Maison Ikkoku

I stumbled across Maison Ikkoku when I was around twelve; I'm 36 now and have watched the series so many times I can't count. Originally, I had found the series on Viz VHS after noticing it was done by Rumiko Takahashi, and as a Ranma 1/2 fan, decided it looked good. It was phenomenal. This is not an anime to watch for special effects or action scenes. Watching the anime sometimes feels like watching a piece of moving art; a painting or a photograph of a glimpse in time that keeps moving. Everything is subtle, from the sound of the yam cart signaling what time it is, the ever-present cherry blossom leaves that may be a symbol for a person who is no longer there, and even the ripples on the water all seem to have meaning attached to them. The character development, I realized, is where Takahashi shines; she gives depth to her characters and Maison Ikkoku is no exception. Rumiko Takahashi once said in an interview that she creates characters and the characters create the stories themselves; this is so accurate and likely why she (and her various works) have pretty much inspired all similar-genre anime that has come after, none quite touching her brilliance. The main character is a ronin, Godai, who lives in a run-down apartment building. He is about to move out when the building gets a new manager, Kyoko Otonashi, and the story is about their relationship, but it is so much more than that. You find yourself caring about almost every character in this anime, from the two main protagonists to relatives who make brief appearances, to the "annoying" tenants of the building, from the gossipy Mrs. Ichinose who genuinely cares about both Kyoko and Godai, to Akemi, the vaguely promiscuous barmaid who turns out to be a lot more than a scantily-clad drunk, to Yotsuya, as another reviewer mentioned, is probably the funniest character I've ever seen in any anime, ever, even if his redemptive qualities are iffy (they're there; just watch and wait). Kyoko and Godai have other love interests; even these characters provoke empathy and debate years later. Coach Mitaka, the wealthy tennis coach at the club, is probably the most important as Godai's rival--he is everything Godai isn't--wealthy, confident, charming, smooth. But Kyoko seems not to be so fast to fall for his charms. Godai has the tame Kozue, who he admits he probably would have taken seriously if not for his near obsession with the seemingly out of reach Kyoko, and later on, one of his students, Yagami, who mostly serves as a plot device to force Kyoko to recognize and voice her feelings, which she is generally loathe to do, but Yagami pushes her there. I find that this series is best enjoyed by those who understand Japanese culture and that this manga and anime were produced in the 80s and cultural and social ideas and expectations were different then than they are today. Some people have chastised Kyoko, for example, for waiting until Godai gets a job to consider him, truly; however, in Japan, women were expected to become housewives when they got married and Kyoko would actually have been somewhat of a pioneer, being that she did work when she didn't have to, as the apartment manager, and enjoyed her job. I've enjoyed this anime for the past thirty years. I still watch it often; it's my comfort food, of sorts, my "Cheers" where everyone knows my name and they're always glad I came. I love these characters, this world, the slow but gradual progression of life and how the past, present and future are all intertwined. My review doesn't do this anime justice. It is the finest show I have ever seen. Although drawn, these characters are human to me. No, there isn't anything supernatural going on and nobody is cursed by the springs of Jusenkyo and the closest you'll get to action is a paltry half-fight between Godai and Mitaka, but trust me, this is not just an anime to watch. This is one to savor. Also of note is that Kyoko has been called by some as the first tsundere on a serialized anime. Some might watch this and say, no, Akane Tendo is a tsundere, not Kyoko; watch again. What makes this show (and Ranma) different to me is that you care about the characters, particularly in Maison Ikkoku. Like Rumiko Takahashi said, you come up with the characters and they take you where they want to go. Godai and Kyoko do take you where they want to go--yes, it is 96 episodes, but as life, it is two steps forward and one step back. The sub is supremely better than the dub, for what it's worth. The voice actors, particularly for Kyoko and Mrs. Ichinose in the later seasons, are not good for the characters. The Japanese voice actors have it down. In fact, when I was young, I assumed Kyoko was much older than 21 because she sounds like a middle-aged woman in the anime and she is far from that; her Japanese voice actress is soft-spoken with a sweet lilt to her voice. Similar to how the dub of Ranma ruined the character of Akane, who has a very sweet voice and comes across as an entirely different character in the sub almost solely due to her voice, I recommend the sub, but either way, Maison Ikkoku is not only worth watching, it is one of a handful of shows that have stuck with me for 25 years and my life is better for having known Maison Ikkoku.

