The first season of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime series, the Spirit Detective Saga, was directed by Noriyuki Abe and produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising and Studio Pierrot. The episodes were released in North America by Funimation. The season adapts Yoshihiro Togashi's Yu Yu Hakusho manga from the first through sixth volumes over twenty-five episodes. The episodes follow the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage boy who dies in an accident, and is resurrected as a Spirit Detective, Spirit World's protector of the Living World against demons and other supernatural threats.
| Yu Yu Hakusho | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
 | |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fuji Television |
| Original release | October 10, 1992 – April 10, 1993 |
| Season chronology | |
The season ran from October 10, 1992, to April 10, 1993, on Fuji Television in Japan. The English episodes aired from February 2002 to April 2003. The first twenty-one episodes were shown on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block, with reruns playing after the broadcast night of July 6, 2002.[1] New episodes began airing in April 2003, when the episodes began showing on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block.[2]
Two pieces of theme music are used for the episodes; one opening theme and one closing theme. The opening theme is "Hohoemi no Bakudan" (微笑みの爆弾, lit. "Smile Bomb") by Matsuko Mawatari. Another of Mawatari's works, "Homework ga Owaranai" (ホームワークが終わらない, Hōmuwāku ga Owaranai, lit. "The Homework Never Ends") is the closing theme.
Seven DVD compilations, containing either three or four episodes, have been released by Funimation.[3] The first was released on April 16, 2002, with the seventh released on December 10, 2002.[4][5] In addition, a full collection, containing all seven DVD compilations of the saga, was released on January 14, 2003.[6] A Blu-ray compilation was released by Funimation on May 31, 2011.
Episode list
edit| No. | Title | Director | Storyboard | Writer | Original air date | English air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Surprised to be Dead" Transliteration: "Shindara Odoroita!" (Japanese: 死んだらオドロいた) | Noriyuki Abe | Noriyuki Abe | Yoshiyuki Ōhashi | October 10, 1992 | February 23, 2002 |
| 2 | "Koenma Appears" (Koenma of the Spirit Realm! A Trial Towards Resurrection) Transliteration: "Reikai no Koenma! Fukkatsu e no Shiren" (Japanese: 霊界のコエンマ! 復活への試練) | Shigeru Ueda | Akihiro Enomoto | Yoshiyuki Ōhashi | October 17, 1992 | March 2, 2002 |
| 3 | "Kuwabara: A Promise Between Men" (Kuwabara in a Corner! A Man's Oath) Transliteration: "Oitsumerareta Kuwabara! Otoko no Chikai" (Japanese: 追いつめられた桑原! 男の誓い) | Kazunori Mizuno | Kazunori Mizuno | Yoshiyuki Ōhashi | October 24, 1992 | March 9, 2002 |
| 4 | "Requirements for Lovers" (Hot Flames! Ties of the Beloved) Transliteration: "Atsuki Honō! Koibito no Kizuna" (Japanese: 熱き炎! 恋人のきずな) | Akiyuki Shinbo | Motosuke Takahashi | Sukehiro Tomita | October 31, 1992 | March 16, 2002 |
