InuYasha Review
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 11:54 pm
For those of you that know me you can just ignore this post and ask me, plainly, on MSN Messenger to tell you, 1-10, how good it really is. For those of you who don't get me on MSN Messenger, get a drink and a snack 'cause you're going to be here for a while...
InuYasha...
... is a creation by Takahashi Rumiko, whom most of you would probably recognize by one of Rumiko's more popular works "Ranma 1/2".
Unlike Ranma 1/2, InuYasha is not a pure comedy (though it does have its moments), but a more serious adventure of six companions (if you include the ever-cute Kirara (Kilala in the English version))...
STORYLINE
A young girl named Higurashi Kagome falls into a well and takes a trip across time to the past. Kagome finds herself in the Sengoku Jidai era (Warring States period; 1467-1568 AD) of Japan! More than that, she soon discovers she carries the Shikon no Tama (Jewel of Four Souls) within herself and she becomes a target for evil who wishes to use the awesome power of the Shikon to Tama to further their own ambitions.
During the attack of a centipede youkai (demon) she awakens the sealed Inuyasha, a hanyou (half demon, half human). Inuyasha failed to gain the Shikon no Tama for himself and starts following Kagome around hoping to steal it at one point or another.
Kagome ends up shattering it in an attempt to gain it back from another attack and the shards of the Shikon no Tama are spread through out Japan. Kagome and Inuyasha decide to travel together to regain the shards and piece back together the Shikon no Tama... but an evil demon named Naraku lurks in the shadows, also seeking all the shards...
Throughout the story, Inuyasha and Kagome eventually meet up with the characters Shippou (Shippo in the English version), a small fox youkai; Miroku, a corrupt (perverted) monk with a black hole in his left hand, cursed there by Naraku; Sango, a youkai exterminator who lost her family to Naraku, and her youkai cat partner Kirara. Also along the way, an old Miko from Inuyasha's past and a youkai named Sesshoumaru decides to join the fray.
ANIMATION
The animation is pleasant to the eye. Smooth in transitions, good use of colors; not to bright, not to dark, they took extra care in making it so the viewer can see exactly what's going on while making the lighting look naturally part of the surroundings.
The youkai enemy designs are full of detail and a certain species looks different from one another, like humans, being able to distinguish between one and the other (unlike in other anime where demons of the same race practically identical).
The youkai's (sometimes magical-like) attacks are beautifully rendered. An example being Sesshoumaru's "Souryuuha" (Azure Dragon Blast) or Kagome's "Hama no Ya" (Arrow of Purity), which are colored brightly, but drawn incredibly detailed, aiming to make the viewer think of it as something real. They do this a lot in the Inuyasha series, which I think is something incredibly phenomenal; you don't see it often.
In the midst of all this, they don't skimp on the main characters, either. There's not much I can say about them, but you can look at the explanation of the youkai enemies and apply the same meaning here; they're drawn and animated really good.
BACKGROUND MUSIC
Shit... I love this crap. I'm not a BGM kind of person, not usually, but this stuff is like crack; it gets you addicted... not- not that I know how addictive crack is... I'm just making a point... <looks innocent>.
No, but seriously now, you'll hardly notice that it’s actually there because it melds in so well with what's going on what what's on the screen currently. I rate this as something really good because, if you don't realize its there that means your mind thinks it good. 'Nuff said. Though, there was one, I'm not sure which one it is, that really stands out and is totally bizarre... look out for it.
OP & ED THEMES
There are five opening themes and seven closing themes. I'm not going to go through them all, but rather mention my two favorites.
1st ED: "My Will"
This is my favorite song of all Inuyasha. The beat and lyrics make me want to get up and dance. I suck at dancing so never play it if I'm near you in real life or, more likely than now, you'll be taken to the hospital because you just had a sudden seizure. One of my favorite lines of all time is in this song: "Wakatte mo tomaranai mou; dare ni mo makenai." Which means, to my limited knowledge of Japanese, "I won't stop; I won't give in to anyone."
Also worthy of noting is the Italian version so this song, which is sung entirely in English. The lyrics don't match the Japanese version, but the point is the same; you should listen both if given the chance.
