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How does the ad experience on a free streaming service compare to paid counterparts?

Streaming ads are simply a fact of life these days. Every major paid streaming service in the United States — with the exception of Apple TV+ — offers an ad plan these days, and the experience can vary greatly from service to service. But how does a streaming service that was always intended to be ad-supported stack up to premium services? I tested Tubi to find out the answer to that question, and you can read more about my experiment below.

Everything you need to know about the ad experience on Tubi

How many ads does Tubi show on licensed TV shows?

How many ads does Tubi show on original TV shows?

How many ads does Tubi show with movies?

Does Tubi offer ads during kids content?

Does Tubi have pause ads?

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How many ads does...

Shigeki Awai, one of the foremost animators and directors of Japan’s massive anime industry unfortunately passed away on March 19th, 2025. Awai was 71 at the time, and he left behind a legacy of hundreds of the industry’s most famous anime series to his name.

Shigeki Awai contributed to Naruto: Shippuden | Credits: Studio Pierrot

From industry headliners like Naruto, One Punch Man, Boruto, Black Clover, Attack on Titan, and many more, Awai has left his impression on pretty much every series anime fans have come to appreciate over the years.

Interestingly, what many don’t know is that he also helped create an anime that remains to this day one of the most underappreciated series in the industry. When honestly it should have been talked about much, much more.

Shigeki Awai helped create Bungo Stray Dogs into the shonen mammoth it turned out to be

Kafka Asagiri and Sango Harukawa...

Dragon Ball Super's ongoing hiatus looks like it may be continuing for several more months at least, based on new information from the latest issue of V Jump. Fans are no doubt disappointed to hear it, but it may be quite some time before new Dragon Ball Super is released.

Dragon Ball Super went on hiatus after Toriyama's death in March 2024, as the future of the manga fell into doubt without him. It seems that now it has been decided that the manga will continue on with artist Toyotarou at the helm, but exactly when is anyone's guess. A special one-shot chapter was released for Dragon Ball Super in February, indicating that they haven't given up on the manga, but it didn't move the story forward. As fans eagerly await the continuation of Super's story, new information has revealed that they'll be waiting a while longer.

Dragon Ball Super...

Yu-Gi-Oh!,the official trading card game, is known for creating cards based on iconic anime scenes. These scenes, whether they depict iconic moments, characters, or even iconography from the series, are chosen with the fans in mind. It's the fans' love for these scenes that can turn them into actual physical cards that can be purchased and used.

The original series of Duel Monsters is the season of Yu-Gi-Oh! that fans remember the best. With arcs like Battle City, Duelist Kingdom, or the final duel against the Pharaoh, fans hold this season closest to their hearts. This is why the trading card game has picked these scenes to make cards.

Attack the Moon Is Based on A Meme Moment from Duelist Kingdom Appears in Yu-Gi-Oh! Episode 7: "Attack from the Deep" Image Via Gallop

Attack the Moon is a continuous spell card that allows the user to target 1 Spell/Trap...

The original Yu-Gi-Oh!anime wouldn't be anything without the absolutely iconic rivalry between Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba. The dynamic between them was so effective and beloved that every subsequent installment in the franchise not only gave their protagonist a designated rival, but multiple rivals. This includes the first Yu-Gi-Oh! spinoff series, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx has one of the strongest casts of duelists in the franchise, and many of them act as rivals to each other, and to Jaden Yuki. Some of these rivals are present throughout all four seasons and have close relationships with Jaden, while others enter the picture later and never get into too much competition with him. A great Yu-Gi-Oh! rival is a superb character in their own right and strong enough to feel like a threat — and the rivalry itself must be memorable and impactful.

Tyranno Hassleberry Doesn't Offer Much as a Character or...

In Yu-Gi-Oh!, winning isn’t just about pride — it can mean saving a life, protecting the world, or holding onto a best friend. With stakes this high, the shonen anime's protagonists rarely lose crucial duels, as failure would halt bring an end to the series. However, that doesn’t mean they’re invincible.

Even Yugi Muto, the rightful King of Games, has faced defeat, holding a win-loss record of 34:5. These five losses played a vital role in shaping both Yugi and Atem’s character arcs. Without them, Yugi wouldn’t have gained the confidence or experience that defines him today.

Yugi's First Loss Against Maximillion Pegasus Happened Very Early in the Anime Yu-Gi-Oh!, Episode 2: "The Gauntlet Is Thrown" Image Via Gallop

Yugi's first loss is against one of the series' most well-known antagonists, Maximillion Pegasus. Pegasus is the creator of the Duel Monsters game, so it only makes...

There have been dozens of vicious villains throughout the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime. While some of the enemies faced by Yugi Muto, Jaden Yuki, and the other protagonists in the franchise have been redeemed, others are thoroughly unforgivable. Even among those who do receive redemption stories, they don't always deserve them.

