Plot: InuYasha has several subplots, but the main plot is a groups pursuit after the shikon jewel and to kill a demon named Naraku. The main character, Inuyasha, is a half [dog] demon that had fallen in love with a human priestess, to whom protected the shikon jewel; this would be Kikyo. Hid original goal was to use the shikon jewel to become full demon, but after falling in love he and Kikyo devised a plan; he would use the jewel to become a human and live happily with Kikyo, who would no longer be responsible for guarding the jewel after its been used. Kikyo, however, had been murdered by Naraku, to whom gave himself the appearance of Inuyasha, to set the two lovers against each other. In Kikyo's dying moment, she shot an arrow through Inuyasha, binding him to a tree, where he fell into a deep slumber for 50 years, only to be reawakened by Kikyo's incarnate from the future, who can pass through a well in her family's shrine into feudal Japan. In the first episode, she shatters the jewel with an arrow and shards of it are spread all across Japan. Inuyasha's new goal is to collect the shards of the jewel to become full demon and kill Naraku.
Characters:
Inuyasha- The main character, a half dog demon. He is arrogant and stubborn, loud mouthed and cocky. He falls for Kikyo, who later dies and is reincarnated as Kagome, to whom he falls for later in the series. He becomes human each night of the full moon. He carries a sword carved from his fathers fang that keeps his demonic side at bay; when he isn't wielding it, his eyes go blood red and he kills uncontrollably.
Kagome- Kikyo's reincarnate, she is typical high school student, whose family owns a shrine. The only thing is, she passes through the shine into feudal Japan. She breaks the shikon jewel, and later when Kikyo is revived, finds herself competing against her for Inuyasha's love. She becomes a master archer, strong and independent, throughout the series, although she seems to go through a lot of mood swings.
Miroku- A perverted monk, constantly asking women to bear his children. He lies about demons and exorcisms for free room and board, and gets away with it frequently. His family is cursed to have a "wind tunnel" in their hand, which most constantly be covered, or it becomes a black hole that sucks in everything in front of it. It is claimed that one day, the tunnel will suck in Miroku himself.
Sango- Sango is a demon slayer from a village that was destroyed by Naraku. She seeks vengeance against him, as well as to save her brother's life, to whom is being kept alive by shikon jewel shards in his body. Naraku controls him and uses him against Sango to weaken her with emotional ties.
Shippo- A young fox demon boy, he has several powers that are mostly ineffective. He can transform for short periods of time, turning into a big pink balloon, ect. He uses attacks like fox fire or toy-like attacks, like his spinning top. His father was killed and he initially wished to steal the shikon jewel to become stronger and avenge his father; after hearing his story, Kagome and Inuyasha assist in doing so. Shippo from then on follows along.
Kikyo- Kikyo is Inuyasha's former lover, who was killed by Naraku and now seeks to drag Inuyasha to hell. It was her job to guard the shikon jewel, but she now acts as an antagonist to the plot to whom Naraku shares a special bond to, having fallen for her in a past life. As she slowly learns that her death was truly caused by Naraku, she regresses back to her former self.
Sesshomaru- Inuyasha's older half brother, and a full demon, he finds Inuyasha a disgrace and has jealousy issues towards the how their father seeminly favored Inuyasha. He sets out to kill Inuyasha, seeming to be cold and heartless. He later reveals a more compassionate side as he revives a human child, who follows him throughout the series. When Naraku attempts to use her as bait against him, he sets out to end Naraku's life.
Naraku- The main antagonist, and the starter of conflict, Naraku is a complex character. His former self was a human bandit named Onigumo, whom became fetally injured and was tended to by Kikyo, to whom he fell in love with. He gave his body to demons, and in turn became a [half] demon himself. He has three main goals throughout the anime: to become a full demon, to possess a fully-corrupted Shikon Jewel, and to possess Kikyo. When he is finally able to free his heart from himself, putting it into an incarnate, only known as "the infant", he no longer feels affections for Kikyo.
