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Original Video Animation
Sometimes when a popular anime ends its run on television deman will be great enough that a series of direct to video animation will be produced. These specials are known as OVA (Original Video Animation). Inuyasha received one true OVA, that was later added to the series as episodes, the other "specials" were shown on television and can be found both here, and in the episode line up in their respective seasons as well.
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Spring Special: Naraku's True Identity Unveiled & A Wicked Smile; Kikyo's Wandering Soul Naraku no Shinjitsu ni Semaru & Kikyo no Tamashii 奈落の真実に迫る桔梗の魂 & 悪しき微笑 さまよう桔梗の魂 In the present Kagome decides to go on a date with Hojo, her classmate. She stops by the well one last time before leaving. In the past things are getting rough as Shippo runs away from Royakan's wolves and manages to squeeze past the tree and down to the bottom of the well. Kagome senses the shard on the other side, but sees nothing so she decides to leave for her date. Hojo thinks she's sick so she ends the date early and heads back to the well. After some digging she manages to make it through. While this is happening Naraku reveals that he is the one behind the fight that caused Inuyasha and Kikyo to hate each other 50 years ago. Inuyasha manages enough strength to drive Naraku away and Kagome helps remove the Shikon shards from Royakan's head.
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Fall Special: The Woman Who Loved Sesshomaru Inuyasha Special: Sesshomaru o itoshita onna (Part 1) & (Part 2) 殺生丸を愛した女 A sunlit beach holds a strong attraction for young adults and Inuyasha and company are no exception. As the gang enjoys precious teen moments of sand, surf and fun, in a nearby village the red thread of fate unravels again. A young noblewoman named Sara lies dying. Her last act in the human world is to play her flute one final time. The eerie, mournful music catches the ears of both Kagome and Inuyasha as they pass by the dying girl’s house. Sara seems to sense their presence too, for some odd reason, but death grips her and she dies, murmuring about ‘useless love’. Just as the team reaches the outskirts of the village, their interest is drawn back to town by a sudden, massive influx of jaki. Looking back, they see an evil miasma creeping around the house where they heard the flute music. Suddenly, the house explodes into flames. Rushing back to investigate, the villagers tell them about Sara and her sad fate. Later, when examining the burned out ruins, Kagome spies a familiar phenomenon: a perfect human outline on the charred floor where Sara had laid, dying. Elsewhere, Sesshomaru and his entourage make their way through a misty, rocky pass. Rin chatters happily to the morose and disinterested Jaken. Sesshomaru remains aloof amid the racket. The melancholy sound of a flute halts the group in their tracks. Out the mist, a woman materializes, walking towards them -- it’s the recently deceased Sara. She drops to her knees in front of Sesshomaru, greeting him with extreme deference. She tells him the story of her father, a warlord, and how she became infatuated with Sesshomaru after witnessing him annihilate her father’s warriors. Sara tells him it was her dream to see him again, and how she wants be in his favor. Sesshomaru is bemused, telling her to figure out a way to earn his interest. Sara agrees, passing by as an outraged Jaken blusters about her audacity. How dare a human confront his master with such nonsense! Sesshomaru informs Jaken that was no lady -- she was a demon. Back the beach, Inuyasha and the others discuss the strange events of the day. Their conversation is interrupted by the appearance of a sea monster. They spot the creature streaking inland, bearing down on a female human sacrifice, bound to a stake on the shore. Miroku races to her rescue with great haste followed very closely by Sango and Kirara. When Miroku and Sango reach the woman, it’s Sara, who is the monster’s bait. As her rescuers prepare to fight the approaching creature, a weird light distracts Miroku. He looks back, horrified, shouting Sango’s name in despair... Lagging behind, Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippo arrive and discover Miroku, Sango and Kirara are turned to stone. The sea monster attacks, giving Inuyasha little time to ponder his friends’ predicament. Inuyasha makes quick work of the monster but is bewildered by the discovery his nemesis was merely one huge mass of seaweed. Sara is rescued, but Inuyasha and Kagome must now try to free Miroku, Sango, Kirara and the entire seaside village, from their curse of stone. A grateful Sara offers to help, and tells Inuyasha about a shrine in a cave on a nearby cliff. Inside the cave is a chamber that contains the remedy to the curse. Sara’s story strikes Shippo as suspicious, but he and the others follow Sara up the cliff-side to the shrine. Inside the cave is the chamber Sara described, sealed with a great stone. Inuyasha’s attempt to move the stone is futile until Sara directs him to insert the Tessaiga in a slot carved into the stone seal. As the stone finally moves, Sara smiles wickedly. Shippo notices, whispering his suspicions to Kagome, who agrees that something is fishy, but their warning comes too late for Inuyasha. A powerful blast flings Inuyasha backward, and the cave collapses