Such a hidden gem. Maison Ikkoku is your classical romantic-comedy in which there's too-many-sided relationship and yes, you are right, your usual not-so-special main character. Classic, Why? Because it's aired before 20th century. No, it's not the main reason i called it classic. It's so classic because it just made me remember how romantic-comedy series (anime or not) toying with its audience feeling like, cursing the MC because he is too coward, blaming the rival because he/she is so much annoying, the misunderstanding which annoyed us the most and the feeling when "The MC is probably gonna win that girl, better stop watching now" but you can't stop watching until the last of episode while cursing the MC (again). Those feelings/vibes are what romantic-comedy anime nowadays lacking of. No, my review hasn't ended. Here comes the (probably) clear review from each point of this anime. Story (10/10): Simple. Maison Ikkou story is so simple, yet entertaining to watch. You only get a not-so special MC falls in love with the main heroine on the first sight then rival keeps popping out one after another. There's nothing special in this concept, just a standard romantic-comedy anime. So what's so special? The vibes/feelings which i have stated before. You don't need story complex enough to enjoy a series, what you need is how good/proper the story is delivered. That's what Maison Ikkoku story offers us. Art (10/10): Again, simple (standard) yet detailed and offers much support to give the same vibe to the story. The art clearly gives enough help to feel feelings of Maison Ikokku story. You can even see from its MAL page that it doesn't have special art, but that's not a problem. An anime doesn't need a Makoto Shinkai level of art or perhaps Kyo Ani level to get 10/10 (personally). Sound (10/10): Catchy. Maison Ikkoku is also full of catchy ost and ofc, the first op will always be the best ost in this series and the most important part is that the sound does offer the same vibe of the related story in which it was played. No misplaced. Even, the background music is great. Character (10/10): Maison Ikkoku features many characters with variative traits, but most of them share the same trait, annoying. Yes, this is totally needed for a story which toys its audience feeling. Almost all of the MC gang is somewhat annoying in their own way and even it may force you to quit watching the series (but, ofc you probably won't). But again, the main heroine does have what a proper romantic-comedy heroine should have, a lovable trait. I even personally fall in love with the main heroine because i have never seen such a realistic-yet-impossible-to-get kind of characters before. Moreover, this part (characters) offers so much help in developing Maison Ikkoku story so i give it 10/10. Enjoyment (10/10): I can't say that i totally enjoy this series because it toys my feeling that much, but i can say that i'm completely hooked up to it until its last episode. Even now i wish they would make another Maison Ikkoku story which almost impossible to be true. Ps: I even hesitate to watch the last episode because i don't want it to end. Overall: This anime is what i called "masterpiece in its simplicity", because almost all of the aspect is somewhat simple, yet it can deliver that much. Giving an unforgettable feelings and completely hooked you up even you know what will happen next and you know that you'll be annoyed. 10/10

Maison Ikkoku. In my opinon a very memorable series and one of Rumiko Takahashi's greatest manga turned anime I have ever seen. I still watch it. I feel the reminiscence of the train when it goes by... the buy-me-drink bars, buying beer in vending machines... I spent two years in Japan and I can say that it is amazing how things have not changed from the 80's. This realistic (but incredibly harsh) anime gives a glimpse into the mindframe of a ronin named Yusaku Godai, a man who is trying to get into college and lives in a boarding house with other tennants. The main female protagonist, Kyoko Otonashi, a woman (turned widow overnight) who he instantly falls in love at first sight struggles to find ways in expressing his love for her. Over the duration of 96 episodes it sees ups and downs of love, competition, and lots and lots of booze. (Makes me want to open up a cold one) Poor Godai is in my opinion the bad luck side in all of us and tries to overcome the challenges of every-day life while still holding onto the main thing that he holds dear and that is the love he has for Kyoko Otonashi. I found this a VERY enjoyable anime and is ONE of the few anime I watched in english because the subs I had for it was just GOD AWFUL and it had many of the familiar English voice actors I am used to and I can actually stomach.

I really enjoyed this anime which surprised me because it's not normally my cup of tea. But I really liked Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha and they're both by the same creator so i thought I'd give it a shot and I'm glad I did. The story is about a young man named Godai who lives in a boarding house by the name of Ikkoku-kan. While living there, he's studying for his college entry exams, while also trying to survive his three annoying (but lovable) neighbours, Ichinose the nosy alcoholic, Akemi the sexy alcoholic and Yotsuya the mysterious alcoholic, while they use Godai's room almost every night to have loud parties because his room is the cleanest. Then along comes the beautiful and newly widowed Kyoko Otonashi who says that she will be taking over as the manager (kanrinin) of the apartment for her late husband's father. Godai quickly falls in love with Kyoko, but her feelings remain unkown for most of the anime because of her inability to let go of her late husband Souichirou. But along the many obtstacles and rivals, Kyoko and Godai soon discover that there is more to their relationship then just manager and tenant. The Art and Sound have lower scores because they really are dated. The colours are washed out and the music sometimes sounds like you're listening to it through a tin can, but all in all, they are still decent. What more can you expect from the late '80's? The characters were enjoyable and very colourful to say the least. They all have unique qualities that make them all one of a kind. There are a lot of characters in this show, but no two are alike in any way, and you will find yourself realating them to people you already know or even to yourself. Overall, this show was a pleasure to watch. It's silly, sweet, heartbreaking and heart warming. I found myself, laughing, crying, yelling at the TV and clapping for joy, sometimes all in the same episode. It's a guilty pleasure, try it! You might like it!

This is very old, but probably the best romance anime of all time. I have watched it from start to finish about 5 times now over the last 15 years. And each Time I love it as the first. It takes its time to grow on you, initially I hated it, but when it does, you really root for Godai. 96 episodes is a great amount of time to develop some serious character development. There are some art changes that happen through the show that also help a lot. The design in later episodes is wonderful. Rumiko Takahashi's masterpiece, in my opinion.

