Dragon Ball Z's biggest rival from the 90s is still an anime masterpiece

Stories of the supernatural aren't just common in the anime realm; they are widely loved. One of the most famous anime in history that plays with supernatural elements is Dragon Ballwith anime from the 90s Dragon Ball Z they remain a fan-favorite phase of the franchise. However, another anime involving the supernatural as well as high-stakes battles is Yu Yu Hakusho. Created by Yoshihiro Togashi, the person behind Hunter x Hunterthis anime is a remarkable story in itself.

Unlike some other protagonists in the shōnen genre, Yusuke Urameshi does not start out as the “chosen one”. In fact, when he sacrifices his life to save someone else, even the Spirit World is shocked by his kindness. However, his compassion does not go unnoticed, and soon the young delinquent is called not only to get a second chance at life, but to become a real hero. Elements as seen in Yusuke's story, as well as the narratives of his peers, contributed to why Yu Yu Hakusho it is still so popular and recommended today.

Yu Yu Hakusho follows a delinquent who suddenly becomes a ghost and a ghost detective

Yusuke Urameshi is a widely known and often feared delinquent in his hometown with a penchant for brawling. Although many students and teachers fear and even hate him, Yusuke has people who care about him. One fateful day, Yusuke saves a small child from being hit by a moving car, but tragically dies in the process. As a ghost, he meets Botan, a grimace from the Spirit World, who tells him that her world has been so shocked by his uncharacteristic act of compassion that he has a chance at revival if he so desires. Yusuke initially refuses, but after seeing several of his peers and loved ones heartbroken over his death, he agrees to do whatever it takes to live again.

Yusuke finds himself in the Spirit World (also known as the Underworld) and learns about how this fantastic realm works, especially under the leadership of Koenma, the king's son. While Yusuke works to resurrect him and eventually succeeds in resurrecting him, he remains a spiritual detective for the land of the living and discovers the cause of the supernatural problems. Along the way, Yusuke not only forms bonds with the demons Kurama and Hiei, but manages to build better relationships with his childhood friend Keiko Yukimura and former rival and delinquent Kazuma Kuwabara. As time passes, Yusuke never loses his fighting spirit, but becomes a much more responsible and heroic individual.

Yu Yu Hakusho's timeless themes of redemption, compassion, and determination still hold up

A very melancholic reality that the audience learns from the very beginning Yu Yu Hakusho is that when Yusuke becomes a ghost, he decides he'd rather stay a ghost. In his mind, Yusuke had only ever caused grief and trouble to his peers and his family, so the fact that he was now gone should bring peace to everyone. However, Yusuke quickly discovers that his thought process was very wrong; in addition to his mother and Keiko, his rival Kazuma is also distraught over his death. Meanwhile, his stern but patient headmaster, Mr. Takenaka, comes to bow to him and even reprimands two other teachers for mocking the deceased youth.

Despite what some may have believed, Yusuke was not a heartless person and decided to do whatever it took to return to life. The anime's first opening theme, “Smile Bomb”, perfectly sums up the series as a whole. One such set of lyrics says, “And then I know/That most of all I feel true compassion/Thanks to strangers wherever I go,” showcasing a newfound sense of hope. A key narrative point, after all Yu Yu Hakusho it is about the beauty of redemption through compassion. Yusuke is able to grow into a kinder person because he realizes that he has support even when things look bleak.

With this knowledge, he slowly but surely begins to become a better and wiser person. This determination to live and do better, once not seen at the very beginning of the series, becomes a fundamental part of Yusuke's character; the Dark Tournament arc showcases this feature unreservedly. However, the redemption does not only apply to Yusuke, but also to the other members of Team Urameshi. Kazuma is able to realize that fighting is not the key to solving every problem, while Kurama and Hiei are able to free themselves from their past in their own way.

The legacy of Yu Yu Hakusho paved the way for Hunter x Hunter

After success Yu Yu HakushoTogashi created several other works such as Level E. However, his most famous work is by far Hunter x Hunteran adventure series that breaks the mold in different ways. Like Yu Yu Hakusho, Hunter x Hunter has a main protagonist who is not quite like other shōnen heroes. Both Yusuke and Gon manage to become much stronger than they were before at the beginning of their journeys, but Gon's character development took a very dark turn during the events of the Chimera Ant arc. The sheer intensity of this story, along with the stories involving the other characters, did Hunter x Hunter one of the most awarded anime in history; there really is no such thing.

Although Hunter x Hunter is Togashi's most talked about work, still loved by many fans Yu Yu Hakusho and its cast. In addition to the animation and soundtrack, the dialogues and unspoken narration also leave the audience spellbound. IN Yu Yu Hakushono character is truly perfect, and the villains in this series are given a sense of depth that expands their battles with the heroes. So much for anime fans, even those just a little familiar Yu Yu Hakushothe story of Yusuke and his peers is refreshingly grounded in how they interact with the world and its obstacles, giving it an authenticity and honesty that adds to its overall timelessness.

Yu Yu Hakusho

Release date

1992 – 1995-00-00

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  Nozuma Sasaki

  Yusuke Urameshi

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  Shigeru Chiba

  Kazuma Kuwabara