Product Details

• Actors: *
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Viz
• DVD Release Date: September 23, 2003
• Run Time: 75 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00009WHSJ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,879 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Inuyasha - Kikyo's Wandering Soul (Vol. 8)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As the tapestry of her "feudal fairy tale" grows richer, Rumiko Takahashi draws on traditional Japanese sources for a bizarre array of monsters and villains. Trapped in an artificial clay body, Kikyo's soul becomes a hungry ghost out of folk tales. She uses the spirits of dead women to maintain her physical form until she can slay Inu-Yasha. When Kagome interferes, Kikyo learns of Naraku's treachery and the real cause of her death. Naraku's evil plots continue: when Sango, a girl who kills demons with a boomerang-like blade, is injured battling a spider monster (an enemy that occurs frequently in Kabuki plays), Naraku murders everyone in her village. He blames Inu-Yasha, hoping Sango will kill him. Kagome and Myoga begin to explore the origins and nature of the "sacred jewel" that radiates power yet brings misfortune to everyone who approaches it. (Rated: 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, brief nudity) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most important DVD in the series, March 11, 2004

By 

Kip Earlywine (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inuyasha - Kikyo's Wandering Soul (Vol. 8) (DVD)

I first watched Inu Yasha (the first 52 eps) on adult swim. I am just now buying up the DVDs. To be honest, I was not impressed with this show much from the first 13 episodes. Kikyo's arrival in episodes 14 and 15 really pulled me into this anime. Her return in episode 22 represents one of the highest points in the first 3 seasons; because it escalates Inu Yasha's primary (and best) storyline arc. If there was any storyline arc I found nearly as compelling, It is Sango's. The way she parts from her father and brother is perhaps the most cruel and emotional I have seen in an anime to date. Her brothers eventual dependency on a sacred jewel fragment sets up interesting plot developements down the road as well. Episodes 22-24 cover the introduction and reintroduction of the animes 2 best story arcs, respectively.

Conveniently, 3 of the best episodes in the entire series fell into one DVD.

If you bought the first 7 volumes, then you would have to be crazy not to get this one.

The voice acting is done by the reliable ocean group (Ranma 1/2, Escaflowne); If you don't like this dub you probably saw it subbed first or don't like dubs period. The casting in the sub version makes the anime feel darker, more cinematic, and frankly, better.

I still prefer the dub though, I've recognized 9 voices from Escaflowne (a good dub) so far, and the dub of Inu Yasha is much funnier. Richard Cox (Ranma in Ranma 1/2) is well cast for Inu Yasha, probably an even better cast than he was in Ranma 1/2. His brash talking style is perfect. Kagome is completely different in the dub; more of a cheerleader. I still like her better in the dub because she makes Kagome seem nicer and a more attractive love interest for Inu Yasha, but some will find her annoying. Kirby Morrow (Van in Escaflowne) is perfect as Miroku. A big surprise was Kikyo's voice actress, who only had small roles (Hitomi's friend Yukari in Escaflowne and Kasumi Tendo Ranma 1/2) before this. I can hardly recognize her voice in this anime, its filled with so much emotion. Her voice works very well deep and understated, it has kind of a strange sexyness/mystery to it. At times she borders on overacting and sounding cheezy, but she rides that line well and the end result is very impressive. She's probably a very big reason why Inu Yasha is one of my favorite animes. Sango is perfectly cast as Kelly Sheridan (Hitomi from Esca, and the beloved Ukkyo from Ranma 1/2). Paul Dobson does great work once again as Naraku and Myoga (He is probably best known for playing Folken in Esca). I didn't catch his name, but the voice actor for Sesshomaru is very very good, perhaps the best male voice actor in the show. He shames the relatively goofy sounding Japanese voice by comparison. Kagura and Koga (when they come in) are excellent voices as well.

There are some annoying voices too. Shippo is less entertaining and more annoying in the dub. Jaken (Sesshomaru's helper) is simply unbearable. The overall effect of the dub voice actors makes Inu Yasha seem more lighthearted; more fun. But be warned, it will probably take a while to enjoy the dub for what it is.

If you are a fan of Rumiko Takahashi, Inu Yasha will not dissapoint, even if it is a little unconventional and little more action oriented (and darker). This is perhaps her best anime for characters and character development, and thats saying a lot.

The dvd has some issues playing on some dvd players (like computer dvd drives). I too think that VIZ is a little insane for releasing these volumes 3 episodes at a time. The extra expense is fine, but the wait is becoming hard to bear.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three Great Episodes!, April 17, 2004

By 

Dr. Michael A. Rinella (Albany, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inuyasha - Kikyo's Wandering Soul (Vol. 8) (DVD)

I wrote a review for this DVD already, but Amazon has not posted it! I don't know why - maybe it was too long or they thought it had "spoiler" information.

So I won't say a lot, just that of the episodes I've seen, and own on DVD, I really like these three!

Episode 22: "A Wicked Smile: Kikyo's Wandering Soul" and Episode 23: "Kagome's Voice and Kikyo's Kiss". Sort of a two-part episode, though they are not called that. Wow, great music, the eerie Kikyo (aka "the angry dead ex-girlfriend from hell!") and the Kagome-Inu Yasha-Kikyo love triangle, come on, it don't get any better than this! Seriously, the combination of the supernatural, the spiritual, and love lost, is very powerful. I recommend you check out Kikyo's facial expressions throughout these episodes, they are so varied and complex, they really took care to show her inner turmoil. She's not at all like your standard anime character.

Episode 24 "Enter Sango, the Demon Slayer" is certainly bloody but Sango is probably my favorite *human* character (Sesshomaru and Kikyo are more interesting, but the one's a full demon and the other's sort of like your living dead). Sango is a strong female protagonist, older (18-20?) and neither as hyper, emotional or clumsy as Kagome. All of which makes sense, given that she is from a pre-industrial era and trained in physical combat (skills that are useful for fending off the advances of a certain "bad boy" Monk!).

All three episodes are top notch. If you buy this one I suspect you will want to buy more!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SEVERED LOVE, July 31, 2005

By 

Sesho "www.sesho.libsyn.com" (Pasadena, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inuyasha - Kikyo's Wandering Soul (Vol. 8) (DVD)

The three episodes on this eighth volume are especially poetic and tragic, packing a strong emotional wallop. The first two episodes center on the vengeful soul of Kikyo. Last seen falling to her death, she survived and has been residing in a village, posing as a priestess. To all apperances, she seems like her old self, being respected as holy, acting kind, playing with children, etc. But she hides a dark secret. She must gather the souls of dying young women and consume them in order to keep the shape of a human. The rumors of her deeds have spread, and a nobleman has asked Inuyasha and the others to protect the soul of his dying daughter. They accept the task, not knowing that Kikyo is involved. Meanwhile, at another village, Sango, a demon-slayer for hire from a village that kills demons for a living attend upon a lord whose main advisor is Naraku! How will this evil demon try to ensnare Sango into helping him in his battle against Inuyasha?

Kikyo and Sango are both young women whose lives are irrevocably changed by the demon Naraku. He takes a loved one away from both of them. Even in the form Kikyo inhabits now, she still loves Inuyasha, but it doesn't have a future. And I think she also senses that Inuyasha's heart is bending away from her and towards Kagome. Sango has to see her village and family destroyed in cold blood, all in an effort to lure her into a trap of Naraku's. This volume is not for the faint-hearted because it involves a lot of heartbreak.