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Maison Ikkoku

Original title: Mezon Ikkoku
  • TV Series
  • 1986–1988
  • TV-14
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Maison Ikkoku (1986)
Home Video Trailer from Viz
Play trailer1:01
1 Video
32 Photos
AnimeHand-Drawn AnimationAnimationComedyDramaRomance

The misadventures of a young student and his landlady's romance.The misadventures of a young student and his landlady's romance.The misadventures of a young student and his landlady's romance.

  • Stars
    • Shigeru Chiba
    • Janyse Jaud
    • Ellen Kennedy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Shigeru Chiba
      • Janyse Jaud
      • Ellen Kennedy
    • 11User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes96

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season

    Videos1

    Maison Ikkoku
    Trailer 1:01
    Maison Ikkoku

    Photos32

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    Top cast70

    Edit
    Shigeru Chiba
    Shigeru Chiba
    • Soichiro-san…
    • 1986–1988
    Janyse Jaud
    Janyse Jaud
    • Akemi Roppongi…
    • 1986–1988
    Ellen Kennedy
    Ellen Kennedy
    • Kyoko Otonashi
    • 1986–1988
    Ron Halder
    • Yotsuya…
    • 1986–1988
    Sumi Shimamoto
    Sumi Shimamoto
    • Otonashi Kyoko
    • 1986–1988
    Issei Futamata
    Issei Futamata
    • Godai Yusaku
    • 1986–1988
    Yûko Mita
    • Roppongi Akemi
    • 1986–1988
    Kazuyo Aoki
    • Ichinose Hanae
    • 1986–1988
    Cathy Weseluck
    Cathy Weseluck
    • Housewife 1…
    • 1986–1988
    Sharon Alexander
    Sharon Alexander
    • Kentaro Ichinose…
    • 1986–1988
    Terry Klassen
    Terry Klassen
    • Grandfather Otonashi…
    • 1986–1988
    Nicole Bouma
    Nicole Bouma
    • Ikuko…
    • 1986–1988
    Nicole Oliver
    Nicole Oliver
    • Kozue's Mother…
    • 1986–1988
    Paul Dobson
    Paul Dobson
    • Freeloading Husband…
    • 1986–1988
    Ward Perry
    • Chachamaru Regular 2…
    • 1986–1988
    Kathy Morse
    • Hanae Ichinose
    • 1986–1988
    Brad Swaile
    Brad Swaile
    • Yusaku Godai
    • 1987–1988
    John Payne
    John Payne
    • Shun Mitaka
    • 1986–1988
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    8.11.3K
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    Featured reviews

    10adrianaprsouza-63886

    A Perfect Rom-Com

    Maison Ikkoku is one of my favorite rom-com stories ever.

    Everything starts with Godai, who is a boy that is studying for important exams, the ones that will lead him to a great or a bad japanese university, that will define his future. His hostel neighbors make his task even more difficult as they keep bothering him. Suddenly, everybody's lives begin to change, essentialy Godai's, as the new manager (kanrinin), Kyoko, starts working in the hostel.

    The past of the "kanrinin" is really well thought out and is a perfect obstacle to prevent her from loving Godai. Due to this important fact plus many smart obstacles created by Rumiko, the 96 episodes of the series are amazing.

    Kyoko and Godai are very relatable and real. We get to know their thoughts so we know them deep inside and can't help but love them and cheer for them to be together.

    The support characters are great and well developed too. The way Takahashi mixed their stories with the main characters one is perfect.

    What stands out for me is how well the narrative navigates between drama, comedy and romance. This has everything to do with the lines, sometimes very deep.

    About the technical aspects I have only good things to say.

    The animation is beautiful and it aged very well to me. The expressions are marvelous and the landscapes are breathtaking.

    To end this, something that helps a lot with the genre navigation I mentioned are the scores. They give the perfect feeling of each scene, making the atmosphere more comic, romantic or dramatic. Also, I love the 1980s style in the scores and in the openings and endings, it's perfect for the anime theme, very passionate.
    10nimkardarshan

    Gald it is underrated

    I am just being selfish by keeping it underrated it is the perfect rom com and an overall mature anime I have ever scene. It is the best the way the romance blooms and the hardships they go through and it is not just about the romance but also about the overall character development it is just perfect anime I have ever seen in romance and slice of life.
    10IkuharaKunihiko

    Those who never saw this, missed something in their life

    Tokyo. Yusaku Godai is a wannabe college student who just found a new apartment where he can stay and study. But his new landlord is Kyoko, a young and handsome woman, and he falls instantly in love with her. Although she likes him too, she is hesitant since her husband died a not so long time ago. Shun Miataka, a wealthy tennis coach, is also in love with Kyoko. Complicating matters are Godai's weird neighbors; a middle aged and overweight lady Hanae, voyeuristic Yotsuya and always drunk and half naked red hair woman Akemi, who annoy him while he is studying. As years pass by Yusako gets employed as a teacher in Kyoko's old school…

