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love-sapphirerose · 27 days

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Rin: Bad Inuyasha Character

Another bad damsel in distress in the Inuyasha series. I never really liked Rin since I've always thought of her as a weak girl who was clingy and obsessed with Sesshomaru. Rin is like a younger version of Kagome except she's not an archer.

Her Character

In the original, rin was an annoying and obnoxious little girl who had a dark past and a major obsession with sesshomaru but in yashahime it was much worst.

For the majority of yashahime, rin was frozen in the tree of ages. In the first season of episode 1, it was a flashback of a manga chapter in the final act. But in episode 15, she lacked character as she let sesshomaru, who just ignored her, take her newly born twins away with no explanation other than it was a rite of courage and cowardice and was completely obedient and okay with it. Suddenly in season 2, she was reverted back to her original annoying character and so on but worse.

In episode 27, I know why rin wants to protect towa and setsuna because she's there mother but she makes this over dramatic and whiny speech as she wants sesshomaru, who is her husband, to kill her to protect them.

When she confronts kirinmaru, she pathetically tries to fight him, someone with no kind of power at all and no combat training is going to take on a very powerful beast king yokai who can instantly kill her as she is all talk and no action.

When rin finally meets towa and setsuna together closely, instead of hugging them immediately she decides to wait not like moe, ms higurashi, and kagome who did despite the circumstances.

Even after zero tried multiple times to kill towa and setsuna and terrorized them, rin still wants to save zero who ended up committing suicide by riku anyway.

2. Appearance and Age

Despite what the creators of yashahime tried to explain through jaken and tree of ages that rin is 18 and later 32, she is actually 15 and later 29.

The true creator, Rumiko Takahashi, explained databooks and interviews that rin was 7-8 years old but disgsting sessrin shippers want to ignore it and agree with yashahime creators.

The timeline of rin's age in order. In inuyasha, rin was 7-8, in the 3 year time skip of the final episode of the final act she is 11, in since then is 11 and 1/2 but yashahime said that 18 years have passed so 11 plus 18 is 29.

Despite yashahime falsely claiming she is 32, majority of the time makes rin look like she was still 11 and sometimes the exact age as towa and setsuna.

3. Marriage

rin's marriage to sesshomaru is creepy and disgusting as he knew her since she was 7-8 years old. Rumiko Takahashi said in interviews and databooks that sesshomaru and rin have a father-daughter relationship. rin should've been with kohaku because they are close in age and have great interactions with each other. The sick reason for the yashahime creators pairing sesshomaru and rin together was because they wanted sesshomaru to have hanyos and rin is the only female that wasn't taken, has some kind of relationship with him, and is alive. They could've made Kaname Kururugi and Janis canon in yashahime and created a story where one of them returned to the feudal era and been with him or created a human female character for him but instead they choose someone that was like a daughter to him.

In yashahime, sesshomaru and rin's relationship is basically the same in the original except rin's is less rebellious and more obedient. rin still calls him 'lord sesshomaru' and doesn't see herself as his equal or even his wife as seen with her conversations with towa and setsuna, she refers to them as 'sesshomaru's daughters' and not both of theirs. sesshomaru doesn't see rin as his wife as he continues to give commands to her like she's a dog.

Ex. ordering her to stay in the tree of ages, him waking and orders her to follow him, orders her to stay and watch closely of him and kirinmaru fight, and in the last episode he orders her to follow him.

sesshomaru doesn't even take care of the towa and setsuna, especially when they were babies as he doesn't even change their diapers and rin just made excuses for him saying 'changing diapers doesn't suit lord sesshomaru' and dumbed her down.

4. Sudden Change

In the yashahime series, rin worried about towa and setsuna and was even willing to sacrifice her life for them in the last episode with a conversations with them she completely changed.

rin was worried about kohaku and kagura but she had said to towa and setsuna 'since they're hanyos she's sure they'll more hardships and they'll be attacked by strange demons just for being the daughters of lord sesshomaru' while being cheerful and laughing.

While kagome, who is majority of the time an awful character, wife, and mother, who worried about moroha and wanted her out of debt immediately.

#anti hanyo no yashahime #anti yashahime #anti princess half demon #anti kagome #anti rin #anti sesshomaru #anti jaken #anti sessrin #anti sesshomaru x rin #anti kagome higurashi #anti inukag #anti towa higurashi #anti towa #setsuna

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la-hannya · 11 months

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Been keeping away from the drama cause I'm mostly tired, want to mostly focus on the original series, and I can't wait for this fanfic to completely die truly from the death drag is doing since it's long overdue; but after reading this— it needed to be addressed. Saw some copium going on about it already.

You can say stuff like "he is a yōkai", "he was always like that", "he is too good to lower himself to the standards and morals of humans", "retcons can happen" "you see? Rumiko is supervising now", "You weren't paying attention to the story" "the translation should say this instead of this" etc etc. Sure. of course, Jan. All that shit is bs as shown in the source material a thousand times already. Ok, moving on.

but AGAIN this Sesshomaru is just not the same one. Not the same to the original anime and not the same og manga either. This is like a completely different character than what we've been shown before. Nope. Ken Narita said it best and knew it.

This one is a completely regressed version and you can die on the hill after punching me in the face "that it's the same one, it's canon" but the original one wouldn't let crap like this slide. Oh yes, I know he's not a fucking prince charming; for sure! WE ALL KNOW. But Sesshomaru had already grown enough that he gave a fuk at least about those around him. Even if he's a person who barely expresses himself. So, much so, that no matter how you view the relationship of him and Rin— you know he was still coming to see and make sure he was okay even when she was in a village that might as well be safe 💯% thanks to his brother along his wife + inugang and others. He took care of Kohaku after Kikyo died! He regretted not leaving Rin in a village earlier when she lost her life again. Here, he's whole family are accessories. You got even Shippo weirdly being his servant all of a sudden. You can measure the regression with a ruler 📐

The vibes Rumiko Takahashi is giving me at this point are: A) she doesn't give a fuk because the og story is FINISHED as she has talked before (tbh this woman didn't give a fuck starting the last half of the series cause you can look up her interviews on Rumic World/Furinkan, and she was half ass winging it by the end cause that's how much she stopped vibin with her "Magnum Opus". Thanks Sunrise) and since she doesn't give a fuk, she doesn't want to even bother looking at her own source material. This is why I've gone mostly "Death of the author" with her at this point.

B) The other thing could be as well that she's fuking this thing on purpose. "But, Gene she's supervi—" no shut up. And stop snorting the copium. You'd think if this was canon she'd be truly wanting to sell the story and this ship, but it's like she wants to make sure he along everything else is the worst possible every chapter. If she truly is supervising, cause honestly she still feels like she quickly looks over sht, goes "whatever, I'm done with this" and goes back to doing Inuyasha revamp *cough* I mean MAO. Though, it's quite understandable why she was so reluctant to allow this in the first place.

