The Incredible Death Of Yusuke Urameshi: A Complete Retrospective

[@Bonsaipop]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their support. From the channel to the podcasts to the streams it’s been a wild couple of years and so many of you have been through it with us, you know our story and the radical ups and downs we’ve been through trying to survive out here on KZbin. The internet mega machine is always changing, demanding people to change what they do to meet the “new” standard, but thanks to you guys we weather through. Haters gunna hate, but you all rock. Next video is a big long look at fist of the North Star 👌 See you then! -Mike

[@alexandrebelinge8996]

Glad you are doing better in 2024 ! Awesome video, it is my fav anime ! Also thanks for talking about mental health and its struggles !!

[@kodytiffany5686]

The 4 Saint Beasts I would not call my least liked but it certainly was one of the weakest. I would say the Goki part was probably the part I liked least... but 2 or 3 episodes is not really an arc. If I have to go with arc then its pre Rando arc (I see it as one arc). Just plain and whatever with a few great moments.

[@kodytiffany5686]

This and Kenshin were my first anime that I knew as anime. Card captor Sakura; Maho Shojou Do Rei Mi; Tokyo Mew Mew; Sailor Moon; Pokemon; Yugioh; etc. were my actual first but I saw them as Saturday morning cartoons not anime. Point is. I defined the difference and to some extent still do between Anime and Cartoons by whether or not they are childish or meant for a crowd that wants safe things to watch. Yusuke dies and Kenshin was a mass murderer wanting to redeem himself for the lives lost (irrelevant that he was a child soldier; murder is murder even if in war). Now of course its more of how censorship afflicts the show that I use to define the difference. Because America and Japan have very different standards for censorship. Anyhow; I love this series because there was always the thought that Yusuke might not come back from several fights. But the thing that sticks most for me is the end... FOREVER FORENEVER.

[@r.babylon2885]

Hit a slow period at work. Killing time by going through all your videos. All of them. Thumbs up for each.

[@krioni86sa]

WELL FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE ALL ABOUT MONEY!!! HAHAHAHA SO DESPERATE!!!!!

[@heyspookyboogie644]

Yusuke attempting to sacrifice himself for Kurama to prevent a mom mourning her son is the single most Yusuke solution to anything and says a lot about him on multiple levels.

[@truepotential206]

In the manga he actually does sacrifice half his life there. They changed it in the manga. That adds so much depth to yusuke

[@spaghettiking7312]

Dude dies, then hunts ghosts, then fights the terminator, then fights his predecessor, then meets his demon dad, then fights in a tournament, then disappears for two years. Pretty crazy.

[@Tacom4ster]

Kuwabara is like the most positive masculine character in all of Shonen, he doesn't cover up his emotions or compassion, that's his strength. Aside from a light rivarly, Kuwabara has less ego. Genkai's death is like peak anime for me, I hope to write something like that someday

[@marocat4749]

I also lobe how kuwabara ais never the strongest but incredibly versitile and creative.

[@stevemclovin1566]

Too bad through out the whole series, he also gets almost completely gets screwed over despite being the heart due to the writing and then discarded. He could have been so much better than.....this.

[@MrJ4k3R]

Genkai is based. The Goat sensei. Highly underrated

[@kevintanza6968]

Kenshiro is another positive masculine character.

[@fbafoundationalbuck-broken6011]

​@@kevintanza6968 IS THIS AN LGBT THING?

[@calilaployploy2827]

What I love about Yusuke as a character is how layered he is. Most anime protagonist are either a big ball of stupid with a great heart or the "too cool to care" and it seems like Yusuke is one of the later. But from episode one the story lets us know that it's just a mask. Yusuke just like gon looks like a simple minded brawler. But they both have paths of change and evolution rarely seen in shonen MCs. I still remember Yusuke frustration when after defeating toguro new stronger people appear. Like that is such a normal thing in anime but yusuke actually fells something about it. Also the show has way too much drip. I'm sorry. Love your channel boy.

