Yugi Mutou, and consequently Yami Yugi, of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters anime are perhaps the most recognizable characters in the industry. Their adventures marked an entire generation, remaining the face of this amazing franchise even 2 decades after their debut. Nonetheless, besides being known for being one of the best duelists in the show, Yugi is also famous for his odd fashion sense.
Out of all the amazing Yu-Gi-Oh! heroes, Yugi’s choice of clothing is the most memorable, as it does not seem to fit the kind and righteous hero. His plethora of belts, chains, and leather has been the source of many memes and jokes throughout the years. Yet, the reason behind Kazuki Takahashi choosing this outfit will shock even the most loyal of fans.
Yugi’s Outfit Is a Tribute to a Beloved Tim Burton Film
Takahashi Revealed the Truth Many Years Ago
Besides his amazing strategies and having some of the most iconic card designs in manga, the protagonist of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters anime shocked the world with his outfit of choice. Fans all over the world remember the eccentric and surprisingly stylish clothes that Yugi would wear. His predilection for belts and leather left an impression on viewers that continues to this day, as few anime characters have such an ostentatious style. While the decision to dress his protagonist in such a manner might seem odd, Takahashi had a genuine reason to do so.
In the Duel Art book released to celebrate the legacy of the author, many interviews were included to help fans understand the process of creating his iconic manga. When asked about the inspirations for his character, Takahashi revealed that he was a big fan of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands movie, one of the most popular films of all time. According to him, the outfit used by the titular character inspired his design for Yugi. When compared side by side, the similarities between the two characters are quite apparent.
Edward’s costume is layers upon layers of studded belts and large buckles, which is reflected in Yugi’s altered design for his school outfit. Leather is also a big inspiration, and the Yu-Gi-Oh! protagonist has been sporting some sick leather pants since episode #1. The young man’s hair is also quite full and fills out a similar shape to Edward’s, though the reason behind his massive hair differs from his outfit inspiration. While Yugi may not wield scissors in battle, he does cut a similar aesthetic to Edward Scissorhands.
Yugi’s Other Inspirations
Burton Was Not the Only One Who Influenced the Hero’s Design
Besides Burton’s beloved film, Takahashi also talked about some anime and manga series that influenced his designs. One of the biggest franchises he mentioned was Fujiko Fujio’s Mataro ga Kuru!!, a lesser-known manga that gave the author ideas for the early chapters of the series. Yugi’s creator also listed the world-famous JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series as an inspiration, with the author claiming that it helped the manga acquire its dark and unsettling themes.
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Surprisingly, Takahashi also explained that Star Wars had a major impact on his work, particularly when working on Seto Kaiba’s story. The best rival in the franchise worked hard throughout the series to create a holographic system that would help duels become more interesting. This idea was inspired by scenes of Chewbacca, the loveable furry warrior created by George Lucas, and the cyborg C-3PO playing chess on a holotable. Overall, the interview with Takahashi reveals not only the origins of Yugi’s iconic and stylish outfit but also the inspirations that led him to create one of the best anime ever, Yu-Gi-Oh!.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
- Release Date
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2000 – 2004-00-00
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TVh, TSC
- Directors
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Masahiko Watanabe, Naoki Hishikawa, Kimiharu Muto, Yasuhiro Minami, Kenichi Kasai, Hiroaki Shimura
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Hiroki Takahashi
Katsuya Jonouchi (voice)
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