YuYu Hakusho - Official Thread

[craigdbfan]

I LOVE Kurama. That's all.

Kurama was such a beast.

 

[kvz5]

Kurama was such a beast.

 

[Dread]

YU YU HAKUSHO is easily the longest anime series I own on DVD; the next longest would be FIGHTING SPIRIT. It is a series I adore even though I have only seen it the entire way through once, I saw various episodes and arcs many times. I sometimes call it "DBZ done right" for a few reasons. While it is 112 episodes long, almost no episode feels like filler or it lacks a purpose. While the main character is clearly the most powerful, for 80% of the show the other three heroes still get their own power moments and notable battles (until the final leg when Kuwabara is mostly dropped from the series). Virtually every battle is finished in 2-3 episodes, except for the "end of arc battle" with the main villain, which usually is 7-8 episodes. And even that is brief by Dragon Ball standards, and only occurs twice (at the end of the "Dark Tournament" against Younger Toguro, and at the end of the "Chapter Black" saga against Sensui). It is a series that has a lot of action, suspense, cruel villains and dark moments, but always has a sense of humor and refuses to take itself entirely seriously, so it never becomes pretentious or haughty.

Naturally, it also provided a slew of interesting characters. Yusuke is the star and got to do a lot of the things a star in a series like this got to do - be the most powerful and always beat the big villain - he countered that by often being a hilarious delinquent who had to learn more honor, and he did rely on his allies quite a lot. In choosing which of the four is my favorite, it is always difficult; in a way Yusuke himself is my least favorite of the group, but I still like him more than I ever liked, say, Goku. Kuwabara's often the comic relief and was the weakest link of the team, which made his victories all the sweeter to watch; he was also the purest of heart. Kurama was naturally a fascinating character, both gentle and cold at the same time, a balance of demonic violence and human empathy. Hiei was simply an arrogant bad-ass, who usually relied on sheer power and velocity. When I was a teenager, Hiei was my favorite (with Kuwabara a close second), but now that I have grown up, I like qualities about all of them equally and feel they all add something to the dynamic; like the Ghostbusters or the Ninja Turtles. To a degree, the show lived up to one stereotype of "shounen" anime in that the female heroines were usually not much use in a fight, although having a cute girl like Botan be the "grim reaper" is clever, and I liked the universe the show established with clear boundaries between worlds, and some technology in between. The biggest exception to that "girl" rule was Genkai, though; so many action shows have your ancient master training the hero, and usually he's a dirty old man or a grizzled stiff. Genkai was not only an old lady, but one far tougher than most of the dudes in the show, AND an avid fan of video games! Hard to get more original than that. I still am amazed at the height difference between her and Toguro, since they were supposed to have once been lovers. And while the other ladies in the series like Keiko, Shizuru and Yukina don't do much actual fighting, they still do a lot throughout the series.

The music was all catchy, too!

While tournaments are overdone in a lot of action series, I do think the "Dark Tournament" saga was well handled, which is good since it comprised roughly 1/3rd of the entire series. Still, I also liked that the series also had shorter arcs mixed in the series too, especially at the beginning and end. Everything is wrapped up in a nice bow at the finale, which is also good; so many series have lame endings. Unlike DB, it also knew when to bow out with grace.

True story: I actually got into this franchise before FUNimation had the rights to the TV series and aired it on Cartoon Network. In the late 90's, Central Park Media - a.k.a. U.S. Manga Corps - dubbed the motion picture POLTERGEIST REPORT: YU YU HAKUSHO and that was the first bit of the franchise I ever saw. Not long after, AnimeWorks dubbed the first film, which was more or less a "lost episode" since it was only 30 minutes long, YYH: THE GOLDEN SEAL. So by the time the series was hitting Toonami dubbed (and edited), I and my close circle of friends were already vaguely familiar with the characters and the tone of the series. Since then, FUNimation got the rights to "Golden Seal" and has since dubbed that, as well as packaged it with other OVA material. I bought that release but haven't watched it yet; I see it as an excuse to re-watch the series, which will take me a good month since my schedule allows for at best 3-4 episodes a night. Ironically, the POLTERGEIST REPORT film is actually out of place with the rest of the series; it takes itself far too seriously and has more angst than the series tended to have - but the superior animation and orchestra renditions of the musical themes is worth it.