1st OP: "Change the World"
My second favorite song, it was once tied with the fifth opening sequence, 'One Day, One Dream' but 'One Day, One Dream' soon left that spot to and Change the World became my second favorite. This is another song that I'll just get up and dance to... again, don't play it if I'm ever near you in real life... You’re liable to loose a dozen or so pounds because you puked too much afterwards. Played by the great 'V6', this song is matched by none except My Will. The beat is cool, the lyrics meld, somewhat, to the beat and go along 'swimmingly'. If I recall, I sent this song to BreakmanX and he enjoyed it.
Worthy, again, of mention is the Italian version of this song which is also sung entirely in English... by 'V6'! Wow... a band doing both versions of the song... unheard of unless your Sakamoto Maaya (whom learned English just so she could sing the Escaflowne Movie theme in English).
FINAL COMMENTS
I warn you. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT watch the episodes one after another. If you do, and you get to about episode 192, you'll be absolutely fucking sick of the show. Trust me; I know this from my own experience. Took me a year to get over it and start watching again (I'm glad I did too, as I forgot how fun it was). Its a long series that's dragged out for a really, really long time. However, the surprises you get along the way, the changes that they put in later, will also get you interested again. Like the third movie, which is (in the mighty words of Richie) absofuckinglutly wonderful.
None of the three movies have been licensed by any American company and they're not expected to for a while. However, fan sub groups, such as the one I work for (InuYasha 4Ever) have subtitled them for fan's viewing enjoyment. The first movie is called "Toki wo Koeru Omoi" (Love that Transcends Time), the second is called "Kagami no Naka no Mugenjo" (The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass or Dream Castle Inside the Mirror), and the third is called, "Tenka Hadou no Ken" (The Sword of the World Conquest or The Sword that Rules Over the Empires). The third movie has yet to be fan subbed for the obvious reason already mentioned; its in theatres.
I hope you enjoy the series if you decide to watch it. I'm sure Richie can say a few things about this series since he also follows the fan subs.
OVERALL SCORE: 9
I give it a 9 to 10 because this series is drawn out really, really long. I really, seriously don't mind this, however, I try to look at it from all aspectual views, and some people just might now like how long the series is, and, sometimes, how bland the episodes can be. I personally give it a full 10 in my eyes. Check it out, you probably won't regret it. And if your in Japan, check out the third movie in theatres now.
InuYasha...
... is a creation by Takahashi Rumiko, whom most of you would probably recognize by one of Rumiko's more popular works "Ranma 1/2".
Unlike Ranma 1/2, InuYasha is not a pure comedy (though it does have its moments), but a more serious adventure of six companions (if you include the ever-cute Kirara (Kilala in the English version))...
STORYLINE
A young girl named Higurashi Kagome falls into a well and takes a trip across time to the past. Kagome finds herself in the Sengoku Jidai era (Warring States period; 1467-1568 AD) of Japan! More than that, she soon discovers she carries the Shikon no Tama (Jewel of Four Souls) within herself and she becomes a target for evil who wishes to use the awesome power of the Shikon to Tama to further their own ambitions.
During the attack of a centipede youkai (demon) she awakens the sealed Inuyasha, a hanyou (half demon, half human). Inuyasha failed to gain the Shikon no Tama for himself and starts following Kagome around hoping to steal it at one point or another.
Kagome ends up shattering it in an attempt to gain it back from another attack and the shards of the Shikon no Tama are spread through out Japan. Kagome and Inuyasha decide to travel together to regain the shards and piece back together the Shikon no Tama... but an evil demon named Naraku lurks in the shadows, also seeking all the shards...
Throughout the story, Inuyasha and Kagome eventually meet up with the characters Shippou (Shippo in the English version), a small fox youkai; Miroku, a corrupt (perverted) monk with a black hole in his left hand, cursed there by Naraku; Sango, a youkai exterminator who lost her family to Naraku, and her youkai cat partner Kirara. Also along the way, an old Miko from Inuyasha's past and a youkai named Sesshoumaru decides to join the fray.
ANIMATION
The animation is pleasant to the eye. Smooth in transitions, good use of colors; not to bright, not to dark, they took extra care in making it so the viewer can see exactly what's going on while making the lighting look naturally part of the surroundings.
The youkai enemy designs are full of detail and a certain species looks different from one another, like humans, being able to distinguish between one and the other (unlike in other anime where demons of the same race practically identical).
