Since 1978, Rumiko Takahashi has been literally entertaining the world. Takahashi is touted as the world's most translated manga artist with nearly all of her works adapted into several anime series and OAVs. Her quirky views of everyday life combined with outrageous spiritual, mythological, and science fiction scenarios are what place Takahashi works amongst the greatest in the sequential art and literary fields.
Rumiko Takahashi was born in Niigata, a city located on the west coast of Japan, in 1957. Her interest in manga as a child was restricted to just being a fan. As a student in high school she founded her school's manga appreciation society. By her junior year she had decided to become a manga artist, but Takahashi made sure to enroll in college, as well as, Manga School.
Takahashi enrolled in Nihon Joseidai (Japan Women's University) and while obtaining her degree she enrolled in night classes at the Gekiga Sonjuku, an elite manga school established by Kazuo Koike, creator of Lone Wolf and Cub and Crying Freedman.
In 1978 Takahashi was nominated by one of Japan's most respected and prolific manga publisher, Shogakukan, as New Artist Award. In that year her first manga series Urusei Yatsura (These Obnoxious Aliens) began to run in Shonen Sunday a weekly manga magazine geared toward teenage boys. Shonen Sunday is where the majority of Takahashi's works have appeared over the course of her career; making Takahashi one of the few women to create successful manga geared toward males.
Urusei Yatsura is the story of Ataru Moroboshi, a very unlucky high school student, who is chosen by random to save the world from an alien invasion. To save the Earth from pending doom he must race the Alien's tiger print, bikini clad, horned princess Lum. Some how during the course of the race Lum gets it in her head that if Ataru wins he will marry her, needless to say she ends up living with Ataru and his family, much to the chagrin of his current girlfriend.
UUrusei Yatsura inspired an animated series, which was aired from 1981 until 1986, totaling 216 episodes and five movies. This anime series was one of the most popular ever, and there have been talks of creating more OAVs, but Takahashi was not happy with the movies so fans will just have to wait (read the full review of this series).
Takahashi's second series Maison Ikkoku, began in 1981, and was published in Big Comic Spirits, a magazine aimed at adults in their 20s. Takahashi's second story took a bit of a serious tone, as Yusaku Godai, a student who has failed his initial college exams falls madly in love with the manager of his boarding house. Maison Ikkoku also ended in 1987 with 15 tankoubons, and spawned an animated series (aired between 1986 and 1988), as well as, a live action movie (read the full review of this series).
Ranma ½, Takahashi's third and most popular series abroad began in 1987. The series lasted until 1996 with 38 tankoubons, and also sparked a very popular animated series. Ranma ½ is about a boy named Ranma who on a martial arts training trip with his father in China has an accident. Both Ranma and his father fall into cursed hot springs, resulting in Ranma turning into a girl and his father into a panda when splashed with cold water (read the full review of this series).
Inu Yasha: A Feudal Fairytale is Takahashi's fourth series and has been running in Shonen Jump since 1996. Inu Yasha is the story of a young girl named Kagome who is the reincarnation of a Feudal Priestess. Kagome is sucked back in time to recover the jewels she guarded in her past incarnation. Her companion in this journey is a half demon/half human named Inu Yasha, whom in her previous life, she had trapped to prevent him from stealing the same jewel she has been sent back in time to recover. The Inu Yasha animated series began airing in late 2000. As to when the series will come to the States and Canada is uncertain. Check your local fansubber for episodes (read the full review of this series).
Takahashi's works are not limited to major series, as she has also written many short stories over the years including a manga autobiography, which also discusses her creative process. Several of her short stories have even been adapted into OAVs, including One Pound Gospel, a mini series about a novice nun who is in love with a hopeless boxer. Another popular mini-series by Takahashi, The Mermaid Forest has also been adapted into anime. This series is very popular because it is more dark and macabre. Two people who have tasted the flesh of a mermaid have achieved eternal life; the only problem is they want to die. Then there are the Rumic Tales, a collection of short stories, which range from works created prior to Urusei Yatsura through those written in the early 1990s. Stories range from the every day slice of life to science fiction (for a full review of these short stories be sure to check out next month's issue of BANDWIDTH).
For over two decades Takahashi has graced the world with her unique story telling and art. And she shows no signs of stopping. At 44 years old, she continues to develop unique and entertaining stories that surpass cultural differences, age, and sex. Her ability to take Japanese culture and put in such a way that it not only entertains but engages the reader to actually want to learn about her native culture are what have made her one of the most highly paid manga artists.
Comments and or questions about this article can be sent to JenniferJ@ybfree.com.