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Urusei Yatsura was Rumiko Takahashi's first major work, and it kickstarted her career in the world of manga. The series revolves around the character Ataru Moroboshi, a hopeless philanderer whose life changes irrevocably when the beautiful alien girl Lum enters his life. Things get worse when Lum falls in love with him, turning his life into a series of endless hijinks and shenanigans due to the many otherworldly visitors that Lum (as well as Ataru himself) attracts to them.

Urusei Yatsura was incredibly successful, running from 1978 to 1987 in Weekly Shonen Sunday and spawning a long-running anime series and several films. Despite ending many years ago, Urusei Yatsura's influence on the anime and manga world is massive, and many older fans fondly remember the iconic character of Lum. Thirty-five years after the manga's end, a new anime was announced, with a plan to debut in the Fall 2022 anime season. The series plans to have at least 46 episodes, meaning that a fair amount of the series will be covered. Here's what new fans can expect from the new anime series.

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Classic Takahashi Rom-Com Tension

Urusei Yatsura Manga Cover

Rumiko Takahashi is well-known for her many romantic comedies, with works like Ranma 1/2 and Maison Ikkoku being just as well known as Urusei Yatsura. As a romantic comedy itself, Urusei Yatsura focuses not only on the relationship between Ataru and Lum, but also characters like Shinobu and Mendo, who initially form a convoluted love square that takes a bit of time to untangle. Even when that finally happens, there's still a lot of contention when it comes to how Ataru and Lum see each other.

Making things even worse is Ataru's near-constant attraction to nearly every girl he comes across, with Lum bizarrely being the only exception. Lum's jealousy in this situation always manifests in the form of a vigorous electric shock, which often does little to actually deter Ataru from his womanizing ways. However, despite his seeming disinterest in Lum, Ataru finds himself thinking of her as an important part of his life. While the series is certainly more about comedy than it is about romance and drama, moments do occasionally pop up here and there.

Spooky Sci-Fi Hijinks

Urusei Yatsura Spaceships flying over earth

Urusei Yatsura is a series that frequently dives into the bizarre, what with science fiction and supernatural elements being a part of the story. Lum, of course, is an alien, and therefore many of her friends, family, and enemies are also aliens, and often bring strange otherworldly gizmos and gadgets with them. When aliens aren't coming to earth, Ataru and his friends are sometimes brought out to other planets to go on space-faring adventures or get wrapped up in the bizarre plots of those that surround Lum.

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In addition to the sci-fi creatures and alien visitors that frequent the world of Urusei Yatsura, supernatural phenomena and beings often visit misfortune upon Ataru. Their presence is often forewarned by the freeloading monk Cherry or his beautiful yet grumpy niece Sakura, who work as exorcists but frequently make things worse for Ataru instead. The science fiction elements and supernatural elements go hand in hand, and occasionally even cross paths to create bizarre scenarios that the cast are thrown into. As a result, Urusei Yatsura is easily one of Rumiko Takahashi's craziest works, and every situation that the main characters find themselves in is much more absurd than most other romantic comedies. Add to that Takahashi's trademark sense of humor and comedic timing, and you have an absolute classic that cannot be beaten.

Off-Color Jokes That Haven't Aged Well

Urusei Yatsura Ataru smiling at Lum

Urusei Yatsura is a classic, and its influence on anime and manga is undeniable. However, it is also very old, and came out in a very different time where the political and societal landscape were a far cry from what it is now. As a result, there are a few jokes and characters that may not be as appreciated as they were back when the series was running, and may even be problematic. One good example is the main character Ataru Moroboshi himself. Ataru is a noted lech and unrepentant philanderer, and while he is often punished for his various transgressions, modern fans may find him irritating at best and a vile creep at worst.

In addition, as an older series that has influenced those that came after it, a lot of the jokes and tropes that might have seemed fresh and new when it first came out might seem dated and cliche to modern audiences. Even fans of Rumiko Takahashi's other works might find it difficult to be interested in what seems to be yet another example of a romantic pairing that doesn't seem to make much progress. Now, an adaptation doesn't have to be completely faithful to the original; the new anime series might tone down some of the more dated and problematic aspects that might offend some people. However, those same changes might make it seem less acceptable to fans of the old series who love even its flaws and problems. Nevertheless, the new anime series is a great chance to experience a classic series, and no one should consider skipping this if they think of themselves as a fan of Rumiko Takahashi.

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