Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Hiei comes to life once more in a breathtaking new sculpture from Kotobukiya. The updated figure is being released internationally — great news for fans of the Yoshihiro Togashi-created franchise.
Per retailers such as BigBadToyStore, acclaimed action figure and toy developer Kotobukiya has officially released its new “Yu Yu Hakusho ArtFX J Hiei 1/8 (Version 2) Scale Figure.” The statue stands at 9.65 inches tall and is the latest addition to Kotobukiya’s acclaimed Art J line of non-articulated anime figurines. The sculpture features Hiei from Yu Yu Hakusho‘s “Dark Tournament Saga” and sees the diminutive demon calling upon his powerful Dragon of the Darkness Flame technique in the heat of battle.
Created by Yoshihiro Togashi (also well-known for Hunter x Hunter) and published by Shueisha, the original Yu Yu Hakusho manga debuted in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump in December 1990 and quickly amassed a dedicated fan base. The series follows teenage protagonist Yusuke Urameshi after he loses his life while saving that of a stranger and then journeys through the Underworld. There, Yusuke is put through a series of tests to determine whether he is worthy of returning to life, after which he becomes a bonafide supernatural investigator of his own. The series consists of four main arcs, beginning with the “Spirit Detective Saga,” followed by the fan-favorite “Dark Tournament Saga,” and closing out with the “Chapter Black” and “Three Kings” sagas.
The character Hiei, voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama in the original anime and Chuck Huber in the English dub, is introduced as one of the main antagonists of Yu Yu Hakusho‘s opening story arc before later joining forces with Yusuke and finding a place for himself among the series’ leading cast. A powerful demon, Hiei is portrayed as a distant, often aloof figure, which only serves to hide the roiling whirlpool that exists just beneath his cool, calm demeanor.
Yu Yu Hakusho Creator Yoshihiro Togashi Continues to Share New Manga Artwork
In January, Togashi shared a beautiful homage to one of the series’ early illustrations with fans through his official social media accounts. The image, which recreates the cover of the manga’s Volume 1 cover art from 1991, features Yusuke’s closest friend and eventual love interest Keiko Yukimura standing in the center of the frame in her classic look. This shot of Keiko is set against the backdrop of a larger image of Yusuke looking over his shoulder back at her. Togashi shared the piece with the caption: “I overslept. I had a really good dream.”
The “Yu Yu Hakusho ArtFX J Hiei 1/8 (Version 2) Scale Figure” from Kotobukiya is currently available for pre-order. The Yu Yu Hakusho anime is available to stream on Crunchyroll, while the live-action adaptation is currently available on Netflix. The original manga is licensed in English by Viz Media.
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