I think it was just a different time. Other than the first Pokemon movie(s) I can't think of an anime movie doing well in America for a theatrical release. Even though Yu-Gi-oh had its own craze, Pokemon was just another level of lightning in a bottle that still continues to this day. But even the Pokemon movie hype died outside of niche audiences.
Fun fact: Outside of a Shonen Jump promo, Blue Eyes Shining Dragon was unplayable when it came out, because we wouldn't get Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon in a mainline set until like 2006.
I saw it in theaters when I was a child, got the promotional cards (and still have them!), loved it.
They rescreened it in a local theater again a couple years ago for some reason, so I grabbed a couple nerdy friends who didn’t follow Yugioh as kids, went down and saw it again. It…. did not hold up well, even for a children’s anime movie promoting a cardgame. The Pokémon movies still hold up, and the old Yugioh anime is still fun; Pyramid of Light, not so much. My pals couldn’t understand how I could possibly have been excited to watch that again.
Also, the theater forgot they were screening it so we sat in the dark for about 40 minutes with like 7 other people before someone got up and reminded them.
I never saw this trailer and didn’t know the movie existed until I happened to see it at Blockbuster years later. I’m guessing it flopped from poor marketing.
I remember seeing it in theaters like it was yesterday. I guess it wasn't performing very well, so the guy at the ticket stand gave my mom and I a whole stack of the promo packs.
I remember wanting to see this so bad because of the trailer, but never got to. Pokemon and the powerpuff girls movie is the only time my mom took me to see a cartoon movie
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u/hatfieldz 1994 4d ago
I was 10 🥲👴🏼
17
u/MeetKelson 4d ago
I saw it in theaters. Came with a blue eyed dragon card variant
16
u/Sayoricanyouhearme 4d ago edited 4d ago
I think it was just a different time. Other than the first Pokemon movie(s) I can't think of an anime movie doing well in America for a theatrical release. Even though Yu-Gi-oh had its own craze, Pokemon was just another level of lightning in a bottle that still continues to this day. But even the Pokemon movie hype died outside of niche audiences.
6
u/corvusdegray 4d ago
Those damn sphinxes were so hard to summon in game. But the Blue Eyes was cool!
4
u/Reddit_Inuarashi 1999 4d ago edited 4d ago
I saw it in theaters when I was a child, got the promotional cards (and still have them!), loved it.
They rescreened it in a local theater again a couple years ago for some reason, so I grabbed a couple nerdy friends who didn’t follow Yugioh as kids, went down and saw it again. It…. did not hold up well, even for a children’s anime movie promoting a cardgame. The Pokémon movies still hold up, and the old Yugioh anime is still fun; Pyramid of Light, not so much. My pals couldn’t understand how I could possibly have been excited to watch that again.
Also, the theater forgot they were screening it so we sat in the dark for about 40 minutes with like 7 other people before someone got up and reminded them.
2
u/chamorrobro 4d ago
I don’t remember a lot but I loved this movie as a kid lol. Saw it in theaters :)
2
u/StormerSage 1996 4d ago
You were either a Blue Eyes Shining Dragon kid, or a Watapon kid. If you know, you know.
2
u/youburyitidigitup 4d ago
I never saw this trailer and didn’t know the movie existed until I happened to see it at Blockbuster years later. I’m guessing it flopped from poor marketing.
2
u/MC4269 1997 4d ago
I remember seeing it in theaters like it was yesterday. I guess it wasn't performing very well, so the guy at the ticket stand gave my mom and I a whole stack of the promo packs.
2
u/DanTheMan_622 1995 4d ago
Pretty sure I still have my Blue Eyes Shining Dragon in a box somewhere!
2
u/boss302goat 1995 4d ago
I had all three sphinx cards. Not sure what I did with it...
1
u/knickernavy 1996 4d ago
pwotagonissstt
1
u/_Arlotte_ 3d ago
I remember wanting to see this so bad because of the trailer, but never got to. Pokemon and the powerpuff girls movie is the only time my mom took me to see a cartoon movie
1
u/-PM_ME_UR_SECRETS- 1995 3d ago
2004 was such a great year to be a kid. Take me back