And let me tell you, the "Character becomes terrible parental unit when the next generation is born, so their past growth is thrown out the window" trope. It's OVERUSED GARBAGE that fuks up good stories 🗑️🚮 You got characters that are really similar to Sessh that are doing better in other animes for Pete's sake. LIKE "THE VILLAIN" OF YASHAHIME: KIRINMARU 🦄🤡

It's pitiful really. I dunno how anyone can still enjoy this because "uWu it gives me crumbs". Nah, have some standards. Other people can do better stories. Other people can write this better while still respecting the original story. And I'm not saying you can't enjoy some things from it, because you can (like Moroha, Kirin, the Mirsan kids, whatever). But this could've been better done. Peace.

#anti yashahime #anti sessrin #this story could've been better

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kohakuxrin · 1 year

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What Sunrise could have done

According to some interviews, the reason Yashahime was created was because the anime producer Suwa Michihiko demanded a continuation, which was an unreasonable request because after 12 years of various headcanons and fanfics following Inuyasha’s conclusion with the unlikely chance to get a sequel since Takahashi tended to just start a new manga once she concludes one and never made a sequel to any of her other works, it could hardly meet everyone’s general expectations.

However, Sumisawa and the Sunrise staff did not try to think of something that everyone would easily accept like they claimed.

- They knew that the relationship between Sesshomaru and Rin was perceived differently by fans. Rin was fond of Sesshomaru and he cared for her, but it was not necessarily romantic feelings they were displaying and Takahashi never remotely implied in the story that their relationship was or would become romantic whatsoever. And yet they depicted them as a couple and in a controversial way as they seemingly picked the youngest age possible for her in order for her to keep her childish voice tone and for their children to be born before Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter, which makes it even more awkward. How can we not find this repulsive? Isn’t it obviously awkward to many for an adult and a child whom he looked after and who was obedient to him to become romantically involved? Especially since it was aimed toward a younger audience, it goes without saying: not only it’s immoral to portray an underage-adult relationship as normal and beautiful, it can also be dangerous.

- And after a most satisfying conclusion to the original story, to have Inuyasha and Kagome imprisoned in a secluded place for about 14 years, depriving them of raising their child who is sold off by her teacher to pay off her debt and literally becomes a slave struggling to pay for her freedom, and to waste such an amazing character with a great look and great abilities by treating her as comedic relief and frequently shunting her in favor of Towa and Setsuna, despite the three of them having been framed as a trio… They didn’t think it would be a massive bummer for those who were satisfied with the end of the original story to see the original protagonists who had already gone through a great deal of hardships and their child being trashed like that? It’s obviously necessary for what was last seen in the original work to have lasted for a continuation, as conflict is an important factor for a story to drive it forward, but that doesn’t mean it has to be devastating.

How on earth is that something everyone would be ok with? It’s plain obvious that they simply took the liberty to write something of their own vision, not really taking into consideration the fandom.

So based on what Sunrise and Shiina did (I find Shiina’s version to be better than Sunrise’, especially about the Youreisei (Grim Comet) which was given a better appearance and an origin), all the while using some ideas I came up with, here’s an idea of what they could have done that I believe could have most likely pleased the majority of the fans:

To begin with, it was stated that Inuyasha had concluded with no single thing unanswered, yet: Other than being stated to be 1000 years old and the Bone Eater’s Well having been constructed out of its wood in the first movie, the Sacred Tree of Ages had not been explored and it was not explained why the well connected between two eras.

Therefore, since the Tree of ages was an important element in Inuyasha, especially for being the place where Inuyasha and Kagome first met, I thought of this:

Instead of being daughters of Sesshomaru, Towa and Setsuna are daughters of a female demon who was affiliated with the tree of ages. The twins would be presented as mysterious half-demon twins and together with the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome who had first met at the tree, they would form a trio of half-demon girls whose parents had a history with the sacred tree of ages, whose origins would be revealed as they venture.

And here’s what I thought so far for the mother of the twins and the sacred tree of ages:

The mother of the twins was a good-hearted demon who, during the Heian era, fought Kirinmaru who had a vile ambition, and defeated him, although he swore to return in around 500 years. (It could be that Kirinmaru wanted to use a chunk of the Youreisei which he had repelled, to activate the windmill of time to take back his daughter Rion which a piece of Youreisei nonetheless took away from him. But he had to fight the mother of the twins who was the guardian of the windmill, and not only was Kirinmaru defeated, but the fragment had lost its power. So Kirinmaru had to wait for the Youreisei to return for the chunk to regain its power)

Not too long after, she met a human male with whom she’d conceive her children, but both would suffer a tragedy leaving the twins orphaned. (It could have been that her pregnancy weakened her, and Zero took the chance to attempt killing her to have out of the way for when Kirinmaru would return. And she succeeded in mortally wounding her, by first killing her husband to render her so angry that she wouldn’t think carefully, although she managed to drive Zero away. She was ready to die and join her lover but eventually struggled to stay alive at least until her daughters were born, and she died after giving birth to them)

Someone placed her daughters in the sacred tree where they remained asleep and didn't age, and would wait for them to reemerge around 500 years later to defeat Kirinmaru again. They were released 15 years prior to Kirinmaru’s return so they'd be old enough to accomplish their duty, and the one who waited for them put the barrier in the forest around the tree and watched over them without letting them know of his presence. (I actually thought of Yotsume, instead of being an enemy, being the one who placed the twins in the tree and watched over them all the while using his illusion techniques to keep them from leaving the forest and not let anyone find them, since he reminds me of the owl in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

The reason why Inuyasha did not age while he was sealed to the tree and why the bone-eater well made from wood of the tree connects to around 500 years later would be explained as the origin of the tree of ages is revealed while the mother of the twins was alive, or the way the twins were placed in the tree to reemerge around 500 years later would be the reason.

Now, considering how the fans could interpret the future following Inuyasha’s finale for themselves, imagine the various interpretations, especially for the most prominent characters: What if some picture Inuyasha and Kagome having not just one child? What if some picture Miroku and Sango having more children? What if some picture Shippo growing up? What would become of Rin? (I picture her becoming a doctor running a clinic in the village of demon slayers: https://www.tumblr.com/kohakuxrin/647638096456859648/as-i-re-imagined-yashahime-with-towa-and-setsuna?source=share)

So I believe the best option is an adventure without involving the original cast (Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, Kaede, Sesshomaru, Jaken, Rin, Kohaku, Koga, Ayame, Ginta, Hakkaku, and also Gyokuto, Kin’u and Hisui). It would have most likely been disappointing for many fans not to see what the original cast became, but I believe it is better than being likely upset with how they’d be portrayed.

