I've been downloading Inuyasha AMVs to fill the void left by the hiatus. If you're a member at animemusicvideos.org, check out Second Element Video's "Rose in the Wind" AMV. I think it made me feel for Kagome even more than before, and it highlights her strength. It bugs when people call her weak when she's not. Oooh, and it looks like Sengoku finally updated with the latest manga chapters.

Flipping through the Inuyasha artbook, I saw that Sankontesso was translated as Excorsizing Claws of Steel while the dub uses Iron Reaver Soul Stealer. I know that Richard Cox made up the attack name. I'd prefer that the name be left untranslated. We don't hear Sango yelling out Bone Boomerang (Might have the translation wrong, I forget what it is) instead of Hiraikotsu.

People think Kagome's weak? It takes a whole lot of psychological and physical fortitude to chase around crazy demons and humans in the past, balance a love triangle, fend off the wandering hand of one amorous monk, and take the occassional test when back in the actual present.

Weak indeed.

Exactly. I was talking to a friend of mine once, and he said he didn't like Kagome because "all she does is run around screaming for Inuyasha." I was like, are we even watching the same show? She's usually right there in the thick of the action, and has saved the Inu-tachi's asses more than once. She handles the Kikyo situation well, I think. I don't think I would be able to put up with Inuyasha's behavior as well as she does. All of that makes Kagome one of my favorite heroines. She's a lot more tolerable than say, Miaka from Fushigi Yuugi.

Leanan, thanks for the rec on the AMV. It's a good mix, but not anything so extremely *sigh* "Oh, the drama of it all!".

Also agree, what show was your friend watching? Kagome has a very real role in the group besides InuYasha's love interest. And she shows remarkable maturity regarding Kikyo, but I like the overall pace of the Kagome/InuYasha relationship - unlike, say, in Fushigi Yuugi, where Miaka and Tamahome are pledging their eternal love around the 6th episode or so.

When I first stumbled across this show and watched the first three eps on DVD, I initially dismissed it - I watched the dub version, and Richard Cox's InuYasha calling Kagome "not cute" reminded me to terribly much of his work as Ranma.

ETA - Yay! It's on tonight! Stupid Adult Swim New Years Special.

I liked that video too, thanks for the rec.

Yeah, it's nice that the relationship is paced out. That means there are many, many moments where I want to stab Kikyo, bitch-slap Inuyasha, and point him directly toward Kagome... but you know, it's like a good frustration, one founded from drama rather than stupidity.

And Kikyo's loss has to feel pretty fresh for Inuyasha-- he didn't even find out she was dead that long ago, now she's sort of alive again, so... I guess I can forgive him. Most of the time. I'm glad he's loyal.

Richard Cox was Ranma? That's trippy...

Indeed. Also, on the Japanese side of thing, the same seiyuu (Kappei Yamaguchi)does Ranma and InuYasha. Funny how that worked out like that on the English dub as well...

I'm much more forgiving of InuYasha, however, than Kikyo. Too often I find myself yelling at the TV/manga volume I'm holding when she shows up, but then, Kagome is so good at dealing with her as well. At one point in the manga (not sure if this is in the anime, I'm still filling in) Kikyo tries to push Kagome down a cliff or something, and when InuYasha shows up, she doesn't rat out Kikyo.

Oh, how I hated Kikyo. Especially since I'm a Kagome/Inuyasha 'shipper. I've stopped hating her, because I finally understand her and feel bad for her for the crap that she's been through, but I still don't like her. Even if you hate Kikyo, you have to admit that without her, Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship wouldn't be nearly as interesting. Personally, I don't think Inuyasha loves Kikyo the same way that he loves Kagome. With Kikyo, I think he just feels guilty about what happened to her and doesn't want her to be alone. Phistar hit the nail on the head; Inuyasha is very loyal so of course he's going to go running off to Kikyo's aide.

Sometimes, though, Kikyo will do something that will make me think, "DIE, POTTERY PROJECT, DIE."

