After many years
of cracked and debauched anime series and illustrious mangas, I finally decided
to watch Urusei Yatsura! ---------- ventura ventura space people
Urusei Yatsura (うる星やつら) is the mind-creation of the celebrated female mangaka Rumiko Takahashi (author of
Inuyasha and Ranma ½) and one of the most beloved animated series to ever have been
broadcasted on Japanese television. This renowned comedy series was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 1978 to
1987, later adapted into a successful anime TV series (produced by Kitty
Films and broadcast on Fuji Television affiliates) from 1981 to
1986. It produced over 195 TV episodes, 6 movies, 9 OVAs and went on to become
one of Japan's most influential animated television comedies.
Urusei Yatsura tells the story
of a tempestuous (hey, it’s a pun!) relationship between an unlucky lecherous
high school student – Ataru Moriboshi - and a hyper-jealous and sensual demon girl
from outer-space – Lum - who find their way between a series of misadventures,
always escorted by the constant appearance of a bulky backing of super-weird and
supreme bizarre characters to spice things up!
Moriboshi Ataru,
the most unlucky person in the world, failed womanizer and a loser for life (“I should never had him” – says his mother
every now and then) is chosen as the random computer selected opponent to face an
Oni (an alien race) invasion to conquer Earth. In order to save the world Ataru
must win in an alternate version of the game of tag (which in Japan is called "the
game of the Oni"); Ataru is challenged to grab the horns of an oni-girl
called Lum - a sexy tiger-skin-bikini attired alien full of sex-appeal and a challenging
temper - in a ten-day race. A misunderstanding leads Lum (for her own thrill) to
believe that Ataru is in love and wishing to marry her. The boy, with no other
option after building up a colossal debt to the Space Taxi Union, is forced to
accept the strange alien at his house - and so the story begins.
The series
includes a lot of parody of the science-fiction genre (with a lot of clichés
and exaggerated situations). Rumiko forms a fusion of a highly physical slapstick comedy
with a non-sense humour of absurd situations, attractive characters and tacky
puns inspiring many of today’s ecchi
comedies like Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou
and Love Hina which borrowed many features
like the violent and jealous Hannya oni-type
girl. But more than just a sci-fi parody, Urusei
Yatsura is a home to everything that can make up for a good laugh,
everything from television clichés, pop culture and high school life to ancient
legends and lore.
The manga
received the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1981.
Urusei Yatsura
was also the first major work in which Mamoru Oshii (director of Angel’s Egg and Ghost in the Shell) was involved, and is responsible for bringing
him to the spotlight.
I’m thinking
about buying the Glénat edition of Urusei
Yatsura manga series, but as always “money
rules the world” and from the point I’m standing I’m more in the position
of being a slave than a ruler.
