Difference between revisions of "Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS"

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| english        = Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS  
 
| english        = Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS  
 
| kanji          = {{Ruby|遊|ゆう}}☆{{Ruby|戯|ぎ}}☆{{Ruby|王|おう}} {{Ruby|VRAINS|ヴレインズ}}  
 
| kanji          = {{Ruby|遊|ゆう}}☆{{Ruby|戯|ぎ}}☆{{Ruby|王|おう}} {{Ruby|VRAINS|ヴレインズ}}  
| romaji          = Yū☆Gi☆Ō Vureinzu
+
| romaji          = Yūgiō Vureinzu
 
| other          =  
 
| other          =  
 
| genre          =  
 
| genre          =  
Line 11: Line 11:
 
{{Infobox/Animanga/Anime
 
{{Infobox/Animanga/Anime
 
| title          =  
 
| title          =  
| director        = Masahiro Hosoda (episodes [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 001|1]] - [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 013|13]]); Asano Katsuya (episode [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 014|14]] onwards)<ref name="newdirector">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/vrains-director-change/ | title = <nowiki>The Organization | [VRAINS] Director Change</nowiki> | publisher = YGOrganization | date = August 16, 2017 | accessdate = August 16, 2017}}</ref>; Satou Tatsuo '''(directing supervision)''' (episode [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 014|14]] onwards)
+
| director        = [[Masahiro Hosoda]] (episodes [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 001|1]] - [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 013|13]]); Asano Katsuya (episode [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 014|14]] onwards);<ref name="newdirector">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/vrains-director-change/ | title = <nowiki>[VRAINS] Director Change</nowiki> | website = The Organization | date = August 16, 2017 | accessdate = August 16, 2017}}</ref> Satou Tatsuo '''(directing supervision)''' (episode [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 014|14]] onwards)
| studio          = Studio Gallop<ref name="ovrains">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/finallymydigimonandyugiohfanficisareality/ | title = <nowiki> The Organization | [VRAINS] Major Announcement of Details</nowiki> | publisher = YGOrganization | date = March 24, 2017 | accessdate = August 16, 2017}}</ref>
+
| studio          = Studio Gallop<ref name="ovrains">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/finallymydigimonandyugiohfanficisareality/ | title = <nowiki>[VRAINS] Major Announcement of Details</nowiki> | website = The Organization | date = March 24, 2017 | accessdate = August 16, 2017}}</ref>
 
| licensor        =  
 
| licensor        =  
 
| network        =
 
| network        =
 
* {{flag|Japan}} TV Tokyo
 
* {{flag|Japan}} TV Tokyo
 
* {{flag|Italy}} K2
 
* {{flag|Italy}} K2
 +
* {{flag|United States}} Pluto TV
 
* {{flag|Canada}} Teletoon - East
 
* {{flag|Canada}} Teletoon - East
 +
* {{flag|Brazil}} Pluto TV
 +
* {{flag|Australia}} 9Go!
 
| first aired    = May 10, 2017
 
| first aired    = May 10, 2017
| last aired      = present
+
| last aired      = September 25, 2019<ref name="vrainsfinal">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/solongandthanksforallthecache/ | title = <nowiki>[VRAINS] Final Episode Announced</nowiki> | author = NeoArkadia | website = The Organization | date = September 5, 2019 | accessdate = September 5, 2019}}</ref>
| num of episodes = {{#ask: [[Episode series::Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS]] [[Japanese air date::<{{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}]] |format=count}}
+
| num of episodes = 120
 
| ref            =  
 
| ref            =  
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Infobox/Animanga/End}}
 
{{Infobox/Animanga/End}}
  
'''Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS'''<ref name="title">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/sohowisthisnotstandingout/ | title = <nowiki>The Organization | [Weekly Jump] Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS Revealed!</nowiki> | publisher = YGOrganization | date = February 16, 2017 | accessdate = February 16, 2017}}</ref> is the sixth ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' anime series and the fifth main spin-off series, which began airing in Japan on May 10, 2017. It airs in Japan every Wednesday at 6:25 pm Japanese Standard Time instead of the usual Sundays as with previous series did. This series airs alongside reruns of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL]]'' as part of BS Japan's ''Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Hour'' block. It later airs alongside reruns of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds]]'' starting from November 2017.
+
'''Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS'''<ref name="title">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/sohowisthisnotstandingout/ | title = <nowiki>[Weekly Jump] Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS Revealed!</nowiki> | website = The Organization | date = February 16, 2017 | accessdate = February 16, 2017}}</ref> is the sixth ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' anime series and the fifth main spin-off series, which began airing in Japan on May 10, 2017. It airs in Japan every Wednesday at 6:25 pm Japanese Standard Time instead of the usual Sundays as with previous series did. This series airs alongside reruns of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL]]'' as part of BS Japan's ''Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Hour'' block. It later airs alongside reruns of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's]]'' starting from November 2017. The final episode aired on September 25, 2019.
  
