YuYu Hakusho

, as well as swordsmanship, and can move at superhuman speeds. His twin sister, Yukina, is unaware of their relationship, and Hiei has gone as far as to threaten harm to others to prevent Yukina from realizing that he is actually her brother.

* - The aged Reiki fighter who rigorously trains Yusuke in the nihongo|Spirit Light Wave Fist|霊光波動拳|Reikō Hadō Ken|Spirit Wave in the English anime. Though her manner is often gruff, she cares for Yusuke and the others, and constantly tries to help them grow stronger. In the past, she was feared as one of the most powerful human fighters in both Ningenkai and Makai.

Production

Togashi said that he began working on "YuYu Hakusho" during a period of time around November 1990; Togashi said that he forgot the exact time. ["Seisaku Hakusho ("The Production Report"). "YuYu Hakusho" Volume 1. "VIZ Media". 94.]

When first creating the series, Togashi did not have a clear idea of what he wanted to call it. When presenting rough drafts to his editors he used the tentative title "How to be a Ghost". Once given the go-ahead to begin publication, Togashi proposed "YuYu-Ki (Poltergeist Chronicles)" for the title, as there would be battles with demons and it would be a play on "SaiYu-Ki". Because a series with a similar name ("Chin-Yu-Ki") had already begun publication, Togashi quickly came up with an alternative: "YuYu Hakusho". He comments that he could have used "Den (Legend)" or "Monogatari (Story)", but "Hakusho (Report)" was the first thing that came to his mind. [cite book |last=Togashi|first=Yoshihiro|title=Hunter x Hunter, Volume 6|year=2006 |publisher=Viz Media |pages=46|isbn=1-4215-0185-7]

Media

Manga

The "YuYu Hakusho" manga series was written and drawn by Togashi and published originally by Shueisha in the Japanese-language magazine "Weekly Shōnen Jump".cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=1597|title=YuYu Hakusho (manga)|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2008-03-17] The manga consists on ninenteen collected volumes with the first one being released on April 10, 1991, and the last one released on December 12, 1994.cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-871273-0&mode=1|title=幽・遊・白書　　1|publisher=Shueisha|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-03-17] cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-871525-X&mode=1|title=幽・遊・白書　　19|publisher=Shueisha|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-03-17] In August 2004, the Japanese publishers of "YuYu Hakusho" released the "kanzenban" edition. Each "kanzenban" volume features a new cover. The "kanzenban" 15 volumes long (as opposed to the original 19 "tankōbon", each book contains more chapters than the basic editions), with two released monthly.cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-873710-5&mode=1|title=幽・遊・白書　完全版　　1|publisher=Shueisha|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-03-02] cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-873724-5&mode=1|title=幽・遊・白書　完全版　　15|publisher=Shueisha|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-03-02]

The "YuYu Hakusho" manga is serialized in North America by Viz Media in the American "Shonen Jump" magazine. The first volume was released on May 13 2003, and currently fifteen volumes have been released.cite web|url=http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=6786|title=VIZ Media . products - YuYu Hakusho, Vol. 14|publisher=Viz Media|accessdate=2008-01-06] The 16th volume is set to be released on December 2 2008. [ [http://www.amazon.com/YuYu-Hakusho-Yuyu-Graphic-Novels/dp/1421515172/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215676081&sr=8-1 Amazon.com: YuYu Hakusho, Volume 16 (Yuyu Hakusho (Graphic Novels)): Yoshihiro Togashi: Books ] ]

Anime

The anime, directed by Noriyuki Abe and co-produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising, and Studio Pierrot, consists of 112 television episodes and two movies: ' and '. The series aired from October 10, 1992, to January 7, 1995, on Fuji Television in Japan.cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=311|title=Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files (TV)|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2008-03-17] In North America, the episodes aired from February 23, 2002, to April 1, 2006, on Cartoon Network. Initially, the episodes were shown on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block from February 2002 to April 2003, and switched to Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block for the remaining episodes.cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-01-22/official-word-on-adult-swim-action|title=Official Word on Adult Swim Action - Anime News Network|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2002-01-22|accessdate=2008-05-21] cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-02-04/program-changeup-at-cartoon-network|title=Program Changeup at Cartoon Network - Anime News Network|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2003-02-04|accessdate=2008-05-21]

