YuYu Hakusho

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sesshomaru (talk | contribs) at 18:22, 4 August 2008 (Rv unsourced information about upcoming live action). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jump to navigationJump to search
YuYu Hakusho
File:Yuyu123.jpg
GenreMartial arts, Bangsian fantasy
Manga
Written byYoshihiro Togashi
Published byJapan Shueisha
English publisherCanada United States Viz Media
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Jump
DemographicShōnen
Original run1990 – 1994
Volumes19 (List of volumes)
Anime
Directed byNoriyuki Abe
StudioStudio Pierrot
Released 10 October 1992 – 7 January 1995

YuYu Hakusho (幽☆遊☆白書, Yū Yū Hakusho, or "YYH") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi with an anime adaptation. The name of the series is spelled YuYu Hakusho in Funimation's distribution of the anime and in the Viz manga.

The manga was originally published in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series consists of 175 chapters collected in 19 tankōbon volumes, and won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1994.[1] In North America, the manga currently runs in Viz' Shonen Jump.

The anime, directed by Noriyuki Abe and co-produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising, and Studio Pierrot, consists of 112 television episodes and two movies: "The Golden Seal" and "Bonds of Fire". The anime series won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1993 and 1994. The TV series originally aired on Japan's Fuji Television network from October 10 1992 to January 7 1995, and was later licensed in North America by Funimation in 2001. The show first aired on US TV on February 2002 on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block. Around March 2003, the show moved to Cartoon Network's Toonami block due to higher ratings. YuYu Hakusho was taken off Toonami around March 2005 and moved to an early Saturday morning time slot at 5:30 a.m. where the series finished its run. It currently airs as part of the Funimation programming block on Colours TV.

A series of YuYu Hakusho OVAs were released only in Japan. It has also been broadcast across Japan, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent by the anime satellite television network Animax.

History

Togashi said that he began working on YuYu Hakusho during a period of time around November 1990; Togashi said that he forgot the exact time.[2]

Plot

Yusuke Urameshi is a street-brawling delinquent with a tough guy approach to everything. Yusuke's mother Atsuko, an alcoholic, had him at the age of 15 and took a backseat in raising her son. He has a reserved seat in the guidance counselor's office, and numerous other delinquents in the city are trying to take him on. Yusuke is pretty fed up with life.

However, no one expects a sudden act of heroism on his part: he dies trying to save a little boy from a speeding car. In fact, when he arrives in the afterlife, he is informed that the child would've miraculously survived, had it not been for him the child would have one less scratch on his right shoulder. Yusuke's premature death was unexpected and unnecessary, and the afterlife was not prepared for his arrival.

After numerous tests to gauge his worth, Yusuke is eventually revived, and is assigned to work for the Spirit World as a detective investigating demon cases in the human world. He comes into spiritual abilities of his own, and enlists the help of numerous friends from Reikai (spirit world), Makai (demon world, translated in the English manga as the Demon Plane) and Ningenkai (human world) to aid him in his cases as they fight off demons and humans seeking to rule over all three worlds.

