Post by kagomehime on Jul 23, 2003 5:03:29 GMT -5
Hello, and welcome to my first post. I'm really new to this whole forum thing, so please forgive me while I attempt to familiarize myself with it.
Now, to the topic at hand. Takahashi is, without a doubt, my favorite manga writer/artist. Though I admit I haven't read all of her work.
Inuyasha is my all time favorite manga, and it actually took the place of Ranma 1/2. Though I would label both of these as at least PG-13 material.
For those who are not already familiar with the story lines, I'll try to give you a bit of an idea here, okay?
Ranma 1/2 is about a boy, Ranma, who falls into a cursed spring on a training mission with his father. After which, when he is splashed with cold water, he turns into a girl. His father is also cursed, as are many of the other characters who appear later in the series. Ranma's father, Genma, has promised his old friend, Soun Tendo, that Ranma will marry one of Soun's three daughters and the two will then inherit the Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts. When Ranma and Genma arrive, no one knows about their curses. Soon, though, everyone finds out and Ranma and Akane, the youngest Tendo daughter and a real tomboy (as well as a martial artist in her own right), are forced into an "unwanted" engangement. It's a really cute and it's also one of the funniest mangas I have ever read, however it is also a sort of chaotic humor, and the characters are all rather static, but the love-hate relationships are addictive. The series has not been entirely released here, but it has been finished in Japan. The ending doesn't really resolve anything, and is kind of a let down. And, as in many mangas, there is some brief nudity from time to time, nothing distasteful, but as I said, PG-13.
Inuyasha is also very funny, but unlike Ranma 1/2, it's not a comedy, and can be very dramatic as well. The story is really important in Inuyasha, and the character development is just great. It takes a few volumes to really get going, but I was hooked right from the start. It's the story of a girl, Kagome, who lives in "modern day" (1997, the year the manga was started) Tokyo in a shinto shrine. She's your average teenager until her 15th birthday, when she is attacked in an old well house on the shrine grounds by a centipede demon whose been dead for like 500 years (I know, this is really hard to follow) who drags her down the well with it to the Fuedal Era of Japan (or roughly 500 years ago). Once there she discovers a "boy" hanging from a tree by an arrow. But he isn't really a boy, he is a half-demon (half dog demon, actually) named Inuyasha, and he appears to be dead. However, when the centipede demon attacks her again, we discover that he was not dead, just asleep (techinically sealed), when he wakes up and begins to threaten her. You see, Kagome is apparently the reincarnation of the woman who "killed" him 50 years before this point, Kikyou; and, at first, he believes Kagome to be Kikyou (though he soon discovers he was wrong). It is then discovered that Kagome has been carrying the Shikon no Tama (jewel of four souls) within her, it is a very powerful jewel that all of the demons want, including Inuyasha. Of course, a helpful miko Kaede places some prayer beads around Inuyasha's neck, and whenever Kagome says Oswari (sit) he is forced to the ground (there's your slapstick). Still, Inuyasha sticks around Kagome waiting for a chance to steal the jewel. And, when Kagome accidently shatters the jewel, they begin a long journey to recover all of the lost shards. Of course, that's a rather poor/confusing summary, I guess. But I'd hate to give too much away. This series began in 1997 and the story is still not finished. However, it might finish anyime now, I'll be sure and let everyone know if it does. Also, I would like to point out that this manga should also be considered PG-13. It is mostly due to violence and kind of mature themes, but it does have a very little amount of nudity as well, from time to time.
The Inuyasha anime was actually on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim for a while. It will be back on at the end of August, but right now it's off. They should be starting with episode 37 when it does return though. So, if you haven't been watching it might be a good idea to wait until they begin another replay from the begining.
Also, for any other fans of Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha, or for anyone who is interested in collecting either series. Viz is currently re-releasing both series in a new format for under $10. (Despite the fact that they haven't even finished releasing either series yet.) So if there are any you haven't bought yet I suggest waiting for those. And, if anyone is interested in checking out the manga, they can go to www.viz.com, or just let me know and I can give you some information or at least try and direct you to a website that can help you.
