The Shadow Riders, known as the Seven Stars Assassins (セブンスターズ刺客, Sebunsutāzu Shikaku^?) in the original Japanese language version, are a fictional group of villains in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime series, appearing between episodes 29-49. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Fiction is the telling of stories which are not real More specifically fiction is an imaginative form of Narrative, one of the four basic Rhetorical modes. is an Anime Spin-off, and Sequel of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise (anime in Japanese, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, originally broadcast in Japan as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX (遊☆戯☆王デュエルモンスターズGX Yū☆gi☆ō Dyueru Monsutāzu

Composed of seven duelists and their leader of varying origins and backgrounds who each have their own agendas, the Shadow Riders serve as the main antagonists of the series' first season, intent on resurrecting the Sacred Beasts. An antagonist (from Greek ανταγωνιστής - antagonistes, "opponent competitor rival" is a character or

However, one of them returns in the fourth and final season as the true mastermind behind the mysterious attacks that take place in Duel Academy and Domino City.

Character design

The Shadow Riders' designs incorporate multiple layers of clothing and a wide range of expressions. Depicted here is Nightshroud in full regalia from front and rear alongside views of his head and mask from different angles.

The Shadow Riders' designs incorporate multiple layers of clothing and a wide range of expressions. Depicted here is Amnael in full regalia from front and rear alongside views of his head from different angles and levels of concealment.

The Shadow Riders' character designs were overseen by Kenichi Hara. ^[1] An example of one of these concepts can be seen in Nightshroud, who wears a tight-fitting overcoat with raised shoulders and waistline and gold and green trimmings. His dark dragon mask, similar to that worn by his signature monster Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, is completely black with the exception of blue eye-pieces and a red stone in the center of the forehead. In this incarnation, the bangs closest to his face are positioned in front of the mask. He carries and Academy-issued Duel Disk on his left hand. The Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Disk, sometimes referred to as the Duel Disk Launcher, as marketed in the United States, is a card-holding Prosthesis attached

Another example can be seen in Amnael, who wears a hooded tunic with a flowing red scarf, boots, and a mask with yellow eye-pieces. On his right hand is a glove made of heavier material, and he carries a black model of the Academy-issued Duel Disk on his left despite the second Japanese opening sequence featuring his alter ego with the standard Disk given to all students and staff before his official debut as Amnael. In this incarnation, he has white hair, and the sides of his face are covered in pronounced veins and cracks.

History

In the timeline of the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime, enlisted by the elderly Kagemaru in his quest to retrieve his lost youth, the Shadow Riders are a collection of elite duelists who work towards the goal of reviving the Sacred Beast Cards. is an Anime Spin-off, and Sequel of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise The following is a list of notable cards in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. Each of the members that Jaden Yuki and company face possess a "Shadow Charm," similar to the Millennium Items in terms of supernatural power, but of unknown origin. Jaden Yuki, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime and manga The Millennium Items are fictional objects in the Manga Yu-Gi-Oh! and both Anime series based on the manga Toei 's These relics bestow upon their owners different abilities depending on the Shadow Rider in question.

In the past, Kagemaru was forced to seal the Sacred Beasts away behind the Spirit Gate underneath Duel Academy due to their inability to grant his wish at that time. ^[2] In order to access their true abilities, he bestows upon Chancellor Sheppard the seven Spirit Keys capable of unlocking the gate, and pits his subordinates against the school's finest to create the strong dueling presence needed to unleash the Sacred Beasts. The following is a list of minor characters in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime and manga series ^[3]

Members

Kagemaru

Kagemaru (影丸, Kagemaru^?) is the leader of the Shadow Riders and former superintendent of Duel Academy. The "Kage" portion of his name is derived from the Japanese word "kage" (影), meaning "shadow". In the English version, Kagemaru is voiced by David Wills (older) and Marc Thompson (younger), while Mugihito (older) and Nobutoshi Canna (younger) take the role in the Japanese version. David Wills (sometimes credited as David Willis or Dave Wills) is an American Voice actor, who works on the properties of 4Kids Entertainment Marc Thompson may refer to Marc Thompson (footballer Marc Thompson (voice actor is a Seiyū whose birth name is Makoto Terada (寺田 誠 Terada Makoto) is a Seiyū who was born on June 10, 1968 in Tokyo. Canna is currently affiliated with Aoni Production.