burying both Sara and Tessaiga. Inuyasha barely gets Kagome and Shippo to safety atop the cliff when the ground under their feet starts to crumble. The demon Sara bursts through the ground, riding a gigantic carrion crow. She carries Tessaiga victoriously. Enjoying her success, Sara remembers when she spied Sesshomaru in the forest while he recovered from losing his arm to Inuyasha. In his delirium, Sesshomaru called out his brother’s name, cursing him for taking Tessaiga. This memory inspired Sara to steal the katana from Inuyasha, present it to Sesshomaru and win his affection. Bad timing places Sesshomaru at the cliff following Sara’s theft of Tessaiga. His brother present, Inuyasha believes this is another attempt to take Tessaiga and he angrily attacks Sesshomaru. Sara hovers above with the katana, watching. After repelling Inuyasha, Sesshomaru makes it clear he had nothing to do with Sara’s plot. Although Sara tries to present him with Tessaiga, Sesshomaru refuses the weapon, making it clear he doesn’t want the Tessaiga from her under the circumstances and leaves. Inuyasha charges Sara, attempting to reclaim Tessaiga, but she attacks, hitting him with her petrifying stone spell. Quick reaction from Kagome saves him - her Miko arrows destroy and purify the spell, reversing its effect on Inuyasha, but Sara manages to escape. Inuyasha pursues her, while Kagome returns to the village to free her friends and the villagers from an eternity as statuary. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru arrives back at the woods where he sought refuge to recover after his first tangle with Tessaiga. He recalls the fight with Inuyasha within their father’s tomb and how afterwards, escaping to the same forest, he lashed out in pain and anger at Sara’s father’s samurai. His solitary brooding is interrupted when Sara joins him, still carrying Tessaiga. She tells Sesshomaru how she encountered him in the forest while he was wounded and delirious, how she learned about Tessaiga and his desire to possess the katana. She continues, telling Sesshomaru about how she tried to stop her warlord father from exacting revenge on him and how her father cruelly beat her for interfering with his vengeance. Her father’s attempted retaliation on Sesshomaru turned her against him and Sara declares how satisfied she felt when Sesshomaru defeated her father. Sara confesses her devotion to Sesshomaru and how, when she was dying, she allowed herself to be consumed by demons to become youkai and more worthy of his attention. As Sara presses the Tessaiga upon Sesshomaru again as the proof of her love, Inuyasha arrives ready to reclaim his blade. Sara isn’t giving up Tessaiga easily and attacks him again, sending forth hideous, snake-like demons to bind and restrain Inuyasha. In a startling turn of events, Sesshomaru blocks further attacks upon his younger brother. It seems Sesshomaru wants to keep their conflict exclusively a family matter! Sara is shocked as Sesshomaru attacks her, releasing the true demon Sara has become. Kagome and the others arrive at the strange battlefield, free Inuyasha and join the fight against Sara. The human part of Sara implores Sesshomaru one last time to be with her, but Sesshomaru isn’t interested. Kagome’s arrow hits Sara, blowing a hole through her torso. Sesshomaru strikes with Tokijin, and severs the appendage holding Tessaiga. Masses of youkai continue to fly relentlessly from Sara’s demon body, inundating the fighters. Spotting the freed Tessaiga, Sesshomaru grabs the sword and swings. It’s energy barrier sizzles viciously in his hand, painfully scorching Sesshomaru as he hacks at the huge tide of demons surging at him. The creatures are driven back temporarily. Unable to hold onto the katana any longer, Sesshomaru is forced to drop Tessaiga. Inuyasha takes back his weapon and successfully dispatches the deluge of demons. Demonic Sara is vaporized but the human part of Sara still lingers, dying and dissolving into dust at Sesshomaru‘s feet. She melts away calling his name until noting is left but her flute. Sesshomaru stabs the instrument into the pile of dust and enigmatically walks away. Baffled, Inuyasha and the others make no effort to stop him. Sesshomaru rejoins Rin and Jaken -- it appears he already has all the ‘affection‘ he needs from his peculiar, but devoted, traveling companions. |
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Spring Special: The Tragic Love Song of Destiny Meguriau Mae no Ummei Renka (Spring Special) めぐり逢う前の運命恋歌 Long ago, in the country of Musashi, there lived a beautiful maiden, a miko named Kikyo, and her young sister, Kaede. Kikyo was not only lovely, but possessed great spiritual power which she dedicated to protecting humans from demons who threatened Japan in those days. But Kikyo’s power came at great personal expense: her duties so consumed her she could not live as normal women, with friends, frivolities and romance. Although respected and revered, Kikyo was forced to live a lonely, austere life with no one but her little sister, Kaede, as companion. Despite the loneliness and risk in her life, Kikyo is envied by jealous rivals: a miko named Tsubaki and a tiny, but ruthless demon spider. Another friendless spirit also dwelt in Musashi’s country: a youth - not quite human, not quite demon but somewhere in between. He survived using his human cunning and the power of his demon blood. The youth was called Inuyasha, and he