If I had one major criticism for the series, it is the revelation about Yusuke's heritage at the end of the "Chapter Black" arc. While it explained his power level, I always thought the series lost something with Kuwabara being the only truly "human" fighter. Having the team human be the weakest and the comic relief was something I didn't usually care for in DBZ. Having both "main" villains, Younger Toguro and Sensui, essentially being suicidal, was also a bit predictable and convenient. Aside for that, however, I usually consider it one of my favorite series in my collection, and a prime example of well done "shounen" anime. I know a lot of "otaku" are purists and hate all dubs, but I enjoyed FUNimation's dub and hope they eventually dub and release the motion picture, since that's the only bit they don't own, and Central Park Media has been defunct for years now. I still have their out of print DVD of that film from 2006, though. Next to GUYVER, this is probably my favorite anime series.

 

[craigdbfan]

Beautifully said Dread. I agree with everything you have written.

I have the same thoughts on the dub. Justin Cook and the rest of the cast do an amazing job and is one of the few anime where I actually prefer the English dub (Cowboy Bebop, Eureka 7, FLCL) over the original (that's not to say the original was bad but the English dub is definitely on par).

Studio Pierrot definitely outdid themselves with this series. Togashi actually truncated a lot of the fights and certain events in the manga because he had become ill due to the stress of the schedule and SP while adapting the series actually gave us more filled out fights and I certainly appreciate that.

To this day they continue to do great work on both Bleach and Naruto but I'll always remember them for their best work on this series.

 

[SymbioticToxin]

Awhile ago a found and bought this Second Wind dvd of YYH, which had the battles against the 4 Saint Beasts, the Save Yukina arc, and the first 3 episodes of the Dark Tournament arc. I watch it whenever I can and I'm still blown away by how well is still stands to this day. Voice acting is good, the action is done well, and for a shonen anime it's one of the best ones out there.

 

[Liam_H]

For anyone that reads/watches Togashi's Hunter x Hunter, I wanna know how it compares to Yu Yu Hakusho. I've heard goods thing about it but have never gotten around to reading it.

 

[Dread]

Beautifully said Dread. I agree with everything you have written.

I have the same thoughts on the dub. Justin Cook and the rest of the cast do an amazing job and is one of the few anime where I actually prefer the English dub (Cowboy Bebop, Eureka 7, FLCL) over the original (that's not to say the original was bad but the English dub is definitely on par).

Studio Pierrot definitely outdid themselves with this series. Togashi actually truncated a lot of the fights and certain events in the manga because he had become ill due to the stress of the schedule and SP while adapting the series actually gave us more filled out fights and I certainly appreciate that.

To this day they continue to do great work on both Bleach and Naruto but I'll always remember them for their best work on this series.

It is good when anime allows manga creators to "fix" or tweak their own stories as it were with the benefit of hindsight. Naturally, Japanese TV has network executives who think only in merchandise and dollars, which sometimes can be detrimental to a series, and "drag it out" as it were, as happened with DBZ and NARUTO. However, in the case of "YYH" it seemed to go the opposite way, as does happen sometimes. Yoshiki Takaya, the creator of GUYVER, utilized the 2005 anime series to "tweak" certain things which he felt he did in error back in the 80's with his original manga - such as killing off certain villains too swiftly. "YYH" seemed to attain this middle ground - long enough to last a damn long time and cover a lot of material, but not so long that it overstayed it's welcome or bogged anything down.

