Inuyasha

The Inuyasha is one of the less known but still adored Anime movies on the market.  So far there have been four Inuyasha movies made and exported to the United States, and each one builds on the characters already established in the previous movies and the Manga.

The movies are as follows:

• Inuyasha Movie 1: Love that Transcends Time - Version 1
• Inuyasha Movie 1: Love that Transcends Time - Version 2
• Inuyasha Movie 1: Love that Transcends Time - Version 3New!

• Inuyasha Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass - Version 1New!
• Inuyasha Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass - Version 2New!

• Inuyasha Movie 3: The Sword of World Conquest New!

Not as violent as many other Anime movies, these flicks follow the travails of a very special 15-year-old girl and her mystical adventures.  The Inuyasha movies are far better suited for a younger audience, but they still have some violence in them so you should proceed with caution if you hope to watch them with a sensitive person.

The animation is superb, improving on even the excellent renditions in the series. (As any fan of the series knows, that’s a bold statement.) Subtle use of computer-assisted animation comes into play during certain scenes, such as when Menomaru’s influence causes plants to grow at a fantastic rate, or when the heroes battle the horde of Chinese demons conjured by Menomaru.

And as typical of anime based on Rumiko Takahashi’s work, the action-packed plot masks a truly emotional storyline. Sango’s attachment to the feline demon Kirara reflects the bond between Inu-Yasha and Kagome. Sango’s distress and pain over her separation from Kirara foreshadows the plight of Kagome and Inu-Yasha separated by the centuries.

If you like these movies I would highly suggest that you go back and watch some of the original animated television series.  The animation is not that great, but the character development is much better, and when you go back and watch the movies you’ll be even more impressed at their skills of adaptation.