Review of Urusei Yatsura: Movie 1 - Only You

Introduction

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the best-known manga artists, especially in the West. There are a host of anime series that are based on her works, and nearly all of them run into three figure episode numbers. Most recently, Inuyasha has made its UK debut, and I have reviewed the first twelve episodes elsewhere on the site. But long running anime series rarely find an audience in the UK, and the numbers sufficient enough to justify a release schedule up to 50 or more discs usually only apply in places like the US. In the UK, we have to make do with the spin offs and tie-ins, which can fit on fewer discs. All we see of Ranma½ in the UK are the two movies. Yet another Rumiko Takahashi title, Urusei Yatsura has had better exposure, with around five hours of OVAs, as well as five of the six theatrical movies being released here on DVD. Of course the few hundred television episodes are nowhere to be seen.

When aliens from the planet Oniboshi invaded Earth, they offered a challenge. If Earth`s champion could defeat their own, then they would leave humanity in peace. But they would get to choose the champion. They chose eternal lecher Ataru Moroboshi, a teenager with only one thing on his mind. All he had to do to win was to catch the alien princess Lum, a task made easier by her obvious attractions. The downside was that she could fly. When all seemed lost, Ataru`s girlfriend offered to marry him, but when Ataru agreed, Lum got the wrong end of the stick, and accepted his `proposal`. Since then, Lum has become an ever-present part of Ataru`s life, making his life as a pervert extremely difficult, as her jealousy would manifest in the form of electric shocks. That was the premise of the series Urusei Yatsura, and as the show progressed a large cast of fascinating characters built up.

The first theatrical Urusei Yatsura movie, Only You is worthy of attention, if only because it is directed by Mamoru Oshii, who went on to direct Ghost In The Shell, and its sequel Innocence.

When he was six years old, Ataru played shadow tag with a little girl, and managed to catch her shadow. Little did he know that she was actually an alien princess, and by doing so they had become engaged. Now, eleven years later, invitations to the wedding of Ataru Moroboshi and Princess Elle of the planet Elle are being sent to all his friends and family. Lum`s jealousy is electrifying, literally so, but salvation is at hand when a starship from Elle arrives to convey the groom to his wedding. Ataru finally has the chance to escape the overbearing Lum, but Lum will do anything to keep her man.

Video

This is one of the earliest DVD releases from MVM and the age is certainly telling. With a 4:3 transfer that looks as if it has been taken from the VHS, it`s low resolution, soft and has some colour bleed. There`s even a tape glitch in the middle of the film. On the other hand, it`s clear and pretty free of print damage, and the animation isn`t hampered by the soft look.

Audio

Again, the sole Japanese soundtrack with burnt in English subtitles betrays an early disc. The dialogue is clear, and the straightforward DD 2.0 track has no flaws.

Features

… a tumbleweed rolls past…

Conclusion

Foreknowledge of an extensive canon is hardly necessary when you have characters as archetypal, and a premise as simple as those in Urusei Yatsura. Ataru Moroboshi is an unrepentant lecher with a roving eye, while Lum is the alien princess who unreasonably falls for the idiot, and whose jealousy is vented in the form of vigorously applied electric shocks. The relationship mayhem that results is simple but effective, and easy for an audience to relate to. It isn`t even necessary to know who the supporting cast is, and what their back-stories are, as the story speaks for itself, and the humour is universal.

It`s of no small consequence that Lum and her tiger skin bikini served as an entry into the anime medium for many hormonally overactive teens, but what is most striking about the film is just how funny it is. It has all the slapstick, crossed wires, farce and silliness required of an anime comedy, and it`s the sort of film that is ideal if you just want to put the old grey matter in idle and let a film wash over you. But while the comedy is relentless, the strength of Urusei Yatsura is the relationship between Lum and Ataru, for while it seems that the pursuer and pursued don`t belong together, despite fate having decreed it so, this film also has the time to show the tender side of both of them, and we can see why Lum sticks with someone like Ataru, while Ataru does care about Lum, no matter how much he denies it.

Only You is enough to get me chuckling, but at an hour and forty minutes, it doesn`t quite have the energy to keep the momentum going, and the middle third begins to drag. But the pace picks up for the finale, and generally the humour and the schmaltz work well together. The disc may be getting decidedly long in the tooth, but it can`t diminish this delightful little comedy. It`s well worth looking up if you are in the mood for some old school anime.