On June 1, 2017, Crunchyroll began airing the show with subtitles, which became available in American English, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Mexican or Latin American Spanish. Future episodes will be simulcast. The English dub had a sneak preview at the end of a special screening of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light]]'' in theaters where the first episode was aired; it airs in Canada every weekend day at 1pm on Teletoon - East starting from September 2018.
+
On June 1, 2017, Crunchyroll began airing the show with subtitles to completion, which became available in American English, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Mexican or Latin American Spanish. The English dub had a sneak preview at the end of a special screening of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light]]'' in theaters where the first episode was aired; it aired in Canada every weekend day at 1pm on Teletoon - East starting from September 2018. The second season began airing with a different runtime; every Sunday at 1pm on Teletoon - East starting from September 2019. After the conclusion of its first arc on February 16, 2020, the second season resumed airing in the same format on April 5, 2020, and concluded on June 21, 2020. The third season in the dub also included episodes from the second season, beginning on September 6, 2020 and went on hiatus after ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 108|Episode 108 - Smash and Mash]]'' aired on on Teletoon.<ref name="vrainsdub_resume">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/snarkyyusakutotheend/ | title = <nowiki>[VRAINS] English Dub To Continue Recording</nowiki> | author = NeoArkadia | website = The Organization | date = August 22, 2020 | accessdate = September 7, 2020}}</ref> The rest of the third season first resumed airing in Australia on 9Go! every weekday at 6:30am, continuing with ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 109|Episode 109 - AI vs Ai]]'' on August 27, 2021 and concluding on September 13, 2021. In the United States, the English dub began airing on Pluto TV both as a streamed show and via video on demand on November 22, 2020, airing the first two episodes on the same day.<ref name="vrainsplutotv">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/vrainsondemand/ | title = <nowiki>[VRAINS] VRAINS Added to Pluto TV Video On Demand</nowiki> | author = NeoArkadia | website = The Organization | date = November 22, 2020 | accessdate = November 28, 2020}}</ref> In Brazil, the Brazilian Portuguese dub began airing on Pluto TV as a streamed show on February 1, 2021.<ref name="vrainsplutotvBr">{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/PlutoTVBR/status/1356290952122544138 | title = <nowiki>Pluto TV Brasil on Twitter</nowiki> | website=Twitter | date = February 1, 2021 | accessdate = February 2, 2021}}</ref>
  
The series stars [[Yusaku Fujiki]] as the main protagonist, and takes place in a high-school setting, featuring Virtual Reality Duels in a cyberspace constructed with [[LINK VRAINS]], the latest in virtual-reality technology. As with the previous three spin-off series (''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|5D's]]'', ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL|ZEXAL]]'', and ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V|ARC-V]]''), ''VRAINS'' introduces and focuses on a new type of Summoning: [[Link Summon]]ing, though the second season gradually reintroduces the previous Summoning methods.
+
The series stars [[Yusaku Fujiki]] as the main protagonist, and takes place in a high-school setting, featuring Virtual Reality Duels in a cyberspace constructed with [[LINK VRAINS]], the latest in virtual-reality technology. As with the previous three spin-off series (''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|5D's]]'', ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL|ZEXAL]]'', and ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V|ARC-V]]''), ''VRAINS'' introduces and focuses on a new type of Summoning: [[Link Summon]]ing, though the second season gradually reintroduces the previous Summoning methods, with the exception of [[Pendulum Summon]]ing.
 
