InuYasha

Author: Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma ½)
Japanese Title: InuYasha
Episodes: 167 (+ 4 Movies)
Rating: Teen
Release Studio: Viz Video
Release Year: 2002
Main Voice Actors:
InuYasha ~ Richard Cox
Kagome Higurashi ~ Moneca Stori
Kikyo ~ Willow Johnson
Shippo ~ Jillian Michaels
Miroku ~ Kirby Morrow
Sango ~ Kelly Sheridan
Kaede ~ Pam Hyatt
Myoga ~ Paul Dobson
Sesshomaru ~ David Kaye
Jaken ~ Don Brown
Rin ~ Brenna O’Brien
Naraku ~ Paul Dobson
Kagura ~ Janyse Jaud
Kanna ~ Janyse Jaud
Koga ~ Scott McNeil
Sota Higurashi ~ Saffron Henderson
Kagome’s Mom ~ Cathy Weseluck
Kagome’s Grandpa ~ French Tickner

Kagome Higurashi is a normal high school student who lives at a shrine. One day, while at their well with her brother, a demon pulls her into the well. Kagome is sent to feudal Japan. Fifty years ago (in feudal times), the shikon jewel was protected by a priestess named Kikyo but a half-demon, InuYasha, attempted to get his hands on it. They fell in love and instead of using the jewel to become a full-demon, Kikyo makes a proposition to use it to make it human. InuYasha steals the jewel from the town and Kikyo bounds him to a tree. Wounded, Kikyo uses the rest of her power to bind InuYasha and dies. The jewel is burnt with her remains. In the forest, Kagome sees the bounded InuYasha and is taken to the near-by village. She finds out she is the reincarnation of Kikyo. A demon attacks the village and the shikon jewel is reborn when it comes out of Kagome's body. Kagome runs to the forest where she frees InuYasha and he slays the demon. When demons come after the jewel, Kagome accidently shatters it, and the pieces scatter all over Japan. Now Kagome and InuYasha must keep the jewel out of the wrong hands and collect all the pieces before they are used for wrong. Along the way, they meet friends and foes. Thus begins InuYasha!

InuYasha was both my first anime and manga so I have a soft spot for it. The series is currently making its run on Adult Swim and DVDs are also available. Currently, 2 out of the 4 movies are out and the 3rd is coming out on September 6th. A very popular anime, a lot of InuYasha merchandise is out: wallscrolls, shirts, action figures, plushes, soundtracks, etc. It's also quite long compared to the usual 26 episodes.

InuYasha is great. It has a bit of everything: action, drama, humor, romance, near-death experiences, separated familes, new friendships, sexual harassment (available from Miroku), you name it. The fight scenes are different as InuYasha develops skill with the Tetsusaiga, a sword left for him from his father. All the characters change and develop and adapt to their enemy and their enemies can also adapt. Thus some fights can go to around 3 episodes though most stay in one or two. InuYasha and Kagome's relationship changes as their journey progresses but when they fight over trivial matters, it can be amusing. Miroku's sexual harassment towards all the ladies is also amusing. The bad guys also change. Sesshomaru, InuYasha's older brother, gets a new sword, Tokijin. Naraku absorbs demons which make him stronger.

When it comes to the music, personally I like "Fukai Mori" by Do As Infinity (aka the second ending). I like all of the endings with the exception of the sixth one, "Mischievous Kiss". The song is okay, the images aren't that great. The opening songs are nice though if you watch Inuyasha on Adult Swim, you won't be able see the openings. (I have only heard the songs.)

Personally, I love InuYasha, it's one of my favorites. However, the only bad thing is that if you are strictly an action lover, you'll want to steer clear of the romance episodes. If you are strictly a romance lover, you'll want to steer clear of the action. If you like both, this is a good series.

There is also a manga. There are certain differences in manga and anime. For example, a set of episodes doesn't appear in the manga but does in the anime. Another example is that one set of episodes appears early in the manga but later in the anime. You'll also notice the art is a little different (as with the movies and anime). Sesshomaru looks a little more masucline in the anime.