[@amandadiamond7147]

Going back and re-watching the series, I feel like I understand Yusuke better. The adults around him treat him like a child and a trouble-maker. And someone like Yusuke, like many of us, hasn't been sheltered from the world and had to grow up and fend for himself, is really frustrated by that adults around him who can't, or don't see that and don't value his experiences. Its a system that's just bound to create the kind of social rifts that create people just like Yusuke and Kuwabara as well as Hiei and Kurama.

[@friedux2065]

Togashi is one of the best character writers in the whole medium.

[@BKNYKuwabara]

This is why i cant watch the LA on netflix. Is so surface level and bland not at all what The original brought.

[@amandadiamond7147]

@BKNYKuwabara I can never forgive Netflix for that...travesty. I'm so done with live action remakes. Yusuke's wake is such a gut punch in the anime.

[@casteanpreswyn7528]

​@amandadiamond7147 not all the adults, his mother never really treated him as a child and never hid her work or failings from him, which is part of the reason he is the way he is. I can't blame her, but she did incredible damage to him psychologically that he never really recovers from, even at the end. It's part of the reason he is a delinquent, he's trying to cope with the knowledge that his mother has a serious addiction and is a sex worker that operates out of the home. I'm pretty sure her work is specifically why he started acting as a delinquent. Then there are the teachers. All they do is belittle and bully him. None of them ever really try to help him. All the adults in his life failed him and failed to be a role model so of course he had to look elsewhere for validation, thus why he fights.

[@davidpotts7116]

Honestly, to this day Yu Yu Hakusho is one of the few anime I actually prefer the English dub over the Japanese dub. You can really tell how much the voice actors were putting in their all to make the characters come alive, and how much the story actually allows for such amazing performances to begin with. A lot of anime today just feels bland, with either a blank slate of a character left with no room for emotional investment or development whatsoever, or you have a frustratingly dense and idiotic character with no room for emotional investment or development whatsoever.

[@davidreese5730]

It can't be coincidental his works, HxH Inc. Have both good eng and jap version.

[@ryandaviddaley4989]

I love how human Yusuke is. Everytime I go back to this story I find more reasons to empathise with him.

[@alliesfrench]

“You’re doing your best, even if you don’t think you are.” Man, I’m really struggling with mental health and I needed to hear that so badly. Thank you.

[@MonarchDWolf]

Just watched your "old" YYH vid the other day and I really liked it. That said, not even halfway through this one and it is a huge evolution/expansion.

[@madambutterfly1997]

Smile bomb is such a great ass op I want that played at my funeral

[@ladyvinesm.5787]

❤😂😂😂🎉 .. good one!! Lmao

[@SamTheGumMan117]

Yusuke, my king of shonen delinquents, has such a cool, great vibe to him with a nice softer side to him at times that makes him one of my goats.

[@metallicrowe]

Your first video on yu yu Hakusho is the entire reason I gave the anime a try. Thank you

[@monkey238]

The long content is so good 😭 I want those 22 videos!

[@acezavala3816]

Got to watch the entire series during Covid and man I hated the rushed ending but it does not and can not even take away from the show at all. Love it. I got into trouble after doing the Spirit Gun in school right after this came out. 9/11 had all the teachers over-reacting to things when this aired lol Awesome show and awesome video essay.

[@lightyagami6251]

YYH english dub was so good , Justin Cook is a legend.

[@nugget3327]

Justin Cooked with the dub

[@Bakerofish]

Funny thing about Genkai in the Philippine dub...the translators didnt know she was female and gave the character a male name and voice XD so the reveal during the dark tournament was WILD

[@briantoebben3095]

Good lord the reveal would have made me so much more confused till genkai transforms into the younger\hotter version!

[@heyspookyboogie644]

The relationship between Yusuke, genkai and Toguro is one of the most interesting in anime / television. A kid with no dad looking up to a bad older guy role model, Toguro trying to convince himself he made the right choices and being compelled to erase everything that reminds him of genkai and even the suggestion he made the wrong choices. Yusuke eventually realizing Toguro taught him a lot, including that the life he thought he wanted, the life Toguro has, isn’t what Yusuke wants after all. He chooses his love for Keiko and his friends where Toguro chose himself.