They may be the villains of kids' anime, but some Yu-Gi-Oh!'s antagonists, like Yami Marik and Sayer, are as evil as those in any other Shonen series. The franchise's rogues gallery includes wielders of dark magic, cult leaders, malicious, millennia-old entities, genocidal warmongers, and CEOs. The crimes they commit are extreme, and they're all loathsome in their own ways.

Yami Marik is a Sadistic Monster Yami Marik Tortures Mai Valentine in the Shadow Realm

As the main antagonist of the fan-favorite Battle City arc, Yami Marik is easily the most iconic villain from the original Yu-Gi-Oh!. The dark side of...

The Yu-Gi-Oh!anime franchise is filled with tragedies. Not every series gives all its main characters happy endings, and the fates some duelists wind up with are downright depressing. Across all 8 series, though, arguably no one has suffered a greater downfall than Zane Truesdale.

Zane Truesdale is one of the most popular characters in Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx, and his tragic story across all 4 Seasons is a major reason. At the beginning of the anime, he's the most powerful duelist in the series, respected and loved by everyone around him, and a loyal ally to Jaden Yuki. But, by the end, after multiple cruel twists of fate, Zane is rendered unrecognizable, and he's ultimately left with nothing.

Zane Truesdale Begins Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx as the Pride of Duel Academy Zane is Cold and Abrasive Person, But a Heroic and Honorable Duelist

Zane Truesdale first appears in Episode 1 of Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx. While he doesn't have much of a role,...

My Neighbor Totoro is one of the most characteristic works of Studio Ghibli. It is a heartwarming movie about two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who become friends with a magical creature. It is one of the most popular works of Hayao Miyazaki, and Totoro is also the mascot for Studio Ghibli.

My Neighbor Totoro is one of the most popular Ghibli films | Credits: Ghibli

For years, fans of Ghibli movies have fawned over Totoro. Almost every Ghibli fan has Totoro merchandise, which just shows how much everyone unanimously loves the mystical animal. But the clever creator of the movie has his own (slightly terrifying) opinion of the fuzzy creature.

Hayao Miyazaki spins a terrifying tale of My Neighbor Totoro Hayao Miyazaki exposes a terrifying possibility in My neighbor Totoro | Credits: Ghibli

Kenji Itoso was appointed under Hayao Miyazaki as an apprentice in 1988. He later contributed to iconic anime like Attack on Titan,...

Jaden Yuki's story in Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx is one of the most complex and emotional in the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! anime franchise. While he spends the first two seasons as the most generic Shonen protagonist imaginable, Seasons 3 and 4 put Jaden through the wringer, and shape him into a far more nuanced figure. Jaden's arc is subversive, tragic, and serves to deconstruct Yu-Gi-Oh!'s genre

With only the cast of Gx at his side, Jaden would never be able to complete his character arc. He would simply end the anime wandering the desert, as depressed as he was throughout all of Season 4. Jaden Yuki suffers more than any other Yu-Gi-Oh! protagonist, and it's only thanks to former protagonist Yugi Muto that he's able to achieve a happy ending.

Jaden Yuki Begins Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx as a Typical Shonen Anime Protagonist Jaden Doesn't Change Throughout Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx's First 2 Seasons

Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx doesn't waste any time,...

It may be an anime franchise primarily targeted toward kids, but Yu-Gi-Oh!can get shockingly dark. Different seasons have tackled a variety of mature themes, and death — and fates worse than death — are commonly faced by both heroes and villains. Despite seeming bright and cheerful on the surface, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx gets darker than any other installment in the franchise.

Following its first season, which is intentionally outlandish and goofy, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx grows increasingly bleak and depressing. Throughout his four years at Duel Academy, series protagonist Jaden Yuki is exposed to cults, abuse, betrayal, mass amounts of death, and more. The darkest aspects of the anime all concern Jaden himself, as the trauma he suffers defines the later seasons of the series.

Syrus & Chazz's Storylines Surround the Abuse They Face From their Brothers Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx Is Never Afraid to Tackle More Realistic Problems That Teenagers Face

Syrus Truesdale and Chazz Princeton...

Yu-Gi-Oh!has existed for nearly 30 years, and it's changed a lot over that time. What began as a humble manga about a meek boy and the cruel spirit who'd possess him in order to exact vengeance on those who wrong him via various games eventually morphed into one of the most successful anime and trading card game franchises in history. While the shift in focus of the series toward the Duel Monsters card game made Yu-Gi-Oh! more popular than it ever would have been otherwise, it did lose something special in the process.

The late Kazuki Takahashi's Yu-Gi-Oh! began as a horror manga, but these origins have been increasingly buried by each new installment in the anime franchise. While Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx, and Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's retained the eeriness and the mystical trappings of the manga, they rarely actively tried to be scary. And, for as dark as they can get,...

