To start off, I LOVE inuyasha. I loved the first show. I loved the characters and their interactions. I thought the music was great, and that the story was really special and addictive. The first 10 episodes or so were especially good. Then, after about 40 episodes, I realised Naraku wouldn’t die. And the show began to drag on and on. At the end, I had mixed feelings about the quality of the show, but it didn’t change the fact that I was really into the show, which hasn’t changed even now. Therefore, there will be inevitable comparisons with the first 167 episodes, as those episodes are what created the emotional backdrop for me as I watched this final piece from the series.
But to summarise this long review, Kanketsu-hen IS great.
Story: 8
I’ll start off by saying something bad – the pacing IS terrible, especially at the start. It became better in the middle, and was really great at the end. But that doesn’t change the fact it sucked in the beginning. If not for my utmost love for the show, I might have thought of giving it up. There is no way that viewers from 5 years ago are going to pick up this show comfortably. No flashback, no summary, no nothing. Even if you treated it as episode 168, the pacing was still really off, given the fact that the previous series was sooo slow, and where things were given TOO MUCH time to stagnate in development. The pacing also affected the emotional weight as the characters felt like they could have been fleshed out more, and scenarios were not given sufficient time to develop. I heard there were side stories spanning a few chapters in the manga compressed into 1 minute in the show. This may have been justified by Sunrise due to an episode limit that was put out for whatever reasons, but it still cannot be denied that the problem exists.
Nevertheless, they did well enough given the constraints to tell a decent story at the start, and the story develops really well in the middle and at the end. In order not to spoil anything, I’ll just say that developments here are the quality of what made me love Inuyasha in the first place. Humour, which was one thing that defined Inuyasha, is also present here, albeit much less often, as it usually appears in fillers. It was probably because of the episode constraints that they couldn’t waste time with much humorous side-events that would delay the story, which was a tad disappointing considering that humour was one of the main highlights of relationship fillers in the old Inuyasha. However, I really still enjoyed whatever Sunrise could dish out within the limits. And most important of all, in 26 episodes Sunrise delivered what they couldn’t in 167 episodes and 4 movies: a closure. That, in itself, is a major plus point to fans of the series like me. I give a relatively high 8 for the amount that Sunrise managed to achieve with just 26 episodes.
Characters: 9
In my opinion, Inuyasha has one of the most likeable casts in anime. The protagonists are well designed and cute, although a little predictable and clichéd. The main villain, while being the source of endless fights which frustrate no one as much as the viewers for the sheer number of episodes created, is quite a mean character in the anime world. There are also other interesting villains and anti-hero characters in Inuyasha, and all in all the cast is pretty amazing. The seiyuus are also awesome. Kappei Yamaguchi IS Inuyasha, and while annoying at times, Satsuki Yukino portrays a very in-character Kagome. Other highlights include Naraku and Kagura. The real highlight in Inuyasha, however, is the development of the characters, and it goes to a new level in Kanketsu-hen, especially accounting for the fact that they had so few episodes and such a big story to work with. The triangular love relationship has always been the emotional mainstay of the original series, and it is further elaborated in Kanketsu-hen. This is especially true between Inuyasha and Kagome, as the final episode really shows how far their love has progressed, and their outcome really tugs at the strings of our hearts. Another highlight is the development of secondary antagonists and anti-heroes in Inuyasha. I am amazed to see what they did with Kagura and Kanna with so little time, and of course our favourite Sesshomaru is fleshed out in the way that old fans expected him to.
However, one character still manages to irritate my every nerve, and that is dear little Shippo. I never understood the need for a character like Shippo. I didn’t find him cute, didn’t find him funny, but found him really annoying, and he didn’t go through much development as well. I guess not every show can pull off a Kero-chan of CCS.
Music: 10
I am not a typical reviewer of anime in the music department. I look a lot less into OPs and EDs, and a lot more into anime BGM. With that being said, however, I must still admit that the opening theme is awesome, and I sure as hell am glad they didn't change it at all. It’s really nice that after being stopped for 6 years, Inuyasha has started again with hands down the best opening of all 7 in the series, which is the perfect sign for things to come. While it definitely doesn't provide the nostalgia of songs like "Fukai Mori", 1 year later it has already become one of my favourite anime openings. I'm not a big fan of the ending themes though, but they are decent to say the least.
Back to the point why I see anime BGM more importantly. To me the BGM can make or break an anime, just like how important the soundtrack is to people who appreciate Hans Zimmer, Nobuo Uematsu, or any well-known composer of OSTs. I feel that OPs and EDs only serve as a kick and thrill, separate from the enjoyment of the show, whereas the BGM forms part of the viewing experience, and accompanies the viewer for almost the entire time, making it a much more important aspect of any show. And the BGM in Inuyasha is absolutely amazing. I'm not sure how many new songs were composed, or how many of the songs were reworked from the original series, but they certainly retain their original spirit, be it the heart-wrenching nature of emotional songs like Kikyo's theme, or foreboding themes of Naraku that scream cunning and evil. Kaoru Wada likes to use traditional Japanese instruments like flutes and zithers to invoke medieval tones into the songs, and it works extremely well in creating unique and emotional atmospheres that are seldom seen in anime. For a good example of the range of instruments used, one should hear track 8 "Tomorrow" in Kanketsu-hen's OST. While it definitely isn't flawless, much more attention is deserved of an anime BGM that is as good and consistent as Inuyasha's, and I dare say should come close to those of Cowboy Bebop's (although the range is incomparable). The final aspect that seals the perfect rating for the music, however, is the perfect timing that music is injected into scenes in the show; it is the perfect catalyst to spark off the adrenaline, emotion, or light-heartedness of each scene in the show. I would go as far to say that the music MADE the scenes. For the best example, look for a particularly emotional scene at the end of episode 2.
Animation: 7
I usually don't really care a lot about animation, so this section is a little short. The art is very similar to the old anime, which is really great for old fans like me, but for usual standards it is just better than decent, given what some of the anime shows now are capable of. What strikes me is the detail that the team gives to the background of the countryside. It really is a pretty sight of clouds and lush green trees, if you focus on the background for an instant. Animation is good and fluid, but not fantastic. From my memory, it does seem more consistent than the old episodes, but I never really cared that much anyway.
Tilt/Enjoyment: 10
To be honest, I really love the old Inuyasha series. For all the hate that amassed as the fillers slowly got on my nerves, I still love the show, even though there are so many recent shows better than it. It’s one of the few animes that still bring back memories for me, possibly due to the influence it had on me in my teen years, and I brought these feelings with me as I watched the show from start to end. I also found it strange that they decided to carry on a series that was so dated in its popularity. And, with seiyuus that were 10 years older, I wondered if the show would still keep its heart and soul that has made the show so incredibly addictive and memorable. But at the end my final verdict was, “Thank God they made this show. Really thank God.”
I really enjoyed Kanketsu-hen as a fan of the series. For haters of the show, I suggest you don’t watch it, as there’s probably nothing that’ll change your mind. For people who haven’t seen Inuyasha, you could try watching Kanketsu-hen to the end, but the pacing at the start will probably turn you off. But for fans who haven’t watched it, WATCH IT; it’s a show for the fans. A 9 to Sunrise from a fan.
