Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 001

Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 001

Names
Series
Number	1
Season	1
Staff
Screenplay	Shin Yoshida
Chronology
Cards
Japanese gallery

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"Link into the VRAINS", known as "My Name Is Playmaker" in the Japanese version, is the first episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS anime. It first aired in Japan on May 10, 2017, became available with official subtitles via Crunchyroll on June 1, 2017, and aired in Canada on September 1, 2018.

Den City is the city where the newest network technology was developed. There we have the LINK VRAINS, a cyberspace managed by the SOL Technologies Inc. where people Duel night and day. Our protagonist, Yusaku Fujiki, is a cool student with excellent observation abilities. In order to defeat a group who plans to ruin the LINK VRAINS, the Knights of Hanoi, he transforms into his avatar Playmaker and Duels them. One day, Yusaku gets the information that SOL Technology is desperately searching for: a mysterious lifeform with the help of Kolter, a hacker who shares Yusaku's goals. Noticing the Knights of Hanoi are also after it, Yusaku prepares a trap and plans his capture strategies...

Synopsis

The Knights of Hanoi are attacking Cyberse, while Varis calls upon "Cracking Dragon" to destroy Cyberse. A yellow AI that was captured comments that the Knights are attacking Cyberse, and an orange one adds that they are trapped, so they cannot fight the Knights. Out of nowhere, a purple AI appears heroically, stating how he was not trapped due to him being an outcast, then moving to save the other AI. Varis sends the "Cracking Dragon" to catch the purple AI, but he breaks out of the Cyberse, then cuts the signal to stop the Knights' attack. A green AI states in shock that by doing so, the purple AI will not be able to return to Cyberse. The purple AI successfully hides the Cyberse but gets eaten by "Cracking Dragon", leaving only his eye. Varis returns to his base and demands that the eye is tracked down, while the eye vanishes into the network.

Five years later, in Den City, A mysterious Duelist is dueling with a Knight of Hanoi. The Duelist commands his "Linkslayer" to attack the Knight's "Hack Worm" with "Meteor Slash", destroying it. The Knight demands to know who the Duelist is and why he opposes Hanoi. Meanwhile, the eye, hiding in the eye of the gargoyle statue, spectates the Duel. The Duelist responds that he will be there whenever the Knights cause chaos, then states his name: Playmaker.

In Den City High School, Yusaku wakes up after hearing a voice telling him to wake up. Naoki walks past Yusaku, then starts to talk to him. Yusaku asks Naoki his name, to which Naoki chastises him for not knowing his classmate's name after a month of school, noting that Yusaku must not have many friends. Naoki introduces himself and tries to show off his new Duel Disk, but Yusaku takes no notice of it until Naoki shows it in front of his face. Naoki notes how Yusaku uses an "old-style" Duel Disk that requires physical cards, boasting that his Duel Disk has an AI installed and that the AI is connected to the SOL Technologies' cloud, so he does not need physical cards. He also boasts about having priority access to Link VRAINS, as he presses a button to bring up a screen of Link VRAINS, where multiple Duels are being held. Yusaku casually asks whether Naoki has gone to Link VRAINS, but Naoki shouts "Don't be stupid!" The AI on Naoki's Duel Disk scolds Naoki, saying that "stupid" is a forbidden word. Naoki comments that Link VRAINS is a "special gathering place", and that "Charisma Duelists go there too", so he says that he cannot go there as easily as Yusaku thinks. Naoki thinks about how if he goes to Link VRAINS, he may be able to meet some Charisma Duelists or Playmaker. Yusaku queries about Playmaker, and Naoki describes Playmaker as a Duelist who secretly fights the Knights of Hanoi. Yusaku asks if Naoki has a picture of Playmaker, but Naoki denies it, saying that no one knows his identity. Yusaku prepares to leave, wishing Naoki good luck, but Naoki asks Yusaku if the latter would like the former to teach him how to Duel. Yusaku calmly rejects his proposal, because he thinks Naoki is not a strong Duelist and gives three reasons why: Naoki brags about his Duel Disk instead of his Deck; Naoki hasn't gone to Link VRAINS because he doesn't trust his own skills; and that Naoki doesn't look past the surface. This shocks Naoki, but Yusaku gives three good things about Naoki: that he loves Duel Monsters; he is well-informed; he talked to a loner like Yusaku, meaning he is a loner himself. Naoki, surprised by Yusaku's words, angrily asks Yusaku "what's with this "three" stuff" and runs off, telling Yusaku to go Duel by himself. Yusaku then notes that he never thought about it, questioning about a three Main Monster Zone limit before shrugging it off.

