The appeal and evaluation of the Urusei Yatsura TV version: A deep review of the series

Urusei Yatsura: A timeless sci-fi comedy masterpiece

"Urusei Yatsura" is a TV anime series based on the original manga by Rumiko Takahashi, which aired from 1981 to 1986. It is a long-running series with 218 episodes in total, and its unique world view and charming characters have continued to fascinate many fans from the time it was broadcast to the present day. In this article, we will take a deeper look at the appeal and influence of "Urusei Yatsura," as well as the details of its content.

■Overview of the work

"Urusei Yatsura" is a science fiction comedy that revolves around Moroboshi Ataru, who plays a game of tag with Lum, the representative of the demon tribe that has invaded Earth, with the fate of the Earth at stake. After Ataru wins the game and saves the Earth, Lum comes to live at the Moroboshi house as Ataru's fiancée. From then on, a slapstick comedy that transcends time and worlds, including the present, past, future, demon realm, and space, unfolds with Lum and Ataru at the center and the surrounding characters getting caught up in it.

■Broadcast information

Urusei Yatsura was broadcast on Fuji TV from October 14, 1981 to March 19, 1986, every Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. It is a long-running series of 218 episodes, each 30 minutes long, produced by Kitty Film (Kitty Enterprises in the early days of the series) and Fuji TV. The copyright is owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, and Fuji TV.

■ Original story and anime adaptation

The original work was a manga by Rumiko Takahashi, serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday. When it was made into an anime, cutting-edge directing and drawing techniques were incorporated to bring out the best in the original work. In particular, under the direction of directors such as Mamoru Oshii and Kazuo Yamazaki, innovative visuals and storytelling were developed, which had a major impact on the anime industry.

■ Main characters

The appeal of "Urusei Yatsura" lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

• Ataru Moroboshi : An incomparable womanizer, he has rare bad luck. However, he also has the vitality and energy of a cockroach. He has an optimistic and sloppy personality, but sometimes shows a gentle side. His voice actor is Toshio Furukawa.
• Lum : A demon girl who came to invade the Earth, with the ability to fly and shock with electricity. She becomes Ataru's wife and is jealous, so when Ataru cheats on her, she unleashes an electric shock on him. Her voice actress is Aya Hirano.
• Shinobu Miyake : Ataru's girlfriend, but their relationship becomes complicated with the arrival of Lum. She has great strength and is good at table throwing. She gives up on Ataru and develops feelings for Mendou. Her voice actress is Saeko Shimazu.
• Mendou Shutaro : He is the heir to the Mendou financial group and Ataru's rival. He is handsome, a genius, and good at sports, so he is popular with the ladies, but he has weaknesses of claustrophobia and fear of the dark. His voice actor is Akira Kamiya.
• Sakura : Sakuranbo's niece and the school doctor at Tomobiki High School. She used to be a sickly shrine maiden, but after she possessed Ataru with the incarnation of the disease, she became healthy. She is even more of a glutton than Sakuranbo. Her voice actress is Machiko Washio.
• Sakuranbo : A mysterious monk nicknamed Cherry. He is very greedy, but has strong magical powers. Often to no avail. Voiced by Ichiro Nagai.
• Ryunosuke Fujinami : A girl who was raised by her father like a boy. Despite her desire to be more feminine, she has a personality where her hands speak before her mouth. She usually wears a school uniform with a sash around her chest. Her voice actor is Mayumi Tanaka.

■ Story and episodes

The story of "Urusei Yatsura" revolves around the daily lives of Lum and Ataru, with various characters getting caught up in it. Each episode is a standalone short story, and is packed with a variety of elements, including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and comedy. Below are some of the most well-known episodes.

