InuYasha: Set 2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

InuYasha: Set 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

An excellent entry in the InuYasha anime saga.

The action-packed saga continues in the second set of InuYasha. The second set includes episodes 28-55 and covers more ground in the anime epic. An adaptation of the cherished manga from creator Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma ½, Urusei Yatsura), InuYasha continues to remain in the pop-culture consciousness as one of the most compelling series the medium has to offer. The anime remains produced by Hideyuki Tomioka (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Steamboy) and Michihiko Suwa (Detective Conan, City Hunter). From anime studio Sunrise (Cowboy Bebop), the second set is essential viewing for established fans of the bad-ass series. Time for more fun!

The story of InuYasha continues as our heroes have to face new challenges on their epic journeys. Inuyasha starts to struggle with his inner demon powers (which start to over-take his human self uncontrollably during some epic demon-battles) while the mysterious past surrounding his close relationship to Kikyo comes in to play once more (as the back-story is once again a part of the equation). Meanwhile, Kagome continues to struggle with her connection to Inuyasha and the unquestionable difficulty in going back-and-forth between modern times and feudal Japan.

As the action packed storyline of InuYasha further develops, Inuyasha and Kagome are also joined on their epic adventure by their pals Miroku, Kirara, Sango, and Shippo. The quest for the sacred Shikon jewels continues and new enemies are met in the process: there are demons lurking in the shadows in feudal Japan. There are also entirely new dangers which lay in their wake as the team must face even more dangerous threats from Naraku. Yet the ultimate question remains: can Inuyasha overcome his demon side and remain a hero?

Some heroes wear masks.

The second set of episodes continues to expand on the storytelling established in set one while giving some extra time to the supporting characters for their storylines to shine. While I was initially hoping for even more episodes to focus on the central dynamic of Inuyasha and Kagome, it is also refreshing how the side characters were given adequate room in the storyline to be developed as well. There are plenty of episodes to explore every character: Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Shippo, Miroku, and Kirara. Screenwriter Katsuyuki Sumisawa (Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon) found excellent ways to blend in the new characters and build on the base of the series.

The second set amps up the action considerably and things become even more intense during the last batch of episodes. Some of this might be due to a directorial change in the staff behind-the-scenes as Masashi Ikeda (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Ronin Warriors) concludes his run as head director with episode 44. Yasunao Aoki (Mobile Suite Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz) takes over on directing duties. The last batch of episodes seem even more exciting so it seemed as though the reins were taken over by a strong filmmaker who is more than capable and up to the task.

The animation remains every bit as vital to the experience. InuYasha is a stunning achievement from a animation standpoint. The character designs, background art, and world-building animation all help it excel as one of the most exciting anime series from the 2000's. The production is top-notch and it is clear that art director Shigemi Ikeda (My Hero Academia) continues to be the right one to bring it together. The creative art keeps the action engaging and the pace of the series exciting. The score composed by Kaoru Wada (Samurai 7) is also an excellent addition to the anime.

While the second InuYasha set might seem a little less tight in comparison to set one (which served as a perfect introduction to the characters and the storytelling universe), it's unquestionably a more action-packed set and the episodes are still enormously entertaining. The journey is one that is well worth taking. The production merits are fantastic and the creative team really pulled through again. The ongoing saga of InuYasha is a blast to watch and the series deserves its status as one of the most essential action-adventure anime series ever produced. Don't miss it for a second.

InuYasha: Set 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The second collection of InuYasha arrives on Blu-ray from VIZ entertainment with a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original 4:3 full frame aspect ratio. Once again, VIZ has made sure to preserve the original aspect ratio which is one of the most essential components of the release. Series fans won't need to concern themselves with the framing: the aspect ratio looks terrific on the set and continues to be consistent through to the end of the run of episodes.

On the positive side: there are several impressive elements at play in regards to the picture-quality. The colors look better than previous editions on home media and the encode looks more robust (with less compression artifacts) in comparison to the DVD releases. The line art detail is well preserved. The Blu-ray offers a nice improvement in overall clarity and resolution and fans will appreciate those improvements. Action scenes are similarly exciting and don't suffer from compression woes.

On the flip-side, InuYasha: Set 2 suffers from the same problem that set 1 had. There are moments sprinkled throughout the set where a strange jerkiness can be seen on the video. These moments showcase the series with a strange frame-skipping that is only noticeable during panning shots. Throughout these types of shots, the animation looks more jerky than it normally would. It is unquestionably disappointing but it is not so bad as to make the release become unwatchable.

Should VIZ reach out to Blu-ray.com with more information the Blu-ray.com review will be updated accordingly.

InuYasha: Set 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release includes two separate lossless audio tracks: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles) and English DTS-HD Master Audio. These are impressive sounding high resolution tracks. The audio is fluid and crisp. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The sound stage is robust enough for the action sequences and the dramatic character-focused moments.

The music score sounds pleasant throughout the entire run of episodes. The boost to lossless audio is greatly appreciated and makes the set much more compelling. As with the first collection on Blu-ray, the second set does include the original Japanese opening/ending theme songs (which were reportedly not available on every streaming version). The subtitles include options for songs/signs if selected via the main menu.

InuYasha: Set 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The set comes with an attractive o-card slip and an inner art work print.

On disc extras include:

Interview with Japanese Music Composer Kaoru Wada (HD, 8:10) explores the music of the series.

Clean Opening: I Am (HD, 1:36)

Clean Ending: Fukai Mori (HD, 1:35)

Clean Ending: Dearest (HD, 1:37)

Character Profiles are available via a click-through option. The profiles are the same as what viewers will find at the tail-end of each episode. However, I found the profiles a bit easier to browse and see while at one's own pace via this user-friendly method.

The release also includes promotional videos advertising other anime releases available from VIZ entertainment.

InuYasha: Set 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The second set of InuYasha is another exceptional action-packed adventure that fans won't want to miss out on. The series remains one of the most exciting anime series of all time. The quality filmmaking adds up to a powerful punch as an anime series. I had a blast marathoning these episodes and am sure fans will be thrilled to see the beloved classic receive a Blu-ray release. While the video transfer is imperfect, the set still deserves a recommendation.