Difference between revisions of "Shadow Realm"

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(Actually, when Yami Marik still controlled the body, Mai would have been returned from the Shadow Realm if Joey had won, so it wasn't just Marik's choice to release the victims.)
(→‎Japanese version: This is not particulary relevant but also is a completley acceptable translation of "Yami no Sekai" anyway.)
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The '''Shadow Realm''' was alleged to be a place of eternal suffering where people could be sent to, explicitly designed by [[4Kids Entertainment]] for the dubbed version of the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (anime)|''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' second series anime]]. When a death would occur in the Japanese version, it would usually be censored in the English version to say he/she is sent instead to "Shadow Realm". The concept is also mentioned in the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'' anime.  
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The '''Shadow Realm''' is alleged to be a place of suffering where people could be sent to, explicitly designed by [[4Kids Entertainment]] for the dubbed version of the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (anime)|''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' second series anime]]. 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]]'' anime.  
  
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The Shadow Realm as presented in the English-language version of the anime does not exist in either the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (manga)|''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' manga]] or original Japanese anime series. However, the concept is based on an occasionally mentioned place called the '''World of Darkness''' (''Yami no Sekai''). This was where the soul of [[Solomon Muto]] was placed after being absorbed into a "[[Soul Prison]]" card by [[Maximillion Pegasus]].<ref name="dm16">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh!|16|ref}}</ref> This World of Darkness was also mentioned by [[Titan]] in the Japanese version of ''Yu-Gi-Oh! GX''. He was taken there after losing to [[Jaden Yuki|Jaden]].<ref name="gx6">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! GX|6|ref}}</ref> Here he met [[Kagemaru]], who gave him his [[Shadow Charm]] mask, letting him return to Earth as one of the [[Shadow Riders]]. He would Duel [[Alexis Rhodes]], one of the holders of the [[Spirit Key]]s. His intent was defeat her drag her to the World of Darkness, just as [[Atticus Rhodes|her brother]] had previously been. However, he would lose to her and be dragged back to the world himself.<ref name="gx41">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! GX|41|ref}}</ref>
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Hence, the Shadow Realm is regarded as a euphemism for death and other disastrous events used for the dub.
  
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==Information==
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[[Shadow Game]]s were depicted as occurring in another dimension which is also called the Shadow Realm. It was this dark dimension (so named by [[Maximillion Pegasus]]) that formed the basis for the Shadow Realm in the English version.
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The [[Shadow Game]]s were depicted as occurring 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 of a [[Shadow Game]], a fatal wound inflicted by a Duel Monster, the power of a [[Millennium Items|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 be. Indeed, this was the entire basis for the storyline 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 Pegasus|Cecelia]], and rescuing her consciousness from the Shadow Realm. It is unclear if the souls or consciousness of a person is sent to the Shadow Realm if someone were to die from natural causes, as appears to be the case with Cecelia.
 
  
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The very concept of the Shadow Realm is often derided, mostly for the basic fact that it is a result of the censorship of some of the darker aspects of the show, but it is also partly because of some of the more preposterous insertions of the Shadow Realm. Many of the dubbed show's fans also believe that although souls can be "retrieved" from the Realm and given back to characters, unlike when dead, that this is worse in the long run, since being banished to this eternal darkness is similar to forever living in a place like Hell instead of the peaceful "afterlife" when killed in the original.
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When wagering a Duel in the Shadow Realm, Summoning and maintaining a monster requires energy. The more monsters, the more energy it seems to require. In [[Yugi Muto]] and Pegasus's final Duel, [[Yami Yugi]] had to take over for the large portion because of the strain it had caused Yugi. In [[Joey Wheeler]] and [[Yami Marik]]'s Duel, Joey would have won if he hadn't collapsed after the attack of "[[The Winged Dragon of Ra (anime)|The Winged Dragon of Ra]]" took away the rest of his stamina.
  
