Urusei Yatsura (film series)

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Release date: February 13, 1983, dubbed 2003.

Urusei Yatsura: Only You (うる星やつら オンリー・ユー, Urusei Yatsura Onrī Yū) was released in 1983. The guest characters include Elle, another alien princess, who is in charge of Planet Elle.

6-year-old Ataru Moroboshi steps on Elle's shadow during an impromptu game of shadow-tag; in Elle's culture, this is viewed as a marriage proposal. Eleven years later, Elle returns to Earth in order to marry Ataru — by which time not only had he forgotten the events of his childhood, but he was also going out with Lum. The rest of the plot focuses on Lum's attempts to prevent the marriage.

The film was directed by Mamoru Oshii, who was mad at the many requests that the producer made of him to alter the film.[ citation needed ] Rumiko Takahashi considers this film her favorite and it is the most true to the original series.

A subtitled Laserdisc of the film was released by AnimEigo in North America on September 25, 1993. [16]

Additional cast

Beautiful Dreamer

Release date: February 11, 1984, dubbed 1996.

Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (うる星やつら2 ビューティフル・ドリーマー, Urusei Yatsura 2 Byūtifuru Dorīmā) is the second Urusei Yatsura film.

Like its predecessor, Beautiful Dreamer borrows heavily from the Japanese fairy tale of Urashima Tarō. [17] Writer/director Mamoru Oshii, unsatisfied with how the first film, Only You, had developed, rejected the idea of catering to audience expectations and decided to do the film his own way. This almost caused Takahashi to reject the script because it deviated so far from the original story.[ citation needed ]

Even though the film is generally well-loved by English-speaking fans, when it was first released in Japan the response was not as favorable. Criticism was especially given towards Oshii, generally from the fan community. As a result, Oshii quit working on the production of Urusei Yatsura and went on to do other more experimental projects. Despite this, the film has been referred to by most fans as the best film in the Urusei Yatsura series.[ citation needed ]

Additional cast

Remember My Love

Release date: January 26, 1985, dubbed 2003.

Urusei Yatsura 3: Remember My Love (うる星やつら3 リメンバー・マイ・ラヴ, Urusei Yatsura 3 Rimenbā Mai Ravu) is the third Urusei Yatsura film. The guest characters are:

The third film finds Ataru transformed into a pink hippopotamus, which sends Lum chasing after the wicked magician responsible, with catastrophic results. With Lum gone, her friends decide that there is no reason to remain, and so Tomobiki slowly returns to normal. The highlight of the film is a high speed chase scene with an angry Lum flying after the mysterious Ruu through the city at night and into a hall of mirrors (and illusion). Ataru's true feelings for Lum are probably more obvious in this film than any of the others.

The film grossed ¥1.17 billion ($10.66 million) at the Japanese box office, becoming the year's eighth highest-grossing Japanese film. [18] A subtitled Laserdisc was released by AnimEigo in North America on January 19, 1994. [19] It is also notable for the anime debut of Bulma from the Dragon Ball franchise, which would later receive its anime premiere the following year. [20]

Additional cast

Lum the Forever

Release date: February 22, 1986, dubbed 2004.

Urusei Yatsura 4: Lum the Forever (うる星やつら4 ラム・ザ・フォーエバー, Urusei Yatsura 4 Ramu za Fōebā) is the fourth Urusei Yatsura film. Guest characters include Tarōzakura, the great cherry tree.

A horror film production comes to town, casting the cast of the series as extras in the production. But when the director orders the cutting down of a cursed great cherry tree called Tarōzakura, the remains of the tree curses Lum by way of removing her horns and powers. The quest to restore Lum's demon powers puts Ataru at odds with the spirit of the tree, who forces the cast of the slasher film to believe they are their roles as it seeks vengeance upon the film crew.

There was also released on 15 February 1986 a Making of Urusei Yatsura 4: Lum the Forever (メイキング・オブ・うる星やつら4 アニメ製作の実際) documentation about the film.

Additional cast

The Final Chapter

Release date: February 6, 1988, dubbed 2004.

Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter (うる星やつら 完結篇, Urusei Yatsura: Kanketsuhen) is the fifth Urusei Yatsura film. Guest characters include:

The fifth film is an animated adaptation of the final story of the manga and is also the official ending of the anime series, in which Lum and Ataru must repeat the game of tag played out in the first episode of the television series, or the Earth will be infested with mushrooms larger than buildings. Further, should Ataru lose, Lum will leave forever and everyone's memories will be changed so that they don't remember she, or her friends, were ever there. Finally, Lum refuses to allow Ataru to win unless he says to her those three words, "I love you", that he has steadfastly refused to say over the entire series. Maison Ikkoku: The Final Chapter was also released on the same date as this film.

