Urusei Yatsura movies
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Urusei Yatsura
Urusei Yatsura
is a comedic manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi that premiered in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1978 and ran until its conclusion in 1987. Its 374 individual chapters were collected and published in 34 tankōbon volumes. The series tells the story of Ataru Moroboshi, and the alien...

, a Japanese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 series, has six movies and twelve OVA releases. During the television run of the series, four theatrical films were produced. Urusei Yatsura: Only You was directed by Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director, and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of popular anime, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, Ghost in the Shell, and Patlabor 2...

 and began showing in Japanese cinemas on February 11, 1983. Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer was also directed by Mamoru Oshii and was released on February 11, 1984. Urusei Yatsura 3: Remember My Love was directed by Kazuo Yamazaki and released on January 26, 1985. Urusei Yatsura 4: Lum the Forever was directed again by Kazuo Yamazaki and released on February 22, 1986.

After the conclusion of the television series, two more films were produced. A year after the television series finished, Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter was directed by Satoshi Dezaki
Satoshi Dezaki
is an anime director, producer, and screenwriter. After graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan North High School, he attended Hosei University. His younger brother was the late anime director Osamu Dezaki.-Brief history:...

 and was released on February 6, 1988 as a tenth anniversary celebration. It was shown as a double bill with a Maison Ikkoku
Maison Ikkoku
is a Japanese seinen manga written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi and serialized in the manga magazine Big Comic Spirits from 1980 through 1987. Maison Ikkoku is a bitter-sweet comedic romance involving a group of madcap people who live in a boarding house in 1980s Tokyo...

movie. The final film, Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling was directed by Katsuhisa Yamada
Katsuhisa Yamada
is a Japanese animator. He is most noted for directing such memorable anime series as Genesis Climber Mospeada, Gatchaman, Mazinger Z, Devil Hunter Yohko and Record of Lodoss War.-External links:...

 and was released on November 2, 1991. In North America, "Beautiful Dreamer" was released by Central Park Media
Central Park Media
Central Park Media was an American multimedia entertainment company based in New York City, New York, that was active in the distribution of East Asian cinema, television series, anime, manga and manhwa titles in North America prior to its bankruptcy in 2009...

. The remaining five films were released by AnimEigo in North America and MVM Films in the United Kingdom.

On September 24, 1985, the special Ryoko's September Tea Party was released consisting of a mixture of previously broadcast footage along with 15 minutes of new material. Almost a year later on September 15, 1986, Memorial Album was released, also mixing new and old footage. On July 18, 1987 the TV special Inaba the Dreammaker was broadcast before being released to video. It was followed by Raging Sherbet on December 2, 1988, and by Nagisa's Fiancé four days later on December 8, 1988. The Electric Household Guard was released on August 21, 1989 and followed by I Howl at the Moon on September 1, 1989. They were followed by Goat and Cheese on December 21, 1989 and Catch the Heart on December 27, 1989. Finally Terror of Girly-Eyes Measles and Date with a Spirit were released on June 21, 1991. The OVA's were released in North America by AnimEigo
AnimEigo
AnimEigo is an American entertainment company that licenses and distributes anime, samurai films and Japanese cinema. The company was founded in 1988 in Ithaca, New York by Robert Woodhead and Roe R. Adams, III. It is now based in Wilmington, North Carolina, and run by Natsumi Ueki, Robert's wife...

 who released them individually over 6 discs.

On December 23, 2008 a new special was shown for the first time at the It's a Rumic World exhibition of Rumiko Takahashi's works. Entitled The Obstacle Course Swim Meet, it was the first animated content for the series in 17 years. On January 29, 2010 a boxset will be released featuring all of the recent Rumiko Takahashi specials from the Rumic World exhibition. Entitled It's a Rumic World, the boxset will contain The Obstacle Course Swim meet as well as a figure of Lum. The OVAs are not true OVAs, however, as they were all released in the theater prior to being released on video.

Only You

Release date: February 13, 1983, dubbed 1995.

was released in 1983. The guest characters include Elle, another alien princess, who is in charge of Planet Elle.

Six-year-old Ataru 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
Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director, and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of popular anime, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, Ghost in the Shell, and Patlabor 2...

 who was mad at the many requests that the producer made of him to alter the movie. Rumiko Takahashi
Rumiko Takahashi
is a Japanese manga artist.Takahashi is one of the wealthiest individuals, and the most affluent manga artists in Japan. The manga she creates are popular worldwide, where they have been translated into a variety of languages...

 considers this film her favorite and it is the most true to the original series.

