Yu Yu Hakusho
Director
Nobuyuki Abe
Production
Fuji TV, Studio Pierrot
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
112 episodes
Year
1992
Yu Yu Hakusho Volume 3: A New Apprentice
By otaku_kei
10th Jun 05  Yusuke Urashima has found his place in the world as the underworlds Spirit Detective hunting down demons and monsters as they encroach into the real world. In the last two discs he has faced his own death and place as a disembodied spirit, as well as overcoming his first assignment as the Spirit Detective when he had to take on 3 dangerous demons empowered by magical items. With that first win under his belt Yusuke is now assigned to his next mission to track down the murderous demon Rando who has already killed and defeated over a hundred other powerful psychics. Yusuke has to defeat this demon if he has any hope of becoming the next apprentice to Genkei holder of the powerful psychic technique - The Spirit Wave. This unfortunately means that Yusuke is going to have to take on a seemingly impossible task as he faces off against of series of opponents each more powerful then the last. Yusuke of course then also ends up getting beaten on for almost 20 minutes at a time before overcoming these strongmen with a show of force that the broken Yusuke should not physically be able to achieve. Yes everyone that is right my fears have been confirmed and Yu Yu Hakusho is already on the downward slope towards the interminable fight scenes that have blighted shows such as Dragonball Z. These fight scenes may be entertaining but I've found that once these fights start to get drawn out for more than an episode they begin to take over the show. In many ways these scenes will be used to compensate for a lack of plot. This can in many ways be seen as a by-product of when this show was first being made as it was going head to head against the phenomenally successful Dragonball Z. This show had to rival the long-running fighting show and it is becoming quite clear that the production company chose emulation as the best chance of rivalling the Dragonball franchise. Whilst this show may be taking the first steps along a particularly boring dramatic path, that is not to suggest that this release still does not have its own merits. Yu Yu Hakusho is still a lot of fun in its own right, and the interplay between some of the characters such as Yusuke and Kuwabara with their constant bickering and grudging admiration for one another shows that this show is not as two dimensional as some of the other long running fighting anime out there. I have to admit to having really enjoyed this show since the first volume, and this release is no exception. Unfortunately the cracks in the armour for this show are already starting to appear and I hope I am wrong in my prediction for the path this show is due to take, but I would not place money on this show not trying to be the next DBZ. For everyone out there who enjoyed the first couple of volumes of this show then I think this will still provide the thrills you are after, I'm just hoping my interest does not dry up before the plot does.
R2 DVD Notes
Features: English Language 2.0; Japanese Language 2.0; English Subtitles; Character Profiles; Textless Opening; Textless Closing; Name Translations; MVM Trailers
Release information: COMING SOON - 13th June 2005
Notes: Now in its third volume as a dual language release and the quality of these discs are not slipping at all. The visuals are fantastic for a show that is over a decade old, and both the audio tracks had no problems that I could pick up on. The extras though are just as standard as every other UK releases, textless opening and closings, and the standard couple of trailers.
-- otaku_kei 10th Jun 05
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