Characters

Main article: List of YuYu Hakusho characters
  • Yusuke Urameshi (浦飯 幽助, Urameshi Yūsuke) - Yusuke is the toughest kid in Sarayashiki Junior High School and has a typical tough guy approach to everything. He becomes a spirit detective after he dies and is revived by Keiko's kiss. His main attack is the Rei Gun (Spirit Gun in the English anime) where he can manipulate his Reiki and fire it into a projectile. He learns many techniques and abilities from Genkai. He mainly grows in strength from all of his different battles, because he responds to danger by unleashing his full strength.
  • Kazuma Kuwabara (桑原 和真, Kuwabara Kazuma) - Kuwabara is the second toughest kid in the school, and resents Yusuke for it. Originally rivals, Yusuke and Kuwabara would start a grudging friendship that only strengthens throughout the series. Although human, Kuwabara has high Reiki sensitivity; shortly after accompanying Yusuke on missions, he is able to manifest a Rei Ken (Spirit Sword in the English dubbing); a type of Reiki that normally takes on the shape of a glowing sword. After the Dark Saga, Kuwabara is believed to be the strongest human alive (Genkai implies this). Though he may not be the strongest in the "gang", he is certainly the kindest, as he has a certain affinity for kittens.
  • Kurama (蔵馬, Kurama), also known as Shuichi Minamino (南野 秀一, Minamino Shūichi) in his human form - Kurama is a demon with the ability to summon and control plants. He was originally the powerful and infamous yōkai, kitsune thief, Fox Demon Kurama (as stated in the English manga) or Yoko Kurama (妖狐蔵馬, Yōko Kurama, Yoko Kurama in the English anime) until he was wounded by a hunter. Managing to escape by inhabiting the body of an unborn human baby, he grew up as the human child Shuichi, and planned on abandoning his "family" once his demonic power returned at the age of ten, but grew to love his human mother, Shiori Minamino. Kurama has a wide variety of techniques, because of his ability to control a wide variety of plants, including the often seen Rose Whip. In the Dark Tournament Saga, Kurama was given a potion to aid him in his transforming to his Yoko Kurama state, but in later episodes seemed to be able to transform at will (this is explained as a side effect of releasing a lot of demon energy in the English anime).
  • Hiei (飛影, Hiei, a.k.a., lit. "Hiei of the Evil Eye") - A hi yōkai (hi yōkai, lit. fire demon) born of a Korime (氷女, Kōrime, lit. Ice Maiden) who specializes in the Jagan (邪眼術, lit. (Evil Eye) skills), as well as swordsmanship, and can move at superhuman speeds. His artificially created Jagan amplifies his power and enables him to summon the black fires of Makai (Demon Realm) and channel it as an energy attack, often in the shape of a dragon. He's a bit of a hot head and often bickers with Kuwabara. Hiei is also a bit short. His twin sister, Yukina, is unaware of their relationship, and Hiei has gone as far as to threaten harm to others to prevent Yukina from realizing that he is actually her brother. He is commmonly confused to have the last name 'Jaganshi' in fandoms. Hiei is never given a last name in the manga or the anime, and 'Jaganshi' merely means 'Wielder of the Jagan'.
  • Genkai (幻海, Genkai) - The aged Reiki fighter who rigorously trains Yusuke in the Spirit Light Wave Fist (霊光波動拳, Reikō Hadō Ken, Spirit Wave in the English anime). Though her manner is often gruff, she cares for Yusuke and the others, and constantly tries to help them grow stronger. In the past, she was feared as one of the most powerful human fighters in both Ningenkai and Makai.

Reception

File:YuYuHakushologo.PNG
Logo of the translated YuYu Hakusho manga by Viz Media

As of June 2007, YuYu Hakusho had sold more than 44,000,000 copies in Japan alone.[3] It won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1994.[1]

In a 2006 web poll conducted in Japan by the network TV Asahi, YuYu Hakusho was voted as the 15th best anime of all time.[4]

Media

Manga

Main article: List of YuYu Hakusho chapters

The YuYu Hakusho manga series was written and drawn by Togashi and published originally by Shueisha in the Japanese-language magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump.[5] The manga consists on ninenteen collected volumes with the first one being released on April 10, 1991, and the last one released on December 12, 1994.[6][7] In August 2004, the Japanese publishers of YuYu Hakusho released the kanzenban edition. Each kanzenban volume features a new cover. The kanzenban 15 volumes long (as opposed to the original 19 tankōbon, each book contains more chapters than the basic editions), with two released monthly.[8][9]

The YuYu Hakusho manga is serialized in North America by Viz Media in the American Shonen Jump magazine.[5] The first volume was released on May 13 2003, and currently fifteen volumes have been released.[10] The 16th volume is set to be released on December 2 2008.[11]