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An example of the unreasonable insertions is when facing the conjurer [[Arkana]], [[Yugi Muto]] comes under threat from a "[[Dark Energy Disc]]" which, if it touched him, would send his mind to 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 from bleeding out.  
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==Japanese version==
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The Shadow Realm as presented in the English language version of the anime does not exist in the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (manga)|''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' manga]] and the Japanese version of the anime. However, the concept is based on an occasionally mentioned place called the '''World of Darkness''' ({{Ruby|闇|やみ}}の{{Ruby|世界|せかい}} ''Yami no Sekai''). This was where the soul of [[Solomon Muto]] was placed after being absorbed into a "[[Soul Prison]]" card by [[Maximillion Pegasus]].<ref name="dm16">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh!|16|ref}}</ref>
  
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Similarly, the Shadow Realm was used during a tag-team Duel that involved Yugi Muto and [[Seto Kaiba]] 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 to the the Shadow Realm. In the Japanese-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 team-mate Lumis to surrender the Duel, and eventually has his mind taken over by [[Marik Ishtar]] and his [[Millennium Rod]].
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In the final manga arc, it is also mentioned by [[Akhenaden (manga)|the High Priest of Darkness]] that the loser of the Ultimate Shadow Game would not be sent to the afterlife when they die but to "a void of eternal darkness", reminiscent of descriptions of the Shadow Realm.
  
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Conversely, on occasion, the idea intersects with some of the original visuals - for instance, when [[Yami Marik]] does away with [[Mai Valentine]]'s soul, visuals distinctly show her soul to have been relocated to another plane, which the English-language version is then able to refer to as the Shadow Realm.
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In the Japanese version of ''Yu-Gi-Oh! GX'', [[Titan]] mentions that he was taken to the World of Darkness after losing to [[Jaden Yuki|Jaden]].<ref name="gx6">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! GX|6|ref}}</ref> Here, he met [[Kagemaru]], who gave him his [[Shadow Charm]] mask, letting him return to Earth as one of the [[Shadow Riders]]. He Dueled [[Alexis Rhodes]], one of the holders of the [[Spirit Key]]s, intending to defeat her and drag her to the World 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-Gi-Oh! GX|41|ref}}</ref>
  
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Also, it sometimes actually causes the show to create darker aspects - when the Rare Hunters dueling Yugi (and Kaiba in their Tag-Team Duel) fail, Marik takes over their minds and after chatting with Yugi in both versions, he angrily sends them to the Shadow Realm in the dub, instead of just making them lose consciousness for a short time (and not die) in the original.
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==Purpose==
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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 possible to retrieve a soul from the Shadow Realm.  
  
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Tying the concept together towards the show's conclusion, the demon, [[Zorc Necrophades]], is credited with the creation of the Shadow Realm in the English-language version. Some characters are pulled out of the Shadow Realm in the English anime and the English-language video games.
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==Replacements==
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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.
  
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When wagering a duel in the Shadow Realm, summoning and maintaining a monster requires energy. The more monsters, the more energy it seems to require. In Yugi and Pegasus's final duel, Yami had to take over for the large portion because of the strain it had caused on little Yugi. In Joey and Yami Marik's duel, Joey would have won if he hadn't collapsed after the Winged Dragon of Ra's attack taking away the rest of his energy and strength.
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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.
  
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The Shadow Realm may not even be real and may be only something the characters say. This is evident as it was shown that the [[High Priests|Priests]] that were "sent to the Shadow Realm", were shown in the afterlife, which is where people go after they die, in the final episode. However, there is also evidence that it ''is'' real for the dub: the Priests shown in the Shadow Realm and then the afterlife would be because after Pharaoh Atem defeated Zorc, the Priests returned from the Shadow Realm, like other known residents have after he won Shadow Games in the present, and since they were from the past, they then went to the afterlife instead and shown in the final episode there; in addition, the Shadow Realm is the dub's censor of death, so this issue of the Priests dying and going straight to the afterlife in the Japanese version could simply have been a plot hole in the difference of adaptions that wasn't fully made perfect during the translation of having a Shadow Realm in the dub.
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Likewise, Yugi Muto and [[Seto Kaiba|Seto Kaiba's]] had a Tag Duel against [[Lumis and 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 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.
  
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The Shadow Realm is similar to (and probably based on) the religious concept of '''Hell'''.
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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.
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After winning a Duel, [[Yami Bakura]] sent [[Bonz]], [[Sid]] and [[Zygor]] to Hell in the Japanese version. In the dub, they were instead sent to the Shadow Realm.
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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.
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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.
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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.
  
