Welcome, adventurer, to another round of The Bad Rap! Today we’re dissecting and discussing the classic half-demon with a bad attitude. That’s right, we’re diving in on Inuyasha from Inuyasha!

If you lived through early 2000s anime fandom, you remember the wars: Kagome vs. Kikyo. And at the center of the storm? Inuyasha. And boy, was that storm MESSY.

But let’s back up for a sec and discuss Inuyasha at his core. For a character who helped define an entire era of anime fandom, Inuyasha sure carries a surprising  reputation. To some viewers he’s a brash, stubborn, lovable protector; to others, he’s the poster child for “bad attitude,” “bad decision-making,” and occasionally “just… bad at feelings.”

Inuyasha’s temper is infamous. He growls, he snaps, and he leaps into fights before thinking them through. Kagome’s iconic “Sit, boy!” command became both a running gag and coping mechanism for his knee-jerk aggression.

But while the fandom often labels him as “angry,” his anger isn’t exactly random. It’s protective, anxious, and founded in decades of trauma. Raised between two worlds that rejected him, the humans and demons, Inuyasha grows up to expect betrayal. His bark comes from survival, not ego. Well, maybe some ego.

Behind the misunderstandings, Inuyasha is one thing above all: loyal. He often protects people who hurt him, he loves people who complicate him, and he fights for people who challenge him. His reputation focuses on the rough edges, not the heart beneath them.

He is vulnerable, fiercely devoted, and painfully human, as much as he’d disagree with that sentiment.

So, does he deserve a bad rap? I’d say no. Inuyasha grows as a character as the series went on and it does seem as though he chooses humanity over his wicked side time and again, especially in the name of loyalty and protection.

Well, what do YOU think, does Inuyasha deserve a bad rap after all these years? Let us know in the comments below, and share across your socials to keep the convo going!