Additional cast

  • Yoshiko Sakakibara
    Yoshiko Sakakibara
    is a Japanese voice actress.-Direct-to-video animation:* 1983 Dallos - Melinda Hurst* 1985 Greed - Mimau* 1985 Area 88 - Yasuda* 1985 Cream Lemon – Rio* 1985 Megazone 23 – Reina* 1985 The Karuizawa Syndrome - Kaoru Matsunuma...

    as Elle
  • Hisako Kyouda as Babara
  • Yuko Maruyama
    Yuko Maruyama
    Yuko Maruyama is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for NEC Red Rockets.-External links:*...

    as Rose
  • Kazuyo Aoki
    Kazuyo Aoki
    is a Japanese voice actress employed by the talent management firm Kiraboshi.- TV :*Huckleberry Finn in Adventures of Tom Sawyer *Jean in Story of the Alps: My Annette*Susan in the anime version of Himitsu no Hanazono...

    as Commander
  • Bin Shimada
    Bin Shimada
    is a Japanese voice actor. He is currently affiliated with the talent management firm Aoni Production.-References:* Nakagami, Yoshikatsu et al. "You're Under Arrest: Full Throttle". Newtype USA. pp. 48–49.-External links:...

    as Assistant Commander
  • Shiori
    Shiori
    is a Japanese feminine given name.-Possible writings:Shiori can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:*栞, "bookmark / guide"*撓, "lithe"as a given name*詩織, "poem, weave"The name can also be written in hiragana or katakana.-People:...

    as Elle (young)
  • Kazuki Suzuki as Child A
  • Nariko Fujieda as Child B

Beautiful Dreamer

Release date: February 11, 1984, dubbed 1996.

is the second Urusei Yatsura
Urusei Yatsura
is a comedic manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi that premiered in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1978 and ran until its conclusion in 1987. Its 374 individual chapters were collected and published in 34 tankōbon volumes. The series tells the story of Ataru Moroboshi, and the alien...

movie.

Even though the movie is generally well-loved by English-speaking fans, when it was first released in Japan the response was not as favorable. Writer/director Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director, and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of popular anime, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, Ghost in the Shell, and Patlabor 2...

, 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 Rumiko Takahashi, the manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...

, to reject the script because it deviated so far from the original story, and generated a lot of criticism for 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. This is also seen as the first movie in which he displayed his unique directing style. The Red Spectacles
The Red Spectacles
is a 1987 absurdist, surrealist Japanese film directed by Mamoru Oshii, co-written with Kazunori Ito, and starring Shigeru Chiba and Mako Hyodo.This is the first film of the Kerberos saga and last episode in Oshii's Orwellian Watchdog of Hell feature trilogy.-Chronicles:Kerberos saga historical...

, released in 1987, can be seen as a live version of this movie.

Both movies borrow heavily from the Japanese fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...

 of Urashima Tarō
Urashima Taro
is a Japanese legend about a fisherman who rescues a turtle and is rewarded for this with a visit to Ryūgū-jō, the palace of Ryūjin, the Dragon God, under the sea...

.

Beautiful Dreamer is also the only Urusei Yatsura film released in the United States by US Manga Corps and not AnimEigo
AnimEigo
AnimEigo is an American entertainment company that licenses and distributes anime, samurai films and Japanese cinema. The company was founded in 1988 in Ithaca, New York by Robert Woodhead and Roe R. Adams, III. It is now based in Wilmington, North Carolina, and run by Natsumi Ueki, Robert's wife...

, though AnimEigo is credited with doing the translation and subtitling of the film on the VHS release, as well as designing the packaging to match the other movies in the series. Their movie DVD box also included a space for it. This movie also aired on the Sci-Fi Channel's anime lineup in the U.S.

This film has been referred to by most fans as the best film in the Urusei Yatsura series.

Additional cast

  • Takuya Fujioka as Mujaki

Remember My Love

Release date: January 26, 1985, dubbed 1995.

is the third Urusei Yatsura movie. The guest characters are:
  • Ruu, a mysterious boy bent on fixing Lum's life
  • Lahla, Ruu's tutor, who tries to get things set straight


The third film finds Ataru transformed into a pink hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...

, which sends Lum chasing after the wicked magician
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...

 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.

Additional cast

  • Mitsuo Iwata
    Mitsuo Iwata
    Mitsuo Iwata is a seiyū who was born in Tokorozawa, Saitama. He is married to fellow seiyū Rikako Aikawa. Mania.com praised him as "truly one of the greatest seiyū". Otakunews.com complimented him for the role of Tetsuya from Outlanders...

    as Ruu
  • Sumi Shimamoto
    Sumi Shimamoto
    , real name , is a veteran Japanese voice actress born on December 8, 1954, in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the Toho Gakuen School of Music, she joined Gekidan Seinenza, a theatrical acting troupe...

    as Lahla
  • Masako Sugaya
    Masako Sugaya
    is a female Japanese voice actress who has worked primarily in anime.- Television :* Perman , Ganko* Under Sea Boy Marine , Kurikuri* Umeboshi Denka , Umeboshi-Queen* Attack No...

    as Oshima
  • Hisako Kyouda as Old Lady

Lum the Forever

Release date: February 22, 1986, dubbed 1995.

is the fourth Urusei Yatsura movie. Guest characters include Tarōzakura, the great cherry tree.

