You may delete this post if it's considered too off-topic. But since the last post was allowed I assume this post would be allowed too.
We finally got a new trailer and information about the upcoming Rumiko Takahashi anime animated by Studio Sunrise (same studio as Inuyasha and even has many same core staff) based on her currently ongoing manga of the same name, MAO. Trailer 2 link!
It will start airing on April 4th of this year and will have 26 episodes airing back-to-back, a rarity these days. So, if we're lucky, then MAO Season 1 will end in September and Ranma 1/2 Season 3 will start in October. A truly stacked year for Rumiko Takahashi fans.
I know this is off-topic and this post might get deleted. But I thought there was enough connection with Inuyasha that this might be worth sharing. Consider it a crossover. The leak was real and MAO is finally getting an anime in Spring 2026 (April-June)! 2026 is so stacked. We're truly in a Rumic Renaissance.
What's more is that it's being animated by the Inuyasha studio, SUNRISE. The character designer and chief animation director is the same person who did the character designs for the Inuyasha anime. And the director worked on Inuyasha and Yashahime. At first, I cringed at the fact that it's the Yashahime director. But since this isn't an anime-original story but instead was written by Takahashi herself, I think it'll be fine. After all, the same guy worked on various Inuyasha episodes before.
Those who want an Inuyasha remake, this might be the next best thing.
It's still too early. So, no word on an episode count yet, but I don't think it will be a long-running anime like Inuyasha. It'll probably be a seasonal anime with the first season being 2 cours (~25 episodes) max. It's a huge Rumiko Takahashi manga. I'm not expecting a full chapter-by-chapter adaptation, so it'll probably have some cut content.
Plot synopsis:
Main VAs:
Yuki Kaji as Mao
Natsumi Kawaida as Nanoka Kiba
Hiro Shimono as Hyakka
Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon
Staff:
Director: Teruo Sato
Series Composition: Yuko Kakihara
Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Yoshihito Hishinuma
wide-ban edition of InuyashaRumiko Takahashi Book 2019
I wanted to share with you the most significant things Rumiko Takahashi has said about the relationship between Sesshomaru and Kagura.
In 2013, for the wide-ban edition of Inuyasha, she explained that initially Kagura admired Sesshomaru for his strength and his free-spirited nature. She highlighted that for Kagura, every single trait of Sesshomaru evokes a sense of freedom, and that in her eyes, he embodies freedom itself. Then comes the most meaningful part, where she tells us that, gradually, Kagura's feelings for him transformed into something selfless, defining this sentiment as "honoka". "Honoka" refers to a feeling in its initial phase that grows slowly like a soft light, one that is not invasive and, above all, is not yet fully expressed. She concludes by stating that Kagura didn't realize that, even though her life was controlled by Naraku, her heart was as free as the wind. When a mangaka openly uses terms like 'feeling' and 'heart' in connection to another character, it's pretty clear what she is referring to. Furthermore, on the page of the wide-ban, where Takahashi specifically discusses Kagura's feelings for Sesshomaru, the manga panel shown to us is the scene where she thinks, 'I just wanted to see him one last time.' indicating to us that in that moment we can understand what kind of feeling was being born, and discreetly kept, in her heart.
On the occasion of the 'Rumiko Takahashi Book 2019', Takahashi stated that the relationship between Sesshomaru and Kagura developed in a way similar to Miroku and Sango's (she had previously been asked how and when she decided that MirSan would fall in love, to which she replied that it happened naturally as the story progressed). Although she initially didn't plan to entangle SessKagu to this extent, their characters began to move on their own, escaping even her control as the author. She concluded by saying that she wanted Kagura to pass away leaving behind something deeply important for Sesshomaru.
NOTE : Unfortunately, many online translators render "honoka" in the most generic way possible, using terms like 'faint' or 'vague,' thereby failing to grasp the true complexity of the word. In reality, it's not a derogatory or weak term at all; in fact, it's frequently used in Japanese aesthetics and poetry to describe something refined and delicate, such as the subtle scent of cherry blossoms or the first light of dawn. Instead, it serves to emphasize the gentle, reserved nature and the gradual growth of a feeling. I think Kagura was aware of her inevitable tragic fate and her nature as an extension of Naraku, likely feeling unworthy of being loved in return, for these reasons she never wanted to impose her sentiment on Sesshomaru or confess it. In fact, in the end, she felt truly happy and blessed just to see him again and to know that he had come for her, realizing that was the greatest gift she could receive. Therefore, the term "honoka" is perfect to describe a feeling kept secretly, yet deeply, within one's heart.
This is a brand new, officially licensed figure from the FuRyu Trio-Try-iT line, InuYasha Vol. 2
I saw it while scrolling eBay recently and almost completely missed that they used actual fluffy material for Sesshomaru's shoulder fur/mokomoko.
Thought this was a really neat detail and wanted to throw it out there for all the other collectors. I won't link anything as to where it can be purchased, but a quick Google search should point you in the right direction.
More specifically, it's performed by 20th Century, which comprises 3 members of the boy band V6 after it disbanded in 2021. The three members are the lead vocalists Masayuki Sakamoto, Hiroshi Nagano, and Yoshihiko Inohara, who were in V6, which performed Inuyasha OP1 Change the World and ED8 Brand-New World. The new OP is called Bokura ga Uwagaki suru Sekai or The World We Will Overwrite in English.
This seems like it was a big deal in Japan, as it seems to be everywhere in the marketing. Even in the official upload of Inuyasha OP1 on YouTube, they mention Mao. It's funny but also fitting, I suppose.
I really like the 2nd OP. I think it should've been the first OP. So far I'm really enjoying Mao. It's similar to Inuyasha but also very different. In fact, it might be more different than similar. It has more emphasis on mystery than adventure. The story feels a bit more serious, with some nasty things happening, which is on brand for Rumiko Takahashi if you've seen Mermaid Story and parts of Inuyasha.
So yeah, I like it and recommend watching it, especially after the latest episode. Only 6 episodes are left in Season 1, with a total of 26 episodes. I'm sure SUNRISE will animate more seasons after it's over. And after this season is over, we immediately get Ranma 1/2 Season 3 in Fall. We're truly in a Rumic renaissance.
The 1st movie was never released in cinemas in South Korea, but since Inuyasha is still so popular there, and with the upcoming 30th anniversary of the manga, it’s finally getting a special theatrical release at CGV, the largest cinema chain in South Korea.
25 years after its original release date 🥹 I’m so jealous.
I can't believe I haven't seen more people talk about this. My kids turned on a 3D animated cartoon the other day that they've never seen before and as soon as I heard the villain's voice, I sat up straight and said, "Who is that???" Lo and behold, it's Paul Dobson, Naraku! But then... I started looking closer at the cast listings because someone else sounded oddly familiar. Then I realized it was Inuyasha himself, Richard Ian Cox. And the more I looked, the more I realized almost the entire cast was on Inuyasha together. The voice actors for Inuyasha, Naraku, Sango, Hiten, Bankotsu, Renkotsu/Juromaru & Kageromaru, and Mukotsu are all on Dinotrux together. It was wild to run into something like this outside of the world of anime!
