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 logo for the television program and movie. | |||||
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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![]() Cover for the film | |||||
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. The series 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 Underworld, 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.
The history of anime in the United States began in 1961, when Magic Boy and The Tale of the White Serpent, both produced by Toei Animation, became the first and second anime films to receive documented releases in the country. Anime has since found success with a growing audience in the region, with Astro Boy often being noted as the first anime to receive widespread syndication, especially in the United States. Additionally, anime's growth in popularity in the US during the 1990s, commonly referred to as the "anime boom," is credited with much of anime's enduring relevance to popular culture outside Japan.
Yoshihiro Togashi is a Japanese manga artist. He began drawing manga at an early age, before being recognized for his talent by publishing company Shueisha while attending college. Togashi has authored several manga series in different genres during the past three decades. He is perhaps best known for writing and illustrating the YuYu Hakusho (1990–1994) and Hunter × Hunter (1998–present) series, both of 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.
Ninku is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kōji Kiriyama. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from June 1993 to September 1995, with is chapters collected in nine tankōbon volumes. A 55-episode anime television series, produced by Fuji TV, Yomiko Advertising and Studio Pierrot, aired on Fuji TV between January 1995 and February 1996. A sequel manga, titled Ninku 2nd Stage: Story of Etonins, was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Ultra Jump from September 2005 to September 2011, with its chapters collected in 12 tankōbon volumes. The Ninku manga has had over 9 million copies in circulation.
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] 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.
Roujin Z is a 1991 Japanese animated science fiction action thriller film directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo and written by Katsuhiro Otomo. The animation for Roujin Z was produced by A.P.P.P. in association with other companies including Movic, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Aniplex and TV Asahi.
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.
Toku is an American pay television network and streaming service owned by Olympusat and dedicated to broadcasting anime and East Asian programming.
Noriyuki Abe is a Japanese anime storyboard artist, sound director and director best known for working with Studio Pierrot on series such as Yu Yu Hakusho, Ninku, Flame of Recca, Boruto and Bleach. The former 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 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.
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