Inuyasha
3.5/4
Starring (voices): Moneca Stori, Richard Ian Cox, Kirby Morrow, Kelly Sheridan, Jillian Michaels, Paul Dobson, David Kaye, Michael Dangerfield, Scott McNeil, Willow Johnson, Janyse Jaud
Why am I writing a review of an entire TV series? Why not? It's my site. Besides, I've reviewed a few miniseries too. So why can't I review this too? Besides, it can be argued that the TV show tells a complete story. Just one that takes 180 hours to tell (that's 7.5 days, for anyone who is counting).
But the real reason I'm reviewing it is because I feel like I should. It's a great show, and one that means a lot to me personally. It was what got me to see the anime genre in a positive light. It's safe to say that I wouldn't have seen "Spirited Away" or "Grave of the Fireflies," two incredible films, had it not been for this TV show.
On its whole, "Inuyasha" is fantasy, but pigeonholing it into one genre is a mistake because it contains a lot of everything. It's at times exciting, scary, tragic, mysterious, funny and thrilling. If there's a genre that it misses, I don't know what it is. But what really sets it apart is its sense of adventure. It's an epic saga with emotional highs and lows with a group of a characters who are a blast to spend time with. More importantly is that it's just great storytelling.
The story is set in feudal Japan, where man and demon live together, and not always peacefully. There exists the Jewel of Four Souls, a powerful jewel that will grant the one who has it extraordinary power. Guarding it is a priestess named Kikyo (Johnson), who defends it from all manner of demon and man alike. But she falls for a half-demon (demon father, human mother) named Inuyasha (Cox), and he with her. They plan to use it so he can become fully human, but he betrays her to her death. Before she dies, she seals him to a tree and orders that the jewel be burned with her body.
In the modern age, a girl named Kagome (Stori) is a normal girl whose family is the guardian of an ancient shrine. On her fourteenth birthday, she is pulled into the shrine and into the feudal era, fifty years after Kikyo's death. Inuyasha awakens from his sleep and saves her from a demon who has gotten the jewel. However, Kagome inadvertently shatters the jewel into many pieces that fly all over ancient Japan. Now, the two of them have to band together to find them. Along their journey, they team up with a few new friends, including an orphaned demon named Shippo (Michaels), a lecherous monk named Miroku (Morrow) and a demon slayer with a tragic past named Sango (Sheridan).
Every good story needs a good villain, and boy, does "Inuyasha" deliver. The antagonist of this story is a half-demon named Naraku (Dobson). I once listed him as my favorite villain, and for good reason. Naraku is pure malice. He's both clever and ruthless. Most villains have a weakness or some sort of moral boundary. That's not the case with Naraku. He's pure evil, holding a trump card to manipulate his opponents and his subordinates to his own ends. Not only does he absorb other demons to gain their power, he torments his opponents psychologically with a degree of malevolence that makes Darth Vader look like a pussy. Every line uttered by his voice actor, Paul Dobson, drips with malice.
The other actors are just as good. Richard Ian Cox is terrific as the reserved and blunt Inuyasha. It's at times brash, but his journey towards becoming a more trusting and mature person is captivating to watch. Cox has a little trouble with some of the heavier drama (he's never convincing when he cries), but such moments are rare. And he has no trouble with any of the show's humorous moments. As Kagome, Moneca Stori imbues the character with energy and spunk. She's caring and tough, and won't let anyone, be it Inuyasha or Naraku, stop her from doing what needs to be done. She's so good that when she retired between the original show and "The Final Act," her replacement Kira Tozer seemed like an imposter. Kirby Morrow is also very good as a thoughtful monk with a hand that can suck in anything and a weakness for women. He balances humor and intensity perfectly. Kelly Sheridan plays his foil and love interest Sango, a girl with a tragic past and whose brother is being held as a slave by Naraku. She's strong and handy in a fight, and brings with her a cat demon who can grow to massive size and carry people on her back. Jillian Michaels is hilarious as Shippo, a young orphan who tags along simply because he has nowhere else to go. Too young and weak to do any real fighting, he's mainly on hand for comic relief, something Michaels accomplishes with style.