 
The anime has a companion manga series, ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Cyber Warrior Yusaku]]''.<ref name="comicbook-announcement">{{cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/anime/2018/06/04/yu-gi-oh-vrains-manga-series-anime/|author=Megan Peters|publisher=comicbook.com|title='Yu-Gi-Oh!' Announces New Manga|date=June 3, 2018}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Story==
 
==Story==
[[File:VRAINS-VR Form Promo.png|thumb|left|Promo art of [[Yusaku Fujiki]] and "[[Decode Talker (anime)|Decode Talker]]".]]
+
[[File:VRAINS-VR Form Promo.png|thumb|left|Promo art of [[Yusaku Fujiki]] as Playmaker, and "[[Decode Talker (anime)|Decode Talker]]"]]
[[File:VRAINSLogo.png|thumb|150px|The Japanese ''VRAINS'' logo.]]
+
[[File:VRAINSLogo.png|thumb|150px|The Japanese ''VRAINS'' logo]]
The series is based in a world roughly ten years from now, where a massive Virtual Reality Network called LINK VRAINS has been established. It's a suspenseful, thriller-style story in which Yusaku Duels in order to learn the truth of the events surrounding his past.<ref name="interview">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/niceroleniceactorgo/ | title = <nowiki>The Organization | [VRAINS] Further Character Info and Story Info</nowiki> | publisher = YGOrganization | date = May 6, 2017 | accessdate = February 23, 2018}}</ref>
+
The series is based in a world roughly ten years from now, where a massive Virtual Reality Network called LINK VRAINS has been established. It's a suspenseful, thriller-style story in which [[Yusaku Fujiki]] Duels in order to learn the truth of the events surrounding his past.<ref name="interview">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/niceroleniceactorgo/ | title = <nowiki>[VRAINS] Further Character Info and Story Info</nowiki> | author = NeoArkadia | website = The Organization | date = May 6, 2017 | accessdate = February 23, 2018}}</ref>
 
 
The sixth series focuses on [[Yusaku Fujiki]], a high-schooler and a hacker who doesn't like standing out. However, he gets drawn into encounters with people as he tries out [[Duel]]ing for once.
 
  
 
There is a city where network systems have evolved: [[Den City]]. In this city, with the advanced network technology developed by the corporation "[[SOL Technologies]]", a Virtual Reality space called "[[LINK VRAINS]]" (Link Virtual Reality Artificial Intelligence Network System) has been developed. By using LINK VRAINS which was built inside the Network System, Duels unfold where Duelists change their appearance separate from their real life identities, and in this VR Space people became excited over the latest way to Duel.  
 
There is a city where network systems have evolved: [[Den City]]. In this city, with the advanced network technology developed by the corporation "[[SOL Technologies]]", a Virtual Reality space called "[[LINK VRAINS]]" (Link Virtual Reality Artificial Intelligence Network System) has been developed. By using LINK VRAINS which was built inside the Network System, Duels unfold where Duelists change their appearance separate from their real life identities, and in this VR Space people became excited over the latest way to Duel.  
  
[[File:Vrains_Promo_Poster.png|thumb|right|Poster for Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS]]
+
[[File:Vrains_Promo_Poster.png|thumb|right|Poster for ''Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS'', depicting Yusaku as Playmaker and his ace monsters, "Decode Talker" and "[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]"]]
 
However, in "LINK VRAINS", a mysterious hacker group that hacks via Dueling has appeared: [[The Knights of Hanoi]]. Their goal is to destroy the "AI World" known as "[[Cyberse (world)|Cyberse]]" that exists somewhere in the depths of the Network.
 
However, in "LINK VRAINS", a mysterious hacker group that hacks via Dueling has appeared: [[The Knights of Hanoi]]. Their goal is to destroy the "AI World" known as "[[Cyberse (world)|Cyberse]]" that exists somewhere in the depths of the Network.
  
 
However, there is one Duelist who stands against the threat to "LINK VRAINS". His name is "Playmaker". He has become famous in the Network World for crushing the "Knights of Hanoi" in fierce Duels, without mentioning his name. But the true identity of "Playmaker" is ordinary high school student "Yusaku Fujiki", who pursues the "Knights of Hanoi" that appear in VRAINS in order to find out the truth of an incident that happened in his past.
 
However, there is one Duelist who stands against the threat to "LINK VRAINS". His name is "Playmaker". He has become famous in the Network World for crushing the "Knights of Hanoi" in fierce Duels, without mentioning his name. But the true identity of "Playmaker" is ordinary high school student "Yusaku Fujiki", who pursues the "Knights of Hanoi" that appear in VRAINS in order to find out the truth of an incident that happened in his past.
 
