The popular Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise has returned to U.S. television screens with the premiere of Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! on Disney XD. The anime, which is the eighth series in the franchise, made its debut on January 11, 2025, at 7:00 AM EST, marking a new chapter for the beloved card-battling series. This premiere comes nearly three years after the show first aired in Japan, exciting fans who have eagerly awaited its arrival in English.
A New Chapter for Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! is the latest installment in the long-running anime series, bringing with it a fresh narrative and a new central character. The series is set in Mutsuba Town, which is known as the birthplace of Rush Dueling, a card game mechanic that differs from the traditional Yu-Gi-Oh! format. In the timeline, this series takes place before the events of Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens, offering viewers a look into the early days of Rush Dueling. The show replaces Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens on Disney XD’s lineup.
Storyline and Characters
The plot revolves around twin siblings, Yūhi and Yuamu, who run a business called UTS (Alien Trouble Consulting). This group helps rid the town of troublesome aliens by engaging them in Rush Duel battles. One day, their lives are changed when they encounter Yudias, an alien from the Belgar Cluster. Yudias has journeyed to Earth in search of Rush Dueling, hoping it can bring a new future for his people. However, Yudias has no knowledge of Rush Duels, leading to Yūhi challenging him to a duel. This marks the first time in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise that an alien is the main protagonist.
Key characters in the series include:
- Yudias Velgear: An alien from the Belgar Cluster seeking to understand Rush Duels. He is voiced by Arthur Lounsbery in Japanese and Mike Liscio in English.
- Yūhi Oudou: One of the twin siblings who runs UTS. He is voiced by Toshiki Kumagai.
- Yuamu Oudou: Yūhi’s twin sister and co-owner of UTS. She is voiced by Koko Fukushima.
Other notable characters include Romin Kirishima voiced by Tomori Kusunoki and Gakuto Sougetsu voiced by Natsuki Hanae.
Production and Music
Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! is directed by Nobuhiro Kondō at studio Bridge. Toshimitsu Takeuchi oversees the series scripts, while Masahiro Hikokubo is responsible for the duel layout. Character designs are by Kazuko Tadano and Hiromi Matsushita, with Hiroshi Yamamoto serving as the sound director. The show’s opening and ending themes add to its vibrant energy. The current opening theme is “Duel Shiyō ze!” (Let’s Duel) by Masayoshi Ōishi, and the ending theme is “Star Rush” by Ayaka Nanase. Earlier opening themes include “Shinkirō” by Frederic and “Soul Galaxy” by BRADIO. Previous ending themes include “One Way” by Yūsuke Saeki, “Cosmos” by Taichi Mukai and “It Won’t Be Goodbye” by Ayaka Nanase.
Rush Duels: A Different Approach
Unlike previous Yu-Gi-Oh! series, Go Rush!! features “Rush Duels”. This game format simplifies some of the traditional mechanics, making it more accessible for new viewers. Rush Duels were first introduced in Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens, but the show has further refined the rules and introduced new card effects, keeping the game exciting. The focus on Rush Duels in Go Rush!! also makes it stand out from other anime series in the franchise which have featured complicated game mechanics.
U.S. Broadcast and Availability
Disney XD is the official home for the English-dubbed version of Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! in the United States. The show airs on Saturday mornings, taking over the time slot previously held by Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens. The series premiere on January 11 marked the first time U.S. audiences could watch the English dub of the anime, which had been released in Japan in April 2022.
While it is not officially confirmed, it is expected that Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! will eventually be available on Hulu, similar to how Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens was released after its initial run on Disney XD. It is worth noting that the English dubbed version of the show is likely to be the only version available on Disney XD and Hulu, with the uncut Japanese version typically found on Crunchyroll. However, Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens is not available on Crunchyroll, and it is unclear if Go Rush!! will appear on the platform.
The Popularity of Yu-Gi-Oh!
The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise has maintained a strong global presence since its inception. The trading card game has sold billions of cards worldwide and has even surpassed Magic: The Gathering in U.S. search popularity. The anime series has also gained a devoted following, with Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! becoming one of the most anticipated releases of 2025.
The franchise is among the highest-grossing media franchises in the world, generating billions of dollars in revenue, with licensed merchandise and video games making up the bulk of it, along with anime box office revenue. Recent reports show that the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise remains highly popular, securing a spot among the top franchises globally. The franchise’s continued success can also be attributed to the release of the free-to-play game Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, which has boosted the game’s search traffic.
A Look Ahead
The premiere of Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! on Disney XD marks a new chapter for the franchise in the United States. This new series comes as the franchise continues to remain popular with anime fans around the world. With its unique storyline, characters, and the exciting new Rush Duel format, the anime is set to captivate a new generation of fans while bringing back older fans of the series.
