Yu-Gi-Oh GX

Yep it goes around with a sequel of one of the Popular TCG franchise. Premiered in October 2004 in Japan, another sequel came out to the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! and that is Yu-Gi-Oh GX. This series is the spin-off of the previous Yu-Gi-Oh! series and follows of a young hero named Jaden Yuki (Judai Yuki in original Japanese) and his companions around the Duel Academy. Just like to it's series predecessor, Yu-Gi-Oh GX created by Kazuki Takahashi and then later on Naoyuki Kageyama in manga version.

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX begins 10 years ago when Jaden Yuki obtained the Winged Kuriboh card from the Duel monsters champion Yugi Mutoh while on his way to the Duel Academy entrance. The Duel Academy was founded by Seto Kaiba somewhere in the Southern Seas and it has three sections named after three Egyptian God Cards-Obelisk Blue, Ra Yellow and Slifer Red. Obelisk Blue was named after Obelisk the Tormentor where the students and faculty got high quality on the hotels and restaurants. Ra Yellow was named after The Winged Dragon of Ra and unlike the Obelisk Blue, Ra Yellow got clean and average faculty and dormitories.Only students with the highest exam (or reached junior section) can enter in Ra Yellow. Last is Slifer Red (Osiris Red) which is named after Slifer the Sky Dragon and also the lowest section. Students who got poorest grades are put into the lowest quarters. If you're wondering how come Slifer Red is the lowest, before the Duel Academy and during the time Seto Kaiba was the Duelist, he got Obelisk the Tormentor in his deck until he was beaten by Yugi's Slifer the Sky Dragon. So, Kaiba put Obelisk the Tormentor as the highest section while Slifer the Sky Dragon in lowest section for reminding his loss from Yugi.

There are also efforts in producing this series. The "GX" series title literally means "Generation NeXt" (Next generation?). Eyecatches are also appeared in every opening and closing eyecatches. They show one or two characters with their duke monsters each. Then the closing credits is really amusing which shows various cards and it's rarity. The world of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX contains many main and supporting characters. The main characters are Jaden Yuki (Judai Yuki), his best friends Syrus Trusdale (Sho Marufuji) and Hayato Maeda (Chumley Huffington). Other main characters are Alexis Rhodes (Asuka Tenjoin) and her older brother Atticus (Fubuki Tenjoin), elitist Chazz Princeton (Jun Manjourne), the analytic Bastion Misawa (Daichi Misawa), the strong-willed Tyranno Hassleberry (Tyranno Kenzan) and the love-passionate Blair Flannigan (Rei Saotome). The supporting characters are mostly from the connection of Duel Academy and in professional dueling worlds. As the season appeared, non-students of Duel Academy joined to the duels.

One noticeable thing about Yu-Gi-Oh GX is that each of the main characters has their own themes and elements in their decks. For example, Jaden Yuki uses his Element Hero deck while while Syrus uses Vehicroid-theme deck in order to duke out opponents in battle. Each of their decks has their strengths and weaknesses depending of the Duelist's style of strategy. The theme of the series can be almost dark similar to the previous Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise which deals with magic, Shadow Games and myths.Then in later on the season focuses about the destiny and alternative dimensions. Of course, life at Duel Academy can somehow be related to the real school life-friends,bullies,teamwork,etc. The character design goes well in the anime too.

Yu-Gi-Oh GX got into merchandising as well aside from new cards based on the anime. The manga version published by Shueisha's Jump Comics division V-Jump released around 2005 and later adapted into English around 2006. Video games,CD's and world championship competitions are also appeared to this franchise. DVD's with the original illustration covers jumped out with it's complete set of volumes distributed in US,Australia and Japan. Yu-Gi-Oh GX set released it's episodes in different countries like in US,Brazil,Italy,Philippines and among others. The last time I saw that anime series in the Philippines around 2007 in Studio 23 which aired every weekday evenings. If you don't want to wait yourself for getting DVD's or episodes on TV,not to worry there are various episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh GX in Youtube where you can watch them as well. The opening and ending themes are divided in every season which I have no idea who the singers are.