I usually prefer dubs to subs, if only because I am lazy and don't always like to "read" a show I am watching, if that makes sense. That isn't to say that I like ALL dubs; there are dubs which are mediocre or poor, or there are errors in translations or pronouncing words. As much as I liked FUNimation's dubs of 10 LUPIN THE THIRD specials/films, their insistence at pronouncing the names of most of the cast wrong due to earlier dubs at other companies doing so was mind boggling (even if the dub of one special pokes some fun at it). I have no such complaints for the YYH dub by FUNimation, though. I've read some criticism of Chris Sabat's Kuwabara because he makes him sound a little "marble mouthed", but I saw it as a clever way of not having a similar voice for all his characters and giving Kuwabara some more personality - especially as he's often a comic relief character.

Some fans have expressed a desire for a "new" series, but I am always cautious about such things, especially when the anime series seemed to tie everything up nicely. Especially as some series never seem to know when to end, or quit, or when spare sequel material is made just to seek blood from a stone from the franchise - something not even short series like GIANT ROBO or BLUE SEED are immune from.

I always though YYH's world was also very clever and under appreciated - especially the notion of the underworld having MORE paperwork, red tape and bureaucratic hassles than the "living world" seemed to. I figure that while it was a series that had a lot of laughs and a ton of action, it's central theme to a degree was that good, evil, and everything in between can be found in everyone regardless of what social stereotypes might say about them. Thus, it is best to take what society or authorities tell you about "people" with a grain of salt and do some exploring on your own.

 

[SymbioticToxin]

I always though YYH's world was also very clever and under appreciated - especially the notion of the underworld having MORE paperwork, red tape and bureaucratic hassles than the "living world" seemed to. I figure that while it was a series that had a lot of laughs and a ton of action, it's central theme to a degree was that good, evil, and everything in between can be found in everyone regardless of what social stereotypes might say about them. Thus, it is best to take what society or authorities tell you about "people" with a grain of salt and do some exploring on your own.

Very well put, good sir.

 

[Victarion]

Did Toguro stay a villain? I stopped watching during the Dark Tournament shortly after Karasu's match. Cool name and a cool facemask.

 

[SymbioticToxin]

Yes and no. He killed people in his final battle with Yusuke and while in his final form. It was pretty much him wanting to have a worthy opponent to kill him. Redemption equals death.

 

[Dread]

As I noted in a previous post, I have re-watched YU YU HAKUSHO. I don't have much more to add about the series in terms of a general summary or review that I haven't said before. My appreciation of the series does improve every time I watch it, which is often a sign of a classic.

However, what sparked the review of it was FUNimation's new release of YU YU HAKUSHO: THE MOVIE & EIZOU HAKUSHO.

As I noted before, "The Movie" is really YU YU HAKUSHO: THE GOLDEN SEAL, which was a half hour short film which in Japan aired in theaters alongside NINKU: THE MOVIE I believe. AnimeWorks dubbed it on VHS in the 90's and included both in one DVD package later on. I would presume FUNimation's acquiring it means the AnimeWorks version is out of print, but the curious could likely find it floating around. I looked at the date of it's release and compared it with what episode of YYH aired close to it, and settled that GOLDEN SEAL would take place right before the DARK TOURNAMENT saga, right after the gang frees Yukina from the mobsters; watch it there and it seems seamless. As it is a half hour long and has the intro from the TV series before it, I always saw it more of a lost episode than a "movie", even if the animation budget is higher than for a TV episode at the time. At any rate, the new dub by the FUNimation cast is a treat, and the lines are probably written closer to character than the AnimeWorks dub; for example, in the AW dub, Hiei wishes Yuseke "good luck", which is something the FUNI dub lacks (thankfully). In fairness to the AW dub, it was done years before YYH was dubbed by FUNI and aired on TV, so they likely had little reference to go with.

