I literally cannot put into words how touched I am that people still watch this video. I was going through a messy point in my life and just wanted to talk about a show that means the universe to me! Every comment and view brings a big smile to my face and I hope I'll get to make a video about Kuwabara in the beginning of 2020!
I cannot explain the noise that came out of me when you used the Yu Yu Hakusho Abridged clip. It was like a squeal and a choke. A squoke. I love this vid by the way!
Absolutely fantastic video!! I can't believe I haven't seen this sooner! I just got my Mom and little brother into the show 😁 They're both finishing up the tournament Arc. My brother sent me a message saying he loves yusuke but feel he's generic. So I started looking for a video essay explaining the opposite when I found your video 😍😍 I would love to see any new content of yours! And I'm watching your MHA video on Bakugo now! But... I was wondering if you could make something highlighting yusuke's qualities. There are character analysis out there but nothing as masterful or clear appreciation for the characters as this! I really can't explain how yusuke's so relatable without being generic... Thank you so much for the content! I really hope to see more soon!
Hey just letting you know that it’s perfectly understandable that with year It’s been the Kuwabara video hasn’t came out. But thanks for making This amazing analysis video for one of the best written characters in anime history.
Kurama wasn't willing to just throw his past life away for his mother. He was willing to die for her, trade his life so she could live. He's over a thousand yrs old, he could just wait out her life span if he was just sacrificing his plans as Yoko for her sake, human are only around for a few decades. It's when she gets sick that changes things- he's willing to wait, but he's not willing to see her life cut short. I think part of the reason he's willing to sacrifice his life for her is because he (probably) feels not just guilty for how he's treated her, but unneeded at the time. She has a boyfriend (her future husband). That boyfriend has a son of his own. It's no longer just her and him, he no longer needs to be the "man of the house" as it were. She has someone to look after her once he's gone, and a another son to love. Given his guilty conscience, he probably reasoned that he's no longer needed, and since he's been (in his eyes) a bad son, he might as well do one decent thing with his life- willingly sacrifice it to save her and give her a chance at a future with her new family. Thank goodness for Yusuke, who knows all too well how losing a son breaks a mother's heart.
I fucking love this show. I grew up Yu Yu Hakusho and have loved all of it's symbolism and tales of struggle, trial, and success. I love everything about it. Kurama is by far my favorite character but I do love them all.
Imagine how little Kurama feels about his demon mother. She probably nursed him and left him like a wild animal as soon as he was big enough to survive.
considering Kurama is literally supposed to be a fox spirit and YYH bases it's entire mythology around Shintoism, the Kurama's "mother" wasn't a demon at all. But a normal Fox. animal spirits like Kurama come as a result of the animal living such an impossibly long life that their spirit evolves to a higher-level of being, i.e. a yokai.
I always wondered about Kurama's demon family, foxes in the real world are isolated and prefer to be in small families or alone. They don't travel in packs like wolves.
Just finished the series this week. It's become one of my favorites. Kurama and Kuwabara are my favorite characters from the show. This is a great essay. Thanks for making it. Kurama reminds me a lot of one of my other favorite anime characters, Kenshin Himura, who goes through a very similar mental journey.
As a young teenager, I totally missed this, but as I watched the show in my 20's and now my 30's, I've picked up on just how much Yu Yu Hakusho delves into the psychology of its characters. Some get more exposure than others, but it goes out of its way to highlight how the minds of many of the people in that universe operate. Heroes and villains alike prove themselves to be more than they first appear to be, and more than you might expect of them upon first meeting them. I can safely say that no anime villain has made me stop and think, or try to figure him out, like the younger Toguro brother. Even now, I'm sure there are still facets to his character and personality that I'm missing.
This video made me emotional. I’ve loved this show and Kurama since I was a child and your video was so enlightening. You explained things that I never noticed before. Thank you
He's been my favorite character since I was 13!!! I watched it on TV with my little bro and fell in love, and now as a 34 year old, I also have yet to find another more complicated, BA, layered character than Kurama. Well done! And Agreeeeeed!!
There's two red-headed characters in anime I absolutely love and that's Kurama and Himura Kenshin (from Rurouni Kenshin) both have dark pasts and both are trying their best to be good people even though their dark pasts keep coming back to haunt them. I do think the cross cut that Kurama received from Mr.Blade-Arms McGee was a reference to Himura but dunno. lol
25:57 I'm kinda bummed you didn't find that moment more significant, since it's basically the opposite of the Amanuma encounter. Instead of Youko wearing Shuichi's face, it's finally Kurama wearing Youko's. All the dialogue and body language says that it's not the Fox Bandit in control there, it's the one who cares so much for his friends that he's ready to die for them. 31:46 While I ultimately agree that it would've been more meaningful to have him fight Yomi, I also think you're slightly underselling Shigure's significance to his struggle. Because Shigure offers him something that the Potion of the Previous Life couldn't: fully returning to the demon body he used to have, with none of the human weakness that he'd inevitably have to revert back to. The thing that heightens Kurama's eventual decision is that Shigure is offering him not only the thing he had initially wanted when he was reborn, but getting that thing even easier than he would've even dreamed back then. To a certain extent, Shigure is offering him a release from the torment of decision, an escape from the struggle and to let all the plates he had spinning just crash to the ground and to finally allow himself to be the demon that his soul initially was. And I think it's especially tempting because Shigure phrases it like freedom. I fucking loved this video by the way, I'm so glad I've finally found someone doing deep dives on all these boys I love so much!! ♥
Kurama was my fav as well. A whole character devoted to the themes of redemption and change. He's literally reborn, a demon's spirit fused with a human's body, but it's a mother's love (and his love for her) that changes him. He's a study in contrasts, living a double life. A loving, dutiful son, and a master criminal (who was only caught because he wanted to be). A teen and one of the oldest characters in the series (and certainly the oldest on Team Urameshi). A Demon and a Human, as warm hearted as Kuwabara, and as cruel as Elder Toguro. Willing to die for his mother and willing to kill to protect her. The demon who would be King and a family man. He's a willingly tamed animal- sweet, loving, but has natural predatory instincts. And the DEADLIEST Mama's Boy you'd ever want to meet, lol. 🙂
beautiful analysis. watched this series in the 90s as a child. kurama is indeed a very beautiful and well developed character. Now as an adult I find that the dynamics of the cast was also complex and endearing.
Kurama has been one of my biggest anime crushes since high school in 2003. He still is. I'm protective of him too..Also...No..Kurama is canonically straight.
I, too, was drawn to Kurama. I felt that his fight with who he was resembled my daily struggle as a teenager, too. My secret life at home, being abused in many ways by my family as a well behaved quiet introvert, was at odds with my school life as an out going protector of bullied kids that made a huge group of friends. Which was I? Could I be both? I clung to Kurama and saw exactly as you talked about in this. I am very glad you made this video.
I would happily take a course with you teaching about yu yu hakusho! You described Kurama perfectly. And I've been a fan of the show and kuramas character since 2005
Having watched this show twice and thoroughly analyzing it afterwards, I am amazed that people can still further my appreciation of Yu Yu Hakusho. It really goes to show how awesome and fleshed out all of the main cast are. Seriously, all of them are such cool characters executed so well it's hard to pick a favorite! Besides the show itself, seeing someone as passionate as me talk about this show for 37 minutes is a dream come true. This is one of the most thorough character analysis I've seen, and I will definitely watch your other videos just for what you bring to the table. I watched this video a while ago, but I forgot to finish my comment on it. But I knew I had to come back and show my appreciation for this video and my own thoughts here eventually!
Kurama is also one of my favorite characters ever and I love watching videos like this talking about his personality and identity crisis struggles. I also find it amazing how everytime I look back at the character I understand him more yet I feel he'll always have this bit of mystery to me :) regarding 36:17 ... you'll surely not see this comment 2 years later, but I would love to watch that essay about kurama and hiei's relationship, there's so much to say about it and their dynamics are so interesting!
