In the Reiwa era, which began in 2019, we witnessed the resurgence of master's works Rumiko Takahashi. Since the sequence of “Inuyasha”Until the recent remake of“Urusei Yatsura”In anime format, Takahashi’s stories once again attract the public’s attention.

Additionally, the remake of “Ranma 1/2"It caused quite a stir. With this background, Many are wondering whether the acclaimed 80s romance manga “Maison Ikkoku” could also receive a new animated adaptation.

“Maison Ikkoku” is a love story set in the old apartment building “Ikkoku-kan”, which follows the lives of protagonist Yusaku Godai and administrator Kyoko Otonashi. The manga was adapted into a television series in 1986 and has had two live-action drama adaptations.

Although it is a work loved by generations, Its remake in the Reiwa era presents several challenges. Nowadays, some scenes that were accepted at the time may not be well received. “Maison Ikkoku” includes situations that are considered inappropriate today, such as spying on women and the protagonist’s unwanted advances towards Kyoko while she was sleeping. These scenes, accepted at the time of their original publication, may be seen as too racy for modern readers and viewers.

What is more, The outlook on love and marriage in the Showa era (1926-1989) differs significantly from today. The idea that love and marriage are intrinsically linked, along with the preservation of purity until marriage, are concepts that are disappearing in the contemporary narrative.

The story's setting in the Showa era may also create a generational mismatch. Elements such as the lack of cell phones and the reliance on a single phone for administration are details that may seem strange to younger audiences. These cultural and technological differences are fundamental to the development of the plot and contribute to the atmosphere of “Maison Ikkoku”.

Another interesting aspect is the influence of cars on the narrative. Godai's love rival, Shun Mitaka, drove a Nissan Silvia, an iconic car at the time, as his "date car". In the original animated adaptation, the Silvia was replaced by a Toyota Soarer, due to Toyota's sponsorship. In a possible remake, we could see a more modern car, like a Lamborghini, to maintain the same impact.

However, these characteristics should not be considered defects, but rather charms of the work. Changing the original elements too much to adapt them to modern sensibilities can harm the essence of the manga. If a new adaptation is made, should try to be as faithful to the source material as possible.

One final point to consider is distribution. Kyoko's voice, played by Sumi Shimamoto, is iconic. Changing voice actors, as has been done in recent remakes of other series, could generate controversy among fans.

• «The remake of 'Urusei Yatsura' is also set in the Showa era, so that's no problem. In the pachinko version, the voices were done by other voice actors, which was better than doing it with the original actors who are no longer in their prime.».
• «Nobody cares about that. The only important thing is how they will deal with the smartphone issue.».
• «In fact, a live-action version might work better.».
• «It's not a battle anime, so there's no need for a remake. The original anime is perfect as is and there's nothing to change.».
• «The administrator character has a personality that represents the worst characteristics of a woman, which is why I don't like her.».
• «It is an outdated job in which men have a lot of difficulty getting married while women have nothing to do.».
• «When the word 'tsundere' became fashionable, many said that the administrator was an example of a tsundere, thinking about it.».
• «'Ranma' is harder to adapt to. 'Maison Ikkoku' is watchable if you accept that it is.».
• «There is no need to make a new version, a digital remake would suffice. Although it was interesting overall, some parts were boring or unnecessary, so they could be removed.».
• «Maruko-chan is clearly set in the Showa era, and 'Sazae-san' even has a rotary phone. Anyone who would watch 'Maison Ikkoku' is already of a certain age, so there's no problem».

Source: Otakomu