There are two feature films based on the manga and anime series Yu Yu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi. The films were produced by Studio Pierrot and released in Japan theatrically, the first Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie in 1993 and the second Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report in 1994. Before Funimation Entertainment acquired the rights to the anime in 2001, the films were dubbed and released in North America by two other companies. [1] The first by Anime Works and the second by US Manga Corps, both released in 1998. However, the first film and the OVAs (Eizou Hakusho I and II) have since been acquired by Funimation and they produced a new English dub of the film using their original cast from the anime. [2] These were released together as Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie & Eizou Hakusho on December 13, 2011. [3]
Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie | |||||
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Japanese name | |||||
Kanji | 幽☆遊☆白書 | ||||
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Directed by | Noriyuki Abe | ||||
Written by | Yukiyoshi Ohashi | ||||
Produced by | Ken Hagino | ||||
Starring | Nozomu Sasaki Megumi Ogata Nobuyuki Hiyama Sanae Miyuki Shigeru Chiba | ||||
Music by | Yusuke Honma | ||||
Production company | |||||
Distributed by | Toei | ||||
Release date |
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Running time | 30 minutes | ||||
Country | Japan | ||||
Language | Japanese |
Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie, also known as The Golden Seal, is a 30-minute film that was released theatrically in Japan on July 10, 1993 at the seasonal Toei Anime Fair. [4] [5] The movie was directed by Noriyuki Abe. The movie was English dubbed by Anime Works and Animaze and released on VHS on June 9, 1998 and on a single DVD with Ninku: The Movie on January 30, 2001. [6] [7] Funimation Entertainment later released the film to DVD, along with the Eizou Hakusho OVAs, on December 13, 2011 as Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie & Eizou Hakusho, featuring a new English dub with their original voice cast from the anime. [2]
Like the television series, it features the songs "Smile Bomb" and "Sayonara Bye Bye" by Matsuko Mawatari (Sarah White and Stephanie Nadolny in the FUNimation English version) for its opening and closing credits respectively.
While vacationing, Koenma is kidnapped by a pair of demons known as Koashura and Garuga, who demand the possession of Lord Enma's coveted "Golden Seal". Botan finds Yusuke Urameshi and Kazuma Kuwabara on their summer vacation as well, and asks for their assistance in Koenma's rescue.
Character | Actor [8] | ||
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Japanese | English | ||
Media Blasters, 1998 | Funimation, 2011 | ||
Yusuke Urameshi | Nozomu Sasaki | Jonathan Fahn (as Jonathan Charles) | Justin Cook |
Kazuma Kuwabara | Shigeru Chiba | Lex Lang | Christopher Sabat |
Kurama | Megumi Ogata | David Hayter (as Sean Barker) | John Burgmeier |
Hiei | Nobuyuki Hiyama | Kirk Thornton (as Sparky Thornton) | Chuck Huber |
Botan | Sanae Miyuki | Lia Sargent | Cynthia Cranz |
Koenma | Mayumi Tanaka | Brianne Siddall (as Jetta E. Bumpy) | Sean Teague |
Garuga/Yasha | Takeshi Aono | Kevin Seymour (as Dougary Grant) | Christopher Ayres |
Koashura | Rica Matsumoto | Julie Maddalena (as Julie Kliewer) | Greg Ayres |
George Saotome | Tomomichi Nishimura | Robert Martin Klein (as Bob Marx) | Kent Williams |
Winged Demon | Mitsuaki Madono | Doug Stone | J. Michael Tatum |
Tree Demon | Masami Suzuki | Milton James (as Richard Barnes) | Jeff Johnson |
Kotennyo | Yuri Shiratori | Wendee Lee | Kate Bristol |
According to Martin Ouelette of Protoculture Addicts , the movie did little to satisfy fans of the YuYu Hakusho series during its original release due to its short running time. [9] Reviewing the Funimation release, Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network gave the subtitled version a "B+", the English dub a straight "B", and called the story disposable stating the film is more focused on "having fun with its theatrical budget". [10]
Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report | |||||
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Japanese name | |||||
Kanji | 幽☆遊☆白書 冥界死闘篇 炎の絆 | ||||