• Episode 1 "It's the Rumored Lum-chan!" : This is the episode where Lum comes to Earth and meets Ataru. The episode depicts the tension of the game of tag deciding the fate of the Earth, as well as Lum's charm.
• Episodes 19 and 20, "A Thrilling Christmas Night (Part 1 and Part 2)" : These episodes are set during Christmas and show how the relationship between Lum and Ataru develops. They are a perfect mix of romance and comedy.
• Episode 43 and 44 "Space Matchmaking Mission (Part 1 and Part 2)" : This episode focuses on Lum's search for a fiance. It tells a grand story set in space and depicts Lum's pure heart.
• Episode 112 "Lum and Ataru: A Night Just for the Two of Us" : This episode depicts a night spent alone with Lum and Ataru. In contrast to the usual slapstick, the relationship between the two is explored in depth.
• Episode 218 "All-Star Party! We're Immortal!!" : The final episode depicts a party where all the characters gather together. As a summary of the series, this episode is full of laughs and emotions.

■ Production staff

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of "Urusei Yatsura." Below are the main staff members.

• Original story : Rumiko Takahashi (serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday)
• Produced by : Kitty Film, Fuji Television
• Planning : Shigekazu Ochiai
• Producers : Yuji Nunokawa, Takao Inoue, Masataka Inage, Makoto Kubo, Hiroshi Hasegawa
• Series Composition : Masaru Yamamoto, Hisakazu Sho, Kazunori Ito and others
• Chief Director : Mamoru Oshii, Kazuo Yamazaki
• Character design : Akemi Takada
• Art director : Mitsuki Nakamura, Tatsuo Imamura, Torao Arai
• Director of photography : Nobuo Koyama
• Sound Director : Shigeharu Shiba
• Animation production : Studio Pierrot, Studio Deen

■ Impact and evaluation

"Urusei Yatsura" became a hot topic when it was first broadcast due to its innovative worldview, character settings, and cutting-edge direction. In particular, Lum's line "Darling!" became a social phenomenon, giving rise to many parodies and quotations. In addition, the involvement of director Mamoru Oshii is said to have had a huge impact on the anime industry.

The original manga, which was popular even before it was made into an anime, gained even more readers as a result of its adaptation, and succeeded in raising the profile of the entire series. The success of "Urusei Yatsura" had a major impact on the development of later science fiction comedies and romantic comedies, and many works were created based on this series.

■ Related works

"Urusei Yatsura" has not only been made into a TV series, but also into many movies. The movies are introduced below.

• "Urusei Yatsura: Only You" : Released in 1983. A touching story about the meeting and parting of Lum and Ataru.
• "Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer" : Released in 1984. Directed by Mamoru Oshii, this film became a hot topic for its philosophical content depicting the boundary between dreams and reality.
• "Urusei Yatsura 3: Remember My Love" : Released in 1985. This episode depicts Lum's past and future, and is highly rated by fans.
• "Urusei Yatsura 4: Lum the Forever" : Released in 1986. A grand story set in Lum's hometown, this film can be considered the culmination of the series.
• "Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter" : Released in 1988. Based on the final episode of the TV series, this work delves deeply into the relationship between Lum and Ataru.
• Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling : Released in 1991. This film follows the new adventures of Lum and Ataru, marking a new development for the series.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"Urusei Yatsura" is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes sci-fi comedies and romantic comedies. In particular, you can enjoy the relationship between Lum and Ataru, as well as the slapstick comedy of the unique characters. There is also a lot to learn from the technical aspects of anime production, such as the direction of director Mamoru Oshii and the character designs of Akemi Takada.

As for viewing options, DVDs and Blu-rays are available for purchase. Some episodes are also available on streaming services, so you can also use those. In addition, there are many related books and goods on sale, so fans can enjoy collecting them.

Conclusion

"Urusei Yatsura" is a monumental sci-fi comedy that continues to be loved through the ages. Its unique worldview, charming characters, and cutting-edge direction have continued to fascinate many fans from the time it was first broadcast to the present day. Please enjoy the slapstick comedy of Lum and Ataru through this work.