Yu Yu Hakusho Episode 1 Analysis: Surprised to be Dead - The importance of perception and perspective

https://1anime.to/episode/92853-yu-yu-hakusho-episode-1-english-dub - beginning to 21:42

     I already have several posts about the anime Yu Yu Hakusho.  I'm not sure if I'm going to create

other posts about this anime, but something that I've been thinking about a lot recently is its first

episode and why I like it so much since I have watched it several times.  Since Yu Yu Hakusho is my

favorite anime, which I have already explained in detail on this blog, I guess it would make sense that I

would like the first episode a lot (how it starts is definitely better than how it ends).  I believe this is

due to its emphasis on the importance of perception and perspective.

     The episode starts with nothing spectacular - just a usual day people going about their lives until a

seemingly random car accident involving an older kid saving a younger one for some reason (a ball is

involved).  It becomes clearer as this episode progresses as to what actually happened, and what

happens as a result, but it turns out that the main character of this anime is the older kid who saves the

younger one.  Besides his age, the first thing we learn about this main character is that he's dead.  If

that's not a hook to continue watching this episode, I don't know what is.

     Another interesting thing about this hook is that while we know this character is dead (even if we

weren't told, we could easily see that), the character himself doesn't know, which causes him to think

about what is happening, as well as how.  This not only helps this character realize what is happening,

which is explained further by the introduction of a new character, but also helps us understand him, as

well as the other characters he interacts with.  At this point, I would also add that we only get a mostly

negative perception of the main character, which gives him a rather negative perspective on things.

    The introduction of a new character I mentioned in the previous paragraph also helps change the

negative perspective of the main character.  At first, the main character is only interested in seeing the

condition of the kid he saved (another important character in this episode - probably indirectly in the

rest of the series too).  He doesn't care if he can be brought back to life since he thinks there is no point

to that and people would be better off if he stayed dead.  What really helps change this negative

perspective is being able to see his own wake before making a more informed decision on whether or

not he wants to be brought back to life.  After seeing how people feel about him being gone, from

literally a different perspective, he gains a new perspective on life, which allows him to agree to the

ordeal that can bring him back to life.  The rest of the series shows us how this perspective gradually

improves, but this new perspective starts with this episode.

     Perspective and perception is also important in our lives.  Together, they also let us see things

differently and make better informed decisions.  For example, going to comic con for me is

something I'm not crazy about doing, which I realized after being at it for a day (don't even think I

want to do the anime con one anymore).  There are also other things that can help us with what we

do, as well as why, but perspective and perception are important.

   

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