[@TheShockVox]

I discovered Yu Yu in the weirdest way. At a grocery store there was the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. I think the cover had Goku or Yugi on it caught my eye naturally. It had the first chapter of YuYu Hakusho in it amongst other manga, and that was my first experience with manga. In the same week, in the mail, we got a CD of the first episode of YuYu Hakusho and a trailer for the series, dubbed by FUNimation. I guess it was a demo disk. So in the same week I experienced the story twice before it was on Cartoon Network. While the story had my curiosity, what really drew me in was the music. The Opening song, naturally, but also the first ending “Homework Never Ends”.

[@Captain_Wet_Beard]

Being a content creator is really hard work, I respect the people who manage to keep going. I put over a year in before I had to tap out and do something else. I'm enjoying game design though, so its all good.

[@sJebi]

Long live the Bonsai Pop!

[@jhsrt985]

BONZAI

[@danielbloomquist9810]

WITNESS!

[@acestarfighter8709]

Thanks!

[@wyattbottorff2473]

All these years later and YYH is still the most impactful media I've ever watched. Not MASH, not HxH, Breaking Bad, or anything else.

[@johnmoore987]

Bonsai Pop Forever!!!!

[@TheJadeMystic]

Thank you Bonsai Pop team! I’ve been a fan for 3 years. We love similar manga & anime. I pray you stay in good health. Keep doing what makes you happy. Shout out to Togashi-san!

[@briantoebben3095]

It might have been due to the series being short but yu yu hakushu was my first complete series that I went out of my way to buy and watch! Of course we didn't have the streaming services and easy access as we do now so the love reflected the effort.

[@TheloneOokami13]

The style of clothing definitely influenced my personal style, but honestly keep on making these videos, like you I was also a “ yusuke” growing up. Fighting, not caring about authority, but man it was one hell of a life, now I’m in my 30s waxing nostalgically about my salad days, thank you for this video.

[@qualideadinside]

Easily one of my favorite anime out there! Super glad to see you cover it again!!

[@CG_Prime251]

You're the best friend I wish I knew back in school. The way you fell on this anime is the same way I found it. At Grandma's house on a late night. Grandma's house never fails🔥

[@sagittariusseiya8310]

Yusuke is toughest guy on the planet.

[@samkinnard8039]

Honestly been waiting for this one since the first yuyu vid thanks so much!

[@andebor4169]

Brilliant video! The last part hit me pretty hard. after many years of searching I found what I wanted to do and am lucky enough to both do it and live off it more or less. but in the last year it has felt more and more like what it is, a job. even if it's great and you're lucky enough to do what you really want to do (whatever it is) it's a job. with all that entails. so even if it's one sided communication it's nice to hear others talk about it and be honest about it.

[@rhettdw144]

MOM WAKE UP, BONSAI JUST UPLOADED ANOTHER YYH VIDEO

[@blackboneztour]

More Yu Yu Hakusho content yes !

[@Gregbarlow04]

Love hearing how you came across this. I was 13ish, grew out of anime like Dragonball Z and Pokemon because it felt way too cheesy. I watched Adult Swim religiously but skipped all anime. Then, a YYH commercial flashed by and I heard, "Come out here, Hiei, so I can kick your ass!" and let me tell you a core memory never hit me harder.

[@animestuff4523]

The reason that I enjoy this channel the most is because it helps bring that feeling of when I first discovered anime as a kid and the fun I had watching it. I appreciate that you guys help bring those nostalgic feelings up. It’s the same feeling I get when I randomly see old Toonami bumpers in videos so I just wanted to say thanks for that

[@Kleed44]

I LOVE your Yu Yu Hakusho videos - thank you so much for your hard work and amazing video man!!

[@Kurotaisa]

The entire last 5th of the video with you pouring your heart out with the most unhinged visuals I've seen in years it's just :chef's kiss:

[@Green-3c34y65vrbu]

love the video!! the manga-only stories near the beginning are so underrated.

[@johnpittsii7524]

Thanks for the video ❤

[@TheCreepypro]

this will always be one of my favorite animes, love hearing so much about it and comparisons to the manga, glad mike is in a better place now

[@MonarchDWolf]

YYH is my all time favorite. Sure, I'd love a more "full" Three Kings Arc, but I love it as is anyway. Always glad to catch a Bonsai Pop video! Nothing but love to you guys. Hopefully the support you need comes rolling in soon!

