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Inuyasha Anime Gets Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon TV Spinoff This Fall

Viz confirmed on Friday that Rumiko Takahashi's Inuyasha franchise is inspiring a new anime spinoff titled Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon (Han'yō no Yasha Hime). The official Japanese website for the fall television anime opened on the same day.

Viz describes "the brand new anime from the Inuyasha universe":

The daughters of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha set out on a journey transcending time!

In Feudal Japan, Half-Demon twins Towa and Setsuna are separated from each other during a forest fire. While desperately searching for her younger sister, Towa wanders into a mysterious tunnel that sends her into present-day Japan, where she is found and raised by Kagome Higurashi's brother, Sota, and his family.

Ten years later, the tunnel that connects the two eras has reopened, allowing Towa to be reunited with Setsuna, who is now a Demon Slayer working for Kohaku. But to Towa's shock, Setsuna appears to have lost all memories of her older sister.

Joined by Moroha, the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome, the three young women travel between the two eras on an adventure to regain their missing past.

The anime's website posted character designs:

Teruo Sato (Inuyasha episode director) is directing the anime at Sunrise, and Katsuyuki Sumisawa is in charge of the series scripts after doing the same for Inuyasha and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. Takahashi herself is credited as the main character designer, with Yoshihito Hishinuma (Yakitate!! Japan, City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes) returning from Inuyasha to adapt her designs for animation. Kaoru Wada (3x3 Eyes, Battle Angel, The File of Young Kindaichi) is also back from Inuyasha to compose the music.

This year's 24th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine will include a poster of the anime's teaser visual on May 13, and Takahashi's fourth MAO manga volume will also promote the Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon anime on its wraparound jacket band on May 18.

Takahashi launched the original manga in Weekly Shonen Sunday in 1996, and ended it in 2008. Viz licensed and published all 56 volumes of the manga in North America, and it describes the series:

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!

The 167-episode anime series based on the manga ran from 2000-2004. A 26-episode sequel anime titled InuYasha: The Final Act then ran from 2009-2010. The series has inspired four movies and a 30-minute anime short. Viz began releasing the anime on Blu-ray Disc last year.

The franchise has also recently inspired a smartphone game and a stage play.

Update: Viz confirmed that it has the rights "to the digital streaming, EST, and home video" of the new anime in North and Latin American territories.

Sources: Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon anime's website, Viz, Comic Natalie