The remake of Urusei Yatsura proves that Ataru and Lum, for all their ups and downs, are still among one of anime’s most memorable couples. Because of their character flaws and their explosive, oft-times violent spats, seeing them slowly grow closer feels more genuine as the series progresses. This contrasts with many modern-day anime couples that often feel like an over-correction to Rumiko Takahashi’s infamous duo.
Getting attached to the Oni alien and her flighty fiancé is no easy feat, given they embody older character archetypes, but their strong personalities are also what make them so memorable. Even in romantic comedies, the clashes are more eye-catching, whether fans initially like them or not.
This element often feels like its missing from many recent romance stories, which feel almost too protective of their pairings, regardless of how inevitable they are.
Takahashi’s many manga projects – Urusei Yatsura included – typically center on mismatched, supernatural pairs, whose male lead is immature in some fashion. Ataru and Lum are no different: the former flirts with every woman he comes across, and Lum unleashes violent wrath on him upon finding out. Despite the cast being so outrageous, it does help add flair to the relationships, both between the couple and their friends. Their constantly clashing, flawed personalities lean further into the “comedy” elements, but it also provides ample material for more stories that take advantage of the choices they make and the farcical consequences that result.
Urusei Yatsura’s wild energy is something many modern romances lack, for both the characters and the story. Shows like Hokkaido Girls are Super Adorable!, or more recently, Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included, have blandly affable male leads whose most energetic moments are screams of disbelief after a stock-standard pause. The female leads, on the other hand, can feel too supportive and idealized, seemingly designed to be adorably passive or clumsy to quickly build adoration from audiences. As a result, modern romances feel non-confrontational, as readers follow along uninspired dates and domestic bliss; which has become the narrative equivalent of comfort food, with safe, plain settings.
While such stories may be a response to the formula of older anime, with audiences tiring of the status quo that forbade bickering couples from reaching a resolution, and violent girlfriends who turned more extreme and hypocritical; Lum, Ataru, and their friends still do a great job of remaining memorable, because their flaws are on full display without being sanded down to be more palatable. While Urusei Yatsura does not have a picture-perfect romance, the imperfect cast, slow to affection as they are, leave more of a mark on the genre than the many inoffensive couples with flawless, unremarkable romances.
Urusei Yatsura (1981) is available on Crunchyroll
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