More than 40 years have passed since the original anime series first aired, and even now, Urusei Yatsura remains wildly popular. The secret to this series' popularity is undoubtedly the many fascinating characters that appear in it. The female characters in particular are all so unique that you won't find them in other works, and they have garnered enthusiastic support from both men and women alike. As the original author is a woman, one of the series' defining features is its exceptional skill in portraying female characters that are also appealing to women. So, today we'd like to introduce the female characters, who are arguably the series' greatest draw, in the form of a popularity ranking. Be sure to check out the diverse female characters in this series, who are loved by both men and women!
10th Place: Lum's Mother
Ran's mother ranks 10th on the female character rankings. She's just as beautiful as Lum, and enjoys immense popularity among a certain core fanbase. As a fierce demon woman, she possesses enough power to dominate Lum's father, who is plotting to invade Earth.
In the original work, they converse over mahjong!?
Lum's mother cannot speak Earth, so she uses a translator. However, in the original work, this translator doesn't work properly, and she sometimes communicates using the names of mahjong tiles. She has a nice alien-like feel, and is a character with a unique charm that can't be enjoyed in other anime.
9th Place: Benten
Ranking 9th on our female character ranking is Benten. True to her name, Benten is affectionately known in Japan as "Benten-sama." She and Lum are longtime friends, and they seem to get along well. Among the female characters in the series, she is particularly known for her tomboyish, fierce temperament and energetic personality.
The Legendary Delinquent Girl
She was once so famous that she was called the legendary delinquent girl, and she is friendly not only with Ram but also with Oyuki. She plays a very important role in the story, so be sure to keep an eye on her.
8th Place: Ryunosuke Fujinami
This character is characterized by his masculine appearance. His father raised him to be strong as a child, which has given him a masculine personality. Even within the story, he presents himself as a man rather than a woman, which is why he is often mistaken for a man.
Male? Female?
Thus, Ryunosuke is portrayed as a masculine character among the female characters appearing in this work, making him a character with a unique charm. Androgynous female characters are particularly popular among female fans, and Ryunosuke is a similarly popular female character.
7th Place: Oyuki
Ranking seventh on our female character ranking is Oyuki. Like Benten, Oyuki is a childhood friend of Lum. While she looks like what we would call a "yuki-onna" in Japan, she's not a ghost; she's actually an alien and serves as the queen of Neptune. Neptune is short on labor, and even when Ataru pushes her down, she doesn't refuse, instead thinking she's "perfect for Neptune's labor force," often displaying her natural psychopathic side.
Legendary Delinquent Girl
Like Benten, Oyuki is also known as Lum's legendary delinquent girl, and they seem to have a close relationship. According to Lum and Benten, she is "terrifyingly scary when angered," and when angry, she freezes her opponents like a snow woman.
6th Place: Ran
Ran ranks sixth on our female character ranking. She's a childhood friend of Lum's, and they're very close. Everything about her, from her clothing and hairstyle to her speech, is flirtatious, making her the kind of adorable character boys dream of.
An endangered species of cutesy girl? ?
However, on the other hand, her true personality is extremely violent, and she usually wears a cutesy facade, making her true nature a mystery. She's a "budding cutesy" character, which was popular at the time. Nowadays, cutesy characters are less popular and are rarely seen, but back then, cutesy and tsundere characters were all the rage.
5th Place: Mendou Ryoko
Reaching fifth on the female character ranking is Mendou Shutaro's younger sister, Mendou Ryoko. Ryoko is the daughter of the immensely wealthy Mendou family, and is known for her ladylike speech and catchphrases. She is also depicted as having feelings for Ataru, making her a highly sought-after character.
Mischievous
Although she is a rich girl, she is also a severe mischievous child, constantly picking on Ataru and her brother, Shutaro. Ataru often retaliates in kind, and their relationship seems to be a bit like Tom and Jerry. While she may be a younger sister character, she is also a mischievous, childlike character, boasting a childlike innocence and a passionate following.
4th Place: Princess Kurama
Ranking fourth on our female character ranking is Princess Kurama. Princess Kurama is the queen of the crow tengu on Planet Kurama, and is in search of a man who doesn't exist on her home planet. She's a very sexy and seductive character, and it could be said that she's a character who greatly enhances the slightly erotic worldview of this work.
Is her father Minamoto no Yoshitsune? ?
For generations, Princess Kurama's family has chosen a partner to have descendants on another planet. It seems that Princess Kurama's mother chose Minamoto no Yoshitsune, famous for the Genpei War, as her partner. Princess Kurama is a character born as his child.
3rd Place: Sakura
Ranked third on our female character ranking is Sakura. She's one of the most beautiful characters in the series, and is wildly popular with male fans. She's actually Sakuranbo's niece, and her mother looks just like him, but she grew up to be such a beautiful woman that it's hard to believe she's related by blood.
Enthrallingly Popular
Sakura's beauty and mature personality continue to attract passionate fans, and she has had a major influence on beautiful teacher characters appearing in future works. It's no exaggeration to say that Sakura was the inspiration for the teacher character, positioned as a mature woman in a white coat.
2nd Place: Shinobu Miyake
Ranking second on our female character ranking is Shinobu Miyake, Ataru's childhood friend. Shinobu was originally portrayed as Ataru's girlfriend, and throughout the story, she becomes fed up with him and starts dating Mendou, a character that is unheard of in modern romantic comedies. She is also one of the strongest characters in the series, and can be said to be a character that overturns all conventional romantic comedy conventions.
Love triangle??
At one point, there was a love triangle between Lum, Ataru, and Shinobu, and her relationship with Lum was strained, but gradually their relationship improved and they became friendly. There's a scene where she switches to Mendou midway through the story, so she isn't very popular among men. However, many female fans are touched by her exceptional freedom of action for a romantic comedy heroine, making her a popular character among female fans.
1st Place: Ram
Topping the female character ranking is the series' main heroine, Ram. From her revealing tiger-patterned outfit to her unique way of speaking ("datcha"), she's a character with a truly unique charm. Even now, more than 40 years after the original anime aired, she remains a deeply popular character. Originally intended as a supporting character, she made such an impact that she overtook Shinobu to become the main heroine, demonstrating her impressive pedigree.
A legendary heroine who continues to captivate many!
Lum remains an overwhelmingly popular character, and even if you're not familiar with the series, many have likely seen her. She's a one-of-a-kind heroine beloved by people of all ages and genders.
Summary
What did you think? This time, we've ranked the most popular female characters in "Urusei Yatsura." Because the original author is a woman, the series' appeal lies in the inclusion of characters like the main heroine who ends up falling for another man, and female characters with unique charms not found in other works. Because this isn't a romantic comedy created by a man, the series' hidden charms are truly hidden, so be sure to check out the original work!
