Before Lum a Powerful Rival Appears!

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

On Saturday, October 16th, when the sun was shining in the middle of the sky, a large group of bright people gathered in the dark basement of New Japan Studio in Shiba. The Urusei Yatsura studio is always lively and lively. Right now, everyone is talking about the movie that will be released in February of next year. "I want to marry Saira-neechan," said Kazuko Sugiyama, who plays Ten, and Toshio Furukawa said, "I'm looking forward to seeing who will play Elle." Mami Koyama, who made a guest appearance with Hoyoyo! on the day, also signed a colored paper. ^[1] Sugiyama said that she found the "Ten-chan stamp" on the colored paper at a souvenir shop where she was traveling! Urusei Yatsura has been very well received on TV, with high ratings. The staff seems to be on a roll with the decision to make a movie. Production is progressing smoothly, aiming for dubbing in December. I can't wait to see what kind of movie it will be.

The characters of Urusei Yatsura advance into space. In addition to Earth and Tomobiki, the story will also take place in outer space and on the female-dominated Rose Planet. The Queen of the Rose Planet, Elle, is Lum's rival this time. 11 years ago, for some reason, Elle and Ataru were in kindergarten together. Even though he was wearing cute school uniforms, Ataru is still a womanizer. While chasing Elle, he got engaged to her in his youthful folly. Elle remembers her promise and now he is pressuring her for marriage. Lum is flustered. Due to Elle's strong will and Ataru's carelessness, the two finally get to have a wedding. Not to be outdone, Lum puts on a pure white wedding dress and storms into their wedding, but... Lum's wedding look is quite a sight to behold. After all, it was chosen from 10 different designs. Ten, Mendo, and other familiar characters from the TV series also gather together. It's going to be a crazy story.

A spectacular comedy set in space!

Director Oshii is excited that they have plenty of time, unlike the TV version. "The 1 hour and 30 minutes is a big deal. We can fully portray minor characters like Benten, Rei, and Sakura, who couldn't be fully portrayed in the TV version, and we can add depth and breadth. By including the psychological battle between Lum and Ataru, and an episode from 11 years ago, the story has a multi-layered structure, and we can create a three-dimensional drama. This time, space is one of the settings. The spaceships that appear are also mechanical, putting science fiction to shame. But within that, the comedy is unique to "Urusei". I think that imbalance is interesting. I'm thinking of something bold, like combining the spatial image of the universe and the image of time going back to the past into one.

The minor characters have also been cleaned up for the movie!

Takada, the character designer, creates attractive female characters every time on TV, making Lum anxious. "It's a story about a female planet, so about 30 new female characters will appear. Among them, Elle is an important character. She seems proud and bold, but she also has the fragility of an ordinary girl. I wanted to bring that out in the drawings. Ataru has become more manly, but that's a return to the original, and the main characters haven't changed much. However, even the supporting characters have been redrawn with strict lines for the movie.

I'm looking forward to seeing who will play Elle. (Voice Cast Comments)

When I went to the studio, Fumi Hirano (Lum), Toshio Furukawa (Ataru), Akira Kamiya (Mendo), and Kazuko Sugiyama (Ten), who will also be voice actors in the movie, had just finished dubbing for the TV version and were coming out. Everyone was chatting, including the editorial staff.

The Anime: Please tell us your aspirations for the movie.
Akira Kamiya: We don't know the details yet, but we want to fully express our characters on the big screen.
Fumi Hirano: It's the same as the TV version, but I want it to be even more moving.
Toshio Furukawa: There's laughter and pathos.
Kazuko Sugiyama: Both are good.
TA: Lum and Ataru seem to be getting married...
Furukawa: Eh, really? In this episode, Ataru is also with other girls.
Hirano: I don't like it, there's cheating again.
Sugiyama: It's not cheating, it's double marriage. That's no good.
Kamiya: It's always Ataru who is no good.
Furukawa: But who will do the voice. I'm looking forward to it!
Kamiya: Ah, Toshio Furukawa just became Ataru completely. Who will do it? (sound of drooling) It was like this.
Hirano: Ten-chan has more to worry about.
Sugiyama: I'm going to breathe fire (in Ten's voice)

The music is by Izumi Kobayashi. ^[2] As with the TV series, she is in charge of composing and arranging the music for the movie. What's more, she even sings this time. "I've been a big fan of Urusei Yatsura since before it was on TV. So when I was asked if I'd like to do the music, I was like, "Great!!" and thought, "I'm the perfect choice," and I composed it while thinking. I feel like Urusei Yatsura is a perfect fit for my own character. The screen is big and the movie is long, so I want to bring out the vastness and create something that feels as cosmic as possible. I want to make the music ambitious in a good way."

Osaka Fan Convention Announcement

Finally, an Urusei Yatsura fan convention will be held in Osaka. All the Kansai fans who couldn't make it to the Tokyo fan convention are welcome.
● Date and time: November 23rd (National Holiday) Doors open at 9:00, performance begins at 9:30.
● Location: Osaka Umeda OS Theater
● Contents: Advance screening of the TV version, comedy skits by voice actors Fumi Hirano and Kamiya Akira, and a raffle. Also held at the same time are exhibitions of original drawings, cels, and illustrations. There will also be an exhibition and sale of cels and character products.
● Price: Advance tickets only: 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for members.
For inquiries, contact Cinema Shop OS at 078-321 3357

Episode Listings

• The Mendo Siblings! (10/13)
  While Ataru and his friends are having a meal, the classroom door suddenly opens and a woman in kimono carrying a furoshiki package comes in. Two Kuroko are standing right behind her. When she comes to a stop in front of Mendou, the students immediately gather around the two. As if taking notice of this, she says, "We're engaged."
• A Cat with a Grudge on the Stairs (11/24)
  
• Can the Racoon Return the Favor!? (12/1)
  
• Desperate Sub-Space Part Time Job (12/8)

I Want to Know.

Q. I heard that a record of the theme song "Kokorobasoi na" will be released, but please tell me the profile of Helen Sasano, who sings this song. Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture Midori Oyama (14 years old)

A. Let me start with her profile: She was born on September 7, 1962. She is from the United States. She was born in Mississippi. After that, she came to Japan because of her father (a Polish man with American citizenship) who was in the military, and entered Zama American School. After graduating in 1979, she entered the veterinary school at the University of Massachusetts with the goal of becoming a veterinarian who protects animals in the wild. Then, two years later (1981), she came to Japan again and made her debut with "Kyun! to Kataomoi" on Toshiba EMI. As you know, she has since been active in TV commercials and TV dramas. (Kitty Artist) ^[3]

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Footnotes

• [1] Mami Koyama would have just joined the cast as Ryoko Mendo. The filming she just completed was for Dr. Slump: Hoyoyo! Space Adventure (Dr.スランプ “ほよよ!”宇宙大冒険) in which she plays Arale.
• [2] Izumi Kobayashi was performing the theme song "Dancing Star" for Urusei Yatsura at this time. She would also contribute "Ai, Ai, You and I" and "Yume wa Love Me More" for the series.
• [3] Helen Sasano would contribute the songs: "Margarita" and "Kokorobasoi na." In 1970, she moved with her family to Sagamihara Camp, a housing facility for the US army in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. This was her first time in mainland Japan.

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