Kurama is complex in a human way ,in a overpowered way and in a flawed way. He is a character that shows incredible wisdom ,calculated thinking , logical and beyond understanding and kind . He understands the natute of being human while simultaneously being a full time demon . Even since i first started watching Yu Yu Hakusho he was my favourite character for the many reasons we are all familiar with. The internal conflicts of morality ,kindesd and balancing fairness is a doficult path all characters share from Kurama to Yusuke ,Genkai ,Kuwaraba and even Hiei with the unfair hand life dealt him , has always been kind and caring behind a stone exterior. Kurama has the life of a cold demon fox that understands the complexities of fragile humans by becoming one and the way this charcter demenour and reasoning is presented ,makes him one of the best in the series . Even the creator intended at first to make Kurama a main character but he is clearly as main as it can get. All character development and backstory ,included the villains are presented in a engaging and meaningful way . The only character trully that is absolutely vile I'd say it's the elder Toguro while the younger Toguro ...i hated till i didnt. Choosing limbo to atone for his sins ..fitting but cruel to a fault . Sorry about the rant , really enjoyed this video and you wnet into good depth analysis.
Great video; I think one of my favorite things about this show is the way everyone is drawn to Kurama especially Hiei and how he has the respect and friendship and connection with every good character in the series
As much as I love kurama the answer to this question. Is there is no best character. This anime is a master piece. It saved me from suicide and I've watched it since I was 13 and can quote anything from it. There all unique in there own right and everyone brings something important to the table
It’s crazy how much I love all 4 of the main characters so much. They were made so well and made better as the show went on. Any given day my favorite between the 4 can change so easily. And lmao, she really said Hiei and Kurama were doing it haha. That reminds me when I was like 7 trying to find good fan art of them and accidentally finding yaoi of them lmao. Internet in 2006 was weird haha.
For the longest time I didn’t know who was my favorite yyh character. After my 4th watch through and reading the manga first time. I’ve decided it’s Kurama. His story is so deep
Kurama vs Yomi would have been fantastic and cathartic. Darn it Togashi. If only he had the will to continue the Yu Yu Hakusho manga something like that might have happened.
@@iangallegos170 Many people don't care about canon. Many people do. But I think the 'don't' camp is bigger. It's more of a 'what if...' when it comes to shipping
I agree, it would have been so interesting to see a fight between Kurama and Yomi. Also, between Kurama and Hiei (I'm certain it wouldn't break the strong bond between them, if anything it would make it stronger)
I've watched this video so many times. You analysis on Kurama is absolutely incredible. He's my favorite character and you helped me to understand more of him that I missed myself. I hope you'll make a Hiei episode, if you ever come back. Also, yes even now I'm still on the Hiei/Kurama ship 😂
Nice to hear such an analysis to something that for me exists only in my head like yuyu hakusho and Kurama my favorite character as well. Friends couldn't care less about all that. Didn't know what to expect when I clicked, turned out to be very good. You got nice voice as well, kinda reminds me the referee in Dark Tournament I think :D
This. This whole video. This is exactly why Kurama is my favorite. Im so happy I stumbled upon this series, and I can't wait for that kuwabara video :3
I want to say that your analysis of kurama is spot on. I noticed every time I watched he struggled with identity and personality. Yu yu hakusho is a personal favorite of mine and I've grown fond of kurama as a character in this series. I'm hoping to see much more.
Great essay, methodic and thorough. Don't be surprised if people are still watching your video (even though RUclips algorithm works in the most chaotic way by recommended it more than 1 year later) because Yu Yu Hakusho anime have a strong base and growing still. With all said, I have to make a remark about what you said in ''Thanks for watching'' segment. It was a phrase that threw me off about Hiei and Kurama's relationship. It baffles me how quickly the younger generation (yeah, yeah, I'm old, deal with it) jump to this general conclusion when it comes of human interactions. If two people (of same or different sex) get along , building a friendship based on mutual respect, they MUST bang each other. I dunno how you understand friendship but involving sex as a catalyst, is not essential. Surely, some friendships can evolve or devolve in sexual desire, but these two- Hiei and Kurama- never shown one hint that could lead to that conclusion. More likely, Kurama is prolly asexual, while Hiei (in his own reserved way) is building a relationship with his boss lady, Mukuro. Peace.
This review is in-depth and intense! I watched this anime when I was a kid and loved Kurama very much, but never thought much about it. Thank you for making this review, it's very well done!
Glad to see there's someone out there who appreciates yu yu hakusho and the complexity of Kurama as much as I still do. Dunno how this video has any dislikes, it was an accurate and solid dissection of Kurama's entire character arc. You should make more videos in the future if you ever find the time or passion to do so.
"Now, Kurama's fight with Roto isn't really of note..." But you're forgetting the character development inherent in: Roto: "I'm just a low class. I don't know any better. You believe in Mercy, don't you?" Kurama: *"No."* *Roto dies explosively on the spot* A side of Kurama that hasn't really been seen up to this point: That he's actually a very ruthless killer when forced to be.
Kurama wasn't forced to kill Roto. He had disabled Roto's arm, he was powerless against Kurama by that point. K even makes a point of lecturing Roto on the folly of betting it all on one threat. Kurama killed him because he dared to threaten his mother. If anything, it was the 1st display of Kurama's darker side- his cold fury and penchant for vengeance. He's not the forgiving type. The only time he was really forced to kill is when he had to win against Gamemaster. His rage at having to kill a child is part of the reason why he deals with Elder Toguro as gruesomely as he does.
@@jeangentry6656 I mean, if we're going to be this pedantic, really, Kurama wasn't forced to kill anyone. We'll just call being a botanically empowered killing machine a lifestyle choice. (Massive spoiler warning: The above is sarcasm.) I'm fairly sure the alternative to killing Roto was allowing him to continue pulling his scheme on other people--something Kurama's morals would not permit. Ergo, he was forced to kill Roto, by his own (appropriately) merciless sense of justice. Good riddance.
@@jeangentry6656 Also fairly sure that Kurama damned Elder Toguro to eternal torment out of a sense of justice--Elder Toguro being a conniving scheming body snatcher who enjoys driving people like the Gorenjas to murderous betrayal for kicks. Pretty convinced that had something to do with imprisoning the little tentacular shit in a perpetual illusion of trying to kill Kurama--because of Toguro's depravity. Otherwise he'd not be living out that particular fantasy in vain forever, right? Anger at Toguro? Toguro is beneath Kurama, in the same sense that Roto is. They're both just plant food. Now, definitely, Kurama is angry at Sensui over Amanuma--and I'm going to guess it's because what Sensui did is tactically reminiscent of what Yoko would have done, and moreover, Kurama is also angry at Sensui because of Yusuke's death. But I wouldn't call being impelled by your own values being "forced", I would call valueless wicked little shits like Roto and Toguro engineering a life or death scenario "forcing" Kurama's hand. The case with Amanuma was more a matter of Sensui deliberately using Amanuma as a human shield and trying to use the sensibilities of his foes against them, and Kurama simply seeing past that to the greater need not to have Hell on Earth from the Makai portal opening, and being the only one of the group ruthless enough to be able to kill a child soldier. In essence, Sensui 'forced' the killing of Amanuma, a naive human child suckered into serving Sensui's agenda, in the effort to use his opponents values against them--and Kurama was forced to step in, I will concur with this sentiment--because he reasoned that nobody else would be stone cold enough to kill the kid. But that priority, even took a backseat, to avenging Yusuke by chasing down Sensui AFTER the portal had opened. Because yay, moral complexity. Kurama is not at all a simple character.
