IncorrigibleMe
A Thrilling Live-Action Adventure Recapturing the Spirit of the Beloved Anime
As a cherished part of my childhood, the animated "Yu Yu Hakusho" held a special place in my heart and the announcement of a live action version had me excited and scared. However, all that fear was unfounded when I saw the trailer and it got me all excited for the release. This 5-episode limited series has all the best part of the animated series and I could not have been happier.
The series revolves around Yusuke, a delinquent with a heart of gold. He meets an early end while trying to save a child but is brought back to life and recruited by the spirit world to take care of yokais that wreak havoc in the human world. In this endeavour he is assisted by Kurama, Hiei and his self-proclaimed rival, Kuwabara. Thus begins an adventurous journey marked by battles, growth, and the forging of unbreakable bonds.
There are 3 aspects of this series that makes it truly entertaining. First, is the massive number of talented actors that make up the star cast. Actors like Machida Keita and Takito Kenichi have never disappointed me before and it was a delight to see Kitamura Takumi and Hongo Kanata aptly bringing their characters to life. Secondly, the CGI was exceptionally good. For a series that is based on supernatural characters with super-powers, it pays to have a believable CGI so as to not take away from the viewing experience. Thirdly, the fight choreography was outstanding. Yu Yu Hakusho is full of action and its combination with CGI made it a worthwhile watch.
Due to the limited episodes, we didn’t have enough time to go through the back stories of a lot of these characters especially the antagonists. We understood the motivations of Toguro, but not the rest of the characters following him. Fans of the animated series and/or the manga can fill in the blanks but the rest of the audience would not be able to connect with the characters. Additionally, although the fight choreography is praiseworthy, the editing was sometimes choppy and we couldn’t see every movement.
In conclusion, watching this series was a nostalgic journey down memory lane. The exceptional performances of the actors and the evident hard work invested in the production deserve applause. While some narrative gaps exist, the creators have successfully brought this beloved anime to a new audience, leaving room for future adaptations to delve deeper into the rich lore.
The series revolves around Yusuke, a delinquent with a heart of gold. He meets an early end while trying to save a child but is brought back to life and recruited by the spirit world to take care of yokais that wreak havoc in the human world. In this endeavour he is assisted by Kurama, Hiei and his self-proclaimed rival, Kuwabara. Thus begins an adventurous journey marked by battles, growth, and the forging of unbreakable bonds.
There are 3 aspects of this series that makes it truly entertaining. First, is the massive number of talented actors that make up the star cast. Actors like Machida Keita and Takito Kenichi have never disappointed me before and it was a delight to see Kitamura Takumi and Hongo Kanata aptly bringing their characters to life. Secondly, the CGI was exceptionally good. For a series that is based on supernatural characters with super-powers, it pays to have a believable CGI so as to not take away from the viewing experience. Thirdly, the fight choreography was outstanding. Yu Yu Hakusho is full of action and its combination with CGI made it a worthwhile watch.
Due to the limited episodes, we didn’t have enough time to go through the back stories of a lot of these characters especially the antagonists. We understood the motivations of Toguro, but not the rest of the characters following him. Fans of the animated series and/or the manga can fill in the blanks but the rest of the audience would not be able to connect with the characters. Additionally, although the fight choreography is praiseworthy, the editing was sometimes choppy and we couldn’t see every movement.
In conclusion, watching this series was a nostalgic journey down memory lane. The exceptional performances of the actors and the evident hard work invested in the production deserve applause. While some narrative gaps exist, the creators have successfully brought this beloved anime to a new audience, leaving room for future adaptations to delve deeper into the rich lore.
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