Really, this is a classic. It's really long (112 episodes), and not all of those episodes are completely worth it (towards the end of each season they'll draw out the "final" battle), but I really enjoyed this Anime.
Let me talk about the plot first. A boy dies, but a Spirit Guide says the afterlife has no room for him because they didn't expect him to die. So he's offered a chance to live again, which he takes. Later he finds out he has special powers dealing with Spirit Energy, and is asked to work for the afterlife as a "Spirit Detective." He encounters demons and apparitions alike, and eventually forms a team of two demons and a spiritually-gifted classmate. They go on missions together to keep the balance between the Spirit, Demon, and Human worlds. BATTLES ENSUE~
Seriously, what's not to like about this Anime? There's plenty of action, there's a hint of romance to draw in the female viewers, and there's a lot of great humor! The characters develop really well over the series, and each season's plot usually has a twist that keeps things interesting amidst the seemingly neverending battles.
There are really too many characters to talk about individually, but let me say that Yusuke Urameshi is probably one of the best heroes I have ever seen in Anime. What I like about him is that he knows the meaning of teamwork, and though he does get the spotlight sometimes as the protagonist, the others often get chances to shine. This lets the bonds between them grow stronger because they know they can rely on each other. We also get to see into everyone's motivations and pasts--not just Yusuke's--so we can come to appreciate if not love all the characters. Moreover, they're very well balanced. 2 serious types, 2 goofy types. 1 fights with brute force, 1 often leaps before he looks, 1 fights by moral code, and 1 fights with strategy. There are 2 characters that can be considered "bishounen," and 2 that appeal more to the male audience in that they aren't supposed to look pretty. Like I said, everything's in pretty good balance.
The art... Well, there were times when I noticed a bit of a change in the style, probably due to sudden increases or decreases in budget. You have to remember that this is an Anime from the 90s, so we can't expect perfection. Even so, this is better than a lot of 90s Anime, in my opinion.
All in all, I give it a 9/10, taking off a point just because the battles were sometimes a little long. Still, I recommend that everyone watch at least part of this Anime if not all of it. I loved it even when I hadn't finished it because Adult Swim took it off the air, and I loved it when I watched all the episodes in a marathon with my friends. It really is a classic, in my opinion.
Best. Scene. Ever. (2:50):
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