Maison Ikkoku

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.

This one here is an anime classic, and very much like Rumiko's other creation(Urusei Yatsura) would rank very high on my list of: "anime for newcomers".

Maison Ikkoku is a romance comedy/drama about a struggling ronin named Godai Yusaku who lives in an old boarding house while attempting to get into college. At the beginning of the series, he experiences "love at first sight" when meeting the new manager of Ikkoku.

Despite the aging artwork, Maison Ikkoku's story content is what really makes it stand out. It takes place in Tokyo during the 1980s and tells the story of one's struggle to find a place for ... oneself in society. It also involves one man's quest for a woman's heart.

This story is from a simpler time of a bygone era, yet the fundamental aspects of the playing characters and their conflicts still echo in our lives today.

Definitely worth your time to watch this one, you won't be disappointed.

I consider this one to be a significant mention whenever someone asks for a good "slice of life" anime. It's a masterpiece.

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.

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!

Hey guys! Well, I'm writing this review after watching 20 episodes only so far and I will change it as I continue watching the upcoming episodes.

Since I'm currently in a mood of watching romantic anime I decided to watch Maison Ikkoku and after reading the top reviews and seeing the good rating which is above 8 on MAL I didn't hold myself back. However I've been very disappointed with the way that the story proceeds and clearly believe that the show is very overrated after watching only 20 episodes but this might change after I watch it completely.
I know that a lot of ... people will disagree with me but still this is just my point of view.

This is not entirely a SPOILER free review and is mainly focused on the plot of the anime.

First thing is the number of episodes and considering the ratings and reviews it can be pretty misleading in a way. A total of 96 episodes and I've watched only 20 so far in which there are just TOO MANY beating around the bush. I'm pretty worried about the upcoming episodes of which I'm not really expecting too much though. The author or director of the anime have overly used "COINCIDENCE" in the plot which at first is fine but later on becomes really boring.

Secondly are the other main characters who are the tenants at Ikkoku excluding Godai the main male protagonist of the series are just too annoying and really gets on your nerves easily and yet alone not supportive at all. Well, I understand they are just there to stir up and spice things a little bit which is supposed to turn into something comedic but it's not entirely that. They tend to butt in Godai's whatsoever problem and makes things difficult for him to move forward in order to do what he has to do. At first it's okay but as the story proceeds it really becomes annoying.

Thirdly the base of the story isn't really so different from the conventional Shoujo high school romance manga or anime. It's always the same general plot which involves the main male protagonist falling in love with the female protagonist and in turn gets a rival to compete with him. There are some awkward moments involving the female lead which makes the male lead thinking that she likes the other one and bla bla bla bla... Somehow it's so predictable of what's going to happen next which really reduces the charm of the story itself. Somehow I was expecting something new in it's romance since Maison Ikkoku isn't a high school themed anime and manga or perhaps I was expecting too much which could be why I was disappointed generally.

Fourth there is barely any cute moment between the male and female protagonists (Kyoko). Of course it's not easy for the female since she's a widow and is a bit indecisive about a new relationship but when she starts developing feelings for the male lead, it looks as if it's natural for her to love him just because the author decided it or simply because they are the protagonist.
Furthermore, the female protagonist really has a bad character for keeping two man at hand and not being able to differentiate between someone who's flirting with her and the one who truly loves her and I find it really disgusting.
Kyoko dating the one who flirts with her is fine but Godai dating a girl is wrong! It's as if she keeping some sort of assurance if ever she loses one of them.

Well I've still a lot to write but I'll keep it until I've watched the whole series which I hope will change my point of view about the series as a whole.

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.

My all time favorite romance anime.

I didn’t know what to expect when I first started watching this show. It seemed like a slice of life comedy rather than a romance story. But as I kept watching, I realized how true to life this story was.

The character development and relationship development between characters is a slow burn. But if you stick with it, it’s incredibly gratifying. Incrementally the story grows, characters mature, and relationships bloom.

I also want to add that the art and animation get better through out the show, there are some incredibly aesthetic shots in this show that really add to ... the more dramatic moments.

