Anime Review: Inuyasha (English Dubbed Version)

Perhaps one of the most well-known anime series thanks to the exposure it has received on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, Inuyasha has become known as the show you either love, or love to hate. A good storyline with well-developed characters is marred by repetitive animation sequences and the tendency to draw subplots out far too long. The pros still outweigh the cons by a great deal, but the drawbacks are inescapable.

The plot centers on an irritable half-demon named (appropriately enough) Inuyasha and a modern-day schoolgirl called Kagome. She also happens to be the reincarnation of the powerful Shinto priestess Kikyou, who was also Inuyasha's lover. Kagome's dragged into Japan's feudal era-Inuyasha's time-by a demon in the well on her family's property; this begins a long series lasting seven seasons with several movies in between. A recurring cast of other main/secondary characters include a libidinous monk, a demon slayer with an ancient pet cat, a young fox demon and an enemy with a grudge that can create full-bodied extensions of himself-complete with individual personalities. Not to mention Kikyou herself coming back from the dead, vying for Inuyasha's attention.

Though the plot isn't particularly complex, it's solid enough to carry the story through 167 episodes. The progression is mostly linear, with various subplots to expand upon the background and personalities of the main characters. There are enough plot twists to keep the show fresh without tearing the realism out of it. The problem comes in when "filler" episodes start appearing more frequently than episodes that move the plot along. Some will explore the complicated relationship Inuyasha and Kagome have, which gives the episode a redeeming quality, but all too often it will be another "encounter demon, have trouble slaying the demon, discover way to slay demon, successfully slay demon" formula. In my opinion it takes away from what is otherwise an intriguing story and just delays the group from achieving their goal.

One type of filler episode is actually a welcome break from all the fast-paced action: the episodes that provide comedic relief. While humor is sprinkled liberally throughout the entire series, there are a few such episodes that are devoted entirely to making the fans laugh. Without giving too much away, one of the most famous examples of this was an episode in which the juvenile fox demon Shippo battles the equally young sole surviving member of a demon family Inuyasha had fought at the beginning of the series.

One of the most interesting things about the anime is the thought that was put into each character's development. Even the more minor characters are explored more deeply than many other anime series would dare go. The love triangle between Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyou is tragic and heartfelt, and the animosity between Inuyasha and his enigmatic half-brother Sesshoumaru leads to endless tension-filled scenes. By the end of the series, one can't be truly certain which side of good or evil Sesshoumaru stands on-if he stands on any side at all.

The animation is well-done, but as I mentioned earlier, the frequent repetition of certain action sequences (Inuyasha's "Wind Scar" attack being a good example) can be cause for consternation. It's obvious with a series so large that cost quickly becomes a concern, but I truly believe if the producers thought hard enough they could have come up with better ideas than the monotonous stock footage and what I call "Greek Tragedy Syndrome" (in which the action takes place off-stage where the audience can't see it.) Keeping these annoyances within the larger scope of the series, however, they're relatively minor compared to the excellent storyline and well-developed characters.

This anime isn't made for younger viewers, but if you can get past the sometimes graphic nature of demon slaying and the sexual innuendos, older children and up will appreciate what the anime has to offer. All in all, it's a wonderful story with a proper mix of action, romance, comedy and mythology with something to interest everyone.