anime vrs manga

Usually when I first start a series, it is by its anime format before moving on to the manga. However, Inuyasha was the first series that I’ve ever started with the manga. Why? When looking for songs to download, I came across some of the ending themes and thought that they were very pretty. At that time though I didn’t have the resources to buy the anime, so I just wrote Inuyasha on my too watch list. One day not long after that I had cash to spare, I was in Waldenbooks and the series looked kind of interesting. Had I known it was so long though; I would have just bought the manga cd first, which I ended up doing now anyway because of the ridiculous price of manga. That’s not the point.

Immediately, I was hooked. I am usually a Watase Yuu fan from her elaborate and overly glorified art, but something about the simplicity of Rumiko Takahashi drew me in. Not only that, the story was interesting. The not so overly romantic, but touching relationship that Inuyasha and Kagome shared was one of the first things that drew me into the series.

Then came Kikyou – and I loved it even more. Instead of the sappy romances of the usual theme of manga, Inuyasha was a tragedy with no set romance! I was hooked – for here was something completely different. Which also lead to the creation of Trust, because at that time, I honestly did not think that Inuyasha and Kagome would end up together after the resurrection of Kikyou.

Now for the belated introduction of the anime. I had, until that point, put off watching the anime format of the series – even swearing that I never would. Usually because I am always, always disappointed by the anime when I read the manga and since for this series I had read the manga first – I didn’t want to ruin it. I gave in though, because of the music and was not disappointed.

For the most part, I think the anime follows the manga pretty well. Of course, the animators took great liberties with some characterizations which I think is part of what caused problems in the entire fandom to begin with. For example, Kagome and the usage of the rosary had been overplayed, way overplayed. Instead of seeing a gradual bond of trust being formed as the series goes on, evidenced with Kagome rarely using the spell in the later chapters; in the anime Kagome usually subdues Inuyasha at least once every episode. Of course, which is something that a lot of Kagome haters use against her.

As an active participant in the fighting, and being more empathetic toward her companions, I think Kagome is also viewed better in the manga for those qualities. In the anime Kagome is way weaker – and screams for Inuyasha more times - than she does in the manga. So yes, I think the manga representation of Kagome makes her a stronger, more reliable character.

Inuyasha in the anime, I think, comes closest to his character in the manga than the other two. The same qualities, the same ego and the same roughness surrounds him in both formats, which leads me to conclude that the anime adaptation of the hero is quite all right. (note, I am not speaking of the dub, which sickens me beyond words)

Kikyou however, has been killed in the anime. Even the lovely Noriko Hidaka who voices her (also Tendou Akane from Ranma ½) was not able to save her character. In the manga Kikyou has a purpose, her actions are explained and it is much easier to see her as the tragic heroine who has lost everything, which she is. The anime, sadly, has destroyed all sense. Instead of sticking to the manga and making her appearances worthwhile, Kikyou was making random appearances almost every episode! Instead of her working on her own mission and not bothering Inuyasha, like she tries to do after the first incident in the manga, it looks as though Kikyou actually stalks the Inu-gumi throughout the country while, somehow, still doing her own thing. It makes absolutely no sense. I’m sure that if Kikyou had been put in with her proper show times then she would have a lot more fans with the anime’s release.

So in conclusion, as shiny as the anime may be – as wonderful as its music is – I, personally, would rather stick with the manga format of the story. Mainly for my own personal enjoyment and seeing it how the author intended, not what the random big shot animators want.