The appeal and reviews of "Inukami!": A thorough analysis of the adventure with the divine dog

"Inukami!" - A high-tension love comedy about an Inugami and his user

"Inukami!" is a 26-episode TV anime series that aired on TV Tokyo in 2006. The original work is a light novel by Mamizu Arisawa, and it is a slapstick comedy about inugami and their users. This anime has captivated many fans with its high-tension romantic comedy and unique worldview. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of the work, as well as recommended points.

■Overview of the work

"Inukami!" tells the story of high school student Kawahira Keita, the descendant of the Kawahira clan, a clan of long-established inugami masters, and the inugami Yoko who appears before him. Keita was disowned for his lack of ability and lives alone. Yoko appears before him, an elegant, obedient, and beautiful inugami. Keita immediately pledges himself to Yoko as master and begins living together. However, Yoko was once a major problem child among the inugami who no one could control. The charm of this work lies in the monster-fighting and slapstick comedy that unfolds between Keita, who loves money and girls, and the destructive and jealous Yoko.

■Broadcast information

"Inukami!" aired on TV Tokyo from April 6th to September 28th, 2006. It aired every Wednesday from 1:00am to 1:30am for 30 minutes, with a total of 26 episodes. It was produced by Seven Arcs and produced by the Inugami Tsukai Haken Kyokai.

■Cast

The main cast of this film is as follows:

• Yoko: Yui Horie
• Keita Kabira: Jun Fukuyama
• Brush: Toshihiro Nakamura
• Shiro Kana: Shou Hayami
• Dianthus: Kaori Nazuka
• Tomohane: Shizuka Hasegawa
• Tayune: Rika Morinaga
• Igusa: Yoko Honda
• Sendan: Yuki Matsuoka
• Gokyoya: Eriko Kikawa
• Furano: Shimu Hirota
• Tenso: Akiko Kobayashi
• Imari: Aya Endo
• Sayonara: Ryoko Shintani

■ Main staff

The main staff of this work are as follows:

• Original author: Mamizu Arisawa
• Planning: Toshiyuki Otsuki and Toshiyuki Hisaki
• Comic: Mari Matsuzawa (Dengeki Comic Gao!)
• Serialised in Dengeki HP (published by Media Works)
• Director: Keizo Kusakawa
• Series Composition: Tamai Go
• Character design: Kanna Wakatsuki
• Character design: Tomooka Shinpei
• Art director: Shinji Katahira
• Color design: Megumi Nagasaka
• Director of photography: Tsuguo Ozawa
• Sound Director: Hiromi Kikuta
• Sound production: Rakuonsha
• Edited by: Kazuhiko Seki (Seki Editorial Office)
• Music: Inukami! Orchestra
• Music Production: Starchild Records
• Sound effects: Hidemi Tanaka (Soundgarden)
• Animation Production: Seven Arcs
• Produced by: Inugami Tsukai Dispatch Association

■Main Characters

The main characters of this work are as follows:

• Yoko: A problem child among the Inugami who made a contract with Keita Kabira. She has a jealous personality and her special moves are "Daijaen" and "Shukuchi."
• Keita Kabira: A boy descended from the Kawahira family, a clan of noble inugami masters. A high school student full of worldly desires who loves girls and money.
• Hake: An inugami who serves the head of the Kabira family and is always calm and collected. He is skilled in powerful barrier techniques.
• Kana Shiro: A special spiritual investigator under the Cabinet Secretariat. He uses the "Angel Blade", whose blade resembles an angel's wing.
• Sendan: Kaoru Kabira's Inugami, ranked first. Daughter of the oldest Inugami and leader of the ten Inugami. Basically a rich girl.
• Nadeshiko: Kaoru Kabira's dog god, ranked second. She is the polar opposite of Yoko, being pure, modest and good at housework. She is devoted to Kaoru.
• Igusa: Kaoru Kabira's dog god, ranked third. Shy and not good with men. Good with computers, and in charge of the household finances.
• Tayune: Kaoru Kabira's dog god, ranked fourth. A martial arts dog god who is good at all sports. But in reality, she is very scared and lonely.
• Gokyoya: Kaoru Kabira's dog god, ranked fifth. A hard worker who strives to improve medical treatment for the Mononoke. An intelligent man who always remains calm.
• Tenso: Kaoru Kabira's dog god, ranked sixth. He's good at drawing. He's always in a daze and it's hard to tell what he's thinking.
• Furano: Kaoru Kabira's dog god, ranked seventh. A dog god who is skilled in fortune telling from all over the world, past and present. A cheerful and easy-going person. Sometimes predicts the future.
• Imari: Kaoru Kabira's dog god, ranked 8th. A pair of mischievous twin dog gods. Imari is the one with her hair tied to the right.
• Sayoka: Kaoru Kabira's dog god, ranked ninth. A mischievous twin dog god. Sayoka is the one with her hair tied on the left.
• Tomohane: Kaori Kabira's dog god, ranked tenth. A lively dog ​​god who loves funny things. She likes Keita as much as Kaoru.

