Yu-Gi-Oh Season 0 is an animated series that is still relevant, entertaining, and funny despite releasing in Japan 22 years ago. Thanks to the nefarious and even deadly acts of each episode's villain, as well as the equally cruel punishments given to them, this show is not recommended for children.
However, if teens and adults want to see more of the Yu-Gi-Oh characters and less of the card game, Season 0 is worth a watch. When viewing Season 0, fans of the English dubbed anime will find plenty of little details and changes that the English version made to the original characters.
10 It's Not Focused On The Card Game
While the series that most people are familiar with has a large focus on a card game, Yu-Gi-Oh Season 0 mentions the card game only a few times throughout the series. This card game even comes with a board that has a special terrain that affects the stats of each monster. Instead, this season focuses on Shadow Games, which are intended to show just how awful people are on the inside.
The Shadow Game's theme varies depending on the fad or theme covered in each episode, including chess, fortune-telling, and other games of luck.
9 Karma Always Kicks in
Yami Yugi is a personality that appears whenever Yugi or his friends are distressed or in trouble. Yugi has a tendency to attract people who mean to take advantage of or harm him since he is the epitome of innocence. When a villain crosses a line, it makes Yami Yugi appear to challenge them to a Shadow Game.
The villain always ends up losing or cheating, revealing more of their ugly nature before they are swiftly punished. After an episode of villains doing things ranging from bullying to criminal activities, seeing them get punished is very satisfying.
8 Kaiba's Design Is Different
Seto Kaiba is card-obsessed even in Season 0, but fans of Yu-Gi-Oh are greeted with a visual surprise when he is first introduced. His hair is a bright green. It is a little jarring to see his hair, especially after seeing the brown iteration, which fans can now appreciate more.
He also wears a white school uniform, even when he transfers to Yugi's school for a single episode. It clashes with the blue uniforms of Yugi's friend group and suggests that Kaiba never had any intention of staying at their school or even becoming Yugi's friend.
7 There Was An Additional Main Character
In Season 0, in addition to Yami, Joey, Tristan, and Tea, there is another main character that is almost always seen in their friend group. This was Miho Nosaka. She is an airheaded character who dreams of marrying a rich man, making her swoon the moment someone showers her with gifts.
Despite her flaws, she is very protective of her friends. Given that Season 0 was the only series in which she was a major character, she was probably not popular enough to keep appearing as much in later seasons.
6 There Was A Tamagotchi Craze
Art often imitates reality. Some people may remember seeing Tamagotchis being brought to school, a little game in which players could raise a pet. Season 0 reflects that fad in a very realistic way.
Tristan spends days leveling up his pet without getting any sleep, and another student spends a ridiculous amount of money in order to get a specific pet. This episode shows how scary it is when people get too obsessed over a fad, warning viewers not to let a game consume their lives.
5 It Was Never Dubbed
Season 0 never received an official English dub, so anyone who wants to see it has to watch it in Japanese. As a result, viewers have to adapt to the character's original names. Although Kaiba's and Yugi's names are the same, Tristan Taylor is Hiroto Honda, Tea Gardner is Anzu Mazaki, and Joey Wheeler is Katsuya Jonouchi.
The Japanese names are way different from the English variations, so it may take a while to remember who is who. However, the Japanese voice acting is superb.
4 Yugi Attends An Awful School
In the very first episode, the head of the disciplinary committee bullies Yugi. He uses his intimidating stature to bully him out of his money, not hesitating to use threats and violence when Yugi cannot pay. No one on the school staff makes any attempt to intervene, so Yami Yugi has to take care of the problem himself.
In another episode, a teacher who is fixated on making school rules manipulates the rest of the staff and even coerces students into assaulting others. It's a corrupt system, and unfortunately, the students are left to fend for themselves.
3 The Anime Tried To Make Yoyos Threatening
For one episode, Joey is forced to rejoin a group of thugs that he used to hang out with in middle school. These thugs are known for beating up people with yoyos and taking their possessions.
This is a ridiculous episode, as when Tristan tries to fight the group's leader, the other members menacingly swing their yoyos around him in circular motions. Although Season 0 is known for being a dark er anime, it has plenty of silly moments like this.
2 Kaiba Constantly Contradicts Himself
When Kaiba faces off against Yami Yugi for the first time, their game ends in a draw. For someone who claims to be a master at cards, this was humiliating to him. He boldly states that he will not rest until he crushes Yugi... then he proceeds to send henchmen to do his dirty work. These henchmen are Game Masters who challenge Yami Yugi to games, before proceeding to lose.
When Yugi is threatened by another person who wants to steal a card from him, Kaiba intervenes to help him out. Kaiba claims that he wants to be the one to defeat him but a little later, he sends yet another henchman after Yugi.
1 Tristan Has A Crush On Miho
Tristan's character and motivations are defined by Miho. Smitten with her, all she has to do is cry or talk loudly about what he wants. Not even a minute later, he is there to either defend her honor or to get her whatever she asks for.
He is even willing to wait in line for hours to get her the limited edition watch she wants. It is a little frustrating for viewers to see him constantly talk about and prioritize someone who is either oblivious to his feelings or just using him.