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Directed by | Masakatsu Iijima | ||||
Written by | Hiroshi Hashimoto Sukehiro Tomita Yukiyoshi Ohashi | ||||
Produced by | Haruo Sai Ken Hagino Naoji Hōnokidani | ||||
Starring | Nozomu Sasaki Megumi Ogata Nobuyuki Hiyama Sanae Miyuki Shigeru Chiba | ||||
Music by | Yusuke Honma | ||||
Production companies | |||||
Distributed by | Toho | ||||
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes | ||||
Country | Japan | ||||
Language | Japanese | ||||
Box office | ¥3.3 million [11] |
Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report, known in Japan as Yū Yū Hakusho: Meikai Shitō Hen - Honō no Kizuna (幽★遊★白書: 冥界死闘篇・炎の絆, lit. Yū Yū Hakusho: Chapter of Underworld's Carnage - Bonds of Fire), is the second of the films based on the series. The 95 minutes long film was released in theaters in Japan on April 9, 1994. [5] [12] The film was later dubbed into English by Central Park Media and Skypilot Entertainment and was released on VHS on March 3, 1998, and DVD on October 8, 2002. [13] [14] A DVD reprint was later issued by Central Park Media on January 31, 2006. [15] The film was later released on Blu-ray as a part of the Yu Yu Hakusho: 25th Anniversary Box collection on July 27, 2018. [16] [17]
The film features the ending theme "Sayonara wa Iwanai" composed by JILL and sung by Personz.
The story begins in the Spirit World, where the River Styx is overflowing, due to a tsunami. As this is no ordinary storm, Koenma gives a mysterious item to Botan, and tells her to give it to Yusuke Urameshi, but Botan gets hurt badly and hides it instead. The storm was apparently caused by the forces of the Netherworld, which was banished into cold space ages ago by Lord Enma. To restore balance in the now flooded Spirit World and with Hinegashi's guidance, Yusuke and the others must track down five spots on Earth that contain a large amount of spiritual energy. However, their mission is thwarted when the ruler of the Netherworld, Yakumo and his three demon gods decide to use the same energy to restore their place on Earth. The race begins to save the Spirit World, and now the Human World as well.
Character | Actor [18] | |
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Japanese | English | |
Yusuke Urameshi | Nozomu Sasaki | Rik Nagel |
Kazuma Kuwabara | Shigeru Chiba | (dub: Kazuma Kuwahara) Cliff Lazenby |
Botan | Sanae Miyuki | Kathleen McInerney |
Koenma | Mayumi Tanaka | Eric Stuart |
Kurama | Megumi Ogata | Chris Orbach (as Hideo Seaver) |
Hiei | Nobuyuki Hiyama | James Stanley |
Keiko Yukimura | Yuri Amano | Shannon Conley |
Genkai | Hisako Kyoda | Caryl Marder |
Yakumo | Hirotaka Suzuoki | Bruce Winant |
Hinageshi | Chisa Yokoyama | Elisa Wain |
Raiko | Nobuaki Fukuda | Peter Patrikios |
Kuronue | Hochu Otsuka | Eric Stuart |
Majari | Yuji Mitsuya | Jack Taylor |
Yukina | Yuri Shiratori | Veronica Taylor |
George Saotome | Tomomichi Nishimura | |
Yoko Kurama | Shigeru Nakahara | Chris Orbach |
Reviewing the 2002 DVD release, Allen Divers of Anime News Network gave the subtitled version a "B" and the dubbed version a "C". He noted that the film has all the action, drama and comedy that makes the TV series great, but with higher-quality animation and artwork due to a theatrical budget. Divers stated that the dub was well-done and close to the original Japanese, but said it was disappointing that a different English voice cast from the TV series was used. [19] The VHS version was the 31st-best selling video during its release week in North America. [20] It fell to number 37 the following week and rose to number 34 the third week. [21] [22]
YuYu Hakusho is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi. It tells the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage delinquent who is struck and killed by a car while attempting to save a child's life. After a number of tests presented to him by Koenma, the son of the ruler of the afterlife, Yusuke is revived and appointed the title of "Underworld Detective". With this title he must investigate various cases involving demons and apparitions in the Human World, with the manga gradually becoming more focused on martial arts battles and tournaments as it progresses. Togashi began creating YuYu Hakusho around November 1990, basing the series on his interests in the occult and horror films and an influence of Buddhist mythology.
