The appeal and evaluation of "Duel Masters Victory": A review of the 9th series

Duel Masters Victory V - Victory Road of Passion and Friendship

Duel Masters Victory V is a TV anime series that aired on TV Tokyo from April 7, 2012 to March 31, 2013. The series is based on the card game Duel Masters by Wizards of the Coast and Shigenobu Matsumoto, and is part of a series co-produced by Takara Tomy and Shogakukan. It is directed by Waruno Suzuki, animated by Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment, and produced by TV Tokyo and Shogakukan Shueisha Productions.

story

Shota Kirifuda, the younger brother of legendary duelist Katsumi Kirifuda, hates Duel Masters. However, influenced by his friends, he reluctantly starts playing. Then, a fierce rival named Dragon appears and challenges Shota. Never one to lose, Shota vows to never lose at Duel Masters, and so begins his adventure to seek victory.

Commentary

Duel Masters is a trading card game in which players use a deck of 40 souls to summon creatures, break their opponent's five shields, and launch direct attacks to win. The game is loved around the world and has many fans. In Duel Masters Victory V, Shota and his friends grow and deepen their friendships through Duel Masters.

cast

・Katsuta Kirifuda: Yumiko Kobayashi ・Dragon Ryu: Kosuke Takeuchi ・Takeya Taro: Ryuzo Ishino ・Yoshura Rui: Yuuka Nakaji ・Ben-chan: Eriko Hirata ・Twilight Mimi: Saki Nakajima ・Onsen: Yuji Ueda ・Rikishi: Kiyoyuki Yanada ・Shachihoko: Masashi Yabe ・Jotaro: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka ・Kyuusaku: Marie Mizuno ・Seiko: Mikoto Sato ・Grinning-kun: Atsuko Tanaka

Main Staff

Original author: Shigenobu Matsumoto; Director: Wawarō Suzuki; Series composition: Shigenori Tanabe; Character design: Masayuki Hiraoka; Art director: Keito Watanabe; Color design: Akemi Nagao; Director of photography: Norio Matsuda; CG director: Kanemori Yasuda → Yusuke Takita; Sound director: Akiko Fujita; Music: Junichi Igarashi "IGAO"; Animation production: Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment

Main Characters

・Kirifuda Shota: He loves curry bread! The most victorious protagonist in Japan! He's passionate but a little bit foolish. His Duel Masters skills are also rising rapidly, and he aims for even greater victories!
・Frank: A classmate whose catchphrase is "Frank." He's a cool guy whose cool words get to the heart of things! He still has an eye for older women...!
・Ben-chan: A classmate nicknamed "Killer Glasses." He and Katsuta respect each other's Duel Masters skills. He has a rare calmness in a chaotic class!
・Minami Monami: A transfer student in class 5-2 who somehow has no presence! She's always smiling, but surprisingly, she pays close attention to her classmates!
・Momjuu Leo: Anything is OK as long as he stands out! A crazy transfer student from class 5-2! He sees Katsuta, the most victorious in Japan, as a bit of a rival...!?
・Yodel: A classmate who ends her sentences with "Reihi~♪". She's best friends with Katsuta and Bucchake! She's usually a coward, but when you say a certain word, her personality changes completely!
・Purinpurin: A princess from the creature world! Selfish, moody, and free-spirited...! Today, she's manipulating Katsuta and his classmates!
・Abe Maria: The nagging class representative of class 2, 5th grade (?!) She makes decisions on her own, saying "No objections!" even when no one else has decided on them... But she can never go against Mr. Oguma.