@@jeangentry6656 The distinction being that people are impelled and uplifted by their own values, created through personal experience? But some people have the acquired value of trying to cynically corrupt others' values, and they take that beyond skepticism, into the realm of coercion, torture, and murder. Those latter category are people trying to "force" something. And those people get to go to Hell, as far as I'm concerned. Which is where we draw the line between someone like Kurama and someone like Roto. Alternatively you can just say Kurama is the better schemer, but it's my personal belief that there's a proper scheme and one that falls apart. The Mandate of Heaven, if you like. Happy to philosophize with you. *tips hat*
@@GoldieTamamo I never claimed Kurama was a simple character, I very much enjoy his complexity. Kurama was enraged when he fought Elder Toguro (ET). Yusuke's dialogue makes that clear. Elder Toguro and even Kurama himself note that he was so angry that his mind couldn't be read. That wasn't out of righteous anger or a sense of Justice. He was pissed he had been forced to kill a kid and decided to use his next fight to vent. He could have killed ET, yet he sentences him to an eternity of suffering and pain. A "Just" person doesn't do that. We see just how cruel and vengeful he can be when greatly angered. Kurama doesn't have the same sense of Honor that the other three do. Even Hiei is capable of mercy. Kurama is not.
AAA I LOVE THIS!! Kurama is one of my most favourite characters in anime,, if not my favourite, and this makes me so happy because I think about his character in this way a lot, and seeing it put into words like this is just so satisfying 💞
Fun Fact: Around the time when the final stretch of the "Chapter Black" Arc was running in the manga, Togashi wrote a fun little bonus article where Botan 'interviews' the main cast about recent events. When she gets to Kurama, she finds him transformed into Youko, but continues with the interview regardless. We actually learn a few interesting bits of info from this: - Youko theorises that his recent 'cold-heartedness' (ie: the events involving Amanuma and Elder Toguro) may have something to do with their close proximity to the demon world portal. - As a side effect of using the Potion of Past Life, if Kurama's emotions reach a breaking point, there is a 50% chance of him reverting back to his original 'Youko' form involuntarily. This explains why he transformed so suddenly after watching Yusuke 'die'. However, every time this happens, the life force of 'Shuichi' is significantly drained. - When asked which form he prefers, he answers that "Right now, I prefer my original form. But when I'm Shuichi again, I'm sure I'll say that one is better." - Finally, when Botan asks if Kurama will continue to live in the Human World as Shuichi, Youko replies: "Hmm... Unless something unfortunate happens, it certainly seems that way."
As somebody who fell in love with this show WAAAAY back during the Adult Swim/Toonami days, I can say this is a beautifully done assessments of my first and only prominent anime crush 🥰 And that YYH Abridged clip had me dying. God I almost forgot all about it. 🤣
I love all the characters Kurama I do put in my top five my personal favorite character being the happy go lucky cheerful Wind Master Jin. Everyone God Bless, and Happy Thanks Giving!
This was an amazing video really loved how much detail you put into explaining the significant changes in each arc. I think this video is the reason why I absolutely love him as a character. So many layers that add to each viewing. Makes you really appreciate the works done by the creators of this show.
Thank you for breaking down the character of my favorite character you really braught him to light and made me love him even more thank you so much for making this masterpiece
Thank you for this accurate and thorough analysis of Kurama! I really enjoyed watching this video and the one about Kuwabara (you're right, Kuwabara is an amazing character and we can learn a lot from him). Kurama is my favorite anime boy and he's a source of inspiration and strength for me. It always made me sad to see his inner conflict and his guilty conscience about his former life as Youko. Still, I strongly believe that Youko wasn't as ruthless as others may think. He could have killed Yomi, but he didn't and we have proof that he really cared about Kuronue. Which means he definitely had a good side (how else can he get along with Shuuichi and share the same body?). Maybe the things he did were in order to survive in Makai (so out of necessity,, not out of choice). I think Kurama is too hard on himself sometimes. I wish somebody would have told him that, in the anime. If you have time could you also make a video about Hiei? He's also a complex character and I admire him very much. Thank you!
In the manga Urashima is interesting because he claims to be a ressurected embodiment of the Tale of Urashima Taro(Japanese Rip Van Winkle), bit then we learn after his death this was a lie. But before that via a conversation they discuss his story and how he is glad his suffering in tje tale mattered and regrets being re-directed and forced to fight while also lamenting fid hos kindness to the turtle really entitle him to such a fate?
Didn't Kurama say to Kuwabara while on the sudo space before they enter in the demon world he said "I haven't become Yoko I merely taken on his appearance while maintaining my human personality. That's this spike increase of demon energy."
When they're traveling to the Demon World through the tunnel? Yeah, Kurama does say something like that before Kuwabara cuts through the Kekai. I didn't mention it because it's one of those lines that I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, since one one hand, this implies that Kurama is using Yoko as much as the former is, and on the other hand, the show has been treating their mutual existence as more parasitic and mutualistic, since Yusuke being avenged isn't really something Yoko would care about and every other time Yoko's body is seen, it's the 2000+ year old demon fox, not Kurama, in control. So I kind of treat this one fight a lot like how I treat Hiei in that green multi-eyed body, it looks cool in the moment but when you think about it for too long, it doesn't really make sense with the rest of the world the show has built up. TL;DR: Yes he does. I didn't bring it up because it didn't fit in with the essay's themes.
@@StudentCleric Now that I have gone back rewatched that scene from that episode I see on how very minor it is, and why you did not bring that up. Not to mention his fight with Shigure makes it crystal clear on what Togashi wants Kurama to be. Thank you very much for the reply I am gonna go binge watch Yu Yu Hakusho from the beginning how I wish my Dad was here so I can watch it with him, but that'll have to wait until christmas. Btw Happy Thanks Giving, and God Bless to everyone. Yu Yu Hakuhso is truly one of the best animes around. Ever thought of doing a video on Jin?
@@StudentCleric I took it as he got more and more of yoko's power like kurama's realization at the end of karisu's fight. So when he only takes on the appearance it's because they become more as one cognitively as he gains more of yoko's power in the human body.
Hello! I know I'm almost two years late, but I just wanted to say that I'm glad I found your video! It's very informed and your observations really made me open my own mind when I rewatched YYH again! It also makes me very happy to see a video on this wonderful series that's so "recent" when most date back several years. I hope at some point more people will share their thoughts, opinions and observations like you did, and I hope this video gets more popularity and recognition soon for how well you managed to execute it! Thank you for sharing this video and I look forward to any others you may have on this absolute legend of a series!
Thank you for this amazing video. I enjoyed it very much. Kurama is my favorite character from YYH, so I was very pleased to find a video like yours here on RUclips. It's really well done!
I love this video! Kurama is also my favorite character EVER! Across anime!! Love him 🥺 Thank you for this deep dive into his character. I learned things I didn’t know even though I’ve seen this series a couple times. And things I always thought were in this vid too. So much love for this vid. Subscribed ✨
I loved when kurama fight scenes occur, because he uses his high iq intelligence and real flashy it’s always a game like of chess with him always 10 steps ahead
The only thing is, it's not three in one body, but two. Shuichi is his human name, Kurama is his demon world name & Yoko is literally the word for demon fox in Japanese. When Kurama was injured in the spirit world, he sought refuge in the human world in Shiori Minamino's unborn child. The unborn child being it's own person was, for the most part, possessed by Kurama. Hence, there is only two beings "sharing" one body (if you can call or consider possession sharing that is.) I am guessing when they tranlated YYH for the English dub, they called Kurama "Yoko Kurama" to differentiate between human & spirit world Kurama. Interestingly, if my memory serves me right, Hiei recognized Shuichi as being the "legendary" bandit Kurama & referred to him using his demon name. But I don't know why Yusuke did so, as he would probably only know him as Shuichi Minamino, unless maybe Shuichi used Kurama as a nick name or his first meeting with Kurama was through Hiei. I don't recall that they ever covered that in the anime & I have yet to read the manga, so idk; I am just speculating there. Also, if anyone else had pointed this out before me, I do apologize; I didn't read any comments before posting.
