An Eternal Revival: Yu Yu Hakusho

At long last, the tale of Yu Yu Hakusho (otherwise known as The Poltergeist Report) has been released to the states. I have been a fan to this anime for over three years now since my discovery of the second theoretical movie, and as a devoted miko, I am here to provide new lovers to the information they desire� (Yes, I know I�m so melodramatic- you�ll get used to it, I�m sure).

The story begins with a fourteen-year old delinquent with problems that you�re just ready to find on any overrated TV broadcast. However, the plot swerves and we find the kind of heart this teen, Yusuke, has when he sacrifices his life by saving a child from a car accident. Thus, he is taken to the spirit world (Reikai) and is pulled into a whirlpool of life-threatening missions and bloodshed�.

Sounds familiar? I hope not� Don�t take this as any generic anime just from the plot line because from what I have been able to grasp after looking over this series- I know that the basis is not centered on a singular goal. Rather, the story of the series focuses on many goals- from character- to-character and mission-to-mission. In truth, I find that the missions themselves only serve as a basis on which the character builds and unravels before us as the initial tale progresses.

Many, actually, have compared the series to that of Dragon Ball Z. I admit, I was a very adamant fan until I discovered Yu Yu Hakusho. There are, however, incredible differences between the two series. For one, I honestly don�t see much character development in DBZ (I�m sorry if I�m bashing on any strict fans out there, this is simply my opinion). YYH, although may not rank up to the standards of other anime such as Lain, Utena, or possibly Evangelion, has deeper character and it shows with each passing episode. You feel for the characters. You pity them, laugh at their antics, and literally fall in love with them. Dragon Ball Z has very amiable characters, but if you notice, a lot of the episodes depend on freeze frames and pauses. There isn�t as much growth as we would like, and what�s more- most of the characters� pasts seem scant. In YYH, you WILL see the characters pasts and you will come to understand how each character acts and reacts to the situations around them because of their past. This is definitely the most crucial device in the entire series. The characters have been thought out in such a way, that even though they may be fictional- the characters come alive in their own world.

This is why Yu Yu Hakusho has not been forgotten even after the spans of almost more than a decade. There has been evidence for this too. In the Philippines, 1999 to 2000, Yu Yu Hakusho was re-broadcasted by popular demand. In Japan, YYH�s home, the series had also been revived in 2000-2001. The series has touched ends with Portugal, Spain, China, North Korea, South Korea, Puerto Rico, and even the states via fansub distributors. Even more amazing, YYH was literally competing against DBZ in Shounen Jump as the most popular manga series of its time.

The plot is something else. Instead of the regular: �seek and destroy�, enemies have their reasons for battle, and often, fighting an enemy means making friends in the end. The fight scenes are something to see as well. It�s never the same fight twice. Every time a villain is defeated, there is always a certain way to reach that defeat. Of course, each character (Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, or Hiei) has their own trump card, but don�t expect them to use it every time. Making that assumption will only surprise you more than you should be (not that that�s a bad thing). The thoughts that run through the characters minds are not too repetitive either, and if you look very closely- you can see the hidden relationships between each character. It�s very subtle, so you really have to look to comprehend the kind of friendship each of them shares with the other.

Family ties are something else too. Every character has a different view and/or tie to their blood. This is one of the things that impresses me the most. Relationships to family are so neatly tied that it�s convincing (with the exemption of Kuwabara, but hardly anyone questions his family). Everyone has different values, and of course this goes the same to any real person in the world. Friendship in itself plays a role, an undying role throughout the story. Remember what I said about enemies and friends? Don�t forget this- you will see as the series moves onward.

Branching plot is the design for this anime. There is a main goal for all the characters (with different levels of importance for each) and different objectives for each. This, in a sense, unites all the characters. They�re individuals, not characters with one-dimensional personalities such as Misty, Ash, Sakura, and dare I say it? Some of the characters in Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z. Sure, Yusuke�s character is a little commercial, but like most main characters, there�s a distinct quality that sets him a part from the �standard pool�. As for Kuwabara, he is comedy relief, but if you pay attention, you�ll find his function in the series. Regarding Hiei and Kurama� What can I say? They�ve been created so well that they stole the spotlight from everyone. I�m not complaining though�

Wait a minute? No definite spoilers? No series essays and so on and so forth? Well, I believe that it�s more fun to witness a series not knowing much or anything at all- you learn to appreciate the series on your own and that makes experiencing the series so much greater. *Sigh* Still, I KNOW that there are many of you out there who feel cheated for not getting any juicy pulp. Therefore, I�ve set-up an FAQ and character description section to appease many souls. Enjoy the fanfiction, fanart, shrines, music, wallpaper, and other goodies I�ve made myself in this site. I just hope I convinced you enough to go on with this series as something to look forward to. God bless and have fun!

~~Hikari