an extremely
popular and iconic
anime series that ran from 1981 to 1986. It was created by Rumiko Takahashi (her first
work), who is later known for creating Ranma 1/
2 and Inuyasha. It revolves around a perverted, dickish and unlucky
teenager named Ataru who is forced into competing in a tag game with an invading alien species known as the Oni (a play on the mythical Japanese monsters), if he wins Earth will be saved but if he loses Earth will be destroyed. The target in this game is the beautiful and
sexy Oni princess Lum. Ataru's then-girlfriend Shinobu promises to marry him if he wins. Ataru manages to catch Lum by the horns and he yells out that he can get married; Lum misinterprets this as a proposal and accepts Ataru as her husband. Ataru rejects Lum but Lum forces herself on him constantly, then moves into his house and always follows him around. Lum will violently electrocute Ataru whenever he flirts or looks at other girls which is why Ataru always tries to ditch her. Other characters in the series include Shinobu, Ataru's loveless ex, Mendo, Ataru's nemesis and a filthy rich snob who wants Lum, Cherry, an
ugly and
annoying monk who is always forecasting doom, Ran, a psycho alien redhead who is Lum's friend, Ten, Lum's pyromaniac baby cousin. The series is seriously weird, painfully funny,
random, confusing and
crazy filled with kooky sci-fi gadgets, hot girls, freaky aliens and parodies of Japanese culture, each episode is weirder and crazier than the next.