I agree Kagome is quite strong. How many other 15 year olds could handle what she's gone through, plus keep up in school and chase demons in the Warring states era?

As for her crying "Inuyasha" she usually does it to warn him of something. She doesn't back down from a fight--- in fact she's the one who jumped into the portal after Sesshomaru.

I like the pace of the romance. What is the obsession the Japanese or is it just the anime writers have with love triangles? Kagome is just 15 after all, and beneath all his bluster Inuyasha is a lonely little boy who has lost everyone he has ever loved. As long as he pretends he doesn't care, he might even believe it, and then he won't get hurt.

Haven't really seen enough of Kikyo to actually form an opinion on her. 50 years prior, she may have cared about Inuyasha. On a Inuyasha mailing list there was a discussion on Kagome vs Kikyo and some people brought up some very good points about Kikyo. She was kinda selfish in her desire for Inuyasha to use the jewel to become human. If he made that wish, then the jewel would disappear and she'd become a normal human again. And now that she's been brought back her desire is for Inuyasha to die with her.

Hee, pottery project! I too am less fond of Kikyo than anyone else and I could go on about how Kagome kicks 573 different kinds of ass for weeks.

However the rerunning of the earlier episodes has brought up a few issues I hadn't realised before regarding that pesky little Shikon no Tama. If Naraku did the impersonation betrayal thing in the past, then how exactly did Kikyo get the jewel and take it with her in the funeral pyre. Because I remember in the Hand of the amorous Monk, Miroku, Miroku said that Naraku had come close to getting it. Am I making any sense here?

I would guess he wasn't expecting that Kikyo would have it burned along with her body. For all everyone knew it was gone for good at that point.

Naruku was able to trick InuYasha and Kikyo because however deep their feeling they didn't truly trust on another. Kagome he trusts almost immediately however. Last night's episode he falls asleep on the back if her bike, which demonstrates how much he must trust her on an unconcious level, since we know how paranoid he is. Kagome also doesn't require him to become human and accepts him as himself. I wouldn't say Kikyo was necessarily selfish in requiring him to be human, but it means she couldn't accept him as he was. Or maybe she though it would make their lives easier. She did want to be released from her guardianship of the Shikon no Tama, but I think they were drawn together by their mutual isolation and loneliness.

I want to see Kagome do all the cool miko shit Kikyo can.

Yeah-- I thought it was interesting that Inuyasha basically says at the end of the episode that it's easier to be who he is with Kagome, and while they don't out and out say that he wasn't comfortable with his... er... halfness with Kikyo, I think it's pretty strongly implied.


Yeah, and I imagine she wanted to get laid, too-- I have a feeling the position of 'shrine maiden' required, er, maidenness. If I had Inuyasha hanging around all the time, I might want to be released from that responsibility too... I can't blame the pottery project for that one.

Kikyo is the bomb. I like her because she tough on the outside(her job required it, I guess) but seemed sensitive on the inside.

Inuyasha and her have chemistry that for sure. You coud tell they cared for each other. I think Inuyasha prefer strong women in general. Given different circumstances, I could see him going for Sango as well.

Heh, episode 135 got me to see that Sango/Inuyasha is very possible.

Kikyo is tough; how many times has she fallen off a cliff and survived? ;) But seriously, she was the equivalent of a political figure. She couldn't show weakness, especially to the demons that may come to steal the jewel. While Kikyo may seem cold, she's shown that she's a caring person. She's always taking care of the hurt and helping villages. She was just yearning for a normal life, and using the jewel to make Inuyasha human (And subsequently getting rid of it) would allow that to happen.

I believe all of the women in the series are strong. They don't need the guys to bail them out of a battle every single time, and they don't take any crap from anyone either (Especially when it comes to Inuyasha with Kagome).

