Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters

'Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters' (遊戯王カプセルモンスターズ Yūgiō Kapusaru Monsutāzu) is a twelve-episode mini-series commissioned, produced, and edited by 4Kids Entertainment (much like Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie - Pyramid of Light) that is a part of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise.

Set before the end of the second Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series (Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Monsters) - apparently somewhere in season 5 (likely between the Grand Championship and Dawn of the Duel), Capsule Monsters involves Yugi, Joey (Jonouchi), Téa (Anzu), Tristan (Honda), and Yugi's grandfather Solomon (Sugoroku) being pulled into a world where Duel Monsters are real. They find monster capsules that they can use to summon monsters. It is similar to the Virtual RPG arc in many respects, but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the early Capsule Monster Chess game featured in early volumes of the original manga.

Discovery and presentation
The first mention of Capsule Monsters came on the retailer website, Talkin' Sports in December 2005, but this information was not widespread, and the existence of the project remained unknown to almost the entire fanbase until February 2006, when the Irish television network RTÉ Two aired the first four episodes. Historically, it was not unusual for RTÉ Two to premiere episodes of the Yu-Gi-Oh! dub some time ahead of other markets, but their lack of any kind of promotion or fanfare in doing so meant that Capsule Monsters was largely unknown until the third episode was accidentally stumbled across by a LiveJournal user who posted the news and screencaps to a LiveJournal community, Play the Damn Card. There was initial confusion amongst fans - particularly over the discovery of the series in such an unlikely place. 4Kids eventually clarified the nature of the show.

Capsule Monsters is now currently airing on the British digital television channel, Sky One. 4KidsTV acquired the license to the ''Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters'' Series for the 2006 US Fall Saturday morning lineup. The first episode aired Saturday, September 9.

Capsule Monsters also airs in Germany on the channel RTL II.

It's unknown when Capsule Monsters will air in Japan.

Capsule Monsters aired in Ireland on RTÉ Two from August 2006 to September 20, 2006. Unlike its earlier airing in February 2006, the entire series was broadcast this time. The episodes after Episode 5 were also repeated. ''Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is now airing instead of Capsule Monsters''

Story
Yugi Muto (romanized as Yugi Mutou in the English-language manga) has strange recurring nightmares about the Pharaoh being captured by an evil monster with glowing red eyes. This upsets him since his Millennium Puzzle always starts acting in a strange manner afterwards.

As if this wan't bad enough, Solomon Muto (Sugoroku Mutou in the Japanese versions and English-language manga), Yugi's grandfather, recently went on a "secret expedition" and was supposed to be back already. Yugi is worried about the fact that Solomon is missing, but when Joey Wheeler (Katsuya Jonouchi in the English manga and the Japanese versions) wins a trip for four to India, Yugi's mind drifts off of the idea.

Meanwhile, there is a new game on the block; the Capsule Monsters board game is the new fad in the Duel Monsters craze, and Yugi has already taken the opportunity to learn the rules of the game. When Joey breaks the news about the trip, Yugi and his friends could not contain their excitement. Yugi, Tristan Taylor (Hiroto Honda), and Téa Gardner (Anzu Mazaki) agree to take Joey's other three tickets.

Just when the plane approached its final destination, the engines cut out and the aircraft crash lands in a mysterious forest. After Yugi and his friends evacuate from the aircraft, they find a man who says his name is Dr. Alex Brisbane.

When Yugi lets slip to Brisbane that he is Solomon Muto's (Sugoroku Mutou) grandson, Brisbane tells him that he's a colleague of Grandpa, and on their latest expedition together he disappeared. Now Yugi knows just where Grandpa had gone, but the Pharaoh still suspects something. They just happen to win a trip; their plane happens to crash; and they just happen to meet the man who was the last person to see Grandpa. It all seems a little bit coincidental. Brisbane shows Yugi and the gang where he last saw Solomon. Yugi and his friends are surprised when they discover that Brisbane last saw Solomon in a pyramid.

Brisbane explains that he believes it to be the legendary pyramid of Alexander the Great, and that it's supposed to contain some sort of ancient game. They check it out, narrowly avoiding an array of dangerous traps, and come across a room that, as Tristan put it, is the size of Cleveland. The floor looks like a giant map of different land types, which looks incredibly familiar to Yugi. Joey decides to check it out but, to everyone's surprise, disappears into thin air the second he steps on the map. Coming to the conclusion that Solomon must have gone to the same place as Joey, the rest of the gang decide to follow, leaving a bewhildered Brisbane behind.

They find themselves in a forest, with Joey nowhere to be seen. Yugi notices a lot of egg-shaped rocks around, but before they can investigate, some giant cockroaches (Gokibore, a monster from the Volume 6 expansion set never released outside Japan) and a giant praying mantis (Kamakiriman, from Volume 3) ambush them. The escapes of Yugi, Tristan, and Téa causes them to have to split up.

Yugi is cornered by the mantis, so the Pharaoh takes over to protect him. He accidentally touches one of the strange egg-shaped rocks whilst jumping, which somehow causes Celtic Guardian to appear. Celtic Guardian attacks the mantis, destroying it.

Meanwhile, Tristan and Téa escape the cockroaches by ducking into a cave. They find themselves on a beach, accompanied by two monsters: Thunder Kid and Happy Lover.

At the same time, Joey is up high on a mountain, looking over onto the forest that the gang are in, hearing Yugi's shouting. Suddenly, a giant bird (LOB-039 Kurama) comes up behind him and grabs him by the shoulders, flying away with Joey in his claws.

