Personally Urusei Yatsura IS my #1 anime of all time. While I tried to be fair about my review of it, personally I beleive it should rate a perfect 10.
Urusei Yatsura tv Review
Story & Characters
Urusei Yatsura is the story of a boy with shall we say over active glands. Ataru Moroboshi, his name literally means "Falling Star" and that is a good way to describe him. He chases after every pretty girl he sees, humans and aliens, especially if the aliens are hot and human looking. His downfall comes after he is choosen to be Earths champion in a game of tag against the Oni. He must tag Lum, and alien female of sex appeal wrapped in a tiger striped bikini, on her horns. He win, but now Lum thinks they're married.
The series goes on for over 190 episodes, with each one getting more weird than those before it. But little by little you get to see that Ataru really does have feelings for Lum. More than any other girl, his problem is he can't keep his hands off of other girls. Lum will always give him insentive to do so in the form of electric shock, but Ataru still keeps trying anyways.
Lum is not just another pretty face in the series either. She has a strong will and is detirminded to love her "Dahling" Ataru no matter what the cost. Which he certainly better than her last boyfriend, but not by much. Lum's biggest failings are her temper and bad taste in men.
The series contains an entire cast of other off the wall character. From the group of Lum's stormtroopers who has sworn eternal love for Lum. A rich and handsome Mendo that could have anything, any woman he wanted, but wants the most the one thing he can never have, Lum. A trouble some monk named Cherry and his neice Sakura. So aliens, demons and other weridness galore. That's what makes Urusei Yatsura great is that it defies explanation.
Rating:
Art
The thing to keep in mind about Urusei Yatsura is that the art is now over 20 years old. While it can't hold a candle to todays titles, back 20 years ago Urusei Yatsura went from beig that of the standard quality work. To being that above average in style. It was Rumiko Takahashi's first big hit, and while her art has improved since then her style has more or less remained the same.
You can see many of her more recent characters ressemble her prior ones. The similarities between Lum and Shampoo from Ranma 1/2 should be an obvious one. The quality of the movies is greater than those of the series, but that's the way it usually is with every thing. And some movies have little animated in jokes that must be watched frame by frame in order to see them.
Because of the change in quality from the start to finish of this series, it should rank at least a 7 if you take it's age into consideration.
Rating:
Sound
The best way to watch Urusei Yatsura is in it's original Japanese. This is mainly because only the movies were dubbed yes, but the truth is the Japanese voice actors deliver the characters lines with much more emotion than the movies dub acters did. And because of the nature of Urusei Yatsura, the characters must sound insane at times. Not to metion the dub sounds like words are being miss spoken at times. This most definitly should be watched in it's original Japanese.
The music is something else. It makes use of both Japanese and at times English lyrics in whole or in part. Songs like "Born to be Free" and "Remember My Love" are completely in English. While "Lum's No Love Song" is all in Japanese, then there are songs which combine the two languages into one song like "Rock the Planet". The music ranges from pop, rock, and jazz all the way to classical. Back in the 80's Urusei Yatsura's soundtrack was made up of as many genres as was around at the time.
The music may sound dated now, but it should be reminded it was all written back in the 80's. But it does sound really good for it's time.
Rating:
Presentation
The series is now 20 years old and many of the jokes make use of Japanese cultural references. This does not mean it isn't funny, it just means some may not understand the humor behind the joke. You know the saying a joke isn't funny if you have to explain it. Because of this some knowlege of Japanese culture may be needed to fully apreciate the humor. Although that does not mean there aren't any jokes that aren't universal. Every once in a while a joke anyone can laugh at will leap out at you, you just have to pay attention to see it when they come along.
As far as originality goes, because of it's age. It is by far one of the most orginal anime out there. Being Rumiko Takahashi's first also helps as well. If you look you should see the resemblence Shampoo of Ranma 1/2 has with Lum. And you can probably see Lum's persona in other females of Rumiko's work. I know there are several males which all behave like the original pervert Ataru.
And Urusei Yatsura may be the first of the "Exotic Girlfriend" genra of anime. That is a Girlfriend that is exceptionally beautiful and has powers that normal humans don't. Anime like "Ah My Goddess" Tenchi Muyo" "DearS" would fall into this catagory among a few others, but Urusei Yatsura was the among the first to feature beautiful alien females that could fly, shoot lightning, and dressed in unusual outfits. Lum could also be anime's very first Sex Symbol.
Urusei Yatsura was a first of many things.
Rating:
Final Verdict
7.8333 (good)
Reviewed by Duuz, Apr 20, 2005
Comments
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Duuz Apr 20, 2005
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belmikry Retired Moderator Jun 25, 2005
great review! Urusei Yatsura was one of my very first anime series I rented, this review brings back memories. You really showed great detail and alot of character-= thank you for the great review! :)
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