Additional cast

Always My Darling

Release date: August 18, 1991, [21] dubbed 2005.

Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling (うる星やつら いつだってマイ・ダーリン, Urusei Yatsura Itsudatte Mai Dārin) (alternately Forever My Darling) is the sixth Urusei Yatsura film and the tenth anniversary special. It is not the end of the anime series despite coming after The Final Chapter. The character designer and animation director for the film was Kumiko Takahashi. The regular theatrical release in Japan was the November 2, 1991 and it was shown on a double bill with the first Ranma ½ feature, Big Trouble in Nekonron, China. Guest characters include Lupika, another alien princess.

Lupika, an alien princess, is in love with a tofu seller. To make him love her too (at least, announce his love. He obviously fears the social taboo of a tofu vendor marrying a princess), she needs to get a love potion, which is in a certain temple. Legend has it that the only person that can obtain this love potion is the most lecherous man in the universe. That man turns out to be Ataru Moroboshi. Lupika kidnaps Ataru to make him get the potion, and Lum and her friends go out to search for Ataru.

This film has been referred to by some fans as the worst of the series. [22] [23]

Due to this, this was the last animated released content for the franchise until 2008 release of the 10th OVA.

A subtitled Laserdisc was released by AnimEigo in North America on July 27, 1994. [24]

Additional cast

OVA releases

Urusei Yatsura also has a number of direct-to-market video releases which include stories not covered in the TV series or films. However, they are not true OVAs as all of them were released in theaters prior to being released on video. All were released after the ending of the series, so popularity may have also been a factor in the continued release of new animation.

Urusei Yatsura
Urusei-Box-Set.jpg
Artwork for the Japanese Blu-Ray Urusei Yatsura film series box set
うる星やつら
Genre
No.TitleDirected byWritten byAnimation directed byOriginal release date
1"Inaba the Dreammaker"
Transliteration: "Yume no Shikakenin, Inaba-kun Tōjō! Ramu no Mirai wa Dōnaruccha" (Japanese: 夢の仕掛人、因幡くん登場! ラムの未来はどうなるっちゃ)		Directed by : Tsuneo Tominaga
Storyboarded by : Setsuko Shibuichi & Tsuneo Tominaga		Kazumi Koide & Toshiaki ImaizumiYukari Kobayashi18 July 1987 (1987-07-18)
Shinobu, Ataru and Lum meet Inaba, a strange boy in a rabbit suit. Inaba (who seems to have a thing for Shinobu) leads them to the Room of Destiny, where they get to explore various futures.
2"Raging Sherbet"
Transliteration: "Ikare Shābetto" (Japanese: 怒れシャーベット)		Directed by : Kenjirō Yoshida
Storyboarded by : Katsuhiko Nishijima 		Machiko KondōKatsuhiko Nishijima2 December 1988 (1988-12-02)
3"Nagisa's Fiancé"
Transliteration: "Nagisa no Fianse" (Japanese: 渚のフィアンセ)		Directed by : Yorifusa Yamaguchi
Storyboarded by : Setsuko Shibuichi		 Rumiko Takahashi Setsuko Shibuichi8 December 1988 (1988-12-08)
4"The Electric Household Guard"
Transliteration: "Denki Jikake no Oniwaban" (Japanese: 電気仕掛けのお庭番)		Directed by : Kenjirō Yoshida
Storyboarded by : Iku Suzuki		Rumiko TakahashiYukari Kobayashi21 August 1989 (1989-08-21)
5"I Howl at the Moon"
Transliteration: "Tsuki ni Hoeru" (Japanese: 月に吠える)		Tsuneo TominagaMachiko KondōYukari Kobayashi2 September 1989 (1989-09-02)
6"Goat and Cheese"
Transliteration: "Yagi-san to Chīzu" (Japanese: ヤギさんとチーズ)		 Tensai Okamura Tensai OkamuraTensai Okamura21 December 1989 (1989-12-21)
7"Catch the Heart"
Transliteration: "Hāto o Tsukame" (Japanese: ハートをつかめ)		Yū KōTatsuhiko UrahataKenji Yoshioka27 December 1989 (1989-12-27)
8"Terror of Girly-Eyes Measles"
Transliteration: "Otome Bashika no Kyōfu" (Japanese: 乙女ばしかの恐怖)		Directed by : Shigeto Makino
Storyboarded by : Yū Kō		Hidehiro FujiwaraAtsushi Shigeta & Shin'ichi Imakuma21 June 1991 (1991-06-21)
9"Date with a Spirit"
Transliteration: "Reikon to Dēto" (Japanese: 霊魂とデート)		 Makoto Moriwaki Tatsuhiko UrahataAtsushi Shigeta21 June 1991 (1991-06-21)
10"The Obstacle Course Swim Meet"
Transliteration: "Za Shōgaibutsu Suiei Taikai" (Japanese: THE 障害物水泳大会)		Directed by : Toru Kitahata
Storyboarded by : Yoshitomo Yonetani 		Michiko Yokote Tsukasa Dokite 23 December 2008 (2008-12-23)

