Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho: A Live-Action Movie Trilogy Solution

The Pacing Predicament

Netflix's adaptation of the 90s manga series Yu Yu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi faced a major challenge in its pacing. The five-episode format used to adapt the manga proved to be inadequate, resulting in a hollow and rushed viewing experience. The series, centered around high school delinquent Yusuke Urameshi's role as a spirit detective in the afterlife, failed to capture the depth and complexity of the source material.

Takumi Kitamura as Yusuke Urameshi during a fight in Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho

In contrast, the successful adaptation of One Piece on Netflix showcased the importance of taking time to develop complex characters, locations, and story arcs. The rushed approach taken by Yu Yu Hakusho in attempting to cover the extensive material spanning four years in just five episodes led to underwhelming results. This suggests that a different format, such as a movie trilogy, could have been a more appropriate approach for the adaptation.

The Impact of Skipped Storylines

While the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho successfully cast its central characters and featured visually stunning fight scenes, it fell short in properly pacing its story. The omission of important details from the anime made it challenging for both new and existing audiences to fully engage with the material. Significant story arcs like the Spirit Detective arc and the Dark Tournament arc were covered in such a hasty manner that they lacked the emotional weight and character development present in the source material.

The failure to cover these key events throughout the five-episode duration reinforced the idea that a movie trilogy would have allowed for a more impactful and fleshed-out portrayal of Yusuke's transformation from a selfish delinquent to a hero responsible for saving the world from demonic threats. This shift in character and tone required the time and depth that could not be achieved in the limited episode structure of the adaptation.

The Case for a Movie Trilogy

The experience of Rurouni Kenshin's live-action movie adaptations serves as evidence that movie trilogies can effectively capture the essence of a complex story. Yu Yu Hakusho's adaptation could have benefited from the structured storytelling offered by a movie trilogy, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of the world and characters. The condensed storytelling in movies would have compelled the filmmakers to faithfully adapt the source material while strategically choosing what to include in each movie.

A hypothetical live-action Yu Yu Hakusho trilogy could have allocated the first movie to develop the world and characters through the Spirit Detective arc, setting up the impending danger the heroes would face. The second movie could focus on the characters' growth and conflicts under the tutelage of Genkai, while the third movie could conclude with the intense Dark Tournament arc. This approach, similar to the successful formula followed by the Rurouni Kenshin movies, could have provided a more satisfying and comprehensive portrayal of the Yu Yu Hakusho story.

Takeru Satoh as Himura Kenshin holding a sword in Rurouni Kenshin: The Final.