Why the Anime Version of the Theft of Yugi's Puzzle Works Better than the Manga's

Why was I so gullible?

Nine times out of ten, I prefer the manga’s version of events over any changes an anime adaptation might make. The manga is, after all, the author’s original idea; and who knows the characters better than their creator. However, YuGiOh presents a glaring exception to this rule in the stolen Puzzle arc.

Many of us are familiar with the anime version of this story. After returning from Duelist Kingdom, everyone is settling back into the humdrum of daily life. Well, except for Yugi, who is just getting to know his Other Self whom, for simplicity’s sake, I shall refer to as Yami from here out. 

Yugi and Yami are finally able to interact freely and Yami enjoys teasing Yugi like a big brother would by suggesting putting the Puzzle on a chain. It's so much fun to watch. 

So in the anime version, Yugi goes out on the town, but stops at a table being manned by a hooded fortune teller who offers to read Yugi's future if Yugi will but give him the Puzzle. Yugi does, with disastrous results, almost getting himself and Yami killed. 

First time manga readers may be surprised to learn that originally, this was the same arc as Otogi’s introduction. In the anime version thereof, Yami Yugi had to duel in Dungeon Dice Monsters to save Jounouchi’s honor after Jou lost a game of Duel Monsters to Otogi and was forced to wear a dog suit.

In the manga version, Yugi goes to Otogi’s game shop, the Black Clown, where he's framed for shoplifting by someone Otogi hired slipping some merchandise into his back pocket when he isn't looking. Yugi is manhandled into the back office and, despite his protests, stripped of his goods, including his Puzzle and is then forced to play DDM against Otogi to get it back. 

Why this is inconsistent is because, in the original YuGiOh manga, Mokuba and his little punk friends also tried to steal the Puzzle, but the moment they reached for it, were confronted by a snarling, snapping Yami. So where is he this time? Why does he come out the first, but abandon Yugi in the second? In this version, one could lay blame to Yami for the whole thing since he neglects Yugi. 

This is why the anime version works for me: the whole thing comes about due to Yugi's naiveté. To clarify, I don't say this because of any malice toward Yugi, but rather because it's consistent with how he has acted thus far. 

1. In the early manga, he gives the Puzzle to Professor Yoshimori and Kanekura to display in Domino Museum for the day, completely oblivious to any idea that Kanekura might have designs on the Puzzle for a quick profit, and is thus very lucky that Shadi retrieves it for him.
2. Yugi lends Kaiba his grandfather’s treasured BEWD card and Kaiba steals it, leading to Yugi's grandpa almost being killed.
3. Yugi gives his Exodia cards to Haga, who treats them to a little swim in the ocean, almost getting Yugi and Jou killed.

Thus, we see over and over again Yugi's naiveté causing him to fall into the hands of his enemies and only getting out with luck or Yami's help. Yugi giving the Puzzle up to a disguised Bandit Keith is thus very consistent. Thankfully, it's also the last time he does this.

It seems to take almost losing his Other Self in an inferno to cure Yugi of his foolishness, which leads into another rant. Why would Yugi, who has spent most of his school career being picked on by bullies, be so trusting? Surely, since he's seen the ugly side of people, he would be warier and more judicious about whom he would entrust the Puzzle he calls his treasure to.