Apr 2, 2015
A couple years back I had started to watch Maison Ikkoku. I've always been into the romance/slice-of-life genre and Maison Ikkoku seemed like it would be a good show to watch. However after the first ten or so episodes one of my buddies had watched an episode with me. Needless to say, he didn't appreciate it as much as I did. For whatever reason, after that, I decided against watching the rest. But here we are in the year 2015, thirty-five years after the production of this gem. And let me tell you, despite what my friend may have said,
...
I'm so glad I decided to continue this show.
The first thing I would like to touch on is the art and sound. Maison Ikkoku is, by today's standards, a relic. Its art and sound very much remind me of the era it was made in. This might put-off some and in all honesty, it put me off at first too. However for that time period, the animation was very good. In terms of music, I found myself really enjoying the various tunes that were in the show. I even enjoyed the second opening so much that I decided to find it on YouTube. There was only one song in particular that drove me bonkers. It was played very rarely, but it sounded like people were throwing down trashcans on ducks. That's why I only gave sound a nine out of ten. That one track would pop up every once and a while, interrupting the mood of the show. Regardless, for a show from the eighties, its art and sound were very, very good.
Let me tell you, the character building in the show is amazing. It feeds into the story so well. From the ridiculous tenants of Maison Ikkoku to Godai's rival Mitaka, everyone seems like they have a reason to be there. The great thing about this show is you get to watch Godai grow and realize what adulthood looks like. Each and every character in this show pushed Godai and helped him to grow. Albeit sometimes the tropes could become somewhat aggravating. Yet I was never once bored while watching this show. And as I watched Kyoko and Godai's relationship start to grow, I couldn't help but feel happy for them. The show might have been a little longer than I'm used to, but for me, it was just the right length.
After ninety-six episodes of seeing their love grow through the good and the bad times, the series ended in a way that left me really satisfied. In fact, I'd almost go so far as to say it's one of the best, if not the best ending I've ever seen in anime. It gave closure to the wild, bumpy ride that was Maison Ikkoku. And after being frustrated, sad, happy, and joyful alongside all of the characters, I'm sad to see it go. But alas, all good things must come to an end. Ultimantly, its the fact that this series doesn't drag on too long (*cough Detective Conan*cough) that makes it so good. Maison Ikkoku gave me enough time to get to know everyone and become invested in them. It's a journey I'll never forget, that's for sure.
To all of you who may be considering watching this show, I would say go for it! It requires patience, I won't lie, but it's so rewarding. I don't think there are many shows that can surpass the level of care Rumiko Takahashi put into this series. It is for sure one of those classics that you can't afford to miss.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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