Customer Reviews

Inuyasha, Vol. 55 - The Bond Between Inu Yasha and Kagome

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This is the Final Volume in the Inuyasha anime series containing episides:

164 - Possessed by a Parasite: Shippo, Our Worst Enemy!
165 - The Ultimate Key to Defeating Naraku
166, 167 - The Bond Between Them, Use the Sacred Jewel Shard!(I and II)

This is not the 'end' of Inuyasha. The ending of the anime series coincides with Volume 36 of the manga (roughly, chapter 356) and continues the story until the last manga volume 56.

There is one tricky thing about watching Japanese anime versus readingthe original manga that inspired it. Sometimes the two are not quite the same due to the fitting of the story to the medium. If you've only experienced the American incarnations of either, you might be surprised at the differences between the Japanese and Americanized versions.

Thus,when the last episode aired here, many have been distressed that the story seems to end unresolved. The anime loosely follows the manga for about the first 370 some-odd chapters, but what then? I strongly recommend reading the manga as it is still going on and promises some really amazing surprises as well as some truly heartwrenching moments. I too, was alarmed when the series seemed to cut off without resolving some sticky issues, BUT, it's much easier to handle if you know that Takahashi has not yet reached the end of her epic series and in Japan, the number of published chapters has just passed 500. Enjoy the series for what it is: an animated protrayal of some really enjoyable characters whose story is much bigger than what can be contained in a TV series.

I'm probably a good deal older than the target audience for InuYasha, and yet I have been utterly hooked on it for two years now, which is far longer than I was ever enchanted by Harry Potter (which is way cool still). What is it about InuYasha that holds me so fascinated? Well, I discovered that each of the characters have a deep and complex psychological impact on each other, and the interactions between them is so interwoven and detailed, I could probably write a Psychology Paper for a master's degree just on the sheer depth of the story participants despite the fantasy evironment. Fantasy has historically had difficulty creating characters that engage the mind on more than a momentary entertainment level. If you are willing to really immerse yourself in the InuYasha universe, there is so much to experience and learn that it clearly would take far more space than I have here to describe.

At the more superficial "entertainment" level, it's completely enjoyable, though I would have been happier with InuYasha if the story played up the obvious chronological age difference between Kagome and InuYasha. He looks to be in his mid to late teens (depending on who is doing the animation in a particular episode) though he is actually around 150 years old. (200 years actual years, 50 of which he spent sealed to a tree.) He would have 150 years of life experiences behind him before he ever met Kagome so he would hardly be as naive as he is portrayed in the anime. The manga is more cagey about his past and reveals little about his history. Since Kagome is 15, that makes him 10 times her age, and to him, she would seem a mere infant. This could explain why their relationship is not so easily diagnosed.

Then there's the whole thing about the nenju necklace that gives her control over him. It was originally supposed to control his more violent nature, but in later in the series, Kagome uses it time and again in sheer spite. I have wondered how well a "real" InuYasha would have tolerated a device that made him a slave at the emotional whim of a girl so much younger than himself. No doubt he would have chafed a good deal more than he does in the series.

Anyway, loads of fun, loads of thought-provoking interactions, painstakingly researched historical elements, and you have to admit, InuYasha and his brother Sesshomaru are both really easy on the eyes. I love the series, and I am actually very happy that it ends the way it does, because then each watcher can imagine the ending they want. If it were me, InuYasha would stay a half-demon, which is what he was born to be, running loose in the beautiful landscapes of Japan of the 1500's.

this is not the end of the animee seires they are just taking a break so that more of the manga can be witten. that is how it works.

I'll admit that I was expecting to see some sort of ending to the volumes, but once I found out that InuYasha: The Final Act was starting I didn't mind anymore that it was a cliff hanger. The way the volume ended was awesome, and I definitely cannot wait to see InuYasha: The Final Act in english!

I can tell you it's so nice to have the English voice stars being interviewed after the first Inuyasha series came to a close seeing Richard Ian Cox, Monica Stori, Kelly Sheridan, Jillian Michaels, Kirby Morrow and Scott McNeil. I even got to meet the guys from these interview clips when they came to Toronto. I know Inuyasha fans would love to get a copy of this DVD.

I would have to disagree with the idea the TV series is taking a break. Inuyasha ended in 2004 in Japan. Its not uncommon for anime to get ahead of the manga "comic" they are based on but usually to deal with this the anime develops a different story arc hence one of the major reasons the two mediums differ. You will see this if you follow Bleach on TV and in the manga when it finally catches up in the US. In addition they are well into 50 chapters in Japan and the TV series ends around chapter 36 or so. If they wanted to animate the material is there. It could come back but its been sometime so just seems like you wouldn't take so many years in between runs. A lot of anime series end well before the manga does. Either way enjoy the series but treat yourself and read the manga the depth in the reading is great and really fills the story out.

Oh yeah, I'm an old f**t, too. Got into Inuyasha through my son. In re the characters relative ages I would suggest that (this being fantasy and all) perhaps it's taken Inuyasha 150 years to reach the relative physical and emotional age of 15. He's certainly not depicted as a mature individual of considered mien. He behaves exactly like a teenage boy (I've got one of those so I see it up close and personal.) I've enjoyed the series as a door to Japanese culture and history. Dog spirits? Kitsune foxes? The Feudal Era? Even the history of the Japanese "thing" about sailor-style school uniforms. Great stuff!

I feel ripped off.
30 bucks a pop per dvd at 55 volumes and they just end it like that.

How many years til they even bother to start it up again?

In japan their are more episode and I think that their is a five movie. I have seen the last espiodes on this DVD and their great! I hope more people start to buy more Inuyasha stuff.

This is the LAST DVD!! I hope they make more and continue the adventure of inu yasha!!!!