22 Years Later, The Successor to Inuyasha is Finally Here

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While many manga artists become famous for just one series, some have created multiple popular works. For example, Hiro Mashima is known for both Rave Master and Fairy Tail, Atsushi Okubo created Soul Eater and Fire Force, and Yoshihiro Togashi is the author of both Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter X Hunter.

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most celebrated manga artists of all time. While many newer anime fans know her best for Inuyasha, she’s also created popular series like Maison Ikkoku and Ranma 1/2. For years, every manga she wrote was adapted into a long-running anime, and now, after a seven-year wait, her latest work is finally getting the anime treatment as well.

The Creator of Inuyasha Has Been Making A Comeback

If you only know Rumiko Takahashi from Inuyasha, you might think she’s been less active recently. But a quick look at the anime world shows that’s not true at all. Her earlier series, Rin-ne, was adapted into an anime in 2015 and ran for three seasons, totaling 75 episodes. While the anime didn’t cover the entire manga, that’s still a significant achievement, especially now when many anime series are lucky to get more than twelve or twenty-six episodes.

The 2020s have seen a renewed appreciation for Rumiko Takahashi’s work, with several of her classic series being remade. In 2022, David Production released a remake of Urusei Yatsura, Takahashi’s breakthrough hit. The remake spanned two seasons and 46 episodes, covering popular storylines from the original manga and its ending. Though not a complete adaptation, it was praised by fans as a fantastic update, and a reminder of why the series features one of anime’s most beloved female characters.

MAPPA recently decided to remake the popular series Ranma 1/2. This new version, available exclusively on Netflix, has been well-received as a more accurate adaptation of the original manga and is proving that classic stories can still resonate with audiences. Ranma 1/2 is beloved for its unique blend of martial arts and romantic comedy. The show just concluded its second season, and fans are hoping for a third to be announced soon.

Sunrise also created a continuation of Rumiko Takahashi’s popular series, Inuyasha, called Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. This show, which began in 2020, follows the story of Moroha, the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome. Given the number of adaptations of Takahashi’s work, fans have been well-served, so it’s not surprising that a new MAO anime has been announced.

MAO Has A High School Girl And Onmyoji Teaming Up

Rumiko Takahashi’s latest series, MAO, has been running in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday since 2019. With 27 volumes already released and more on the way, the popular manga is now being adapted into an anime by Studio Sunrise, set to premiere this spring.

MAO tells the story of Nanoka Kiba, a middle schooler haunted by a childhood mystery. When she was young, her parents’ car fell into a sinkhole, and while they didn’t survive, Nanoka miraculously did. Years later, she revisits the abandoned shopping center near the accident site and finds herself unexpectedly transported to Japan’s Taisho era. She appears in a ghostly village and is immediately threatened by a dangerous spirit.

Nanoka was lucky to be rescued by a man named Mao, who used a unique longsword to defeat the creature attacking her. He then surprised her by asking why she hadn’t defended herself, considering she was also a yokai. Embarrassed, Nanoka went back to her own time, but quickly returned, determined to find answers. She began traveling to the past to assist Mao, hoping to uncover the truth about herself and the events surrounding her accident.

The story then follows Mao as he works as an onmyoji – a sort of spiritual healer and investigator. He splits his time between assisting benevolent yokai and tracking down those who have become dangerous to humans. This dual role is like being both a doctor and a detective, constantly exposing him to new yokai and offering clues to unravel the mysteries of his own history.

MAO Separates Itself Completely From Inuyasha

At first glance, Mao might seem similar to Rumiko Takahashi’s Inuyasha. Both feature a teenage girl who travels through time to historical Japan and develops a relationship with a troubled young man. It’s natural to make this comparison, and many viewers likely will, even if it isn’t entirely accurate. Inuyasha remains Takahashi’s most well-known work in the United States, having been widely broadcast throughout the 2000s, so even those who aren’t dedicated anime fans are likely to see the connection.

Although Mao and Inuyasha share some similarities, Mao quickly establishes its own unique identity. Unlike Kagome, who traveled back to the Sengoku period, Nanoka only travels to the Taisho period—a difference of around four hundred years. This makes the world Nanoka visits feel much more relatable to modern audiences than the one in Inuyasha, which, despite being based on history, felt like a complete fantasy.

Compared to Inuyasha, MAO relies more on creating a sense of mystery. From the beginning, the series doesn’t explain what happened to Nanoka to make her unique, how she can time travel, or if she’ll ever be able to return to a normal future. The relationship between Mao and Nanoka is also very different from Kagome and Inuyasha’s; they initially depend on each other to uncover the secrets of their own pasts, without any apparent romantic feelings.

This upcoming supernatural mystery is shaping up to be a highlight of the spring anime season. While the studio Sunrise is well-known for its work, they haven’t focused much on creating new series recently. They’ve primarily been developing projects within the Gundam universe, like Witch From Mercury and Gundam GQuuuuuuX. That’s why this new series is so exciting – it shows their commitment to fresh content. Thankfully, their extensive experience assures fans of Mao and Rumiko Takahashi that this anime adaptation will be high quality.

Mao begins airing April 4th.

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2026-03-22 16:43