Yu-Gi-Oh!

Rush Duel:

Amabie (アマビエ) is a legendary Japanese mermaid or merman with a bird beak-like mouth and three legs or tail-fins, who allegedly emerges from the sea, prophesies either an abundant harvest or an epidemic, and instructed people to make copies of its likeness to defend against illness.

Via Wikipedia

Amabie was given away as a promo for participating in remote duels during 2021 after in-person play was shut down due to COVID-19

Vanquish Soul Pantera comment:

Pantera: “Huh? You are asking if Jiaolong is male or female?…He’s a dude, of course. But who cares about that, where is my reference art?”

TL note: Jiaolong is surrounded by “ore”, a distinctively male pronoun.

Translation via YGOrg

Illustrator Comment:

“I drew it in such a way that, while it keeps some Yu-Gi-Oh dragon-ness in its head and other parts, it also gives an impression of a last boss. Because there are lots of human characters among the ‘Vanquish Soul’, I figured Caesar Valius could be seen like a weirdo from its appearance. However, I enjoy drawing quirky characters.”

Translation via YGOrg

Illustrator Comment:

“A unique world setting that revolves around fighting spirit having become matter and (figuratively) burns people. These are dangerous energy clusters, but Razen stores them in rocketonfas. I wonder how he even obtained them. Maybe from some unofficial underground fighting ring. I tried making the background of the monster card look like a cut-in scene from a videogame.”

Translation via YGOrg

Creator comment:

“This little monster came to life when, at the time the design for the Over Rush Rare foiling was finalized, I said ‘this is a perfect fit for Maximum Monsters! I want to create an original Maximum!’. Since [I/we] wanted more FIRE Attribute cards in the card pool, I wanted it to incorporate lots of flame components, and also, I requested the addition of elements that would be highlighted by the Over Rush [rarity], saying ‘A demon! A ruler of hell! It uses massive snakes!’. When we saw the finalized reference art, everyone involved was super excited about how excessively cool it looked, and with that energy, we finalized the details for the world setting of the Blaze Fiends.”

Creator comments:

“I wanted to upgrade ‘Sevens Road Magician’ as a Fusion Monster while keeping its mischievousness of a young boy, so I requested that the direction that should be taken is that its proportions remain unchanged, while at the same time its equipment was designed after ‘Swordsman of Roadstar’, and also increasing the details. I also requested that since it was going to be the first Magical Knight-Type, its posing should focus on conveying the feeling that it ‘has mastered the usage of swords and magic’, as one would expect of a magical swordsman.”

Translation via YGOrg

Creator Comments

“‘Draconids’ is a very memorable monster for me, specially as to how it appears in ‘Meteonis Drytron’, which was also used for sleeves and the like. I created this theme with the concept of ‘it’s not about the number of stars, but how brightly they shine’, and I also remember that there was big response towards a new form of Ritual Summoning based on the sum of their ATK. I also like the perplexing way in which, despite being Level 12, [its effect works] ‘if the total Levels of monsters used for its Ritual Summon are 2 or less’. As a result of my request to the illustrator that it should look like ‘a heavy armored type, as if representing a meteor shower’, its majestic design is only fitting for [a monster] that tears apart the preconceived notion of rituals”

Translation via YGOrg

“It flowed out of the mysteries of the universe known as the digital world, when ‘Darkfluid’ surpassed the limit of Link 5. Once your partner has surpassed that point, the only way to catch up with them is through a singularity. This is why ‘Singularity’ was included in the name of this monster. The present only exists as the result the collection of other events: I applied this thought in its effect(s) and illustration. One could also say that the way its Link Arrows point is kind of a technological singularity. I think it’s easier to notice it this time, but I made it an important point that the depiction and feel of its energy lines should try to approach those of ‘Arrival’.”

Translation via YGOrg

“‘Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon’ evolves into a new form, which looks as if it’s equipped with a will of iron and the strength of steel. One of the details that I wanted extra focus on in my request was ‘the eruption of blue flames’: While this monster is not part of either the “Phantom Knights” or “Raidraptor” themes, this common trait among them came to life. I would be happy if they are used in conjunction keeping these connections in mind. Wouldn’t you agree that this visual is perfectly fitting for a trump card to use when you are cornered, yet you refuse to surrender and you wish to rise in revolt? I think that the flavor of the change from ‘Dark’ to ‘Arc is pretty good, but I also wonder…how would that be applied to the other monsters?”