The plot to "THE GOLDEN SEAL" is pretty much in the title and works for a short episode. Koenma has been kidnapped by an old rival and yet another demon from the wanted file, and the ransom is King Yama's Golden Seal (which is usually used to stamp all those Spirit World forms). The gang has until sundown to either rescue Koenma or deliver the seal at a secret location in Demon World. However, word of the ransom is out so now EVERY demon in range wants the seal too. The tone of the special matches the humor and action that a typical episode has. I will say that while the original cast from the FUNimation TV series dub IS back, their voices sounded a tad off initially. That is likely because it had been roughly 7 years since they voiced the characters, and either their voices changed slightly with age, or there was a little rust with the characters to work through. It isn't a deal breaker and admittedly I probably only noticed because I was JUST watching the series. I imagine the cast is more keen on their DBZ characters with all the re-dubs and games over the years. This is on the first of the 2 disc collection.

EIZOU HAKUSHO is split across the first and second discs. Basically, these were two OAV collections sold in Japan after the series ended and set at various points in the series. I hear not all the material from the Japanese versions was dubbed or even offered. They're basically odd shorts and segments, not vast new material. Anyone who feels America invented the idea of milking a franchise's fans for all they're worth, well, think again. That said, I will say the best of the EIZOU HAKUSHO material is on disc 1. The highlight of this is the OPENING AND ENDINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA. It basically features all of the openings and ending themes and animations from the YYH series without credits, but the BONUS are 1-3 minute buffer animations before each one that all link up into one "bonus episode" sort of thing, set after the YYH series finale. If you wanted a peek at what Yuseke, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama were doing a year after the series ended, this is for you. It's nothing too major, but cute if you're a die-hard fan of the series. I won't spoil it because it isn't long, but it does settle one series subplot and overall I was pleased. Other goodies on disc one include the ANTI-PIRACY ADS. They're just the characters reading off from a script why you shouldn't pirate the stuff. Considering this came out in Japan in the mid-90's when piracy was harder than it is now, this is something. It's actually hilarious because the characters do it IN CHARACTER. If the idea of Younger Toguro warning you why you shouldn't pirate stuff sounds hilarious, it is.

Also on disc one of note is MU MU HAKUSHO, which are a series of dreams Yuseke has. They're very random and don't really resolve anything; they're a bit pointless frankly. But amusing. If the idea of Hiei dressed in a suit trying to sell magazine subscriptions sounds amusing to you, give it a shot.

I'd say the most useless segment is all on disc two. You have Japanese music videos of scenes from the DARK TOURNAMENT, all headed with new animation which is more atmosphere than substance. I suppose in the mid 90's without YouTube, a corporate AMV was interesting; now it seems pointless.

Overall, though, I was pleased with the package. It's additional YYH material and I did like the unofficial 113th episode. I am curious if FUNimation is trying to secure the rights to the actual motion picture for YYH, the full length YYH: POLTERGEIST REPORT (or as known in Japan, "CHAPTER OF UNDERWORLD'S CARNAGE - BONDS OF FIRE"). It was dubbed by Central Park Media/U.S. Manga Corps in the late 90's and available by them on DVD through 2006. CPM went under a few years later and that is out of print, but you can probably still find it floating around. It was actually my first exposure to the YYH franchise, but watching it now, it clashes with the series because it is very humorless. Aside for certain segments and moments (usually with Kuwabara), the characters take everything dead serious, which is off from the usual tone of the series. Yuseke especially is the sort who always cracks wise on a villain even if the fate of the world is literally in the balance and he's been beaten to hell. It goes against otaku code to say this, but if FUNI dubbed it and found a way to stuff in a few extra one-liners, it wouldn't hurt. The animation is beautiful and the battles are awesome to behold for it; I don't see why FUNi can't get it since CPM is defunct. It's 95 minutes long and the gist of it is that the king of a hidden realm called the Netherworld (which was basically the "Spirit World" for the Demon World) returns after being exiled by King Yama and threatens the earth. Perhaps FUNimation has gotten it and is merely saving it for a 2013 or 2014 release. Otaku also aren't "supposed" to like English dubs, but I do like the cast FUNimation has here, so I wouldn't mind seeing them return one more time. I mean, it isn't as if spare motion pictures haven't added bucks to the DBZ coffers for years. For story continuity, I would likely place it after the DARK TOURNAMENT.