Naraku wasn't just trying to steal the jewel, he wanted to corrupt it first. He assumed Kikyo would use its power selfishly, to stay alive, and that it would be soiled by evil. Er, more soiled. Hopefully I'm not confusing the anime and manga details here. It's a lot like what he does with Sango and Kohaku, giving them shards and manipulating them into harming innocents or one another. Kagome's ability to purify the shards, no matter how badly he uses them, must be awfully frustrating.

Infernal Jeer, you rock. Thanks for the clarification. So Naraku wants the jewel all evil and twinkly so that he can use it for Feudal japan domination but Kagome and Kikyo's pesky purifying powers just keep getting in the way, right? You know, now that the series has restarted, I'm suddenly gaining a whole new appreciation for the series more subtle points. Considering that my first ever InuYasha episode was Sango The Demon Exterminator, (which still is probably the best ever character introduction ep in my eyes) , it probably accounts for why Sango is my favourite InuYasha character. I'll admit that in the last few episodes, my Kikyo hate has been shrivelling up. Scheming characters kick ass (especially when scheming against the main antagonist).

P.S I think I read somewhere that the 1st InuYasha movie might be its way to [adultswim] on the weekends. Anyone else hear similar rumblings?

AS represenatives at last year's Anime Weekend Atlanta said they were trying to get the Inuyasha movies (And other anime movies) to play on Saturday nights, but there's been no official word about it. Unless you count their New Year's Resolution card that stated they wanted to move anime back to Saturday nights. I don't even know if Viz has dubbed the first movie yet, but I did hear that it was supposed to debut at this year's Anime Expo. Right now, I'd be happy with just the DVDs. I've seen the first two movies now through fansubs, but I want an official release.

That would be nice, wouldn't it? As a sad little InuYasha/Kagome fangirl, I really want to see the 2nd one. That and episode 126. Curse having a 56k! And as with anything AS, I'll believe it when it actually gets there.

My dislike for Kikyo comes and goes... when it comes down to it she's rather complicated, but it's got to be strange seeing someone who's more or less your reincarnation run around with the guy you love. But it's hard to have sympathy for her when she tries to kill Kagome. But I do like the way that Kagome handled it.

And my InuYasha obsession will be the death of me, I'm afraid - I shouldn't buy the DVDs, but I do. Curses.

[ot]Leanan, going to AWA this year? I'm finally going to make it this year, which is sad, since I live, oh, 10 minutes away, but I'm usually broke that soon after DragonCon [/ot]

SafetyGirl, I'd love to go to a con someday. If I have the cash, I'm thinking of trying to go to AWA. I'm five hours away from "Hotlanta" myself. Those dealer rooms will kill my wallet, though, and I want to put together something to cosplay in.

I haven't been buying the DVDs. I'm fine with watching the episodes on Adult Swim and watching fansubs for the recent episodes. My sister did get the limited edition box set for Christmas, though. Nine episodes for the cost of not even two DVDs, a pretty shiny box and a desktop calendar.

Cons are fun but definitely death on the wallet. I haven't been to anime cons, just the regular sci/fi fantasy ones. There's always an anime room. I do like to dress up but I got tired of explaining to people I was just a generic fantasy character and not anyone in particular. Made for a killer Halloween costume though. Apart from the strange looks when I admitted to owning all the components, including the bow and leather bracers.

Hey, since you already have a bow (Which I'm insanely jealous of) you would put together a shrine maiden outfit or a Japanese school girl uniform, and voila! two possible costumes. Kikyo or Kagome.

Kouga's introduction episode is tomorrow. Though I don't hate him, I think the character is kinda useless. He's just Inuyasha Lite, and exists only to further complicate Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship. As if their relationship needs further complication. The fights between Kouga and Inuyasha are funny, but I like the jealousy Inuyasha feels towards Hojou better. It's just funnier to see him so angry over Hojou, who has the personality of a potato. "Bastard, who the hell are you?"

You have nothing to be jealous of. It's not a full sized 'real' bow, and my cat chewed through the bowstring so right now it's just a piece of wood. I do however own a few sword reproductions :).

Don't you think you're being a little hard on the potato there?

