Fall 2022 Preview: Urusei Yatsura
Though reboots may be all the rage in America, in Japan (and especially the anime industry) the concept is still a bit new. While Japan has produced legacy sequels (the Gundam franchise) and remakes where the same cast of characters are used in different storylines (Tenchi Muyo, The Vision of Escaflowne), the idea of rebooting something that was popular and beloved at one point is still pretty rare. This is why the announcement of Urusei Yatsura was one that even modern anime fans should be taking note of.
The idea of rebooting one of Japan’s most popular romantic comedies – one that produced 196 episodes, 6 movies, 12 OVA’s, and helped launch the career of director Mamoru Oshii – was not only a crazy one but most likely a daunting one as well. While the franchise has only a minor following in the states, this is one of THE anime of the 80s in Japan, and it’s one that is still fondly remembered by fans who watched it to this day! But why reboot it at all?
Why You Should Be Excited About The New Urusei Yatsura Anime
The reboot of Urusei Yatsura is especially noteworthy because the series came from the mind of Rumiko Takahashi. Takahashi is one of the most successful manga artists of all time, with her stories ranging from slapstick comedies (Ranma ½), feudal fairy tales (InuYasha), and straight-up romances (Maison Ikkoku). What’s more, Takahashi is currently working on her current feudal fantasy series: Mao.
The interesting aspect of this whole thing is that anime producers would want to go back and reboot one of her older series rather than make an adaptation of the current series she’s writing. I have no idea if this speaks to the quality of Mao, the quality of Urusei Yatsura, or both, but it will be interesting to see how
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