From 2000 to 2004, anime fans everywhere got to experience the adventures of the half-dog demon Inuyasha and his friends as they hunt down the infamous demon lord Naraku and find all the Shikon Jewel shards. Inuyasha became such an outstanding hit with fans that the series even released four movies during its 167-episode run.
The Inuyasha movies notably expand on the character development of some already well-written characters. Yet with all the excitement between battles, comedy, and even romance, it's hard to determine which of these episodes trumps all the others. Thankfully for fans, IMDb has narrowed it down.
10 "The Girl Who Overcame Time…And The Boy Who Was Just Overcome" Gives Fans Their First Look At Inuyasha (8.1 IMDb Rating)
The first episode of the series shows fans the unfortunate demise of Priestess Kikyo after her confrontation with Inuyasha stealing the Shikon Jewel. The show then pans to the sixteen-year-old student Kagome who is suddenly taken down a well by a demon known as Mistress Centipede.
When Kagome emerges from the well, she comes face to face with an unconscious Inuyasha bound to a tree by an arrow. She's soon ambushed by a group of villagers, where Kagome gets her first look at Kikyo's sister Kaede. Kaede explains that not only is Kagome not near her home anymore, but she's also not in her own time either.
9 "Tetsusaiga Breaks!" Shows Goshinki Awakening Another Side Of InuYasha (8.1 IMDb Rating)
As Inuyasha lays wounded he is reminded of what the demon lord Naraku has said to him: Kikyo gave him more of the Shikon Jewel shards and that he'll soon have more power than ever before. Determined to gain Inuyasha's forgiveness, Kikyo sends her soul collectors to lure him to where she's hiding, but Naraku's incarnation Kagura is lurking around the corner spying for Naraku.
Meanwhile, another one of Naraku's incarnations called Goshinki attacks a nearby village under Naraku's orders until Inuyasha and the gang pick up his scent and head off to protect the villagers. But Inuyasha isn't prepared for Goshinki's monstrous strength, as he's one of the few demons who breaks his Tetsusaiga with a simple bite.
8 "Mystical Hand Of The Amorous Monk, Miroku" Is Miroku's First Episode Of The Series (8.2 IMDb Rating)
Miroku the lecherous monk's first appearance shows him taking on a job to help drive away a demon possessing a lord's daughter. After confronting the weasel demon that was causing the commotion, Miroku gains the jewel shard that was in its possession and takes off from the village along with a few of the lord's items.
While Miroku is headed to his next destination, he runs into Inuyasha and Kagome. Soon, he realizes that Kagome is also holding jewel shards and uses his friend Hachiemon to distract Inuyasha while he takes the shards for himself, leaving Inuyasha on the hunt for the thieving monk and the jewel shards.
7 "Inuyasha Shows His Tears For The First Time" Shows Just How Much Inuyasha's Friends Really Mean To Him (8.2 IMDb Rating)
After Inuyasha finds his friends trapped in a fire, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku lay unconscious. Both Shippo and Inuyasha assume their friends are dead until Kagome wakes up, all thanks to the flea Myoga for sucking as much of the poison out of their system as possible.
Meanwhile, Kikyo senses a jewel shard embedded in what seems like an average village doctor. Yet, what makes Kikyo curious is that the jewel has not been tainted by evil and that the man has already died and is only alive because of the shard.
6 "The Mystery Of The New Moon And The Black-Haired Inuyasha" Reveals Inuyasha's Secret (8.3 IMDb Rating)
While out searching for the Shikon Jewel shards, Kagome, Inuyasha, and Shippo run across a spider demon that has taken over the mountains. Once the gang makes it to the mountain temple, the master offers for them to stay and rest instead of risking their lives traveling through the mountain, but Inuyasha is completely against the idea.
Unfortunately, the temple wasn't as safe as they thought, and the gang is soon surrounded by spider demons and the Tetsusaiga is not transforming. That's when Kagome sees Inuyasha with black hair. Myoga explains that half-demons during the new moon lose their demon abilities, making Inuyasha a regular human temporarily.
5 "Showdown! Inuyasha Vs. Sesshomaru" Shows That Not Just Anyone Can Control The Tetsusaiga (8.3 IMDb Rating)
Now that Sesshomaru has found the location of the sword Tetsusaiga, he's enraged when neither he nor Inuyasha are capable of extracting it and watches as the human girl Kagome does it with ease. Sesshomaru's rage brings on a battle between the brothers that seems unmatched as the half-demon Inuyasha fights with a rusty-looking sword against Sesshomaru's demon form.
Once Inuyasha sets his mind to protecting Kagome, however, the Tetsusaiga show its true form. Tetsusaiga is a sword that is meant to protect the innocent and cannot be held by a full demon or someone with evil intentions.
4 "Inuyasha's Soul, Devoured" Has Sesshomaru Learn The Truth About Tetsusaiga (8.3 IMDb Rating)
After escaping one of Naraku's traps, Miroku is weak from using his wind tunnel to suck up Naraku's poisonous insects to save the others. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru has tracked down a sacred demon tree named Bokusenno that was used to make the sheaths for the swords Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga.
Sesshomaru hoped to get to the bottom of Inuyasha's transformation when he took on the same scent as their father, a full-blooded demon. Learning that his father gave the Tetsusaiga to his brother Inuyasha to protect his soul from becoming a full demon and losing himself, Sesshomaru now has another goal in mind.
3 "Fare Thee Well: Jakotsu's Requiem" Has Inuyasha Face The Leader Of The Band Of Seven Once Again (8.3 IMDb Rating)
After losing to Inuyasha, one of the Band of Seven members Renkotsu removes the Shikon Jewel shard from his comrade Jakotsu as he lies dying. Renkots's goal is to gain more strength to survive.
Meanwhile, Kikyo finds the source of the barrier surrounding and protecting Naraku and Mount Hakurei, a mummy that was once Saint Hakushin and corrupted by Naraku himself. During Kikyo's encounter with Saint Hakushin, Inuyasha is exploring Mount Hakurei and tracking down Naraku's scent but instead comes across the polearm-wielding leader of the Band of Seven, Bankotsu.
2 "The Tragic Love Song Of Destiny (Part 1)" Chronicles The Beginning Of Kikyo's Unfortunate Fate (8.3 IMDb Rating)
Kaede tells the story of when her sister Kikyo was alive and how she fought alongside another priestess named Tsubaki to defeat a swarm of demons, and how she was unaware of the terrible fate that would soon follow. After the two priestesses finish their battle, Tsubaki warns Kikyo that falling in love would be a mistake, and she informs Kaede that this was indeed a curse.
While in another village of the demon slayers, they come across a demon who had possessed the legendary Shikon Jewel shard and demands to find a priestess that is strong enough to purify it. This exchange shows how the jewel fell into Kikyo's hands and initiates Kikyo and Inuyasha's first meeting.
1 "Return Of The Tragic Priestess, Kikyo" Is Where Inuyasha Faces The Pain Of Old Love (8.4 IMDb Rating)
Kagome has been captured by the witch Urasue for the purpose of using her soul to bring the dead priestess Kikyo fully back to life. While Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kikyo's sister Kaede are off to rescue Kagome, they come face to face with an empty shell that is Kikyo.
Inuyasha calling out her name pushes her soul out of Kagome's body and into hers. Unfortunately for Urasue, Kikyo doesn't follow her commands and acts of her own will. Unfortunately, this means Inuyasha will have to relive the conflict between him and the woman he once loved.