I hope no one takes offense at this, but for me YYH *is* very similar to aspects of dbz. The difference (again, for me) is that YYH lacks the major flaws/problems I have with dbz. Except for Kuwabara's fights, the action isn't drawn out past the point of dramatic tension (even Yusuke's fight with Sensui was mixed with enough emotional reactions from the others to keep it intense). The focus *does* shift to more minor characters in the middle of some fights, but it's almost always an important scene that's taking place at the same time (flashing to the others to show why they aren't helping Yusuke during the Maze episodes, showing Keiko during Yusuke's fight to parallel the two of them and show how similar they are, flashing to the others to show their reactions during Genkai's final fight with Toguro, etc). There are a *lot* of characters, just like dbz, but even the minor characters are given growth (in half the episodes of dbz). The previous opponents do have a habit of becoming good (like dbz - Piccolo, Vegeta), but it makes sense for them - they were never 'bad' to begin with, merely on the opposite side (of a tournament no less). The fights, as much as they do take up a large part of the anime, vary each and every time. The plot doesn't repeat itself over and over (just think of that plot twist in the final tournament - no one would have guessed how that tournament would end) - there are 'missions' - separate substories with minor fights, detailed tournament style fights (rather like dbz there), and large 'world-saving' fights (sensui - could be compared to cell) - but each one ends with some sort of twist that is nothing like dbz. Even the build up tends to be different if you think of Toguro and Sensui as being the main 'world-endangering' villains.azulmagia wrote:Yu Yu Hakusho (loved) Seems to be dbz-ish to me...
Pretty much everything I like about dbz can be seen in YYH, but YYH has a lot that dbz lacks (for me) - the characters themselves are so varied (a lot more than comparing Bulma/Krillin/Yamcha as the lackeys) - as 'minor' characters, Kurama and Hiei have at least as much character building as the two main ones. And it's so condensed. Hiei's entire history is told in about one episode, his entire character is defined in 20 minutes to the point where you understand everything about his character. Kurama's history is spread out more, but even his story doesn't take up more than an episode or two, yet it doesn't feel weak at all.
My point, is that yes, I agree YYH and DBZ *do* have a lot of themes in common in my opinion, but YYH is better to me because while it has all the things I like about dbz, it doesn't have any of the things I *dislike* about dbz. And it has a lot that dbz doesn't have - like the romances. I doubt many people would say dbz did well with its romances (Videl - blackmail, rescue-type femininity, bossy female; Bulma - bossy female, arguing, spoiled attitude - with both Yamcha and Vegeta; Chi-chi - bossy, stubborn, fighting, bossy; Android 18 is the only exception and that 'romance' is so fake it's funny - no offense intended). YYH on the other hand has all *sorts* of romances mixed into the story, everything from the main character and Keiko to Genkai and Toguro (wtf - talk about odd romances).
Yeah, I don't mind having people put DBZ and YYH in the same category - but you have to recognize where YYH differs. I think it has even more focus on drama and the characters than dbz does - for all that it's much shorter.