The show's theme is "Take a step forward, and try!", on the premise that kids should start to try things out instead of just giving up at the first try due to being overwhelmed by information.<ref name="jumpfesta">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/jump-festa-2017-latest-information-stage/ | title = <nowiki>The Organization | [Jump Festa 2017] Latest Information Stage: 6th Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime</nowiki> | publisher = YGOrganization | date=December 17, 2016 | accessdate=December 17, 2016}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Characters==
 
==Characters==
Line 53: Line 50:
  
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
'''VRAINS''' is a combination of the acronyms VR, AI, and NS, standing for Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and Network System.<ref name="vrainsmeaning">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/icantpossiblyfigurethisoutcanyou/ | title = <nowiki>The Organization | [VRAINS] New Information from LABO (Week 3)</nowiki> | publisher = YGOrganization | date = April 19, 2017 | accessdate = August 16, 2017}}</ref> The acronyms are displayed prominently during the English opening.
+
'''VRAINS''' is a combination of the acronyms VR, AI, and NS, standing for Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and Network System.<ref name="vrainsmeaning">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/icantpossiblyfigurethisoutcanyou/ | title = <nowiki>[VRAINS] New Information from LABO (Week 3)</nowiki> | author = NeoArkadia | website = The Organization | date = April 19, 2017 | accessdate = August 16, 2017}}</ref> The acronyms are displayed prominently during the English opening.
  
 
==Development==
 
==Development==
As of episode 14, Masahiro Hosoda stepped down as director and was replaced by Asano Katsuya. It's to be noted that as of this episode, the backgrounds of LINK VRAINS and the Link Summoning methods were changed and added more detail, and the point gauge for Link Monsters depicts the monster's Link Markers. <ref name="newdirector" /> As of the same episode, the series is under the supervision of Satou Tatsuo (best known as the director of the ''[[wikipedia:Martian Successor Nadesico|Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' series).<ref name="Ep.14 credits">{{Episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|14|ref}}</ref>
+
As of episode 14, Masahiro Hosoda stepped down as director and was replaced by Asano Katsuya. As of this episode, the backgrounds of LINK VRAINS and the Link Summoning methods were changed and added more detail, and the point gauge for Link Monsters depicts the monster's [[Link Arrow]]s.<ref name="newdirector" /> As of the same episode, the series is under the supervision of Satou Tatsuo (best known as the director of the ''[[wikipedia:Martian Successor Nadesico|Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' series).<ref name="Ep.14 credits">{{Episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|14|ref}}</ref>
  
Production issues behind the scenes have forced the show to include a large number of "recap episodes", which the series has become notorious for. Asano Katsuya took to Twitter to apologize for these episodes after [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 038|the fourth such episode]]; explaining that they were needed to allow them to slowly improve the series.<ref name="VDapology">{{cite web|url= https://comicbook.com/anime/2018/02/09/yu-gi-oh-vrains-production-issues-director-speaks/ | title = <nowiki>Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS' Director Addresses Its Production Issues The Organization</nowiki>| publisher = comicbook/anime | date = February 9, 2018 | accessdate = August 27, 2018}}</ref>
+
Production issues behind the scenes forced the show to include a large number of "recap episodes", which the series has become notorious for. Asano Katsuya took to Twitter to apologize for these episodes after [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 038|the fourth such episode]]; explaining that they were needed to allow them to slowly improve the series.<ref name="VDapology">{{cite web|url= https://comicbook.com/anime/2018/02/09/yu-gi-oh-vrains-production-issues-director-speaks/ | title = <nowiki>Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS' Director Addresses Its Production Issues The Organization</nowiki>| publisher = comicbook/anime | date = February 9, 2018 | accessdate = August 27, 2018}}</ref>
 +
 
 +
The series appears to have changed direction during development significantly. When it was first revealed at Jump Festa 2017, Yusaku was described as a high-schooler and a hacker who doesn't like standing out, but who got drawn into encounters with people as he tries out [[Duel]]ing for once. In the series proper, Yusaku is an experienced Duelist whose social stigmas stem from both his trauma and his wish to keep others out of his fight. The show's theme was said to be "Take a step forward, and try!", on the premise that kids should start to try things out instead of just giving up at the first try due to being overwhelmed by information.<ref name="jumpfesta">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/jump-festa-2017-latest-information-stage/ | title = <nowiki>[Jump Festa 2017] Latest Information Stage: 6th Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime</nowiki> | author = NeoArkadia | website = YGOrganization | date = December 17, 2016 | accessdate = December 17, 2016}}</ref>
  