These are interesting points. I guess a more literal way of wording the point of this essay would have been, "Three Identities, One Body," because there aren't literally three lives within this one form, more like three distinct identities. I didn't watch the sub, I really don't like Megumi Ogata as Kurama, so I can't speak for it, but in the dub all three are giving distinct names; Shuichi is only used by Shiori, his step family and Kaito, people who know him primarily from his human life, Kurama is used by all of the main cast (Koenma introduces Yusuke to Kurama as Kurama, not Shuichi, so he doesn't use his human name since he doesn't know him as a human, but as this neither human nor demon being), and Yoko is the only title the demon is given, he is called Yoko Kurama, but the short hand in english is just to refer to him as Yoko.Because of the way the three are addressed in the series, each of the three has a title assigned only to them, making the identities of all three distinct and separate from each other. You've got the "good" Shuichi, the "bad" Yoko and the middle man Kurama, who is both and yet neither. Or at least that's how I see it. This is of course 100% subjective and for all I know, Togashi would disagree with everything I said, haha.
This was a lovely video, for the love for Yu Yu hakusho as well as my favorite character as a teenager. It's also presented in such detail and depth of character development and the inner struggles of Kurama, Shuichi, and Yoko. I loved this video😊
Beautiful. I saw this in my recommended and I do not regret it, Kurama is my second favorite character (Hiei is my first) and you've perfectly explained his struggle and story arc. Thank you. Edit: WOW this is from 2018?? This is why Yu Yu Hakusho is so great, very timeless (also, KuramaxHiei 5ever ✋😩)
I love this anime. In fact I own all four seasons and the movie. Much like you my favorite character is Kurama. There is just something about those eyes and that whitty personality that I can't get enough of. Also much like you I enjoyed seeing Yoko take control the first time I watched the series. But as I just finished watching it again I began to question how he would balance who he is versus who he was. And honestly I wondered if there was effectively a way for the two sides of him to ever actually become one. This video that you made helps to put things into perspective, but it also brings up another question. Would Yoko still be the cold hearted demon that he is if he found someone to love? would he finally see things just a little bit differently and see that Kurama was right and that there is more to life than the thrill of the hunt? Just food for thought. And I really enjoyed the video. Especially since it was about my favorite red head. A close second to Kurama is definently Hiei, so I will be looking forward to seeing a video about him next.
I really really loved this video. I'd never really taken Kurama's back story into much consideration before, mostly because of one line he says in the Chapter Black arc about his outward appearance of being Yoko being nothing more than an aesthetic change, a sign that he "powered up" more or less. But the inner turmoil of this character is actually a very understated aspect of this series, and it's perhaps overshadowed by Sensui's own inner turmoil and multiple personas. And when Yusuke is revealed to be part demon, he makes an interesting mirror to Kurama, a human trying to keep his demon side at arms length and Yusuke embracing his demon heritage. All very interesting stuff. It's a shame Yu Yu Hakusho's ending was a little rushed, but it's a damn fine series and I ultimately like how the series leaves off.
Indeed. Kurama is a demon turned human, who is embracing his humanity while trying to resist the call of his true nature, while Yusuke is a human turned demon, embracing and experimenting with his new found demon heritage. Interestingly, what causes them both to chose humanity is a human woman's love (though obviously, different types of love).
I know this is old but I love Shuichi/Kurama as a character underrated anime and I've always thought him to be more of a representation of the animal the fox than Naruto whose annoying as hell. This was well executed and thoughtout. One thing however, "Youko" (It's recommended not to drop letters in words/names in Japanese it's a bad habit) is just a title it just means "fox demon" nothing more. Kurama is his actual demon form name. So it just comes off as weird but I get why you used Youko to make the distinction for Kurama to be the middle ground. Also, to my understanding, after the Dark Tournament, Kurama and Shuichi's bond is more of a merge and Shuichi just accesses Kurama's form to access his powers/true potential as oppose to allowing Kurama to take over personality-wise. Like he's said before the symbiotic relationship between them is a merger not a possession. Another thing I questioned for years was why Kurama never used the Ojigi plant against Sensui but then I realized that the Ojigi plant would of attacked his friends unbiasedly because it's a plant that doesn't take orders it just goes after anything that moves so using it in a group fight against Sensui would be unrealistic and more harmful than good for Kuwabara and Hiei who are fighting along side of him. Not sure if it would of made a difference since Sensui is ten times more powerful than Karasu even though at this point Kurama was an A class demon. Sensui was a S class. Also, is it accurate to call the energy that Shuichi wields is spirit energy or is it demon energy since he's merged with Kurama and the energy that he wields originated from Kurama who wields demon energy so wouldn't that mean that he also draws from Kurama's demon energy to create his plants? He doesn't use spirit energy/reiki like Yusuke or Kuwabara otherwise it would appear similar to theirs. No this I believe is him utilizing a pre-existing skill that Kurama had as a demon something he as Shuichi wouldn't be capable of doing on his own if the merger never happened. The plant creation is specifically linked to Kurama thus I believe it's more accurate to call it demon energy.
In the English dub chapter black the fight with game master it was stated only the Goblin King dies whilst the players can try again part of black Angels plan to buy time while forcing them to kill a human
I was genuinely shocked by the Gay Baby Jail reference!!! HAHAHA YOU MIGHT BE THE BEST RUclipsR EVER! Your voice is really good too! HAHAHAHA I support you ALL the way!
![Jin the Windmaster--English Compilation (ALL QUOTES!) [With Subs]](/img/1.gif)
I literally cannot put into words how touched I am that people still watch this video. I was going through a messy point in my life and just wanted to talk about a show that means the universe to me! Every comment and view brings a big smile to my face and I hope I'll get to make a video about Kuwabara in the beginning of 2020!
I cannot explain the noise that came out of me when you used the Yu Yu Hakusho Abridged clip. It was like a squeal and a choke. A squoke. I love this vid by the way!
Absolutely fantastic video!! I can't believe I haven't seen this sooner! I just got my Mom and little brother into the show 😁 They're both finishing up the tournament Arc. My brother sent me a message saying he loves yusuke but feel he's generic. So I started looking for a video essay explaining the opposite when I found your video 😍😍 I would love to see any new content of yours! And I'm watching your MHA video on Bakugo now! But... I was wondering if you could make something highlighting yusuke's qualities. There are character analysis out there but nothing as masterful or clear appreciation for the characters as this! I really can't explain how yusuke's so relatable without being generic... Thank you so much for the content! I really hope to see more soon!
I really love the video, I hope we can see more YYH character analysis later on in the future.
Hey just letting you know that it’s perfectly understandable that with year It’s been the Kuwabara video hasn’t came out. But thanks for making This amazing analysis video for one of the best written characters in anime history.
YYH is a masterpiece of anime. As far as I'm concerned you did the world an amazing creative service :)
Kurama wasn't willing to just throw his past life away for his mother. He was willing to die for her, trade his life so she could live. He's over a thousand yrs old, he could just wait out her life span if he was just sacrificing his plans as Yoko for her sake, human are only around for a few decades. It's when she gets sick that changes things- he's willing to wait, but he's not willing to see her life cut short.
I think part of the reason he's willing to sacrifice his life for her is because he (probably) feels not just guilty for how he's treated her, but unneeded at the time. She has a boyfriend (her future husband). That boyfriend has a son of his own. It's no longer just her and him, he no longer needs to be the "man of the house" as it were.
She has someone to look after her once he's gone, and a another son to love. Given his guilty conscience, he probably reasoned that he's no longer needed, and since he's been (in his eyes) a bad son, he might as well do one decent thing with his life- willingly sacrifice it to save her and give her a chance at a future with her new family.
Thank goodness for Yusuke, who knows all too well how losing a son breaks a mother's heart.
I fucking love this show. I grew up Yu Yu Hakusho and have loved all of it's symbolism and tales of struggle, trial, and success. I love everything about it. Kurama is by far my favorite character but I do love them all.
Imagine how little Kurama feels about his demon mother. She probably nursed him and left him like a wild animal as soon as he was big enough to survive.
