Urusei Yatsura (うる星やつら) is a Japanese anime television series produced by David Production based on the manga series of the same name by Rumiko Takahashi. It is the second television anime adaptation of the manga, following the 1981 adaptation by Kitty Films that ran until 1986. The series aired from October 2022 to June 2024 on Fuji Television's Noitamina programming block, and ran for 46 episodes across two split two-cour seasons, with most episodes having two segments per half-hour.
Contents
Production and release
On January 1, 2022, another animated television adaptation of Urusei Yatsura was announced via a full-page ad on the Sankei Shimbun, followed by a full reveal that same day via a promotional video, which revealed the show's cast and staff. The series would commemorate the original manga publisher Shogakukan's 100th anniversary. The series premiered on Fuji Television's Noitamina programming block on October 14, 2022 (exactly 41 years after the original series premier). The series is produced by David Production and chief directed by Takahiro Kamei, Hideya Takahashi, and Yasuhiro Kimura, with Yūko Kakihara as head writer, character designs and season 1 chief animation direction by Naoyuki Asano, and Masaru Yokoyama composing the music. The series was announced for 46 full-length episodes of four cours, split into two seasons. Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series in North America, Europe, Oceania, and selected Latin American and Asian territories. The second season of the series premiered on January 12, 2024. On March 1, 2023, Hidive released an English dub of the anime's first season.
Theme songs
One opening and one ending theme songs were used per cour, and are all performed by the collaboration band Maisondes. For the first cour (episodes 1–11), the opening theme song is "Aiue" (アイウエ) featuring Minami and Sakuramoti, while the ending theme song is "Tokyo Shandy Rendezvous" (トウキョウ・シャンディ・ランデヴ, Tōkyō・Shandi・Randevu) featuring Kaf and Tsumiki. For the second cour (episodes 12–23), the opening theme song is "Love Trap Muchu" (アイワナムチュー, Aiwanamchū) featuring Asmi and Surii, while the ending theme song is "Not Enough" (アイタリナイ, Aitarinai) featuring Yama and Nito. For the third cour (episodes 24–35), the opening theme song is "Lock-On" (ロックオン, Rokku-On) featuring Hashimero and Meguru, while the ending theme song is "Thunder Blossom" (雷櫻, Kaminarizakura) featuring 9Lana and Sakuramoti. For the final cour, the opening theme song is "By My Darling" (バイマイダーリン) featuring Mikimaria and Nito, while the ending theme song is "Haru Magai" (春紛い) featuring Ayuni D and Nito.
Episodes
Home media release
In Japan, the series was released in two DVD and Blu-ray box sets in 2023. Volume 1, which contained the first cour, was released on March 15, 2023, while volume 2, which contained the second cour, was released on June 28, 2023.
In North America, Sentai Filmworks released the first season on Blu-ray as "Seasons 1 & 2" (representing the first two cours instead of the Japanese de facto first season) on March 19, 2024.