The popular shonen anime series Yu Yu Hakusho may soon be leaving Netflix, according to the official Netflix page for the series. Based on the manga by Yoshihiro Togashi, creator of Hunter x Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho has earned a strong following, especially in the West, where it gained popularity through its run on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim alongside other hits like Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist.
Despite its large fanbase, Yu Yu Hakusho is scheduled to leave Netflix in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Latin America on April 1st. Fans will have until March 31st to watch the series on Netflix.
Where Can Fans Watch Yu Yu Hakusho After It Leaves Netflix?
While Netflix’s decision to remove Yu Yu Hakusho seems odd, especially after the release of a live-action adaptation in 2023, this isn’t the first time a series has been removed despite a major remake. For example, the live-action Cowboy Bebop remake didn’t stop the original anime from leaving Netflix in the U.S.
For fans who want to continue watching Yu Yu Hakusho, the anime will still be available on Crunchyroll and Hulu in the United States. Additionally, episodes can be purchased individually for $2.99 on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
However, fans hoping to watch the series’ two movies will be disappointed, as they are currently unavailable on any streaming service. While not essential, completionists may want to seek them out elsewhere.
A Wider Issue for Anime Fans
While it’s unfortunate that Yu Yu Hakusho is leaving Netflix, the situation highlights a larger issue with the availability of anime on streaming platforms. Yu Yu Hakusho is fortunate to be on other streaming services like Hulu and Crunchyroll, but many beloved anime series like Eureka Seven, Serial Experiments Lain, and Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) are hard to find or only available for expensive per-episode rentals.
If Yu Yu Hakusho were unavailable on other platforms, fans might need to turn to physical copies, such as the $149.95 anniversary Blu-ray box set currently on Amazon. While the series will be fine after leaving Netflix, this situation underscores the importance of preserving anime for future generations of viewers.
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