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Why does Hulu not have all episodes of Yuyu Hakusho?
If you are a dedicated fan of the classic anime Yu Yu Hakusho and find yourself asking, “Why does Hulu not have all episodes?”, you are experiencing the frustration common in the world of anime streaming. While Hulu once carried the entire 112-episode series, its catalog for Yu Yu Hakusho—specifically the later sagas like the Chapter Black Saga and the Three Kings Saga (Seasons 3 and 4)—has frequently been incomplete or entirely removed.
The primary reason for these gaps is a complex web of licensing agreements, content rotation, and exclusive distribution deals orchestrated by competing platforms. Understanding this landscape is key to finding the complete series and anticipating future streaming changes.
Phase 1: the core problem: content licensing and expiration
Unlike internally produced shows, content acquired from third parties, particularly long-running anime series, is governed by temporary contracts.
1. The nature of streaming rights
Streaming apps like Hulu must negotiate with the content owners—in the case of Yu Yu Hakusho, the rights holders include Japanese companies like Studio Pierrot and the US-based distributor, Funimation (now consolidated under Crunchyroll).
- Temporary Contracts: These agreements grant Hulu the right to stream the show for a fixed period (e.g., two to five years). Once the contract expires, Hulu must renegotiate for renewal.
- Segmented Rights: Licensing deals can be fragmented. For older, classic anime, a distributor might hold separate rights for:
- The first half of the series (Seasons 1 & 2).
- The latter half of the series (Seasons 3 & 4).
- The English Dubbed version (which requires a separate licensing fee from the Subbed version).
This segmentation explains why, historically, Hulu watchers have often reached the end of the Dark Tournament Saga (mid-Season 3) only to find the remainder of the series suddenly missing. Hulu failed to renew the license for the final seasons, while retaining the license for the initial episodes.
2. Hulu’s content rotation policy
Hulu’s library is designed to be a rotating carousel. The platform relies on constantly bringing in new movies and shows while allowing older, less cost-effective licenses to expire.
- Cost vs. Viewership: If the cost to renew the license for Yu Yu Hakusho’s remaining seasons is deemed too high relative to the number of subscribers who watch it, Hulu will simply let the license lapse. This manages their overhead and allows them to allocate funds toward acquiring current network TV shows or creating new Hulu Originals.
Phase 2: the anime streaming turf war (Crunchyroll vs. Hulu)
The most significant factor affecting Yu Yu Hakusho’s presence on Hulu is the fierce competition for anime supremacy.
1. Consolidation under Crunchyroll
The distributor that originally popularized Yu Yu Hakusho in the US, Funimation, was acquired by Sony and subsequently merged with Crunchyroll.1 This merger created a massive, consolidated platform for anime streaming.
- Exclusive Distribution: With the majority of major anime licenses under one roof (Crunchyroll), the incentive to license their top-tier, classic content to competitors like Hulu is greatly reduced.
- The Power of Exclusivity: By pulling the later seasons of Yu Yu Hakusho from Hulu, Crunchyroll forces dedicated fans to subscribe to their platform, directly increasing their subscriber count and reducing what is known as “content parity” (where every service offers the same shows).
The removal of Seasons 3 and 4 of Yu Yu Hakusho from Hulu is a classic example of Crunchyroll tightening its grip on its exclusive catalog to drive users to its own dedicated service.
2. The role of other platforms (Netflix)
Even Netflix periodically enters the licensing fray. Yu Yu Hakusho has been known to appear temporarily on Netflix in certain regions, often sparking confusion among fans.
- Limited-Time Stunts: These deals are often short-term, high-cost acquisitions intended to attract new subscribers during specific periods. When Netflix releases its live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho, for instance, the original anime series often appears globally to capitalize on the hype, only to be removed again after a few months as the license expires or is reclaimed by Crunchyroll.
Phase 3: the impact on dubbed vs. subbed content
The discrepancies in episode count are often tied to the specific version (dubbed or subbed) of the series.
- Separate Licensing Fees: Licensing the English Dub version of Yu Yu Hakusho requires a separate agreement and payment to the company that produced the dub (in this case, Funimation/Crunchyroll).
- Incomplete Dub Catalog: It is common for a streaming service to secure the rights to the entire subbed version but only the rights to the dubbed version for the first two seasons. If Hulu loses the dub rights for the later seasons but retains the sub rights, the catalog will appear incomplete to fans who prefer the dubbed experience. In the case of Yu Yu Hakusho, Hulu has historically lost the later dubbed seasons first, forcing users to switch to the Japanese audio track or migrate to Crunchyroll.
Phase 4: alternatives for watching the complete series
If Hulu is missing the episodes you need, the solution lies in subscribing to the platform that currently holds the long-term, exclusive rights.
| Platform | Current Availability (US) | Version | Notes |
| Crunchyroll | Full 112 Episodes | Subbed and Dubbed | The current definitive home for the complete series, often with better quality and guaranteed access. |
| Netflix | Varies | Subbed and Dubbed | Content appears and disappears based on short-term licensing deals and hype cycles (e.g., around the live-action release). |
| Digital Purchase | Full 112 Episodes | Subbed and Dubbed | Buy the seasons on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV for permanent, guaranteed access regardless of streaming rotation. |
| Physical Media | Full 112 Episodes | Dubbed | Buying the Blu-ray/DVD box sets is the only way to ensure access to the show forever, independent of streaming service changes. |
Conclusion
The reason Hulu does not have all episodes of Yu Yu Hakusho boils down to a strategic loss of license rights to a competitor, primarily Crunchyroll. As streaming platforms battle for market share, content like the latter half of the beloved anime is used as an exclusive driver to encourage subscriptions elsewhere. For fans, the key to uninterrupted viewing is to follow the distribution deals and recognize that dedicated anime platforms like Crunchyroll are the most reliable destination for the complete series.
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