Ask John: What’s the Proper Title for Urusei Yatsura?

Question:
Is it Lamu called Lum? And I’m currently watching the series in Asia, yet it is called “Lamu the Invader Girl” not “Urusei Yatsura” even though it is in Japanese with English subtitles. What is the real name of the series and its heroine? By the way, where did the English title come from if the series is called “Urusei Yatsura” in the US?

Answer:
The proper title of Rumiko Takahashi’s signature romantic comedy is “Urusei Yatsura,” which literally means “Those Obnoxious Aliens.” The name of the titular alien of the series is usually spelled in English as “Lum.” Technically, it would be Romanized from Japanese as either “Lamu” or “Ramu.” The “u” vowel sound appears because of the rules of Japanese grammar, but when spoken with a Japanese accent, it’s virtually silent, so it’s normally not included in the English language spelling.

Especially during the 1980s, when anime first began to establish an international fan base, it was common for anime series to be known by a common, or simple name, even though this name wasn’t always a technical proper title. One of the best examples is Urusei Yatsura. In part because of the difficultly native English speakers had in pronouncing “Urusei Yatsura,” the show became known among fans as just “Lum.” This simple abbreviation caught on, and is now considered a virtual de facto second title for the show. Likewise, especially during the early 1990s, the Urotsukidoji adult anime series was universally known by Western fans as “Wandering Kid.” It wasn’t until Central Park Media brought the show to America under its proper Japanese title that English speaking fans began actually calling it “Urotsukidoji.”

This sort of abbreviated naming has even become semi-official because it’s such a common practice. Virtually everyone that knows Hayao Miyazaki’s films is familiar with Porco Rosso. That’s the name by which the film has been released in Europe, and that’s the name that will be used for Buena Vista’s forthcoming American DVD release. However, “Porco Rosso” is nowhere in the actual proper Japanese movie title, which is actually “Kurenai no Buta” (Crimson Pig). Because its adopted “fan title” is easier to say and remember, just as in the case with “Lum the Invader Girl,” the common use title is as well established, or even better known, than the official, proper title.