Yu-Gi-Oh! At San Diego Comic-Con 2015

This year the staff of False Memories made the trek to San Diego to see sensei, Mr. Kazuki Takahashi, the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh! to promote the new movie for 2016.

Many lucky fans woke up super early in the morning to claim their ticket for a rare autograph session at the convention center.

This is closest information I was able to transcribe in terms of getting them answered in first person.

At the panel guests included:

Konami Digital Entertainment Corporation Officer: Soji Dewa

V-Junp Editor: Takahiko Aikawa

4K Media Inc. Producer: Arthur “Sam” Murakami

NAS Yu-Gi-Oh! Movie Producer: Teruki Jitsumatsu

4K Media Inc. Producer: Shane Guenego

Yu-Gi-Oh! Creator: Kazuki Takahashi

News:

Recently, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX was announced that Japanese audio and English subtitles are available online streaming on yugioh.com, Hulu, crunchyroll , and others starting on August 1, 2015.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Will be streamed online with Japanese audio and English subtitles available on yugioh.com. The first five episodes are available now, and new episodes will be uploaded at the beginning of each month.

More merchandise will be available including Heroclix and Dice Monsters.

Social media Q&A:

What is his inspiration for creating manga?

Loves American comics like fighting comics.

I was fired from working part time at a game store, so l tried again to work on a manga again because I didn’t think I could beat Dragonball. At first, I wanted to do fighting manga, but wanted to create something different, fighting but with games. I wanted to create a new genre.

What do you have to consider when creating manga?

I must create 20 new pieces every week. It’s important to have good ideas, lively characters , and have cool monsters scenes.

How did he feel when Yu-Gi-Oh! it turned into an anime?

Very excited, what I created on paper is now moving on screen, hearing voices, sound, and color. I am always seeing black and white [working on the manga], when the anime aired, “oh so that’s what he looks like in color”.

What’s next for ygo?

Of course the movie. (Mr. Takahashi is the executive producer for the movie.



[The screen shows new art for the movie.]

Thoughts when he created the image: I created the next story after the manga ended. Story takes place 6 months after the original manga ended. Kaiba is the center of the story. I wrote what I couldn’t write, I wrote now.

The sponsors asked him to evolve Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and he said “I can’t, I can’t,” with the new movie, things became like “this”. (No one knows, no art shown)

More about the movie: Mr. Takahashi wrote the script, did the character design and monsters, checked all story boards.

New designs for Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician will appear in the Trading Card Game.

[Shows top secret drawings from the movie: Yuugi Motou, Seto Kaiba, Anzu (Tea), and Jounouchi (Joey)]

Comments in the character designs:

Yuugi: a more mature character.

Kaiba: he has more of a villainous look.

Anzu: she’s mature and “powered” up.

Jou: not much has changed, but his hair is slightly different to make it animate better on screen.

A trailer of the movie reveals the title of the film. “Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Darkside Of Dimensions”.

Kaiba and Yuugi have scoters!!! New Duel Disks!

[Story boards from movie, teaser of movie the new movie. There are disortions in dimensions… A new enemy appears!]

The movie is slated to show spring of 2016 in Japan. Show date will vary for other countries.

Last message to fans about the movie? Yugi and kaiba, are coming to screen.

How is your work progress, how has it changed from then to now? What does your desk look like now? (FM submitted question)

My desk is not clean. When I worked with staff, in the past, I used pens but I have gone digital and work mostly by myself now.

How do you draw Yuugi? (He begins to show the audience how he draws Yami Yuugi)

I start with the eyes. If I mess up the eyes, I start over. I have to be careful otherwise his hair runs off the page.

Why is Yuugi’s his hair like that?

I wanted and impactful character. And you can tell with the character by silhouette.

Favorite characters to draw?

Yami Yuugi.

What do you prefer to draw the most? The Blue-Eyes White Dragon or the Dark Magician?

Kuriboh.

Favourite manga story arc?

DEATH-T. The reason why it’s my favorite because it is when Yuugi and Kaiba duel. The use Exodia for the first time sets everything in motion.

Which characters do you relate the most?

I really love Yuugi, but wishes to be like Jounouchi (Joey). As he’s older, he is like Grandpa.

How long did it take you to create the manga?

It took a year and story editor to come up with YGO. Through of allot of work, manga first then card game.

How he had to research on Egypt before writing?

History of gaming surfaced in Egypt 5,000 years ago. I went to Egypt twice, but once before the manga.

(The Ink Pot is awarded to Kazuki Takahashi from SDCC)

A special YGO movie poster is given to all panel attendee!

Thanks for reading!