[@johnlindsay7301]

I just started watching YuYu Hakusho this past year. Yuske’s development is deep. The dilemma Genki posts to him in the cave during the Dark Tournament is portrayed really well. I love seeing a charater where power isn’t the be all ends all. I don’t think Goku would have passed that test. Anyway, great vid. Keep them coming.

[@nuggyfresh6430]

Honestly I was 50/50 about watching the video and then you said it was a burrito supreme and the sheer art of the analogy has pulled me in. Nice work. An intellectual coup de grâce

[@ryanleclaire3948]

Wow wow wow. What a fantastic video. Bonsai, you did more than just make a simple video about Yusuke, you connected it with the struggles and trials of how animation and creativity is, well, created. I also love the point you made about how Yusuke related to you as a kid. I grew up in arguably one of the worst environments a child could, and watching Toonami, but more specifically, Yu Yu Hakusho... I resonated with his background so much. I WAS Yusuke. I wanted out, I wanted to escape, I felt that no one cared about me. Please keep doing what you do. Thank you!

[@Kenji7761]

Thanks!

[@Bonsaipop]

Thank you! Believe it or not you just paid for like 8,000+ views alone 🙏

[@Kenji7761]

@BonsaiPop happy to help, always loved your content. Keep it up!

[@dylankpessou2043]

Literally currently re-watching the show now. Probs my number 1 or 2 of all time

[@sidneyrosey]

Seriously one of the BEST retrospectives I’ve ever seen. I watched the sub years back and just rewatched the dub this summer (and realized I missed out on a whole world). I uber appreciate your reflections on your journey as creative creating dealing with health, wellness, and the overconsumption of this beautifully unhinged hellscape we love that is getting eaten and eroded by algorithms. Much love to you both for sharing yourselves, your passion, and especially your labor with us. 🥹✨❤️‍🩹

[@jays7072]

Just stumbled upon this amazing video and your channel. Thank you for covering a beloved childhood anime and being vulnerable enough to share your own personal connections to the anime/manga, the artist, and the process itself. Gained a whole new appreciation for Yu Yu Hakusho and HxH.

[@jsauce8669]

Another great video! We appreciate all your hard work. I love your content and hope you find balance because I love everything you put out 🎉

[@Aquwert]

This show is still extremely underrated. It’s so influential and overlooked by so many, even in modern times a lot of the animation holds up and the characters and a lot of the plot is top notch… especially for a shonen

[@Aquwert]

Oh and one of the only dubs that will actually make your experience with a show better

[@topbackpodcast2615]

I remember like it was yesterday the premiere of Yu Yu Hakusho on Adult Swim. It was a special simpler time in my life, but I was immediately hooked just from the theme song alone.

[@rockdeworld]

I'm so here for the long-form video essays and I look forward to more from you. I'd love to see a part 2 to this where you go through the rest of the manga and the author's journey

[@alwaysapirateroninace443]

I love YuYu Hakusho! It is absolutely funny, heartwarming, & vicious with the best fights & tournament ever. Glad there's an updated video.

[@ZERODIS0]

I love takanaka, I kinda cry during the funeral scene. Also yyh is like my All time favorite anime.

[@DarthTayder]

Man.. I love this channel so much. Not only for the content but I genuinely just love to here Mike talk about things that he is passionate about and correlating it with life. Im not sure what it is exactly, but I really love how he can articulate his thoughts and translate them into a video. It's nice for me, often times I feel like I can relate. It may be weird but this channel is kind of like therapy for me in a weird way. Im happy you guys are back but I am also happy that you know when you need to take a break. Stay healthy and thanks for all you do Bonsai Pop!

[@uncle_ben_rices_nephew]

New subscriber! I loved how you felt your journey to success related to Togashi’s as well. Keep up the great work and rest as well!!

[@LilShiro05]

your the only reason i ever watched yu yu and i have to thank you so much for it still top 3 favorite series of all time.

[@DGibbon57]

One of my favorite IPs of all time. The characters and style have so much personality in either version. I’ll always have a special attachment to it.