The main crew meets some other characters in their travels, some of whom are friendly, villainous or a mix. Take Sesshomaru (Kaye/Dangerfield), for example. He's Inuyasha's older stepbrother, who believes that Inuyasha's powerful sword should have been left to him, and is willing to kill to get it for himself. He despises humans, but he nonetheless takes an orphaned human girl with him after he revives her with his sword. Or Koga (McNeil), a wolf demon who impulsively claims Kagome to be his bride (which sets up a hilarious love triangle) and who hunts Naraku after members of his tribe are slaughtered by Kagra (Jaud), the deadly Wind Sorceress, one of his subordinates. Or Lady Kaede (Pam Hyatt/Linda Darlow), Kikyo's younger sister who acts as a mentor to everyone. Special mention has to go to Willow Johnson, who plays the revived Kikyo. Without going into spoiler territory, her story is tragic. More so than it initially appears, in fact. This sets up a love triangle that forms a key role in the story.
Also important is Kagome's home life. While she does primarily adventure in the feudal era, she is still a student, and her attempts to balance her home life with her quest to reclaim the jewel lead to some hilarious episodes. Such as her grandfather who is always making up ridiculous excuses for why she is missing so much school, or Inuyasha's mistaken belief that exams are a literal demon. But they offer a sense of respite and relaxation. When Kagome goes home, we get a chance to take a breath.
If this confuses you, well, I don't blame you. Shape-shifting is important in Japanese myth, and it is a huge part of the world in which "Inuyasha" takes place. Characters are often different from who they seem to be, both literally and figuratively. They evolve and their personalities change. Alliances shift and motivations are altered. This is an epic saga of power, revenge, and romance.
As serious as this story sometimes is (that's by design...creator Rumiko Takahashi said she wanted to create something darker than her earlier works), it's also hilarious. There's plenty of comedy to be found here, some of which is laugh out loud funny. The humor is occasionally bawdy, such as Miroku's habit of asking every woman to bear him children (or groping them). Or the rivalry between Inuyasha and Koga, which is never played straight. There's a lot of slapstick, too, like how Inuyasha is slammed to the ground by the necklace he is forced to wear when Kagome says "Sit" whenever he's particularly thoughtless or crude. It's a bit that never fails to get a laugh.
Things change during season 5, when the notorious Band of Seven is resurrected (in the world of "Inuyasha," death isn't always final). A group of marauding mass murderers, it veers the show into pretty dark territory, from which the show doesn't really rise above. It doesn't sink the show by any means, but it does lose a little of the adventurous spirit that made it so infectious. The seasons after that have their fair share of lighter moments and fun, but when it begins to tie up everything, it gets pretty dark.
The quest to reclaim the jewel before Naraku and the love story between Inuyasha and Kagome are the main thrusts of the story, some of the stand alone episodes and arcs are just as memorable. The battle with the Panther demons, a village of possessed widows, a demonic painting, and a sea serpent that demands human sacrifice are all ones that stick out over the many adventures that Inuyasha and his friends have.
Every TV show has its share of episodes that fall flat, and "Inuyasha" is no different. Essentially, whenever the show deviates from the main characters, it falls flat. Shippo, Kagome's brother Sota (Saffron Henderson) are just not strong enough characters to hold their own episodes. The episodes that put them at center stage are duds, and a slog to get through. Also falling flat are episodes that put the relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome at the forefront. While the film is as much a romantic comedy as an adventure, it's best when it's in the background.
Still, this is an awesome adventure that everyone should take. Sure, there are a few dud episodes and some truly awful dialogue. But there are so many wonderful moments, thrilling battles and engaging characters that even after 10 seasons, you won't want to let the characters go.
