[Dr Kain]

As I continue my rewatch and reread of Yu-Gi-Oh!, it is time to discuss the differences between the manga and anime versions of both Dungeon Dice Monsters and Battle City.

It is amazing at how little of the story was adapted into the anime for Otogi and DDM. I really prefer the way the manga did it as it made Otogi feel more like a tragic character rather than just a spiteful spoiled brat. Not only that, but we never actually found out who the dude Otogi was with in the anime since it was clearly not his father. Another thing I did not like the anime was the additional of Duel Monsters monsters included in the game. Sure, it made sense since Pegasus put his touch in the game, but how did he manage to pass that by without Otogi's knowledge? And how did Yugi just happen to know it was a Black Magician? There are just too many things that do not make sense in the anime version.

Oddly enough, they decided to take the concept of the black room in Otogi's store and combine it with the main story of the anime, but with a brainwashed Bandit Keith and in a warehouse. That just seems so random and awkward. Plus, what was the point of even bothering with Bandit Keith when he did absolutely nothing in the first place?

Battle City itself is quite great in both versions, but I do prefer the speedier duels in the manga. I do feel like the duels between Yugi/Kaiba/Dark Mask/Light Mask and Yugi/Jounouchi are an episode too long, but they are still good. My favorite duel goes to the one against Pandora as it is enjoyable in both formats. I do prefer Kaiba dropping the key in the water to Jounouchi over Shizuka jumping in to save him is just funnier. Oh yeah, and I also prefer Kaiba's line after throwing BEWD at the Ghouls dude's hand in the manga, as he says something like, "Damn, your blood got onto my card." They really should have had him say that in the anime.

Now one thing I do like done better in the anime is the duel between Bakura and Ghost. That duel itself is just really cool and great to watch. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the Jean Claude Magnum episode, as it not only sucks, but is boring as crap.

Sadly, there are a few things that just do not make much sense in the anime version for me. First off, Jounouchi knows in the battle against the Exodia Deck dude that he needs to tribute summon level 5+ monsters. Suddenly, he does not know that in the duel with Esper Roba. Secondly, time is just weird. In the manga Battle City takes place two days after Kaiba announces it. However, in the anime, he says it will be one week from his announcement, but when Yugi and Jounouchi go to get their duel disks, Yugi says the tournament is tomorrow and that it was announced yesterday. Also, the anime seems to imply that Battle City is a two day event as everything seems to be the next day at the beginning of the episode when Jounouchi goes to duel Insector Haga instead of a single day one.

There are other things I could nitpick about, but those are the ones that really stuck in my mind throughout the entire thing because they just don't work well for me. The same goes for the ability to watch the duels on the internet, but whatever. Overall, once again I definitely feel the manga is superior, but the duels are enjoyable in both versions and the main purpose of the story remains the same.

So what are your thoughts on this arc between the anime and manga? Do you prefer one over the other?