Viz Media announced at a panel during Anime Central on Friday that it will be releasing the original InuYasha anime this fall on Blu-ray disc. It will be the first time that this anime has been released in North America on Blu-ray discs. The InuYasha anime is based on the manga with the same name, which was created by Rumiko Takahashi. The manga launched in Weekly Shonen Sunday back in 1996 and went on until it ended in 2008. All 56 volumes were licensed and published by Viz Media in North America.
The anime series ran from 2000 to 2004 with 167 episodes. It also got a 26-episode long sequel series (InuYasha: The Final Act) that ran from 2009-2010. The series also inspired a 30-minute long anime short entitled “Black Tessaiga”. Takahashi also released a special charity chapter of the InuYasha manga in 2013 to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March of 2011.
The original InuYasha anime aired on Adult Swim’s Toonami network in North America up until 2014, and then picked up the sequel series from 2014 to 2015. Netflix streamed the original anime series in their Instant Watch Library. Viz Media streamed the sequel series as it came out in Japan, and would later release an English-dubbed version in the year 2012. They also licensed and released the original InuYasha anime series on DVD, and later did the same for the sequel series on both DVD and Blu-ray disc in 2012. They describe the original series like this:
“After falling into an old well and into ancient Japan, Kagome discovers that her destiny is linked to the dog-like half demon called Inuyasha! As Kagome learns more about her connection to the past and to Inuyasha, she comes into conflict with the terrible demons that are drawn to the Shikon Jewel, including Inuyasha’s own half brother, Sesshomaru. Finding the shards of the Shikon Jewel is going to require powerful magic, strange allies, and a strong heart. Kagome’s got plenty of heart, but she’s going to need Inuyasha’s help for the rest of it, and he may not be so willing to lend a hand!”