The basic plot is centered on the great cherry tree Tarōzakura and what happens after it is cut down during the making of a movie. The fourth film is the subject of much debate, as it is probably the hardest of all the Urusei Yatsura films to fully understand. Many consider it to be a multi-layered masterpiece, while others feel it is little more than a confused and rambling mess.

There was also released on 15 February 1986 a documentation about the film.

Additional cast

  • Mugihito
    Mugihito
    , better known by his stage name of is a Japanese voice and stage actor from Musashino, Tokyo. He is employed by Media Force. Mugihito was formerly credited under his birth name and also...

    as Mendou's Father
  • Bin Shimada
    Bin Shimada
    is a Japanese voice actor. He is currently affiliated with the talent management firm Aoni Production.-References:* Nakagami, Yoshikatsu et al. "You're Under Arrest: Full Throttle". Newtype USA. pp. 48–49.-External links:...

    as Tobimaro Mizunokoji
  • Sumi Shimamoto
    Sumi Shimamoto
    , real name , is a veteran Japanese voice actress born on December 8, 1954, in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the Toho Gakuen School of Music, she joined Gekidan Seinenza, a theatrical acting troupe...

    as Asuka Mizunokoji

The Final Chapter

Release date: February 6, 1988, dubbed 1995.

is the fifth Urusei Yatsura film. Guest characters include:
  • Rupa, Lum's fiancé
  • Carla, is said to be Rupa's betrothed.


The fifth film is an animated adaptation of the final story of the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 and is also the official ending of the anime series, in which Lum and Ataru must repeat the game of tag
Tag (game)
Tag is a playground game played worldwide that involves one or more players chasing other players in an attempt to tag or touch them, usually with their fingers. There are many variations...

 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
Maison Ikkoku
is a Japanese seinen manga written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi and serialized in the manga magazine Big Comic Spirits from 1980 through 1987. Maison Ikkoku is a bitter-sweet comedic romance involving a group of madcap people who live in a boarding house in 1980s Tokyo...

was also released on the same date as this movie was released.

Additional cast

  • Hirotaka Suzuoki
    Hirotaka Suzuoki
    was a Japanese voice actor and actor from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture who graduated from Tokyo Keizai University.His best known roles include Mobile Suit Gundam , Captain Tsubasa , Saint Seiya , Dragon Ball Z , The Transformers , Ranma ½ , Rurouni Kenshin , Pokémon...

    as Inaba
  • Kaneto Shiozawa
    Kaneto Shiozawa
    Kaneto Shiozawa , real name was a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo affiliated with Aoni Production. He had a distinctive cold, calm voice which usually typecast him in roles as villains or anti-heroes....

    as Rupa
  • You Inoue
    You Inoue
    , also known by her stage name , was a Japanese voice actress. Inoue was diagnosed with lung cancer in late 2001, underwent treatments during 2002, and her condition deteriorated rapidly in the last month of her life....

    as Carla

Always, My Darling

Release date: August 18, 1991

(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 movie was Kumiko Takahashi
Kumiko Takahashi
is Japanese animator and character designer. She is noted for her work as a character designer and animation director on numerous anime series, such as Cardcaptor Sakura, Witch Hunter Robin and Ouran High School Host Club....

. The regular theatrical release in Japan was the November 2, 1991 and it was shown on a double bill with the first Ranma 1/2 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 movie has been referred to by some fans as the worst of the series.

Additional cast

  • Naoko Matsui
    Naoko Matsui
    is a Japanese voice actress from Hakodate. Matsui was a member of Production Baobab for 20 years before becoming a freelancer. She is also a voice acting instructor....

    as Lupika
  • Shinnosuke Furumoto
    Shinnosuke Furumoto
    is a Japanese voice actor, actor and radio personality.-Notable voice roles:*Carrot Glace in Sorcerer Hunters*Junkers in Junkers Come Here*Pantyhose Taro and Genji Heita in Ranma ½-External links:...

    as Leo
  • Isamu Tanonaka
    Isamu Tanonaka
    was a Japanese seiyū from Taitō, Tokyo. During his life he has been attached to Gekidan Tōgei and then Theatre Echo; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death...

    as Commander

OVA releases

Urusei Yatsura also has a number of direct-to-market video releases which include stories not covered in the TV series or movies. However, they are not true OVAs as all of them were released in the theater prior to being released on video. All but one of these were released after the ending of the series, so popularity may have also been a factor in the continued release of new animation.
  1. (September 24, 1985)
  2. (September 15, 1986)
  3. (July 18, 1987)
  4. (August 8, 1988)
  5. (August 8, 1988)
  6. (April 4, 1989)
  7. (April 4, 1989)
  8. (July 22, 1989)
  9. (July 22, 1989)
  10. (June 21, 1991)
  11. (June 21, 1991)
  12. (December 23, 2008)


Sources:

External links

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