When Reality Meets Nostalgia: Rewatching ‘Yu Yu Hakusho’ in 2018

If you were an anime fan during the ’90s and early 2000s, there were a handful of programs you absolutely had to watch. Dragon Ball Z dominated casual discussions, Cowboy Bebop was nothing short of a masterpiece, Neon Genesis Evangelion was a beautiful mess, and then there was Yu Yu Hakusho.Created by luminary Yoshihiro Togashi, Yu Yu Hakusho is the pinnacle shōnen anime of this era. Following the exploits of Yusuke Urameshiafter his unexpected death, the anime masterfully combines supernatural action with profoundly relatable drama.Yu Yu Hakushorevels in its early to mid-’90s aesthetic and sensibilities. This series, the first love of many anime fans, was instrumental in the medium gaining popularity outside of Japan. Since 2018 marks the anime’s 25th anniversary — and with a new OVA coming soon to the Blu-ray box set — I decided now was the perfect time to revisit my favorite childhood anime to see if it stands the test of time.A Weepy, Nostalgia-Filled RewatchEven without rose-color...