Only the first episode “Inuyasha Since Then” would feature them as a throwback. I’d add a little scene with Koga, Ayame, Ginta and Hakkaku since they were prominent characters (my idea of a scene would be: some wolves report to Koga that something is going on in Kaede’s village but he assures Ayame that he won’t go for Kagome because he accepted that his responsibility lies in his leadership in the wolf demon tribe, and he thinks “Dog Turd, Kagome is your responsibility, so you’d better assume it well!”)

And as it gave an opportunity for Noriko Hidaka to also return to the cast like all the original cast’s seiyus did in “Inuyasha Since Then”, the spirit of the sacred tree of ages depicted as a sentient being with a mind and will of its own which borrowed the appearance and voice of Kikyo seemed alright to me.

Then the rest of the story would be with only new characters (Towa, Setsuna, Moroha, a substitute leader of the Demon Slayers and some members, Jyubei, Takechiyo, Yawaragi, Yotsume, Four Perils, Riku, Zero, Kirinmaru, Demon Mother and Human Father of the twins...) and some characters from Inuyasha whose involvement would most unlikely upset anyone (if they are well portrayed) would be involved (such as the Higurashi Family, Myoga, Totosai, Hachiemon, Sesshomaru’s mother, Bokuseno, Hosenki II, Master of Potions, Jinenji, Shiori, Royakan, Mimisenri, Nazuna, Sayo, Koharu, Taichi…)

All those who appeared in “Inuyasha Since Then” would not appear again during the Yashahimes’ adventure and whatever became of them would not be revealed, although a reason for the absence of most would be required. It could be that shortly before the trio assembled, Inuyasha and the others had to leave to a faraway place to take care of a situation of which as much help as possible was necessary, which would possibly mean that even Sesshomaru and Koga went along. (That situation could be the Youreisei, because Kirinmaru waited for it to return to have its chunk regain its power, and would not try to repel it again. And they had to be at a specific spot where it would appear, and had to prepare themselves for it). And those who seem not likely to participate in that situation like Kaede would not be seen by not having her village seen/involved.

Moroha was raised by her parents and it would not be said that she is their only child, to leave the possibility that they had more children if some fans prefer.

And as a finale, I though of this: Moroha had received a letter from her parents saying that they dealt with the situation without any casualty, but Towa and Setsuna wouldn’t meet them and return to the Reiwa era together for they’d be faced with making a quick decision of which era they wanted to remain. They say goodbye to Moroha who later sees her parents having made their return (their respective seiyus would speak but their faces would not be shown (like in Pikachu’s vacation: Ash and his friends were not fully seen)). Inuyasha rejoices at eating ramen again while Kagome reads a letter from her family that Moroha brought back. After reading it, Kagome wishes to send them a letter back and Moroha tells her that there is a way. In the present, Towa and Setsuna surprise the Higurashi family with a chest containing a letter from Kagome. They reveal that they discussed with Moroha and thought of having Kagome write a letter and bury it in a chest within the Bone Eater’s well in case they would not meet, which made it as if the well worked one last time, and they waited to reveal what they thought of after unburying it to avoid any disappointment if nothing was found. Kagome’s words moved the family to tears, and much to everyone’s surprise, she also wrote words for Towa and Setsuna, saying that although they didn’t get to meet, there was no hesitation in writing to her adopted nieces with whom her daughter had an adventure and she hopes they are happy to be adopted in her family who preserved the sacred tree of ages of which their mother was affiliated with. Then as Yashahime’s theme goes, both families in both eras celebrate for the Yashahimes at the same time.

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shinidamachu · 9 months

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Speaking of SessKik, I’m actually starting to really low-key get into that ship. Ngl, at first I thought they might be a little too similiar and cold to ever really work together but I remember someone explaining the appeal of the dynamic in that it’s basically two prideful racists coming together/clashing and having to subvert their preconceptions of the other’s race and each other. Plus the fact that they’re both fundamentally lonely people but extremely good with kids (Yashahime Sesshomaru will never be my Sesshomaru) could give them something to bond over. Also what’s more taboo than a Miko being with a hanyou? How about an honest to god full-blooded youkai instead?

The ship would honestly be great character development for the both of them because they’d be forced unlearn and unpack their prejudices by basically confronting their mirror self.

It's precisely because Sesshomaru and Kikyo are so similar that they would make such a great match. Inuyasha and Kagome are only opposites on a surface level. Deep down, they're actually very alike and that's why they work perfectly together: they're different in every possible way except for the ones that matter, the ones that could make those differences irreconcilable. Sesskik would the morally gray version of that.

The fact that they're both stoic, pragmatic, arrogant, self-centered and prideful characters allows them to understand each other better than anyone else ever would because they operate in the exact same frequency.

Not only that, but putting them together would have made perfect sense, story telling wise. They're both lone wolves with similar goals and similar ways to achieve them, acting on the sidelines. Plus, they share the same soft spot for children — as long as the children in question aren't related to them, it seems — and have special bonds with Kohaku and Rin. It feels only natural that they'd team up at some point.

Then, of course, there's the fact that Kikyo is dead and feeding off women's souls while Sesshomaru is the only character to have a sword that brings people back to life and a parent with ilimited access to an amulet that opens and closes portals to the underworld.

I know her situation is more complicated than simply snatching a soul from hell — for many reasons — but in a series such as Inuyasha, where everything is possible, is not really a reach to theorize that if someone had the means to really bring Kikyo back from the dead, it would've been Sesshomaru. Even if he couldn't, the idea of the two of them interacting is still thematically intriguing.

There are also rumors about an interview where Takahashi said Kikyo is the type of woman Sesshomaru would take romantic interest in and I can't help but agree, since the only woman who canonically caught his eyes was Kagura, an independent woman who was smarter than him — which isn't very hard —, had a lot of guts and just wished to be free, a woman he couldn't save even though he wanted to. It's not hard to picture Kikyo in the same role.

The tragic way Kagura dies by Naraku's hand, therefore ending any romantic development with Sesshomaru, could become a parallel with the tragic way Kikyo died by Naraku's hand, therefore ending any romantic development with Inuyasha, the brother Sesshomaru despises. The room for angst and conflict is amazing.

To me the appeal lies exactly on the point you made: the creative choice of putting Sesshomaru and Kikyo together would pay off in great character development for the both of them by subverting their preconceptions of each other and unlearning the prejudice they still held against each other's races.

I love the idea of Sesshomaru finally making enough progress to love a human in a romantic way, someone who would see him not as simply his father's son, but as his own person, like Kagura did.

I love the idea of Kikyo falling for a demon without the safety net of eventually turning them human, someone who, in the most extraordinary of ways, makes her feel evey bit the ordinary woman she always wanted to be.

They would have been able to see through each other's poker faces and feel actually seen, in a way they haven't quite been seen before: for everything that they are. Not just his father's son and not just the embodiment of purety and perfection in the shape of a village priestess.

