7 Ways Yu-Gi-Oh’s Censorship Made the Anime Better Than the Original

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The anime Yu-Gi-Oh! had a bumpy start in the United States, as it underwent significant changes to appeal to Western audiences. While the studio, 4Kids Entertainment, became known for heavily altering anime, some of these changes actually improved Yu-Gi-Oh! compared to its original Japanese version. Not all adaptations were negative for this series.

Fans often notice how much the English version of Yu-Gi-Oh! changed from the original Japanese anime, and how some of those changes involved censorship. However, surprisingly, seven of those edits actually made the show better, and arguably helped it become a huge hit with American audiences.

7). Less Perverts

Early anime often included humor based on characters acting inappropriately, but this didn’t always resonate with American viewers. Thankfully, the English dubs toned down these aspects. For example, Yugi’s grandfather was originally depicted as someone who flirted with young women – a common trope in anime – but that behavior was removed in the English version. Similarly, a character who originally harassed Tea was changed to a simple mugger. The series is much improved by leaving out these problematic elements.

6). Yugi’s Mom Disappears

It sounds strange, but removing a character actually benefited the Yu-Gi-Oh anime. Originally, Yugi had a mother who appeared briefly in the Japanese version before being dropped. The English dub, 4Kids, simply removed her entirely, and it didn’t detract from the story at all. Most fans never even noticed, and accepted Yugi’s relationship with his grandfather and friends. Ultimately, eliminating this unnecessary character was a positive change.

5). Finger Guns

Okay, before we get into the bigger changes 4Kids made, we have to talk about how silly they got with the guns! They completely removed anything that suggested real danger or even death, and that meant no firearms. Instead of guns, characters would just… angrily point! It sounds ridiculous, and honestly, it is, but it’s so over-the-top that it’s kind of amazing. You honestly don’t even notice the missing guns when everything else is resolved with, like, children’s card games. It’s just wonderfully bizarre!

4). Dark Energy Discs

During the Battle City tournament in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, a particularly intense duel between Yugi and Arkana underwent a significant change when adapting the series for Western audiences. The original Japanese version depicted a brutal consequence for losing – the loser would have their legs severed by buzz saws. However, the English dub replaced these saws with glowing blue “Dark Energy Discs” that banished the defeated duelist to the Shadow Realm. While Yugi ultimately saved Arkana before the discs could hit him, this alteration is a famously silly example of censorship that’s almost amusing in its absurdity.

3). Mai Isn’t Tortured By Marik

This version is a little debated because the original, uncensored cut is significantly more violent than what was shown here, but the American release took it too far. During Mai’s duel with Marik in the Battle City arc, she was cursed so that any damage her monsters took, she would feel physically. This led to her monsters being put in dangerous traps, and Mai herself being shown in pain. Ultimately, that level of intensity wasn’t needed.

The edited version portrays a more unsettling outcome: instead of physical harm, Mai’s spirit and memories gradually deteriorated with each loss of life points, ultimately leading to the same result. The change avoids showing graphic torture, making it clear that wasn’t necessary for the game’s story.

2). Skipping “Season 0”

A surprisingly effective move by 4Kids Entertainment was to completely skip over an early part of the Yu-Gi-Oh! story. Before the series focused on card games, there was another anime version where the pharaoh was presented as a shadowy spirit trapped inside the Millennium Puzzle. This spirit would challenge villains to dangerous, life-or-death games.

This installment of the series is noticeably darker and more serious than later entries, especially before the card game became a central focus. It’s also quite slow-paced. Had the English dub begun with this version – and with even more censorship – it likely wouldn’t have achieved the massive popularity it did. It was a wise decision to essentially ignore this show and move forward.

1). The Shadow Realm Replaces Death

Looking back at all the changes 4Kids made when they brought Yu-Gi-Oh! to English-speaking audiences, the addition of the Shadow Realm really stands out. It’s funny, because it feels so integral to the show now, many fans don’t realize it was completely invented for the dub! Instead of showing characters actually getting hurt or worse during duels, they just sent losing players to this mysterious Shadow Realm. It was a way to avoid dealing with anything too violent or dark.

In the earliest versions of the show, characters who lost a duel would simply die, which is why the dangerous Shadow Realm isn’t often visited. No one ever returned from it because they were permanently defeated. However, the Shadow Realm ultimately gave Yu-Gi-Oh a distinctive feel and raised the stakes. The threat of losing your soul felt more significant, and this change—a form of self-censorship—helped make Yu-Gi-Oh the popular series it is today.

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2026-01-13 01:12