Thats true
considering Kurama is literally supposed to be a fox spirit and YYH bases it's entire mythology around Shintoism, the Kurama's "mother" wasn't a demon at all. But a normal Fox. animal spirits like Kurama come as a result of the animal living such an impossibly long life that their spirit evolves to a higher-level of being, i.e. a yokai.
@@honeyham6788 imagine your mom being an entirely different and less intelligent species then you after a while
@@squaddegenerate5000 Kurama's mother would have died long before he became a kitsune, that or she lived long enough to also be a kitsune
I always wondered about Kurama's demon family, foxes in the real world are isolated and prefer to be in small families or alone. They don't travel in packs like wolves.
Just finished the series this week. It's become one of my favorites. Kurama and Kuwabara are my favorite characters from the show. This is a great essay. Thanks for making it. Kurama reminds me a lot of one of my other favorite anime characters, Kenshin Himura, who goes through a very similar mental journey.
As a young teenager, I totally missed this, but as I watched the show in my 20's and now my 30's, I've picked up on just how much Yu Yu Hakusho delves into the psychology of its characters. Some get more exposure than others, but it goes out of its way to highlight how the minds of many of the people in that universe operate. Heroes and villains alike prove themselves to be more than they first appear to be, and more than you might expect of them upon first meeting them. I can safely say that no anime villain has made me stop and think, or try to figure him out, like the younger Toguro brother. Even now, I'm sure there are still facets to his character and personality that I'm missing.
This video made me emotional. I’ve loved this show and Kurama since I was a child and your video was so enlightening. You explained things that I never noticed before. Thank you
He's been my favorite character since I was 13!!! I watched it on TV with my little bro and fell in love, and now as a 34 year old, I also have yet to find another more complicated, BA, layered character than Kurama.
Well done! And Agreeeeeed!!
Nice! But what is BA?
@@reichen609 bad ass 😄😬
Kurama walked so Kurapika could own all later HxH arcs 😂
Not all. He's not even IN some of them.
There's two red-headed characters in anime I absolutely love and that's Kurama and Himura Kenshin (from Rurouni Kenshin) both have dark pasts and both are trying their best to be good people even though their dark pasts keep coming back to haunt them. I do think the cross cut that Kurama received from Mr.Blade-Arms McGee was a reference to Himura but dunno. lol
25:57 I'm kinda bummed you didn't find that moment more significant, since it's basically the opposite of the Amanuma encounter. Instead of Youko wearing Shuichi's face, it's finally Kurama wearing Youko's. All the dialogue and body language says that it's not the Fox Bandit in control there, it's the one who cares so much for his friends that he's ready to die for them.
31:46 While I ultimately agree that it would've been more meaningful to have him fight Yomi, I also think you're slightly underselling Shigure's significance to his struggle.
Because Shigure offers him something that the Potion of the Previous Life couldn't: fully returning to the demon body he used to have, with none of the human weakness that he'd inevitably have to revert back to. The thing that heightens Kurama's eventual decision is that Shigure is offering him not only the thing he had initially wanted when he was reborn, but getting that thing even easier than he would've even dreamed back then. To a certain extent, Shigure is offering him a release from the torment of decision, an escape from the struggle and to let all the plates he had spinning just crash to the ground and to finally allow himself to be the demon that his soul initially was. And I think it's especially tempting because Shigure phrases it like freedom.
I fucking loved this video by the way, I'm so glad I've finally found someone doing deep dives on all these boys I love so much!! ♥
Kurama couldve been THE main boy. I love him, hes so eloquent and righteous. Very layered and genuinely interesting.
Kurama was my fav as well. A whole character devoted to the themes of redemption and change. He's literally reborn, a demon's spirit fused with a human's body, but it's a mother's love (and his love for her) that changes him. He's a study in contrasts, living a double life. A loving, dutiful son, and a master criminal (who was only caught because he wanted to be). A teen and one of the oldest characters in the series (and certainly the oldest on Team Urameshi). A Demon and a Human, as warm hearted as Kuwabara, and as cruel as Elder Toguro. Willing to die for his mother and willing to kill to protect her.
The demon who would be King and a family man.
He's a willingly tamed animal- sweet, loving, but has natural predatory instincts.
And the DEADLIEST Mama's Boy you'd ever want to meet, lol. 🙂
beautiful analysis. watched this series in the 90s as a child. kurama is indeed a very beautiful and well developed character. Now as an adult I find that the dynamics of the cast was also complex and endearing.
Kurama has been one of my biggest anime crushes since high school in 2003. He still is. I'm protective of him too..Also...No..Kurama is canonically straight.
I, too, was drawn to Kurama. I felt that his fight with who he was resembled my daily struggle as a teenager, too. My secret life at home, being abused in many ways by my family as a well behaved quiet introvert, was at odds with my school life as an out going protector of bullied kids that made a huge group of friends. Which was I? Could I be both? I clung to Kurama and saw exactly as you talked about in this. I am very glad you made this video.
I would happily take a course with you teaching about yu yu hakusho! You described Kurama perfectly. And I've been a fan of the show and kuramas character since 2005
Bonus Points for including a clip from Yu Yu Hakusho Abridged
Imagine how much it would suck to love with a 2000 + years old mind in a baby's body.
This is exactly why kurama is my favorite character too! Great video I'd love to see more yu yu vids
i loved his line logic is panics prey...
Best analysis of Kurama I've ever come across.
A well-explained description of Kurama's complex personality. I loved him even more because of this video. My favorite Anime character.
Having watched this show twice and thoroughly analyzing it afterwards, I am amazed that people can still further my appreciation of Yu Yu Hakusho. It really goes to show how awesome and fleshed out all of the main cast are. Seriously, all of them are such cool characters executed so well it's hard to pick a favorite! Besides the show itself, seeing someone as passionate as me talk about this show for 37 minutes is a dream come true. This is one of the most thorough character analysis I've seen, and I will definitely watch your other videos just for what you bring to the table. I watched this video a while ago, but I forgot to finish my comment on it. But I knew I had to come back and show my appreciation for this video and my own thoughts here eventually!
Kurama is also one of my favorite characters ever and I love watching videos like this talking about his personality and identity crisis struggles. I also find it amazing how everytime I look back at the character I understand him more yet I feel he'll always have this bit of mystery to me :) regarding 36:17 ... you'll surely not see this comment 2 years later, but I would love to watch that essay about kurama and hiei's relationship, there's so much to say about it and their dynamics are so interesting!
Kurama is complex in a human way ,in a overpowered way and in a flawed way. He is a character that shows incredible wisdom ,calculated thinking , logical and beyond understanding and kind . He understands the natute of being human while simultaneously being a full time demon . Even since i first started watching Yu Yu Hakusho he was my favourite character for the many reasons we are all familiar with. The internal conflicts of morality ,kindesd and balancing fairness is a doficult path all characters share from Kurama to Yusuke ,Genkai ,Kuwaraba and even Hiei with the unfair hand life dealt him , has always been kind and caring behind a stone exterior.
Kurama has the life of a cold demon fox that understands the complexities of fragile humans by becoming one and the way this charcter demenour and reasoning is presented ,makes him one of the best in the series . Even the creator intended at first to make Kurama a main character but he is clearly as main as it can get. All character development and backstory ,included the villains are presented in a engaging and meaningful way . The only character trully that is absolutely vile I'd say it's the elder Toguro while the younger Toguro ...i hated till i didnt. Choosing limbo to atone for his sins ..fitting but cruel to a fault .
Sorry about the rant , really enjoyed this video and you wnet into good depth analysis.