Sesshomaru and Kikyo are equals. There are no power imbalances, no idealizing each other, no putting each other on a pedestal because they refuse to acknowledge each other's flaws. They're both intimidating people who can not be intimidate by each other and would be totally comfortable being themselves around one another without fear of judgement or putting their partners in a position where they have to constantly make up excuses for their behavior.

Basically, they could have helped to progress each other's character development and pushed the plot forward while still making thematic and narrative sense, with the plus of fixing most of the things that personally bothered me in Inuyasha and Kikyo's relationship.

It's funny because at the same time I have complained about how much I hate that Inuyasha doesn't feel like himself when he's with Kikyo, acting all reserved, sad and cautious, without his signature fiery temper and dog like mannerism, I've seen people gushing about how mature he is around her and outside I'm like "to each their own", but inside I'm screaming: Sesskik. You want Sesskik!

It also doesn't hurt that they're aesthetically pleasing to look at: elegant, lethal and composed. And Takahashi seems to agree there was wasted potential there because it very much looks like she tried to make up for it with these Mao characters. Yes, I know same face syndrome is a thing and so is coincidence, but come one, now.

Their separate personalities didn't call out to me but together they could have made a very interesting dynamic, even if it was only platonic, because asexuality, aromaticity and homosexuality still fits them very well and wouldn't be an impediment for the found family trope and being single is different from being lonely.

I understand the reasons Takahashi didn't go there, though, because it would have taken real work to make it right and to be honest I've always been more invested in the Inugang, anyway. But the potential was there.

#Someone once said that they're good as a pairing because in math two negatives make a positive #And to me this sums it up perfectly LMAO #Also nice dig on Yashah!me #Anyone who follows my blog for more than ten minutes KNOWS that I despise Sesshomaru with the fire of a thousand suns #But for the last couple of years Sunrise made me live a very specific but very real nightmare #Which was to DEFEND this man on the internet #It was like okay yeah he SUCKS but he would not fucking do or say that #Sidmailing #Inuyasha

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adria-479 · 9 months

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DEAR SESSKAGU FANS,

This maybe be a long shot. But awhile back I saw a post where RT admitted in an interview that she fought with the writer of Yashahime over Rin being made the mother.

I believe the post contained a link to YouTube. For the whole thing. But the post translated the part about the argument.

??? Does this ring a bell. Can you help me find it?

#sesskagu #kagura inuyasha #anti sessrin #kagura wind sorceress #anti yashahime

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inukag · 1 year

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I hope you don't mind me bothering you so much. I just watched Only You, Sango and I was really struck by how much care and creativity was put into a filler non-canon episode that centered around the series' B relationship. It's very sad to me that Yashahime couldn't put together a crew of people who had love and respect for the world of InuYasha and all that comes with it.

You're never bothering me!

There is more than one writer in the anime team at Sunrise, which sometimes lead to inconsistent character writing. Inuyasha, for example, will sometimes be an angry jerk who is mean to everyone, and in the next episode he's all cheerful and friendly?

Like in episode 72, I thought Inuyasha was way nicer than he normally is and it was pretty ooc. Except this is obviously less bothersome than him being mean, lol.

So yeah, not all fillers are equal. Some are bad but there are some good ones out there, like the one you mentioned! And the same is true for Yashahime, the writing is insanely inconsistent. Inuyasha in the flashback was stupid and it looked like his character had completely regressed to how he was early in the OG series. But then in his interactions with Moroha he was also surprisingly open and affectionate.

The main writer for Yashahime is Katsuyuki Sumisawa, and from what I can see in his ANN page, he was not responsible for the script of episode 78: Only You Sango. From the interviews he gave about Yashahime it's pretty clear he doesn't understand the appeal of the Inuyasha series and some of the core theme of the series, which is one of the reasons why Yashahime ended up being such a mess. That and the fact that the quality of the writing did not matter since it was only supposed to be a cash grab, lmao.

#ask #Anon #sunrise-critical #yashahime-critical

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cheshiregrimmjow · 2 years

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I'm going to add more events to this later, but I decided to make a timeline with the character ages included year-by-year. Inuyasha and Yashahime both have a "real-time" timeline that coincides with the year they were written/animated, so these dates are all the official dates according to the licensed material. See notes at the bottom for character ages.

Inuyasha Official Timeline

1996 - Middle school student Kagome (15) travels to feudal era, meets Inuyasha (emotionally about 15), Miroku (17), Sango (15)*, Shippo (emotionally about 7) and Kohaku (11). Sesshomaru (emotionally about 19) meets Rin (8) several months later. Kagome's brother Sota (8) is in 3rd grade.

1997 - Naraku is defeated. Kagome (16) is trapped in the modern era and starts high school. Miroku (18) and Sango (16) get married, have identical twin girls (Kin'u and Gyokuto) later that year/early the following year. Rin (9) moves in with Kaede (60?). Kohaku (12) continues working as a demon slayer on his own.

2000 - Final Act. Miroku (20) and Sango (19) have Hisui. Rin (12) helps Kaede (63) deliver Hisui. Kagome (19) returns to the feudal era and marries Inuyasha. Bone eaters well is sealed when Kagome returns, but 7 months later, Root Head enters tree of ages and gains power to establish a gate to the future.

2004 - Rin (16). Hisui (4).

2006 - Rin (18) gives birth to Towa and Setsuna. Kagome (25) gives birth to Moroha. Rin is trapped in the tree of ages to stop her curse from killing her. Inuyasha and Kagome also trapped (in tree of ages in the manga, in the gateway to the next world in anime...which also slows aging). All three Yashahime are hidden to protect them.

2010 - Towa (4) sent to modern Tokyo and meets Sota (22) and is adopted by him soon after. Setsuna (4) sent to live in hanyo sanctuary.

2020 - Sota (32) and his family meet Moroha (14). Miroku (41) and Sango (39) are expecting another child (in the manga). Towa (14) and Setsuna (14) break the curse on Rin (32, physically still 18). Kagome (39, physically still 25 in manga) and Inuyasha are set free and reunited with Moroha. Kohaku (35) and Hisui (20) continue working as demon slayers. Kaede (83?) is still kicking, probably thanks to her powers as a priestess.

Events covered in Inuyasha

Events covered in Yashahime

Sources: https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/chocolate18/articles/129491/title/rumiko-takahashi-backstage-interview-how-old-inuyasha-characters

https://www.reddit.com/r/inuyasha/comments/g8gn9k/interview_with_rumiko_takahashi_about_sesshomaru/

*Rumiko-sensei gives a range of 15-16 for Sango and 17-18 for Miroku, and since the events of Inuyasha (excluding the last episode) take place over a year, I started at the lower year and ended on the higher year. Only Kagome and Kohaku are given specific ages in the original manga. All other ages are calculated from dialogue in both series that confirm the dates of these events (more sources to be added later).