Every Yu-Gi-Oh!anime contains skippable episodes. But, for every boring filler episode that does nothing to advance the story, there are several outstanding entries that highlight the property's dramatic potential. This goes double for the installment with the best overall story in the franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx is infamous for how much filler it includes, but it's worth getting through for the absolutely essential episodes. The story of Jaden Yuki and his friends is most beloved for its later seasons, but even Season 1 does an outstanding job establishing its world and characters. These episodes are brilliant, nearly perfect, and it's impossible to skip them without getting confused later on.

Episode 1 Lays the Foundation for Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx Gx Wastes No Time Setting Itself Apart From Its Predecessor

Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx has a masterful series premiere. Centered around Jaden Yuki's attempt to get into Duel Academy, and his duel against Dr. Vellian Crowler,...

Ne Zha 2 North America Box Office: 4th Weekend Update (Photo Credit – Facebook)

The accomplishments of Ne Zha 2 are never-ending, whether in China or the US box office. The Ne Zha sequel is now on track to unleash a new title in North America. It will achieve that after beating The Secret World Of Arrietty and Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Movie soon. It has achieved a spectacular feat at the worldwide box office as well. Scroll below for more.

Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Movie was released in 2004 based on the Japanese manga and anime Yu-Gi-Oh! The film’s events occur between the show’s third and fourth seasons. Warner Bros Pictures released it in the United States. Ghibli‘s The Secret World of Arrietty, released in 2010, beat the Ne Zha sequel in terms of US haul.

According to Luiz Fernando’s report, Ne Zha 2 collected a decent $697K on its fourth three-day weekend...

Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V was the first entry in the franchise to introduce the Four Dimensions, the shonen anime's take on alternate or multi-dimensions. The Four Dimensions are four different dimensions that use a different Extra Deck Special Summoning method, meaning in one universe, they use Fusion to summon monsters; in another, they use Synchro; and in another, they use Xyz. These different focuses on summoning methods call back to the four previous entries in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise.

The Four Dimensions are the setting for the initial conflict in the series, as protagonist Yuya Sakaki and deuteragonist Zuzu Boyle's counterparts start the series' main story. Each Dimension has a Yuya and a Zuzu, with the titles of Dragon Boy and Bracelet Girl to reference their original incarnations as Zarc and Ray Akaba. The four dimensions are broken down into: the Fusion Dimension, the Synchro Dimension, the Xyz Dimension, and the Standard Dimension.

All card information was gathered through the Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database.

In Yu-Gi-Oh!, even Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx, losing a children's card game is sometimes detrimental to someone's health. For many characters, it leads them to the Shadow Realm or causes them to lose their most cherished cards. The protagonist often won't lose a duel, as losing would mean the antagonist would win. Even in Yu-Gi-Oh!Gx, where the stakes are low initially, has a similar writing mindset.

Jaden's impressive win record comes from his many duels, shaping the course of Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx. The anime series would have taken a different path if he had suffered more losses, allowing villains to succeed or humiliate him. However, Jaden wasn’t invincible — he faced three major defeats that were crucial to his character arc. Without those losses, he wouldn’t have grown into the duelist he becomes by the series’ end.

Jaden Versus Zane Gave...

A rival in Yu-Gi-Oh!is described as the one duelist the protagonist faces and grows alongside the most. Kaiba and Yugi, Chazz and Jaden, and so much more are some of the best in their respective series, especially as they are some of the only duelists who push the protagonist to their limits or challenge the main antagonist with great effort.

However, not all rivals are created equally, and compared to their protagonist, they are a weaker duelist. But of all the duelist rivals, which ones are the best? Some rivals had far better performances in their respective series, and that information can be seen in their win-loss ratio.

Revolver Has a Win Percentage of 50% Appears in Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains Episode 1: "Link into the Vrains"

Roken Kogami, also known as Varis or Revolver, is the antagonist of Season 1 of the Vrains season of Yu-Gi-Oh! The series had a protagonist who would destroy Yugi Muto,...

The Yu-Gi-Oh!anime has always been more focused on telling entertaining stories than portraying accurate representations of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game. This is understandable given how story-driven most of the Yu-Gi-Oh! series is, and given that the proper rules of the card game didn't exist until after Season 1 of the original anime began airing. Still, that doesn't make some of the anime's choices any less funny and head-scratching to look back on.

One of the most infamous aspects of the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime is how significantly the rules of the card game differ from the real deal. This especially applies to the Duelist Kingdom Arc of the original series, but even later shows like Gx and Arc-V don't follow the rules to the letter. Some rule differences in the anime help to keep things interesting and exciting, while others will likely forever be subject to mockery.

