| Urusei Yatsura | |
Beautiful Dreamer |
|
| うる星やつら | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, romance, science fiction |
| Anime film | |
| Only You | |
| Directed by | Mamoru Oshii |
| Written by | Tomoko Konparu |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | February 13, 1983 |
| Runtime | 110 minutes |
| Anime film | |
| Beautiful Dreamer | |
| Directed by | Mamoru Oshii |
| Written by | Mamoru Oshii |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Licensed by | Central Park Media |
| Released | February 11, 1984 |
| Runtime | 98 minutes |
| Anime film | |
| Remember My Love | |
| Directed by | Kazuo Yamazaki |
| Written by | Tomoko Konparu |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | January 26, 1985 |
| Runtime | 90 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Ryoko's Summer Tea Party | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | September 24, 1985 |
| Runtime | 48 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Making of Urusei Yatsura 4: Lum the Forever | |
| Directed by | Kazuo Yamazaki |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Released | February 15, 1986 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Anime film | |
| Lum the Forever | |
| Directed by | Kazuo Yamazaki |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | February 22, 1986 |
| Runtime | 95 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Memorial Album | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | September 15, 1986 |
| Runtime | 27 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Inaba the Dreammaker | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | July 18, 1987 |
| Runtime | 58 minutes |
| Anime film | |
| The Final Chapter | |
| Directed by | Satoshi Dezaki |
| Written by | Tomoko Konparu |
| Studio | Magic Bus |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | February 6, 1988 |
| Runtime | 85 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Nagisa's Fiance | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | August 8, 1988 |
| Runtime | 27 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Raging Sherbet | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | August 8, 1988 |
| Runtime | 27 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| The Electric Household Guard | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | April 4, 1989 |
| Runtime | 26 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| I Howl at the Moon | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | April 4, 1989 |
| Runtime | 26 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Catch the Heart | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | July 22, 1989 |
| Runtime | 26 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Goat and Cheese | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | July 22, 1989 |
| Runtime | 26 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Terror of Girly-Eyes Measles | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | June 21, 1991 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Date with a Spirit | |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | June 21, 1991 |
| Runtime | 28 minutes |
| Anime film | |
| Always, My Darling | |
| Directed by | Katsuhisa Yamada |
| Studio | Madhouse |
| Licensed by | AnimEigo MVM Films |
| Released | August 18, 1991 |
| Runtime | 77 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| The Obstacle Course Swim Meet | |
| Released | December 23, 2008 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
Urusei Yatsura, a Japanese anime and manga 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 and began showing in Japanese cinemas on February 11, 1983.[1] Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer was also directed by Mamoru Oshii and was released on February 11, 1984.[2] Urusei Yatsura 3: Remember My Love was directed by Kazuo Yamazaki and released on January 26, 1985.[3] Urusei Yatsura 4: Lum the Forever was directed again by Kazuo Yamazaki and released on February 22, 1986.[4]
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 and was released on February 6, 1988 as a tenth anniversary celebration. It was shown as a double bill with a Maison Ikkoku movie.[5][6] The final film, Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling was directed by Katsuhisa Yamada and was released on November 2, 1991.[7] In North America, "Beautiful Dreamer" was released by Central Park Media. The remaining five films were released by AnimEigo in North America and MVM Films in the United Kingdom.[8]
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.[9][10] 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.[11] The OVA's were released in North America by AnimEigo who released them individually over 6 discs.[8]
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.[11][12] 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.[13] The OVAs are not true OVAs, however, as they were all released in the theater prior to being released on video.[9]
Contents |
Release date: February 13, 1983, dubbed 1995.
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.
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 who was mad at the many requests that the producer made of him to alter the movie. Rumiko Takahashi considers this film her favorite and it is the most true to the original series.
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 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, 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, 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, released in 1987, can be seen as a live version of this movie.
Both movies borrow heavily from the Japanese fairy tale of Urashima Tarō.
Beautiful Dreamer is also the only Urusei Yatsura film released in the United States by US Manga Corps and not AnimEigo, 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.
Release date: January 26, 1985, dubbed 1995.
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 movie. 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.
Release date: February 22, 1986, dubbed 1995.
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 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 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.
Release date: February 6, 1988, dubbed 1995.
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 movie was released.
Release date: August 18, 1991[14]
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 movie 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 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.[15][16]
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.