In fedual era Japan (up until about 1950), birthdates are not kept track of, so people turn a year older on new year's day (lunar reckoning) regardless of what month they were born.

It shouldn't come as a shock that demons age and mature differently than humans. Though they live much longer, they mature at a much slower rate, especially because of their natural emotional handicaps. Demons who never learn to experience compassion or love usually remain the emotional equivalent of a human child - they are extremely self-centered. This is why Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, though much older than their human companions, are still like teenagers when it comes to their emotional maturity. However, once they open their hearts to humans, their maturity grows by leaps and bounds in a very short amount of time. The approximate emotional ages of the demon characters are based from Rumiko-sensei's interviews, though she has always left it more open to the readers. No, it's not an exact science. But this is a feudal fairy tale, so try not to get too hung up on ages and maturity levels.

#inuyasha #yashahime #character ages #rumiko takahashi #half demon princess yashahime #inuyasha the final act #inuyasha timeline #yashahime timeline

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ayuuria · 2 years

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Yashahime Translation: Animage Magazine June 2022 Issue

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Thank you everyone for all your support over the past 2 and a half years. Sadly, I believe Animage has stated on their Twitter that this will be their final interview on Yashahime.

The Journey Will Continue!

Even after finishing their fierce battle with Kirinmaru, the Yashahimes still continue their demon slaying journey. The more time they spend fighting and laughing together, the stronger the three’s solidarity becomes!

No matter how strong a demon is, Towa and Setsuna have gained the strength to fight them, having also done Sesshōmaru’s “trial of courage and cowardice”. In addition, while being a quarter-demon with no brethren (as in there are no other quarter-demons), Moroha obtained irreplaceable comrades.

The battle with Kirinmaru and Zero was long and agonizing, but it brought about just as much major growth within the Yashahimes. If it’s the three of them now, they can likely live indomitably in this chaotic feudal world.

However, it seems the three princesses are still trying to aim higher. Just before travelling to the Land of Iyo (now Ehime prefecture) to slay demons, Setsuna told Hisui her aspiration of “While I’m at it, I’m thinking of traveling to various places as I train.” It’s possible that perhaps in the near future, the girls will become well-known as “The strongest girl trio” instead of “the daughters of the great demon, Sesshōmaru” and “the daughter of the half-demon, Inuyasha, and the legendary priestess, Kagome”.

Let’s have a peek into one act of Towa and Co.’s journey. After finishing their work in the Land of Iyo, they’re all in the middle of happily enjoying a relaxing time at *Dōgo hot spring? This kind of peaceful moment seems like it will also strengthen the girls’ bond further!

(*Translator’s Note: Dōgo Onsen is a real place located in the city of Matsuyama on the island of Shikoku. It is considered one of the oldest hot springs in Japan)

Character Bios

Towa Her personality is such that she is not reluctant to sacrifice herself for the sake of others like encouraging Rion while her own kon was being chipped away. From now on, we would like her to treasure her health as well.

Setsuna Using the “Yukari no Tachikiri”, she can see and cut threads of fate that connect people and objects. However, she doesn’t notice the thread of feelings Hisui has for her?!

Moroha She previously lived on her own while shouldering loneliness, but is now surrounded by her parents and reliable comrades. Her slightly shy side is something she inherited from her father, Inuyasha.

Riku He considers Towa a special existence. He showed an embarrassed but happy expression when he first met Towa after reviving.

Takechiyo The former young lord of the Mamidaira clan who was driven out of his position due to a family squabble. Despite the turmoil being resolved, he chose to boisterously spend every day with Moroha and the others and didn’t return to the island.

Character Design Descriptions

Towa’s Kimono Form Towa, who wore a school uniform that was a combination of both genders, also wears the kimono she got from Rin in a boyish manner, wrapping her chest with a *sarashi. The white fabric with the navy-blue pattern has a refreshing impression.

(*Translator’s Note: A bleached cotton)

Setsuna’s Kimono Form A kimono drawn with a vivid yellow base and a purple stream pattern. It paints her with a soft, bright impression as she normally gives off a cool aura. Unlike Towa, she dresses like a girl.

Moroha’s Kimono Form A coordinated outfit that combines the complete redness of Inuyasha’s Robe of the Fire Rat via the kimono, and a green like that of the school uniform Kagome once wore via the obi. It’s probably something Kagome tailored with love.

Riku’s New Outfit Riku received Rion and Kirinmaru’s kon and haku and revived; his new outfit design gives you a foreign impression in some respect. His tunic and stole (shawl/scarf) vividly remind one of Rion’s eyes and hair color. His earring is on the right ear!

Sango A youthful Sango. As the best skilled demon slayer, she played a very active role in overwhelming the demons using the “Jet Black Hiraikotsu” that she and her daughters, Kin’u and Gyokuto, made.

I Want to Pursue the Three Princesses’ Journey” Animation Character Design and Chief Animation Director, Hishinuma Yoshihito

The Difficulties of Customizing for Animation

— Please tell us how you feel now that you have completed 4 cours of work.

Hishinuma: I feel relieved to have finished. However, more than that, I bare a large regret of “If I had done it more like this!”. As the animation director for the main story this time, I couldn’t look at an entire episode completely and there were parts in the second half that didn’t go the way I’d hoped due to the schedule arrangement. Being the chief animation director doesn’t mean I get to see all the cuts, even for a single episode, so I start work by selecting and prioritizing things like “which characters will cry”. If possible, I would’ve liked to have put my hand in all the cuts though…… Truthfully, I’ve also been reflecting and feel that my task going forward will be to figure out how to improve my work from here on.

Also, right as soon as we finished work for the final episode, we had the company move. The company was unified in April, so we’re in a new office building.

— When I visited the former Sunrise Studio #1 in the latter half of March, the Hanyō no Yashahime team acted like normal. It seems you all stayed behind for as long as you could and worked!

Hishinuma: Hence why we didn’t really have time to immerse in the lingering memories right after we were done and a little while after, I had this feeling well up of “Oh, it’s over……”. After that, I couldn’t muster up the energy to draw something for a while. Like maaan, I don’t want to do anything kind of thing (laughs).

— You became an empty shell I see. Was it the same when you finished Inuyasha, The Final Act as well?

Hishinuma: Inuyasha was a work that had an *origin work to begin with, so I knew how it was going to end. Hence, I was able to prepare myself emotionally in the second half. I was the animation director for the final episode of Inuyasha, The Final Act but even I have a feeling that part of me worked on it indifferently. Even though I of course felt desolation, I don’t think I felt as exhausted as I am now…. Perhaps what I should say is it’s slowly getting hard on me age wise (laughs). I mean, I’ve only got 3 years left until I turn 60. However, when I look around, I see people of the same generation as me trying their best on the frontlines, so there’s no way I can rest.

