Urusei Yatsura

Most, if not all, clichés you would find in contemporary romance anime or manga have some roots in "Urusei Yatsura." Many elements I've encountered here have been extensively explored by various authors who likely grew up with this manga. Even the female characters who weren't Lum were evidently favorites, as I could easily spot modern versions of Oyuki, Ryuunosuke, Shinobu, Sakura, Ran, Asuka, or even Benten. Indeed, Kurama, despite being the least favored character, exhibited many recognizable traits. Yes, it went on to inspire numerous great works...even though, honestly, it's just okay overall. I do like it; I'd rate it a 7 based on personal preference. However, this manga has a significant flaw: character bloat. There are countless side characters, main characters, and one-off appearances that never seem to end. The ending genuinely frustrates me because so many loose ends remain unresolved, and there were so many potential directions the story could have taken instead of what we got. Many chapters focus on characters who either never reappear or show up so late that you forget who they were. It doesn't matter who you like—if they aren't Ataru, Lum, Mendo, or Ryuunosuke, you'll rarely see them in the spotlight. Even Shinobu, who initially posed a genuine rivalry and threat to Lum, fades into the background for a considerable number of chapters. It isn’t until much later that the veteran cast members get more substantial roles. This results in either not caring about or outright disliking many characters because they lack depth. I enjoy it, but the longer you read, the more it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. It’s up to you whether you savor the flavor or not.

A timeless comedy series featuring delightfully flawed characters and absurd antics.

Mangaka Rumiko Takahashi masterfully sells the premise of Urusei Yatsura. As the title implies, every character in this manga is somewhat imperfect. However, none of it is taken too seriously. There's no need to get worked up over someone being obnoxious because it rarely has long-term consequences, or the characters might even deserve it. The result is that the author pulls off numerous gags with them, aided by the outlandish scenarios she places them in. These often involve quirky interpretations of Japanese mythology blended with bizarre alien technology or cultures.

Moreover, she seems to be gradually developing a long-term storyline, building the characters' relationships. Ataru, the shameless womanizing protagonist, strongly dislikes Lum, the attractive alien girl who was the original waifu from the 80s. Lum doesn't always adapt well to Earth's customs and is also infatuated with Ataru. However, this guy would much rather chase after any hot girl he encounters instead of recognizing that he already has what he claims to want. He keeps stringing along his girlfriend Shinobu, who has realistically given up on him, except not quite. With 34 volumes, it's bound to be a slow journey, but one that unfolds against the backdrop of a solid comedy manga.

What Urusei Yatsura ultimately becomes is an entertaining manga with each chapter containing some good laughs, but it shouldn't be taken too seriously. Only then can one appreciate the genuine romantic moments involving character development, however slight they may be.