Maison Ikkoku 9/10

Romantic anime has had many variations: girl loves boy, boy loves girl, boy loves robot/alien/elf girl. All of these shows should get down on their knees and bow down to the masterpiece.

Maison Ikkoku aired way back in 1986 through 1988 and ran for 96 episodes. Being an older show I really like the character designs and they stay really consistent throughout the series even if the OP designs get a little nutty. The show has a lot of detail throughout and the backgrounds all look really great. This show had a pretty big budget for it's time and represents a style of anime I mourn the passing of to this day. While most shows from that era DIDN'T look as good, we no longer get the shows that looked amazing compared to the others. The music in this show isn't anything awesome but it does the job and I liked the OPs and EDs OK. The VA's for this show are classic even though they are mostly recycled from Urusei Yatsura they're perfect and you NEED to watch this show subbed.

Yusaku Godai is a ronin. He failed his college entrance exams so he has to spend a year studying at a cram school in Tokyo in preparation for taking his exams again the following year. Life for Godai isn't ever easy though. He lives in a room in a boarding house named Maison Ikkoku and has a bunch of insane roommates. Yotsuya, the mysterious man who makes a hole in Godai's wall so he has easy access to harass him. Akemi, the sexy girl who strolls around barely clothed and loves to tease. And Ichinose, the short fat housewife who drinks like a fish. Actually all Godai's roommates tease him, drink like fish, and party nearly every night in his room since he hasn't the backbone to throw them out.

This is where our story starts off. Godai is too nice, too indecisive and too unlucky and so he lives with constant harassment, constant failure, and no romantic prospects. Then, enter the woman of Godai's dreams.

Kyoko Otonashi is the new manager of Maison Ikkoku. She's the daughter-in-law of the building's owner and he's set her up as the manager because her husband has died and she's having a hard time getting her life back on track. You see, Kyoko married one of her much older high school teachers right out of high school and is now widowed at 23 (approx). Godai is instantly enraptured with the new manager regardless that she's 2 years older and out of his league in the looks department. The next 2 years of the series is basically the story of Godai's attempts to win the woman of his dreams.

As Godai tries to get into school, graduate, and get a job over the course of the series he has so many problems that you find yourself wondering if a higher power has it in for him. He fails exams, gets roped into all sorts of situations that piss off Kyoko and gets a rival who's older, richer and more handsome. As time goes on Godai DOES manage to solve some of his problems, he graduates, gets a job, manages to dump a clingy high school girl, AND outlasts his rival. FINALLY, he does manage to propose to his dream girl and she says yes. The proposal in Maison Ikkoku is one of the most touching moments in anime history and you all owe it to yourselves to watch all the episodes up to #94 so you can see it.

I've always really liked this series since it stays funny throughout and doesn't get TOO repetitive. My only complaint is that Godai has a few too many "misunderstandings" but it's forgiveable. If you have a heart of stone or you're a sociopath you won't like this series or feel empty inside but otherwise you'll love it. Recommended.