Great video; I think one of my favorite things about this show is the way everyone is drawn to Kurama especially Hiei and how he has the respect and friendship and connection with every good character in the series
As much as I love kurama the answer to this question. Is there is no best character. This anime is a master piece. It saved me from suicide and I've watched it since I was 13 and can quote anything from it. There all unique in there own right and everyone brings something important to the table
family guy and yu yu hakusho aqua teen hunger force and dbz all at the same time in 2007--2008 saved me from suicide but thats a different story
Agreed did you ever think that Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho kind of feels similar to Griffith from Berserk
Three years later and this video is still 😚👌🏽. While my favourite YYH character is Hiei, I always found Kurama so deliciously complex and compelling.
It’s crazy how much I love all 4 of the main characters so much. They were made so well and made better as the show went on. Any given day my favorite between the 4 can change so easily. And lmao, she really said Hiei and Kurama were doing it haha. That reminds me when I was like 7 trying to find good fan art of them and accidentally finding yaoi of them lmao. Internet in 2006 was weird haha.
For the longest time I didn’t know who was my favorite yyh character. After my 4th watch through and reading the manga first time. I’ve decided it’s Kurama. His story is so deep
Kurama vs Yomi would have been fantastic and cathartic. Darn it Togashi. If only he had the will to continue the Yu Yu Hakusho manga something like that might have happened.
Also, I would love to hear the analysis behind why Kurama and Hiei are your favorite anime couple.
Heie and Kurama aren’t gay though
@@iangallegos170 Many people don't care about canon. Many people do. But I think the 'don't' camp is bigger. It's more of a 'what if...' when it comes to shipping
He had to end the demon world tournament arc coz he was pressured to do so. If he was given time he wouldn't have rushed it.
I agree, it would have been so interesting to see a fight between Kurama and Yomi. Also, between Kurama and Hiei (I'm certain it wouldn't break the strong bond between them, if anything it would make it stronger)
OMGoodness! This gave me a better perspective and understanding of Kurama's character.
This was sooo beautiful and so well written! Thank you!
I've watched this video so many times. You analysis on Kurama is absolutely incredible. He's my favorite character and you helped me to understand more of him that I missed myself. I hope you'll make a Hiei episode, if you ever come back. Also, yes even now I'm still on the Hiei/Kurama ship 😂
Nice to hear such an analysis to something that for me exists only in my head like yuyu hakusho and Kurama my favorite character as well. Friends couldn't care less about all that. Didn't know what to expect when I clicked, turned out to be very good. You got nice voice as well, kinda reminds me the referee in Dark Tournament I think :D
Kurama is my favorite character.😍 He’s so gorgeous with his rose red hair and grass green eyes.
This. This whole video. This is exactly why Kurama is my favorite. Im so happy I stumbled upon this series, and I can't wait for that kuwabara video :3
I want to say that your analysis of kurama is spot on. I noticed every time I watched he struggled with identity and personality. Yu yu hakusho is a personal favorite of mine and I've grown fond of kurama as a character in this series. I'm hoping to see much more.
Great essay, methodic and thorough. Don't be surprised if people are still watching your video (even though RUclips algorithm works in the most chaotic way by recommended it more than 1 year later) because Yu Yu Hakusho anime have a strong base and growing still.
With all said, I have to make a remark about what you said in ''Thanks for watching'' segment. It was a phrase that threw me off about Hiei and Kurama's relationship.
It baffles me how quickly the younger generation (yeah, yeah, I'm old, deal with it) jump to this general conclusion when it comes of human interactions. If two people (of same or different sex) get along , building a friendship based on mutual respect, they MUST bang each other. I dunno how you understand friendship but involving sex as a catalyst, is not essential. Surely, some friendships can evolve or devolve in sexual desire, but these two- Hiei and Kurama- never shown one hint that could lead to that conclusion. More likely, Kurama is prolly asexual, while Hiei (in his own reserved way) is building a relationship with his boss lady, Mukuro.
Peace.
This review is in-depth and intense! I watched this anime when I was a kid and loved Kurama very much, but never thought much about it. Thank you for making this review, it's very well done!
Glad to see there's someone out there who appreciates yu yu hakusho and the complexity of Kurama as much as I still do. Dunno how this video has any dislikes, it was an accurate and solid dissection of Kurama's entire character arc. You should make more videos in the future if you ever find the time or passion to do so.
I always felt like there were similarities to him the anime character Griffith from berserk
@@higurashianduminekoconnect1702 fuck griffith lol
"Now, Kurama's fight with Roto isn't really of note..."
But you're forgetting the character development inherent in:
Roto: "I'm just a low class. I don't know any better. You believe in Mercy, don't you?"
Kurama: *"No."*
*Roto dies explosively on the spot*
A side of Kurama that hasn't really been seen up to this point: That he's actually a very ruthless killer when forced to be.
Kurama wasn't forced to kill Roto. He had disabled Roto's arm, he was powerless against Kurama by that point. K even makes a point of lecturing Roto on the folly of betting it all on one threat. Kurama killed him because he dared to threaten his mother. If anything, it was the 1st display of Kurama's darker side- his cold fury and penchant for vengeance. He's not the forgiving type.
The only time he was really forced to kill is when he had to win against Gamemaster. His rage at having to kill a child is part of the reason why he deals with Elder Toguro as gruesomely as he does.
@@jeangentry6656 I mean, if we're going to be this pedantic, really, Kurama wasn't forced to kill anyone. We'll just call being a botanically empowered killing machine a lifestyle choice. (Massive spoiler warning: The above is sarcasm.)
I'm fairly sure the alternative to killing Roto was allowing him to continue pulling his scheme on other people--something Kurama's morals would not permit. Ergo, he was forced to kill Roto, by his own (appropriately) merciless sense of justice.
Good riddance.
@@jeangentry6656 Also fairly sure that Kurama damned Elder Toguro to eternal torment out of a sense of justice--Elder Toguro being a conniving scheming body snatcher who enjoys driving people like the Gorenjas to murderous betrayal for kicks. Pretty convinced that had something to do with imprisoning the little tentacular shit in a perpetual illusion of trying to kill Kurama--because of Toguro's depravity. Otherwise he'd not be living out that particular fantasy in vain forever, right?
Anger at Toguro? Toguro is beneath Kurama, in the same sense that Roto is. They're both just plant food. Now, definitely, Kurama is angry at Sensui over Amanuma--and I'm going to guess it's because what Sensui did is tactically reminiscent of what Yoko would have done, and moreover, Kurama is also angry at Sensui because of Yusuke's death. But I wouldn't call being impelled by your own values being "forced", I would call valueless wicked little shits like Roto and Toguro engineering a life or death scenario "forcing" Kurama's hand. The case with Amanuma was more a matter of Sensui deliberately using Amanuma as a human shield and trying to use the sensibilities of his foes against them, and Kurama simply seeing past that to the greater need not to have Hell on Earth from the Makai portal opening, and being the only one of the group ruthless enough to be able to kill a child soldier. In essence, Sensui 'forced' the killing of Amanuma, a naive human child suckered into serving Sensui's agenda, in the effort to use his opponents values against them--and Kurama was forced to step in, I will concur with this sentiment--because he reasoned that nobody else would be stone cold enough to kill the kid. But that priority, even took a backseat, to avenging Yusuke by chasing down Sensui AFTER the portal had opened. Because yay, moral complexity. Kurama is not at all a simple character.
@@jeangentry6656 The distinction being that people are impelled and uplifted by their own values, created through personal experience? But some people have the acquired value of trying to cynically corrupt others' values, and they take that beyond skepticism, into the realm of coercion, torture, and murder. Those latter category are people trying to "force" something. And those people get to go to Hell, as far as I'm concerned. Which is where we draw the line between someone like Kurama and someone like Roto. Alternatively you can just say Kurama is the better schemer, but it's my personal belief that there's a proper scheme and one that falls apart. The Mandate of Heaven, if you like.
Happy to philosophize with you. *tips hat*
@@GoldieTamamo I never claimed Kurama was a simple character, I very much enjoy his complexity.