Yusaku Godai is a "ronin", a student waiting for his next chance to pass university entrance exams. To make things worse, he lives in a shared rundown apartment called the "Ikkoku Apartment" with a group of inconsiderate and strange neighbours. Despite his best efforts to study and pass, they constantly harass and use his room for partying. With such a horrible place to live in, Godai tries to put in as much determination to leave again but on the same day, a pretty and refined smiling young woman named Kyoko Otononashi moves in as the new manager. Captivated by her beauty he changes his mind and stays. Will twenty-two year old Kyoko be able to manage the the apartment full of troublesome tenants and will she move on from her life as a widow? This is another series I watched because of the hype but also because it was another show based on one of Rumiko Takahashi's popular Manga of the same name. I really enjoyed Ranma 1/2 so I thought I might like this even though they're of completely different genres. Again it's a mammoth TV series spanning over 90 episodes and, just like another one of her works Urusei Yatsura she used a lot of word play with names too. All the character's names are derived from certain words that matches their personalities such as Godai meaning "five generations" which could be mocking how many years he's been a ronin while, Otonashi can both mean "without a sound" or sound the same as "otto nashi" meaning "without a husband". Then there's always some odd brand name that appears in scenes to mock what's happening. While most Anime is set in high school, this show has a more mature setting taking place during adulthood. With some of the characters it kind of feels like they were taken out from Urusei Yatsura and placed into Ikkoku-kan. You've got a kid playing grown up, an alcoholic nosy mother who loves gossip and spreading rumours, a scantily-clad woman that can casually walk around in a transparent babydoll top and a mysterious sneaky man that literally breaks into Yukaku's room and constantly exploits him. It's fun watching them mess around but despite being inconsiderate, their indiscriminate stance plays quite a role in spurring the relations on in the show. The only exception is Kyoko who has your "onee-chan (big sister)" personality - a refined older woman who's kind to everyone, takes care of others and finds it hard to say no. She kind of reminds me of Kasumi from Ranma 1/2. Apart from the tenants the story is quite down to earth and is mostly a slice-of-life. It's told over several years and I feel it does a good job of touching on a variety of emotions other than romance such as loss and fear. The show makes you root for Godai as he falls for Kyoko, learns more about her and works hard to become a better more respectable man so that he can prove his worth to her. However, he often gets sidetracked and that tendancy often costs him when Kyoko joins a tennis club and the smooth talking, rich and charismatic (but cynophobic) Shun Mitaka appears as a rival with his assertive nature. Kyoko on the other hand may seem like a cheery happy woman but dwells on the memories of her late husband and struggles between being honest with her own feelings and moving on from her life as a widow. The show may start off as a fun romcom but as it goes on, it quite quickly takes on quite a more serious tone. You also start to appreciate the characters more as you see them grow by overcoming challenges while the indecisiveness of Godai and Kyoko leads to many dramatic situations. Some episodes can be quite intense with chains of misunderstandings and missed opportunities occurring (especially once you're half way through the series) where some scenarios are spread out multiple episodes and can leave you thinking, "Nooooo! That can't happen!" It's like tearing hearts apart and then gluing them back together. The show doesn't forget it's supposed to be a romcom so the more bitter scenarios always wrap up with some silliness but they can last so long, it can feel like this show is more a bitter romance sometimes. At the same time, you can also appreciate the reason why the relations are so strong between characters as a result of these trialing moments and it keeps you watching to see how they progress even though it happens at a very slow but natural rate. Like other shows based on Takahashi's Manga there's partial nudity such as Akemi's revealing outfits and the odd accidents such as groping and barging into a room while a lady's changing but it's extremely rare. Even then, reactions are quite mature instead of your common Anime girl screaming "pervert" and then lashing out or throwing things in a comical way. There's pretty much little to no fan service unlike Ranma 1/2 or Urusei Yatsura (although there are a lot of cameos though). There's your usual hotsprings/beach episodes but they feel a natural part of the changing seasons in the story. While the show is mostly faithful to the original 1980 young adult Manga, it's actually been toned down a lot already. Some scenes were cut or slightly changed as with most Manga based shows so that it was more suitable for broadcasting on prime time TV. In this case there was quite a major change in the build-up towards the ending of the show but the ending is the same and still good. Theme songs themselves aren't as catchy as Ranma 1/2 but the first OP "Kanashimi yo, Konnichiwa [Hello Sadness]" did grow on me and the lyrics such as "Even though memories may overflow, I won't lose my good cheer. When sadness suddenly comes around, I'll make friends with it" suits Kyoko so well. Some of the OST reminds me of Ranma 1/2 too and I'm actually quite surprised Kenji Kawai composed some of the music for both shows considering he also composed music for shows like Fate/Stay Night... Interestingly enough, Kyoko's voice actress Sumi Shimamoto also did the voice for Ghibli's Nausicaa. Mitaka's voice actor Akira Kamiya also happens to be Ryo Saeba from another popular show, City Hunter. Character designs and animation's good. I think the art is as good as it gets in the days of cel animation and it looks great as it is even though a lot of the character designs resemble Takahashi's past works. Maybe you'll notice re-used animations too such as the train running over Ikkoku-kan at night. The TV series itself alone wraps up really well so the hype about Maison Ikkoku being the best romance show in Anime history is probably right. I don't think any of the other recent shows and movies I've seen such as Orange, Golden Time, Plastic Memories, Girl Who Leapt Through Time, White Album or even (dare I say it) Your Name felt so dramatic. It's not perfect because on certain occasions it feels like the show overuses cliche coincidences but there's probably only so much you can do with a slice-of-life to add drama. If you're hoping for a pure romance comedy then you'd be better off with a show such as Nodame Cantabile. Otherwise if you're looking for a relatively mature romance/slice-of-life show where you watch characters grow and relations blossom through some heart wrenching moments then, this is it. I wouldn't watch this when you're feeling down though because it can be as viciously bitter as it can be heart warming until the very end. But with that said, there were relatable moments as someone who has been through graduation and job hunting. It kept me watching. With the way it touches on life, it might just make you reflect on your own current goals and appreciate those around you more once you finish the show.

