Yu-Gi-Oh! Is a popular anime franchise that has spawned different versions of the show. Playing cards have been produced and tournaments been created based on the anime.
However, an image has been used by the White House in relation to the current war with Iran. Since then, the anime has distanced itself from the situation and refused any affiliation with the current situation.
Yu-Gi-Oh was one of many properties from the worlds of movies, games and anime that the White House used in a gross video to drum up hype for the United States and Israel’s joint strikes on Iran last month. Dan Green, the voice of Yami Yugi in the original anime series, released a statement condemning its use of his character and voice, calling the video "disrespectful" to the memory of Yu-Gi-Oh series creator Kazuki Takahashi. Now, the Yu-Gi-Oh brand has put out its own statement making sure everyone knows the card game series wasn’t involved.
The White House is facing criticism for social media posts about the US attacks on Iran that use what appear to be footage from popular Japanese animation and video games.
On 5 March, it uploaded a video with the message "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY" that mixed footage of attacks on Iran with scenes from the popular anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball.
An official Yu-Gi-Oh! social media account carried a comment on Wednesday denying the involvement of anyone associated with the manga or anime. It said permission was not granted for the use of its intellectual property.
The videos are being criticised for their off-hand tone. The New York Times said they "reduce the war's carnage and upheaval to flippant, dystopian amusements."
The White House also posted an image and a video that appear to borrow footage from popular Nintendo video games.
The image includes the slogan "Make America Great Again" on a background apparently taken from the latest Pokemon video game.
The video combines images from US attacks on Iran with gameplay footage from the "Wii Sports" series. The 52-second clip, posted on Thursday, opens with a game start screen displaying the name of the military operation, "Operation Epic Fury." The scenes are intercut with footage of the US military attacking Iranian vessels and facilities.
In response, the official Yu-Gi-Oh! X account stated that the clip was used without permission.
"It has come to our attention that a post on the White House’s official X account used footage from the anime series Yu-Gi-Oh!. This was made without any authorisation from the rights holder. Regarding this matter, no one associated with the manga or anime had any involvement, and no permission was granted for the use of this intellectual property," they wrote in the post.
The fact that the post came from the Japanese "Yu-Gi-Oh" account and the statement made in Japanese as well, shows that the rights holders are concerned not with just how the White House’s use of the clip could affect perceptions of the franchise overseas but also in its country of origin.
Yu-Gi-i-Oh voice actor, Dan Green, wrote on X, "It came to my attention that the White House used my voice to encourage violence in Iran. Doing so tacitly implicates Kazuki Takahashi’s most beloved contribution, which continues to inspire people to become who they are, and this was presented in a way far removed from the story he was telling. Takahashi died saving others.
Yu-Gi-Oh! is universal, not political. It is disrespectful to present it in any other way."
Japanese X users are understandably upset about the use of the clip. One Yu-Gi-Oh! fan points out that the scene in the anime ends with protagonist Yugi Muto exclaiming, "There is no true victory at the end of hatred," which could be taken as ironic considering the contents of the White House commercial.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters wasn’t the only Japanese anime used in the propaganda video, as a close-up of Dragon Ball’s Beerus can also be seen towards the end. The official White House X account often uses pop culture memes and references to spread its ideas, but perhaps this is one instance where it went too far.
The video is one of many examples of the Trump administration using memes and pop culture iconography to promote its fascist regime, but while IP owners are getting more comfortable saying they’re not affiliated with it, not enough of them are actively disavowing them for liking.
Every time this happens fans call for a lawsuit, but not even the notoriously litigious Pokémon Company has done that yet, and the White House socials have used its music and imagery more than once.
This is the same video Master Chief voice actor, Steve Downes, spoke out against earlier this week. "Let me make this crystal clear: I did not participate in nor was I consulted, nor do I endorse the use of my voice in this video, or the message it conveys." Downes said. "I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately."
The video is drawing online criticism, with one social media post saying, "war is not a game" and another claiming the video itself is a war crime.
I'm joining the criticism that has accompanied the video. Anime should never be used for war efforts. Its meant to be enjoyed and embraced. It exists for enjoyment and fun. I, myself, enjoy the anime and I haven't seen a scene that screams out war.
Something definitely needs to be done to avoid these kinds of things from happening. It can send a message that the anime has zero intention of sending. There's no patronage when it comes to the acts that are currently taking place.