Sonic the Hedgehog or Sonic the Hedgehog the Movie, is a two-part 1996 Japanese original video animation (OVA) based on the video game franchise by Sega. Produced by Pierrot and directed by Kazutaka Ikegami, the OVA was originally released in Japan on January 26, 1996 and March 22, 1996. The series was later licensed and dubbed in English by ADV Films, which released it as a single direct-to-video film on September 7, 1999, to coincide with the international release of Sonic Adventure. The anime features Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman, Metal Sonic and a few supporting characters created exclusively for the OVA. Taking the English dub into consideration, it is also the first Sonic animated media to not feature Jaleel White voicing the titular character.
Yoshihiro Togashi is a Japanese manga artist. He began drawing manga at an early age, before being recognized for his talent by the publishing company Shueisha while attending college. Togashi has authored several different manga series in different genres over the past three decades. He is best known for writing and illustrating the YuYu Hakusho (1990–1994) and Hunter × Hunter (1998–present) series, which are some of the best-selling manga in history. Togashi is married to Naoko Takeuchi, the author of Sailor Moon.
Nozomu Sasaki is a Japanese voice actor and singer. He is represented by the voice actor management firm, 81 Produce, and was previously represented by Arts Vision. In 1988, he voiced the character Tetsuo Shima in the movie Akira, which was adapted from the manga of the same name. He also provided the voice of Yusuke Urameshi in the anime adaptation of the manga YuYu Hakusho and returned to that role in video games for that franchise. He is sometimes mistaken for fellow voice actress Nozomi Sasaki, whose name is written the same way. Sasaki has emerged the victor of the Seiyū Grand Prix more times than any other voice actor.
Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament is a video game for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) home game console. Based on the popular manga and anime series YuYu Hakusho created by Yoshihiro Togashi, Dark Tournament follows the protagonist Yusuke Urameshi, a rebellious teenager who dies and is brought back to life in order to serve as a "Spirit Detective", solving cases involving apparitions and demons within the living world. The game covers the Dark Tournament story arc in which Yusuke and his allies are invited by a powerful demon named Toguro to participate in a deadly martial arts tournament.
Kurama is a fictional character from the manga YuYu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi. A Fox Demon reborn as the human Shuichi Minamino in modern life,[ch. 21] he is introduced as a thief who stole a supernatural mirror to save his dying mother from death. Although Kurama is initially portrayed as a villain, he becomes a supporting character to aid the protagonist Yusuke Urameshi in the next arc. Across his fights are revealed events from his past life as a demon, into which he becomes able to transform for a limited time. The character has also appeared in the anime adaptation, the two movies, and other related works.
Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective is a video game for the Game Boy Advance (GBA) handheld console. Based on the manga and anime series YuYu Hakusho created by Yoshihiro Togashi, the plot follows the central character Yusuke Urameshi, a street-brawling, often truant teenager who dies trying to save a young boy's life. After meeting an incarnation of the Grim Reaper, Yusuke is given a second chance at life as a "Spirit Detective", a protector of the living world.
Justin Cook is an American voiceover actor, director, audio engineer and line producer who works for anime-dubbing companies Funimation and Okratron 5000. His work includes acting on Yu Yu Hakusho and the Dragon Ball franchise.