Rumiko Takahashi's Maison Ikkoku, crafted from 1980 to 1987 and animated in two parts later in the 80s and 90s, to me is the true essence of a romance comedy from that era. Not too cute, too feelgood, or too fanservice based (any fanservice is too much fanservice as far as I'm concerned), Maison Ikkoku is the sweet story of Yusaku Godai's struggle to make Kyoko, his new manager, understand and reciprocate his heartfelt love for her. Throughout his journey to fulfill this most deep wish of his, he (although not the comedy) is hindered (mostly) by the rest of the residents of the infamous Maison Ikkoku (meaning house at the center of it all, or so I'm told). Their shenanigans, along with other matters, such as the wealthy, hunky, manly stud of a man that is Shun Mitaka (aka alternate love interest for Kyoko) and the developing situation with Godai and his girls (he is not a player, I repeat. He is NOT a player of any sort). All of these characters drive the plot forward episode after episode and make this anime the gem that it is. Furthermore, for clarity's sake, this show goes into my list as a 10 out of pure enjoyment, but in my attempt to write a review for you, the masses, I have broken up its attributes into the four usual subsets (art, music, characters, story) and rated those with the highest degree of impartiality for you who may not share my love of this genre or even the character types presented in this show. The 8 that I awarded it means exactly what it says: it is VERY GOOD. To begin, I would like to describe the overall and recurring feeling of Maison Ikkoku with two words: Salted Watermelon. For those of you who may not be aware, salting watermelon is an old trick intended to make the watermelon taste even sweeter than it normally does by adding intense contrast with the flavor just prior to the consumption of the finished product. Much like salted watermelon, Maison Ikkoku's trademark strategy is to use heaps, piles, stacks, buckets, and wagons filled with pure misunderstanding. This is then emptied upon all of the characters in almost all of their interactions. Yes, you heard right... or did you? No one at Maison Ikkoku knows... Basically what this does, other than make for hilarious situations and skillfully weaving your classic dramatic irony into almost every episode is to intensify the joy of calm, peaceful resolution following many misunderstandings. Sharply following this salt, errrr... "misunderstandings" is the resolution of the drama that ensued. For example, guy 2 tells girl 1 that guy 1 is cheating on him when guy 1 is actually just clothing a starving lady or something. Girl 1 cries her head off and eventually, after a long wait filled with tension the direct confrontation occurs. Characters figure out what went wrong and are all the greater friends for it. This is the enhanced sweetness that the salt serves to create. It is an illusion based upon the fact that the incredibly sudden shift from angry or depressed to friends, or lovers, or whatever they may be, creates an undeniable happiness within your heart, knowing that with each obstacle two people overcome, they are better for it. Salted. Watermelon. Who knew salt could make something oh so sweet? (hint: Rumiko Takahashi) As for the specific aspects of the story, apart from the general construct itself, all are to my satisfaction. Apart from that breakdown of the general function of the story, there are the four elements of Sound, Art (animation I should say... music is art too), Character, and Story. First things first, I actually think that it is important to cover the Art of the animation first: Rated on a modern scale (2012 animation being the comparative field), I give Maison Ikkoku a solid 7 in art. This is because, while much of it is dated in some sense, kind of faded, and just a bit lackluster, the character designs themselves are just so striking. I would almost go so far as to say they are revitalizing when compared to the modern design of characters. Your first look at the cover art on this page and you can see the style of the characters. Rather than attempt to portray the girls as cute in any sense, the guys as whatever guys are usually projected as, and traditional guidelines for character design based upon attitude (which is present, but in altered form), Maison Ikkoku succeeds in using its art to develop the overall sense of the characters and how they interact. Rather than being some cute chick, Kyoko appears dignified in her own way. Godai doesn't fall into the "derpy looking failure of a student" character design, but has his own feel to his look. Something hard to describe, but greatly appreciated by all those who watch. Despite the fantastic design of the characters, which alone I would give a solid 8 or maybe a 9, the background and other effects are just "fine" at a 6, leaving it balanced at a 7. As for the music, right away you can definitely tell that this is a show from a different time. The music seems... it's hard to descirbe, but look up the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWiu6xp1UTE and you will understand. It all sounds like it is from that time, and despite my lack of particular interest, I would give the OP/EDs a 6-7 total ranking for hit and miss (Oh, how I love the first opening) BUT THE BACKGROUND MUSIC. Oh, I didn't forget. I love Maison Ikkoku's background music. It helps create tone and mood and sticks with you. Even today, over a month since I watched episode 96, I caught myself humming the tune to one of the sad background tunes... It sticks with you, and for that I give it a solid 7, leaning on 8. Also the seiyus and English VAs are all very good (despite the angering voice switch on episode 36/37) (hint: all you Brad Swaile fangirls/fanboys have something to look forward to if you watch the dub) The story, much of which I have covered is both interesting and semi-unique, but repetitive and lacks room for surprise. It fits the story well and rarely inhibited my satisfaction. I give it a 7. And finally, the characters! I love the characters of Maison Ikkoku. From the good guy Godai, to Honestly Kyoko herself, and all the way back to the enigmatic Mr. Yotsuya ,there is always something to enjoy. The characters have a solid sense of depth to them, from hidden and revealed pasts, to affected futures and patterns of action, Rumiko Takahashi allows you to understand what drives the characters, yet holds off just enough to keep some characters just out of understanding's reach. Keep it interesting, you know? The problem that I found here was that by episode 25-35, you have a really solid sense of who the characters are and then... nothing changes. You roll with that sense for 60-70 more episodes, watching the characters do almost the exact same thing over and over. While I love the characters, they just don't change enough for a 96 episode series. All in all, it's another solid/high 7 for characters. And Finally, there is my personal level of enjoyment for this series. OOh, I have been waiting for this. I give this series a solid 9 in the entertainment department. Almost every episode I had moment where I went from incredibly sad, almost a feeling of loss, back to the huge grin of success and achievement, and even to laughter several times an episode. It just keep the emotions rolling episode after episode all the way to the end. All in all, I would give this, one of my favorite animes as of yet a technical ranking of 8 (though it will always be a 9 in my heart) It is lively, filled with drama, romance, comedy, and piles of misunderstanding (heh...heh...heh...), but it's ultimate downfall is that it is too static. Always failing to change direction or pull a twist, the same characters and same gags keep running episode after episode, the one true problem with this fine piece of work. Watch and enjoy is my best suggestion.