In Link VRAINS, the eye appears, only to be detected and chased immediately by security drones. and runs away. At SOL Technologies, Akira Zaizen, the security manager, contacts Bishop, talking about how Ignis has appeared, and that it is somewhere in the network. Bishop comments that SOL Technologies is the leader of the network because of the data material that the Cyberse created for them. However, due to the Knights' attack five years ago, the Ignis hid the Cyberse, causing the amount of data material to decrease and the network efficiency to decrease by 30%, prompting a search for the Ignis. Bishop urges Akira to find the Ignis, or the network will fall into chaos, and SOL Technologies will fall with it, instructing him to use whatever means necessary.

At the base of Hanoi, Spectre reports to Varis that they have a lead on Ignis. Spectre says that Cyberse will resurrect if SOL Technologies get to Ignis first, and Varis adds that they must find Ignis first, or their efforts will be wasted. Spectre informs Varis of one more concern he has: Playmaker, who will intervene in the Knights' activities. Varis briefly questions if Playmaker is SOL Technologies' assassin, but shrugs off the thought as SOL Technologies would be more public in the way they deal with the Knights. Spectre adds that Playmaker blocks them when they try to track him and that he erases all his Link VRAINS logins, concluding that he is an expert hacker. Although Playmaker concerns him, Varis instructs Spectre to focus on Ignis.

Yusaku sits outside a hotdog van with Kolter, and looks at a banner of two Duelists, asking Kolter who they are. Kolter replies, telling Yusaku that they are Charisma Duelists Go Onizuka and Blue Angel. Kolter asks Yusaku if he heard of a Data Storm. Yusaku says he has not, and Kolter explains that it is a wind that blew through Link VRAINS and that people used to Speed Duel there. Kolter brings up rumours of brand new monsters that lived in the Data Storm. Kolter comments that if Yusaku finds it, he might enjoy Dueling again. He adds that he feels sorry for getting Yusaku involved, but Yusaku says that he does this of his own free will, swearing to get revenge on those who took the past away from Kolter's younger brother and Yusaku.

Yusaku asks Kolter if there have been any changes, to which the latter replies that Den City's network security was strengthened, adding that SOL Technologies is looking for an AI program. Yusaku comments how he had never heard of an AI that can flee, as they do not have free will. Kolter says that SOL Technologies will use a large-scale scan to look for the program, and Yusaku adds that Hanoi will also come for it if they do. Yusaku then thinks back to the Knight asking him why he opposes Hanoi, then comes up with an idea, and enters the hotdog truck with Kolter. Yusaku asks Kolter to build a trap to capture the AI, planning to use it as his secret weapon against Hanoi. Yusaku plans to create an escape route for it during the large-scale scan by creating a hole in the firewall that leads into Yusaku's Duel Disk. Kolter says it is impossible to do so in the short time they have, but Yusaku says that it is if the two work together, which Kolter agrees to.

Akira contacts Bishop again, with the latter asking if the scan was ready. Akira replies that it is ready, but Bishop asks why the scan has not been initiated yet. Akira explains that the city's security level will decrease during the scan and that if Hanoi attacks, the damage will be enormous. Bishop asks if there is any other way to find Ignis, and Akira hesitantly replies there is no other way.