In horrible health, Kagemaru hoped to attain eternal youth by sacrificing Duel Monster spirits to the Sacred Beasts. During his Duel with Jaden, his youth gradually returned. After being defeated, however, he returned to his aged state. He then asked forgiveness and promised to renounce his former ways, carried off to the hospital by helicopter.

Kagemaru plays a Sacred Beast deck. He carries a basic Fiend deck to support Raviel, and plenty of Spell and Trap Cards to support Uria and Hamon.

Nightshroud

Nightshroud, known as Darkness (ダークネス, Dākunesu^?) in the original Japanese language version, is the first Shadow Rider. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities But in reality, Nightshroud is an entity of unknown origin tied to the darkness itself and the final antagonist in the series. He entered the body of Atticus Rhodes and took control. Atticus Rhodes, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime and manga Nightshroud is voiced by Hozumi Gōda in the Japanese version. (birth name) is a Japanese Actor, Seiyū, and sound director who is affiliated with YMO While possessing Atticus' body, Nightshroud is voiced by Jason Anthony Griffith in the English version, while Kouji Yusa takes the role in the Japanese version. Jason Anthony Griffith (Born November 26, 1980) is an American Voice actor who has worked on several animated TV series and is currently the ( August 12, 1968 -) is a male Seiyū born in Osaka Prefecture and raised in Kyoto Prefecture.

Being the owner of the other half of the Shadow Charm pendant in Jaden's possession, Nightshroud sets a Shadow Game for both of them wherein the loser has his soul sealed in a card. When defeated, Nightshroud's soul (represented by his mask) is sealed away, and Atticus is freed.

During the GX Tournament, Atticus uses Nightshroud's deck in hopes of convincing his friend, Zane Truesdale, that the dark path taken by a duelist is a terrible course. Zane Truesdale, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime and manga As a result, Nightshroud's influence (that laid dormant within his cards) is once again able to take control of Atticus, only to be banished following his defeat.

In the fourth season, Atticus again uses Nightshroud's deck to duel Jaden, revealing he still has nightmares about his alter-ego. During the duel, Atticus remembers that one of the missing students at the academy, Yusuke Fujiwara, was the original host of Nightshroud, and before he vanished he made Atticus into a temporary host for Nightshroud to inhabit. But Nightshroud eventually returns in the body of Fujiwara, defeating Atticus in a one-on-one duel. But after losing to Jaden when he and Jesse double teamed Fujiwara, Nightshroud left his vessel and duels Jaden in a match with the world at stake. Jaden reverses all of Nightshroud's evil doings and finally destroys him. Though beaten, Nightshroud boasts that as long there's darkness in humans, he would return, but Jaden counters by claiming that as long as their are bonds between humans, Nightshroud won't return. In his final duel, Nightshroud is portrayed as megalomaniac or simply insane, once he claims he is God and the Savior. Megalomania (from the Greek word μεγαλομανία is a historical term for behavior characterized by Delusional fantasies of Wealth, power Traditionally insanity or madness is the behaviour whereby a person flouts societal norms and may become a danger to himself and others God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity.

Nightshroud, while possessing Atticus, plays a Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon deck, which focuses on quickly summoning the eponymous card and strengthening it by placing a large number of Dragon-type monsters in his Graveyard. Once within the body of Fujiwara, Nightshroud uses a Clear deck which shuts down the opponent's strategies based on the attributes of the monsters they summon. Once without a host, Nightshroud uses his personal Darkness deck, which controls the field through its "Darkness" field spell card.

Camula

Camula (カミューラ, Kamyūra^?) is the second Shadow Rider. Her name is derived from the title of Joseph Sheridan le Fanu's novel, Carmilla. Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (28 August 1814 &ndash 7 February 1873 was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels " Carmilla " is a Gothic novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. In the English version, Camula is voiced by Bella Hudson, while Kanako Irie takes the role in the Japanese version. Bella Hudson (real name Erica Schroeder) is an American voice actress who lives in New York and has voice acted in several 4Kids cartoons and video games such as

A vampire, Camula is very serious when it comes to dueling, as she hopes to revive her race from its destruction by the people of Medieval Times. Vampires are mythological or folkloric revenants who subsist by feeding on the blood of the living She had been asleep within her coffin until Kagemaru uncovered it and invited her to join the Shadow Riders. She captures the souls of her opponents following their losses within dolls to fuel her cause, and uses the Shadow Charm strangler around her neck to bet the souls of others in conjunction with the Shadow Game-exclusive Illusion Gate to ensure victory. She manages to obtain the keys of Crowler and Zane, but during her Duel with Jaden, her Shadow Charm's power is negated by the completed item that Jaden possesses. Vellian Crowler PhD, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime Out of self-confidence, Camula places her own soul on the line, and it is dragged into the gate after she loses, leaving her body empty and turning it to dust.

