Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

All right, one more then I’m going to bed. Boy am I a reviewin’ fool today! Well, I’m actually on episode #62 so I have a lot of catching up to do, heh.

General Info – Inuyasha is brought to you by the talented and creative Rumiko Takahashi. If you’re familiar with her famous Ranma ½ then by all means look into this series. The Inuyasha series is a total of 167 episodes with a mere 3 episodes per DVD, and once you’re in, it’s really hard to get out. Yeah, I know. 3 per DVD = Lame, but that was Viz’s decision, so oh well.

Onward!

Episode 22: While keeping a vigil over a girl’s body to make sure her soul isn’t stolen away, the group spots the culprit that’s been taking souls in the nearby areas. Soul snatchers. It isn’t long before they’re chasing after them and Kagome finds herself separated from the others. This could be a bad thing. It is. Because now she finds herself standing right in front of Kikyo.

Episode 23: Inuyasha, having learned Kikyo is still alive (or as alive as she can be, having been baked in an oven and all) is trouncing through the forest and eventually finds Kikyo. Kagome is bound to a tree, under a spell by Kikyo so Inuyasha cannot hear or see her. Kikyo still has issues, and even with Inuyasha spilling his guts right in front of her, still seems unable to let go, much to Kagome’s horror.

Episode 24: Sango is a Demon Hunter, coming right out of a hidden village that specializes in such practices. Some of the strongest hunters are summoned to a castle to kill a giant spider demon; these hunters include Sango’s father and her brother Kohaku. But what do these people have to do with Inuyasha and the others?

Animation – grand! The countryside Kagome finds herself surrounded by is lush and green with open fields of grasses and wildflowers, mountains in the distance. Colors are bright and vibrant; the difference between modern and feudal Japan is well done. Each character has their distinct outfits which help add to their personalities, like Shippou’s little hair bow and Inuyasha’s fire robe. It irks me at times that Kagome continues to wear her school outfit while hiking around backcountry Japan. It doesn’t take that much common sense to realize fighting demons and hiking through woods and over rivers in a freakin’ skirt and generic shoes is a bad if not downright stupid idea. Oh well. At least all the demons have their unique characteristics, and I do really like Kikyo’s soul snatchers, I think they’re really interesting both in style and function. Sango’s outfit, though I’ve never been to sure of the choice of pink, is interesting, her weapon a bit odd, but I can let that go. What I like best about Sango concerning clothes, is that she actually changes from demon hunting getup to regular clothes when she needs to. Haha, a bit Batman-like, if I may. But it’s okay, it works well and it’s nice to see someone changing at least.

Music – fun times! I’m not the biggest fan of the opening song, “Change the World” by V6, but I still think they’ll switch it up later. The ending song, however, I am a fan of. Do yourself a favor and find “My Will” by Dream. I often listen to it. They’re both upbeat and in Japanese…well, “My Will” is completely anyway, maybe that’s partially why I don’t like “Change the World” so much – random English tossed into a Japanese song throws me off sometimes. As for the instrumental stuff, well, let’s just say it’s very nice, gets even better over time, and makes for great soft stuff to fall asleep too (been doin’ it for years actually ^_~).

Voices! Japanese is great of course. English – pretty damn good. I’ve decided to turn this into a sort of list because characters just keep getting added as we go along.
Inuyasha – love both VAs, and am unable to pick a favorite. Perfect characterization.
Kagome – enjoy both, but prefer Satsuki Yukino for Japanese version.
Sesshoumaru – I *love* David Kaye for the English version, but just barely over the Japanese VA
Shippou – both are totally cute, and I cannot choose a favorite
Jaken – they both crack me up, prefer Japanese just a *bit* over the English one
Kikyo – definitely prefer the Japanese version, just seems to fit better
Miroku – both VAs are very good, very similar, and I can’t pick a favorite
Naraku – the evil guy, done very well by all VAs (2 Japanese, 1 English), no favorites, though they have different qualities, they’re all good.

This volume’s voice focus is on Sango. I’m sure that makes you guess she’s gonna be an important character. Heh. Her voice works well in both languages, though I feel a slight preference for the Japanese one coming on, mostly because it’s a little more forceful and, I guess I could say, Sango-like. She goes from armor to dress, and he voice reflects that personality, hard and soft all packed into one person. Kelly Sheridan almost manages to do this, but falls *just* short of Houko Kuwashima’s performance. Still, it’s not by much, mind you.

A note to parents. There is some language, some implied nudity (such as if Kagome is bathing and Inuyasha accidentally shows up and sees something – though it usually earns him a particularly painful “OSUWARI!”), and a definite amount of violence and blood involved. Demons tend to do that to Inuyasha and even then, some of these demons are pretty creepy looking and do some weird things. They are demons, after all. The point is, be a good parent and make the decision. That’s why I’ve been putting up the 㥹 and up” label on all of these. Hint hint.

Final thoughts? Rough times now and lying ahead of our heroes – so much to wade through and so many opponents to defeat!

Episodes in this Volume:
Episode 22: A Wicked Smile; Kikyo's Wandering Soul
Episode 23: Kagome's Voice & Kikyo's Kiss
Episode 24: Enter Sango, the Demon Slayer

NT


Earlier Inuyasha Volumes:
Volume 1: Down the Well
Volume 2: A Girl’s Best Friend
Volume 3: Fathers and Sons
Volume 4: The Thunder Brothers
Volume 5: Secret of the New Moon
Volume 6: Deadly Liaisons
Volume 7: Face of the Enemy

Future Inuyasha Volumes:
Volume 9: Origin of the Sacred Jewel
Volume 10: Scars of Battle
Volume 11: Into the Miasma
Volume 12: Swords of Destiny
Volume 13: Den of Wolves
Volume 14: The Wind and the Void
Volume 15: Broken Fang
Volume 16: Heart of the Beast
Volume 17: Shattered Memories
Volume 18: The Demon Within
Volume 19: The Way to Wisdom
Volume 20: Fathers and Sons
Volume 21: Double Trouble
Volume 22: The True Face Of Evil
Volume 23: Wicked Clutches
Volume 24: Severed Identities
Volume 25: Crimson Blade
Volume 26: Curse of Generations
Volume 27: Brothers In Arms
Volume 28: Promise of the Past
Volume 29: Castle of Evil
Volume 30: Monkey Business
Volume 31: Duplicates and Dilemas
Volume 32: Glow of the False Jewel
Volume 33: Unexpected Encounters
Volume 34: Children of Snow

Inuyasha Movies:
Movie 1: Affections Touching Across Time
Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass
Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older