 
==Known residents==
 
==Known residents==
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*[[PaniK]]: After Yami Yugi beat PaniK in a Duel, PaniK attempted to kill him, but the Millennium Puzzle shielded him and he banished PaniK to the Shadow Realm with a Mind Crush.
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*[[Ghost Kaiba]]: 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.
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*[[Ghost Kaiba]]: Sent there twice, first time 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.
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*[[PaniK]]: After losing to Yami Yugi in a Duel, PaniK attempted to kill him, but the Millennium Puzzle shielded him and he banished 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 unconscious [[Yugi Muto]]), who won and used a Mind Crush to banish the mugger's soul to the Shadow Realm.
 
*The [[Mugger]]: While threatening Téa, the mugger was challenged to a card draw game by Yami (who had taken over the unconscious [[Yugi Muto]]), who won and used a Mind Crush to banish the mugger's soul to the Shadow Realm.
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*[[Seeker]]: After losing to [[Yami Yugi]] in a Duel, [[Marik Ishtar|Marik]] used the [[Millennium Rod]] to take control of the Rare Hunter's body and trap his mind in the Shadow Realm.
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*[[Seeker]]: After losing to Yami Yugi in a Duel, Marik Ishtar used the [[Millennium Rod]] to take control of the Rare Hunter's body and trap his mind in the Shadow Realm.
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*[[Arkana]]: After losing to Yami Yugi in a Duel, [[Marik Ishtar|Marik]] used the [[Millennium Rod]] to take control of Arkana's body and trap his mind in the Shadow Realm.
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*[[Arkana]]: After losing to Yami Yugi in a Duel, Marik Ishtar used the [[Millennium Rod]] to take control of Arkana's body and trap his mind in the Shadow Realm.
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*[[Lumis and Umbra|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.
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*[[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 Duel, Bakura trapped him in the Shadow Realm, along with Sid and Zygor. Presumably he never chose to release them.
 
*[[Bonz]]: After being defeated by [[Yami Bakura]] in a Duel, Bakura trapped him in the Shadow Realm, along with Sid and Zygor. Presumably he never chose to release them.
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*[[Sid]]: After Yami Bakura defeated Bonz, he trapped Sid in the Shadow Realm along with him and Zygor. It is unknown if he ever released them.
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*[[Sid]]: After Yami Bakura defeated Bonz, he trapped Sid in the Shadow Realm along with Bonz and Zygor. It is unknown if he ever released them.
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*[[Zygor]]: After Yami Bakura defeated Bonz, he trapped Zygor in the Shadow Realm along with him and Sid. It is unknown if he ever released them.
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*[[Zygor]]: After Yami Bakura defeated Bonz, he trapped Zygor in the Shadow Realm along with Bonz and Sid. It is unknown if he ever released them.
 
*[[Mr. Ishtar]]: Who was sent to the Shadow Realm by [[Yami Marik]] with the Millennium Rod.
 
*[[Mr. Ishtar]]: Who was sent to the Shadow Realm by [[Yami Marik]] with the Millennium Rod.
 
*[[Mai Valentine]]: After [[Yami Marik]] defeated her in a Duel, 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.
 
*[[Mai Valentine]]: After [[Yami Marik]] defeated her in a Duel, 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.
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*[[Ryo Bakura]]: 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 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.
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*[[Bakura Ryou]]: 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 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.
 
*[[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.
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*[[Marik Ishtar]]: After Yami Bakura was beaten by Yami Marik, he was sent to the Shadow Realm along with Yami Bakura and Ryo Bakura, 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.
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*[[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 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.
 
*[[Mushara]]: While 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.
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*[[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 cards).
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*[[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 cards).
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*[[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 cards).
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*[[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 cards).
 
*[[Mokuba Kaiba]]: Temporarily sent to the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura to make Kaiba Duel him.
 
