New 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' Anthology Series Launches First Episode for Free -

With the latest entry of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise coming to an end last month, fans of the long-running anime series are still on the lookout for any announcement about what’s next. While they wait, however, Konami Animation won’t leave them hanging. This week, the animation studio released the first chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Card Game Chronicles for free on YouTube. The series is a different format for the franchise: It focuses on the lore of the trading cards from the game, so it takes place “inside” the universe of the cards. The first episode is titled “Sky Striker Ace – Raye.”

The episode starts in media res and shows the title character Raye (voiced by Anna Nagase) in the middle of a dangerous mission. Inside her futuristic ship, she is out to rescue Roze (Nene Hieda). In order to do that, however, she needs to fight her way through Sky Striker Ace – Zeke. The deadly machine stands in the way of finding Roze. Armed with a mystical sword that she is able to conjure from thin air, Raye engages in battle, and we get to see every thrilling detail of it.

The “Sky Striker” is one of the most popular collections of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game in recent years. The short-form episode contains several references to cards in the collection, including “Sky Striker Ace – Kagari” (the armor that Raye uses), “Sky Striker Mecharmory – Hercules Base” (the ship that she pilots) and many others. The good number of Easter eggs is a great reason for Yu-Gi-Oh! fans to watch the episode over and over again.

‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ Is Celebrating 25 Years

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Card Game Chronicles is an anthology series, and each short will tell a different story. Konami is yet to reveal all cards or collections that will be fleshed out in the new series, but we do know that the next episode, titled “The Fallen & The Virtuous,” will jump into the world of cards like “Fallen of Albaz” and “Dogmatika Ecclesia, the Virtuous.” Long-time fans will be on the lookout for other stories involving original ace monsters like the “Dark Magician” and “Blue-Eyes White Dragon.”

Back in the regular anime series, Yu-Gi-Oh! GO RUSH!! was the latest spin-off from the franchise and so far no new anime series has been announced to keep the story going. Yu-Gi-Oh! The Card Game Chronicles is a celebration of the franchise’s 25th anniversary, and chances are that there is more in store to celebrate the legacy of the manga and anime series created by Kazuki Takahashi.

Konami Animation plans to release new episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Card Game Chronicles monthly. You can check out the full first episode above (toggle English subtitles on).