Urusei Yatsura - Volume 1
Anime DVD Review
Known more commonly among fandom circles as "Those Obnoxious Aliens", Urusei Yatsura became Rumiko Takahashi's first mega-hit and catapulted her to superstar status in manga and anime. Highly regarded as one of the funniest and most original of all anime, the series sets lecherous Ataru Moroboshi into the arms of the one girl in the Universe he doesn't want — an Alien Space Princess in a Tiger-Striped Bikini.
 Hilarity, and potential intergalactic warfare ensue; with Takashi's now trademark bizarreness providing hours of fun for anyone with a sense of humor. Don't be fooled by imitations — this series has more fun per square inch than just about anything else out there. And luscious Lum has gone on to become one of the most recognized anime characters of all time. There's something for everyone here, and Takahashi delivers with both style and comedic timing.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, January 2003
Urusei Yatsura Movie 1: Only You
Anime DVD Review
Many years ago, someone cornered us at a NYC Cartoon Fantasy Organization meeting and said "watch this, you're going to like it." That may have been the understatement of the century. "Only You" was a mind-blowing experience, a comedy anime movie that was sweet and touching, an action film that was hilarious, and a romance film that was a revenge flick. You do need to be familiar with the Urusei Yatsura cast of characters to really understand all that's happening, regardless, the wacky action of an all-out intergalactic war over who's going to marry Ataru Moroboshi first makes for a great movie at any rate!
This is actually the easiest plotline to follow of all the UY movies — Beautiful Dreamer, although easily the best of the films, is like a Escher painting on crack by comparison. The later films rely too heavily on intimate knowledge of all the characters to be coherent. If you're looking for a crash course in Urusei Yatsura, this is the place to start — Only You is a marvelous, funny, and ultimately tender rhapsody of star-crossed love. Darling no BAKA!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, July 2004
Urusei Yatsura Movie 2:
Beautiful Dreamer
Anime DVD Review
Those of you not already familiar with the characters and situations created by Rumiko Takahashi may find this movie a bit strange. Those of you, however, who know anything at all about Lum and Ataru will find this to be one of the most thought-provoking, mind-twisting and all around coolest of the half-dozen or so Urusei Yatsura movies.
 Directed by none other than Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Angel's Egg, Patlabor), he brings his particular insight to the characters, along with his now patented formula for giving the viewer a trip through a nightmare unlike any other you'll every experience. With his love of using film-technique to play with time, space, reality and perception, Oshii weaves a tapesty that ultimately traps you like a spider's web. In 1984, when the film first came out, it was a true blast - after the first viewing we were so disoriented we could no longer determine what was real. It's like taking drugs, but much safer. And the ringing of that high-school bell is now somehow... ominous.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, November 2002
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