(*Translator’s note: As in it was based off something)

— It’s a lifetime service! Alright then, please tell us again what you thought when you first saw the character concepts that Takahashi Rumiko-san (original author of Inuyasha) drew for Higurashi Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha.

Hishinuma: I originally heard that it would be “the twin’s story”, so I thought only two character (concepts) would be produced but there were three. From the costume, my big shock over ‘it’s Inuyasha’s daughter!’ was the first thing. With Moroha around, I felt that the world would expand quite a bit and make things interesting.

From an animation character designer perspective, I thought how we would consolidate Towa was a (key) point. In the beginning, there was a plot where “she was caught in a fire when she was a child and there’s a trace that part of her bangs was burned” but then it was like “No no, there’s no way that could happen as the hair will grow out and change” (laughs). Though there was the part where I was at a loss as to how to put in Towa’s characteristic hair streak, she somehow came out protagonist-like, I think.

— When you generated the characters for animation from Takahashi Rumiko-san’s drawing, was there anything you kept in mind in your head, Hishinuma-san?

Hishinuma: This is actually hard! The balance in Rumiko-sensei’s drawings is very exquisite. If you take it in a realistic direction, it’ll become different from the nuance of the original drawing. That being said, if you make it too manga like, then it looks cheap. Since there’s fighting drama, the characters must also be able to withstand the heavy story. Making allowances for that was truly difficult.

Although, I did work on Inuyasha for a long time, so I thought it wouldn’t be so far removed from that. At first, I wasn’t sure if Rumiko-sensei would give us any concepts, so I tried test drawing like “In the event that there’s nothing, does that mean I’ll have to think of something?”, but I’m truly glad she drew such lovely concepts.

— Hishinuma-san, you design all the characters except the three princesses, correct?

Hishinuma: That is correct. Though, speaking my true feelings, I wish I had received concepts for them as well. But of course, I couldn’t ask Rumiko-sensei for concepts of all the characters as she’s got her own work that’s currently being serialized (laughs). Also, if Rumiko-sensei had, for example, done a concept for Takechiyo, I think he would’ve turned out a different character. I really was worried that I would be told “That’s not Rumiko-sensei’s lane!”. However, with the help of his voice actress (Fairouz Ai-san who plays Takechiyo), I think he turned out to be a really good character. Though people constantly used him as a means of transport as they pleased, he very much had a presence within the story.

What Are the (Design) Points of the New Outfits Exhibited in the Final Episode?

— Takechiyo played a very active role as a mascot character that softened the atmosphere of a heavy story. Even for this special illustration, Takechiyo’s feet are cute.

Hishinuma: Even if it is a hot spring, there’s no way I could draw them completely naked, so I tried to have his feet stick out a little bit. Having him use his tail as a pillow to rest his head on was my personal fixation point (laughs). Whether he can actually do that though, I don’t know.

— As a cat lover, you were also fixated on Kirara, right Hishinuma-san?

Hishinuma: In the main story, Kirara did not accompany them to slay demons in the Land of Iyo. Towa and Setsuna did ride her when they departed though. It’s just that in this illustration, the space above Setsuna’s head was open and desolate, so I had little Kirara make a special appearance (laughs). It’s great that Kirara can be perceived in a variety of ways based on how people see her. The same expression can make her appear sharp or seem like she’s staring blankly. I personally love cats, so it was really fun to draw Kirara.

— The smiling faces of the three peaceful princesses as they take a foot bath is great. These outfits are the ones that the three princesses wore in the ED and final episode (episode 48, “A Future that Continues on for Eternity”). Please tell us their design points.

Hishinuma: I thought about dressing the three of them in kosodes that people typically wear in the feudal era. Moroha was dressed as a priestess in the ED but in the final episode of the main story, I felt that it would be strange for her to be dressed as a priestess with the way the scene was flowing, so I created a new outfit.

— The length gives a vivid reminder of Kagome’s mini skirt from the Inuyasha era.

Hishinuma: If I’m right, I feel like Director Hishida Masakazu said, “Short length would look good on Moroha”. I did add variation to the trio’s silhouettes, and I think Moroha currently looks cute with this amount. The green that’s similar to Kagome’s sailor style school uniform on the ribbon around (Moroha’s) stomach was an idea that the color scheme designer put in. I also realized “This ribbon, it’s the color of Kagome’s uniform!” and thought it was a good idea.

— What about Towa and Setsuna’s outfits?

Hishinuma: Regarding Towa’s kimono, the pattern was carried over from the Dog General’s costume. Towa and the Dog General overlapping was even shown in the main story, so the idea formed from there. She was holding an *uchiwa in the final episode, so I had her hold it in this special illustration as well. For some reason in the final episode, there was a designation in the storyboard for an uchiwa.

For Setsuna, I expanded on the image of the kimono she wore during her childhood, but looking at it again, there’s also some resemblance to *Gobodō-sama (Sesshōmaru’s mother). In terms of the color, Setsuna tended to wear dark colors like shades of blue, so I decided to go in the complete opposite direction.

(*Translator’s note

Uchiwa is a type of Japanese fan. You typically see people, both young and old, holding one when they’re dressed in a yukata.

Gobodō is a very respectful way of saying your/his mother.)

— The yellow that seems to also link to Sesshōmaru’s obi is lovely. Please also tell us about Riku’s new outfit. This one has a slightly Western impression.

Hishinuma: As Kai was originally “a villain with the same appearance as Riku”, he was established with a dark image. However, his role changed, and he became Riku’s disguised form for when he appeared in the end game; since that was the case, I made the colors brighter. I didn’t consciously make it Western style, but he’d always been wearing a regular kimono, so I wanted to make a small change around his neck. Although I don’t know whether it’s accurate to the times, the area around the demon slayers’ necks is also like this, so I thought it was fine. When in this outfit, there’s a small element where the design of the earring is different from usual, and he wears it on the opposite ear.

He Racked His Brain Over What to Do About the Age Feel of the Inuyasha Characters

— It appears that for the plot of the ending, there were views amongst the staff that sided on “extinguish Riku” or “revive him”. Which side were you on Hishinuma-san?

Hishinuma: I was on the “revive him side”. If not, Riku would be pitiable, and it would be too lonely for Towa. Rather than wanting them to get together in the future, it’s more like it’s probably good to have someone nearby who can watch Towa. Afterall, as (a piece of) entertainment, you want it to end in good form. That’s why with Hisui too, it’s like “Do your best!” (laughs).

— I’m sure Hisui is going to receive a lot of special training from Kohaku from now on.

Hishinuma: Speaking of Kokaku, I wanted to see more sibling interaction between him and Sango. Kohaku is someone who has lived through very severe circumstances and for me personally, he’s also a character that I like a lot.

— That reminds me, Sango is forever young isn’t she.