Anime

Main article: List of YuYu Hakusho episodes

The anime, directed by Noriyuki Abe and co-produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising, and Studio Pierrot, consists of 112 television episodes and two movies: The Golden Seal and Bonds of Fire. The series aired from October 10, 1992, to January 7, 1995, on Fuji Television in Japan.[12] In North America, the episodes aired from February 23, 2002, to April 1, 2006, on Cartoon Network.[12] Initially, the episodes were shown on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block from February 2002 to April 2003, and switched to Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block for the remaining episodes.[13][14]

The four seasons that compose the series are each their own story arc, and referred to as "sagas" by Funimation.[15] Thirty-two DVD compilations have been released by Funimation for the four sagas, with the first released on April 16, 2002, and the thirty-second on July 19, 2005.[16][17] In addition, DVD collection boxes have been released for each saga,[18][19][20] containing all the episodes of every saga, with the exception of the Dark Tournament Saga, which had two collection boxes.[21][22] Funimation will be releasing season box sets of the anime starting with season 1 which was released on July 8, 2008 and season 2, which is scheduled to be released on September 23, 2008.[23]

OVAs

A series of YuYu Hakusho OVAs were released only in Japan. It has also been broadcast across Japan, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and India by the anime satellite television network Animax.

  • Eizō Hakusho: Ankoku Bujutsukai (2 Volumes)
  • Eizō Hakusho II: Yusuke Volume
  • Eizō Hakusho II: Kurama Volume
  • Eizō Hakusho II: Hiei Volume
  • Eizō Hakusho II: Kuwabara Volume
  • Opening Ending Encyclopedia
  • Recap Guide Complete Advance Set (3 Volumes)

Other media

A number of video games have been released that tie to the YuYu Hakusho series, notably: Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective, Yu Yu Hakusho: Tournament Tactics for the Game Boy Advance, Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament for the PlayStation 2, and Yu Yu Hakusho Final for the SNES. A few action figures have been released, as well as other collectibles.

YuYu Hakusho also has a series of drama soundtracks sung by the Japanese voice actors.

References

  1. ^ a b "小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2007-08-19. Cite error: The named reference "ShogakukanAward" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Seisaku Hakusho ("The Production Report"). YuYu Hakusho Volume 1. VIZ Media. 94.
  3. ^ "The Rise and Fall of Weekly Shōnen Jump: A Look at the Circulation of Weekly Jump". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  4. ^ "Japan's Favorite TV Anime" (Poll Results). TV Asahi 2006 Poll. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  5. ^ a b "YuYu Hakusho (manga)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  6. ^ "幽・遊・白書　　1" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  7. ^ "幽・遊・白書　　19" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  8. ^ "幽・遊・白書　完全版　　1" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  9. ^ "幽・遊・白書　完全版　　15" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  10. ^ "VIZ Media . products - YuYu Hakusho, Vol. 14". Viz Media. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  11. ^ http://www.amazon.com/YuYu-Hakusho-Yuyu-Graphic-Novels/dp/1421515172/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215676081&sr=8-1
  12. ^ a b "Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files (TV)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  13. ^ "Official Word on Adult Swim Action - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. 2002-01-22. Retrieved 2008-05-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Program Changeup at Cartoon Network - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. 2003-02-04. Retrieved 2008-05-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "YuYuHakusho - The Official Yu Yu Hakusho Anime Website from FUNimation". Funimation. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  16. ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Spirit Detective - Yusuke Lost, Yusuke Found (Vol. 1): DVD". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  17. ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Yusuke Rediscover (Vol. 32) - Uncut: DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  18. ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho: The Spirit Detective Saga: DVD". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  19. ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Chapter Black Saga Set: DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho Chapter Black Saga Set". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  20. ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - The Saga of the Three Kings: DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  21. ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Dark Tournament Saga Gift Set (Vola. 1-6): DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  22. ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho: The Dark Tournament Saga, Part 2: DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  23. ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho: Season One Box Set: Yu Yu Hakusho: Movies & TV". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
Wikiquote has quotations related to YuYu Hakusho.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=YuYu_Hakusho&oldid=229819884"