- Introduction to Yu Yu Haukusho ::
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Never heard of Yu Yu Hakusho or want to learn more? This section will give you some brief background information...

A few key terms:

- ReiKi (spirit energy) - Reikai Tantei (spirit world detective)
- Youkai (demons)
- Reikai (Spirit World)
- Ningenkai (Human World)
- Makai (Demon World)
- Ankoku Bujuutsukai (Dark Martial Arts Tournament)

Yu Yu Hakusho is an extremely popular anime series that was created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The manga first appeared in 1990 by the widely popular Weekly Shounen Jump and lasted for 19 volumes. In 1992 it was later turned into an anime series by Studio Pierrot and consisted of 112 episodes. There is also an OVA as well as a movie that came over to the states before the series did. FUNimation has licensed the series and as predicted it has become widely popular after being broadcast on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and Toonami.

The story is about a junior high delinquent named Yuusuke Urameshi who ironically dies from an automobile accident in the very first episode. Since it was not his scheduled time to cross over he is given a second chance at life. From then on he is linked with the supernatural world and becomes a Reikai Tantei. The series follows his adventures with his friends as they battle various powerful youkai that wish to take over or destroy both Ningenkai and Reikai.

The series is divided up by its arcs:

The Reikai Tantei Arc: Episodes 1-25
The Ankoku Bujuutsukai Arc: Episodes 26-66
The Sensui Arc: Episodes 67-94
The Makai Arc: Episodes 95-111
and Forever, Fornever Yu Yu Hakusho!: Episode 112.

The Reikai Tantei Arc is when Yuusuke becomes resurrected and first starts out as a Tantei. He meets the demons Kurama and Hiei and they, along with his schoolmate rival Kuwabara, battle various demons. The Ankoku Bujuutsukai Arc picks up after a previous case for Yuusuke as he and the other tantei battle Team Toguro in a final no-holds-barred showdown. In the Sensui Arc, Yuusuke goes up against a former tantei who wishes to open the door to the Makai and flood the world with demons. The Makai Arc is where Yuusuke and the gang go to the demon world after finding out about a conflict on who the new ruler should be. Forever, Fornever Yu Yu Hakusho is the final episode and concludes the series.

Yu Yu Hakusho is a great anime and the statistics alone should be enough to prove it. It was the only anime series that actually competed with Dragon Ball Z in overall popularity and TV ratings and Kurama was voted the most popular character in Japan for two years in a row. Reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z for its fighting element, the story is exciting and keeps the viewers interested fairly well. While it has 112 episodes, it doesn't seem like that long with all the various fights that actually don't take forever to finish. The animation is considerably old compared to today's use of flashy special effects and computer graphics, but it's old school at its best. I would recommend it for people over the ages of 13, since the anime has some mature content by way of perverted humor, violence, and Yuusuke's mouth of course.