I recommend this to old school anime fans who love slow paced story telling and true to life romance stories.

Don't see a ton of middling reviews here so I'll give my take but try to keep it short by listing my main issues with the show and elaborating on them.

The pacing: Sometime in the first few episodes Godai proclaims his love for Kyoko at the top of his lungs, but then the show treats these early episodes as if they had never happened, and the characters are unsure about each others' feelings for another 5 years. The characters will seemingly make progress, then the show will act as if the progress doesn't exist.

Character Consistency: The minor characters definitely experience personality change as the show ... goes on. In the beginning they take a bigger role, with the show highlighting the interactions of all people at the house, whereas later they seem to become one-dimensional and take a back seat to the featured romance. They each revert to their main traits, Yotsuya likes to mooch food, Akemi likes to party and is a "wordly" woman, Ichinose is a drunk who loves to party. At some point during the middle of the series, Yotsuya speaks very poetically, but they sort have seemed to drop that character trait as the show went on. Very much was made about how Akemi wore indecent clothing around the apartment and jokes were made about Godai's "desire" for her, but these were mostly dropped, as well as the partial nudity being removed from the show. Kentaro's screen time basically becomes non-existent as the show goes on.

Godai: He is at times insufferably dense and timid. I get that part of the point of the show is getting into funny misunderstandings, but by the 50th time you just want to scream for the guy to stand up for himself and say what he really means.

Kozue Relationship: What was up with this? I mean they clearly have zero chemistry, never touch or show even a hint of affection for each other, but somehow they are "dating" for years. Also they "break up" and you assume that Godai sort of had ended things off screen, as there is an episode regarding this. She then essentially disappears from the show for probably 25 episodes (possibly a year or more in the show's timeline) then reappears out of nowhere, trying to get married to Godai just to throw a wrench in things. The show even mentions how they had gone without talking for so long.

The first 20 episodes: Frankly the first 20 episodes are so are quite bad. Maybe I just hadn't gotten used to the show yet, but I was very very close to dropping the show at this point when it started to pick up a little.

While I touched on mostly the negatives, overall the show was enjoyable and worth watching if you like a rom com. It's at times pretty wholesome and seeing Godai grow is enjoyable.

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... 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.

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.

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!

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.

Such a wholesome and human show, I absolutely loved it. Thank you Rumiko Takahashi!

The story is quite unique in a sense of its setting at a boarding house; an interesting premise. How the story unfolds and the overall pacing feels great. All elements work together to draw in the viewer connecting them to the characters giving a very genuine feeling and making not only the the ending feel amazing but also a great journey filled with many different plot points. There are some filler episodes but these are very rare and almost all episodes contribute to the narrative

Some people may not like the art due ... to its older and dated style. However, some may even prefer the retro look. Personally I love it and don't see any issues with it. However, I am not so picky on this topic as I've already seen Kimagure Orange Road (another 80s anime) and am fond of that 80's look.

Maison Ikkoku's soundtrack is excellent, I love the harmonica and string tracks as well as the intros and outros are great. The final rendition of "Hello Sadness" as an instrumental was beautiful.

The characters were great, especially the Ikkoku residents, they all felt very genuine. I however really wish I could know more about the mysterious Yotusya, though, I guess thats part of what made him so interesting. In terms of development both Godai and Kyoko grow exponentially as characters making for great viewing.

I think anyone who is open to a long series and an older art style will love this series.

(This is my first review, I don't usually write any but I really loved this series and it helped me through some tough times so I thought I'd say my thanks and recommend it.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Maison Ikkoku is the finest romance anime ever made, in terms of story structure, character development and emotional depth. If you look over this because it's of older animation then you really don't know what an incredible experience you've missed out on. Yes at 96 episodes it is long for the genre. However the story spans several years and this allows for real character and relationship progression. It is one of the funniest and most charming anime I've ever seen. A Tim eless series and still to this very day remains the finest example of a believable romance story in anime. It delivers the most ... spectacular ending that you could possibly want in a rom/com. See this one out, enjoy the ride and I guarantee this will become a firm favourite of yours.