Comments from Yuji Nunokawa

Translated by: Dylan Acres
Thanks to Mitchell for scans and transcriptions.

Episode Summary by Yuji Nunokawa ^[1]

We have two animation directors for Urusei Yatsura. Asami Endo moved to Tokyo from Nagoya to study under Yu Takahashi of Studio Dotaku. Under Takahashi's guidance, she quickly rose to the position of animation director as an animator. She often talks to herself while sitting at her desk. Her talking is so clear that the staff around her are surprised at first. Sometimes she speaks loudly, laughs as if she is talking to someone else, or gets sad... She is as unique as the characters in this show. Toshio Nobe began working at Mushi Productions and Nippon Animation Tatsunoko Productions, he is now freelance. He has had a tough career. His nickname is "Nobe-chan." He is usually a quiet and sincere person, but when he gets drunk he can suddenly change! He becomes a little violent, which is tough. He has more episodes about drinking than about work, which makes him another unique person (maybe all the staff are unique?).

Highlights:

Episode 35 Duel! Ataru vs. Ataru ^[2]

Ataru and Shinobu are walking home from school. Without listening to Shinobu stop him, Ataru puts the candy given to him by Lum into his mouth. He immediately screams "It's spicy!" and starts running. Next, he eats the bad luck-infused bun that Cherry was holding, and now he's in trouble! He splits into an honor student-like Ataru and a delinquent-like Ataru.

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Footnotes

• [1] Yuji Nunokawa (布川ゆうじ) is the founder of Studio Pierrot, and you can read a more in depth interview with him here.
• [2] For the sake of creating as accurate a translation of the historical record as possible we have left the episode numbers identical to what they were listed as in the original periodical this article appeared in, however these episode numbers do not match the numbering convention that most fans and producers use in regards to Urusei Yatsura in the present day. The confusion stems from the early episodes airing two unique 15 minute episodes in one 30 minute block. The links will link to the correct episode with the number reflecting the unified numbering system.

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