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So today, at the request of my fourteen-year-old brother, he and I watched a few episodes from the Chapter Black arc [the very beginning, where Yusuke got kidnapped and Kurama made his epic face]. It was a wonderfully odd experience - and it reminded me of how much I've changed since I started watching the show. I was eleven [almost twelve, actually, if I recall correctly], and YYH introduced me to the world of anime, growing up, serious themes, and fanfiction [and thus writing, but that's another story]. That first episode - in which my brother told me with confidence that Kurama was a girl when I asked if there were any strong girls in the show [...I was a feminist even then, okay?] - really changed my life.

But that's also another story, and sort of hard to explain using words. And also not the point of this thread.

It's now been a good seven years since I started watching YYH, and as I was rewatching the series, I couldn't help but love it and make snarky comments about it at the same time. [Those snarky comments were mainly about fanon concepts, noted deviation from the manga, poor animation [though it was good for its time], bad dubbing, that kind of thing.] It's kind of sad because I used to - I hate using this word - adore the show. I would accept every word from the dubbed anime without question and [if you use this against me someday, I will hunt you down] melt over Kurama's voice. Now, while I love YYH still, I realize I love the manga, the very concept, the idea of YYH as a whole more than anything else. I love discussing it, but the anime's completely ruined for me aside from being entertainment crack and good voice-acting.

It feels like growing up, and it bothers me.

[You all know I would make a terrific blogger.]

Still working on the manga. (I've learned that Botan was a lot more viscous! And that Kuwabara was not as dumb as they make him out to be in the English dub. I've also learned that Yusuke did a LOT more as a ghost than just watch Keiko. biggrin )

For me, and this may just be because I haven't finished the manga, rewatching the anime is something that I (yes I will throw the word in here) adore!!! Maybe I still have some growing up to do. ^^ heart

I think that if you don't want to hold anything against the anime (and all it's wonderful plot bunnies! heart ), it would be best to view YYH Manga and YYH Anime (even btw English and Japanese dubs!) as two separate entities altogether. Maybe it's foolish of me, but I just don't have it in me to bash the anime. It's a classic. biggrin

(Even if they do make Yusuke crude, Botan bubbly, and Kuwabara dumb, so be it!)

(And, yes! You have wonderful blogging potential!!! biggrin )

The YYH anime was awesome. I think the anime and manga should be, for a majority of discussions, handled as separate continuities.

So, the anime is ruined for you now Wyndi? All because you read the manga? Ouch... I can honestly say that I have never let a manga ruin an anime for me luckily. I've read the manga counter-part to an anime I've seen and said to myself, "wow! I didn't know that was supposed to happen!" but other than that, I've been rather content to still enjoy the anime I've loved. I want to know more about Yu Yu Hakusho of course, so I will read all of the manga just to know what the truest intent of the creator was, but I won't ever let it ruin the anime for me.

Of course it is interesting that they changed some of the characters from manga to anime, and changed some of the personalities, but it is something I have just come to accept and deal with. If anything the dub screwed up the anime a little more and it is that I get a little miffed with at times, I'll flip out while re-watching the series then... but other than that I was pleased with how the anime was handled over all. This is just personal opinion though of course.

I am just glad that the fuss over anime and manga with Yu Yu Hakusho hasn't gotten as bad as the fiasco with Fullmetal Alchemist... My god, I almost can't enjoy anything to do with that series anymore because I have almost no one to talk with about it, people have such vicious and strong opinions on one thing or another. I just hope that never happens when it comes to the Yu Yu Hakusho series.

Well, to each their own. I don't think I am ever going to make it to that point. I find it a shame that knowledge has done that to you Wyndi... I feel that I am losing all of the anime fans now sweatdrop

@Wyndi
Believe me, I know what you are talking about lol. Nowadays, I only use the anime when having casual discussions or giving suggessions to fanfic writers. In don't use it in serious debates or 'vs battles' unless the thread creator allows it.

I suppose I misinterpreted you then, it just sounded to me that you were dissin' on the anime now that you had read the manga and obtained all this knowledge. I'm sorry Wyndi *hug*

I feel the same way about anime vs. manga fights as I do about book vs. movie ones, only anime is usually longer.
I feel that the movie can't possibly fit all the storyline that's in the book, so a movie is like a visual manifestation of a book's more...um, camera friendly scenes. Same with anime and manga, I haven't finished the YYH manga (I'll get back to it sometime), but right now I'm reading through the novel series of one of my favorite "thinking anime", Kino no Tabi/Kino's Journey, and re-watching the anime episodes of the chapters I'm reading, and you know what? The anime changed a lot of things (and this is an anime series which was fairly loyal to it's source material) but it also improved on some things. I've learned not to get too worked up about changes (otherwise I wouldn't be able to enjoy the Harry Potter movies, among others) and to just enjoy the ride. Anyway, that's what helped me with that problem, though I'm not sure if it'll be any help to you.