subtitle

・Episode 1: A chaotic class, Year 5, Class 2! (April 7, 2012)
・Episode 2: Fighting is good! Senior students! (April 14, 2012)
・Episode 3: Our Katsuta is a liar!? (2012/4/21)
Episode 4: Angry, Laughing, Classmates (April 28, 2012)
・Episode 5: The Dirty Cleaner! (2012/5/5)
・Episode 6: Is the cleaner honest? (2012/5/12)
・Episode 7: Can we do the lucky draw 100 times? (2012/5/19)
・Episode 8: School lunches should be elegant! (2012/5/26)
Episode 9: Uribo has arrived! (2012/6/2)
Episode 10: Animal Staff Panic!! (2012/6/9)
Episode 11: That Card is from Zero Civilization!! (2012/6/16)
Episode 12: Let's compete with a serious judge!! (2012/6/23)
・Episode 13: Who is Snow White?! (2012/6/30)
・Episode 14: Snow White turns into Shura!? (July 7, 2012)
・Episode 15: The Inspirational Man, Lagon-kun! (2012/7/14)
・Episode 16: An amazing and moving birthday party!! (2012/7/21)
Episode 17: Heart-pounding! School at night is full of fear! (2012/7/28)
Episode 18: Aaah! A Cursed Duel Masters Game in a Closed Toilet! (August 4, 2012)
・Episode 19: Formation! The Selfish Mode Defense Force!? (2012/8/11)
・Episode 20: A Giant Robot Appears! (2012/8/18)
・Episode 21: Endless Study Hell! (2012/8/25)
・Episode 22: New semester! Go to school in a selfish mood!? (September 1, 2012)
Episode 23: Deadly Battle! The Selfish Alliance (September 8, 2012)
・Episode 24: I Have Nothing (2012/9/15)
・Episode 25: The Men Who Stake Their Popularity (2012/9/22)
・Episode 26: It's My Turn Again! (2012/9/29)
Episode 27: Listen to the melody of destiny! This is Yarashii! (2012/10/6)
・Episode 28: Because classmates are important! (2012/10/13)
・Episode 29: Clash! Idols vs. Elementary School Students! (2012/10/20)
・Episode 30: V-Mode, the bridge to you! (2012/10/27)
・Episode 31: You are strong, but there are only two of us! (2012/11/3)
・Episode 32: Difference in rank! (2012/11/10)
Episode 33: The Devil Comes, the Angel Smiles (2012/11/17)
・Episode 34: Our voices are your courage! (2012/11/24)
・Episode 35: Scary, Amazing, The Man of My Destiny! (2012/12/1)
・Episode 36: Leo is so cool! (2012/12/8)
・Episode 37: A Manipulated Friend! (2012/12/15)
・Episode 38: The Fate of a Tyrant!! (2012/12/22)
・Episode 39: The best class, 5th grade class 2! (2013/1/5)
・Episode 40: Duel Masters, Do Whatever You Want! (2013/1/12)
・Episode 41: Happy Combo Lessons! (2013/1/19)
・Episode 42: Love, youth, and friendship combo! (2013/1/26)
・Episode 43: Nonstop! Express Eight!! (February 2, 2013)
・Episode 44: The Mean Goddess' Happy Smile! (2013/2/9)
・Episode 45: Boys and Girls Annoyed with Each Other! (2013/2/16)
・Episode 46: Who's better? A smart boy or a strong girl! (2013/2/23)
・Episode 47: By far! I'm number one! (March 2, 2013)
・Episode 48: The Greatest Showdown, the Greatest Rival! (March 9, 2013)
・Episode 49: The Unexpected Strongest Demon Warrior! (March 16, 2013)
・Episode 50: The Miracle of the Last Turn! (March 23, 2013)
・Episode 51: Wish... (March 30, 2013)

Related Titles

・Duel Masters ・Duel Masters Charge ・Shinsei Kagayaki ・Duel Masters Flash ・Duel Masters Zero ・Zero Duel Masters ・Duel Masters Cross ・Duel Masters Cross Shock ・Duel Masters Victory ・Duel Masters Victory V3
・Duel Masters the Movie: Curse of Death Sphenix
・Duel Masters the Movie: Lunatic God Saga

Theme songs and music

・Opening theme: Demon Strongest Victory ・Lyrics: Mio Takasugi ・Music: Yusuke Mochida ・Arrangement: Yusuke Mochida ・Singers: Yu Okamura, Azumaya Atsutomo

・Ending theme: Miracle Victory ・Lyrics: Mio Takasugi, Michiru Kuribayashi ・Composition: Yusuke Mochida ・Arrangement: Yusuke Mochida ・Singers: Yu Okamura, Azumaya Atsutomo

Review and Recommendation

"Duel Masters Victory V" is a work from the perspective of children in the Duel Masters series, depicting friendship, growth, and above all, the passion to strive for "victory." The main character, Shota Kirifuda, initially dislikes Duel Masters, but through interactions with his friends and battles with his rivals, he gradually becomes drawn to the charm of Duel Masters. This process of growth is very realistic and resonates with viewers.

The characters around Katsuta are also unique and charming. Each has their own unique personality, such as the cool, blunt one-liners, Ben-chan's calmness, and Prin-Prin's selfishness, but they are all portrayed as people who support Katsuta. In particular, his rivalry with Leo the Hundred Beasts is an important factor in promoting Katsuta's growth.

The story unfolds at a very fast pace, with each episode depicting a new Duel Masters battle and interactions with classmates. In particular, it is praised for carefully explaining the rules and strategies of Duel Masters without impeding the progress of the story. The subtitles of each episode are also full of humor, making it enjoyable for both children and adults.

In terms of visuals, the character designs and background art are very vivid, and they express the world of Duel Masters in a rich way. In particular, the creature summoning and battle scenes are dynamic and stunning, making full use of CG, creating a strong visual impact.

The music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of the work, with the opening theme "Demon Strongest Victory" and the ending theme "Miracle Victory" being powerful melodies that symbolize Katsuta's passionate heart and inspire the viewers. The background music by Igarashi "IGAO" Junichi also effectively expresses the tension of Duel Masters and the warmth of friendship.

"Duel Masters Victory V" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the Duel Masters series, but also to those who are experiencing the series for the first time. In particular, the story that depicts the growth of children from the protagonist's perspective and the importance of friendship will be inspiring to many people. In addition, since you can have fun while learning the rules and strategies of Duel Masters, it is perfect for people who like games.

Furthermore, this work has particularly strong comedic elements among the series, and there are many humorous scenes. The story unfolds with laughter and emotion as the unique characters of the classmates and Katsuta's passion intersect, making it a story that the whole family can enjoy together.

As for related works, please check out other works in the Duel Masters series. In particular, the movies "Duel Masters: Demon Dragon Phoenix of the Dark Castle" and "Duel Masters: God Emperor of the Black Moon" delve deeper into the world of the series and are must-sees for fans. You can also enjoy Duel Masters Victory V3 as a sequel depicting Katsuta's further adventures.

"Duel Masters Victory V" is a heartwarming work that depicts the victory road of passion and friendship. Please feel the charm of Duel Masters and the growth of Katsuta and his friends through this work.