Back in the forest, Celtic Guardian disappears in a beam of light, transforming into a small capsule. Now, Yugi knows where he'd seen this before.

The heroes have to discover the secret of the Capsule Monsters world, and figure out how to escape the island. In addition, someone in the real world may desire to use the power of the Capsule Monsters for his own evil plans.

Characters exclusive to ''Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters

 * Alex Brisbane
 * Alexander the Great

Characters from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series

 * Yugi Mutou (武藤 遊戯 Mutō Yūgi)
 * Katsuya Jonouchi / Joey Wheeler
 * Anzu Mazaki / Téa Gardner
 * Hiroto Honda (本田 ヒロト Honda Hiroto) / Tristan Taylor
 * Sugoroku Mutou (武藤 双六 Mutō Sugoroku) / Solomon Muto
 * Shadi

Duel Monsters
Yugi's Monsters:
 * Celtic Guardian (got in episode 1)
 * Hinotama Soul (got in episode 2)
 * Kuriboh (got in episode 4)
 * Dark Magician (got in episode 4, evolved in episode 8)
 * Magician of Black Chaos (evolved from Dark Magician in episode 8)
 * Black Luster Soldier (got in episode 9)
 * Blue-Eyes White Dragon (fused with, but didn't keep in episode 10)

NOTE: Yami Yugi is also capable of activating the power of his Duel Armor and fusing with his monsters. As of episode 9, he has fused with Dark Magician, Magician of Black Chaos, and Black Luster Soldier. In episode 10, he also fused with Blue-Eyes White Dragon which the villagers know as the Divine White Dragon. Yugi has also fused with his friend's dragons to form the Armor Of Unity in episode 12.

Joey's Monsters:
 * Baby Dragon (got in episode 2, destroyed in episode 11)
 * Flame Swordsman (got in episode 4, destroyed in episode 11)
 * Red-Eyes B. Dragon (got in episode 7)

NOTE: Joey was able to fuse together with Red Eyes Black Dragon when it was cursed with the real Sword of Chaos in episode 7. He hasn't activated this ability again.

Tristan's Monsters:
 * Thunder Kid (got in episode 1, destroyed in episode 11)
 * Thunder Dragon (got in episode 7)
 * Shovel Crusher (got in episode 8, destroyed in episode 12)

Téa's Monsters
 * Happy Lover (got in episode 1, destroyed in episode 11)
 * Dark Witch (got in episode 4, destroyed in episode 12)
 * Seiyaryu (got in episode 8)

Solomon's Monsters (Grandpa)
 * Summoned Skull (got in episode 2, first seen in and destroyed in episode 4)
 * Curse of Dragon (given by Alexander the Great in episode 9)

"Evil" Alexander's Monsters
 * Seven-Armed Fiend (unknown when found, first seen in episode 11 and destroyed in episode 12)
 * Reshef the Dark Being (unknown when found, first seen and destroyed in episode 12)

Alex's Follower #1's Monsters
 * Garma Sword (first seen in episode 11 and sacrificed in episode 12)
 * Makyura the Destructor (first seen and destroyed in episode 11)
 * Dark Jeroid (first seen and destroyed in episode 11)
 * Lekunga (first seen and destroyed in episode 11)

Alex's Follower #2's Monsters
 * Total Defense Shogun (first seen in episode 11 and sacrificed in episode 12)
 * Manticore of Darkness (first seen and destroyed in episode 11)
 * Big-Tusked Mammoth (first seen and destroyed in episode 11)

Alex's Follower #3's Monsters
 * Reflect Bounder (first seen in episode 11 and sacrificed in episode 12)
 * Demoness Knight (first seen and destroyed in episode 11)

NOTE: The original Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG card for Demoness Knight is LOB-117 Succubus Knight from the Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon expansion set. It was never reissued in the subsequent renewal sets.

Alex's Follower #4's Monsters
 * Firewing Pegasus (first seen in episode 11 and sacrificed in episode 12)
 * Stealth Bird (first seen and destroyed in episode 11)

Episodes

 * 1) Getting Played
 * 2) Divide and Conquer
 * 3) Reunited at Last
 * 4) Fortress of Fear
 * 5) Eye of the Storm
 * 6) Trial of Light and Shadow
 * 7) Red-Eyes Black Curse
 * 8) Fruits of Evolution
 * 9) The Fiendish Five, Part 1
 * 10) The Fiendish Five, Part 2
 * 11) The True King, Part 1
 * 12) The True King, Part 2

Voice Credits

 * Dan Green - Yugi Moto/Yami Yugi
 * Wayne Grayson - Joey Wheeler
 * Frank Frankson - Tristan Taylor
 * Amy Birnbaum - Tea Gardner
 * Maddie Blaustein - Solomon Moto
 * Pete Zarustica - Dr. Alex Brisbane, Alexander the Great

Other Actors

 * Eric Stuart
 * Marc Thompson
 * Matthew Charles
 * David Wills
 * Michael Sinterniklaas
 * Sean Schemmel
 * Tony Salerno
 * Priscilla Everett
 * Jason Griffith
 * Suzy Goldish
 * Marc Diraison
 * Bella Hudson
 * Kayzie Rogers
 * Jessica Calvello
 * Kelly Ray

Trivia
According to the magazine Shonen Jump, there is a real life collectable game based off of the game seen at the beginning of the show.