At night, the commentator announces the commencement of multiple Duels involving Charisma Duelists, including Go Onizuka and Blue Angel. Meanwhile, SOL Technologies begins their scan of Link VRAINS, and the eye tries its best to escape. Kolter tells Yusaku to hurry, while Spectre informs Varis that the security level of Den City has started to decrease. A Knight of Hanoi reports to Varis, and the latter instructs the former to do whatever it takes to capture Ignis. The Knight breaches the firewall of Link VRAINS, and breaks through with "Cracking Dragon". Kolter notices this and informs Yusaku. Yusaku feels a weird sensation at this point and ponders about it.

The Knight begins its attack on Link VRAINS, causing widespread destruction. "Cracking Dragon" uses its fire breath attack on the civilians in Link VRAINS, causing their accounts to get erased. The Knight corners the eye and moves to capture it. Then, Yusaku completes his program, and activates it, creating an escape route for the eye. The eye then takes the escape route. Yusaku and Kolter leave the van, and Yusaku raises his Duel Disk in the air. The transfer completes, and the eye is caught in Yusaku's Duel Disk. The eye, in surprise, looks at Yusaku and looks for a way out, but Yusaku states that the eye has no way of changing the program from within the Duel Disk.

Blue Angel is being chased by "Cracking Dragon" and, seeing this, Yusaku rushes into the van and logs into Link VRAINS as Playmaker. "Cracking Dragon" readies a fire breath attack to erase Blue Angel's account, but Playmaker saves her, much to Blue Angel's surprise as she asks who Playmaker is. The Knight asks the same question, and Playmaker replies. Playmaker adds that he has the program that the Knights are looking for and that if the Knights want them, then they have to defeat Playmaker in a Duel. The Knight accepts his proposal for a Duel. However, the eye notes that Playmaker cannot win with his current Deck, and releases Cyberse's data material. This causes a Data Storm to appear in Link VRAINS, much to the surprise of the Knight, Kolter and everyone watching. The eye then summons a D-Board. Playmaker jumps on it, and begins to ride the Data Storm.

Featured Duel: Playmaker vs. Knight of Hanoi

Duel is shown from an unspecified turn. Playmaker controls "Linkslayer" (2000/600) in Attack Position and the Knight of Hanoi controls "Hack Worm" (400/0). Neither player has any cards in their hand.

Playmaker's turn
"Linkslayer" attacks and destroys "Hack Worm".

The rest of the Duel is not shown, but Playmaker wins.

Featured cards

The following cards appeared in this episode. Cards in italics debuted here.

Playmaker (Yusaku Fujiki)
Monster Cards Effect Monsters Linkslayer

Varis
Monster Cards Effect Monsters Cracking Dragon x3

Knights of Hanoi
Monster Cards Effect Monsters Cracking Dragon Hack Worm

Other
Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Digital Bug Websolder Evilswarm Mandragora Marauding Captain Zoodiac Ratpier Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Digital Bug Corebage Zoodiac Hammerkong

Cast

Japanese character name	Japanese voice actor
Yusaku Fujiki/Playmaker	Shouya Ishige
Mysterious Lifeform	Takahiro Sakurai
Shoichi Kusanagi	Subaru Kimura
Naoki Shima	Chiharu Sawashiro
Go Onizuka	Daiki Hamano
Aoi Zaizen/Blue Angel	Yuki Nakashima
Akira Zaizen	Shouma Yamamoto
Revolver	Shunsuke Takeuchi
Spectre	Kajimoto Daiki
Bishop	IKKAN
Programmer	Hase Norihito
Programmer	Ikumi Hasegawa
Operator	Yusuke Tonozaki
Operator	Mako Muto
Boy	Minami Takahashi
Voice of AI	Maasaki Yano

In other languages

Language	Title
German	Mein Name lautet Playmaker
Italian	VRAINS
Portuguese	Meu nome é Playmaker
Spanish	Mi nombre es Playmaker

Trivia

• This marks the first time that a new Type is introduced in the first episode.