Tribute Summoning Wasn't Required...

Not every anime protagonist will be beloved right out of the gate. In a medium where it's easy to see characters fall into the same tropes, it can be incredibly annoying for the main character to feel generic. Great anime titles are defined by their protagonists, and a bad main character may cause viewers to drop whatever series they watch after the first episode. However, having a bit of patience can go a long way for viewers to watch these blank slates grow into believable people.

With enough time, fans will find themselves drawn to these characters. More about their pasts could be revealed or rising stakes in the narrative could force them to make tough choices. These decisions could make a boring main character vastly more interesting than before. These case studies help elevate their characters, and their anime series, to new heights.

Asta's Trust in His Allies...

Anime villains are almost always over the top. But the ones who are obsessed with their protagonists take things to the extreme. These fanatical villains can’t help but let the main characters consume their every thought.

Some anime villains are obsessed because of the anger they feel toward the protagonists. Others simply want to take their powers and will do anything to get them. Anime villains who are obsessed with their protagonists aren’t concerned with optics. They merely want to see the main characters go down as painfully as possible because their hatred (or love) is that strong.

Related15 Most Complex Seinen & Shonen Anime Villains, Ranked

Complex shonen villains are known to be intensely driven by their personal desires, yet there is some level of understanding behind their motives.

Goro Akechi Envies Joker & The Phantom Thieves in Persona5: The Animation Streaming on CrunchyrollImage via CloverWorks

Goro Akechi...

From time to time, an anime series will release a spin-off. These anime tackle familiar characters from a new angle. Sometimes this places beloved characters in a darker universe, while other times characters are given a much needed break from the chaos their canon universe puts them through.

Several of these anime, such as Isekai Quartet, have become quite popular with fans. However, some of these anime that deserve to be well-loved have unfortunately slipped under the radar. These unique takes on popular anime deserve the chance to finally shine brighter than the original without slipping into obscurity.

Not Every Meister Is a Master in Soul Eater Not! Not Currently Streaming

Soul Eater Not! takes the gothic shonen anime adventure of Soul Eater and replaces it with peaceful school days. Maka Albarn and Soul Eater Evans may be a proper Meister and Weapon pair, being part of the Eat — Especially Advantaged Talent — class.

Prior to the mid-late 2000s, anime as a concept was something many fans in English-speaking countries was not aware of. Even for those who did understand that certain shows they were watching – like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon – were from Japan, they weren't always aware of just how many series they enjoyed were actually anime. The confusion certainly wasn't helped by the popularization of Western animated series adopting the style of anime.

For many kids growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, anime like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon just seemed to be uniquely styled animated series. Today, there's no secret about what they are, and almost everyone knows what anime is, but several localization companies of the era, including 4Kids Entertainment, worked hard to hide the truth. These series are all nostalgic favorites for countless fans, and they're worth re-visiting with a fresh perspective.

Pokémon Was the First Anime...

All card information was gathered through the Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database.

Yu-Gi-Oh!, the official trading card game, has drawn inspiration from aired anime seasons for card designs. While usually the reverse is the case, sometimes moments, characters, or even iconography are so iconic from the series that a card based around them is brought into reality.

Take cards like Exodia Necross, Legendary Dueling Field, or Skull Archfiend of Lightning, which are based on the Duel Monsters anime. Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx has iconic scenes translated into cards, whether it's the duel academy uniforms. Flame WingMan heroically blasts away his foes, or Yubel embraces Jaden. These 10 scenes from Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx inspired these cards.

"Favorite Hero" Is Based on the Gx! Opening The English Opening Is Titled "Get Your Game On!"

Favorite Hero is an equip spell card that gives a Hero monster a unique effect. If the duelist controls a card in their Field Zone,...

To celebrating 25 years of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TV anime , the “Yu-Gi-Oh! Animation Series 25th Duelist Live Kingdom” event will be held in Tokyo at the Tachikawa Stage Garden venue in Tokyo on July 12. Today, the musical guests slated to join were announced alongside a new piece of key art for the event. “Yu-Gi-Oh! Animation Series 25th Duelist Live Kingdom” key art Related: Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Live Event in Tokyo The event will feature artists who performed opening and ending theme songs for Yu-Gi-Oh! , including: Kimeru, Masami Okui, Masaaki Endoh, vistlip, Hideaki Takatori, Saeki youthK, and Ayaka Nanase. The voice actors scheduled to join the event have not been announced at the time of reporting. If you're feeling nostalgic for some card-battle action, Crunchyroll currently streams numerous Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series, such as the 2000 TV series and the 2004 Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx TV anime, which began celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024. Source...

Anime fans have a tendency to see the series they grew up with through rose-colored glasses. Their childhood nostalgia blinds them to any potential flaws these anime might have had. While they likely weren't all bad by any means, some anime simply weren't nearly as good as fans remember them to be.