The four seasons that compose the series are each their own story arc, and referred to as "sagas" by Funimation.cite web|url=http://www.yuyuhakusho.com/index.cfm?page=sagas&id=23|title=YuYuHakusho - The Official Yu Yu Hakusho Anime Website from FUNimation|publisher=Funimation|accessdate=2008-05-21] Thirty-two DVD compilations have been released by Funimation for the four sagas, with the first released on April 16, 2002, and the thirty-second on July 19, 2005.cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Yu-Hakusho-Spirit-Detective-Yusuke/dp/B00005T30G/ref=sr_1_6/103-3991382-5456658?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1194325422&sr=8-6|title=Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Spirit Detective - Yusuke Lost, Yusuke Found (Vol. 1): DVD|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-05-21] cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Yu-Hakusho-Yusuke-Rediscover-Uncut/dp/B0009CTTQK/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1195176924&sr=1-12|title=Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Yusuke Rediscover (Vol. 32) - Uncut: DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-05-21] In addition, DVD collection boxes have been released for each saga,cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Yu-Hakusho-Spirit-Detective-Saga/dp/B00008977T/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3991382-5456658?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1194325422&sr=8-1|title=Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho: The Spirit Detective Saga: DVD|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-05-21] cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Yu-Hakusho-Chapter-Black-Saga/dp/B000AARKT4/ref=sr_1_1/103-3991382-5456658?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1194596043&sr=1-1|title=Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Chapter Black Saga Set: DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho Chapter Black Saga Set|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-05-21] cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CPH9UC/ref=s9_asin_title_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=14ZRS46PNAGEP42K8CSF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=278240301&pf_rd_i=507846|title=Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - The Saga of the Three Kings: DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-05-21] containing all the episodes of every saga, with the exception of the Dark Tournament Saga, which had two collection boxes.cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Yu-Hakusho-Dark-Tournament-Vola/dp/B00026L8J4/ref=sr_1_2/103-3991382-5456658?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1194417178&sr=1-2|title=Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Dark Tournament Saga Gift Set (Vola. 1-6): DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-05-21] cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Yu-Hakusho-Dark-Tournament-Saga/dp/B0002Y4SJ8/ref=sr_1_1/103-3991382-5456658?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1194417178&sr=1-1|title=Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho: The Dark Tournament Saga, Part 2: DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-05-21] Funimation will be releasing season box sets of the anime starting with season 1 which was released on July 8, 2008 and season 2, which is scheduled to be released on September 23, 2008.cite web|url= http://www.amazon.com/Yu-Hakusho-Season-One-Box/dp/B000F6ZIFQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1213331576&sr=1-1|title=Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho: Season One Box Set: Yu Yu Hakusho: Movies & TV| publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-06-12]

OVAs

A series of "YuYu Hakusho" OVAs were released only in Japan. It has also been broadcast across Japan, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and India by the anime satellite television network Animax.

*Eizō Hakusho: Ankoku Bujutsukai (2 Volumes)
*Eizō Hakusho II: Yusuke Volume
*Eizō Hakusho II: Kurama Volume
*Eizō Hakusho II: Hiei Volume
*Eizō Hakusho II: Kuwabara Volume
*Opening Ending Encyclopedia
*Recap Guide Complete Advance Set (3 Volumes)

Other media

A number of video games have been released that tie to the "YuYu Hakusho" series, notably: "," ' for the Game Boy Advance, ' for the PlayStation 2, and "Yu Yu Hakusho Final" for the SNES. A few action figures have been released, as well as other collectibles.

"YuYu Hakusho" also has a series of drama soundtracks sung by the Japanese voice actors.

Reception

As of June 2007, "YuYu Hakusho" had sold more than 44,000,000 copies in Japan alone. [cite web |url= http://comipress.com/article/2007/05/06/1923|title= The Rise and Fall of Weekly Shōnen Jump: A Look at the Circulation of Weekly Jump|accessdate=2008-02-28] It won the Shogakukan Manga Award for "shōnen" in 1994.

In a 2006 web poll conducted in Japan by the network TV Asahi, "YuYu Hakusho" was voted as the 15th best anime of all time. [cite web |url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-10-13/japan's-favorite-tv-anime|title= Japan's Favorite TV Anime|accessdate=2008-02-28 |format= Poll Results|work= TV Asahi 2006 Poll]

References

External links

* [http://pierrot.jp/title/yuyu/index.html Studio Pierrot's "YuYu Hakusho" website] ja icon
* [http://www.yuyuhakusho.com FUNimation's "YuYu Hakusho" website]
*ann manga|id=1597