Kurama was enraged when he fought Elder Toguro (ET). Yusuke's dialogue makes that clear. Elder Toguro and even Kurama himself note that he was so angry that his mind couldn't be read. That wasn't out of righteous anger or a sense of Justice. He was pissed he had been forced to kill a kid and decided to use his next fight to vent. He could have killed ET, yet he sentences him to an eternity of suffering and pain. A "Just" person doesn't do that. We see just how cruel and vengeful he can be when greatly angered. Kurama doesn't have the same sense of Honor that the other three do. Even Hiei is capable of mercy. Kurama is not.
AAA I LOVE THIS!! Kurama is one of my most favourite characters in anime,, if not my favourite, and this makes me so happy because I think about his character in this way a lot, and seeing it put into words like this is just so satisfying 💞
Coming from a Kurama fanboy, well done!
I kind of felt like he always reminded me of Griffith from berserk
I really liked Kurama when I saw this anime when I was a kid.
This video is dope! It gives great insight into a deep character, my favorite anime character
Fun Fact: Around the time when the final stretch of the "Chapter Black" Arc was running in the manga, Togashi wrote a fun little bonus article where Botan 'interviews' the main cast about recent events. When she gets to Kurama, she finds him transformed into Youko, but continues with the interview regardless. We actually learn a few interesting bits of info from this:
- Youko theorises that his recent 'cold-heartedness' (ie: the events involving Amanuma and Elder Toguro) may have something to do with their close proximity to the demon world portal.
- As a side effect of using the Potion of Past Life, if Kurama's emotions reach a breaking point, there is a 50% chance of him reverting back to his original 'Youko' form involuntarily. This explains why he transformed so suddenly after watching Yusuke 'die'. However, every time this happens, the life force of 'Shuichi' is significantly drained.
- When asked which form he prefers, he answers that "Right now, I prefer my original form. But when I'm Shuichi again, I'm sure I'll say that one is better."
- Finally, when Botan asks if Kurama will continue to live in the Human World as Shuichi, Youko replies: "Hmm... Unless something unfortunate happens, it certainly seems that way."
♡♡♡ YOKO GOT HIMSELF ISEKAID INTO OUR WORLD AS SHUICHI/KURAMA. ♡♡♡
As somebody who fell in love with this show WAAAAY back during the Adult Swim/Toonami days, I can say this is a beautifully done assessments of my first and only prominent anime crush 🥰
And that YYH Abridged clip had me dying. God I almost forgot all about it. 🤣
I love all the characters Kurama I do put in my top five my personal favorite character being the happy go lucky cheerful Wind Master Jin. Everyone God Bless, and Happy Thanks Giving!
I watched YYH a good 20 times. But not once did i ever take the time to think about his internal struggle and how he hates his yoko form. Great job
What a beautiful and well thought video. It’s amazing.
This was an amazing video really loved how much detail you put into explaining the significant changes in each arc. I think this video is the reason why I absolutely love him as a character. So many layers that add to each viewing. Makes you really appreciate the works done by the creators of this show.
This was such a good video and perfectly encaptures why I love Kurama
Great video, I would love a college program on Yu Yu Hakusho :)
Thank you for breaking down the character of my favorite character you really braught him to light and made me love him even more thank you so much for making this masterpiece
I'm so glad a video this in depth exists on one of my all time favorite characters! Amazing stuff!
Truly amazing video about my favorite character EVER. Kenshin Himura reminds very much of Kurama as well. Great job.
A very interesting and well-done look at Kurama. Bonus points for the use of the YYH abridged clip
Thank you for this accurate and thorough analysis of Kurama! I really enjoyed watching this video and the one about Kuwabara (you're right, Kuwabara is an amazing character and we can learn a lot from him). Kurama is my favorite anime boy and he's a source of inspiration and strength for me. It always made me sad to see his inner conflict and his guilty conscience about his former life as Youko. Still, I strongly believe that Youko wasn't as ruthless as others may think. He could have killed Yomi, but he didn't and we have proof that he really cared about Kuronue. Which means he definitely had a good side (how else can he get along with Shuuichi and share the same body?). Maybe the things he did were in order to survive in Makai (so out of necessity,, not out of choice). I think Kurama is too hard on himself sometimes. I wish somebody would have told him that, in the anime. If you have time could you also make a video about Hiei? He's also a complex character and I admire him very much. Thank you!
In the manga Urashima is interesting because he claims to be a ressurected embodiment of the Tale of Urashima Taro(Japanese Rip Van Winkle), bit then we learn after his death this was a lie.
But before that via a conversation they discuss his story and how he is glad his suffering in tje tale mattered and regrets being re-directed and forced to fight while also lamenting fid hos kindness to the turtle really entitle him to such a fate?
Great video! I love Kurama, he is my favorite character in this anime.
Didn't Kurama say to Kuwabara while on the sudo space before they enter in the demon world he said "I haven't become Yoko I merely taken on his appearance while maintaining my human personality. That's this spike increase of demon energy."
In the sudo space*
When they're traveling to the Demon World through the tunnel? Yeah, Kurama does say something like that before Kuwabara cuts through the Kekai. I didn't mention it because it's one of those lines that I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, since one one hand, this implies that Kurama is using Yoko as much as the former is, and on the other hand, the show has been treating their mutual existence as more parasitic and mutualistic, since Yusuke being avenged isn't really something Yoko would care about and every other time Yoko's body is seen, it's the 2000+ year old demon fox, not Kurama, in control.
So I kind of treat this one fight a lot like how I treat Hiei in that green multi-eyed body, it looks cool in the moment but when you think about it for too long, it doesn't really make sense with the rest of the world the show has built up.
TL;DR: Yes he does. I didn't bring it up because it didn't fit in with the essay's themes.
@@StudentCleric Now that I have gone back rewatched that scene from that episode I see on how very minor it is, and why you did not bring that up. Not to mention his fight with Shigure makes it crystal clear on what Togashi wants Kurama to be. Thank you very much for the reply I am gonna go binge watch Yu Yu Hakusho from the beginning how I wish my Dad was here so I can watch it with him, but that'll have to wait until christmas. Btw Happy Thanks Giving, and God Bless to everyone. Yu Yu Hakuhso is truly one of the best animes around.
Ever thought of doing a video on Jin?
@@StudentCleric I took it as he got more and more of yoko's power like kurama's realization at the end of karisu's fight. So when he only takes on the appearance it's because they become more as one cognitively as he gains more of yoko's power in the human body.
Hello! I know I'm almost two years late, but I just wanted to say that I'm glad I found your video! It's very informed and your observations really made me open my own mind when I rewatched YYH again! It also makes me very happy to see a video on this wonderful series that's so "recent" when most date back several years. I hope at some point more people will share their thoughts, opinions and observations like you did, and I hope this video gets more popularity and recognition soon for how well you managed to execute it! Thank you for sharing this video and I look forward to any others you may have on this absolute legend of a series!
Thank you for this amazing video. I enjoyed it very much. Kurama is my favorite character from YYH, so I was very pleased to find a video like yours here on RUclips. It's really well done!
I love this video! Kurama is also my favorite character EVER! Across anime!! Love him 🥺 Thank you for this deep dive into his character. I learned things I didn’t know even though I’ve seen this series a couple times. And things I always thought were in this vid too. So much love for this vid. Subscribed ✨
This was fantastic. Always loved Kurama but this made me appreciate him even more
I loved when kurama fight scenes occur, because he uses his high iq intelligence and real flashy it’s always a game like of chess with him always 10 steps ahead
Can we acknowledge the amazing quality of this video well done and thanks for this video about my favorite character
Absolutely incredible analysis.
This kind of video is fire please make more! Especially yuyu it’s literally my favorite as well 😌
Welcome to the world of anime video essays ;)
Yoko=ID
Kurama=ego
Shuichi=superego
Very well thought out break down. Each point is organized very well in a neat order.
