Shadow Riders

The Shadow Riders, known in Japan as the Seven Stars Assassins (セブンスターズ刺客, Sebunsutāzu Shikaku?), are a fictional group of villains in the anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX in Japan) appearing between episodes 29-49.

Composed of seven duelists and their leader of varying origins and backgrounds who each have their own agendas, the Shadow Riders serve as the main antagonists of the series' first season, intent on resurrecting the Sacred Beasts.

Character design

The Shadow Riders' designs incorporate multiple layers of clothing and a wide range of expressions. Depicted here is Nightshroud in full regalia from front and rear alongside views of his head and mask from different angles.

File:Amnael Linework.jpg

The Shadow Riders' designs incorporate multiple layers of clothing and a wide range of expressions. Depicted here is Amnael in full regalia from front and rear alongside views of his head from different angles and levels of concealment.

The Shadow Riders' character designs were overseen by Kenichi Hara. An example of one of these concepts can be seen in Nightshroud, who wears a tight-fitting overcoat with raised shoulders and waistline and gold and green trimmings. His dark dragon mask, similar to that worn by his signature monster "Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon", is completely black with the exception of blue eye-pieces and a red stone in the center of the forehead. In this incarnation, the bangs closest to his face are postitioned in front of the mask. He carries an Academy-issued Duel Disk on his left hand.

Another example can be seen in Amnael, who wears a hooded tunic with a flowing red scarf, boots, and a mask with yellow eye-pieces. On his right hand is a glove made of heavier material, and he carries a black model of the Academy-issued Duel Disk on his left despite the second Japanese opening sequence featuring his alter ego with the standard Disk given to all students and staff before his official debut as Amnael. In this incarnation, he has white hair, and the sides of his face are covered in pronounced veins and cracks.

History

Enlisted by the elderly Kagemaru in his quest to retrieve his lost youth, the Shadow Riders are a collection of elite duelists who work towards the goal of reviving the Sacred Beast Cards (三幻魔, Sangenma?, Three Phantom Demons in the Japanese version). Each of the members that Jaden Yuki (Judai Yuki) and company face possess a Shadow Charm (闇のアイテム, Yami no Aitemu?, Dark Item in the Japanese version), similar to the Millennium Items in terms of supernatural power, but of unknown origin. These relics bestow upon their owners different abilities depending on the Shadow Rider in question.

In the past, Kagemaru was forced to seal the Sacred Beasts away behind the Spirit Gate underneath Duel Academy (Duel Academia) due to their inability to grant his wish at that time. In order to access their true abilities, he bestows upon Chancellor Sheppard (Samejima) the seven keys capable of unlocking the Spirit Gate, and pits his subordinates against the school's finest to create the strong dueling presence needed to resurrect the Sacred Beasts.

Membership

• Kagemaru (Leader)
• Nightshroud
• Camula
• Tania
• Don Zaloog
• Abidos
• Titan
• Amnael