■ Episode

The subtitles for each episode of this series are as follows:

• Episode 1: Don't worry about being naked! (2006/04/05)
• Episode 2: Macho licks! (2006/04/12)
• Episode 3: Fight in a Swimsuit! (2006/04/19)
• Episode 4: The Unruly Wearing of a Kimono! (2006/04/26)
• Episode 5: Keita and Yoko! (2006/05/03)
• Episode 6: Perfect match! (2006/05/10)
• Episode 7: Mixed Bathing! (2006/05/17)
• Episode 8: Rub the tail! (2006/05/24)
• Episode 9: Worldly Desires and Sex! (2006/05/31)
• Episode 10: Memories of Sakura! (2006/06/07)
• Episode 11: Please be exhausted! (2006/06/14)
• Episode 12: That's why I want to die! (2006/06/21)
• Episode 13: But I love your song! (2006/06/28)
• Episode 14: Kappa and Otosan! (2006/07/05)
• Episode 15: Giving back to Keita! (2006/07/12)
• Episode 16: The Room, the Ghost Story, and Me! (2006/07/19)
• Episode 17: I See Something! (2006/07/26)
• Episode 18: It's a Big Problem! (2006/08/02)
• Episode 19: Keita's plan is just what he wants! (2006/08/09)
• Episode 20: Feelings for Shirabu! (2006/08/16)
• Episode 21: Splash It Hard! (2006/08/23)
• Episode 22: Daddy and Son-in-Law! (2006/08/30)
• Episode 23: The Shrinking Elephant! (2006/09/06)
• Episode 24: Kaoru and Nadeshiko! (2006/09/13)
• Episode 25: Feast of Despair! (2006/09/20)
• Episode 26: Hikari! (2006/09/27)

■ Related works

A related work to this one is "Inukami! The Movie: Special Mission Psychic Investigator Kana Shiro!" This movie is a spin-off work centered around Kana Shiro.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs for this work are as follows.

• OP1: Hikari
  • Lyricist: Shiina Karen
  • Composer: YUPA
  • Arrangement: YUPA
  • Vocals: Yui Horie
• ED1: A Story of Friendship
  • Lyricist: Satomi Arimori
  • Composer: Shigenobu Okawa
  • Arrangement: Shigenobu Okawa
  • Sung by: Aice5
• ED2: Kei's Song
  • Lyricist: Mamizu Arisawa
  • Composer: Masaru Yokoyama
  • Arrangement: Masaru Yokoyama
  • Sung by: Kei Shindo (Nana Mizuki)
• ED3: Friendship Story - Boys(?) version
  • Lyricist: Satomi Arimori
  • Composer: Shigenobu Okawa
  • Arrangement: Shigenobu Okawa
  • Sung by: Super Elephants & Rice5

■ Evaluation

"Inukami!" has gained many fans with its unique worldview and high-tension romantic comedy. Below, we will introduce the evaluation and recommended points of the work in detail.

story

The story of this work revolves around the slapstick comedy of inugami and their users. The main character, Kabira Keita, is the descendant of an inugami user who was disowned for lack of ability. The inugami Yoko who appears before him was once a problem child who no one could control. The story revolves around the master-servant relationship between Keita and Yoko, and depicts battles with various inugami and demons, as well as the slapstick comedy caused by Keita's worldly desires and Yoko's jealousy. Most of the stories are self-contained, and new problems and characters appear in each episode, keeping viewers from getting bored. In addition, the foreshadowing towards the final episode is cleverly laid out, making the story development enjoyable throughout the series.

character

The characters in this work are full of personality, and the inugami characters are especially appealing. The main character, Keita, is a high school student who loves girls and money, but is constantly troubled by worldly desires. Yoko, the inugami who supports him, has a destructive and jealous personality, contrary to her innocent and submissive appearance. This contrast draws viewers in. Kaoru Kabira's inugami are also each unique, with different abilities and personalities depending on their rank. The relationships and growth of the inugami, especially Sendan, who is ranked first, and Nadeshiko, who is ranked second, are also highlights.

animation

The animation for this work was produced by Seven Arcs, and the character designs and background art are beautifully drawn. In particular, the transformation scenes and battle scenes of the Inugami characters are dynamic and visually enjoyable. Even in everyday scenes, the characters' expressions and movements are carefully drawn, making it easy to understand their emotions. The color design is also vivid, making the animation easy to watch overall.

music

The music for this work is by Inukami! Orchestra, and the theme song and insert songs add to the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the opening song "Hikari" features Yui Horie's impressive singing voice, and the ending songs "Yuujou Monogatari" and "Kei no Uta" also match each scene. The background music also changes to match the comedy and battle scenes, enhancing the viewer's emotions.

■ Recommended points

"Inukami!" is recommended for the following reasons.

• High-tension romantic comedy: This work is centered on the slapstick comedy of the inugami and their users, and is full of laughs and emotions. In particular, the relationship between Keita and Yoko and the personalities of the inugami are charming.
• Unique characters: The Inugami characters are unique, with different abilities and personalities depending on their rank. Viewers can become attached to each Inugami.
• Beautiful Animation: Seven Arcs' animation is visually stunning with beautiful character designs and background art, especially the transformation and fight scenes with the Inugami characters.
• Impressive music: The theme song, insert songs, and background music enhance the atmosphere of the work. The opening song "Hikari" and the ending song "Yuugen Monogatari" are particularly impressive.

■ Summary

"Inukami!" is a high-tension romantic comedy about an inugami and its users. The story revolves around the slapstick comedy of the main character, Keita Kabira, and the inugami Yoko, and depicts the growth and relationships of the unique characters. Combined with beautiful animation and memorable music, it has a charm that draws viewers in. This is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes romantic comedies and fantasy.