Synopsis
Maison Ikkoku from VIZ: Because Home is Where the Heart Lives. Maison Ikkoku is a story which takes place in Japan. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen anywhere. Here is a romance the way it was meant to be - a romance its creator, Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma 1/2, InuYasha), meant it to be - a story of a ronin named Yusaku Godai, and the building’s new manager, a woman who hids a secret sadness, Kyoko Otonashi. It all happens here, in a a rundown Tokyo boarding house…known as Maison Ikkoku.

Review
This is one of my favorite anime series of all time, so perhaps I am a little biased. I simply see this as one of the best romantic comedies ever written. Done by the queen of the genre, Rumiko Takahashi, Maison Ikkoku (only the second series Takahashi ever wrote) is the most touching of all her work. Maison Ikkoku is set in Japan in the 1980s, the actual time that the 15 volume manga which was the basis for the anime; the result is one of the best examinations of regular life in Japan. It’s so quintessentially Japanese that a number of anime reference books use the series to highlight aspects of Japanese culture.

However, the humor and romance will appeal to anyone with a sense of humor, or romance. The comic usage of misunderstandings is straight from Shakespeare, and any fan of screwball comedies will be rolling on the floor with laughter. But the characters are grounded in reality, and moments of drama and romance will often take you by surprise. Godai matures as the series progresses, he’s only 19 when the series starts, and we see Kyoko overcome the massive loss she suffered.

The only problem I had with this box set was the awful english dub. The voices for Kyoko and Godai simply didn’t match the character’s personalites. I can only recommend the original japanese (the subtitles are a very good translation). My only other complaint (even though it’s not an important one) is the fact there aren’t any real extras on the DVDs. I was just hoping to maybe get some cultural notes, or perhaps an interview with Ms. Takahashi (are you listening Viz?)

Overall, this DVD set is a must have for anyone interested in Japan, any fan of Ms. Takahashi, (Ranma, Inu-Yasha), as it is her best work, or any lover of comedy, romance or the combination thereof.

The Breakdown
Pick this up ASAP, you’ll thank me (nay, worship at my feet) for letting you in on one of the best anime series ever put to film.