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Urusei Yatsura: Only You

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Urusei Yatsura: Only You
Theatrical release poster
Japanese name
Kanjiうる星やつら オンリー・ユー
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnUrusei Yatsura Onri Yu
Directed byMamoru Oshii
Written byTomoko Konparu[1]
Based onUrusei Yatsura
by Rumiko Takahashi
Produced byYuji Nunokawa[1]
CinematographyAkio Wakana[1]
Music byIzumi Kobayashi
Fumitaka Anzai
Koji Nishimura
Masamichi Amano
Production
companies
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • February 11, 1983 (1983-02-11) (Japan)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Urusei Yatsura: Only You (Japanese: うる星やつら オンリー・ユー, Hepburn: Urusei Yatsura Onri Yu) is a 1983 Japanese animated fantasy comedy film directed by Mamoru Oshii in his film directorial debut.[2][3] It is the first in the Urusei Yatsura film series based on the manga of the same name by Rumiko Takahashi. It was released in Japan on February 11, Friday 1983[1][3] during the second season of the series.

Voice cast

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Character Voice
Ataru Moroboshi Toshio Furukawa
Lum Fumi Hirano
Shinobu Miyake Saeko Shimazu
Shutaro Mendou Akira Kamiya
Ten Kazuko Sugiyama
Cherry Ichirō Nagai
Sakura Machiko Washio
Megane Shigeru Chiba
Perm Akira Murayama
Elle Yoshiko Sakakibara
Shiori (child)
Nanabake Rose Hiroko Maruyama
Chibi Issei Futamata
Barbara Naoko Kyoda
Assistant Driver Bin Shimada
Kakugari Shinji Nomura
Guard A Hideyuki Tanaka
Guard B Yoku Shioya
Commander Mugihito
Announcer Hiroshi Izawa
Oni Commander Kazuyo Aoki
Child A Kazuki Suzuki
Child B Nariko Fujieda
Ataru's Father Kenichi Ogata
Ataru's Mother Natsumi Sakuma
Planet Elle Commander Kiyomi Hanasaki
Kumiko Takizawa
Sanae Takagi
Yuuko Masutani
Oyuki Noriko Ohara
Princess Kurama Rihoko Yoshida
Lum's Father Ritsuo Sawa
Lum's Mother Reiko Yamada
Rei Tessho Genda
Driver Yuuichi Sakuraniwa

Production

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Only You borrows heavily from the Japanese fairy tale of Urashima Tarō. The fairy tale would later inspire the film's sequel, Beautiful Dreamer.[4] In an interview featured in Art Handbook [ja] in 2000, Oshii expressed disappointment with the film, claiming "It's no film. It failed to be a film."[5]

Release

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Only You was released theatrically in Japan on February 11, 1983 where it was distributed by Toho.[1] AnimEigo released the film in North America on subtitled-LaserDisc on November 11, 1992 as Urusei Yatsura Movie 1–Only You, and then on VHS on June 29, 1995.[1] They later released it on DVD with an English-language dub on October 21, 2003. Discotek Media acquired the North American rights in 2020 and released it on Blu-ray on December 31, 2021, including the AnimEigo dub.[6]

Reception

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Allen Divers of Anime News Network gave the subtitled version of the film an overall grade of "A", and the dubbed version a "B" grade, writing that "Despite its age, Urusei Yatsura is a solid series of the romantic comedy genre that has aged very well. Its simple designs and over the top characters makes it a joy for all who watch it. Newer fans may be at a loss as they struggle with the archaic look of the series, but can see the origins of many more current series they enjoy now. Urusei Yatsura is one of the original wacky love tales that helped define the entire genre. Without it and many of Rumiko Takahashi's other works, the romantic comedy genre would not be what it is today. Old school fans will enjoy what this movie has to offer, and those new to the series can sit back and enjoy it as well. A classic story given the royal treatment".[7]

Jasper Sharp of Midnight Eye wrote that the film "throws the viewer completely in at the deep-end, assuming at least some knowledge of the characters and their relationships is in place, though it shouldn't take too long for newcomers to find their feet."[2] Dani Moure of Mania.com called the film "a lot of fun, and for the most part [...] very enjoyable."[8] Chris Beveridge, also of Mania.com, wrote that "the budget is bigger and the designs are more detailed."[9]

References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Galbraith IV 2008, p. 333.
  2. ^ a b Sharp, Jasper (7 March 2006). "Midnight Eye review: Urusei Yatsura: Only You (Urusei Yatsura Onri Yu, 1983, Mamoru OSHII)". Midnight Eye. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  3. ^ a b "うる星やつら オンリー・ユー(1983)". Allcinema.net (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  4. ^ Shamoon 2016, p. 50.
  5. ^ Oguro, Yuichiro (September 15, 2000). "ロングインタビュー 押井守のアニメスタイル". Notebook of Art. 53 (793): 66. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "North American Anime, Manga Releases, December 26-January 1". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Divers, Allen (3 February 2004). "Urusei Yatsura: Only You DVD". Anime News Network. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  8. ^ Dani Moure. "Urusei Yatsura Movie 1: Only You". Mania.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  9. ^ Chris Beveridge. "Urusei Yatsura Movie 1: Only You". Mania.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2015.

Sources

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