[@Hairrub]

Yu Yu Hakusho is amazing. In my top 10 anime’s

[@ducdu4136]

Just watched the live action and made me miss the anime so much. Glad to watch this right after and filled the nostalgic void.

[@himbotits]

I actually just watched the older version the other day, and there is something that could be updated that wasn't addressed in the last video, but the manga actually has been reprinted. You can buy a fresh printing of the entire run of the YYH manga now. I'm slowly working on my collection and I currently have the first 8 volumes. I think it started with just the first 1 or so volumes back in late 2022/early 2023 but they quickly released the whole series. Another classic series that got this treatment as well is Slam Dunk.

[@HeavySte3l]

Woke up saturday morning to a bonsai pop noti. thank you youtube!

[@tatsukinomiya]

Bonsai Pop uploads YYH content and you KNOW im freaking locked in

[@danielbloomquist9810]

The Fable theme at 24:00 is some finger lickin good work, Ser.

[@An1matedJunk1e]

That Yu Yu Hakusho video is the first video, I saw of yours. I watched it regularly. Yu Yu is my all time favorite story. Manga, Anime, book/tv show. It means everything to me.

[@Girrrrrrrr]

This is without a doubt my favorite anime channel, even above Hazel and that is saying something. Thank you for your insightful and complete breakdown of our childhoods.

[@ortatraining]

As a strength and nutrition coach building a side business I totally felt some of the stuff you said, in the earlier parts of this video. you are doing something special with your videos and I’m thankful for that

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

I just so happen to be in the middle of a game of Risk, so I'm definitely going to enjoy having you on to keep me from going mad with power.

[@jerkey]

This is your best work imo. Fantastic job man.

[@ddrsamuraixIV]

Great video, I appreciate your perspective and your experience. Looking forward to the other videos!

[@lukasparo5125]

The pursuit of Happiness is lost by wanting more.. So do what you love becasue true love is never lost

[@Chaosic]

Great video dude,Yusuke is a character like you I can relate to up to a certain point. Yu Yu Hakusho is still one of my favorite animes.

[@no1yudkno]

You guys are amazing best of luck this year!

[@SquattingxBear]

MvC2 OST right in the beginning? Yeah I'ma have to sub to the Patreon for that creative choice!

[@ipeconick]

I didn't know I needed this video this much.

[@MrLoser-vn4lw]

Hit me with the remaster, hell yeah

[@bretts7072]

Great episode! YYH is one of my favorites and I rewatch key parts every few years. Every time I get a new appreciation for the characters. Keep up the great work dude!

[@ShawnWeeded510]

Togashi is by far the most influential Mangaka of modern manga imo. Top three Mangaka.

[@mookiestewart3776]

Idk I would probably say toriyama as most “influential” . Pretty sure he even influenced togashi didn’t he?

[@Thollis1987]

The creator Jo Jo Bizarre Adventure and Fist of The North Star were both incredible as well .

[@loopygordo]

Nah man. Togashi is one of my all time favorites mangakas while not downplaying his influence it doesn't come anywhere near toriyama, tezuka or takahashi just to name a few.

[@kennethmendoza1350]

I think it depends on the areas, I think in terms of scope definitely tezuka and takahashi, if it is mostly the shonen battle manga sphere as a whole past present and future, it's definitely Toriyama, Togashi's influence I think lies on to the actual writing of the characters and story that is really compelling and is also really efficient that is mostly the meta in modern shonen(sometimes they focus more on meta and efficiency in writing rather than what is actually good for the story) imo Togashi's influence on modern shonen this may be an unorthodox comparison as this is creative media and I'm gonna compare it to sports, is akin to Floyd Mayweather in modern boxing or Steph Curry in modern basketball.

[@zachraw2366]

I've been a fulltime freelance illustrator for the last 9 years I really sympathize with the burnt out. mine come in waves. there is an unhealthy amount of work we have to do sometimes and as fun as it is, its a lot of high focus attention. there is no room to slack off. creating and editing video on top of that is exhausting. you have to be so honed in. glad you are doing better now and great work on this new breakdown video.

[@zidarose]

Amazing video. Loved the revisiting and doing a better comparison of manga and anime. Looking forward to what's next.

