Duel Masters facts for kids

Duel Masters
Volume 1 cover
Quick facts for kids デュエル・マスターズ (Dyueru Masutāzu)
Genre	Fantasy
Manga
Written by	Shigenobu Matsumoto
Published by	Shogakukan
Demographic	Children
Magazine	CoroCoro Comic
Original run	May 1999 – ongoing
Volumes	62 (List of volumes)
Series titles
Duel Masters (1999–2005, 17 volumes) Duel Masters: Fighting Edge (2005–2008, 12 volumes) Duel Masters: Star Cross (2008–2011, 9 volumes) Duel Masters Victory (2011–2014, 10 volumes) Duel Masters (2017) (2017–2020, 11 volumes) Duel Masters King (2020–present, 3 volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by	Waruo Suzuki
Written by	Satoru Nishizono
Music by	Jun'ichi Igarashi
Studio	A.C.G.T. (#1−26) Studio Hibari (#27−78)
Licensed by	NA Allspark Animation Plastic Cow Productions Howling Cat Productions
Network	TV Tokyo, Kids Station
English network	CA YTV SA Disney Channel UK Toonami, Disney XD US Cartoon Network (Toonami)
Original run	October 21, 2002 – March 27, 2006
Episodes	78 (List of episodes)
Seasons Duel Masters (26 episodes, 2002−2003) Duel Masters Charge (52 episodes, 2004−2006)
Anime film
Curse of the Death Phoenix
Directed by	Waruo Suzuki
Written by	Satoru Nishizono
Music by	Jun'ichi Igarashi
Studio	Studio Hibari
Released	March 12, 2005
Runtime	50 minutes
Anime television series
Duel Masters: Sacred Lands (American exclusive season)
Directed by	Mickey Corcoran
Produced by	Mickey Corcoran Todd Kendall
Written by	Eugene Son
Music by	Brett Perry Laurie Melan
Studio	Allspark Animation Studio Hibari
Licensed by	NA Hasbro Studios Elastic Media Corporation
English network	US Cartoon Network
Original run	March 26, 2005 – June 17, 2006
Episodes	39 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Shinseiki: Duel Masters Flash
Directed by	Waruo Suzuki
Written by	Koji Ueda
Music by	Yasuharu Takanashi
Studio	SynergySP G&G Entertainment
Network	TV Tokyo
Original run	April 10, 2006 – March 23, 2007
Episodes	24
Anime television series
Zero/Cross series
Directed by	Waruo Suzuki (#1−37) Takao Kato (#38−187)
Written by	Satoru Nishizono (#1−37) Shinzō Fujita (#38−187)
Music by	Jun'ichi Igarashi
Studio	Nihon Animedia (#1−37) Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment (#38−187)
Network	TV Tokyo, Kids Station
Original run	April 9, 2007 – March 26, 2011
Episodes	187 (List of episodes)
Seasons Zero Duel Masters (12 episodes, 2007) Duel Masters Zero (25 episodes, 2007−2008) Duel Masters Cross (100 episodes, 2008−2010) Duel Masters Cross Shock (50 episodes, 2010−2011)
Anime film
Lunatic God Saga
Directed by	Keidai Hattori
Written by	Hideyuki Nishimori
Music by	Jun'ichi Igarashi
Studio	Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment
Released	September 19, 2009
Runtime	75 minutes
Manga
Duel Hero: Dash
Written by	Shigekatsu Ihara
Published by	Shogakukan
Demographic	Children
Magazine	CoroCoro Comic
Original run	June 2010 – January 2013
Volumes	2
Anime film
Blazing Bonds XX
Directed by	Keida Hattori
Written by	Katsuro Hidaka
Music by	Jun'ichi Igarashi
Released	August 21, 2010
Runtime	75 minutes
Manga
Duel Masters: Legendary Champion
Written by	Fujisaki Machito
Published by	Shogakukan
Demographic	Children
Magazine	CoroCoro Comic
Original run	October 2010 – November 2014
Volumes	3
Anime television series
Victory/Versus series
Directed by	Takao Kato (#1-154) Shinobu Sasaki (#155−305)
Written by	Ken'ichi Araki (#1-154) Yoichi Kato (#155−305)
Music by	Jun'ichi Igarashi
Studio	Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment (#1−154) Ascension (#155−305)
Network	TV Tokyo
Original run	April 2, 2011 – March 26, 2017
Episodes	305
Seasons Duel Masters Victory (52 episodes, 2011-2012) Duel Masters Victory V (51 episodes, 2012-2013) Duel Masters Victory V3 (51 episodes, 2013-2014) Duel Masters Versus (49 episodes, 2014-2015) Duel Masters Versus Revolution (51 episodes, 2015–2016) Duel Masters Versus Revolution Final (51 episodes, 2016–2017)
Manga
Duel Masters Rev. (2012–2013)
Anime film
Hamukatsu to Dogiragon no Curry-pan Dai-bōken
Studio	Ascension
Released	March 19, 2016
Runtime	10 minutes
Anime television series
King series
Directed by	Shinobu Sasaki
Written by	Yoichi Kato
Music by	Jun'ichi Igarashi
Studio	Ascension (#1−102) Brain's Base (#103−present)
Network	TV Tokyo
Original run	April 2, 2017 – ongoing
Episodes	180+
Seasons Duel Masters (51 episodes, 2017–2018) Duel Masters! (51 episodes, 2018–2019) Duel Masters!! (50 episodes, 2019–2020) Duel Masters King (2020–present) Duel Masters King! (2021–present)