Camula plays a Vampire deck. Several of her monsters (such as Zombie Werewolf and Vampire Bat) can feint revival by either summoning or discarding additional copies of themselves when destroyed through battle. Camula is also able to combine the recursion ability of Vampire Genesis with Genesis Crisis to repetively raise her undead army from the grave.

Tania

Amazoness Tania (アマゾネス・タニヤ, Amazonesu Taniya^?) is the third Shadow Rider. In the English version, Tania is voiced by Alyson Johnson, while Kazue Komiya takes the role in the Japanese version. Caren Manuel, also credited as Kathleen Delaney, Caren Lyn Manuel, or Alyson Johnson is an American Voice actress who works on the is a veteran Seiyū who is affiliated with Theater Echo. Voice roles TV Anime Aim for the Ace! (Kyoko Otowa

A white tiger that assumes human form with her Shadow Charm gauntlet to find a worthy duelist to be her husband, Tania travels with another tiger named Bass, who resembles the Amazoness Tiger. She falls in love with Bastion Misawa, and after some sweet talking and showing off her amazing dueling skills, defeats him and makes him her bridegroom for a short time until she grows tired of him. Bastion Misawa, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime and manga Tania then fights Jaden in a soul match with the effect of Amazon Arena, and eventually resumes her true form and runs off. She appears before Jaden and his group during the third year as her human self, having been sucked into the second alternate dimension they visit since their last meeting. Parallel universe or alternative reality is a self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own She serves as their guide through the first town they encounter, and stays behind with Bastion after Jaden liberates it.

Tania's Amazoness cards, based on the Amazons of Greek mythology, are divided into two decks: Courage and Knowledge (the former focusing on offense with more damage inflicted via Amazoness Arena, while the former is more based on turning the opponent's battle strategies against them). The Amazons (in Greek, grc Ἀμαζόνες are a nation of all-female warriors in Classical and Greek mythology, who were possibly historical Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance She uses the Knowledge deck against Bastion, and the Courage deck against Jaden.

Don Zaloog

Don Zaloog (首領－ザルーグ, Shuryō Zarūgu^?) is the fourth Shadow Rider. In the English version, Zaloog is voiced by Darren Dunstan who impersonates Christopher Walken, while Taiten Kusunoki takes the role in the Japanese version. Darren Dunstan is a Voice actor and an occasional stage actor who works on the properties of 4Kids Entertainment. Christopher Walken (born March 31 1943 is an American Film and Theatre Actor. ( March 18, 1967 -) is a Male Seiyū and Actor from Machida Tokyo.

Zaloog is actually a Duel Monster spirit brought to life by the power of the Shadow Charm eyepatch he wears. He is also the leader of the band of thieves known as the Dark Scorpion Gang (Black Scorpion Graverobber Gang (黒サソリ盗掘団, Kurosasori Tōkutsu-dan^?) in the original Japanese language version), who were also brought to life by the item. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities He masquerades as a detective named Detective Zaloog (Police Inspector Manguer), sent to assist the students in hiding the remaining Spirit Keys, while his posse work on taking the keys incognito. However, since they fail to obtain the keys in a Duel, they are unable to unlock the Spirit Gate of the Sacred Beasts. When Zaloog and his gang are discovered, he and Chazz Princeton duel with all the remaining keys on the line. Chazz Princeton, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime and manga In the end, he and his cohorts are defeated, and the power of his Shadow Charm is nullified. After reverting back to their spirit forms, the Dark Scorpions join the many weak monsters in Chazz's care, to the young duelist's annoyance.

Zaloog plays a Dark Scorpion deck, themed on bringing together the members of the Dark Scorpion Gang and triggering their five effects in unison, with support from cards such as Mustering of the Dark Scorpions and Dark Scorpion Combination.