Few shows can make that claim.
Starring (voices): Moneca Stori, Richard Ian Cox, Kirby Morrow, Kelly Sheridan, Jillian Michaels, Paul Dobson, David Kaye, Michael Dangerfield, Scott McNeil, Willow Johnson, Janyse Jaud
Why am I writing a review of an entire TV series? Why not? It's my site. Besides, I've reviewed a few miniseries too. So why can't I review this too? Besides, it can be argued that the TV show tells a complete story. Just one that takes 180 hours to tell (that's 7.5 days, for anyone who is counting).
But the real reason I'm reviewing it is because I feel like I should. It's a great show, and one that means a lot to me personally. It was what got me to see the anime genre in a positive light. It's safe to say that I wouldn't have seen "Spirited Away" or "Grave of the Fireflies," two incredible films, had it not been for this TV show.
On its whole, "Inuyasha" is fantasy, but pigeonholing it into one genre is a mistake because it contains a lot of everything. It's at times exciting, scary, tragic, mysterious, funny and thrilling. If there's a genre that it misses, I don't know what it is. But what really sets it apart is its sense of adventure. It's an epic saga with emotional highs and lows with a group of a characters who are a blast to spend time with. More importantly is that it's just great storytelling.
The story is set in feudal Japan, where man and demon live together, and not always peacefully. There exists the Jewel of Four Souls, a powerful jewel that will grant the one who has it extraordinary power. Guarding it is a priestess named Kikyo (Johnson), who defends it from all manner of demon and man alike. But she falls for a half-demon (demon father, human mother) named Inuyasha (Cox), and he with her. They plan to use it so he can become fully human, but he betrays her to her death. Before she dies, she seals him to a tree and orders that the jewel be burned with her body.
In the modern age, a girl named Kagome (Stori) is a normal girl whose family is the guardian of an ancient shrine. On her fourteenth birthday, she is pulled into the shrine and into the feudal era, fifty years after Kikyo's death. Inuyasha awakens from his sleep and saves her from a demon who has gotten the jewel. However, Kagome inadvertently shatters the jewel into many pieces that fly all over ancient Japan. Now, the two of them have to band together to find them. Along their journey, they team up with a few new friends, including an orphaned demon named Shippo (Michaels), a lecherous monk named Miroku (Morrow) and a demon slayer with a tragic past named Sango (Sheridan).
Every good story needs a good villain, and boy, does "Inuyasha" deliver. The antagonist of this story is a half-demon named Naraku (Dobson). I once listed him as my favorite villain, and for good reason. Naraku is pure malice. He's both clever and ruthless. Most villains have a weakness or some sort of moral boundary. That's not the case with Naraku. He's pure evil, holding a trump card to manipulate his opponents and his subordinates to his own ends. Not only does he absorb other demons to gain their power, he torments his opponents psychologically with a degree of malevolence that makes Darth Vader look like a pussy. Every line uttered by his voice actor, Paul Dobson, drips with malice.
The other actors are just as good. Richard Ian Cox is terrific as the reserved and blunt Inuyasha. It's at times brash, but his journey towards becoming a more trusting and mature person is captivating to watch. Cox has a little trouble with some of the heavier drama (he's never convincing when he cries), but such moments are rare. And he has no trouble with any of the show's humorous moments. As Kagome, Moneca Stori imbues the character with energy and spunk. She's caring and tough, and won't let anyone, be it Inuyasha or Naraku, stop her from doing what needs to be done. She's so good that when she retired between the original show and "The Final Act," her replacement Kira Tozer seemed like an imposter. Kirby Morrow is also very good as a thoughtful monk with a hand that can suck in anything and a weakness for women. He balances humor and intensity perfectly. Kelly Sheridan plays his foil and love interest Sango, a girl with a tragic past and whose brother is being held as a slave by Naraku. She's strong and handy in a fight, and brings with her a cat demon who can grow to massive size and carry people on her back. Jillian Michaels is hilarious as Shippo, a young orphan who tags along simply because he has nowhere else to go. Too young and weak to do any real fighting, he's mainly on hand for comic relief, something Michaels accomplishes with style.
