Summary

• Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho condenses the beloved series into just five episodes, focusing on the series' action-packed fights.
• While the live-action adaptation pleased critics with inventive visuals and engaging fights, some fans felt the compressed timeline impacted the narrative's success.
• Shōnen anime's emphasis on action shines in Yu Yu Hakusho, despite the challenges of replicating the manga and anime's combat style in a live-action format.

An underrated live-action anime adaptation, Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho nailed the most important aspect of Shōnen anime. Based on Yoshihiro Togashi's beloved manga-turned-anime series, Yu Yu Hakusho centers on Yusuke Urameshi (Takumi Kitamura), a teenager who's killed while trying to save a child's life. In the wake of the tragedy, Koenma, the son of the afterlife's ruler, puts Yusuke through a number of tests before dubbing him an Underworld Detective. Tasked with investigating cases in the mortal world that involve demons and other entities, Yusuke uses his martial arts prowess and aura powers to defeat foes.

The Netflix series condenses the unruly Yusuke's story — and the stories of the rest of Yu Yu Hakusho gets one crucial thing right.

Netflix’s Yu Yu Hakusho Got The Fights Right (& That’s Very Important)

Action Dominates All Else In Traditional Shōnen Anime & Manga

Considered one of Netflix's best live-action Japanese shows, Yu Yu Hakusho isn't without its flaws. Still, what it does get right about the epic source material — and Shōnen anime at large — is the reliance on top-notch, inventive action sequences. A term most often associated with manga, Shōnen's target demographic has historically been adolescent boys. The creators of Shōnen manga traditionally prize action and adventure over other plot elements, leading to combat-heavy series like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and, of course, Yu Yu Hakusho. Now, Shōnen includes more diverse sub-genres, but action still dominates it.

Yu Yu Hakusho's best fights capture the anime's essence by balancing martial arts and CGI elements.

Much like Netflix's successful live-action One Piece adaptation, the streamer had to nail Yu Yu Hakusho's action sequences in order for the series to work at all. There's no denying that manga and anime, especially Yu Yu Hakusho, have their own visual languages when it comes to combat. It's impossible to replicate those stylistic flairs in a live-action format, but Netflix adaptation proved One Piece was an exception — not a rule.

Yu Yu Hakusho Live-Action Still Left A Lot To Be Desired

The Original Story Is Compressed Into A Handful Of Episodes In Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho Adaptation

Despite Netflix's live-action anime adaptation being a surprise hit, Yu Yu Hakusho is still a flawed series. On Rotten Tomatoes, both critics and audiences have given the show an impressive 82%, praising its inventive supernatural visuals, engaging fight scenes, and solid cast. With plenty of energy and enthusiasm, the five-episode series can be a fun watch, but there's no denying that the super-compressed timeline doesn't do Yu Yu Hakusho's narrative or characters any favors. Still, in traditional Shōnen anime and manga style, the action is the most compelling part of Yu Yu Hakusho's equation.

Yu Yu Hakusho (2023) is streaming on Netflix.