Maison Ikkoku: The series started off strong, and I genuinely enjoyed about 70% of it. The characters were engaging, and the slow-burn romance was well-paced in the beginning. However, the last 30% felt frustratingly repetitive. Godai's character became stagnant—his indecisiveness and lack of growth made it hard to stay invested. Kyoko also felt like a completely different character compared to earlier episodes, which made her actions harder to understand. The art style suits the setting well, maintaining the classic charm of older anime. However, the story became predictable toward the end, dragging out conflicts unnecessarily. I had to speed through the final episodes just to finish it. It had the potential to be a great romance, but the lack of character development in the later episodes ruined it for me. If you love classic romance anime and don’t mind some frustrating character arcs, you might still enjoy it. But if you prefer consistent character growth and a satisfying conclusion, you may find the ending disappointing. Personally, I regret pushing through the last part, as it left me feeling more annoyed than satisfied.

How can I use a word to describe this series except for "Perfection"? Well,it is absolutely classic,though,please don't expect the one too highly and even hope to dig out suggestions or philosophy from it intentionally .In other words,if you are tantamount the phrase "classic type" to something that is profound,abstruse and guiding, it will certainly make you crestfallen. It is just a common anime,a slice of life,and an ordinary romantic comedy.But as you are viewing,you will surely stride over the gap of times without hindrance and jovially have an immersive experience,i.e.Role Substitution,while going through the comedy.Bit by bit,you are getting touched unexpectedly from the realistic scene and details seemingly unimportant,and makes you want to live in this 80s' mansion .Perhaps that is the forte of Rumiko,so adroitly and discreetly at handling the delicate emotion without being lapsed into the state of cloying sentimentality or apathy. Generally speaking, it's such an anime that is called Masterpiece not too much and worthy of watching 96 episodes from A to Z.

Maison Ikkoku... One of the rare shows I dropped in the first episode as I thought it seemed like the kind of show that is full of loud characters without offering any emotional or psychological depth. I was very wrong in my first impression. Thankfully, a year later, I gave it another try and as I was in the right mood to watch it, I enjoyed it dearly. As already known, it is a very old show. It definitely captures the aura of the 80s both in art-style and overall aura. People who yearn for a good quality old anime might really enjoy it. It is no secret that Maison Ikkoku is a love story as well as a coming of age story. However, there are some particular aspects that make it unique for its time. The male lead, Godai, is a ordinary young man who has a very decent personality and a dream world of his own. But, unlike most love stories, he does not meet a sweet girl and has a high school / college affair. Kyoko is a woman who is older than him and a widow. Despite having a lot of comedic moments, the show revolves around this relationship between a young college student who dreams about his happy future and a widow who is torn between her past and present. It explores the complexities of human nature, what it means to love someone, and how to let go and move on. The plot is not limited to the two main leads. The show has a heartwarming aura and includes the sub-stories of all the tenants of Maison Ikkoku. It might get a bit too much at times but the side characters are explored in a mostly comedic manner which balances out the serious matters regarding the couple. Another important thing is, the show reveals the ‘flaws’ of its characters - main and side - but no one is portrayed as completely good or bad. There is no ‘evil’ in the show. Rather, each and every character is displayed as a human with both sides. It goes beyond the simplicity of a slice of life anime and leads you to question the values and inner psyche of human beings. If you want to watch a coming of age / romance story with a heartwarming undertone, Maison Ikkoku is definitely a good choice. Even the length of the show is not hard to deal with because it serves as a relaxation and can very well be watched along with other shows. I consider it as a very unique production with its emphasis on the dilemmas of real life problems and comedic moments that make you laugh at the tragic situations the characters find themselves in and help you see things in a different light.

