Well I've watched every single Yu-Gi-Oh anime, might as well talk about my favorite one. As I get used to experiencing disappointment from this franchise, I like to think back to those dazzling memories from my childhood when I watched 5D's for the first time. It was the first rematch between Yusei Fudo and Officer Trudge and it was epic. The monsters, the speed, the motocross action, it was the perfect combination of adrenaline.
I still think Synchro Summoning is the most creative summoning method to come out of this franchise. It's like you're tuning up the monsters like race cars. And combined with great motocross action it's like a blend of Pokémon and Akira.
But what usually kills it for me is the god awful English Dub. I can usually tolerate 4Kids fine in family shows like the Kirby anime, but 5D's was clearly designed for a teen rated audience, and the over censorship really did a number on the story. Characters can't die, bad jokes ruin the tension, and an entire season is cut out. Good God, they erased another Yu-Gi-Oh finale from America.
Of course I won't reveal what happens in the end, but you'd better stick the sub version if you want your sanity to stay intact. Though I do also feel bad saying that, because I liked the voice actors they picked for this show. Everybody sounds like they're having a ball, even while holding such a cheesy script.
Gregory Abbey somehow went from playing one of the most forgettable characters in Duel Monsters to playing one of the most complex characters in 5D's. And he is just nailing Yusei Fudo's character. Always acting in a very organized yet energetic fashion. Rarely expressing joy, yet beneath the stoic exterior lies an intense passion for dueling.
It's these elements that I'd argue make Yusei Fudo, the best written Yu-Gi-Oh protagonist. And with a story that does a good job of alerting the audience he's not invincible with flashbacks and a near death experience with Kalin Kessler, it makes his journey to restore order to his unbalanced city all the more satisfying. Seeing him speed up, slow down, and then speed up again is instant adrenaline.
Like I said earlier, I have had a lot of annoying experience with the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise. The anime has hundreds of annoying moments and I have yet to play a good Yu-Gi-Oh video game. I have plenty of frustration bottled up regarding Konami's shortcomings.
But when I watch the legendary dragons of red and white clash as Yusei explains his former best friend about how he inspired him to become a master duelist, while using those mastered techniques to defeat his foes, Everything just comes together like a well tailored suit. Each thread connects with another.
I cannot deny awesome writing. The rivalry between Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas might be better than Yugi and Kaiba's. And that's really saying something, because I also like those characters a lot.
Honestly most of the modern Yu-Gi-Oh anime these days seems to pander towards younger kids. Though I would love to see a return to teen rated Yu-Gi-Oh with exciting storytelling. Definitely take notes from 5D's. Aside from a few bad filler episodes and the 4kids dub, I still found this show to be really enjoyable. I would love to see a concept as creative as card games on motorcycles in future installments. With a much more professional English dub of course. Rev it up and check it out today.