Hishinuma: I mean…… I can’t mess with that visual!! When I thought about whether I should draw her slightly more middle aged since a couple decades have passed since the story of Inuyasha, I thought that’s probably not what everyone wants to see after all. Also, regarding Miroku, I was told by the origin work side “I would like for him to not grow a beard”. That’s why I thought ‘I guess I can’t make it feel like they’ve aged conspicuously.’ Thus, it shaped out that I inserted just one wrinkle under one of Miroku’s eyes as it would’ve been conspicuous if it were under both eyes, and Sango stayed roughly the same as before. If I had been required to “make it obvious that Sango aged”, I still wouldn’t have been able to draw it.

— Kagome, who was trapped in the black pearl, and Rin, who was asleep in the Tree of Ages, still (look) young, so there’s that balance too.

Hishinuma: That’s right. However, I was quite troubled with Rin. With how young she is, even when you line her up next Towa and the others, she doesn’t appear motherlike, no matter what. The origin work side pointed this out too, so I drew her eyes a little bit narrower to make her look more adultlike, such as in the final episode and what not. However, I don’t think a woman abruptly becomes a mother just because she gave birth to a child. I think she gradually becomes a mother as she raises her child. In that sense, Rin is just starting that process of becoming a mother. That’s why I quibble in my own way like “It’s fine if she’s somewhat childlike right now!” (laughs).

— Well then, going through the series, please tell us a scene that left a particularly lasting impression on you.

Hishinuma: What was memorable was the scene where Moroha reunited with Inuyasha and Kagome (episode 38 “Kirinmaru of the Dawn” and episode 39 “Parent-Child Reunion”). The key frame animator and the animation director really did their best to maintain the quality there, so I feel glad that it was done properly. I’d also have to say the final episode. You see, the final episode was the only one I was able to watch on air in real-time. Work was done and the studio couldn’t be used because the office building was being surrendered, so it was during that time that I was able to watch the on air (broadcast) at home. Watching the episode in a format where the eye catch was properly inserted as well as the program sponsor and commercials was somewhat moving.

Totally looking back, I have a strong impression that Sesshōmaru appeared in a lot more scenes than I thought. Afterall, as a chief animation director, there’s no way I can’t not put my hand in when it comes to Sesshōmaru. I thought “He has too much screentime, give me a break already~! (cries)” (laughs). Of course, even if you omit the work aspect talks, I personally wanted to see more of the three princesses’ adventuring figures in a place that’s distant from the Inuyasha world. Of course, Hanyō no Yashahime exists because of Inuyasha so it can’t be helped, but when it turns to the parents’ story, it gets heavy no matter what. I want to see a travel story of just the three princesses.

— Thank you very much. And now lastly, a message to the fans who’ve supported you this far!

Hishinuma: Personally, I did have some regrets and such, but if all you fans were able to enjoy (the story) up to the final episode, then I’m happy. I’m very happy that you all favorably rooted for the three princesses more than I imagined. Thank you for watching until the very end!

Sketch Description

This is Hishinuma-san’s rough sketch. The pencil lining is lively and depicts Towa and Co.’s travel diary. It seems that *Ehime’s tangerines weren’t around yet during the Feudal Era, so it’s setup that Riku supplied them from somewhere. The coloring of the completed version (Pg 57) was done by Hishinuma-san’s wife, Hishinuma Michie. “When working as a married couple, we can consult each other while working like “Do you think I can do this part like this?” which is convenient (laughs)”.

(*Translator’s note: Ehime Prefecture located on the island of Shikoku)

**Today’s Diary (Interview Diary)

This time, we visit Bandai Namco Film Works which was newly established in April. The sparkling conference room for interview receptions was decorated with rows of figures and plastic models from successive generations of Sunrise’s work.

First, please look at the collected postcards and provide a general comment.

“I can tell all of you worked hard in drawing these, so I feel truly grateful. This was a work with a lot of characters, but I’m deeply moved seeing them all drawn equally.”

Among the many characters, which character was the easiest for you to draw Hishinuma-san?

“Every character has a point that you must be careful of, but characters that aren’t that many heads tall like Takechiyo, Shippō, and Akuru are fun and easy to move.”

Reversely, was there a character you struggled with?

“Sesshōmaru was the one I had to pay attention to the most. Because the story can lose its persuasiveness if Sesshōmaru’s drawing is ruined, there’s no way I can’t not follow-up on him as the chief animation director. In addition, Kirinmaru was in a final boss kind of position, so it was necessary for him to have a presence. These fathers were more of a handful than the three princesses who were the protagonists.”

Lastly, a word to the fans please.

“I think when you draw as a job, you tend to forget the enjoyment of drawing a picture. Seeing everyone’s postcards this time, I tightened up, remembering my original intention. Putting this feeling of gratitude for being able draw pictures for a living and receive support like this in my heart, I would like to keep doing my best going forward!”

Hishinuma-san stated that for the most part, he normally doesn’t draw color illustrations. “When I see everyone’s various coloring techniques, I honestly think it’s amazing.”

(**Context Behind This Section: Animage magazine held a Hanyō no Yashahime art contest with Hishinuma-san as the judge. Hence the postcards they’re referring to are the contest entries.)

#Yashahime #Hanyou no Yashahime #Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon #translation

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officialinuyasha · 7 months

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Yashahime Manga Volume 1 - Bonus Interview with Rumiko Takahashi and Takashi Shiina

The long-awaited interview with Rumiko Takahashi, legendary creator of Inuyasha, and Takashi Shiina, who pens Yashahime! You've mentioned before that when it was announced that the Yashahime anime would be adapted into a manga, you exclaimed, "I want to draw it!"

Shiina: One of the manga I drew before Psychic Squad was an adaptation of Ultraman Nexus. It was fairly popular, so I started getting offers to turn other anime into manga. Among them was Kidou Shinsengumi Moeyo Ken, which featured character designs by Rumiko Takahashi. I see. Shiina: I really wanted to do it, but I was about to start work on Psychic Squad, so I had to turn the project down. But the idea of working on something with Takahashi stuck with me. I kept thinking how much fun it would be to draw manga based on her characters, and I regretted the missed opportunity. Fortunately, I heard about the development of Yashahime just as Psychic Squad was ending. I thought to myself, "Well, if the timing is right, I'd love to do that!" So, 17 years later, my dream of drawing Takahashi's characters in a manga has come true. Takahashi: When I first heard that [Shiina wanted the job] shortly after the anime started airing, I thought, "Are you kidding me? You must be pulling my leg!" When his name came up in conversation three more times, I realized the editors were serious. I thought it would be amazing to have Shiina work on Yashahime, so I gave them the go-ahead.

What were your thoughts after reading his first chapter of Yashahime?