Kouga makes me fangirlish. I agree he's kind of useless, but I can't really explain it.

I got my limited edition box set earlier this week. I thought I had seen all the nine episodes already, but apparently I hadn't, I'd just thought so after reading the manga and seeing random episodes. It was fun (it's been a boring week), but the beginning is slow. Besides Kouga, I missed Miroku and Sango and even Naraku. At least Sesshoumaru was introduced already.

I hope Viz will continue putting out box sets, because I'm not going to bother with the individual discs (except for maybe the movies).

I'm also waiting on more box sets. I'd be more inclined to buy the individual discs if Viz upped the episode count. Three or four episodes per disc is sparse, especially for a series that's approaching the 140 mark. I think there should be more episodes in future box sets. I miss being able to watch it subbed. I was comparing the dialogue between the dubs, and a lot of times I found the Japanese version funnier. Take for example the conversation between Inuyasha, Myoga and Shippou when they're on their way to save Kagome from the Thunder Brothers. In the Japanese version, their conversation shifts from arguing over whether Kagome is pretty or not to Inuyasha's fashion sense. I can't recall what the English dub changed it to, but it wasn't as funny. I think Shippou just kept harping for Inuyasha to go save Kagome. Besides the dialogue changes, I also prefer the original cast.

I'm not a dub basher, and I do think the Inuyasha dub is pretty good. It's just one of the cases where I prefer the subtitled Japanese version more.

I'm buying a few individual disks here and there - I'm not having the same luck finding good deals on eBay as I am with Rurouni Kenshin. I really need to save up for the Fushigi Yuugi box sets. But I agree that Viz is being pretty stingy with the content - again, compared to what one gets on a disc of Kenshin - 4-5 episodes and some, if not spectacular extras - it's not a great value. But it's a very high-profile anime, being on AS, so they don't have to be so value-oriented.

At this point I'm comparing the manga to the anime, and I've been going back to the beginning to try to see if I can pick up anything else. Because I'm sad like that. *sigh*

Leanan

Can I share the hate? lol Really the guy annoying and for some reason, I can't shake how he had his wolves killed those villagers. Some of those bastards deserved it, most didn't I'm sure, especially Rin. I'm constantly hoping for his death.

Viz needs to learn that some line art does not make for a good extra. That may have cut it back in the day, but not anymore. Besides, they give translated notes (Hint hint, Viz) for the line art in the artbook. Another thing that bothers me is that they don't subtitle the songs. I think they're the only company that does that still. Viz should take example from ADV, and have the translation and the romaji lyrics swap out every other episode.

Somebody who's been DLing the episodes should be able to answer this. I keep running across mentions of two things that have to be anime only.

1. Who the heck is Ayame?
2. Is Kikyo really dead?

Has Rumiko Takahashi ever explained if that's Sesshomaru's tail, or does he just have this fetish for boas?

I feel no urge to start collecting DVDs the way I have for RK and Slayers. I want new episodes, dammit.

Found an InuYasha movie source, complete with screenshots. The description of movie 3 seriously sounds like fanfic. There's a link under that section to a site with screenshots from a tv preview. Going by that the animation company is making stuff up, because we know for a fact Inutaisho died from his wounds after battling Ryuukossei, not protecting an infant InuYasha and his mother.

1. Ayame is an anime-only character. She's Kouga's fiance.
2. The anime hasn't reached the point where we find out that Kikyo is alive. Thus, fans that haven't been reading the manga would think she's dead.

Takahashi has never stated what the fluffy thing is. There's a shot of Sesshomarou's back in a piece of line art. His hair is transparent, so you can see his back in full detail. The fluffy thing doesn't connect to him. It just loops around his shoulder.

I found a (Long) summary of the third movie tonight. It doesn't seem to be as well-received by some fans as the previous two movies, particularly the final scene in the movie. I must admit that I don't really like it either. I know they had to put the rosary beads back on Inuyasha for continuity in the anime, but Kagome definitely trusts Inuyasha without having to resort to sitting him. Now she just uses it when she's angry.

