CARDFIGHT!! VANGUARD

Yu-yu Kondo is a third-year middle school student in Kanazawa who always says yes, even when he doesn't want to, and that habit pulls him into his sister's hobbies until he can't take it anymore and runs away. On the streets he meets Megumi Okura, who takes him to Wonder Hill, a Night Amusement Park where a group of Vanguard-focused teens gather. There, Yu-yu sees the card game Vanguard for the first time and gets caught up in its fast matches, colorful characters and the camaraderie of Team Blackout. The show follows his slow shift from reluctant outsider to someone who discovers new friends, new challenges and a fresh sense of belonging, all without spoiling specific twists.

Released in 2021 as a television anime, CARDFIGHT!! VANGUARD continues the long-running franchise and leans into action and card-play animation, targeting younger teens and fans of strategic battle sequences.

The 2021 series did not receive major international awards or high-profile nominations, and its recognition stayed modest. Any honors tended to come from niche or fan-driven sources rather than mainstream award circuits, with praise concentrated among dedicated trading card game communities.

Within the Vanguard fanbase the show helped keep the franchise visible, inspiring fan art, online discussion and renewed interest in local card meetups. Elements like Wonder Hill and Team Blackout gave viewers fresh settings and personalities to latch onto, and collectors and players used the series as a reason to reconnect with the tabletop game.

Audience and critical reaction has been mixed, reflected in a 6.5/10 vote average from a small pool of voters. Viewers often highlight energetic match animation, team dynamics and themes of friendship and identity, while critics point to familiar plot beats and limited appeal outside existing Vanguard fans. Overall it's a series that rewards viewers who like character-driven card action.