Summary
Rumiko Takahashi is once again ruling the world. Once the richest woman in Japan, Takahashi for decades hasentertained the world with her manga series, which range from comedic, to adventurous to dramatic. She writes stories of all kinds for all ages. These series have also transferred into many successful anime series, which have only strengthened her reputation.
Recently, the world was blessed with not one, but two reboots of her classic series. With the success of one of these series undeniable (and the second likely to be a success as well), it begs the question: what other series from Rumic Word (the nickname given to her empire) are prime candidates for getting the reboot treatment?
Maison Ikkoku
Maison Ikkokuis a romantic comedy set in a boarding house called Maison Ikkoku. The story revolves around Yusaku Godai, a struggling college student, and Kyoko Otonashi, the beautiful and kind-hearted manager of the boarding house. Yusaku develops feelings for Kyoko, but she is a widow still mourning the loss of her husband. The series explores Yusaku’s attempts to win Kyoko’s heart, alongside the antics of the eccentric residents of Maison Ikkoku. It blends humor, drama, and romantic tension, capturing the complexities of love and relationships. The original series premiered in 1988 and ran for 96 episodes, two OVAs, and a movie. Critically acclaimed and indesperate need of a new coat of paint,Maison Ikkokuis an ideal candidate for getting the reboot treatment.
Potential Obstacles
Though widely considered to be her masterpiece,Maison Ikkokuhas struggled to find an audience outside of Japan. The series sold in such low numbers in America, that the DVDs are some of themost expensive discsan anime fan can buy these days. The series is also a slice-of-life series that is known for its deliberate pace. Considering the lower episode count ofUrusei Yatsura and what will likely be a lower episode count for Netflix’sRanma ½reboot,Maison Ikkokuwill likely be cut down in size, which could affect the storyline in negative ways.
InuYasha
InuYashais a fantasy adventure that follows Kagome Higurashi, a modern-day high school girl who is transported to Japan’s Sengoku period after falling into a magical well. There,she meets InuYasha, a half-demon seeking the powerful Shikon Jewel. After the jewel shatters, they embark on a quest to recover the shattered jewel shards, facing demons, monsters, and a mysterious figure known as Naraku. The series was incredibly well-received and ran for several years before taking a brief hiatus before returning withInuYasha: The Final Act. InuYasha was one of the characters who appeared in a three-way Takahashi crossover promo for the 50th Anniversary of Rumic World, so the character is definitely on the radar for rebooting.
Despite premiering in 2000 and ending in 2010, InuYasha still feels relatively recent to many viewers. This perception is also heightened because the sequel series -YashaHime- premiered in 2020 and ended in 2022, so it may feel to some viewers as if InuYasha never really went anywhere. This may be a case where a ‘manga cut’ of the series (ALA: Dragon Ball Z Kai) may be more in order than a full-blown reboot.
One Pound Gospel
One Pond Gospelis a romantic comedy manga that centers around Kosaku Hatanaka, a talented but undisciplined professional boxer who struggles with overeating, which hinders his career. Kosaku develops feelings for Sister Angela, a young novice nun, who is torn between her religious duties and her desire to help Kosaku. Unlike other titles on this list,One Pound Gospelhas only had a single55-minute OVAproduced. Seeing as how this OVA never made it to America (or many other parts of the world, this would give most fans of Takahashi’s work something they likely haven’t been exposed to yet.
At only three volumes, the anime would likely only last for a single 13-episode season. Unlike many other Takahashi series, this one has limited merchandise appeal, so the show itself would have to do the heavy lifting (a tall order for such a short story). This means that while the series may be ripe for an adaptation, the economics of producing one may be a bit shaky.
Conclusion
The success of theUrusei Yatsurarebootshows that there is a hunger for more stories from Rumic World. At the moment, reboots seem to be the name of the game, but there is still more to be done. Her current series -Mao- has had 21 volumes produced, yet no anime has materialized. If some of these series stumble, an adaptation of her most recent work could also be a real viability. For the time being, it appears that reboots are the name of the game, and if that is the case, these seem the most likely to be produced (a reboot ofMermaid Sagais likely too recent to be in serious consideration). Where the shows will wind up and which companies will produce them seem to be the biggest question mark, but one thing that isn’t in dispute is that Rumiko Takahashi is still the undisputed queen of the anime and manga scene.
Ranma 1/2
Cast
In this comedic series, martial artist Ranma Saotome navigates life with a unique predicament: he transforms into a girl when splashed with cold water. His engagement to Akane Tendo adds further complexity, as they encounter numerous challenges within familial and martial arts dynamics.
