Summary

• Netflix's live-action adaptation of One Piece broke the anime curse, but a new series on the streaming service proves it's still a challenge.
• The new Netflix anime adaptation failed to impress viewers with its rushed pacing and condensing of the source material.
• Netflix's future anime adaptations, like My Hero Academia, face uncertainties after this new show's underperformance.

The live-action One Piece series performed so well with audiences and critics, that the lackluster performance of another Netflix show proves it was the exception to the anime adaptation curse and not the rule. One Piece's commitment to its source material via excellent casting of the series' iconic characters, great pacing, convincing sets, and awesome fight scenes have established a new standard for live-action anime adaptations. However, this is a fairly new trend, as most live-action anime adaptations ruin their source material because of how inaccurate they are.

While anime and manga have proven to be historically difficult to adapt, it tends to be the result of the filmmakers responsible for the adaptations having little to no understanding of the material they're adapting, or of the audience they're marketing their product to. Furthermore, live-action adaptations of anime and manga tend to be inherently challenging to adapt due to the medium's Eastern sensibilities failing to blend with those of the West. With these key factors kept in mind, it speaks to Netflix's ability to properly adapt one of the most bizarre anime around. However, its subsequent live-action adaptation's poor reception brings into question whether Netflix can maintain consistent quality.

Netflix's Live-Action Yu Yu Hakusho Proves The Anime Adaptation Curse Isn't Dead

The live-action Yu Yu Hakusho series underperformed despite One Piece's success.

Yu Yu Hakusho centers around a deceased delinquent high school student named Yusuke Urameshi, and his opportunity to return his soul to his body by assisting the forces of good against their foes in the demon world. Based on the successful anime and manga from the 1990s, Yu Yu Hakusho tells a unique story of family, friendship, loyalty, and love while also boasting some of the best fights ever conceived for anime. While the Netflix Yu Yu Hakusho adaptation treats viewers to some of the most visually stunning fights and impressive cinematography applied to a live-action adaptation, it still fails to replicate One Piece's success.

Although, understandably, adaptations of pre-existing material have to condense information to fit the adaptation's vision, the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho series cuts out too much, only providing audiences with five episodes in its first season. This decision fails to impress viewers familiar with the source material or captivate newer audiences. While there are things Yu Yu Hakusho gets right about the anime, its rushed pacing makes it nearly impossible for audiences to connect with any of the characters in a meaningful way, thus making Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho feel like a missed opportunity. Yu Yu Hakusho's failure strengthens the anime curse argument instead of weakening it.

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The New Netflix Series Confirms One Piece Was The Exception, Not The Rule

Yu Yu Hakusho didn't handle its source material as well as One Piece did.

The success of Netflix's One Piece led many to believe the live-action anime curse had finally been broken, but with Yu Yu Hakusho's unimpressive first season, it might be possible that One Piece is the exception to the rule rather than the new normal. Among the many things that went well with One Piece, perhaps its most impressive accomplishment was its ability to condense the key aspects of the first few arcs without making the series feel rushed. Furthermore, the casting of the Straw Hat pirates, antagonists, and even minor characters enhanced audience engagement, and the show perfectly captured the source material's sense of fun and adventure.

While Yu Yu Hakusho's first season didn't go quite as well as it could have, it could learn a lot from One Piece before Netflix releases a second season. The casting of Yu Yu Hakusho and its faithful interpretations of the characters and their special moves are the show's strongest points, but Yu Yu Hakusho season 2 would greatly benefit from a slower approach to its storytelling as this would give audiences time to connect with the characters. While there's no news on the future of Yu Yu Hakusho's second season, their plans to adapt future anime suggest the company isn't dwelling on the rocky launch of its newest show.

Yu Yu Hakusho Doesn't Bode Well For Netflix's Other Planned Anime Adaptations

Netflix will adapt My Hero Academia next.

With Netflix blasting through live-action My Hero Academia adaptation, Yu Yu Hakusho's underwhelming performance makes one question whether the beloved battle anime will receive a similar rushed handling of its source material. While there aren't a plethora of details readily available for the live-action My Hero Academia adaptation, there's still plenty of hope for the series should Netflix apply a similar One Piece formula to its structure.