Yu-Gi-Oh! - Nendoroid

Since the 1990s, Yu-Gi-Oh! has persisted as one of the most successful cohesive media franchises in the world. With several anime series, manga, video games, and card decks in production, the franchise has evolved with several generations of kids. However, the characters from the original series remain some of the most iconic. Some of these characters have been immortalized in figures, such as "Nendoroid Yu-Gi-Oh! Yami Bakura," "Nendoroid Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Magician Girl," and "Nendoroid Yu-Gi-Oh! Yami Yugi."

Nendoroid Yu-Gi-Oh! Yami Bakura

Yami Yugi's archnemesis joins the Nendoroid line with this dastardly chibi figure. Yami Bakura has a sinister expression with heavy line art to show his possession of the mild-mannered Bakura. This art style carries over to two additional faceplates: Yami Bakura giving a triumphant smile and another of him sticking out his tongue. The figure includes the Millennium Ring, which Yami Bakura wears around his neck, as well as the Millenium Eye. Additionally, fans can pose the figure with a duel disk and cards to stage a dramatic battle with Yugi.

Release Date: February 2023
Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Sculptor: toytec D.T.C
Specifications: Painted, articulated, non-scale plastic figure with optional parts and stand
Height (Approx.): 100mm | 3.9

Nendoroid Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Magician Girl

One of the cutest cards from Yu-Gi-Oh! is now a chibi Nendoroid figure. The Dark Magician Girl comes with her dramatic blue and pink outfit faithfully replicated from the anime. Her facial expressions include a gentle smile and a stern battle cry. With her staff, fans can pose her both as her neutral card appearance or firing off a Dark Burning Magic attack with an effect piece. She can also pose with her Flute of Summoning and a Kuriboh from Yugi's deck. The figure also includes a magical circle sheet to display Dark Magician Girl as she's summoned from her card.

Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Sculptor: Sao Nakai
Specifications: Painted, articulated, non-scale ABS & PVC figure with optional parts and stand
Height (Approx.): 100mm | 3.9"

Nendoroid Yu-Gi-Oh! Yami Yugi

The strong, risk-taking alter ego of Yugi Muto still looks empowered in this figure from Good Smile Company. Yami Yugi retains his distinct, angular design in chibi form. He wears Yugi's high school uniform, complete with belts, accessories, and an optional jacket piece to drape on his shoulders. The figure also includes three facial expressions: his confident smile, discerning glare, and a righteous yell. The Millennium Puzzle hangs from a silver chain around his neck as an optional, yet vital accessory. Additional parts include a duel disk, a stack of cards, and a single card to recreate theatrical duel scenes.

Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Sculptor: Sao Nakai
Specifications: Painted, articulated, non-scale ABS & PVC figure with optional parts and stand
Height (Approx.): 100mm | 3.9"

About Yu-Gi-Oh!

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a media franchise centered around a card game called Duel Monsters. Over time, the franchise has expanded to include new technological references and variations on the core game. Fans can also play a real-world version of Duel Monsters through the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game.

About Yu-Gi-Oh!: Story

The original Yu-Gi-Oh story follows the adventures of high school student Yugi Mutou and his friends as they participate in competitive Duel Monsters. Early in the story, Yugi solves an old artifact, the Millennium Puzzle, which releases a spirit that uses Yugi's body as a host. As Yugi participates in gaming competitions, this other spirit would take over his consciousness. If confronted with danger, this spirit would also challenge the aggressor to a Shadow Game, a dangerous challenge that reveals the true nature of someone's heart. Over time, Yugi and his friends investigate the mysterious origin of this spirit and chase after the other Millennium Items.

About Yu-Gi-Oh: Characters

The protagonist of the original series and the franchise mascot is Yugi Mutou and his alter ego, Yami Yugi. Yugi himself is a small, mild-mannered boy who is often a subject of bullying. However, he loves games and solving puzzles, taking on the unsolved Millennium Puzzle in hopes of earning a wish. When the released spirit takes over Yugi's body, he becomes the character known as Yami Yugi.

Yami Yugi is a game-loving risk taker with considerable skill and confidence, as well as a strong sense of justice. Yugi initially fears this other self, but eventually bonds with him and takes on the task of uncovering his past. Through these trials, Yugi grows stronger and more self-assured, proving himself as a worthy holder of the Millennium Puzzle.

Yu-Gi-Oh Series Development

The Yu-Gi-Oh! began as a standalone manga in 1996. Since then, the story has inspired anime adaptations with several films and spin-offs as well as a hugely successful trading card game.

Yu-Gi-Oh Series Development: Production

Mangaka Kazuki Takahashi initially planned on writing a horror manga, which appears in some of Yu-Gi-Oh!"s darker themes. The early manga chapters address playing games as a whole, introducing readers to the culture of gaming. However, the anime adaptations and future installments in the series focus more on the fictional card game Duel Monsters. The game's popularity with readers led Takahashi and the editors to incorporate it within the plot and worldbuilding.

Yu-Gi-Oh Series Development: Reception

As of 2022, the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga has sold over 40 million copies. Business analysts praised the franchise's success in linking the manga, anime, and commercial trading card game. The original manga earned praise for its surprisingly solid storyline engaging with the topics of death and what comes after. However, the series did face backlash from parents for some of its more mature themes and artwork. This led to heavy censoring in international versions of the series.