alexis Rhodes]] vs [[Titan]] ==Trivia==*The deaths of [[Cecelia Pegasus]], [[Mrs. Ishtar]], [[Gozaburo Kaiba]], [[Noah Kaiba]], the darkness [[Big Five]], [[Dartz]] and brought out [[Ironheart|his]] [[Chris|family]], [[Shadi]], [[Thief King Bakura]], [[Yami Bakura]], and [[Zorc Necrophades|Zorc]] were not censored with the light within himselfShadow Realm; however, Noah's death was censored by characters speculating that he defeated saved his mind on a backup drive, and the Big Five's original deaths were temporarily censored by Noah imprisoning them in the virtual world, only to be destroyed along with it eight episodes later.*Also, [[PaniK]]'s threats to incinerate Yugi, and Marik's Duel between Yugi and Joey that threatened to drown the loser, were not censored with threat of being sent to the Shadow Realm, unlike most other Duels that threatened death to the Leviathan loser.*The Shadow Realm is often believed to be Hell, as they both have a similar concept of souls being condemned to eternal torment, and banished it the Shadow Realm's creator, Zorc, appears to be the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' version of the devil. Indeed, the Shadow Realmis used as a stand-in for Hell as the final fate of Bonz, Sid, freeing Dartz from its evil influenceand Zygor.

==Possible residentsReferences==* [[Solomon Muto]]: Pegasus trapped his soul inside a card, and could have possibly been the Shadow Realm, or similar to it. Pegasus later released him after his defeat by Yugi.* [[Mokuba Kaiba]]: Pegasus trapped his soul inside a card, and could have possibly been the Shadow Realm. Pegasus later released him after his defeat by Yugi.* [[Seto Kaiba]]: Pegasus trapped his soul inside a card, and could have possibly been the Shadow Realm. Pegasus later released him after his defeat by Yugi.* [[Umbra]]: In the duel against Yugi and Kaiba, Kaiba summoned [[Obelisk the Tormentor]] and took out all of Umbra's life points, causing the "shadow barrier" glass to break and causing him to fall into the Shadow Realm. Though he activated a parachute, his mind appears to have been trapped to the Shadow Realm, as he was quite motionless. However, it is debatable that he may have "stopped the effect" in time when the parachute caught on a pole. Whether or not he was truly sent to the Shadow Realm remains unknown.<references />

==Duels that took place in the Shadow Realm=={{Yu-Gi-Oh! locations}}* Yugi vs Pegasus (in the duel in which Pegasus stole Grandpa's soul)* Yami vs Yami Bakura (in the duel where Yugi, Joey, Téa, Tristan, and Bakura are all cards)* Yugi vs Pegasus (the finals of Duelist Kingdom)* Yami Bakura vs Bonz (in Battle City){{Yu-Gi-Oh! GX locations}}* Mai vs Yami Marik (in Battle City)* Yami Bakura vs Yami Marik (during Battle City)* Joey vs Yami Marik (in Battle City)[[Category:Worlds]]* Yami vs Yami Marik [[Category:Yu-Gi-Oh! (Battle City finalsanime)locations]]* Seto Kaiba vs Yami Bakura[[Category:Yu-Gi-Oh! GX locations]]