[@chrissalinas8593]

You said what I was thinking about Kuwabara and it being Christopher Sabat’s greatest performance! And in my own opinion, Justin Cook as Yusuke is the GREATEST English voice acted role in any anime series

[@danielbloomquist9810]

You are among the very best channels that speak to a unique corner of my now 40 year old Otaku heart. In no particular order, it's you, Kaizerbeams, Internet Pitstop, and while I know they might never truly return, CurtRichy and the whole crew from GITR and Beyond The Bot I come to for that sweet sweet nostalgia fix. We needs our nostaglia dopamine, Precious.

[@Ravensgale]

Funny thing is, my introduction to Yu Yu Hakusho was my friend's uncle who was stationed in Japan and since he knew both of us were into anime he'd record raw episodes of shows and bring them back when he came back to the States occasionally. So along with this show me and my friends were watching like Buu Saga episodes of DBZ while over here in the US they were still rerunning episodes of the Namek Saga.😂 Also, this show and Slam Dunk are probably why I love battle manga and Delinquent manga as well.

[@pakman4515]

I understand wholeheartedly it’s hard task to handle making good content but no matter what keep pushing forward to continue making great content

[@OGSpaceMike]

God, I wish I had the money to support you guys and some of my other favorite creators. I would love to see more content and even original content from Bonsai Pop. It would be amazing to launch your own manga, like a community driven manga where your community collaborates on it. If you made a platform for amateur manga creators we could have our own Shonen Jump equivalent.

[@Humoenlaagua1]

Actually just rewatching this with my wife. She had never seen it. After I bought the whole manga here in Japan, she’s like what why have I never heard of this? Now we have one season left before we’re done. She loves it.

[@ohw5306]

Great video, always appreciate the amount of earnestness and honesty from your narrative

[@dwainsimmons3447]

YYH’s dub still holds up. This is a step up from the old dub of dbz.

[@WadeH-v8k]

You outlining how ham fisted it all feels is why it took me awhile to dive deep into the anime. I always liked the aesthetic (like you said it defines the 90s) but it felt kind of clumsy every time I watched.

[@Rreinholdt]

Hey guys thank you for this, I saw the video in the feed at my terrible retail job and smiled. I appreciate the work and especially the empathy and the sharing of bright and the shade. Y'all are the best

[@Bentautumn]

When i was a teen yu yu hakushos complete manga collection was at my local library. through much diligent reservations i really took for granted the fact that is was so widely available in my area. It is an amazingly good read for those who might be on the fence regarding picking it up.

[@wallybonejengles5595]

Everything about Yu-Yu Hakusho DRIPS in the aura of its era. Love it to bits.

[@Dot.Figures]

Thank you Mike for this video. Watched the 1st version during the lockdown. Has helped me get back on my feet and rewatch yuyu hakusho. Will probably re watch it again for the nth time, maybe in tagalog dub for this rewatch. More videos to come!

[@PhoenixLaw92]

Dude, what you were saying towards the end, I feel that. What you were going through was the same thing I was going through at roughly the same exact time. I had recently got a teaching job after fighting for years to get one. Then one little thing happened that caused me to have such a mental breakdown that I could barely function for almost a month or two. But luckily, through therapy and getting on the right medication, I'm absolutely thriving in my job. I managed to work on two pet projects of mine that seemed like pipe dreams, and they went fantastic! Seriously, people need to understand that it's okay to admit when you're tired of things and need to take a step back. The constant grind is never good for anyone...

[@fhjunior6183]

Can never get enough yu yu hakusho content

[@ericschuller908]

My wife got me into Yu Yu Hakusho shortly after we got engaged and it has become one of my absolute favorites over the last three years since then. I always enjoy your content on the show and it makes for a good way to start the weekend, Mike.

[@jaythehulkmoeller6648]

Great vid man, keep up the good work!

[@1TutorialBoss]

Loved yyh, im one of the lucky ones to have a full collection after years of searching

[@Spawn256]

Bro i don't mind a occasional ad from a sponsor. People get it, things are expensive. Especially paying people. Just run an ad from one of these sponsors out there.

[@levirichardosn9595]

love y’all thank you for hour long yusuke video this is all i could want on a sunny saturday