Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (which is known as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX in Japan), is a Yu-Gi-Oh! spin-off series; the GX stands for “Generation neXt.” The series, which takes place ten years after the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series, features a new protagonist and a new plotline not based off of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga series. The anime was produced by Nihon Ad Systems, and was directed by Hatsuki Tsuji. The anime first aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from October 6, 2004, and ended its 180-episode run on March 26, 2008.

4Kids Entertainment licensed Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, but made a lot of edits to the property in order to skew the show to a younger demographic. The names for many of the characters and the cards were changed. Darker and more controversial themes (such as death, murder, mass murder, and religion) are all but absent from the English dub version.

The first half of the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX has a light, whimsical feel to it. However, the second half of the first season suddenly changes, by establishing a darker atmosphere and introducing supernatural elements. The second season had a strong thematic element built around destiny. While the third season continued with the destiny theme, more emphasis was put onto emotional torment.

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX begins with Jaden Yuki (known as Judai Yuki in the original Japanese version), trying to make it to the Duel Academy entrance exam on time. On his way, he has a chance meeting with Yugi Moto. Out of the blue, Yugi hands Jaden his Winged Kuriboh card.

The Duel Academy (known as Duel Academia in Japan) is the main setting for Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. The academy was started by Seito Kaiba, and is located on a remote island in the Southern Seas. The dormitories are named after the three Egyptian God Cards from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series.

During his time at the academy, Jaden makes friends and enemies with some of the other students. They include: Alexis Rhodes and her brother, Atticus (known as Asuka and Fubuki Tenjoin in Japan), Syrus Tuesdale (Sho Marufuji in Japan), Chazz Princeton (Jun Manjoume in Japan), and Bastion Misawa (Daichi Misawa in Japan). Vellian Crowler (Cronos de Medici in Japan) is a professor who has a vendetta against Jaden. During the series, there are also a few antagonists: Kagemaru, the Shadow Riders (known as the Seven Stars Assassins in Japan), Sartorius (known as Saiou in Japan), Yubel, and Nightshroud (known as Darkness in Japan).

During their first two years at the academy, Jaden and the other students face major threats: the Shadow Riders (who want to revive the Sacred Beasts by creating a strong dueling presence on the island) and the Society of Light (a group that intends to enslave humanity with the mind control satellite of Misgarth). During their third year, the Duel Academy is transported to another world, and into the hands of the Martin Empire. Jaden and the others must find a way to return to their own world.

Personally, I was never much of a fan of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. The whole concept of the Duel Academy, where the students only learn how to play the Duel Monsters game, never really worked for me. It felt as if the company behind Yu-Gi-Oh! was trying too hard to find a way to keep the franchise going without running the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series into the ground.