Sorry this is so long, but I hope that it helps anyone who has been thinking about checking these out make a decision. Well, that's all for now!
--kagome-hime
Now, to the topic at hand. Takahashi is, without a doubt, my favorite manga writer/artist. Though I admit I haven't read all of her work.
Inuyasha is my all time favorite manga, and it actually took the place of Ranma 1/2. Though I would label both of these as at least PG-13 material.
For those who are not already familiar with the story lines, I'll try to give you a bit of an idea here, okay?
Ranma 1/2 is about a boy, Ranma, who falls into a cursed spring on a training mission with his father. After which, when he is splashed with cold water, he turns into a girl. His father is also cursed, as are many of the other characters who appear later in the series. Ranma's father, Genma, has promised his old friend, Soun Tendo, that Ranma will marry one of Soun's three daughters and the two will then inherit the Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts. When Ranma and Genma arrive, no one knows about their curses. Soon, though, everyone finds out and Ranma and Akane, the youngest Tendo daughter and a real tomboy (as well as a martial artist in her own right), are forced into an "unwanted" engangement. It's a really cute and it's also one of the funniest mangas I have ever read, however it is also a sort of chaotic humor, and the characters are all rather static, but the love-hate relationships are addictive. The series has not been entirely released here, but it has been finished in Japan. The ending doesn't really resolve anything, and is kind of a let down. And, as in many mangas, there is some brief nudity from time to time, nothing distasteful, but as I said, PG-13.
Inuyasha is also very funny, but unlike Ranma 1/2, it's not a comedy, and can be very dramatic as well. The story is really important in Inuyasha, and the character development is just great. It takes a few volumes to really get going, but I was hooked right from the start. It's the story of a girl, Kagome, who lives in "modern day" (1997, the year the manga was started) Tokyo in a shinto shrine. She's your average teenager until her 15th birthday, when she is attacked in an old well house on the shrine grounds by a centipede demon whose been dead for like 500 years (I know, this is really hard to follow) who drags her down the well with it to the Fuedal Era of Japan (or roughly 500 years ago). Once there she discovers a "boy" hanging from a tree by an arrow. But he isn't really a boy, he is a half-demon (half dog demon, actually) named Inuyasha, and he appears to be dead. However, when the centipede demon attacks her again, we discover that he was not dead, just asleep (techinically sealed), when he wakes up and begins to threaten her. You see, Kagome is apparently the reincarnation of the woman who "killed" him 50 years before this point, Kikyou; and, at first, he believes Kagome to be Kikyou (though he soon discovers he was wrong). It is then discovered that Kagome has been carrying the Shikon no Tama (jewel of four souls) within her, it is a very powerful jewel that all of the demons want, including Inuyasha. Of course, a helpful miko Kaede places some prayer beads around Inuyasha's neck, and whenever Kagome says Oswari (sit) he is forced to the ground (there's your slapstick). Still, Inuyasha sticks around Kagome waiting for a chance to steal the jewel. And, when Kagome accidently shatters the jewel, they begin a long journey to recover all of the lost shards. Of course, that's a rather poor/confusing summary, I guess. But I'd hate to give too much away. This series began in 1997 and the story is still not finished. However, it might finish anyime now, I'll be sure and let everyone know if it does. Also, I would like to point out that this manga should also be considered PG-13. It is mostly due to violence and kind of mature themes, but it does have a very little amount of nudity as well, from time to time.
The Inuyasha anime was actually on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim for a while. It will be back on at the end of August, but right now it's off. They should be starting with episode 37 when it does return though. So, if you haven't been watching it might be a good idea to wait until they begin another replay from the begining.
Also, for any other fans of Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha, or for anyone who is interested in collecting either series. Viz is currently re-releasing both series in a new format for under $10. (Despite the fact that they haven't even finished releasing either series yet.) So if there are any you haven't bought yet I suggest waiting for those. And, if anyone is interested in checking out the manga, they can go to www.viz.com, or just let me know and I can give you some information or at least try and direct you to a website that can help you.
Sorry this is so long, but I hope that it helps anyone who has been thinking about checking these out make a decision. Well, that's all for now!
--kagome-hime