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Yu-Gi-Oh Funko Pop - Merchandise

Collectible figure maker Funko Pop has a long history of transforming iconic characters from movies, television, books, games, and cartoons into classic black-eyed chibi figures. Funko Pops are so popular because they offer fans the opportunity to decorate their spaces with an affordable figure, often for series that have little or no merchandise available outside of Japan.

In 2019, Funko released its first wave of Yu-Gi-Oh Pop vinyl figures. This was long-awaited, as many other classic anime series such as Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Sailor Moon had already had figures released in multiple waves, but until 2019, Yu-Gi-Oh had been overlooked. The first wave was small, encompassing four figures; Yami Yugi, Seto Kaiba, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and, controversially, Dark Magician Girl in place of the expected Dark Magician. Since the initial release, several special edition figures have also been released, and Wave 2 is currently available for pre-order ahead of its release later in 2020.

Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Yami Yugi

The first figure in this wave is 387 Yami Yugi. Also known as the Pharaoh, this figure is designed to represent the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle. The figure is dressed in Yugi's Battle City (Season 2) outfit, which Yugi wears for most of the following series and is his most iconic outfit. Like most Funko Pops, Yami Yugi has black button-like eyes; however, there is the addition of Yami Yugi's signature long eyelashes, which help to accurately portray the character.

The Yami Yugi figure also features prominent eyebrows, giving Yami Yugi a focused and intense expression that isn't too different from the character's posture in the anime series. The figure has a dynamic pose in which Yami Yugi holds a hand of cards in his left hand and a single card in his right hand, as if he's about to play it. Yami Yugi's signature coat also billows behind him, adding another element of dynamism to the pose.

Product Line: Pop Animation!
Manufacturer: Funko, SARL.
Features: Painted vinyl figure, non-articulated and not to scale

Yu-Gi-Oh Funko Pop - Merchandise, Japan proximity, figurine

Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! -Seto Kaiba

Seto Kaiba is Yugi's rival in the series and, as such, naturally features in the first wave of figures. Compared to Yami Yugi, the Seto Kaiba figure's facial expression is bland, however, the character's prominent bangs are perfectly captured. Like Yami Yugi, Seto Kaiba is dressed in his iconic Battle City outfit, complete with a sleeveless cape that seems permanently caught in the wind and wraps around his legs and sticks out from the figure.

The figure's pose perfectly captures Seto Kaiba's essence: his drive, willpower, and ruthlessness. The figure's left hand is clenched into a determined fist, while the right, similar to Yami Yugi's, holds a card that the figure appears poised to play at any moment. Seto Kaiba's key accessory, the card-shaped locket containing the photo of his brother Mokuba, is prominently displayed in the center of the figure's chest.

Product Line: Pop Animation!
Manufacturer: Funko, SARL.
Features: Painted vinyl figure, non-articulated and not to scale

Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Blue-Eyes White Dragon

In addition to the two rival figures, Wave 1 also saw the release of two monsters, 389 Blue-Eyes White Dragon and 390 Dark Magician Girl. 389 Blue-Eyes White Dragon is probably the least visually impressive of the four. Its large dragon form doesn't quite fit with the chibi Pop Vinyl form. While the body may look a little odd, the figure's head perfectly captures the essence of Blue-Eyes. It's one of the few figures that deviates from the classic black eyes of Funko Pops. The figure's mouth is highly detailed and open, as if it were about to unleash one of its signature battle cries.

Product Line: Pop Animation!
Manufacturer: Funko, SARL.
Features: Painted vinyl figure, non-articulated and not to scale

Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Dark Magician Girl

Fans were surprised to find that 390 wasn't Yugi's favorite monster, the Dark Magician, as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is Kaiba's favorite. While the Dark Magician Girl plays a significant role and is one of the only monsters to speak directly to a character, she feels a bit out of place in this wave.

There's no denying, however, how perfectly Dark Magician Girl's character design fits into the cute chibi form of a Pop Vinyl. The figural representation of Dark Magician Girl was well thought out, as the character is usually depicted floating. The figure's pose both gives her the ability to stand upright when displayed and also gives the impression that she could be hovering above the action. The monster's signature rosy cheeks are also present, although less prominent than on the original figure.

Product Line: Pop Animation!
Manufacturer: Funko, SARL.
Features: Painted vinyl figure, non-articulated and not to scale

Wave 2

The second wave of Funko Pop Yu-Gi-Oh figures is expected to be released in 2020, to mark the 20th anniversary of the animated series. Like the first wave, the second wave consists of four figures and focuses on prominent characters from the first series of the anime, although Yugi Muto and Joey Wheeler are both dressed in their Battle City outfits from Season 2. Figures to be released in the second wave include Yugi Muto, Joey Wheeler, Maximillion Pegasus, and Red-Eyes Black Dragon.

Along with this wave 2, we see the addition of three 6-inch “Super-sized” Pop Vinyl figures, two of which are exclusive to various stores. First, there’s Exodia, which is available at several stores. Next, Obelisk the Tormentor is exclusive to the retailer Gamestop, while Slifer the Sky Dragon is a Hot Topic exclusive. Also noticeably absent from the lineup is the Winged Dragon of Ra, though this figure may appear in a later wave.

Special Editions

The first wave also saw two special edition figures, a repaint of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and the highly anticipated appearance of the Dark Magician. 595 Dark Magician was released exclusively on Hot Topic. The new Blue-Eyes White Dragon color shares the same ID number and was released as part of a collectible BoxLunch T-shirt pack. The figure comes in a silver metallic finish.