 

[craigdbfan]

Awesome review with some great insight as always Dread.

As for the YYH:Poltergeist Report, I really do hope Funimation is currently remastering it on blu ray and having the Funi cast record a dub and add their own eccentricities which would be welcomed. I'm also 100% with you that the animation is superb and definitely an amazing display of what Studio Pierrot is capable of. They're one of my favorite Japanese animation studio's frankly because I appreciate their work ethic without sacrificing the quality of the artwork (for the most part) for their anime that runs on a weekly basis. Despite running a tight schedule they almost always deliver.

Like you said though I really do hope Funimation is currently working on a Blu Ray/Remastered version of YYH:PR.

 

[Dread]

Awesome review with some great insight as always Dread.

As for the YYH:Poltergeist Report, I really do hope Funimation is currently remastering it on blu ray and having the Funi cast record a dub and add their own eccentricities which would be welcomed. I'm also 100% with you that the animation is superb and definitely an amazing display of what Studio Pierrot is capable of. They're one of my favorite Japanese animation studio's frankly because I appreciate their work ethic without sacrificing the quality of the artwork (for the most part) for their anime that runs on a weekly basis. Despite running a tight schedule they almost always deliver.

Like you said though I really do hope Funimation is currently working on a Blu Ray/Remastered version of YYH:PR.

I'd go for a DVD remastered version since I don't yet own a blu-ray. I'm still upgrading my VHS collection of films to DVD and I'm not ready to add another $10-$30 to flicks for Blu-ray plus the player yet. That said, whenever I do get a b-ray, YYH will likely be one of my first purchases on it.

I own the CPM version of POLTERGEIST REPORT on DVD already; it was released in 2006 and I found it easily online in 2009, after CPM was defunct. It was the first YYH material I owned and saw, and I showed it to all my friends in high school. Thus, when the show hit CN we all know about it. I even own it on VHS. Yet if FUNimation announced a re-dub of that was coming next year, I'd double dip without any hesitation.

Studio Pierrot does do solid work. The TV series does show some age for the time, but compared to other anime TV shows (or Western shows) of the time, it's fine and still has some terrific sequences. I do think Younger Toguro's multiple forms sometimes stretched the budget a little, but these are minor quibbles and TV animation has often required some short cuts - "NARUTO" used to rely and over-rely on flashbacks for this reason. POLTERGEIST REPORT, though, is quite stunning visually. The plot is fine - it has a lot of great action. Hiei's Black Dragon Wave/Dragon Of The Darkness Flame bit from that flick was always a crowd-pleaser to me.

Unless there are some sort of arcane licensing rules in play I don't see why FUNimation can't get the rights to it. As I noted, AnimeWorks had the rights to GOLDEN SEAL for a very long time including just a couple of years ago. Hell, Amazon has it available to "Buy New" right now for $8. So I can't imagine what the hassle is for a flick owned by a company that was defunct, unless CPM signed some contract which hasn't expired yet. But, obviously FUNimation still has interest in YYH so it's probably closer to inevitable that they will get it. The fact that the series did air on CARTOON NETWORK and was popular will (hopefully) always keep it on FUNI's radar.

 

[craigdbfan]

Yeah SP every now and then has their hiccups but that tends to happen when working on weekly syndicated material.

I give them a lot of leeway especially during the 00's because they've juggled two big shonen series (Naruto & Bleach). One for over a decade and the other just a 2 years short of one. So major kudos out to them.

Still keeping my fingers crossed about the YYH:PR DVD/Blu Ray release but you've noted enough reasons that make me confident (or at the very least incredibly hopeful) we'll see one sooner rather than later.

