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Yu Gi Oh Animation Card Zone

History of Yu Gi Oh card

I would like to introduce you to the first generation of Yu Gi Oh card. Following the original story before Yu Gi Oh Duel Monster series, Yu Gi Oh, a shadow game had been presented for a couple year. Kazuki Takahashi drew some story episodes about Duel Monster card game that was first called "Magic & Wizard". Of couse, it was changed into "Duel Monster" later when the story fully started the Duel Moster battle game at Duelist Kingdom series.

At present, Yu Gi Oh Duel Monster has been published on TV Tokyo and produced as game card by Konami. However, at the beginning, Yu Gi Oh, a shadow game series, was published by Toei Animation and produced as game card by Bandai. At that time, Bandai released some series of Yu Gi Oh card. It seemed that the market hadn't been good enough, so Yu Gi Oh, the first season, was finished at the 27 episodes and card market of Bandai was closed as well.

Later, Yu Gi Oh is back again in new version published on TV Tokyo. Also, Konami continued to handle the card and game market after Bandai. Then Yu Gi Oh new series, Duel Monster, has been very popular all over the world until now.

It seems that hardly anyone has ever seen the first generation of Yu Gi Oh cards. Of couse, they weren't much produced but most of major cards were the same types as the current cards such as Blue Eyes White Dragon, Minotaur, Black Magician etc. You can't find them anywhere at present market.

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Yu Gi Oh Animation Card Zone

Yu Gi Oh the lost cards, the first generation card

In anime of the first season, the card battle starts in episode 3 when Yugi first duels against Kaiba by a shadow game. You can see various of early cards that were ever published as real cards by Bandai.


Blue Eyes White Dragon
On the right side, you can see the first generation of Blue Eyes White Dragon published by Bandai. It looks the same as original picture that you see on anime.


Compare to the present stuffs, the cards look more classic and informative.


Demon Skull
Another one that I would like to present is Summon Skull, a major card of Yugi. Though I haven't the real image of this card, you can see Demon from anime picture. It seems that the present Demon Skull on the right image is more colorful and classic than the early mono-tone Demon Skull.


Hexagram Curse
This is another example of a trap card, Hexagram Curse. As you can see, the first generation trap card on the right picture isn't classified by color. It is white as same as monster card or magic card are. Compare to the current verion, the color can make people easier classify the types of cards.



Minotaur
Minotaur is a powerful card of Kaiba. From the pictures above, you can see the hugh difference of drawing between the first generation card and the present one.


Metal Black Dragon

This is another monster of the frist generation card. I am not sure whether it is the same as Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon or not because Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon was presented far after the first card generation.

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Yu Gi Oh Animation Card Zone

Where can you find the first generation card?

You should remind yourself that the first generation card hasn't been published anymore because Konami gets the copyright for the next production. Of course, it can't be played with the present cards because of different styles and types. Anyway, you may keep them as collection. It may be hard to find them on the current market. However, you may try to search at Yahoo or Ebay bid or auction room.

Original story by Janime
Support images by Base