    I'm shocked at how unknown and underrated „Maison Ikkoku", my new anime darling, is! It's great, and everyone should see it right now! Like with most of my favorite films or animes ( and that's becoming to get a bad habit ), I didn't want to see this because the 1986 animation wasn't perfect ( too thick necks, too big hair dues, weird animation of the dog's eyes ) but when I finally did I was richly rewarded. I call this „A romance under microscope" because it is. It shows all those deepest, hidden emotions most of the films or animes are either scared to show or don't want to show. „Maison" leaves you feeling great, energetic and happy like a little kid. The author, Rumiko Takahashi, already proved that she is a romance expert with the good „Ranma 1/2" and the great „Inuyasha", but this even tops them. Actually, It's even almost as good as my other anime darling, „Sailor Moon".

    ----------------------

    There are some fantastic scenes here. For example, Shun gives Kyoko an ultimatum – either she decides that she loves him or he is going to leave her, and she has only 1 week to decide. The following morning Godai approaches the apartment and spots Kyoko in the fog, who hides her rings under her eyes since she couldn't sleep the whole night from thinking about the ultimatum. In the other one Kyoko leaves her apartment complex for a vacation, but leaves a plan of her journey, hoping that Godai is going to follow her. But one of my favorite episodes was number 54, hilariously and adequately called „Attack with nudity!" in which Yagami, a teenage girl, fell in love with Godai who was the teacher of her class. In order to seduce him she tried everything, from staying after school with him up to placing a „heart" sign on his jacket. But when all failed, she managed to pursue her friends to lock Godai in a school basement so that she can try to seduce him with her body, wearing only a bra and a slip. Amazing stuff!

    The story spans 7 years and the characters change. True, there are some weak, annoying characters ( Hanae, Akemi and Yotsuya are sometimes unbearably disgusting! ) and episodes ( beware; the first 7 episodes are pretty bad ), but they are a minor point compared to some hilarious romantic situations ( see episode 17, where Kyoko first met her future husband in high school ). Understated, quiet, funny and deeply touching, this is one sort of anime that I wish I could see more often. Those who never saw this, missed something in their life.

    Grade: 10/10
    Jeremy Bristol

    Not as wild as the comic

    The anime version of Maison Ikkoku doesn't have quite so much of the sexual humor as the original comics by Rumiko Takahashi, and for some reason the actor who plays Godai tries to hard to be funny and ends up overplaying him sometimes. Actually, a lot; but there are times when he nails the character. Sumi Shimamoto (one of my favorite voice actresses) as Kyoko Otonashi is just too perfect. She doesn't come across sounding like her strong Nausicaa voice or her soft Clarice-from-LupinIII voice--she sounds like a young woman who is trying to live on.

    The animation, while it seems crude, was actually pretty good for back them (I think the Guyver came out about the same time--Maison Ikkoku is better). And every once in a while, the writers stretch a passing joke of Takahashi's well past the breaking point, until your willing to do anything if they would only stop for a minute so you can stop laughing.
    8rodrigofv

    Do not miss this in your life

    After watching the series in small bits it will take some time to digest it all. Watch it in slow pace.

    Beauty, solid argument and characters, deep emotions, funny and laughable at times, you will also have to wipe away tears. This story will be forever in you.

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    Related interests

    Steve Blum and Kôichi Yamadera in Cowboy Bebop (1998)
    Anime
    Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, and Samuel E. Wright in The Little Mermaid (1989)
    Hand-Drawn Animation
    Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)
    Animation
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
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    Drama
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    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally, Kyoko and Godai's romance wasn't going to be the main arc of the story. Rather, comic writer Rumiko Takahashi had planned to conclude the storyline early on and continue with a series of other storylines centering around the building's other occupants. However, the romance storyline proved so popular to fans and Takahashi herself that it became the basis for the entire series in both comic and television form.
    • Alternate versions
      The original opening and ending for ep. 26 ("Alone Again, Naturally" and "Get Down," both by Gilbert O' Sullivan) are not included in the US release of the TV series. This is because Viz was unable to secure clearances for the two songs.
    • Connections
      Featured in Envoyé spécial: Terre brûlée / Silence on Double / Premier Combat (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa
      [Opening Theme]

      Music by Kôji Tamaki

      Arranged by Satoshi Takebe

      Lyrics by Yukinojô Mori

      Performed by Yuki Saitô

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    FAQ15

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 26, 1986 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • 相聚一刻
    • Production companies
      • Kitty Films
      • Studio DEEN
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 25m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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