*[[Mokuba Kaiba]]: Temporarily sent to the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura to make Kaiba Duel him.
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*[[Karim]]: Gave all his DiaDhankh energy to Shada so the Twin-Headed Jackal could destroy Giant Axe Mummy, and since his DiahDankh was depleted, his soul was trapped in the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Karim]]: Gave all his [[Ba]] to Shada so the "[[Two-Headed Jackal Warrior]]" could destroy "[[Giant Axe Mummy]]"; since his Ba was depleted, his soul was trapped in the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Aknadin]]/Shadow Magus: Destroyed by the Blue Eyes White Dragon, trapping his soul in the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Aknadin]]/Shadow Magus: Destroyed by the "[[Blue-Eyes White Dragon (anime)|Blue-Eyes White Dragon]]", trapping his soul in the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Hassan]]: He jumped in front of the guards to protect them from Zorc's attack, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Hasan]]: He jumped in front of the guards to protect them from Zorc's attack, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Shada]]: His DiaDhankh energy was depleted when he jumped in front of the Pharaoh to protect him from Zorc's attack, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Shada]]: His Ba was depleted when he jumped in front of the Pharaoh to protect him from Zorc's attack, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.  
 
*[[Isis]]: Zorc destroyed her Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress, depleting her DiaDhankh energy and trapping her soul in the Shadow Realm as she fell.  
 
*[[Isis]]: Zorc destroyed her Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress, depleting her DiaDhankh energy and trapping her soul in the Shadow Realm as she fell.  
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*[[Shimon]]: His DiaDhankh energy was depleted when his [[Exodia]] was destroyed by Zorc, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Shimon]]: His Ba was depleted when his "[[Exodia the Forbidden One]]" was destroyed by Zorc, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.  
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*[[Priest Seto]]: His DiaDhankh energy 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.
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*[[Priest Seto]]: His 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.
 
*[[Yami Bakura|Yami Bakura's fragment]]: Was sent there when he lost a Shadow Game to Yugi Muto.
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*[[Titan]]: sent to the Shadow Realm twice. The first time he was sent to the Shadow Realm after losing to Jaden then again after losing to [[Alexis Rhodes]].
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*[[Titan]]: Sent to the Shadow Realm twice. The first time he was sent to the Shadow Realm after losing to Jaden, then again after losing to [[Alexis Rhodes]].
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*[[Yami Marik]]: sent there when the real Marik surrendered his Duel to Yami Yugi after regaining control of his body.
 
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==Possible residents==
 
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*[[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.
 
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*[[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.
 
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*[[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.
 
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*[[Lumis and Umbra|Umbra]]: In the Duel against Yugi and Kaiba, Kaiba Summoned [[Obelisk the Tormentor (original)|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.
 
  
 
==Duels that took place in the Shadow Realm==
 
==Duels that took place in the Shadow Realm==
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*[[Jaden Yuki]] vs [[Titan]]
 
*[[Jaden Yuki]] vs [[Titan]]
 
*[[Alexis Rhodes]] vs [[Titan]]
 
*[[Alexis Rhodes]] vs [[Titan]]
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==Trivia==
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*The deaths of [[Cecelia Pegasus]], [[Mrs. Ishtar]], [[Gozaburo Kaiba]], [[Noah Kaiba]], the [[Big Five]], [[Dartz]] and [[Ironheart|his]] [[Chris|family]], [[Shadi]], [[Thief King Bakura]], [[Yami Bakura]], and [[Zorc Necrophades|Zorc]] were not censored with the Shadow Realm; however, Noah's death was censored by characters speculating that he 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.
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*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 loser.
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*The Shadow Realm is often believed to be Hell, as they both have a similar concept of souls being condemned to eternal torment, and the Shadow Realm's creator, Zorc, appears to be the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' version of the devil. Indeed, the Shadow Realm is used as a stand-in for Hell as the final fate of Bonz, Sid, and Zygor.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
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{{Yu-Gi-Oh! locations}}
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{{Yu-Gi-Oh! GX locations}}
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[[Category:Worlds]]

Revision as of 22:17, 30 June 2018

The Shadow Realm is alleged to be a place of suffering where people could be sent to, explicitly designed by 4Kids Entertainment for the dubbed version of the Yu-Gi-Oh! second series anime. 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 anime.

Hence, the Shadow Realm is regarded as a euphemism for death and other disastrous events used for the dub.