The main crew meets some other characters in their travels, some of whom are friendly, villainous or a mix. Take Sesshomaru (Kaye/Dangerfield), for example. He's Inuyasha's older stepbrother, who believes that Inuyasha's powerful sword should have been left to him, and is willing to kill to get it for himself. He despises humans, but he nonetheless takes an orphaned human girl with him after he revives her with his sword. Or Koga (McNeil), a wolf demon who impulsively claims Kagome to be his bride (which sets up a hilarious love triangle) and who hunts Naraku after members of his tribe are slaughtered by Kagra (Jaud), the deadly Wind Sorceress, one of his subordinates. Or Lady Kaede (Pam Hyatt/Linda Darlow), Kikyo's younger sister who acts as a mentor to everyone. Special mention has to go to Willow Johnson, who plays the revived Kikyo. Without going into spoiler territory, her story is tragic. More so than it initially appears, in fact. This sets up a love triangle that forms a key role in the story.
Also important is Kagome's home life. While she does primarily adventure in the feudal era, she is still a student, and her attempts to balance her home life with her quest to reclaim the jewel lead to some hilarious episodes. Such as her grandfather who is always making up ridiculous excuses for why she is missing so much school, or Inuyasha's mistaken belief that exams are a literal demon. But they offer a sense of respite and relaxation. When Kagome goes home, we get a chance to take a breath.
If this confuses you, well, I don't blame you. Shape-shifting is important in Japanese myth, and it is a huge part of the world in which "Inuyasha" takes place. Characters are often different from who they seem to be, both literally and figuratively. They evolve and their personalities change. Alliances shift and motivations are altered. This is an epic saga of power, revenge, and romance.
As serious as this story sometimes is (that's by design...creator Rumiko Takahashi said she wanted to create something darker than her earlier works), it's also hilarious. There's plenty of comedy to be found here, some of which is laugh out loud funny. The humor is occasionally bawdy, such as Miroku's habit of asking every woman to bear him children (or groping them). Or the rivalry between Inuyasha and Koga, which is never played straight. There's a lot of slapstick, too, like how Inuyasha is slammed to the ground by the necklace he is forced to wear when Kagome says "Sit" whenever he's particularly thoughtless or crude. It's a bit that never fails to get a laugh.
Things change during season 5, when the notorious Band of Seven is resurrected (in the world of "Inuyasha," death isn't always final). A group of marauding mass murderers, it veers the show into pretty dark territory, from which the show doesn't really rise above. It doesn't sink the show by any means, but it does lose a little of the adventurous spirit that made it so infectious. The seasons after that have their fair share of lighter moments and fun, but when it begins to tie up everything, it gets pretty dark.
The quest to reclaim the jewel before Naraku and the love story between Inuyasha and Kagome are the main thrusts of the story, some of the stand alone episodes and arcs are just as memorable. The battle with the Panther demons, a village of possessed widows, a demonic painting, and a sea serpent that demands human sacrifice are all ones that stick out over the many adventures that Inuyasha and his friends have.
Every TV show has its share of episodes that fall flat, and "Inuyasha" is no different. Essentially, whenever the show deviates from the main characters, it falls flat. Shippo, Kagome's brother Sota (Saffron Henderson) are just not strong enough characters to hold their own episodes. The episodes that put them at center stage are duds, and a slog to get through. Also falling flat are episodes that put the relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome at the forefront. While the film is as much a romantic comedy as an adventure, it's best when it's in the background.
Still, this is an awesome adventure that everyone should take. Sure, there are a few dud episodes and some truly awful dialogue. But there are so many wonderful moments, thrilling battles and engaging characters that even after 10 seasons, you won't want to let the characters go.
Few shows can make that claim.
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