Mezon Ikkoku (1986–1988)

The misadventures of a young student and his landlady's romance.

Stars:

Terry Klassen, Sharon Alexander, Nicole Bouma

Cast

Series cast summary:
Terry Klassen	...	Grandfather Otonashi (96 episodes, 1986-1988)
Sharon Alexander	...	Kentaro Ichinose (96 episodes, 1986-1988)
Nicole Bouma	...	Ikuko (96 episodes, 1986-1988)
Paul Dobson	...	Freeloading Husband (96 episodes, 1986-1988)
Ron Halder	...	Doctor (96 episodes, 1986-1988)
Nicole Oliver	...	Kozue's Mother (96 episodes, 1986-1988)
Ward Perry	...	Chachamaru Regular 2 (96 episodes, 1986-1988)
Cathy Weseluck	...	Housewife 1 (96 episodes, 1986-1988)

Storyline

Yusaku Godai, a bumbling college student, is in love with his landlord, Kyoko Otonashi. Otonashi, while attracted to Godai, is hesitant, having lost her first husband in the not-too-distant past. The rest is history: Godai schemes to win Otonashi's heart, all the while battling off his rival, Shun Mitaka, and fending off his lunatic neighbors, who include an old woman who lives on gossip and liquor (Ichinose), a scantily-clad flirt (Akemi), and a bizarre, enigmatic man (Yotsuya).

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Plot Keywords:

student | anime | based on comic | anime | soap | 

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

26 March 1986 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Maison Ikkoku

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kitty TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min 25 min (96 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally, Kyoko and Godai's relationship wasn't going to be the basis of the story. Rather, Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of the comic the series is based on, was going to end the storyline early on and continue on with a series of other storylines centering around the building's other occupants. However, the romance storyline proved so popular it became the basis for the entire series in both comic and television form.

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Connections

Referenced in Urusei yatsura: All-Star Banquet! We Are Immortal!! (1986)

User Reviews

Not as wild as the comic

The anime version of Maison Ikkoku doesn't have quite so much of the sexual humor as the original comics by Rumiko Takahashi, and for some reason the actor who plays Godai tries to hard to be funny and ends up overplaying him sometimes. Actually, a lot; but there are times when he nails the character. Sumi Shimamoto (one of my favorite voice actresses) as Kyoko Otonashi is just too perfect. She doesn't come across sounding like her strong Nausicaa voice or her soft Clarice-from-LupinIII voice--she sounds like a young woman who is trying to live on.

The animation, while it seems crude, was actually pretty good for back them (I think the Guyver came out about the same time--Maison Ikkoku is better). And every once in a while, the writers stretch a passing joke of Takahashi's well past the breaking point, until your willing to do anything if they would only stop for a minute so you can stop laughing.