 
==Music==
 
==Music==
 
===Opening themes===
 
===Opening themes===
 
'''Japanese opening theme 1''': [[With The Wind]]
 
'''Japanese opening theme 1''': [[With The Wind]]
*'''Performer''': Hiroaki "Tommy" Tominaga
+
*'''Performer''': Hiroaki "TOMMY" Tominaga
 
*'''Episodes''': 001-046
 
*'''Episodes''': 001-046
  
 
'''Japanese opening theme 2''': [[go forward]]
 
'''Japanese opening theme 2''': [[go forward]]
 
*'''Performer''': KIMERU
 
*'''Performer''': KIMERU
*'''Episodes''': 047-???
+
*'''Episodes''': 047-102
 +
 
 +
'''Japanese opening theme 3''': [[calling]]
 +
*'''Performer''': KIMERU
 +
*'''Episodes''': 103-120
 +
 
 +
'''English opening theme''': [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS Main Theme]]
 +
*'''Episodes''': 001-onward
  
 
===Ending themes===
 
===Ending themes===
Line 76: Line 82:
  
 
'''Japanese ending theme 2''': [[Writing Life]]
 
'''Japanese ending theme 2''': [[Writing Life]]
*'''Performer''': Goodbye Holiday
+
*'''Performer''': Goodbye holiday
 
*'''Episodes''': 025-046
 
*'''Episodes''': 025-046
  
Line 84: Line 90:
  
 
'''Japanese ending theme 4''': [[glory]]
 
'''Japanese ending theme 4''': [[glory]]
*'''Performer''': BAND-MAID;
+
*'''Performer''': BAND-MAID
*'''Episodes''': 071-???
+
*'''Episodes''': 071-095
 +
 
 +
'''Japanese ending theme 5''': [[Are you ready?]]
 +
*'''Performer''': BiS
 +
*'''Episodes''': 096-120
 +
 
 +
'''English ending theme''': [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS Main Theme]]
 +
*'''Episodes''': 001-onward
  
 
==Episodes==
 
==Episodes==
{{Main|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode listing (season 1)}}
+
{{Main|''Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS'' episode listing (season 1)|''Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS'' episode listing (season 2)|''Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS'' episode listing (season 3)}}
{{Main|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode listing (season 2)}}
+
 
 +
==Differences in adaptations==
 +
===Season distribution===
 +
In both the Japanese version and the dub, Season 1 is Episodes 001-046. In the dub, Season 2 is Episodes 047-082 rather than Episodes 047-103; the rest of Season 2 would be included in Season 3 in the dub, which was originally episodes 104-120 in the Japanese version.
 +
 
 +
===General edits===
 +
General edits involve changes to dialog, names and scoring.
 +
* Some names are Americanized.
 +
* All of the music in the dub is rescored.
 +
* The point gauge sound effects are replaced with different ones than the originals, though some other sound effects are retained.
 +
* Dialogue is added in some scenes to remove silence.
 +
* The violence of the [[Hanoi Project]] is toned down in the dub. [[Yusaku Fujiki|Yusaku]] is not always shown being electrocuted for losing a Duel, merely stating that he was punished for losing. However, the mentions of starvation as punishment are still retained, as is Yusaku's resultant trauma.
 +
* Death is heavily toned down; though both occasions where [[Kiyoshi Kogami]] is said to have died retain heavily implication that he has perished. However, the death of [[Windy's partner]] is confirmed in the dub, while his survival was left ambiguous in the Japanese version.
 +
 
 +
===Paint edits===
 +
Paint edits involve changes to the footage. General edits that involve digital paint goes under this category.
 +
* The Duelists' names in the versus screen at the beginning of all Duels are removed and the LP counter is enlarged.
 +
* Skirts and socks on female characters are lengthened to avoid any sexual implications.
 +
* Most of the Japanese or English text is digitally painted out, cut or replaced with Ignis Algorithms, though more is retained than in past dubs.
 +
* Some monsters are edited to correspond with their ''TCG'' artworks; an exception is "[[Borrelguard Dragon (anime)|Borrelguard Dragon]]".
 +
* Flames, except the ones generated by [[Theodore Hamilton|Soulburner]] and [[Flame (character)|Flame]], are colored purple and characters on fire are pixelated. ([[Windy]], however, wasn't blurred, though the color of the flames was still altered.)
 +
* Virtual magenta blood or wounds are recolored to blue or purple.
 +
 
