Inuyasha, written by Rumiko Takahashi, followed the adventures of high school student Kagome Higurashi and the half-demon Inuyasha as they searched for shards of the Shikon Jewel.
With the last installation, i.e., Inuyasha: The Final Act, the series secured its place as one of the most beloved cult classics in the Shonen genre.
However, there’s a dark past attached to this iconic series. While fans who have been watching and following Inuyasha since the beginning might be aware of it, there are many who don’t know that their beloved series was almost canceled without a proper ending. Shocking right?!
Inuyasha was always well-regarded in Japan, as well as internationally, and there was nothing that would warrant a cancellation. So what exactly was the reason behind this?
The first adaptation in the Inuyasha franchise spanned 167 episodes and ended on September 13, 2004, despite not having an ending.
Due to a lack of source material, the series was put on hold until the manga was completed. After five years, a second installment – Inuyasha: The Final Act, was released.
But the question is why was it canceled in the first place. Let’s dig into that.
The first Inuyasha adaptation was released on Yomiuri TV in Japan, spanning 167 episodes, and ended on September 13, 2004. However, despite the original story not ending, the anime stopped airing for a while.
There was a fairly good reason for why the first season ended the way it did. I’m sure most of you are aware of this, but the Inuyasha anime is based on the manga series by Rumiko Takahashi.
This is the main source material, which was eventually made into an anime series in 2000. While the anime remained faithful to the manga, by the end, it finally caught up with it.
Since the animators didn’t want to stray away from the original source, they decided to make filler episodes, which are basically added to give the manga artists time to create more content.
However, after they aired, fans of the series voiced their dissent.
Instead of continuing and diluting the popularity and quality of Inuyasha, the series was put on hold, but not canceled, until the manga was completed. It came back after the manga finished.
1. When did Inuyasha come back? – Final Act
The first Inuyasha adaptation was released on Yomiuri TV in Japan, spanning 167 episodes, and ended on September 13, 2004.
This adaptation did not include an end to the series as it had already caught up to the manga, which was not finished yet.
In an attempt to tie all loose ends, Inuyasha: The Final Act was released on October 3, 2009, with 26 episodes to its name. It adapted the finale from the manga and gave this classic anime a well-deserved ending.
2. Is Inuyasha returning in 2020?
After ten long years, a new anime by Rumiko Takahashi is finally in the works. Inuyasha will be returning in 2020 in the form of a sequel that’ll be following Inuyasha and Kagome, as well as Sesshomaru’s children.
This information has brought on a lot of mixed reviews from the fans.
On the one hand, they feel that the series already ended on a high note and that a sequel would only dim the lights on the finale, but at the same time, a sequel might be a good way to channel their nostalgia.
Since the confirmation, the name of the anime has been released – Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, as well as a trailer and new art. You can see the official trailer on VIZ media’s youtube channel.
For now, the sequel “Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon” is set to release on October 3, 2020, exactly 11 years after Inuyasha: The Final Act first aired.
4. What is the sequel about?
Along with the sequel reveal, we were also given an official synopsis to the series.
The anime stars Towa and Setsuna, the twin daughters of Sesshomaru who get separated in a forest fire. Towa ends up in modern times and is raised by Sota Higurashi, Kagome’s little brother.
Ten years later, they are reunited, but Setsuna is a demon slayer with no memories of her sister. Joined by Moroha, Inuyasha, and Kagome’s daughter, they set off on an adventure to regain their missing past.
Official Synopsis
According to this new synopsis from VIZ, Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon will follow Inuyasha and Sesshomaru’s children in a story transcending time as the tunnel that connects the two eras has once again been opened.
5. About Inuyasha
Inuyasha, also known as Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi.
Inuyasha premiered in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on November 13, 1996, and concluded on June 18, 2008, with the chapters collected into 56 tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan.
Kagome Higurashi, a 15-year-old schoolgirl, gets transported to the Sengoku period of Japan after falling into a well in her family shrine. There she meets the half dog-demon, Inuyasha.
Kagome possesses a powerful magical Shikon Jewel. When a monster from that era tries to take the Jewel, Kagome shatters the Jewel into many pieces.
Now, Kagome and Inuyasha must retrieve the shards before the evil half spider-demon Naraku finds them.
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