Maison Ikkoku sticks out from many of Rumiko Takahashi's typical works in that it lacks a fantasy-based element to its storytelling like Inuyasha and Ranma ½. Rather, it takes a more believable approach in its focus on college ronin Yusaku Godai who struggles with college enrollment exams while becoming attracted to his new apartment manager and widow, Kyouko Otonashi. Mixing romantic comedy and drama, the development of Yusaku and Kyouko's relationship is complicated by several suitors who become interested in one of our leads romantically and the meddlesome apartment tenants of Ikkoku-han causing trouble for Godai for their own amusement in many instances. Maison Ikkoku has its fair share of ups and downs in the development of Yusaku and Godai's characters, but let us focus on what the series does right. For the most part, the series does a pretty solid job with developing its major characters and exploring their developments throughout the span of the series. With Maison Ikkoku passing over a period of 4 years throughout its 96-episode run, the characters undergo varying degrees of growth and development with Godai eventually enrolling into college and determining his career path and Kyouko growing conflicted over her feelings for Godai as she is still melancholy over the loss of her husband. Life doesn't always go the way that others would like and this is reflected through the challenges that Godai and Kyouko face as they determine what both would like best for one another. Supporting characters also get their focus as we see the apartment tenants, Godai and Kyouko's family members, and the suitors for both have their likeable traits that the series takes time to exploring at points when the spotlight isn't on our main pairing. This said, the series did have its issues for me. Outside of Godai and Kyouko, the remaining apartment tenants are mostly defined with their obsession to have drinking parties and tormenting Godai, which can make their characters seem selfish and obnoxious at a number of points in the series. A later character introduced in the series, schoolgirl Ibuki Yagami, also has her issues with her obsessive crush on Godai pushing her to commit to stalker-like behavior that made her actions seem more selfish and self-absorbed in spite of her concerns for him. Also, the series relies on creating misunderstandings for drama a wee bit much at points, especially in regards to Godai getting into enough predicaments that are misunderstood by Kyouko and the other apartment tenants. Still in spite of the title's age, Maison Ikkoku is still one of Rumiko Takahashi's better works in exploring the developments of Godai and Kyouko's relationship, while overcoming the daily ordeals of their lives and the romantic shenanigans they face with their admirers. While I find it to be somewhat overhyped by old-school anime fans after finally seeing the full series in all its glory, it is still a solid recommendation if you are able to get your hands on the series.

It is sad thing when someone that you love misunderstand you. And that what Maison Ikkoku shows us. Maybe it seems stuped for european culture, but people in Japan are pretty inderect, that is how misunderstanding is born. They simply can not say directly "I love you". That is why it takes a long way. Though there are many funny moments, it is still sad anime. This anime shows how love can bring not only happiness but also sadness. And watching it you remember that time is fast. And you can not return time that already passed. Many episodes made me smile. Not because it was funny or something like that. It was interesting to see Godai`s life and how he was trying to approach to Kyoko. And his every success made me smile. So that is why I like Maison Ikkoku. It gave me unforgettable feelings.

Maison Ikkoku, i stumbled upon this anime a month ago and it was something that i had never seen before. I have watched many animes and a major part of it was romance animes so i kind of know the pattern but Maison Ikkoku was different it wasnt unrealistic or too fast, i developed slowly in a human kind of way, the anime mc yusaku godai struggles throughout the anime and we see his development from episode 1 to episode 96, I used to watch Maison Ikkoku at night it helped me forget all the bad things that happened and gave a warm feeling, you actually learn a lot from the mc that even if you mess up you still continue. when the anime ended i actually cried which ive never done before even after finishing my favourite anime, this anime was just that good but as they say great things do come to an end i am just glad i was able to witness this masterpiece and i would like to recommend it to every serious anime enjoyer. (this was my first ever review I felt so deeply about this anime that I couldn’t stop myself from writing about it.)

I've been an anime fan since the early 90s so it doesn't bother me this type of art. I actually prefer it simple! New anime art seems a bit off for me. Rumiko Takahashi is a master of storytelling and character development. It took me a while to get to watch this anime because I first felt discouraged about the argument. Oh boy! I felt so grateful to give it a chance. I've never been so caught up in a series of hers after Ranma 1/2. I gave it a try to Inuyasha and I got bored. Urusei Yatsura is pretty cute and on the funny side but it is more of a light comedy with little character profoundity whereas Maisson Ikkoku is more on the drama side with touches of comedy. A critic from the era was impressed of the tridimensional depiction of a widow and her struggles in Maisson Ikkoku. It couldn't have said it better. This is a masterpiece of storytelling. Go ahead and watch it!

I know what it's like living in a joint family ; heartwarming, protective environment, fun life ; the reason this show is special to me. A new manager [Kyouko Otonashi] has arrived in an apartment as a replacement ; A variety of residents live there (different characters) ; A 'Ronin' (male lead). What happens when a hopeless failure guy chases after someone who may not have a pleasant backstory. Though, the fact that he's hopeless may be a good thing, more so when the woman is very caretaking. :D Highlights about this show : - A joint family environment (heartwarming) - A hopeless protagonist (he is taken care of) - Variety of characters (everyone drinks) - (story, characters, development,...) - Romance with an older-woman (precious moments) - Pleasant Music, OST songs. (each song is memorable) - Long running show (96 episodes). - Happy Ending :D This show is very special to me, like few other old classics. I'm glad to have found Maison Ikkoku, and this is where I'll start exploring more of other old classics. Thanks!