Sources: [10] [12] [14] [25] [26]

Related Research Articles

Rumiko Takahashi is a Japanese manga artist. With a career of several commercially successful works, beginning with Urusei Yatsura in 1978, she is one of Japan's best-known and wealthiest manga artists. Her works are popular worldwide, where they have been translated into a variety of languages, with over 200 million copies in circulation; making Takahashi one of the best-selling authors of all time. She has won the Shogakukan Manga Award twice, once in 1980 for Urusei Yatsura and again in 2001 for Inuyasha, and the Seiun Award twice, once in 1987 for Urusei Yatsura and again in 1989 for Mermaid Saga. She also received the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême in 2019, becoming the second woman and second Japanese to win the prize. In 2020, the Japanese government awarded Takahashi the Medal with Purple Ribbon for her contributions to the arts.

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<i>Urusei Yatsura</i> Japanese manga series and franchise

Urusei Yatsura (うる星やつら) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday from September 1978 to February 1987. Its 366 individual chapters were published in 34 tankōbon volumes. It tells the story of Ataru Moroboshi, and the alien Lum, who believes she is Ataru's wife after he accidentally proposes to her. The series makes heavy use of Japanese mythology, culture, and puns. It was adapted into an anime television series produced by Kitty Films and broadcast on Fuji TV affiliates from October 1981 to March 1986, with 194 half-hour episodes. Twelve OVAs and six theatrical films followed, and the series was released on various home video formats.

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References

  1. ↑ "Only You". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Beautiful Dreamer". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Remember My Love". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Lum the Forever". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ "The Final Chapter". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  6. ↑ "About the Anime". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Always my Darling". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Urusei Yatsura — Anime Products". AnimEigo. Archived from the original on December 26, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Discotek Announces Memories, Urusei Yatsura Movies, and More". Crunchyroll . Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 Animage Editorial Staff (March 1999). Animage Pocket Data Notes 1999. Tokyo, Japan: Tokuma Shoten. p. 69.
  11. ↑ "Urusei Yatsura". AnimEigo. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  12. 1 2 3 "OVA's". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Urusei Yatsura (archive)". AnimEigo. Archived from the original on February 18, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Event-Only Urusei Yatsura Anime to Debut This Month (Updated)". Anime News Network . Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  15. ↑ "It's a Rumic World スペシャルアニメBOX". Amazon.co.jp . Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Animerica". Animerica: Anime & Manga Monthly. Viz Media. 1 (7): 18. September 1993. ISSN   1067-0831.
  17. ↑ Shamoon, Deborah (February 12, 2016). Folktales and Fairy Tales: Traditions and Texts from around the World (2nd ed.). ABC-CLIO. ISBN   9781610692540 . Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  18. ↑ "1985年（1月～12月）". Eiren. Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Animerica". Animerica: Anime & Manga Monthly. Viz Media. 2 (2): 15. February 1994. ISSN   1067-0831.
  20. ↑ "Dragon Ball Wasn't Actually the First Anime to Feature Bulma".
  21. ↑ Madhouse.co.jpうる星やつら いつだってマイ・ダーリン (in Japanese). madhouse.co.jp. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  22. ↑ Proulx, Mason. "10th Anniversary Movie: Itsudatte My Darling". Tomobiki-cho, The Urusei Yatsura Web Site. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2007.
  23. ↑ "Urusei Yatsura: Always my Darling". Anime Meta-Review.
  24. ↑ "Animerica". Animerica: Anime & Manga Monthly. Viz Media. 2 (7): 18. July 1994. ISSN   1067-0831.
  25. ↑ Madhouse.co.jpうる星やつら 乙女ばしかの恐怖 (in Japanese). madhouse.co.jp. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  26. ↑ Madhouse.co.jpうる星やつら 霊魂とデート怖 (in Japanese). madhouse.co.jp. Retrieved July 31, 2011.

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