Duel Masters (デュエル・マスターズ, Dyueru Masutāzu) is a super popular series from Japan! It includes manga (Japanese comic books), lots of anime TV shows, a cool trading card game, and fun video games. The original manga was a huge hit, selling over 4.5 million copies in Japan!

Story of Duel Masters

The main story of Duel Masters is all about a card game where players use creatures from five different civilizations: Fire, Water, Light, Darkness, and Nature. The first part of the story follows a young boy named Shobu Kirifuda. He loves playing Duel Masters and has a special ability to bring the monsters on his cards to life during duels! Shobu wants to become the best duelist, just like his dad.

Main Characters

Shobu Kirifuda

Shobu Kirifuda (切札 勝舞, Kirifuda Shōbu) is the main hero. He wants to be a great duelist like his father. Shobu always tries to stay positive and believes dueling should be fun, not just about winning. He uses a Fire Civilization deck, which later changes to include Dragons and even Angels. Shobu is brave and never gives up!

Hakuoh

Hakuoh (白凰, Hakuō) is Shobu's main rival. He comes from a famous dueling family and uses Light Civilization cards. Hakuoh used to love dueling, but after a sad event, he became cold and only cared about winning. He became a champion and leader of the White Soldiers. Shobu helps Hakuoh remember the true fun of dueling.

Kyoshiro Kokujo

Kyoshiro Kokujo, also known as "Black Death," is another rival of Shobu. He calls himself an "evil genius" and is known for his long hair and black leather outfit. He uses a Darkness Civilization deck, later adding Water cards. Kokujo is very clever with his tactics.

Shobu's Family and Friends

Shobu's Family

Shori Kirifuda (切札 勝利, Kirifuda Shōri)

Shobu's father is a world-famous duelist. He left home to train more but always missed his family. He sometimes appears to help Shobu.

Mai Kirifuda (切札 舞, Kirifuda Mai)

Shobu's mother sometimes pretends to be a mysterious "Dragon Mask" to help Shobu.

Shobu's Friends

Rekuta Kadoko (角古れく太, Kadoko Rekuta)

Rekuta is Shobu's best friend. He knows all the rules of the game but isn't very good at dueling himself. He often carries a laptop to track duels.

Sayuki Manaka (真中紗雪, Manaka Sayuki)

Sayuki is a kind and quiet friend of Shobu. She always supports him and cheers him on during his matches.

Mimi Tasogare (黄昏ミミ, Tasogare Mimi)

Mimi is part of Shobu's group. She seems a bit clumsy at first but is actually a very skilled duelist and one of the Four Temple Guardians. She uses Nature Civilization cards.

