Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is a Japanese manga and anime series and the third main spin-off
series of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. The manga began serialization in Shueisha's
V-Jump magazine from December 2010 and is licensed in North America by Viz
Media. The anime series, produced by Nihon Ad
Systems and Studio Gallop, aired on TV Tokyo between April 2011 and September
2012, following the previous anime series, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, with an
English-language version airing in North America between October 2011 and August
2013. A second series titled Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II aired in Japan between October
2012 and March 2014 and in North America between August 2013 and February 2015.
The series was succeeded by Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.
The series aired on The CW's Saturday morning cartoon block, Toonzai, and
continued to air on its successor, Vortexx. The series was later broadcast
on Nicktoons starting April 12, 2013. After Vortexx folded, new episodes were
streamed to Hulu beginning July 14, 2014. In Canada, the series aired on YTV
starting June 2, 2012, while new episodes of Zexal II moved to Teletoon
on May 4, 2014. Plot and setting
Taking place in the near future in a place called Heartland City, the story
focuses on Yuma Tsukumo, a young duelist who strives to become the Duel Monsters
champion, despite being an amateur. One day, during a duel with a rival named
Shark, a mysterious spirit called Astral appears before him, and helps him to
win. Astral explains to Yuma he is searching for his lost memories, which
have been transformed into 100 Xyz Monster cards called Numbers, which have
been scattered across the globe. The Numbers have the ability to possess the
duelists who own them, and bring out their darkest desires. In order to
recover his memories, Astral teams up with Yuma in order to recover the Number
cards. After coming up against a boy named Kite Tenjo, who is hunting after
Numbers, Yuma and Astral gain the ability to combine their forces using
the power of ZEXAL. Entering the World Duel Carnival tournament, Yuma finds
himself up against various rivals, including the vengeance-seeking Vetrix
and the maniacal Dr. Faker, who seek the Numbers for their own gain.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II takes place right after the end of the first series. In
this new story, as the curtain falls on the World Duel Carnival, peace has
finally returned to Heartland City. But now, forces from Barian World, a world
hostile to Astral World, are aiming at taking the "Numbers" and Astral for
themselves. In order to protect Astral, Yuma, Kite, and Shark stand together to
combat the Barian threat. Media
= Manga= A manga series written by Shin Yoshida
and illustrated by Naohito Miyoshi began serialization in the extended February
2011 issue of Shueisha's V Jump magazine, released on December 18, 2010.
The first bound volume was released in Japan on June 3, 2011. Viz Media
licensed the manga in North America and began releasing the series from June 5,
2012. The manga also began serialization on the digital Shonen Jump Alpha from
July 9, 2012. A spin-off manga written by Akihiro Tomonaga and illustrated by
Wedge Holdings, titled Yu-Gi-Oh! D-Team Zexal, began serialization in Shueisha's
Saikyō Jump magazine from April 2012 to April 2014.
= Anime= The anime was first teased on December
9, 2010, revealing details would be unveiled at the Japanese encore
screening of Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time on February 20, 2011. The series'
name was revealed on December 13, 2010, via a leak from the February 2011 issue
of V Jump. It was revealed that Satoshi Kuwahara would be the director, that
scripts would be supervised by Shin Yoshida, that Masahiro Hikokubo would
choreograph the duels, and that Hirotoshi Takaya would adapt the
character designs for the anime. A one minute promotional video was released on
December 17, 2010. The anime aired on TV Tokyo between April 11, 2011 and
September 24, 2012. A second series titled Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II aired between
October 7, 2012 and March 23, 2014 in a different time slot.
An English adaptation by 4Kids Entertainment premiered on October 15,
2011 on Toonzai. Although, TV Tokyo and Nihon Ad Systems filed a lawsuit against
4Kids Entertainment and demanded the termination of the Yu-Gi-Oh! licensing
agreement with them in March 2011, a stay of proceedings was ordered
preventing the termination of the contract or the resale of the franchise
until a ruling is decided. Following the bankruptcy of 4Kids, all Yu-Gi-Oh!
assets were acquired by Konami's 4K Media Inc.. The series aired on Saban's
Vortexx block until it dissolved on September 27, 2014 and aired on
Nicktoons from April 12, 2013. Episodes 114 onwards were streamed on Hulu.
= Music= There are five official soundtrack CDs,
all released by Marvelous Entertainment. The first, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel 1,
was released on September 28, 2011. The second, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel
2, was released on September 19, 2012. The third, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel 3,
was released on May 15, 2013. The fourth, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel
4, was released on November 13, 2013. The fifth, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Sound Duel 5,
was released on November 19, 2014. Opening Themes
"Masterpiece" by mihimaru GT "Braving!" by Kanan
"Soul Drive" by Color Bottle "Unbreakable Heart" by Hideaki Takatori
"Dualism of Mirrors" by Petit Milady "Wonder Wings" by Diamond☆Yukai
Ending Themes "My Quest" by Golden Bomber
"Longing Freesia" by DaizyStripper "Wild Child" by Moumoon
"Artist" by Vistlip "Go Way Go Way" by FoZZtone
"Challenge the GAME" by REDMAN English Opening Theme
"Take a Chance" by Michael Brady, Shane Guenego, Arthur Murakami, & Surefire
Music Group "Halfway to Forever" by Michael Brady,
Shane Guenego, Arthur Murakami, Jonathan Lattif, & Surefire Music Group
= Video Game= A video game based on the series titled
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal: Gekitotsu! Duel Carnival was developed by Konami and
released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS on December 5, 2013. It was released as
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal: World Duel Carnival in North America on September 25, 2014.
References External links
Website - Nicktoons Official website
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal at Anime News Network's encyclopedia