Only one anime comes to mind when I think of a junior high student that was once dead, returns to life as a detective, and still cause ass-kicking mayhem with a potty mouth to match his toughness. Of course, by this I'm referring to Yusuke Urameshi and the anime he's in: YuYu Hakusho. Strange that my first post of the year is of a title I should have already went over. Oh well, here's the rough of things...
Yusuke Urameshi is considered a delinquent. He's known to get into fights, ditches class whenever people have pissed them off, and he is accompanied by a overexaggerated rumor to boot. However, he does tend to fight. Strangely enough, he would be the last person expected to die saving a kid, which is exactly where we see him at the very start: as a victim of a hit-and-run. Originally intent on staying dead, the mourning of those who know him: his mother, the school's principal, his childhood friend Keiko Yukimura, and even his punching bag/rival Kazuma Kuwabara, changes his outlook on being dead, and through certain trials, he is given a second shot at being alive. However, he soon learns that he can see, and do things he couldn't manage before. It's not until meeting again with the Spirit World's Grim Reaper, Botan, that he learns that he has gained powers, as well as the label of the Spirit Detective of Earth. Over time, he really starts to acknowledge his responsibilities. Instructed by Koenma, and fighting alongside Kuwabara and Botan, with later demon allies Hiei and Kurama, Yusuke gets ready to throw down at whatever problem comes his way.
A long 112 episode series, YuYu Hakusho also saw 2 OVAs and a movie featuring a few new faces. The anime is licensed under Funimation Entertainment for the U.S. Initially, it was part of the Toonami block back when it existed on Cartoon Network, but as of late, the show found itself on Funimation Channel, as with other works licensed by the company. It was censored during its first Toonami run, but after being featured on the block's Midnight Run, and later Adult Swim, it went uncut in terms of the language. Yusuke is voiced by Justin Cook in the dub (who is also known for Dragon Ball Z's Raditz), but in the movie, Rik Nagel voices him in English.
YuYu Hakusho is a ride indeed, scoring an 8 of 10. In a sense, this anime is one of the more memorable titles, still being broadcast today, and even gained more views that DBZ on its old run. However, as I stated, it has harsh language, and a few situations that may raise a few flags, so take caution when viewing, for it may not be suitable for minors.
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