"Urusei Yatsura: Only You" review: What is the appeal of the first movie in the series?

Urusei Yatsura: Only You - A cosmic love comedy depicting the deepening of human relationships

Released on February 11, 1983, Urusei Yatsura: Only You was the first animated feature film based on the popular manga series Urusei Yatsura by Takahashi Rumiko. The film is known for bringing together all the characters from the TV series in a slapstick, sci-fi romantic comedy on a cosmic scale. It was directed by Oshii Mamoru, written by Konparu Tomoko, with character designs by Takada Akemi and Takazawa Magoichi, and produced by Kitty Film.

story

One day, a wedding invitation suddenly arrives at the home of a womanizing high school student, Moroboshi Ataru, whose relatives have stated that Ataru is to marry a girl named El. Ataru has no idea who this is and is confused. However, El comes to pick him up from space and tells him that the two were engaged 11 years ago. Ataru accepts the marriage proposal, but Lum is furious. Through the adventures of Lum and Ataru as they chase after Ataru, who has been taken to Planet El, the two come to realize how important each other is to them.

Commentary

Urusei Yatsura: Only You is a work that brings the popular characters from the TV series to the cosmic stage. This slapstick sci-fi romantic comedy revolves around Ataru, who is torn between Ram and L. The unique direction of Director Oshii Mamoru and the screenplay by Konparu Tomoko combine to create a new story while bringing out the best in the original. Additionally, the character designs by Takada Akemi and Takazawa Magoichi faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the original while adding a beauty that is unique to the film.

cast

The main cast of this film is as follows:

• Ram - Hirano Fumi
• Ataru Moroboshi - Toshio Furukawa
• El de Rosenbach - Ryoko Sakakibara
• Shutaro Mendou - Akira Kamiya
• Shinobu Miyake - Saeko Shimazu

These voice actors continue to appear in the TV series and express the individuality of the characters well. In particular, the dialogue between Aya Hirano, who plays Lum, and Toshio Furukawa, who plays Ataru, brings out the charm of the original work to the fullest. Also, Yoshiko Sakakibara, who plays L, gives a charming performance as a new character.

Main Staff

The main staff of this work are as follows:

• Original story - Rumiko Takahashi
• Director, Adaptation, Storyboard - Mamoru Oshii
• Planning - Shigekazu Ochiai
• Screenplay - Tomoko Kaneharu
• Directed by: Takashi Ano
• Character design: Akemi Takada, Magoichi Takazawa
• Animation directors: Katsumi Aoshima, Yuichi Endo, Magoichi Takazawa
• Produced by: Hidenori Taga
• Art director/art setting – Torao Arai
• Director of photography - Akio Wakana
• Music Director - Yutaka Hayakawa
• Produced by: Kitty Films

The theme song "I, I, YOU & Love" was written by Yoshihiko Ando and composed, arranged and sung by Izumi Kobayashi. The song will capture the hearts of viewers with its beautiful melody and lyrics that symbolize the theme of the movie.

Main Characters

The main characters of this work are as follows:

Ram

She is an alien girl who resembles an ogre and came to invade the Earth. She is defeated by Ataru in a game of tag, with the future of the Earth at stake, and falls in love with him at first sight. From then on, she lives on Earth as Ataru's self-proclaimed fiancée. Lum has a strong love for Ataru, and that love is at the center of the story.

Moroboshi Ataru

The protagonist is a high school student who is such a womanizer that he immediately tries to woo any beautiful woman he sees. When he tries to pick up girls, Ram always gets in the way, so he has a cold attitude towards her. However, as the story progresses, he begins to realize his true feelings for her.

El de Rosenbach

She is the Queen of Planet El, and when she came to Earth 11 years ago, she mistakenly thought she was engaged to Ataru. She believes Ataru is her soulmate, and comes to Earth to pick him up. On the other hand, she also has a hobby of collecting frozen handsome men, and her unique character adds color to the story.

Related Titles

The film that was shown at the same time as this one was "Shounen Rider". The TV series "Urusei Yatsura" is also a related work. Through these works, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world view and the charm of the characters of the original work.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Urusei Yatsura: Only You" has been highly praised for creating a new story while maximizing the appeal of the original work. The unique direction of Director Mamoru Oshii combined with the screenplay by Tomoko Kaneharu has made it a work that can be enjoyed not only by fans of the original work, but also by new viewers. The character design and music also enhance the appeal of the film, making it a highly polished work overall.

This film is recommended for those who like romantic comedies and those who like science fiction elements. Also, for fans of the original Urusei Yatsura, it is a valuable work that allows them to see a new side of the characters. Furthermore, for fans of director Mamoru Oshii, it is a work that allows them to enjoy his unique direction.

The appeal of this work lies above all in the deepening of the relationships between the characters. As Ataru and Lum's relationship is put to the test, they come to realize the importance of each other and grow as people. In addition, the appearance of a new character, El, brings new developments to the story. The combination of these elements makes this work enjoyable not only for fans of the original work, but for a wide range of viewers.

Furthermore, this film also showcases the evolution of animation technology in the 1980s. The character designs, background art, and music all work together to create the film's worldview. The combination of these elements makes this a visually and aurally enjoyable piece.

Lastly, this film is the first movie in the Urusei Yatsura series, and it also laid the foundation for the entire series. It contains many elements that influenced later works, and can be said to be an important work in understanding the entire series. I would definitely recommend this film not only to fans of the original work, but also to those who are experiencing Urusei Yatsura for the first time.