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Kagemaru

Kagemaru (影丸) is the main antagonist of the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, as well as founder and former chairman of Duel Academy.

Kagemaru
Kagemaru
Names
English
  • Kagemaru
Japanese
Japanese影丸
Personal
Gender
  • Male
  • Career
  • Education
OccupationChairman of Duel Academy
Previous organizationShadow Riders
SchoolDuel Academy
  • Duelist
Anime DeckSacred Beast
Appearances
Anime debutYu-Gi-Oh! GX episode 02727: "Grave Risk, Part 1"
Appears in
Anime
Voice actors
English
Japanese
  • Mugihito (old)
  • Nobutoshi Canna (young)
Kagemaru

Contents

DesignEdit

AppearanceEdit

Kagemaru is a fit, but extremely elderly fragile man with sharp facial features. He is bald on the top of his head with thick white hair flowing from the sides as well as a large beard, with his hair and bear flowing down past his shoulders. He is suspended in a life-support tube, which possesses a variety of mechanisms to allow Kagemaru to interact with the environment, such as by having mechanical arms for Dueling.

After the Sacred Beasts absorb Duel Monster Spirits, Kagemaru regains his youth, and emerges from his life-support vessel. In his youthful state, Kagemaru possesses an extremely muscular and burly body with thick, long black hair and sideburns, but his beard is temporarily completely clean-shaven. He wears only a cloth strip-like fundoshi. After two of the Sacred Beasts absorb Duel Monster Spirits, Kagemaru recovers his musculature, rough skin and wild hair of his late 50's. With three Sacred Beasts absorbing spirits, he recovers his luscious hair and smooth skin of his 30's.

After being defeated, he returns to his elderly state. Later, in Jaden Yuki's graduation year, he wears a suit and sits in a wheelchair with external aid.

Voice and mannerismsEdit

In the Japanese version, in his youthful state Kagemaru speaks in an unruly manner, while in his elderly state he exhibits patience and deep wisdom.

In the English version, Kagemaru speaks in a bombastic manner with confidence in the Sacred Beasts.

AbilitiesEdit

As the former chairman and one of the founders of Duel Academy, Kagemaru possesses the monetary resources and charisma to establish the internationally renowned Dueling education institution, alongside KaibaCorp.

He possesses a deep understanding of Shadow Charms and Shadow Games. He lacks the ability to see Duel Monster Spirits. In his youthful state, he has the strength to throw his heavy mobile life-support system several feet away.

EtymologyEdit

Kagemaru appears to come from 影 kage ("shadow") and 丸 maru ("perfection"), referencing his goal of using a dark power to achieve immortality. "Kagemaru" is also a Japanese surname.

BiographyEdit

HistoryEdit

Kagemaru was the leader of the Shadow Riders and at some point in the past, a former chairman and creator of Duel Academy. His Shadow Charm was a small ring. In horrible health, he hoped to attain eternal youth by sacrificing Duel Monster Spirits to the Sacred Beasts, gathering the Seven Stars to help him accomplish that purpose.

Shadow RidersEdit

 
Kagemaru's withered old body, inside a tube

He was first involved in the series as an unseen figure talking to Professor Banner through his computer screen, telling him that it was an appropriate time to test Jaden in the Gravekeepers world. Banner argued Jaden might not be ready, but Kagemaru said it mattered not, and he simply would have no use if he failed.

He is next seen with the Shadow Riders, asking which one would make the first move, with Nightshroud revealing he would act. After Dr. Crowler loses to Camula, he appears on a screen in Chancellor Sheppard's office, taunting him that two keys have already been lost, and wondering if anymore students would fall to the vampire.

In Titan's flashback in how he escaped the World of Darkness, Kagemaru was shown reaching out to him giving him his item, and promising him freedom if he would serve him and defeat the key holders.

 
Kagemaru, after gaining youth through the power of the Sacred Beasts

After the seventh Rider, Amnael falls, he finally makes his existence known to Jaden and the others, being air-lifted in via helicopter, in his stasis tube. In the original, he said that he created Duel Academy to have a space full of the fighting spirits of duelists to revive the 3 Sacred Beasts. Many students challenge him to a fight, however he only accepts a Duel with one student - Jaden. During the Duel, He Summons all three Sacred Beasts, and they gradually absorb duel spirits which eventually restores him to a muscular much younger form. Jaden struggles against the Sacred Beasts, but ultimately manages to come out on top. After being defeated, he returned to his aged state, and promised to renounce his former ways and asked for forgiveness, which Jaden was happy to give. Kagemaru was then carried to the hospital via helicopter after Jaden accidentally crushed his spine with a bear hug.

DarknessEdit

 
Kagemaru and Sartorius warning Jaden.

Kagemaru returns to Duel Academy with Sartorius to tell Jaden that they have both had some sort of premonition, feeling that Duel Academy might be in grave danger, theorizing that the Sacred Beasts, Light of Destruction, and Yubel incidents might be related. Both Kagemaru and Sartorius are later present at Jaden's graduation ceremony.

Other appearancesEdit

DeckEdit

Kagemaru plays a Sacred Beast Deck. He utilizes plenty of Spell and Trap Cards to support "Uria" and "Hamon", some of which Summon tokens he can use to support "Raviel".

DuelsEdit

Opponent(s) Episode(s) Outcome
Jaden Yuki 48-49 Lose

NotesEdit

  1. a b This card is sent from his hand to the Graveyard to activate "Phantasmal Martyrs" in episode 49.
  2. a b c This card is sent to the Graveyard to Summon "Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder" in episode 49.
  3. This card is discarded to Special Summon "Uria, Lord of Searing Flames" from his Graveyard in episode 49.
  4. a b This card is discarded to Special Summon "Uria, Lord of Searing Flames" from his Graveyard in episode 48.
  5. a b c This card is sent to the Graveyard to Summon "Uria, Lord of Searing Flames" in episode 48.

ReferencesEdit

  1. Stuart, Eric. "VOICE ACTING & DIRECTING". ERIC STUART. Retrieved 24 November 2022.