These anime series may have been childhood favorites, but they don’t hold up nearly as well on a rewatch—especially for fans who have grown since they first aired. While they were once a huge part of many childhoods, their flaws are too glaring to ignore now. At least the nostalgia remains, even if the anime series themselves don’t stand the test of time.

Viewtiful Joe Was a Video Game Adaptation Flop Not Currently Streaming

Viewtiful Joe was a superhero anime from the early 2000s based on the video game franchise of the same name. In this series,...

All card information was gathered through the Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database.

In the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime franchise, a "signature card" refers to a duelist’s most iconic card. It's the card they frequently use in duels and consider their favorite. These are often powerful Monster cards that define a duelist’s playstyle and persona.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Yugi’s signature card is Dark Magician, while Kaiba’s is Blue-Eyes White Dragon. These cards became synonymous with their respective duelists and the series itself. Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx continues this tradition, giving its main characters equally iconic signature cards that reflect their personalities and strategies.

Crowler's Ace Monster is The "Ancient Gear Golem." Appears in Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx Episode 01 "The Next King of Games" Image Via Olm

Vellian Crowler is the head professor and department chair at Duel Academy and the first antagonist protagonist Jaden Yuki faces. After seeing Jaden's slacker attitude and being...

When fans think of Yu-Gi-Oh!, they usually just think of all the wild things Yugi did in the Duelist Kingdom. Yet, Yugi's best friend Joey wasn't a slouch in the anime series. On the contrary, Joey finished near the top in two of the biggest tournaments in their world at the time. Joey's hard-won success made him easy to root for, as he begins as a complete newbie only to become one of the best duelists of the early Yu-Gi-Oh! era.

Like Yugi, Joey has no shortage of duels from across all the arcs of the anime. He faces everyone from other top-ranking duelists to even the main villain occasionally. He doesn't always win every duel, but it's always a blast to see him give everything he has.

Related10 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelists Who Would Destroy Yugi

Yugi Muto may be the King of Games, but these 10 Duelists would destroy him if they ever dueled.

Dragons are a staple of the fantasy genre in any context. Whether it's on or off screen, fans love to see these scaly beings in the plot of any story. In two dueling anime series from the 2000s era, Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!, dragons are featured quite prominently throughout the series, as well as in many of their spinoff series. The dragons in both of these franchises are very cool and very intimidating, but which series has the better dragons?

Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon, while being wildly popular anime and manga series, are both trading card games as well. In both trading card games, players can get dragon cards, which tend to be very powerful and can potentially be one of the most potent cards in a player's deck. One very popular trading card in the Yu-Gi-Oh! series — which even people who haven't watched the series have likely heard of — is the Blue Eyes White Dragon card,...

Jaden Yuki of Yu-Gi-Oh! GXhas some of the most duels as a duelist in the series. Considering the setting of Duel Academy, it makes perfect sense, as each episode of Gx featured a different one-off duelist, for better or worse. Jaden uses the "Elemental Hero" deck, which became popular in the real-life version of the dueling card game.

The anime works to advertise the trading card game to the best of their ability. But even the anime has to develop entirely new cards to secure the protagonist a win. Some cards have simple effects, while others have effects that players wish they could use in the actual Yu-Gi-Oh Tcg.

"Effect Shut" Negates And Destroys Effect Monsters Appears in Episode 177 of Gx: "Combo of Terror! "Zero and Infinity" Image Via Olm

Appearing in episode 177, Jaden uses this card against Nightshroud, the series finale villain who didn't appear in the manga. Nightshroud...

The duels in Yu-Gi-Oh! GXlaid the groundwork for the rest of the Yu-Gi-Oh!anime. Compared to the duels in the original series, Gx's are better paced, not near-exclusively focused on a small group of characters, and feature decks with actual archetypes, as opposed to loose themes. Some of its best duels highlight the comedic nature of the anime's earlier seasons, while others fully lean into the dark drama of Seasons 3 and 4.

Starring powerful duelists like Jaden, Zane, and Aster, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx features some of the most exciting and dramatic duels in the franchise. These duels are unpredictable, they advance the story and/or characters in a meaningful way, and they feature some of the coolest monsters of the era. Like with any great anime fight, the relationship between the participants can also amplify a duel's impact, and make it an emotional experience.

Chazz vs Aster Gives Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx's Underdog the...

Yu-Gi-Oh!is now a multi-media franchise of great success. It started as a manga that was soon translated into an actual trading card game, and the game's rules constantly changed. From the start with Duelist Kingdom to now with Go! Rush! The franchise is continually evolving and changing its rules.