| 5 | "Yusuke's Back" (Yusuke's Resurrection! A New Trial) Transliteration: "Yūsuke Fukkatsu! Aratanaru Shimei" (Japanese: 幽助復活! 新たなる使命) | Junya Koshiba | Junya Koshiba | Katsuyuki Sumisawa | November 7, 1992 | March 23, 2002 |
| 6 | "Three Monsters" (The Three Yokai! Hiei, Kurama, and Gouki) Transliteration: "Sanbiki no Yōkai! Hiei Kurama Gōki" (Japanese: 三匹の妖怪! 飛影·蔵馬·剛鬼) | Hitoyuki Matsui | Hitoyuki Matsui | Hiroshi Hashimoto | November 14, 1992 | March 30, 2002 |
| 7 | "Gouki and Kurama" (Kurama's Secret!? The Ties Between Mother and Son) Transliteration: "Kurama no Himitsu?! Haha To Ko no Kizuna" (Japanese: 蔵馬の秘密?! 母と子のきずな) | Akiyuki Shinbo | Akiyuki Shinbo | Yoshiyuki Ōhashi | November 21, 1992 | April 6, 2002 |
| 8 | "The Three Eyes of Hiei" (Keiko in Peril! Hiei, the Jagan Master) Transliteration: "Keiko Ayaushi! Jaganshi Hiei" (Japanese: 螢子あやうし! 邪眼師·飛影) | Junya Koshiba | Takeshi Mori | Sukehiro Tomita | November 28, 1992 | April 13, 2002 |
| 9 | "The Search Begins" (The Successor to Genkai! The Tournament Begins) Transliteration: "Genkai no Keishōsha Tournament Kaishi" (Japanese: 幻海の継承者トーナメント開始) | Junya Koshiba | Takeshi Mori | Katsuyuki Sumisawa | December 5, 1992 | April 20, 2002 |
| 10 | "Kuwabara's Spirit Sword" (Death Battle in the Dark! Kuwabara's Reiki Sword) Transliteration: "Kurayami no Shitō! Kuwabara Reiki no Ken" (Japanese: 暗闇の死闘! 桑原·霊気の剣) | Kazunori Mizuno | Kazunori Mizuno | Hiroshi Hashimoto | December 12, 1992 | April 27, 2002 |
| 11 | "Hard Fights for Yusuke" (Yusuke's Hard Battle! A Bruised and Bloody Counterattack) Transliteration: "Yūsuke Kurusen! Kizudarake Hangeki" (Japanese: 幽助苦戦! 傷だらけの反撃!!) | Hitoyuki Matsui | Hitoyuki Matsui | Yoshiyuki Ōhashi | December 19, 1992 | May 4, 2002 |
| 12 | "Rando Rises, Kuwabara Falls" (Rando Appears! Kuwabara's Grievous Defeat) Transliteration: "Randō Arawaru! Kuwabara Munen no Haiboku" (Japanese: 乱童あらわる! 桑原無念の敗北) | Akiyuki Shinbo | Motosuke Takahashi | Sukehiro Tomita | December 26, 1992 | May 11, 2002 |
| 13 | "Yusuke vs. Rando: 99 Attacks" (Yusuke vs. Rando, Sorcery Thrown Into Chaos!!) Transliteration: "Yūsuke vs. Randō Midariretobu Yōjitsu" (Japanese: 幽助VS乱童 乱れとぶ妖術!!) | Junya Koshiba | Junya Koshiba | Katsuyuki Sumisawa | January 9, 1993 | May 18, 2002 |
| 14 | "The Beasts of Maze Castle" (The Four Holy Beasts in the Labyrinthine Castle! A Challenge to the Spiritual Realm) Transliteration: "Meikyū Shiro no Shiseijū! Reikai e no Chōsen" (Japanese: 迷宮城の四聖獣! 霊界への挑戦) | Shigeru Ueda | Akihiro Enomoto | Hiroshi Hashimoto | January 16, 1993 | May 25, 2002 |
| 15 | "Genbu, the Stone Beast" (The Beautiful Dance of the Rose! The Elegant Kurama) Transliteration: "Utsukushiki Bara no Mai! Karei Naru Kurama" (Japanese: 美しきバラの舞! 華麗なる蔵馬) | Kazunori Mizuno | Noriyuki Abe | Yoshiyuki Ōhashi | January 23, 1993 | June 1, 2002 |
| 16 | "Byakko, the White Tiger" (Grow, Rei-ken! Kuwabara — A Man's Fight) Transliteration: "Tobi Yo Reiken! Kuwabara Otoko no Shōbu" (Japanese: 伸びよ霊剣! 桑原·男の勝負) | Akiyuki Shinbo | Akiyuki Shinbo | Sukehiro Tomita | January 30, 1993 | June 8, 2002 |