Shadow Games were depicted as occurring in another dimension which is also called the Shadow Realm. It was this dark dimension (so named by Maximillion Pegasus) that formed the basis for the Shadow Realm in the English version.

When wagering a Duel in the Shadow Realm, Summoning and maintaining a monster requires energy. The more monsters, the more energy it seems to require. In Yugi Muto and Pegasus's final Duel, Yami Yugi had to take over for the large portion because of the strain it had caused Yugi. In Joey Wheeler and Yami Marik's Duel, Joey would have won if he hadn't collapsed after the attack of "The Winged Dragon of Ra" took away the rest of his stamina.

Japanese version

The Shadow Realm as presented in the English language version of the anime does not exist in the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and the Japanese version of the anime. However, the concept is based on an occasionally mentioned place called the World of Darkness (闇（やみ）の世界（せかい） Yami no Sekai). This was where the soul of Solomon Muto was placed after being absorbed into a "Soul Prison" card by Maximillion Pegasus.[1]

In the final manga arc, it is also mentioned by the High Priest of Darkness that the loser of the Ultimate Shadow Game would not be sent to the afterlife when they die but to "a void of eternal darkness", reminiscent of descriptions of the Shadow Realm.

In the Japanese version of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Titan mentions that he was taken to the World of Darkness after losing to Jaden.[2] Here, he met Kagemaru, who gave him his Shadow Charm mask, letting him return to Earth as one of the Shadow Riders. He Dueled Alexis Rhodes, one of the holders of the Spirit Keys, intending to defeat her and drag her to the World of Darkness, just as her brother previously had been. However, he lost to her and was dragged back there himself.[3]

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 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 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's had a Tag Duel against Lumis and 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 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 Hell in 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.

Known residents

  • Ghost Kaiba: 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 in a Duel, PaniK attempted to kill him, but the Millennium Puzzle shielded him and he banished 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 unconscious Yugi Muto), who won and used a Mind Crush to banish the mugger's soul to the Shadow Realm.
  • Seeker: After losing to Yami Yugi in a Duel, 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 Duel, 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 Duel, 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 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 Bonz and Sid. It is unknown if he ever released them.
  • Mr. Ishtar: Who was sent to the Shadow Realm by Yami Marik with the Millennium Rod.
  • Mai Valentine: After Yami Marik defeated her in a Duel, 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.
  • Bakura Ryou: 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 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 wandering through the tomb with Ahmet and 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 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 cards).
  • Mokuba Kaiba: Temporarily sent to the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura to make Kaiba Duel him.
  • Karim: Gave all his Ba to Shada so the "Two-Headed Jackal Warrior" could destroy "Giant Axe Mummy"; since his Ba was depleted, his soul was trapped in the Shadow Realm.
  • Aknadin/Shadow Magus: Destroyed by the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon", trapping his soul in the Shadow Realm.
  • Hasan: He jumped in front of the guards to protect them from Zorc's attack, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.
  • Shada: His Ba was depleted when he jumped in front of the Pharaoh to protect him from Zorc's attack, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.
  • Isis: Zorc destroyed her Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress, depleting her DiaDhankh energy and trapping her soul in the Shadow Realm as she fell.
  • Shimon: His Ba was depleted when his "Exodia the Forbidden One" was destroyed by Zorc, causing his soul to go to the Shadow Realm.
  • Priest Seto: His 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's fragment: Was sent there when he lost a Shadow Game to Yugi Muto.
  • Titan: Sent to the Shadow Realm twice. The first 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

Trivia

  • The deaths of Cecelia Pegasus, Mrs. Ishtar, Gozaburo Kaiba, Noah Kaiba, the Big Five, Dartz and his family, Shadi, Thief King Bakura, Yami Bakura, and Zorc were not censored with the Shadow Realm; however, Noah's death was censored by characters speculating that he 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 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 the Shadow Realm's creator, Zorc, appears to be the Yu-Gi-Oh! version of the devil. Indeed, the Shadow Realm is used as a stand-in for Hell as the final fate of Bonz, Sid, and Zygor.

References

  1. ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! episode 01616: "The Scars of Defeat"
  2. ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! GX episode 0066: "The Shadow Duelist, Part 2"
  3. ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! GX episode 04141: "A Reason to Win"
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