Fans may remember epic duels with last-minute comebacks and clever strategies that pushed the rules to their limits—but they might also remember thinking, "That’s not how the card game works. The story frequently broke and retconned its rules to up the stakes or give the protagonist a much-needed win when the odds are against them. As the series continues, many fans are beginning to recognize moments when the series broke its rules.

Yu-Gi-Oh's Life Points Kept Changing Without Reason Life Points Were Once 2000, then 4000, instead of 8000 Image Via Gallop

Life Points are the numeric values in duels representing a player's health.

The iconic Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise is celebrating the trading card game's 25th anniversary with Early Days Collection, re-releasing classic game titles for the modern era on both the Nintendo Switch and Steam.

Via a press release, Konami today announced the release of Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection through retail and on the Nintendo Switch eShop. The Steam release will go live at 9 a.m. Et and is confirmed to be Steam Deck Verified. The collection includes 14 titles spanning the Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, including some never released outside of Japan and available worldwide for the first time. Readers can check out the full list of Yu-Gi-Oh! games releasing on Nintendo Switch and Steam below and game imagery below.

RelatedCrunchyroll's Anime Piracy Problem Revealed in New Top 10 Ranking of Most Illegally Streamed TV Shows of 2024

New data reveals the most pirated TV series of 2024, as anime all streamed...

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection stands as a curated set of handheld games that trace the origins of a celebrated franchise. Beginning with the original Duel Monsters title in 1998 and extending through titles released until the mid-2000s, this collection offers a window into a period marked by straightforward narrative elements and inventive game mechanics emerging alongside limited technology.

Originating from Japanese manga where card duels served as a dramatic narrative device, these games transitioned into formats that reached audiences beyond their home market. Early design decisions—such as manual card summoning and the experimental use of fusion mechanics—reflect a stage of creative testing that resonates with fans across different regions.

Regional adaptations and localized versions mirror the initial artistic vision while revealing shifts influenced by market pressures. The design and storytelling, reminiscent of cinematic techniques found in international film, highlight artistic traditions shaped by both heritage and technological constraints.

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" premiered on Nickelodeon 20 years ago, with the two-part opener airing on February 21, 2005, and the third episode following just four days later on February 25. I was in the second grade at the time, and I learned about the show on the playground. Instead of pantomiming lightsaber battles or whatever passed for football in the second grade, my two best friends told me that they wanted to play "Avatar: The Last Airbender." I didn't watch Nickelodeon, being more of a Saturday morning 4Kids loyalist myself, but you can't admit something like that at recess, so I played along and tried to pick up the "rules" of hurling pretend wind and fire at each other.

That summer, I caught a rerun of "Avatar" Season 1, Episode 6, "Imprisoned," while flipping channels on vacation. By the time the show came back from its mid-Season 1 break in September, I was already hooked, having...

If there’s any franchise that seems like it would lend itself to an assembly-line game series, it’s Yu-Gi-Oh! Just let people battle with a ton of recognizable cards from the anime and manga and call it a day. And while there are certain series that offer this straightforward approach Yu-Gi-Oh! ’s video game history is surprisingly complicated. It’s a mixed bag as to whether or not a game was released outside of Japan, some of the games aren’t necessarily based on the card game itself, and if they are based on the card game, the application of the card game’s mechanics grows with each entry. Go back to the earliest entries and you might find some familiar things missing. All of this makes a release like Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection more than just a repetitive package. Instead, it’s a snapshot of the nascent era of Yu-Gi-Oh! video games,...

Creating an anime series isn't easy. While the medium can be used to tell epic, life-changing stories, many things can quickly turn a fantastic series into a hated one. Sometimes, a story beat doesn't land how the writer imagines it will, leading to mass audience confusion. Sometimes an anime's ending fails because the studio misjudges the pacing, creating a show that feels overly long or painfully rushed.

Outside factors can also massively affect how an anime series plays out, from scheduling changes forcing production timelines to shift to sudden budget cuts forcing the creators to pare back their ideas. Because of this, anime history is full of series that started fantastically but concluded with legendarily terrible episodes, ones that soured fans on the series as a whole.

Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear Makes the Central Character Unlikable Despite Having a Cozy Premise, the Final Episode Has a Dark Undertone Image...

My Hero Academia is one of the most popular anime of all time. The inspiring tale of a young Izuku Midoriya realizing his dream is heartwarming. Young and older fans alike are drawn to the amazing designs and powers of the countless characters in the anime. However, many fans have complained about the amount of censorship the anime has received throughout its run. That is seemingly changing with the new anime spinoff series, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.

Overall, Vigilantes focuses on more mature material. This is especially true given the protagonist, Koichi Haimawari, participates in crimes. Because of this, the anime is set to be released in a late-night time slot. Fans are rejoicing over this choice, since it could potentially mean all the blood and violence in the popular spinoff will be allowed to be shown, unlike its predecessor. Viewers may never get exactly what they wanted from My Hero Academia,...

