Like Pokémon and Digimon before it, popular Japanese animation Yu-Gi-Oh! seems to exist solely in order to sell its tie-in merchandise. The brand extension continues with this film, in which hero Yugi, the master of a Top Trumps-style game called Duel Monsters, discovers that his hobby has a mysterious (and dangerous) past. Yugi has to battle an evil ancient Egyptian spirit called Anubis, and the numerous monsters involved - not to mention an army of mummies - provide a few exciting moments. But only fans of the series will be able to follow the largely incomprehensible plot - and the bog-standard animation won't win it any new ones.

After the conclusion of the Battle City Tournament, deep below the sands of Egypt, an ancient evil has awakened. Anubis, who was defeated centuries ago by Yugi’s mysterious alter ego – the ancient Pharaoh – has returned for revenge. Wielding the power of the Eighth Millennium Item, Anubis is determined to destroy Yugi and take over the world.