Yu Yu Hakusho

sometimes i wonder what makes a certain series a so-called 'masterpiece'? is it because of the well written plot, sophisticated animation, genius soundtracks, or must it be the combination of all of them? as the thoughts sink in, i recently happened to finish rewatching one of 90s classics, Yu Yu Hakusho (YYH). as a legendary trope in shounen category, i find YYH as an anime that's always entertaining to watch at any given time and not only that, there's also a new value to grasp every time i go through it all over again. 

the theme embodies mythical element in it, as it follows the story of yusuke urameshi, a punch-drunk punk who got revived to life after getting into a car accident. then he got assigned as a spirit detective to investigate suspicious demon activities in human realm that might endanger humankind. as the journey goes, yusuke made a bunch of friends along the way whom eventually ganged up with him together as a team. with non stop packed fighting scenes and continuous plot that's easy to follow, YYH offers a fun experience from start to finish. well, i wouldn't doubt that since it came from yoshihiro togashi, the man who holds the golden shounen formula in the palm of his hands. he successfully explores a whole new world beyond our realm and invites us to experience the magic in it. for me, the most memorable sequence is dark tournament arc, because it genuinely focuses on the main concept this show is trying to offer: a search for unbeatable strength. another favorite of mine is chapter black arc, which is like a blueprint of hunter x hunter's chimera ants arc since the underlying theme is similar; it questions whether or not mankind still deserves to live albeit their rotten behavior. it is more thoughtful than the dark tournament because it requires the viewers to dig more about the villain's mission that battles ego and morality.

the overall story is very engaging especially for shounen fans. despite of the old school animation style, i've got to say that intensity still lives up to this day. it would be nice if YYH also gets a reboot just like hxh (HEAR MY PRAYER, MADHOUSE) because there are tons of potential fighting scenes that can be developed with current technology. the character developments went pretty smooth, and even though there are bits of plot holes it remains genuinely delightful to watch. YYH is a raw gem at that time and the series still deserves its trophy till now. i cant help but to throw it in comparison with hxh because YYH stands as togashi's playground in developing ideas and stories before they get more polished afterwards. nevertheless it's a classic anime that fights its own flaws with authenticity and sincerity to charm its viewers. so does YYH deserve to be classified into a masterpiece while it stands on its own ground? absolutely.