In the episode where we meet, God I hate when I have a brain fart with names, the swordsmith (it was just one last week) he mentions Sesshomaru's fuzzy cloak. I wish I could remember the exact dialogue now, but he definitely mentions it as a piece of clothing, that much I do remember. Ok I guess I'd better go to bed now.

Totosai is the name of the swordsmith. I can't recall him ever saying anything about Sesshomarou's fluffy thing. I checked the manga translation, and didn't see him mention the boa at all. Oh, this reminds me: The Evolution of Fluffy.

RE the third movie. Souunga is like the Mary Sue of swords. And it bothers me how Sesshomarou could use Tenseiga as a weapon when he's said that it can't cut anything. Tenseiga gives life, it doesn't take it.

Hee. I have noticed that...thing, has been getting bigger and fluffier. Oo, maybe it's a symbiote?

My feelings about the movies is that they don't count, as the movie company is just making shit up and therefore I refuse to put them into context within the series. Takahashi has nothing to do with the story. It's not unusual for movies to completely contradict things in the series. I believe one of the Space Battleship Yamoto movies actually killed the entire crew, but they were all back for the next one. Note that none of the DBZ movies can actually take place either because of severe continuity errors.

I always looked at the Inuyasha movies as hour and a half long fillers. The first two didn't have anything that would muck up or contradict continuity (Though some would say the Inu/Kag kiss does)in the anime/manga, and you could easily guess when in the series each one took place. That's one of the reasons why I liked the first two so much. They weren't bad in terms of plot, and they didn't go against canon. Movie three seems to have thrown all of that out the window.

Leanan, thanks for the links... the one of "Fluffy" almost got me late for work. I think I might go try to find the movies now, at least the first two, if nothing else but for fun.

But I agree with an earlier post that the Kikyo hate is going away. While I doubt I'll ever root for her, she's not had it easy, esp. in this reanimation. I've been going and reading summaries with screencaps (yep, it's *fun* to be on 56k, it's like that episode of the Simpsons where they talk about listing to a boxing match on the radio and seeing the photos on the 11 o'clock news) and... hmm. Of course, I'd really like to see more over here. Hopefully the dart-flinging schedule monkeys at AS will bring us some new stuff, soon.

Question - what was, exactly, InuYasha's state during those 50 years when he was tacked onto that tree? Was he "dead" or was it suspended animation?

Inuyasha was in a state of suspended animation. He was alive the whole time he was enchanted.

Oh, okay... because InuYasha says in the beginning that Kikyo killed him, but... maybe he wasn't being literal.

I've never seen that Fluffy site before! That's funny! I always thought it was part of his cloak or something. Never really gave it much thought at all, but of course now I'm gonna wonder about it every time I see him.

Have the first and second movies been released in the States (I'm assuming the third has not, since it's so recent)? I'm tempted to get them, but I shy away from ebay since it's so hard to find legimate stuff there.

Nope, neither of the first two movies have been released here. They haven't even been dubbed yet. Rumor has it that Viz will be premiering the first movie "A Love That Transcends Time" at this year's Anime Expo. You can still get the first and second movies on DVD, but you'd have to import them and they wouldn't have any English subtitles. If you do happen to see someone selling the DVDs with subtitles, they're Hong Kong bootlegs and the translation and grammar would be extremely iffy.



Over at Sengoku Togi Zoushi, Chris had a note in his translation that when Inuyasha says that Kikyo killed him, he uses a form of the verb 'kill' that only "bad guys" use. He was most definitely alive. If he had been truly dead, I imagine that he would've had to have been resurrected through the same kind of magic that revived Kikyo or summat.

Oh MY God... that Fluffy site was hysterical. I agree I think maybe that Fluffy is a parasite or something. Does their Dad have his own version of Fluffy, or is it just Sesshoumaru's fashion.

