Yu-Gi-Oh: The Movie movie storyline. Based on the trading card and television series phenomenon, “Yu-Gi-Oh!” is the story of Yugi, a boy captivated by the card game sweeping the nation: Duel Monsters! But there’s more to the game than meets the eye, for it contains ancient mystical energies that can change the course of history!
Deep below the sands of Egypt, an old evil has awakened. Anubis, who was defeated centuries ago by Yugi’s mysterious alter ego – the Pharaoh – has returned for revenge to destroy Yugi and take over the world! Can Yugi and friends conquer their most powerful foe yet before the planet is buried in the sands of time?
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light, later released in Japan as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters: Pyramid of Light, or simply Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Movie, is a 2004 American animated adventure fantasy film produced by 4Kids Entertainment based on the Japanese manga and anime Yu-Gi-Oh!. The film was first released in United States theaters by Warner Bros. on August 13, 2004.
The characters are the same as the English release of the Duel Monsters television show and their names retain their regional changes (i.e., Téa is Anzu in the Japanese version and Téa in all other versions). Unlike the TV series, the cards retain their appearance to their real world counterparts in the English version. The film was released theatrically by Toho in Japan in November 3, 2004 and aired on TV Tokyo on January 2, 2005, which utilized the names, original sound effects and original soundtrack from the Japanese anime and featured twelve minutes of additional animation.
The Yu-Gi-Oh! Phenomenon
The brainchild of manga artist / writer Kazuki Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh! began as a comic book in Japan in 1996 and has flourished into an immensely successful global brand, spawning a highly rated animated television series, video game franchise and trading card game. Bringing Yugi to the big screen was the next logical step in taking the Yu-Gi-Oh! phenomenon to a whole new level. “Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie is a natural progression as Yu-Gi-Oh! remains one of television’s top-rated animated series,” says Alfred R. Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment. “We look forward to building on the success of the brand for many years to come.”
The record-breaking Yu-Gi-Oh! television series debuted on Kids WB! in 2001 and currently airs in over 60 countries and 20 languages, consistently ranking #1 on U.S. network television. The show follows the adventures of mild mannered high school student Yugi Muto, who becomes a seemingly invincible hero when he plays his favorite card game. (Translated, Yu-Gi-Oh! means “King of Games.”)
The card game pits players against each other in “battles” fought using playing cards emblazoned with wildly imaginative creatures. Each card features different monsters, spells and traps with varying strengths and weaknesses. Duelists strategize to use the most powerful combination of cards from their “decks” to defeat their opponents and become master duelists.
Armed with special energies he absorbs from the Millennium Puzzle, a powerful ancient artifact he wears around his neck, Yugi and the Pharaoh – Yugi’s alter ego, whose spirit inhabits the Puzzle – join forces to battle various foes in their quest to save mankind and become the best duelist in the world.
“I think the key to Yu-Gi-Oh! and why it works in so many markets around the world is that kids can put themselves in Yugi’s shoes as he battles these incredible monsters,” observes Norman Grossfeld, President of Productions for Yu-Gi-Oh! licensee 4Kids Entertainment, who not only co-wrote the American adaptation and executive produced Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie, but also produced the blockbuster Pokémon movie series. “Kids not only watch the story unfolding onscreen, they imagine themselves in it.”
Yugi’s legions of young fans also identify with the character’s empowerment through his alter ego, the Pharaoh. “Yugi is not perfect; he’s your average high school student who has the same fears and self doubts that all kids have,” notes Yu-Gi-Oh! TV series writer-producer Mike Pecoriello. “But he has this other side to him, his alter ego, that he can call upon when he needs a confidence boost. I think kids are empowered by the idea that behind this timid underdog is a strong, assertive hero.”
The popularity of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TV series sparked a worldwide phenomenon among fans who yearned to play a real life version of the card game. This excitement led to the creation of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist League, which counts over 600,000 participants, with card play taking place at over 4,500 retail locations.
20,000 Yu-Gi-Oh! enthusiasts are expected to attend the 2004 Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship, which takes place on July 25th in Anaheim, California, featuring the best duelists from around the globe facing off in the ultimate competition to determine the World Champion.
In addition, four new Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards have been created for the release of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie, and will be free with the purchase of admission exclusively in theaters showing the film. Fans can also look forward to the Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie soundtrack with music inspired by the film from featured artists such as The Black Eyed Peas, Jean and Fatty Koo.
Yu-Gi-Oh: The Movie (2004)
Directed by: Ryôsuke Takahashi
Starring: Dan Green, Eric Stuart, Wayne Grayson, Amy Birnbaum, Sebastian Arcelus, Madeleine Blaustein, Shunsuke Kazama, Ted Lewis, Tadashi Miyazawa, Hidehiro Kikuchi
Screenplay by: Matt Drdek, Lloyd Goldfine, Norman J. Gossfeld, Michael Pecoriello
Animation Department: Ryan Kelly
Editorial Department: Cathy Rait
Music Department: Michael Brady, Julian Schwartz
Music by: Elik Alvarez, Joel Douek, Freddy Sheinfeld
MPAA Rating: PG for scary combat and monster images.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: August 13, 2004
Box Office Totals
Domestic: $19,765,868 (67.8%)
Foreign: $9,404,542 (32.2%)
Total: $29,170,410 (Worldwide)
Views: 74