The only thing is, it's not three in one body, but two. Shuichi is his human name, Kurama is his demon world name & Yoko is literally the word for demon fox in Japanese. When Kurama was injured in the spirit world, he sought refuge in the human world in Shiori Minamino's unborn child. The unborn child being it's own person was, for the most part, possessed by Kurama. Hence, there is only two beings "sharing" one body (if you can call or consider possession sharing that is.) I am guessing when they tranlated YYH for the English dub, they called Kurama "Yoko Kurama" to differentiate between human & spirit world Kurama. Interestingly, if my memory serves me right, Hiei recognized Shuichi as being the "legendary" bandit Kurama & referred to him using his demon name. But I don't know why Yusuke did so, as he would probably only know him as Shuichi Minamino, unless maybe Shuichi used Kurama as a nick name or his first meeting with Kurama was through Hiei. I don't recall that they ever covered that in the anime & I have yet to read the manga, so idk; I am just speculating there. Also, if anyone else had pointed this out before me, I do apologize; I didn't read any comments before posting.
These are interesting points. I guess a more literal way of wording the point of this essay would have been, "Three Identities, One Body," because there aren't literally three lives within this one form, more like three distinct identities. I didn't watch the sub, I really don't like Megumi Ogata as Kurama, so I can't speak for it, but in the dub all three are giving distinct names; Shuichi is only used by Shiori, his step family and Kaito, people who know him primarily from his human life, Kurama is used by all of the main cast (Koenma introduces Yusuke to Kurama as Kurama, not Shuichi, so he doesn't use his human name since he doesn't know him as a human, but as this neither human nor demon being), and Yoko is the only title the demon is given, he is called Yoko Kurama, but the short hand in english is just to refer to him as Yoko.Because of the way the three are addressed in the series, each of the three has a title assigned only to them, making the identities of all three distinct and separate from each other. You've got the "good" Shuichi, the "bad" Yoko and the middle man Kurama, who is both and yet neither.
Or at least that's how I see it. This is of course 100% subjective and for all I know, Togashi would disagree with everything I said, haha.
This was so well written. Outstanding Video
Literally a few days ago I was thinking to myself I wonder if anyone made a deep dive on Kuruma.
Just found this video. Love Yu Yu. Love Kurama. Love this Analysis. Keep it up.
This was a lovely video, for the love for Yu Yu hakusho as well as my favorite character as a teenager. It's also presented in such detail and depth of character development and the inner struggles of Kurama, Shuichi, and Yoko. I loved this video😊
Beautiful. I saw this in my recommended and I do not regret it, Kurama is my second favorite character (Hiei is my first) and you've perfectly explained his struggle and story arc. Thank you.
Edit: WOW this is from 2018?? This is why Yu Yu Hakusho is so great, very timeless (also, KuramaxHiei 5ever ✋😩)
Well all 3 of them are excellent characters.
Great video on Kuruma! I really enjoyed watching it!
Who srsly loves Kurama?
And wants to become a character in Yu Yu Hakusho? Lol I know its not just me..
Btw 8:20: I ain't used to that voice of Hiei.
yeah its somehow not "hiei's voice" well whatever I came for the analysis anyway haha...
Me too! I want to be a character in YYH just to meet Kurama! 😁
That's me your talking about
I love this anime. In fact I own all four seasons and the movie. Much like you my favorite character is Kurama. There is just something about those eyes and that whitty personality that I can't get enough of. Also much like you I enjoyed seeing Yoko take control the first time I watched the series. But as I just finished watching it again I began to question how he would balance who he is versus who he was. And honestly I wondered if there was effectively a way for the two sides of him to ever actually become one. This video that you made helps to put things into perspective, but it also brings up another question. Would Yoko still be the cold hearted demon that he is if he found someone to love? would he finally see things just a little bit differently and see that Kurama was right and that there is more to life than the thrill of the hunt? Just food for thought. And I really enjoyed the video. Especially since it was about my favorite red head. A close second to Kurama is definently Hiei, so I will be looking forward to seeing a video about him next.
I HAVE WATCHED 3 TIMES AND I STILL FIND KNEW THINGS EVERY TIME :] GREAT WORK!
I really really loved this video. I'd never really taken Kurama's back story into much consideration before, mostly because of one line he says in the Chapter Black arc about his outward appearance of being Yoko being nothing more than an aesthetic change, a sign that he "powered up" more or less. But the inner turmoil of this character is actually a very understated aspect of this series, and it's perhaps overshadowed by Sensui's own inner turmoil and multiple personas. And when Yusuke is revealed to be part demon, he makes an interesting mirror to Kurama, a human trying to keep his demon side at arms length and Yusuke embracing his demon heritage. All very interesting stuff. It's a shame Yu Yu Hakusho's ending was a little rushed, but it's a damn fine series and I ultimately like how the series leaves off.
Indeed. Kurama is a demon turned human, who is embracing his humanity while trying to resist the call of his true nature, while Yusuke is a human turned demon, embracing and experimenting with his new found demon heritage. Interestingly, what causes them both to chose humanity is a human woman's love (though obviously, different types of love).
Remember that one time when Kurama killed that kid? Yeah.
please make more videos, i enjoyed it
Ok. Let's see what else you got.
Kurama is my favorite too. I wasn't sure if I was gonna finish the when he passed out after fighting Toya.
Kurama is probably my favorite character in all of shonen anime.
Best video essay on kurama 💯
I know this is old but I love Shuichi/Kurama as a character underrated anime and I've always thought him to be more of a representation of the animal the fox than Naruto whose annoying as hell.
This was well executed and thoughtout.
One thing however, "Youko" (It's recommended not to drop letters in words/names in Japanese it's a bad habit) is just a title it just means "fox demon" nothing more. Kurama is his actual demon form name. So it just comes off as weird but I get why you used Youko to make the distinction for Kurama to be the middle ground.
Also, to my understanding, after the Dark Tournament, Kurama and Shuichi's bond is more of a merge and Shuichi just accesses Kurama's form to access his powers/true potential as oppose to allowing Kurama to take over personality-wise. Like he's said before the symbiotic relationship between them is a merger not a possession.
Another thing I questioned for years was why Kurama never used the Ojigi plant against Sensui but then I realized that the Ojigi plant would of attacked his friends unbiasedly because it's a plant that doesn't take orders it just goes after anything that moves so using it in a group fight against Sensui would be unrealistic and more harmful than good for Kuwabara and Hiei who are fighting along side of him. Not sure if it would of made a difference since Sensui is ten times more powerful than Karasu even though at this point Kurama was an A class demon. Sensui was a S class.
Also, is it accurate to call the energy that Shuichi wields is spirit energy or is it demon energy since he's merged with Kurama and the energy that he wields originated from Kurama who wields demon energy so wouldn't that mean that he also draws from Kurama's demon energy to create his plants?
He doesn't use spirit energy/reiki like Yusuke or Kuwabara otherwise it would appear similar to theirs. No this I believe is him utilizing a pre-existing skill that Kurama had as a demon something he as Shuichi wouldn't be capable of doing on his own if the merger never happened. The plant creation is specifically linked to Kurama thus I believe it's more accurate to call it demon energy.
I’ve never thought Kurama and Yoko as separate but it makes total sense. As soon as I saw your video listed as I scrolled I knew I’d subscribe.
One of the realest to step foot in, through, and out of Demon World 💯💪🏾
“Little red-headed love bean.”
This is one of the best Character breakdowns I've ever seen. Fantastic effort put into this.
Kurama became my favorite too. Just finished the show for the first time recently after it got cancelled on toonami many moons again.
Would love to hear more. Nice to find someone with the same opinion as I
In the English dub chapter black the fight with game master it was stated only the Goblin King dies whilst the players can try again part of black Angels plan to buy time while forcing them to kill a human
Thanks for making this. It's nice to know yu yu Hakusho impacted a female audience as well.
I was genuinely shocked by the Gay Baby Jail reference!!! HAHAHA YOU MIGHT BE THE BEST RUclipsR EVER! Your voice is really good too! HAHAHAHA I support you ALL the way!