Takahashi: It was so much fun! He highlights the characters so well. He uses Towa's signature glare to define her personality. Setsuna's glare is even fiercer. And the fiercest of all is their father Sesshomaru's glare. What a great technique. Also, the slightly elongated way he draws Towa and Setsuna is just right. I thought to myself, "That's exactly what Sesshomaru's daughters would look like!" The reactions of the Higurashi family are well thought-out too. Of course, Shiina is a seasoned manga artist, so it's no surprise. It was really fun to read.

^ Towa's otherworldly glare Shiina: I'm kind of like Takahashi's apprentice… though I've never studied under her. (laughs)

I'm sure there was discussion about the art. Can you talk about how you view each other's approach to manga?

Shiina: Takahashi's art is impossible to reproduce. You can come close, but it's still a copy and a fake. I was worried that readers would get distracted by the disconnect between our drawing styles and have trouble getting into the story. So I approached it as what would happen if a Takahashi character came into my world. For example, her version of Towa is cuter and feels younger. With my approach, Towa expresses emotion the most when her eyes are downcast. I added extra volume to her bangs so I could use them to hide her eyes. On the other hand, I want the characters to remain recognizable. I'm always trying to strike a balance. Takahashi: I think it's better that Shiina is drawing it in his style. It enables me to come to it as a reader. The designs are similar but definitely not clones. The glimpses of Inuyasha and Kagome in the past are drawn very well. I really like the Kagome in the picture frame. She has a soft, grounded look.

^ This image of Kagome is one of Takahashi's favorites. Shiina: (laughs) Takahashi: I enjoy following the manga as just a reader. When this project was announced, Takahashi was quoted as saying, "I'm looking forward to the chilling beauty of Sesshomaru." Did you set any rules for Shiina when it came to drawing Inuyasha's brother? Takahashi: I think the only note I sent him was, "Sesshomaru never gets nervous flop sweat." He's an aloof, solitary character. I knew Shiina would be able to capture that, but manga artists have a tendency to draw panic and flop sweat to create drama. Shiina: Yes, yes. We do. Takahashi: But that was about it. I knew Shiina's drawings would be great. I made the "chilling beauty" comment knowing he'd understand what I meant. Shiina: (laughs)

What did you think after seeing the finished art? Takahashi: It was just as I expected Shiina's work to be. It was good. Shiina: Thank you very much.

Shiina, how did you handle drawing Sesshomaru?

Shiina: I thought about how to direct the characters more than how to draw them. Sesshomaru doesn't open up much, but he has to share enough of himself for us to understand his perspective. He's facing his own challenges. His personal convictions and aesthetic are always in conflict with his reality. But would he talk about that with anyone? No. So the challenge is to find ways for him to express himself through his actions.

Compared to the characters you created in your original manga, like Ghost Sweeper Mikami and Psychic Squad, is it harder to figure out how they would behave and what they would say?

Shiina: Absolutely. I try to draw the three girls as if they're my own daughters and add a little bit of myself to them. Inuyasha and Kagome have open, lighthearted personalities, so it's easier to figure out what they'd say or do in a situation. With Sesshomaru, I can guess what he's feeling, but it's difficult to imagine how he would reveal that. He's a tough character to understand.

^ Sesshomaru's chilling beauty, as drawn by Shiina What do you have to consider when adapting an anime into manga? Shiina: I think it's fine for the adaptation to be different from the original. In fact, there are things that have to change. My intention is to keep the themes of the story in alignment with both the original work and my own perspective. I'm not trying to create a copy of Takahashi's work, but to build something new on the foundations she's created. I'm finding where her artistic sensibilities and mine intersect…or something like that. I look for points in the story where the manga and anime can connect so they don't diverge too much.

What do you mean by "artistic sensibilities"?

Shiina: For example, before Takahashi became a professional manga artist, she absorbed the works of creators like Kazumasa Hirai, Daijiro Moroboshi, and Yasutaka Tsutsui. I also love their work, so I think about how that commonality between us connects to Yashahime. When I'm reading her work, I try to imagine her intentions.

What do you focus on when you draw the monsters and demons?

Shiina: I'm a geeky guy, so I love to draw cool-looking monsters. But reading Inuyasha and Takahashi's other manga, I realize it's not all about the battles. She puts focus and weight on the emotional impression of the monster and the reactions of the character fighting it. Instead of anime-style cool, her monsters have a raw feeling, like they've emerged from the shadows of folklore. Takahashi: Except my drawings aren't as scary. Shiina: They are! Takahashi: I just hope they're scary enough. I'm careful not to make them look silly, I guess. I do use the human characters' reactions to sell the idea of how terrifying they are. I also use darkness and visceral effects to further build the scene. But I don't really think deeply about it as I'm drawing. It's just fun to draw monsters!

^ Takahashi's monsters and people reacting to them. These reactions are crucial to the tone. Shiina: The other day, when I was drawing the un-mothers, I also drew little kanashibari, demons said to cause sleep paralysis, which have appeared in Inuyasha. They're super fun to draw. I love the stippling on their bodies, their big eyes and squiggly eyebrows, the way it's impossible to tell what they're thinking. They wear odd cloaks over their shoulders. I kept thinking, "Why do these guys dress like that?" and, "I wonder what they're thinking right now." It was exciting.

Takahashi: I agree. I like the smaller, animal-like demons that look like they could be scuttling around in hell. They're creepy to look at. And I like their cute pot bellies. Shina: Yes, exactly. Maybe it didn't make sense to put them with the un-mothers. But they added visual appeal and an otherworldly atmosphere, so I felt they needed to be there. In my imagination, Sesshomaru originally summoned them to defeat Inuyasha, but afterwards they continued to work for him, and they still take on special assignments. (laughs) And that's why I drew them into the scene. Takahashi: That's so fun.

^ Some of Shiina's favorite demons When it comes to character design, what's your approach? Shiina: If I try to plan a character design in my head, I get confused. Like, I'll want a character to look flashy, but then start asking myself, "Why flashy? And will that relate to their personality or be confusing?" I approach character design from the inside out, developing an appearance that suits their personality. That's the only way I know how to do it so the characters are the right ones to tell the story I want to write. Takahashi: First I think up the plot and setting. Then I think about what characters would fit into that world. That's when I start drawing, but I redraw them over and over before I'm satisfied. Shiina: (laughs) Takahashi: The smallest adjustments in a design, like how their hair curls, or their eyes, or their glasses, make a character look completely different. I feel like I just have to keep drawing until the character design settles into the story.

Takahashi, you designed the three main girls in Yashahime. How did you go about that?

Takahashi: Sumisawa, the writer of the anime, told me that Towa was the "white Sesshomaru" and Setsuna was the "black Sesshomaru." Moroha is the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome, so I didn't put much thought into her at all. I just drew her so that she unquestionably looked like their daughter.

#inuyasha #犬夜叉 #inu yasha #yashahime #anime #manga #rumiko takahashi #hanyou no yashahime #takashi shiina #interview #takashi talks

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