In movie three, Inutaisho has two Fluffies. At another forum someone mentioned him having two tails when he was in his dog form, so some people are using that as evidence that the boa/symbiote/tail thing is in fact a tail. I don't see how they can, though, since nothing in the movie is canon. Also, while watching the episode where Myoga first speaks of Inutaisho, you see a 'moving painting' of him, and it looks like he has only one tail.

Ah, ha. I knew there was a picture of the two Fluffies floating around somewhere. But now that I look at it, you could say that there's only one Fluffy. It could just be arching where you can't see behind his hair.

That looks rather like a cape to me.

The newest manga chapter is up and the scans include a page where it looks like Fluffy is engulfing Sesshomaru.

"Can't sleep, Fluffy will eat me."

So, the game is afoot. Interesting that Kagura approaches Sesshomaru and not InuYasha with her information. I was hoping twice as much dialogue would mean we see the beginning of the final campaign against Naraku. Instead we get Miroku's past coming back to bite him again. Didn't we already see that with Koharu? And here I was thinking that since proposing he's been controlling himself. But, Sango didn't hit him this time.

Well, he never answered Sango when she asked him not to unfaithful. This could be the point where they finally become a real couple, and maybe Sango will stop calling him Houshi-sama and call him Miroku. Miroku has been behaving lately, though. He asked Shima to bear his child two years ago, and it was Shima's father's idea to make him marry Shima. On the Kagura front, I'm not surprised she went to Sesshomarou with her information. She's certainly intrigued by him, and thinks that he holds the key to killing Naraku.

Adult Swim cards are promising new IY in March/April. Also Saturday AS will commence on 4/17 and they confirmed Wolf's Rain for April. They also took the time to express their love of InuYasha the show and hatred of InuYasha fans.

New manga chapter. Man, Sango is pissed with a capital P. Miroku is going to have to do some serious groveling. But this once again points up the importance of trust in a relationship that Takahashi keeps stressing throughout the story. Sango doesn't trust Miroku. If she did, she wouldn't have immediately thought the worst and realized that a 15 year old Miroku would never have had sex with a sickly 13 year old. I hope they reconcile.

Eee, new Inuyasha! Eee, Wolf's Rain! I wonder what they'll do about the last episodes that haven't even been released in Japan yet, though.

I knew this little adventure would be what finally cements Sango/Miroku. I think she's more disappointed with the fact that Miroku hasn't explained their engagement to Shima. But you can't really blame him. While he's not really rejecting Shima, he's also trying to make a bad situation even worse. He seems to really care for her in a platonic way, and seems more concerned with getting rid of Nushi-sama. He really has changed. Giant Floaty Sango Head of Doom was pretty hilarious, though, as was Inuyasha's heart-to-heart with Nushi-sama.

Here's something fun, from the people that brought us the Lord of the Rings Puppet Theatre: The InuYasha Thumbnail Theatre. They've done three so far.



Oh, whatever. Not all of us are crazed, half-informed 13 year-old fangirls. Some of us are all the way in our mid-20's.

And, some of us are older.

Taking another look at the manga today Kagome, InuYasha and Shippo believe the worst of Miroku as well.


They'll just play the same episodes over and over for two years until they're ready (YuYu Hakusho, I'm looking at you, yeah you).

Somebody broke the Puppet/Thumbnail Theater; looks like the owner's in for a bandwidth bill...

You know, considering that AS does better than the late night shows in the prized young male demo, we can't all be fangirls.

I love the cards, but they have to let go on the Inuyasha fan-bashing. They're starting to sound as obsessed as the Inuyasha fans!

Alright, an announcement about the April schedule was made at the Adult Swim boards. We have dates and times now.

Woohoo, new shows!

I don't think they have a problem with all IY fans Phishtar, just the highly vocal contingent that drives them nuts on the AS boards.

Wait, if Detective Conan starts Mondays on April 5 something has to get kicked out to make room. 12:30 is InuYasha's slot. How much you want to bet InuYasha shifts to double episodes on Saturdays only?