All card information was gathered through the Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database.

For a valid reason, Yugi Muto of the original Yu-Gi-Oh!series is the King of Games. Using the Millenium puzzle and his own skill and wit, he was the champion of Duelist Kingdom, Battle City, and other tournaments against foes that could read minds, buy any card they wished, or even have magic on their side. Undoubtedly, Yugi is in the higher echelon of all the duelists.

With a win-loss ratio 39:5, Yugi doesn't have many duelists who could easily trounce him. But they exist, and for some fans, it may be hard to recognize that even these duelists would destroy Yugi Muto. Whether from having a better win-loss ratio or having better decks and feats, these duelists would take the title of King of Games. Without the Millenium Puzzle's lucky draw, and even with it with some of these opponents,...

Fans of the Tokyo Revengers anime series have a new release to look forward to this March. U.S. streaming service Hulu is set to premiere the English dub of the latest season of the show.

Reuben Lack, the English dub producer for Tokyo Revengers, has confirmed that the dub of the "Tenjiku Arc" (Tokyo Revengers Season 3) will be releasing on Hulu next month. The English dub of Seasons 2 and 3 of the anime have both been handled by California-based localization company Iyuno. The company has previously been behind the dubs of other high-profile anime like Pokémon Horizons: The Series, My Happy Marriage and the 2024 Ranma 1/2 reboot. Lack, who has served as producer and project manager for numerous major English dubbing projects, recently confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that Tokyo Revengers' long-awaited Season 3 English dub will be available to stream in March, with Hulu itself recently confirming a specific release date...

In Yu-Gi-Oh!, young Yugi Muto is a high school student who unlocks a mysterious puzzle and battles opponents while playing the Duel Monsters card game. As Yugi and his friends participate in various tournaments, they face epic challenges revolving around Ancient Egyptian mythology. The high-stakes card game battles have Yugi and his allies saving the world from ruthless villains, summoning monsters, and casting spells against each other.

Yugi's Millennium Puzzle is one of the most iconic artifacts in Yu-Gi-Oh! lore, and it's central to both Yugi's story and the rise of his alter ego, the Pharaoh. The powers of the Millennium Puzzle are remarkable, and its deeper lore enriches Yu-Gi-Oh!'s story. As one of the key pieces in Yugi Muto and Yami Yugi's journeys together, the Millennium Puzzle plays a very important part in Yu-Gi-Oh!'s anime story, and it all began thousands of years ago in Ancient Egypt.

It's always a shame when a good anime comes to an end. The characters have run their course. The story has reached its climax. Everything is wrapped up with a neat little bow. That usually means it's time to move on to the next anime in the series, but that isn't always the case.

Sometimes a good anime is followed by a sequel series that can stand alongside the original series. The characters may be older, or a different cast may be introduced. Either way, the story continues on, keeping its fans focused for another few seasons. Sometimes a series ending doesn't mean the story is truly over.

Rush Duels Return in Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! Streaming on Disney+

Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! isn't exactly a sequel to Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens. It actually takes place in between the series' events. However, that just gives the newest incarnation of Yu-Gi-Oh! a reason to continue...

Known mostly for its real-life trading card game, Yu-Gi-Oh! is also an iconic anime franchise. Once available to stream on one service, this platform is about to make its final play with these anime.

Six Yu-Gi-Oh! anime are currently streaming on Hulu, but not for long. By the end of the month, all of the anime seem ready to be removed, and it's unknown where they'll go from there. This comes not too long after it was revealed that the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! anime was announced to finally be localized, making it harder to catch up and watch the new series in chronological order.

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Action anime are often known for somewhat gratuitous gore. However, some series have amazing fights without the usual brutality. While these brighter examples are usually based on toys or games, like Beyblade, this is not always true. Several of these franchises shape the childhood of many.

These iconic anime created an entire new generation of anime fans. Not all of them contain violence still unsuitable for younger viewers. Yet some, like Shangri-La Frontier, are acceptable because of their absolute lack of blood. Many of the most beloved action anime easily prove carnage isn't necessary for interesting battle sequences.

Beyblade X Is a New Continuation of the Beloved Franchise Streaming on Netflix

Beyblade X is the latest installment in a long line of Beyblade-related anime. Like most similar action anime, the series has almost no gore. Yet, the battles remain captivating because of the showrunners' understanding of the source material.

As a follow-up to Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx had to find a way to impress in the same way. Duel Monsters featured some powerful and iconic monsters like the Egyptian God Cards and Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Fortunately, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx was more than up to the task, presenting some monsters that are unforgettable by fans of the anime and fans of the card game alike.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx introduced the mighty Sacred Beasts, cards similar to the Egyptian God cards that came with terrifying new abilities. Other antagonists brought their own strong monsters, like the Clear World monsters or even the dangerous Destiny Heroes. These powerful monsters kept fans invested in all the show's many incredible duels.