Abidos

Abidos the Third (アビドス3世, Abidosu San-sei^?) is the fifth Shadow Rider. His name is derived from the name of the ancient Egyptian city, Abydos. Abydos ( Egyptian Abdju, 3bdw, Arabic: أبيدوس Greek Αβυδος one of the most ancient cities of In the English version, Abidos is voiced by Darren Dunstan, while Mamoru Miyano takes the role in the Japanese version. Darren Dunstan is a Voice actor and an occasional stage actor who works on the properties of 4Kids Entertainment. is a male Seiyū and Actor. He is represented by Gekidan Himawari

An ancient pharaoh who never lost a single Duel, Abidos regained physical form through the powers of the Shadow Charm headband he wears. Pharaoh is the title given in modern parlance to the ancient Egyptian kings of all periods With an army of mummies, Abidos gathers Jaden and company on his celestial yacht for a Duel. During the Duel with Jaden, Abidos realizes that the only reason he kept winning was because his opponents always lost on purpose, simply because he was pharaoh. Jaden, however, manages to give Abidos a real Duel in which the opponent actually tries to win. Satisfied with his defeat, Abidos departs for the afterlife, giving Jaden his Shadow Charm, the latter making a promise to meet him again in one-hundred years time.

Abidos plays a Servants of the Pharaoh deck, themed on gathering three Sarcophagus cards to summon Spirit of the Pharaoh.

Titan

Titan (タイタン, Taitan^?) is the sixth Shadow Rider. In the English version, Titan is voiced by Eric Stuart, while Norio Wakamoto takes the role in the Japanese version

A hitman originally hired by Crowler to deal with Jaden, Titan captured Alexis Rhodes to force Jaden into a Duel for her life. For the English singer see Eric Stewart. Eric Stuart (born October 18, 1967 in Brooklyn New York ( October 18, 1945 -) is a male Seiyū and Budo expert affiliated with Sigma Seven Contract killing occurs when a private contractor or a government hires someone to kill a specific person or people for a sum of money Alexis Rhodes, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime and manga Despite his reputation of possessing the power of a Millennium Item, the "Millennium Item" turned out to be a fake Millennium Puzzle, and Titan used various tricks to mimic a Shadow Game. He became the victim of a real Shadow Duel, however, but was saved by Kagemaru, wearing a Shadow Charm mask to bind him to the real world. Taking advantage of Alexis' desire to restore her brother's memories, Titan challenges her in the abandoned dorm where they first met. He is ultimately pulled back into the pits of darkness when he is defeated.

Titan plays an Archfiend (Demon) deck, composed largely of monsters based on chess pieces, in his first encounter with Jaden, which is later supported by Fiend Bullfighter (Demon's Matador) cards in his Duel with Alexis; this last deck is inspired by Spanish traditions with names related to bullfighting, such as "Picador", "Matador" and "Banderillero". Chess pieces vary in both value and abilities A standard chess match consists of each player having the following equipment 1 king Bullfighting or Tauromachy (from Greek ταυρομαχία - tauromachia, "bull-fight" is a traditional spectacle of Spain

Amnael

Main article: Lyman Banner

Amnael (アムナエル, Amunaeru^?) is the seventh and final Shadow Rider. Lyman Banner, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Anime series In the English version, Amnael] is voiced by Wayne Grayson, while Kappei Yamaguchi takes the role in the Japanese version. Wayne Grayson (born 1974 in Brooklyn) is an American Voice actor, who works on the properties of 4Kids Entertainment & Voice Box Productions (real name) (born May 23, 1965) is a male Seiyū from Fukuoka Fukuoka, affiliated with Gokū and 21st Century Fox

A homunculus inhabited by Lyman Banner's soul, Amnael challenges Jaden and overpowers his former pupil with his Alchemy deck, but Jaden manages to defeat him. The concept of a homunculus ( Latin for "little man" plural "homunculi" the diminutive of homo, "man" is often used to illustrate Lyman Banner, known as in the original Japanese language version is a Fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Anime series After giving Jaden his Emerald Tablet which previously held his Shadow Charm, Banner is reduced to dust along with his original mummified body. The Emerald Tablet, also known as Smaragdine Table, Tabula Smaragdina, or The Secret of Hermes, is a text purporting His spirit, however, lives on in the body of his cat, Pharaoh.

References