I could be mistaken but I do remember hearing/reading Justin Cook saying they're working on updating us on YYH:PR and that they're actively working on it to some capacity. Whether if it's trying to attain the rights themselves or already in the stages of remastering and dubbing we don't know yet. I guess we'll find out in due time.

 

[Dread]

Yeah SP every now and then has their hiccups but that tends to happen when working on weekly syndicated material.

I give them a lot of leeway especially during the 00's because they've juggled two big shonen series (Naruto & Bleach). One for over a decade and the other just a 2 years short of one. So major kudos out to them.

Still keeping my fingers crossed about the YYH:PR DVD/Blu Ray release but you've noted enough reasons that make me confident (or at the very least incredibly hopeful) we'll see one sooner rather than later.

I could be mistaken but I do remember hearing/reading Justin Cook saying they're working on updating us on YYH:PR and that they're actively working on it to some capacity. Whether if it's trying to attain the rights themselves or already in the stages of remastering and dubbing we don't know yet. I guess we'll find out in due time.

I hadn't followed Justin Cook online anywhere, but given that he's not only the star of the series (dub wise) but is also producer and/or some sort of ADR director, he'd know.

My prediction is that FUNimation maybe releases YYH:PR either next year or (gulp) in 2014 and then releases a blu-ray which has both the OVA and the PR film on it. Usually with DBZ blu-rays, they often have 2-3 films on them, after all. After all, this last YYH release was timed to come out right after FUNimation had finished releasing the general series on blu-ray.

I would be curious if FUNimation would retitle the feature length YYH film. After all, "POLTERGEIST REPORT" was the title Central Park Media/U.S. Manga Corps came up with in the late 90's when most American anime buyers didn't know YYH from SAMURAI PIZZA CATS. The Japanese title, bluntly translated, is "YYH: CHAPTER OF UNDERWORLD'S CARNAGE - BONDS OF FIRE". Now, that wouldn't work, but FUNimation has had experience altering titles of films with their LUPIN THE THIRD releases (now out of print). Many of those titles were re-titled either drastically ("IN MEMORY OF WALTHER P37" became "ISLAND OF ASSASSINS"), slightly ("TOKYO CRISIS" became "CRISIS IN TOKYO") or not at all ("DRAGON OF DOOM", "PURSUIT OF HARIMAO'S TREASURE"). While U.S. Manga Corps' stock is likely being grabbed by the highest bidder - their trademark release M.D. GEIST is under license by someone else, I forget who - FUNimation may not be able, or may not choose to, maintain the old title. Retitling it, say, "YYH: CARNAGE OF THE UNDERWORLD (or NETHERWORLD)" would work out fine. Since CPM's dub of it has been out of print since 2006, retitling it also runs the possibility of some people double-dipping by accident if not design. Don't laugh, some marketing dude likely considers things like that.

I imagine unless FUNimation has already invested in obtaining, translating and dubbing the film, they will look at sales for "THE MOVIE & EIZOU HAKKUSHO" to gauge the strength of the market for it. FUNimation abandoned LUPIN THE THIRD films due to underwhelming sales (Sonny Strait, who was essentially in a similar position as Justin Cook is in regard to LUPIN releases) stated they all sold well enough to be profitable, but probably below expectations. Granted, YYH has the benefit of a better history on CARTOON NETWORK and being more popular overall in the U.S. Still, considering FUNimation was willing to invest in dubbing an OAV clip show and a half hour film which was already licensed to AnimeWorks, a company which is still in operation and could have sparked a bidding war had it chosen to, I'd be very surprised if they didn't nab YYH: PR eventually.

If I have learned anything about YYH on DVD, it is that patience is a virtue. People who were nabbing the DVD's back when it was airing on CN and only had 3-5 episodes each for $20 a pop had to be kicking themselves years later when the thin-packs came out which were roughly about the same cost for 28 episodes each. But, I imagine DBZ buyers have learned such lessons ages ago.