George Kamamoto (ジョージ釜本, Jōji Kamamoto)

George is an 8-year-old boy who wears a pink bear suit and sucks a pacifier. He's a very good duelist and uses a Water Civilization deck.

Dr. Root Westhandler (Ｄｒ．ルート, Dokutā Rūto)

Dr. Root is a super smart scientist and a great duelist. He often helps Shobu and his friends learn important lessons.

Knight

Knight is Shobu's mysterious and calm mentor. He guides Shobu, even if he can't always be there in person.

Extreme Bucketman

This duelist wears a bucket on their head! Nobody knows if Bucketman is a boy or a girl. They use Fire and Nature cards.

Other Characters

Temple Guardians

These are elite duelists who work for Hakuoh.

Mikuni (三国, Mikuni)

The first Temple Guardian Shobu battles. He uses a Fire deck.

Gyujiroh Japan (邪藩 牛次郎, Japan Gyūjirō) / Benny HaHa

The third Temple Guardian. Benny often tries to cheat in duels.

Makoto Aizen (愛善 真, Aizen Makoto)

The fourth Temple Guardian. He also works as the Temple's janitor.

Antagonists

Yu Fua (不亞 幽, Fua Yū) / Yumama

A mysterious girl who can duel while reading a book. She has strange powers and is controlled by her older brother, Zakira.

Zakira Fua (不亞 ザキラ, Fua Zakira)

The main bad guy in some seasons. He's a powerful duelist and Shobu's father's enemy. He wants to get the "Duel Master's Proof."

Professor March (プロフェッサー・マーチ, Purofessā Māchi)

A new villain in Duel Masters Zero. He tricks duelists into coming to a deserted island.

Media

Manga Series

The Duel Masters manga series is written by Shigenobu Matsumoto. It's published in Japan by Shogakukan in the CoroCoro Comic magazine.

• The original manga ran from 1999 to 2005 and has 17 books.
• It was followed by Duel Masters: Fighting Edge (2005–2008, 12 books) and Duel Masters Star Cross (2008–2011, 9 books).
• Duel Masters Victory (2011–2014, 10 books) tells a different story from the anime.
• There are also other manga stories like Duel Hero:Dash and Duel Masters: Legendary Champion.

Trading Card Game

The Duel Masters trading card game started in Japan in May 2002. It was made in English by Wizards of the Coast from 2004 to 2006. Later, in 2012, Wizards of the Coast released a new game called Kaijudo. It was a new version of the card game, but the old Duel Masters cards couldn't be used with it. Kaijudo was stopped in 2014.

Anime TV Series

The first Duel Masters TV show started in Japan on October 21, 2002. Since then, there have been many sequel seasons!

• Duel Masters was followed by Duel Masters Charge.
• Then came Zero Duel Masters and Duel Masters Zero, which told a different story.
• Duel Masters Cross and Duel Masters Cross Shock continued the adventures.
• From Duel Masters Zero to Duel Masters Victory V3, the episodes were shorter, about 12 minutes long.
• Duel Masters Victory started in 2011 and introduced a new main character, Katta Kirifuda. He is Shobu's younger brother and wants to become a champion too.
• The 2017 Duel Masters anime and its sequels, Duel Masters! and Duel Masters!!, introduced Joe Kirifuda, another character from the Kirifuda family.
• In April 2020, Duel Masters King was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returned in May 2020.
• A spin-off series, Shinseiki: Duel Masters Flash aired from 2006 to 2007. It followed a character named Teru Yumemi.

Anime Seasons

Video Games

The cover of Duel Masters: Nettō! Battle Arena.

Many Duel Masters video games have been made! Some were released only in Japan by companies like Takara and Kids Station. Others were released in North America and Europe by Atari.

• Duel Masters (2003) for Game Boy Advance.
• Duel Masters: Nettō! Battle Arena (2003) for Nintendo GameCube.
• Duel Masters: Sempai Legends (2004) for Game Boy Advance.
• Duel Masters (2004) for PlayStation 2.
• Duel Masters: Kaijudo Showdown (2004) for Game Boy Advance.
• Duel Masters: Shadow of the Code (2005) for Game Boy Advance.