“‘ZW – Dragonic Halberd’: I designed this monster asking myself how many people even remember that name, or if I’m even allowed to create this. I requested that it looked as if an ‘Utopia Ray’ itself was powered up by an ‘overlay change’ while it has equipments. The same goes for ‘Leo Utopia Ray’, but I was irritated that I couldn’t show its cool design completely, so this time, I’m really excited that I can show a large illustration. Among the various cards designed after the miraculous power of ‘Zexal’, I’m a big fan of this card and ‘Rank-Up-Magic Zexal Force’.”

TL note: The commentary about ZW – Dragonic Halberd is in reference to a mistake that happened with ZW – Leo Arms. Therefore, the creator is wondering if people remember the mistake occurring, then pondering if it’s even allowed to create the mistaken card in question.

Translation via YGOrg

“This monster was created to look as if it was Synchro Summoned using ‘Shooting Star Dragon’ and ‘Majestic Star Dragon’. I also requested that its appearance should reference how ‘Majestic Dragon’ was drawn in the anime. When I looked at the draft, I was not only very happy about how cool it looked, but also how well its posing captured that. It was also difficult to figure out how to incorporate the effects of the original monster(s) while keeping the balance with the various evolutions. Furthermore, starting with this pack, the slogans [for the pack advertisements] became summon chants, so I was excited about how people would react to that when I was creating it.”

Translation via YGOrg

“‘Yubel’, having sworn eternal love in a past life, was reincarnated from an unsightly dragon into a heroic form. The card used by [Judai/Jaden] inflicts damage according to the ATK of the opponent’s monster, and some elements of its dragon forms can also be seen, and I thought these may form a connection with its past life. I requested this illustration keeping these things in mind. From the very beginning, I already wanted to incorporate [the concept that] ‘Super Polymerization’ is an unbreakable bond in the card design, but I remember I got very excited when I realized that it is actually possible to fuse 12 monsters.”

Translation via YGOrg

“The violent dragon with an intimidating aura summoned by Yugi Mutou is reborn in a new form. The concepts tying the monsters together are ‘gold (sarcophagus)’ and ‘light’. I requested that the monsters included in the package had their composition based on this premise, but for this one in particular, I truly could feel the illustrator’s creativity. It’s as if its entire body was made to look as if it’s heading towards the light called future. The inclusion of the word ‘Geas’ in the name is meant to be a message to those who are breaking or want to break taboos. But just like with ‘Final Geas’, maybe it also includes the desire to break taboos.

Translation via YGOrg

“This is the look Fleurdelis had when she revived for just a moment, in order to protect Ecclesia. ‘The Iris Swordsoul’ was her state when she suppressed the brands that were gnawing at her, using the energy of the Icejades, but she had not mastered the skills of the Swordsouls. It could be said that ‘Despian Luluwalilith’ is the form she takes at the very last moment, where the energy cluster of 665 people including herself turned into a weapon, awakening as a true Swordsoul Master. The final forms that Shuraig, Sargas and Albion take were designed to be limited to that very moment, with their journeys so far converging in a single destination for the decisive battle of Golgonda, for that instant where they managed to overcome a massive enemy. I’m very thankful to the various illustrators who created them.”

TL note: The jp name of “The Iris Swordsoul” includes the term “Swordsoul Master” (相剣師, Soukenshi, like Mo Ye, Taia, etc.). The comment is explaining that while the monster card includes the name “Swordsoul Master”, Fleurdelis had not actually mastered their techniques at that point in time, and only managed to do so after becoming Luluwalilith.

Translation via YGOrg

Illustrator Comment:

“I challenged myself to try drawing a massive, strange creature which habits the enigmatic, mysterious darkness known as ‘the deep beyond of the universe’. I aimed for a design that would exceed my imagination, to the point I would be enveloped by a strong doubt as to ‘what even is this creature?’. I was shocked by an aquarium exhibition where fish from the deep ocean were displayed, and from that point, my ideas began spreading wider and wider. This task of materializing the unknown beings lurking in the very depths of the deep ocean was quite fun.”

Translation via YGOrg