The show has its charm, not an entire waste of time. It's certainly a throwback to simpler, more innocent times in more than one regard. However, there was so much buildup for such little payout. The show is just too slow, you get to care about the characters after a while but if you take away the episodes that revolve around some retarded "misunderstanding", which is just the author not being very creative/smart on that particular chapter, you could have cut the total number of episodes by half. ** SPOILERS AHEAD ** What was more disappointing was that they chickened out when tackling the fundamental conflict of the series: who was going to be Kyoko's choice, Mitaka or Godai? Well, we'll never know because the author decided to "solve" that issue by using one of the aforementioned retarded "misunderstandings" to take Mitaka out of the running. We knew she was more fond of Godai, no mystery there, but the author seemed determined to not allow Kyoko to make an actual decision. Writing out the entire conflict using such a dumb plot device as the one they used was the lazy way out, especially after people have dedicated so much time to this series. The other outcome they tentatively explored wasn't that much better either (and equally lazy) which was making Mitaka out to be a big date rape monster, placing him out of the running by default. Again, just a different way of taking the choice away from Kyoko. ** END OF SPOILERS ** Watch this if you have nothing else to watch, otherwise you're probably better off putting it at the end of your queue.

Maison Ikkoku is a throwback romantic comedy that surprisingly stands up to today’s cynical standards. I admit – I was extremely apprehensive about watching this 96-episode retro anime for a number of reasons. First, I didn’t think the animation quality would keep me visually interested. This despite the fact that I chose to watch this because I wanted to watch an anime with the same character designs as Inuyasha. Second, I thought the plotting and story would be too antiquated; that tropes that were (somewhat) fresh then, would be stale nearly 30 years later. And finally, I feared it would be too “sitcomy”. In other words, I thought it would be too episodic, too aimless, with no narrative throughline. Luckily, my fears have been allayed. Maison Ikkoku is a classic in every sense of the word. From the timeless animation to the tried-and-true love story that carries you, and the main characters, to the final episode. In terms of good ol’ fashioned romances, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one better. It takes its time answering the will-they-won’t-they question that gnaws at the core of every potential romantic couple. Some people may appreciate its deliberate pace, while others will impatiently skip episodes. Obviously this anime has quite a few filler episodes, which you can identity within a few minutes of watching. But skip too much, and you’ll miss out seeing the nuances of how a mature relationship blossoms. It’s a typical boy-meets-girl story, except the boy, Godai, is a ronin (a high school graduate who failed his college entrance exams), and the girl, Kyoko, is the widowed manager of his boarding house (Maison Ikkoku). She’s only a few years older than him, but they make you believe the age gap is larger than it is. Living with them in Maison Ikkoku is Ms. Ichinose, a stout mother who can hold her liquor, Akemi, a scantily clad waitress, and Yotsuya, a straight-up creeper. Those three are easily the most annoying characters in the anime. They aren’t annoying in and of themselves; they’re just annoying whenever they interject themselves into young Godai’s affairs... which is basically EVERY episode. You feel his frustration when they constantly find a reason to celebrate and drink in his room, despite the fact that he has exams or other obligations in the morning, or when they run up his bar tab. Godai is strapped for cash as it is, he doesn’t need freeloaders moving him from the Ikkoku house to the poor house. That being said, over the course of the anime you see how they support Godai in subtle ways. In the later episodes, Akemi actually helps Godai in such a way that it forces other characters to make some timely decisions. Akemi, Ms. Ichinose, and Yotsuya do grow on you, kind of like annoying family members. Even though they never miss a chance to take advantage of Godai, they do care for him and Kyoko. The two main characters are well-written and constantly enamor you with their emotional and personal growth. Initially, I was giving Godai the side eye. He is affable to be sure, but he had this horny teenager aspect to him. With other female characters, he would find himself in compromising positions that often left him embarrassed more than turned on. But when it comes to Kyoko, he would find himself in the same compromising positions, but instead, you could see him debating on whether or not to take it a step further. For example, he tried to steal a kiss while Kyoko slept; only stopping when she woke up. To make matters worse, there’s an episode where Godai says, “She could cry or ream, and no one would interrupt us!” It gave me pause, and I thought to myself, “Now, don’t do anything rash, Godai!” Thankfully, he outgrew that mentality and tries in earnest to become a respectable and responsible adult. He’s not smart, but what he lacks in smarts he makes up in with resolve. He has absolutely no luck when it comes to finding a viable career, but he swallows his pride and works odd jobs, eventually finding his calling. His resolve to find himself in the professional world despite numerous setbacks is one of his most relatable qualities. On the other hand, Kyoko’s struggle has nothing to do with work; she’s taken over the managerial duties of the Maison Ikkoku from her grandfather. So don’t worry about Kyoko, she’s fine. Her battle is an internal one, focusing on her inability to move on from her dead husband, Soichiro, whom she named her dog after. The attraction between Godai and Kyoko is mutual, but she’s only ever truly loved one man, and that’s man death left a hole in her that early on seems impossible to fill. The feeling of loss and loneliness sometimes creeps up on Kyoko when she’s in the presence of Godai. He in turn gets discouraged, but never gives up hope of getting together with her. If anything, it’s just one of the many obstacles he has to overcome. But not only does he have to compete with a dead man, they both have to compete with other love interests. And that’s real life in a nutshell. In Kyoko’s eyes, Godai’s inaccessible, not only because she can’t move on, but also because Godai is a high school graduate with no discernable future. Likewise for Godai, he doesn’t feel he’s in the position to have a serious relationship with Kyoko. We know, they know, and the other tenants know that they’re perfect for each other. However, until they both reach the point in their lives where they can financially and emotionally commit themselves to each other, they have to live their lives and explore other options. The good thing about this is that, despite the fact that both characters are dating different people at different points in the anime, you’re never under the impression that their pairing is anything but a done deal. It’s just a matter of when and how they humbly reject their love interests. One criticism regarding their relationship is that it gets hindered in seemingly contrived ways. Far too many times Godai or Kyoko would begin to confess or assert their position only to be interrupted by the other or outside parties. Even back when Maison Ikkuko first aired, this trope was already showing its age. Today? It’s downright it’s cliché and frustrating. So many misunderstandings could have been resolved if one person allowed the other to finish their thought. Or if interrupted, the other character when asked, “What were you going to say” didn’t respond with, “Ah, n-nothing”. I rolled my eyes every time that happened, but to the anime’s credit, the characters do address these issues. The character designs are attractive, and the animation aged well. The voice acting is also top-notch, especially Akemi’s voice, which is seductive and oozes with sex appeal. The multiple OPs and EDs sound good, but the first OP becomes repetitive after a while. The second OP played for one episode before getting axed (likely due to rights issues), so you’re forced to listen to the first OP longer than you should. Other than that, the anime effectively uses musical cues to emphasize certain scenes, such as when Soichiro (the dog), who was lost at the beginning of an episode, is returned to Kyoko. Coincidentally, the song that played during that scene was the quickly-retired second OP. If you’re going to watch Maison Ikkoku, you have to be patient with it. But unlike some long anime, you are rewarded for your patience with a satisfying payoff. This is a huge recommend for anyone who loves mature, throwback romances.