The youkai's (sometimes magical-like) attacks are beautifully rendered. An example being Sesshoumaru's "Souryuuha" (Azure Dragon Blast) or Kagome's "Hama no Ya" (Arrow of Purity), which are colored brightly, but drawn incredibly detailed, aiming to make the viewer think of it as something real. They do this a lot in the Inuyasha series, which I think is something incredibly phenomenal; you don't see it often.
In the midst of all this, they don't skimp on the main characters, either. There's not much I can say about them, but you can look at the explanation of the youkai enemies and apply the same meaning here; they're drawn and animated really good.
BACKGROUND MUSIC
Shit... I love this crap. I'm not a BGM kind of person, not usually, but this stuff is like crack; it gets you addicted... not- not that I know how addictive crack is... I'm just making a point... <looks innocent>.
No, but seriously now, you'll hardly notice that it’s actually there because it melds in so well with what's going on what what's on the screen currently. I rate this as something really good because, if you don't realize its there that means your mind thinks it good. 'Nuff said. Though, there was one, I'm not sure which one it is, that really stands out and is totally bizarre... look out for it.
OP & ED THEMES
There are five opening themes and seven closing themes. I'm not going to go through them all, but rather mention my two favorites.
1st ED: "My Will"
This is my favorite song of all Inuyasha. The beat and lyrics make me want to get up and dance. I suck at dancing so never play it if I'm near you in real life or, more likely than now, you'll be taken to the hospital because you just had a sudden seizure. One of my favorite lines of all time is in this song: "Wakatte mo tomaranai mou; dare ni mo makenai." Which means, to my limited knowledge of Japanese, "I won't stop; I won't give in to anyone."
Also worthy of noting is the Italian version so this song, which is sung entirely in English. The lyrics don't match the Japanese version, but the point is the same; you should listen both if given the chance.
1st OP: "Change the World"
My second favorite song, it was once tied with the fifth opening sequence, 'One Day, One Dream' but 'One Day, One Dream' soon left that spot to and Change the World became my second favorite. This is another song that I'll just get up and dance to... again, don't play it if I'm ever near you in real life... You’re liable to loose a dozen or so pounds because you puked too much afterwards. Played by the great 'V6', this song is matched by none except My Will. The beat is cool, the lyrics meld, somewhat, to the beat and go along 'swimmingly'. If I recall, I sent this song to BreakmanX and he enjoyed it.
Worthy, again, of mention is the Italian version of this song which is also sung entirely in English... by 'V6'! Wow... a band doing both versions of the song... unheard of unless your Sakamoto Maaya (whom learned English just so she could sing the Escaflowne Movie theme in English).
FINAL COMMENTS
I warn you. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT watch the episodes one after another. If you do, and you get to about episode 192, you'll be absolutely fucking sick of the show. Trust me; I know this from my own experience. Took me a year to get over it and start watching again (I'm glad I did too, as I forgot how fun it was). Its a long series that's dragged out for a really, really long time. However, the surprises you get along the way, the changes that they put in later, will also get you interested again. Like the third movie, which is (in the mighty words of Richie) absofuckinglutly wonderful.
None of the three movies have been licensed by any American company and they're not expected to for a while. However, fan sub groups, such as the one I work for (InuYasha 4Ever) have subtitled them for fan's viewing enjoyment. The first movie is called "Toki wo Koeru Omoi" (Love that Transcends Time), the second is called "Kagami no Naka no Mugenjo" (The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass or Dream Castle Inside the Mirror), and the third is called, "Tenka Hadou no Ken" (The Sword of the World Conquest or The Sword that Rules Over the Empires). The third movie has yet to be fan subbed for the obvious reason already mentioned; its in theatres.
I hope you enjoy the series if you decide to watch it. I'm sure Richie can say a few things about this series since he also follows the fan subs.
OVERALL SCORE: 9
I give it a 9 to 10 because this series is drawn out really, really long. I really, seriously don't mind this, however, I try to look at it from all aspectual views, and some people just might now like how long the series is, and, sometimes, how bland the episodes can be. I personally give it a full 10 in my eyes. Check it out, you probably won't regret it. And if your in Japan, check out the third movie in theatres now.
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