 +
===Deleted scenes===
 +
Deleted scenes involve cutting footage.
 +
* Some close up shots showing significant quantities of text are cut, including closeups on card text boxes.
 +
* Most scenes of LINK VRAINS forum posts are cut.
 +
* Some scenes that are too violent to be shown are cut, edited or shortened.
 +
* Some scenes that have sexual implications are cut, such as [[Emma Bessho|Ghost Gal]]'s Link Summoning animation which has cut down the shot that scrolls from her full body turning around to only showing her upper body, and the Link Summoning of "[[Cyberse Witch (anime)|Cyberse Witch]]".
 +
* Some scenes that depict extreme violence are often replaced or intercut with a brief scene of binary code, though there are exceptions such as when [[Ai]] ate [[Roken Kogami|Varis]]' arm.
 +
 
 +
==Trivia==
 +
* This is the first anime series:
 +
** To not have a manga counterpart.
 +
** To lack [[Battle Royale]] Duels and 2 v 2 Tag Duels, though it featured 1 v 2 Tag Duels.
 +
* This is the first anime series since [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (anime)|the original]] whose English theme song lacks lyrics.
 +
** While the opening theme for ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' has no lyrics, it does contain verbal words in the form of dialogue from Yami Yugi, whereas the opening for ''Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS'' does not contain any verbal words at all and instead contains a chorus.
 +
* This is the last anime series to have [[Studio Gallop]] as the head animators for the series. The following series, ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS]]'',  has [[Bridge]] now serving as the primary animation studio.
 +
* This is the only anime series to not have a tournament focused arc or any tournaments at all.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
Line 97: Line 148:
 
{{Yu-Gi-Oh!}}
 
{{Yu-Gi-Oh!}}
  
[[Category:Anime series]]
+
[[Category:Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS| ]]
 +
[[Category:Anime series|VRAINS]]

Latest revision as of 09:01, 1 March 2024

Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS

Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS

Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINSゆうおう VRAINSヴレインズYūgiō Vureinzu

Anime series
Directed by

Masahiro Hosoda (episodes 1 - 13); Asano Katsuya (episode 14 onwards);[1] Satou Tatsuo (directing supervision) (episode 14 onwards)

Studio

Studio Gallop[2]

Network
  • Japan TV Tokyo
  • Italy K2
  • United States Pluto TV
  • Canada Teletoon - East
  • Brazil Pluto TV
  • Australia 9Go!
Original run

May 10, 2017 — September 25, 2019[3]

No. of episodes

120

Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS[4] is the sixth Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series and the fifth main spin-off series, which began airing in Japan on May 10, 2017. It airs in Japan every Wednesday at 6:25 pm Japanese Standard Time instead of the usual Sundays as with previous series did. This series airs alongside reruns of Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL as part of BS Japan's Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Hour block. It later airs alongside reruns of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's starting from November 2017. The final episode aired on September 25, 2019.

On June 1, 2017, Crunchyroll began airing the show with subtitles to completion, which became available in American English, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Mexican or Latin American Spanish. The English dub had a sneak preview at the end of a special screening of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light in theaters where the first episode was aired; it aired in Canada every weekend day at 1pm on Teletoon - East starting from September 2018. The second season began airing with a different runtime; every Sunday at 1pm on Teletoon - East starting from September 2019. After the conclusion of its first arc on February 16, 2020, the second season resumed airing in the same format on April 5, 2020, and concluded on June 21, 2020. The third season in the dub also included episodes from the second season, beginning on September 6, 2020 and went on hiatus after Episode 108 - Smash and Mash aired on on Teletoon.[5] The rest of the third season first resumed airing in Australia on 9Go! every weekday at 6:30am, continuing with Episode 109 - AI vs Ai on August 27, 2021 and concluding on September 13, 2021. In the United States, the English dub began airing on Pluto TV both as a streamed show and via video on demand on November 22, 2020, airing the first two episodes on the same day.[6] In Brazil, the Brazilian Portuguese dub began airing on Pluto TV as a streamed show on February 1, 2021.[7]

The series stars Yusaku Fujiki as the main protagonist, and takes place in a high-school setting, featuring Virtual Reality Duels in a cyberspace constructed with LINK VRAINS, the latest in virtual-reality technology. As with the previous three spin-off series (5D's, ZEXAL, and ARC-V), VRAINS introduces and focuses on a new type of Summoning: Link Summoning, though the second season gradually reintroduces the previous Summoning methods, with the exception of Pendulum Summoning.

