There are two feature films based on the manga and anime series YuYu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi. The films were produced by Studio Pierrot and released in Japan theatrically during the series' original run. As Funimation Entertainment did not acquire the rights to the animated series until 2001, the films were dubbed and released in North America by two separate companies in 1998.[1] However, the 1993 film has been acquired by Funimation, who has produced a new English dub of the film using their in-house voice cast was released on December 13, 2011 along with Eizou Hakusho I and II.[2]
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| Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie | |
|---|---|
| Kanji | 幽☆遊☆白書 |
| Rōmaji | Yū Yū Hakusho |
| Directed by | Noriyuki Abe |
| Produced by | Ken Hagino |
| Written by | Yukiyoshi Ohashi (script) |
| Starring | Nozomu Sasaki Megumi Ogata Nobuyuki Hiyama Sanae Miyuki Shigeru Chiba |
| Music by | Yusuke Honma |
| Distributed by | Studio Pierrot Funimation Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | July 10, 1993 |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie, also known as The Golden Seal, is a 30 minute film that was released theatrically in Japan on July 10, 1993 at the seasonal Toei Anime Fair.[3][4] The movie was directed by Noriyuki Abe. The movie was English dubbed by AnimeWorks and Animaze and released on VHS on June 9, 1998 and on a single DVD with Ninku: The Movie on January 30, 2001.[5][6] FUNimation Entertainment later released the film to DVD on December 13, 2011 along with Eizou Hakusho I and II, featuring a new English dub with the voice cast from the TV series. [7]
Like the television series, it features the songs "Smile Bomb" and "Sayonara Bye Bye" by Matsuko Mawatari (Sarah White and Stephanie Nadolny in the FUNimation English version) for its opening and closing credits respectively.
While vacationing, Koenma is kidnapped by a pair of demons known as Koashura and Garuga, who demand the possession of Lord Enma's coveted "Golden Seal." Botan finds Yusuke Urameshi and Kazuma Kuwabara on their summer vacation as well, and asks for their assistance in Koenma's rescue.
According to Martin Ouelette of Protoculture Addicts, the movie did little to satisfy fans of the YuYu Hakusho series during its original release due to its short running time.[8]
| Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report | |
|---|---|
| Kanji | 幽☆遊☆白書 冥界死闘篇 炎の絆 |
| Rōmaji | Yū Yū Hakusho: Meikai Shitō Hen – Honō no Kizuna |
| Directed by | Masakatsu Iijima |
| Produced by | Haruo Sai Ken Hagino Naoharu Honokidani |
| Written by | Hiroshi Hashimoto Sukehiro Tomita Yukiyoshi Ohashi (screenplay) |
| Starring | Nozomu Sasaki Megumi Ogata Nobuyuki Hiyama Sanae Miyuki Shigeru Chiba |
| Music by | Yusuke Honma |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Distributed by | Movic |
| Release date(s) | April 9, 1994 |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report, known in Japan as Yū Yū Hakusho: Meikai Shitō Hen - Honō no Kizuna (幽★遊★白書: 冥界死闘篇・炎の絆, lit. Yū Yū Hakusho: Chapter of Underworld's Carnage - Bonds of Fire), is the second of the films based on the series. The 95 minutes long film was released in theaters in Japan on April 9, 1994.[4][9] The film was later dubbed into English by U.S. Manga Corps and released on VHS on March 3, 1998 and DVD on October 8, 2002.[10][11] A DVD reprint was later issued by Central Park Media on January 31, 2006.[12]
The film features the ending theme "Sayonara wa Iwanai" composed by JILL and sung by Personz.
The story begins in the Spirit World, where the River Styx is overflowing, due to a tsunami. But as Koenma looks out his window he can tell this is no ordinary storm. The floodwaters continue to rise, and just before they become too much for Koenma he gives a mysterious item to Botan, and tells her to give it to Yusuke Urameshi. But Botan gets hurt badly and barely makes it to Yusuke. Botan is too weak to give Yusuke the item. Throughout most of the movie she’s unconscious and is unable to do anything, while a great evil is surfacing. The storm was apparently caused by the forces of the Netherworld, which was banished into cold space ages ago. All this happens pretty quickly, and so does the fighting. We get to see Yusuke and the others do their signature attacks, against some of their toughest opponents yet. To restore balance in the now flooded Spirit world, Yusuke and the others must track down five spots on Earth that contain a large amount of spiritual energy. But their simple plans get turned upside down when the ruler of the Netherworld, Yakumo, and his three henchmen decide to use the same energy for evil. So, the race begins to save the Spirit World, and now the Human World as well.
Allen Divers of the Anime News Network gave the subbed version a "B" and the dubbed version a "C," with the main negative comment concerning the use of a different English voice cast from the TV series.[13] The VHS version was the 31st-best selling video during its release week in North America.[14] It fell to number 37 the following week and rose to number 34 the third week.[15][16]
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