TV-Series
Description
Kite Tenjo, known as Kaito Tenjo in the original Japanese version, is an eighteen-year-old character from the anime Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL. He is initially introduced as a formidable antagonist known as a Number Hunter, serving as the primary rival to the protagonist Yuma Tsukumo and his partner Astral. His primary motivation throughout the early part of the story is the well-being of his younger brother, Hart Tenjo. When Hart fell mysteriously ill, Dr. Faker, Kite's father, deceived him into believing that the "Number" cards and those who wield them were the cause of the sickness. Consequently, Kite became a Number Hunter, ruthlessly hunting down holders of these cards to collect them in the hopes of curing his brother. He is almost always accompanied by a loyal, albeit somewhat eccentric, robot named Orbital 7.
In terms of personality, Kite is generally a kind and caring individual, but this trait is almost exclusively reserved for his brother Hart, whom he considers his "everything." When engaged in a Duel, his demeanor changes drastically to become cold, ruthless, and merciless, particularly against those who possess a Number card. He announces his presence with a distinctive whistle, a signal that often instills fear in his targets. Before a Duel, he is known for his signature phrases, such as "Allow me to collect your Numbers along with your souls," and declares "Numbers hunting complete" after a victory. This methodical and fearsome approach leads an antagonist, Vetrix, to observe that while Kite began his hunt with the noble goal of saving his sibling, he eventually seemed to take a dark pleasure in the act of collecting souls as a Numbers Hunter. Despite his harsh exterior, Kite is opposed to inflicting unnecessary fear, calling it an excessive and despicable tactic, though he is not above exploiting the fear an opponent already feels. He considers his hunting a grim duty, not a choice, and harbors a deep-seated distrust and hatred for Dr. Faker and Mr. Heartland, often keeping secrets from them, including his encounters with Yuma and Astral.
Kite's role in the story evolves significantly over time. He begins as a direct adversary to Yuma, hunting the "Numbers" that Yuma and Astral seek. His backstory reveals a tragic past where Mr. Heartland took Hart away by force, coercing Kite into servitude under Dr. Faker. He was trained by a man named Chris Arclight, who taught him to Duel to gain power for protection, a friendship that ended painfully when Chris left. As a Numbers Hunter, Kite used his "Photon Hand," a technology provided by Dr. Faker, to extract Numbers from defeated opponents, a process that also stole their souls and left them in a catatonic, aged state. However, as the series progresses, Kite discovers that his reasons for hunting the Numbers were built on lies. This revelation shatters his previous worldview, and he comes to realize that all the people he hunted were innocent souls. After Hart is cured, Kite reconciles with his past and becomes a close friend and ally to Yuma and Astral, joining them in the subsequent interdimensional war against the Barian World.
Key relationships define Kite's character arc. His bond with his brother Hart is the central driving force behind all his actions. His relationship with Yuma Tsukumo evolves from that of a bitter enemy to a powerful friendship and mutual respect, with Astral noting certain similarities in their headstrong and offensive Dueling styles. He also has a significant connection to his robotic companion, Orbital 7, who aids him in his hunts and operates out of a laboratory near the Heartland Pier. Another important relationship is with the dragon tamer Mizar, a member of the Barian race, with whom Kite develops a deep rivalry rooted in their shared connection to dragon cards, culminating in a fateful Duel on the moon.
Throughout the series, Kite demonstrates numerous notable abilities and a distinct style. He can Duel without a standard Duel Gazer; instead, his left eye turns red and develops marks resembling one when he Duels. His black coat transforms into a white "Photon Transformation" during Duels, which physically and mentally drains him but allows him to fully utilize his Photon cards. His signature ace monster is Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, a powerful card that he later upgrades into forms like Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon and Number 62: Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon. He primarily uses a "Photon" and "Galaxy" themed deck, which focuses on swarming the field with LIGHT attribute monsters to facilitate Xyz Summons. After receiving a portion of his brother Hart's powers, Kite also gained the ability to see the spirit Astral and summon even more formidable dragon monsters. In the later stages of the conflict, his spirit appears to support Yuma in the final battle against Don Thousand, showing that even after sacrificing himself, his will and friendship continue to aid his comrades.
In terms of personality, Kite is generally a kind and caring individual, but this trait is almost exclusively reserved for his brother Hart, whom he considers his "everything." When engaged in a Duel, his demeanor changes drastically to become cold, ruthless, and merciless, particularly against those who possess a Number card. He announces his presence with a distinctive whistle, a signal that often instills fear in his targets. Before a Duel, he is known for his signature phrases, such as "Allow me to collect your Numbers along with your souls," and declares "Numbers hunting complete" after a victory. This methodical and fearsome approach leads an antagonist, Vetrix, to observe that while Kite began his hunt with the noble goal of saving his sibling, he eventually seemed to take a dark pleasure in the act of collecting souls as a Numbers Hunter. Despite his harsh exterior, Kite is opposed to inflicting unnecessary fear, calling it an excessive and despicable tactic, though he is not above exploiting the fear an opponent already feels. He considers his hunting a grim duty, not a choice, and harbors a deep-seated distrust and hatred for Dr. Faker and Mr. Heartland, often keeping secrets from them, including his encounters with Yuma and Astral.
Kite's role in the story evolves significantly over time. He begins as a direct adversary to Yuma, hunting the "Numbers" that Yuma and Astral seek. His backstory reveals a tragic past where Mr. Heartland took Hart away by force, coercing Kite into servitude under Dr. Faker. He was trained by a man named Chris Arclight, who taught him to Duel to gain power for protection, a friendship that ended painfully when Chris left. As a Numbers Hunter, Kite used his "Photon Hand," a technology provided by Dr. Faker, to extract Numbers from defeated opponents, a process that also stole their souls and left them in a catatonic, aged state. However, as the series progresses, Kite discovers that his reasons for hunting the Numbers were built on lies. This revelation shatters his previous worldview, and he comes to realize that all the people he hunted were innocent souls. After Hart is cured, Kite reconciles with his past and becomes a close friend and ally to Yuma and Astral, joining them in the subsequent interdimensional war against the Barian World.
Key relationships define Kite's character arc. His bond with his brother Hart is the central driving force behind all his actions. His relationship with Yuma Tsukumo evolves from that of a bitter enemy to a powerful friendship and mutual respect, with Astral noting certain similarities in their headstrong and offensive Dueling styles. He also has a significant connection to his robotic companion, Orbital 7, who aids him in his hunts and operates out of a laboratory near the Heartland Pier. Another important relationship is with the dragon tamer Mizar, a member of the Barian race, with whom Kite develops a deep rivalry rooted in their shared connection to dragon cards, culminating in a fateful Duel on the moon.
Throughout the series, Kite demonstrates numerous notable abilities and a distinct style. He can Duel without a standard Duel Gazer; instead, his left eye turns red and develops marks resembling one when he Duels. His black coat transforms into a white "Photon Transformation" during Duels, which physically and mentally drains him but allows him to fully utilize his Photon cards. His signature ace monster is Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, a powerful card that he later upgrades into forms like Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon and Number 62: Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon. He primarily uses a "Photon" and "Galaxy" themed deck, which focuses on swarming the field with LIGHT attribute monsters to facilitate Xyz Summons. After receiving a portion of his brother Hart's powers, Kite also gained the ability to see the spirit Astral and summon even more formidable dragon monsters. In the later stages of the conflict, his spirit appears to support Yuma in the final battle against Don Thousand, showing that even after sacrificing himself, his will and friendship continue to aid his comrades.
Cast