Story[edit]

Promo art of Yusaku Fujiki as Playmaker, and "Decode Talker"
The Japanese VRAINS logo

The series is based in a world roughly ten years from now, where a massive Virtual Reality Network called LINK VRAINS has been established. It's a suspenseful, thriller-style story in which Yusaku Fujiki Duels in order to learn the truth of the events surrounding his past.[8]

There is a city where network systems have evolved: Den City. In this city, with the advanced network technology developed by the corporation "SOL Technologies", a Virtual Reality space called "LINK VRAINS" (Link Virtual Reality Artificial Intelligence Network System) has been developed. By using LINK VRAINS which was built inside the Network System, Duels unfold where Duelists change their appearance separate from their real life identities, and in this VR Space people became excited over the latest way to Duel.

Poster for Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, depicting Yusaku as Playmaker and his ace monsters, "Decode Talker" and "Firewall Dragon"

However, in "LINK VRAINS", a mysterious hacker group that hacks via Dueling has appeared: The Knights of Hanoi. Their goal is to destroy the "AI World" known as "Cyberse" that exists somewhere in the depths of the Network.

However, there is one Duelist who stands against the threat to "LINK VRAINS". His name is "Playmaker". He has become famous in the Network World for crushing the "Knights of Hanoi" in fierce Duels, without mentioning his name. But the true identity of "Playmaker" is ordinary high school student "Yusaku Fujiki", who pursues the "Knights of Hanoi" that appear in VRAINS in order to find out the truth of an incident that happened in his past.

Characters[edit]

Etymology[edit]

VRAINS is a combination of the acronyms VR, AI, and NS, standing for Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and Network System.[9] The acronyms are displayed prominently during the English opening.

Development[edit]

As of episode 14, Masahiro Hosoda stepped down as director and was replaced by Asano Katsuya. As of this episode, the backgrounds of LINK VRAINS and the Link Summoning methods were changed and added more detail, and the point gauge for Link Monsters depicts the monster's Link Arrows.[1] As of the same episode, the series is under the supervision of Satou Tatsuo (best known as the director of the Martian Successor Nadesico series).[10]

Production issues behind the scenes forced the show to include a large number of "recap episodes", which the series has become notorious for. Asano Katsuya took to Twitter to apologize for these episodes after the fourth such episode; explaining that they were needed to allow them to slowly improve the series.[11]

The series appears to have changed direction during development significantly. When it was first revealed at Jump Festa 2017, Yusaku was described as a high-schooler and a hacker who doesn't like standing out, but who got drawn into encounters with people as he tries out Dueling for once. In the series proper, Yusaku is an experienced Duelist whose social stigmas stem from both his trauma and his wish to keep others out of his fight. The show's theme was said to be "Take a step forward, and try!", on the premise that kids should start to try things out instead of just giving up at the first try due to being overwhelmed by information.[12]

Music[edit]

Opening themes[edit]

Japanese opening theme 1: With The Wind

  • Performer: Hiroaki "TOMMY" Tominaga
  • Episodes: 001-046

Japanese opening theme 2: go forward

  • Performer: KIMERU
  • Episodes: 047-102

Japanese opening theme 3: calling

  • Performer: KIMERU
  • Episodes: 103-120

English opening theme: Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS Main Theme

  • Episodes: 001-onward

Ending themes[edit]

Japanese ending theme 1: Believe In Magic

  • Performer: Ryoga
  • Episodes: 001-024

Japanese ending theme 2: Writing Life

  • Performer: Goodbye holiday
  • Episodes: 025-046

Japanese ending theme 3: BOY

  • Performer: uchuu;
  • Episodes: 047-070

Japanese ending theme 4: glory

  • Performer: BAND-MAID
  • Episodes: 071-095

Japanese ending theme 5: Are you ready?

