Inuyasha
Inuyasha began its journey on the 13th of November 1996, when it debuted in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine. The series ran for eleven years and seven months before concluding on the 18th of June 2008. During this time, the story appeared as 558 individual chapters that were later collected into 56 tankōbon volumes. These volumes were released by Shogakukan starting from the 18th of April 1997, and finished with the final volume on the 18th of February 2009. A special epilogue chapter titled InuYasha: The Final Chapter appeared in the magazine on the 6th of February 2013 to raise funds for victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. This chapter was included in the last volume of the wide-ban edition published in 2015 and reprinted again in Shōnen Sunday S on the 24th of October 2020. Shogakukan also republished the entire series in a thirty-volume kanzenban edition between the 18th of January 2013, and the 18th of June 2015.
Sunrise produced the first anime adaptation which aired for 167 episodes from the 16th of October 2000, to the 13th of September 2004. It broadcast on Yomiuri TV, Nippon Television, and their affiliates across Japan. A direct sequel titled Inuyasha: The Final Act followed, running for 26 episodes from the 4th of October 2009, to the 30th of March 2010. This second series adapted the remaining volumes of the original manga using the same cast and crew as the first show. An anime-original spin-off called Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon premiered on the 3rd of October 2020, and ran for two seasons until March 2022. Teruo Sato directed the first season while Masakazu Hishida took over for the second. Character designs were handled by Rumiko Takahashi herself with writer Katsuyuki Sumisawa returning from the main series. Voice actors included Sara Matsumoto as Towa Higurashi, Mikako Komatsu as Setsuna, and Azusa Tadokoro as Moroha.
Four animated films featuring original storylines written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa were released in Japan during December of their respective years between 2001 and 2004. These movies earned over US$20 million at Japanese box offices combined. The first film appeared in 2001 where Inuyasha confronted Menomaru, a demonic moth warrior created from a jewel shard. The second movie released in 2002 introduced Kaguya, an enemy based on The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. A third film came out in 2003 focusing on sealing the evil sword Sō'unga. The final installment arrived in 2004 protecting half-demon children from four evil demons on a mystical island. An original video animation titled Inuyasha: The Moving Picture was presented on the 30th of July 2008, at an exhibit in Tokyo's Ginza district before releasing on DVD and Blu-ray on the 20th of October 2010. Multiple video games appeared for systems including WonderSwan, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo DS with releases spanning from the 23rd of January 2003, to the 23rd of January 2007.
Rumiko Takahashi wrote Inuyasha after completing her previous manga Ranma ½ which ended in 1996. She wanted to create a darker storyline thematically closer to her Mermaid Saga stories rather than continuing the comedic tone of works like Urusei Yatsura or Maison Ikkoku. The author set the story in the Sengoku period because wars were common during that era allowing for violent themes portrayed softly without extensive research into samurai designs. By June 2001, Takahashi had not yet established a clear ending to the series as she remained unsure about how to resolve the relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome. She admitted that she did not have endings planned when starting previous manga either, figuring them out only as serialization progressed. This approach allowed the narrative to evolve naturally over its eleven-year run while maintaining character depth and emotional stakes throughout the journey.
By February 2010, Inuyasha had circulated more than 45 million copies worldwide. That number grew to over 50 million copies by September 2020 making it one of the best-selling manga series ever produced. Individual volumes frequently appeared on top selling lists from The New York Times and Diamond Comic Distributors in North America. The series won the 47th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2002 within the shōnen category. It was also selected as one of the Jury Recommended Works at both the fifth Japan Media Arts Festival in 2001 and the twelfth installment in 2008. On TV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll involving 150,000 voters, Inuyasha ranked twenty-eighth among the top hundred manga series chosen by the public.
Eri Izawa reviewed volume two for Ex.org describing the work as combining fast-paced action with interesting characters and deep imaginative fantasy elements. She praised Kagome as undeniably intelligent and observant while noting minor faults like occasional dragging action sequences. Rebecca Bundy wrote a review of volume 23 for Anime News Network claiming the series still packed a serious punch after twenty-three volumes. She called the balance of action conversation and reflection perfect while noting modest changes to character designs since the beginning. Penny Kenny from Manga Life stated that Takahashi's genius lay in endless improvisations on standard elements forcing heroes to grow individually. Reviews highlighted how drama is heightened by levity with each character possessing their own style of humor despite little background detail in the artwork. The franchise remains one of the most researched series according to data collected by Lycos in 2005.
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Common questions
When did Inuyasha begin serialization in Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine?
Inuyasha began its journey on the 13th of November 1996, when it debuted in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine. The series ran for eleven years and seven months before concluding on the 18th of June 2008.
How many volumes were collected from the original Inuyasha manga chapters?
The story appeared as 558 individual chapters that were later collected into 56 tankōbon volumes. These volumes were released by Shogakukan starting from the 18th of April 1997, and finished with the final volume on the 18th of February 2009.
Who directed the first season of Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon sequel anime?
Teruo Sato directed the first season while Masakazu Hishida took over for the second. Character designs were handled by Rumiko Takahashi herself with writer Katsuyuki Sumisawa returning from the main series.
What awards has Inuyasha won since its publication in 1996?
The series won the 47th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2002 within the shōnen category. It was also selected as one of the Jury Recommended Works at both the fifth Japan Media Arts Festival in 2001 and the twelfth installment in 2008.
When did Inuyasha reach 50 million copies sold worldwide?
By February 2010, Inuyasha had circulated more than 45 million copies worldwide. That number grew to over 50 million copies by September 2020 making it one of the best-selling manga series ever produced.