Rumiko Takahashi’s previous success started with Urusei Yatsura and continued with Maison Ikkoku. The Yatsura manga started in 1978 and Ikkoku started two years later. Both ended in 1987. Compared to the crazy slap stick comedy of Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku went a more serious direction in romance and writing for an older audience. The staff itself was mostly different with only the director Kazuo Yamazaki (Urusei Yatsura) carried over. Studio Deen (episodes 128-195 Yatsura) kept most of the similar staff after they took over Yatsura, and worked in conjunction with Ikkoku. Maison Ikkoku’s story is a “sad” romance development between two main characters Yusaku Godai and Kyoko Otanashi (refered to as manager or Kanrinin-san). The setting is Godai, a poor unlucky tenant living in a Tokyo boarding house during the 1980’s, and Otanashi becoming the new manager after recently losing her husband. Godai (20) starts out by trying to pass his college entrance exams a second time and can’t stand his boarding mates, which constantly gives him a bad time for their own entertainment. Cut to Otanashi showing up to become the new manager, and Godai instantly falls in love. Thus, begins Godai and Otanashi’s gradual developing relationship between each other and the people around them over the years. During the start of the anime, the first 12 or so episodes are pretty much slap-stick, much like Yatsura. The good news is once the introductions and setting is over with, the anime settles down and slowly becomes more mature. Much like Yatsura, this anime focuses on the characters. Godai suffers from many personality flaws such as indecisiveness and zero confidence, while Otanashi suffers from her own flaws such as getting over her first love and accepting her feelings. Much like many romances, this one has what can only be called a “love hourglass” with Otanashi and Godai being at the center. Each one has their love rivals and many hijinks along the way. Maison Ikkoku started slow and began as just another slap-stick, but develops into what can only be one of the best romantic comedies ever made. This anime should be on anyone’s top watch list if they are a fan of romance. It is a long and wild ride at 96 episodes, and with fantastic closure.

This is a good anime. I give it a 7.5 out of 10, simply because I felt that the anime became repetitive and boring at times. While watching this anime, the characters are going to annoy you a lot, and they are also going going to make you laugh, if you're patient enough. The main character has to be one of the most annoying anime characters I have seen (up there with Naruto and Tsuna --from Hitman Reborn). He particularly reminds me of Tsuna because they are both in love with a girl named Kyoko. Perhaps, it's just me or it's because I'm male (who always identify with the male characters of animes that I watch) and this anime is targeted at females, but I found it hard to root for Godai, the main character, simply because I couldn't stand his personality flaw (yeah, I know it's part of the anime plot and all). He took weak-willed to a new, annoying level, to the extent that all the other characters, including his love interest, treats him as a kid rather than as the adult he his. Try the anime, you will enjoy it, but be prepare to have your patience tested.

Well people I have finally finished the series and can give you my review. The test of love between widow/manager Kyoko Otanashi and Yusaku Godai turns into a comedic tale as the tenants of Ikkoku twist stories and rumors to such an extent that every atempt Godai makes at Kyoko is failed with some humorous results. As for details, the humor in here is standard, but the plot twist make it great! Every twist leads to another and literally builds the foundation of the story line. The romance in here is as well interesting, but taunting. Every time you believe they're going to hook up, something distracts them and tears them apart. It gets really anonying! Overall 9/10, the overall story was great and the ending was superb with great closure, the only thing that may have held it back from a 10/10, in my eyes, were Godai's neighbors. After their 20th prank, you start to get pissed off at them. Yeah you could say I'm bias, but hey make your own review and speak your mind.