  • Performer: BiS
  • Episodes: 096-120

English ending theme: Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS Main Theme

  • Episodes: 001-onward

Episodes[edit]

Differences in adaptations[edit]

Season distribution[edit]

In both the Japanese version and the dub, Season 1 is Episodes 001-046. In the dub, Season 2 is Episodes 047-082 rather than Episodes 047-103; the rest of Season 2 would be included in Season 3 in the dub, which was originally episodes 104-120 in the Japanese version.

General edits[edit]

General edits involve changes to dialog, names and scoring.

  • Some names are Americanized.
  • All of the music in the dub is rescored.
  • The point gauge sound effects are replaced with different ones than the originals, though some other sound effects are retained.
  • Dialogue is added in some scenes to remove silence.
  • The violence of the Hanoi Project is toned down in the dub. Yusaku is not always shown being electrocuted for losing a Duel, merely stating that he was punished for losing. However, the mentions of starvation as punishment are still retained, as is Yusaku's resultant trauma.
  • Death is heavily toned down; though both occasions where Kiyoshi Kogami is said to have died retain heavily implication that he has perished. However, the death of Windy's partner is confirmed in the dub, while his survival was left ambiguous in the Japanese version.

Paint edits[edit]

Paint edits involve changes to the footage. General edits that involve digital paint goes under this category.

  • The Duelists' names in the versus screen at the beginning of all Duels are removed and the LP counter is enlarged.
  • Skirts and socks on female characters are lengthened to avoid any sexual implications.
  • Most of the Japanese or English text is digitally painted out, cut or replaced with Ignis Algorithms, though more is retained than in past dubs.
  • Some monsters are edited to correspond with their TCG artworks; an exception is "Borrelguard Dragon".
  • Flames, except the ones generated by Soulburner and Flame, are colored purple and characters on fire are pixelated. (Windy, however, wasn't blurred, though the color of the flames was still altered.)
  • Virtual magenta blood or wounds are recolored to blue or purple.

Deleted scenes[edit]

Deleted scenes involve cutting footage.

  • Some close up shots showing significant quantities of text are cut, including closeups on card text boxes.
  • Most scenes of LINK VRAINS forum posts are cut.
  • Some scenes that are too violent to be shown are cut, edited or shortened.
  • Some scenes that have sexual implications are cut, such as Ghost Gal's Link Summoning animation which has cut down the shot that scrolls from her full body turning around to only showing her upper body, and the Link Summoning of "Cyberse Witch".
  • Some scenes that depict extreme violence are often replaced or intercut with a brief scene of binary code, though there are exceptions such as when Ai ate Varis' arm.

Trivia[edit]

  • This is the first anime series:
    • To not have a manga counterpart.
    • To lack Battle Royale Duels and 2 v 2 Tag Duels, though it featured 1 v 2 Tag Duels.
  • This is the first anime series since the original whose English theme song lacks lyrics.
    • While the opening theme for Yu-Gi-Oh! has no lyrics, it does contain verbal words in the form of dialogue from Yami Yugi, whereas the opening for Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS does not contain any verbal words at all and instead contains a chorus.
  • This is the last anime series to have Studio Gallop as the head animators for the series. The following series, Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS, has Bridge now serving as the primary animation studio.
  • This is the only anime series to not have a tournament focused arc or any tournaments at all.

References[edit]

  1. a b "[VRAINS] Director Change". The Organization. August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  2. "[VRAINS] Major Announcement of Details". The Organization. March 24, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  3. NeoArkadia (September 5, 2019). "[VRAINS] Final Episode Announced". The Organization. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  4. "[Weekly Jump] Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS Revealed!". The Organization. February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  5. NeoArkadia (August 22, 2020). "[VRAINS] English Dub To Continue Recording". The Organization. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  6. NeoArkadia (November 22, 2020). "[VRAINS] VRAINS Added to Pluto TV Video On Demand". The Organization. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  7. "Pluto TV Brasil on Twitter". Twitter. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  8. NeoArkadia (May 6, 2017). "[VRAINS] Further Character Info and Story Info". The Organization. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  9. NeoArkadia (April 19, 2017). "[VRAINS] New Information from LABO (Week 3)". The Organization. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  10. Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 01414: "An Invitation"
  11. "Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS' Director Addresses Its Production Issues The Organization". comicbook/anime. February 9, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  12. NeoArkadia (December 17, 2016). "[Jump Festa 2017] Latest Information Stage: 6th Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime". YGOrganization. Retrieved December 17, 2016.