Noriyuki Abe is a Japanese anime storyboard artist, sound director and director. He worked at Pierrot on anime series, such as Yu Yu Hakusho, Ninku, Flame of Recca, Great Teacher Onizuka, Bleach and Boruto. He won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award in 1993 and 1994.
The first season of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime series, the Spirit Detective Saga, was directed by Noriyuki Abe and produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising and Studio Pierrot. The episodes were released in North America by Funimation. The season adapts Yoshihiro Togashi's Yu Yu Hakusho manga from the first through sixth volumes over twenty-five episodes. The episodes follow the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage boy who dies in an accident, and is resurrected as a Spirit Detective, Spirit World's protector of the Living World against demons and other supernatural threats.
The second season of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime series, known as the Dark Tournament Saga, was directed by Noriyuki Abe and produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising and Studio Pierrot. The episodes were released in North America by Funimation. Like the rest of the series, it adapts Yoshihiro Togashi's Yu Yu Hakusho manga from the sixth through the thirteenth volumes over forty-one episodes. The episodes cover the story of Yusuke Urameshi and how his tenure as Spirit Detective led him to participate in the "Dark Tournament," a competition between demons to determine the strongest supernatural inhabitants of the Living World.
The third season of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime series, known as the Chapter Black Saga, was directed by Noriyuki Abe and produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising and Studio Pierrot. The episodes were released in North America by Funimation. Like the rest of the series, it adapts Yoshihiro Togashi's Yu Yu Hakusho manga from the thirteenth through seventeenth volumes over twenty-eight episodes. The episodes follow Spirit Detective Yusuke Urameshi and his conflict with a former Spirit Detective, Shinobu Sensui, and the latter's desire to open the gateway to Makai.
The fourth and final season of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime series, known as the Saga of the Three Kings, was directed Noriyuki Abe and produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising and Studio Pierrot. The episodes were released in North America by Funimation. It adapts Yoshihiro Togashi's Yu Yu Hakusho manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi from the seventeenth through nineteenth volumes over eighteen episodes. The episodes cover Yusuke Urameshi's journey to Makai to meet his demon ancestor, and his attempts to resolve the unstable political situation in Makai.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a Japanese anime television series adapted from the original Fullmetal Alchemist manga series by Hiromu Arakawa. Produced by Bones, the series is directed by Yasuhiro Irie, written by Hiroshi Ōnogi and composed by Akira Senju. The series was conceived in order to create a faithful adaptation that directly follows the entire storyline of the original manga, after 2003's Fullmetal Alchemist anime series strayed away from it to tell its own story after running out of published manga material to adapt.
The third season of the Black Clover anime television series was directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara and produced by Pierrot. The season premiered on October 1, 2019, on TV Tokyo in Japan. The season adapts Yūki Tabata's manga series of the same name from the rest of the 17th volume to the end of the 23rd volume, with the exception of episodes 123 and 124 (recap), and episodes 130–154, which are officially considered anime canon episodes that were supervised by Tabata. On April 26, 2020, it was announced that after Episode 132, the remaining episodes of the season would be delayed due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a two-month hiatus, the season resumed on July 7, 2020. Both Crunchyroll and Funimation licensed the series for an English release, with Crunchyroll simulcasting the third season, and Funimation producing a North American Simuldub. Funimation's adaptation premiered on February 2, 2020, on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block. Toonami's broadcast went on hiatus after episode 136 on October 25, 2020, as a result of production delays for the English dub caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The season resumed its run on Toonami on February 14, 2021, and ended on June 13.
YuYu Hakusho is a Japanese action fantasy adventure television series developed by Akira Morii and Kaata Sakamoto for Netflix. The series is a live-action adaptation of the 1990–94 manga series of the same name by Yoshihiro Togashi. It is produced by Robot Communications, and stars Takumi Kitamura, Jun Shison, Kanata Hongō and Shuhei Uesugi. The series premiered on December 14, 2023, and received praise for its action and fight scenes, but was criticized for the plot condensing required to fit five episodes.