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Rainbow Dragon Is the Most...

In Yu-Gi-Oh!, young high school student Yugi Muto battles opponents by playing the Duel Monsters card game. Along with his friends Joey, Tristan and Tea, Yugi engages in incredible battles and uncovers more about the game's connection to the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs and the mystical Shadow Games. As Yugi dreams of becoming the King of Games, he finds himself facing increasingly powerful enemies, all with their own decks that force him to think strategically and adapt quickly.

One of the most iconic and beloved villains in the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise is Maximillion Pegasus (also known as Pegasus J. Crawford in the Japanese version). Pegasus has an interesting connection to the Duel Monsters game, and he's the owner of many rare cards that others don't have. Pegasus's eccentric nature has made him a fan-favorite character in the franchise, and from his tragic backstory to his iconic duels, it's easy to see...

In the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!, a high-stakes card game called Duel Monsters drives the action, with its protagonists training tirelessly to improve their skills and become the best trainer they can. As their dueling powers grow with each victory (and defeat), Yu-Gi-Oh!'s characters often experience significant growth and evolution.

From the classic Yu-Gi-Oh! protagonist, Yugi Muto, to the Duel Monster-Human hybrid Jaden Yuki, there are plenty of characters who begin their dueling journey very differently from how they are when it ends. In addition to becoming better at Yu-Gi-Oh!'s card game, these characters experience emotional arcs, often learning the importance of things like teamwork and friendship — key themes that have made Yu-Gi-Oh! one of the most beloved franchises of all time.

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If you're anything like me, a certain segment of your childhood revolved around watching "Yu-Gi-Oh!" The cards were important too, don't get me wrong, but the show is what riveted me -- gluing me to the TV every Saturday morning even with the frequently ridiculous dialogue of the 4Kids dub. If that was your childhood too, then you may be surprised to learn just how many different "Yu-Gi-Oh!" shows and movies have come out since then. The franchise has never let up for a second, making the task of watching everything a tall one, to say the least.

Following the original series, there were a few spin-off projects before creator Kazuki Takahashi developed a proper successor to his series, "Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx," which blended the original formula with the "magic school" genre. When that was done, he created "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's," which put the card games on motorcycles. Both of these sequel...

McDonald's Japan is teaming up with the Pokémon franchise to release its first official Pokemon-themed Happy Meal toys of 2025. Starting on Feb. 14 (Jst), the beloved fast food chain will distribute gorgeously designed playing cards alongside adorable mini-booklets featuring many fan-favorite monsters.

McDonald's Japan's official site recently unveiled its upcoming "Pokemon Frienda" and "PokePeace" toy collections, both of which are designed to engage and stimulate the imaginations of young fans. As detailed on Oricon, McDonald's new Pokémon cards are part of the popular arcade-based card game "Pokémon Frienda" which was initially released in July 2024. Debuting alongside McDonald's Frienda collection is "PokePeace" -- a series of small search-and-find books with chibi-style Pokémon characters. The illustrations depict cute scenes with Pokémon such as Pichu, Tandemaus and Piplup playfully "hiding" behind windows, clocks and doors. Cbr readers can check out the official images of both sets below.

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The best anime are, first and foremost, defined by their most iconic plot lines. Most anime series prefer to split their stories into arcs — standalone narratives that, despite having their own conflicts and resolutions, feed into the overarching plot. Arcs in anime tend to vary in length, relevance, and quality greatly, from essential narratives that directly affect the main plot to filler storylines one could skip without missing out on much.

However, the exceptional arcs that end up carving their shows a place in history stick with audiences long after the credits roll. These incredible plots are regarded as the best part of their respective series for featuring the absolute heights of their narrative glory. And some of the top-tier anime arcs can even be considered the pinnacle of writing not only in the medium but in fiction overall. Unprecedented in their glory and unforgettable to anyone who had the pleasure to experience them,...

It is the era of game adaptations and we’re all living in it and Bakugan, in this case, is no exception to that. Like Digimon and Beyblade, the franchise is branching out into different ventures altogether.

Other than that, it is regarded as one of the most successful toy franchises among children. From cards to figurines, it left no stone unturned in becoming a multifaceted game company. But that is not the end of it all.

Shun, Dan, and Mira in a still from the anime | Credit: Tms Entertainment

This is especially true for its upcoming live-action movie. The film is said to be directed by Brad Peyton and is officially in the works. And though it sounds promising, there is a catch to that as well.

Fans worry that the adaptation might be deemed lackluster in most aspects. This circles back to his past project Rampage which garnered mixed reviews.