vowed to find a way to empower himself. Inuyasha dreamed of becoming a full-fledged demon so he could live without menace from the humans and demons who scorned and rejected him. In the village of the Taijin (demon exterminators) the leader finds a miraculous, but ominous surprise inside a dead yokai - the fabled Shikon no Tama - the Jewel of Four Souls. The Shikon no Tama has returned to the Taijin village, the place of its creation but it is corrupt, and must be purified. Freed, the jewel’s powerful aura immediately draws demonic attention from the ambitious demon Mistress Centipede. Driving away the loathsome creature, the Taijin leader decides the Shikon no Tama must be entrusted to a miko with exceptional spiritual power to can purify the jewel and keep it safe from evil hands. Devout and pure spirited Kikyo is selected for the task. Protecting the Shikon jewel is a great honor, but the responsibility isolates Kikyo even more. Kikyo’s days are filled battling power hungry monsters, but her nights overflow with solitude. One moonless night, Kikyo’s battle with a Shikon-crazed band of yokai attracts the attention of the half demon Inuyasha. He observes Kikyo slaughter the yokai with just bow and arrow. She senses the youth’s demon aura, but only momentarily - the moonless night causes the half-demon to change into human form. When Kikyo calls for the intruder to show himself, Inuyasha remains hidden. Believing she speaks to a human, Kikyo tells him of the Shikon jewel. The human woman provides Inuyasha with an inspired plan - capture and use the Shikon no Tama to become a full demon but first he must conquer that woman, Kikyo. Inuyasha’s attempts to challenge Kikyo end in humiliating failure. When Kikyo refuses opportunities to kill him, Inuyasha becomes wary of her consideration. He stalks the miko for reasons other than the Shikon jewel; he’s seldom known kindness and wonders why Kikyo would show him such tolerance. Inuyasha’s observations reveal a solitary maiden of great compassion burdened with harsh responsibilities. Kikyo discovers Inuyasha is also more than he appears - his tough façade hides the tender heart of a lonely boy. An odd relationship blooms between the priestess and the half-demon. As their relationship flowers into something more than friendship, hungry, evil eyes observe. The malevolent spider demon watches and plots, eager to seize an opportunity to exploit the frail trust the young lovers share so he can win the Shikon jewel for his own. The news of Kikyo’s involvement with Inuyasha spreads. Tsubaki, Kikyo’s rival, confronts Kikyo. She accuses Kikyo of weakness; that her romance with a half-demon is the reason why demons plague the land. Tsubaki challenges Kikyo’s spiritual strength but loses miserably. Once again, the spider demon keenly watches, waiting for his chance. The spider’s opportunity arrives with Onigumo, a mortally wounded bandit whom Kikyo rescued and nurses with mercy. Onigumo lusts after the beautiful miko, desiring to pervert her virtue and possess Kikyo as his own. The spider demon makes a pact with Onigumo - his soul and Kikyo in exchange for his human body. Onigumo agrees and the spider calls forth a horde of demon minions who take possession of Onigumo’s flesh. But Onigumo was deceived. The spider, Naraku, merely used the bandit as a vessel for his evil, uniting the strength and wickedness of many demons inside Onigumo’s human form. Powerful and free, Naraku unleashes a torrent of demonic evil upon the countryside.
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Inuyasha Special Character DVD ~Magnificent~ Inuyasha Supesyaru Kyarakuta DVD ~Goukakenran~ 犬夜叉 スペシャルキャラクターDVD~豪華絢爛~ The Special Character DVD contains scenes from the television show with music from the six original characters singles playing over it. It also contains commentary from Kappei Yamaguchi and Satsuki Yukino. |
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Black Tessaiga Kuroi Tessaiga 黒い鉄砕牙
Purple fog clears slowly revealing Sesshomaru facing a large black orb filled with colors and disintigrating a man, Shishinki, who he has just bested. He suddenly thinks back to a conversation with Totosai at his father's grave. Byakuya appears in the present floating on a giant paper crane and says something to irritate Sesshomaru, causing him to attack him with the Meidou Zangetsuha, which he evades. He throws something at Sesshomaru, which he catches. It's a white flower that falls away to reveal a sharp shard of some kind.
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Inuyasha Theater Production 犬夜叉 Inuyasha In 2001 Shinkansen Parcomics staged a production of Inuyasha a as a musical. The storyline went up to the introduction of Miroku. The musical covers Kagome's first trip through the well, the battle against Yura of the Hair, and Kikyo's betrayal. The production stars Atsuhiro Satoh as Inuyasha, Erika Mabuchi as Kagome, Shinsuke Kyo as Miroku, Kyoko Tohyama as Kikyo, Asashi Yoshida as Myoga and Meguma Nishimuta as Naraku. The production features intricate costumes, especially Inuyasha's and Myoga's. |
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Inuyasha Theater Production 2 Butai "Inuyasha" 舞台『犬夜叉』 In 2017 a second Inuyasha stage production was launched with higher production values than the first. Fans raved for the elaborate costumes as well as the numerous characters depicted. |
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