Yu Yu Hakusho is one of the darkest shonen anime of the 1990s, primarily due to Yoshihiro Togashi's love of the occult and horror movies. He always finds a way to incorporate these darker elements into his anime, but they seem most prominent in Yu Yu Hakusho.
Two out of four of the anime's arcs—the Dark Tournament and Chapter Black sagas—are fan favorites even to this day. However, it's hard to determine which is the better arc. Both arcs allowed Yusuke Urameshi to mature as a Spirit Detective and as a person, but differing villains and risks helped shape his decisions and circumstances.
10 Chapter Black: It Had A Surprising Villain
As a Spirit Detective, Yusuke is used to fighting demons causing trouble in the human realm. Chapter Black does an excellent job at surprising him when he's forced to fight a former Spirit Detective.
Except for Itsuki, Shinobu Sensui and his disciples are all humans with a sick desire to see their kind destroyed for good. Initially, Shinobu hated demons and excelled at hunting and killing them mercilessly. But on a mission, he was horrified when he discovered a wealthy group of humans known as the Black Black Club torturing and killing innocent demons for entertainment. After massacring everyone in the room, Shinobu cast aside his Spirit Detective status, hellbent on getting revenge on those he swore to protect.
9 The Dark Tournament: Yusuke's Opinion On Power Changed After Fighting Younger Toguro
The Dark Tournament was an eye-opening experience for Team Urameshi, especially for Yusuke. As a fresh Spirit Detective, being thrust into an area with more powerful, bloodthirsty demons couldn't compare to daily streetfighting.
Yusuke's beliefs were challenged when facing off against the younger of the Toguro brothers. It was jarring for him to see a human-turned-demon so desperate to draw out his inner strength. But it was more of a lesson for Yusuke on what the desire for power can do to someone. After taking down Younger Toguro, he understood that strength was meant to protect instead of destroy.
8 Chapter Black: It Pushed Team Urameshi To Make Hard Decisions
The Dark Tournament introduced Yusuke to the demon world, but Chapter Black brought him back home, making his encounter with Shinobu all the more uncomfortable.
Yu Yu Hakusho isn't afraid to expose humanity's dark underbelly, which isn't common in most modern-day anime. Still, Chapter Black goes further into the nitty-gritty, stomach-churning details while forcing Team Urameshi to choose what's best for the greater good.
7 The Dark Tournament: It Added More To Genkai's Past And Her Push For A Successor
Yusuke's master, Genkai, was introduced halfway through the anime's first arc, but the Dark Tournament added more to her backstory. In her youth, she was a high-profile martial artist who fought alongside her lover, Younger Toguro. But as time passed, the two grew apart when he became a demon in exchange for power. Genkai amassed tremendous amounts of psychic techniques, but she worried that her power would fall into the wrong hands.
Despite choosing Yusuke as her successor, Genkai wanted to make sure Yusuke had complete mastery of her techniques before she could pass on. Her desperation showed in her training with Yusuke during the Dark Tournament arc. She knew her time was coming and had to make sure she didn't regret choosing Yusuke as a disciple.
6 Chapter Black: It Provided More Backstory On Yusuke's Origins
Throughout the Chapter Black saga, fans got to learn more about the Spirit Detective's lineage. There was more to his ancestry that showed itself in subtle hints throughout the arc. Yusuke's strength grew from his fights with Younger Toguro, but it didn't fully manifest until Chapter Black.
During his battle with Shinobu, fans were forced to watch Yusuke die a second time from his injuries. But he resurrects as a demon, with his ancestral bloodline taking over his body and transforming him into a Mazoku of S-class power. Everyone was shocked since Yusuke showed no signs of demonic ancestry, with most of his ancestors being humans. This newfound power made Yusuke a danger to both the human and spiritual realms.
5 The Dark Tournament: It Gave The Main Characters A Chance For Growth
The Dark Tournament is one of Yu Yu Hakusho's best arcs because it shows the most character development for Team Urameshi. With each fight, fans see glimpses of every character's past and the source of their abilities. Their battles showcase their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their victories and losses. Fans gradually begin to understand and possibly relate to at least one of the Team Urameshi members, and they even find themselves rooting for them during a specific fight.
4 Chapter Black: It Pushed The Boundary For Darker Topics In Shonen Anime
Except for a few outliers, 1990s shonen anime rarely delved into heavier, darker topics. Yu Yu Hakusho added that element to shonen anime, especially with Chapter Black.
The Chapter Black tape was the focal point of this arc, a coveted piece of media that showcased the most atrocious sides of humanity such as war or murders "live on camera." Shinobu saw seen Chapter Black but used its contents as a way to justify his action. His disillusionment spread to his underlings, individuals who also desired to see humanity meet its end.
3 The Dark Tournament: It Allowed The Team To Grow Closer
Fans see Team Urameshi work together throughout the anime, but the Dark Tournament shows that demons and humans can work together. The initial awkwardness gradually disappears as they begin to trust one another.
Hiei, for example, had the most challenging time letting his guard down around Yusuke and the other members. He's still standoffish and occasionally bickers with Kazuma, but it's one of the most refreshing things to see Hiei be himself around individuals he wouldn't normally interact with.
2 Chapter Black: It Had Psychological Twists Not Common In Today's Shonen Anime
Unlike the Dark Tournament, Chapter Black raised the stakes for Team Urameshi. This new league of villains was on another level from the Toguro Brothers, but their goal was more fearsome than a thirst for power.
While Younger Toguro sought more power, Shinobu and his underlings were driven by a desire to annihilate the human race. His newfound hatred for humanity corrupted his beliefs to the point of no return, differentiating him from Younger Toguro. His desire was to be killed but for a twisted sense of nobility. Shinobu believed humanity's destruction was a fitting "punishment" for all of its atrocities against demons and themselves.
1 The Dark Tournament: It Helped Popularize Tournament Arcs In Modern-Day Shonen Anime
Nowadays, almost every battle-oriented shonen anime has a tournament arc. It's an excellent trope to use since every character has a chance to show their skills, and there's an opportunity for character development.
Yu Yu Hakusho is one of the first anime to popularize tournament-style fighting, with Naruto and the 1999 version of Hunter x Hunter reinventing the trope. Late 1980s anime and video game titles also helped inspire the tournament arc, such as Dragon Ball and Street Fighter.
0 Comments