| 17 | "Byakko's Lair" (Byakko's Hellish Roar) Transliteration: "Byakko Jigoku no Otakebi" (Japanese: 白虎·地獄の雄叫び) | Junya Koshiba | Takeshi Mori | Katsuyuki Sumisawa | February 6, 1993 | June 15, 2002 |
| 18 | "Seiryu, the Blue Dragon" (Hiei Comes Forward to Battle! A Slashing Sword) Transliteration: "Hiei Shusen! Kirisaku Ken" (Japanese: 飛影出戦! 切り裂く剣) | Hitoyuki Matsui | Hitoyuki Matsui | Hiroshi Hashimoto | February 13, 1993 | June 22, 2002 |
| 19 | "Suzaku, Leader of the Beasts" (The Last of the Four Holy Beasts, Suzaku!) Transliteration: "Saigo no Shiseijū Suzaku" (Japanese: 最後の四聖獣·朱雀!) | Shigeru Ueda | Akihiro Enomoto | Yoshiyuki Ōhashi | February 20, 1993 | June 29, 2002 |
| 20 | "Seven Ways to Die" (Secret Techniques Clash! The Seven Suzaku) Transliteration: "Okugi Gekitotsu! Shichi Nin no Suzaku" (Japanese: 奥義激突! 七人の朱雀) | Kazunori Mizuno | Kazunori Mizuno | Sukehiro Tomita | February 27, 1993 | July 6, 2002 |
| 21 | "Yusuke's Sacrifice" (Yusuke's Life or Death Counterattack) Transliteration: "Yūsuke Inochi o Kaketa Hangeki" (Japanese: 幽助·命を賭けた反撃) | Akiyuki Shinbo | Motosuke Takahashi | Katsuyuki Sumisawa | March 6, 1993 | July 6, 2002 |
| 22 | "Lamenting Beauty" (A Sorrowful Young Beauty — Yukina) Transliteration: "Kanashimi no Bishōjo Yukina" (Japanese: 悲しみの美少女·雪菜) | Haruo Nakayama | Takeshi Mori | Hiroshi Hashimoto | March 13, 1993 | April 3, 2003 |
| 23 | "The Toguro Brothers Gang" (Envoys of Darkness! The Toguro Brothers) Transliteration: "Yami no Shisha! Toguro Kyōdai" (Japanese: 闇の使者! 戸愚呂兄弟) | Noriyuki Abe | Noriyuki Abe | Yoshiyuki Ōhashi | March 20, 1993 | April 4, 2003 |
| 24 | "The Deadly Triad" (Terrifyingly Mighty Foes! The Sankishu) Transliteration: "Osoroshiki Kyōteki! San Kishū" (Japanese: 恐ろしき強敵! 三鬼衆) | Akiyuki Shinbo | Akiyuki Shinbo | Sukehiro Tomita | March 27, 1993 | April 5, 2003 |
| 25 | "Kuwabara's Fight of Love" (Burn, Kuwabara! The Underlying Power of Love) Transliteration: "Moero Kuwabara! Ai no Sokojikara" (Japanese: 燃えろ桑原! 愛の底力) | Hitoyuki Matsui | Hitoyuki Matsui | Katsuyuki Sumisawa | April 10, 1993 | April 6, 2003 |
References
edit- General
- "Official Funimation site for the saga". Funimation. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
- Specific
- ^ "Official Word on Adult Swim Action - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. 2002-01-22. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ^ "Program Changeup at Cartoon Network - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. 2003-02-04. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ^ "YuYuHakusho - The Official Yu Yu Hakusho Anime Website from Funimation". Funimation. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho - Spirit Detective - Yusuke Lost, Yusuke Found (Vol. 1): DVD". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho Ghostfiles - Rescue Yukina: DVD". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ^ "Amazon.com: Yu Yu Hakusho: The Spirit Detective Saga: DVD". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
External links
edit- Studio Pierrot's YuYu Hakusho website (in Japanese)
- Funimation's YuYu Hakusho website (in English)