InuYasha

TV review by Scout Davidson, Common Sense Media
InuYasha Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 11+

Fantasy-themed anime features strong female lead.

Cartoon Network Kids' Animation 2002
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 26 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 123 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that although some episodes of this fantasy-themed anime are tween-friendly, there is a fair amount of fighting, mostly between different species of demon. While older kids should be fine with it, younger kids could get a little scared. Other than that, there's a bit of salty language (of the "damn," "bastard," and "crap" variety), some innuendo and partial nudity in later episodes (nothing overly graphic), and one of the main characters has a nasty temper -- but teamwork usually rules the day.

Community Reviews

MsilCmd
MsilCmd Adult
May 31, 2021
age 9+

One of the best Shojo (for girls) Mangas I have read

Full disclosure, I have only read the first 15 chapters so far, but I will definitely finish it. I have been looking for Manga for my 9 year old daughter, and due to the cultural differences in what is appropriate in Japan this requires reading every manga first (a serious pain in the rear). Most manga is violent and contains monsters or scary characters, and non-sexual nudity. It's just a cultural thing. However, there are degrees, and I would consider the spirit-type of monsters in this manga to be acceptable to as young as 9. Child readers may at first find a monster scary, but then often come to learn that it was an illusion and wasn't what it seemed, often monsters even becoming good characters over time. There is one scene where a crow demon inhabits the chest of a corpse it is reanimating, but the crow is quickly defeated by a good demon and the main character. That would be the harshest scene in the first 15 chapters. There are also scenes with tertiary bad-guy characters beheaded, but this is manga, and the deaths of characters from slashing objects is pretty much in every manga other than the cringey fluffy cat manga that are for 2-5 year olds. There really is no manga for 6-10 year old American kids going by American standards, so if you're opening kids up to manga, I would start around age 9 youngest, and accept the fact that there will be monsters, slashing violence, and possibly non-sexual nudity in even the most benign manga you will find. There is a scene in this manga where the main character is bathing in a river nude, but it is non-sexual. I believe her age would be around 14-15, but as this is shojo manga for girls in Japan, it is not what I would see as inappropriate for a girl reader in the US age 9+. I wouldn't give it to a boy until around age 13 though for that reason.

This title has:

Great role models
Moth1997
Moth1997 Adult
January 2, 2021
age 13+

A very fun show potentially for the family.

It’s a fun fairytale that I think everyone can enjoy.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 26 parent reviews

What's the Story?

INUYASHA (voiced by Richard Ian Cox) is a half-dog/half-human demon who's controlled, via magic beads, by a time-traveling Japanese schoolgirl named Kagome (Moneca Stori). Together they lead a team that includes a monk, a fox demon, and a demon slayer on a quest through feudal Japan to locate the shards of the Jewel of Four Souls. They must keep the Jewel out of the hands of Naraku, who needs all the shards to become a full demon. Kagome is a strong female character -- the reincarnation of a powerful priestess -- and possesses the strong powers to fulfill her task of protecting the Jewel. InuYasha, which has some cartoon violence and suggestive scenes, and airs as part of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup, is tamer than many of the other shows in that group.

Is It Any Good?

InuYasha features a lot of characters and a lengthy backstory, making it difficult to follow when jumping in at midpoint. Erratic scheduling doesn't help (not all episodes are broadcast, and the ones that are shown sometimes air out of order), nor does the fact that the original Japanese series ceased production before the story's natural end (four feature-length movies have been produced so far to continue the tale). Still, the show weaves an interesting tale of adventure, romance, and fantasy, and depicts strong female characters. When Kagome becomes attracted to InuYasha, her crush sometimes lends the series an air of middle-school drama, but overall the show offers teen and older tween girls a fascinating fantasy world to explore.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what this show has in common with other anime series -- and what sets it apart. What makes it more kid-friendly than other anime shows? What makes it a fantasy? What are the main differences between fantasy and science fiction genres? Families can also discuss what it means to work together as a team. What happens when one member of a team loses patience and strikes out on their own? How does that affect the rest of the team?

TV Details

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