Season
overview:
Looking at these episodes, Mamoru Oshii has truly taken the reigns of the show. His style is really beginning to manifest to the point where many episodes are built entirely upon the sense of humor and drama of Oshii and his staff. Here he begins to riff and expand upon Takahashi's original manga stories. You can also sense a very steady change in the animation style and less adherance to Akemi Takada's original character designs. The series also begins to take on a more grown up feel. Some of the animation does get a bit wonky, which is to be expected considering how the crew was worked ragged (especially during the creation of the first movie). They're not all perfect but overall the animation is improving. There are some particularly good looking episodes in this season. The first movie was released around this time. A lot of what the staff learned in making the movie, was applied here.
Many of the episode notes below are from Animeigo, the original English language license-holder for Urusei Yatsura.
Episode 43: ニャオンの恐怖
Nyaon no Kyōfu (The Terror of Meow)
Atop the Moroboshi house, Ataru, Ten, and Lum meet a half cat/half woman named Misuzu. As a human, Misuzu was drying and she melded with her cat to her present state. Ataru and Ten fight a cat with an eyepatch to see who will get to kiss Misuzu, and turn her into a full human or cat.
This episode is a signature piece, in that Chief Director Oshii Mamoru performed the three main functions of screenplay, storyboarding, and direction by himself.
"I gotta go to the bathroom first!" When hearing scary stories, people don't want to go to the bathroom alone.
"If this follows the usual pattern then I'd call the Creature Police..." The original line, "Yokai 110-ban," refers to "110," the emergency telephone number set aside for the police in Japan.
"Oh, very well!" "Huh? What is it?" Cherry is receiving a bribe in a very traditional Japanese fashion, known as "sodenoshita," or "under the sleeve." It comes from the receiver of the bribe inserting it within the sleeve of his kimono.
"Looks like the ones who ought to have survived have indeed survived." From here on, Ataru takes on the appearance and style of Joe, the star of "Ashita no Joe" (Tomorrow's Joe), a classic manga series about a budding boxer (later made into an equally classic anime series). Note also Cherry's impression of Joe's manager.
Urusei Yatsura would not air for the following two weeks.
Episode 44: 君去りし後
Kimi sarishi nochi (After You've Gone)
During a party celebrating Lum's first year on Earth, Ataru goes into a tirade about how horrible it is living with Lum, and Lum leaves... the Earth. But she leaves behind a doll she stitched together with her hair which Ataru finds. Ataru, Mendo, and everyone else spend the whole next day looking for Lum.
At the end of the series's original broadcast run (March, 1986), the viewers voted this episode as their favorite.
"Menko, I've always loved you..." "Shiruo!" Shiruo, when written out in kanji is the same as "Soup Man," while Menko is "Noodle Girl." Soup and noodles, of course, are the key ingredients in Ramen. In fact, it's sometimes said that the relationship between soup and noodles in Ramen is like marriage!
"MENDO!" This line is a pun. Although he's saying "Mendo's here," Mendo is also a homonym for "bother," "trouble," or "nuisance." For more details, see TV Set 4, Episode 14, Story 25, "Mendo Brings Trouble!"
"Allow me to say it straight... Your husband is a buffoon!" Mendo is speaking in Osaka dialect in Ataru's imagination, because it supposedly makes him look and sound stupid.
"But it'd be a crying shame if she really is gone." "Moto mo ko mo nai" is an idiom. At times it can be taken to mean "one's efforts going down the drain," but generally equates to "it'd be too bad."
"...I don't care if you have to go down to the grass roots, but find Lum!" "Kusa no ne wo waketemo..." literally, "even if you have to part grass roots..." It actually means, "no matter what you have to go through, find whatever you're looking for."
"Sir, there was no sign of her on Dream Island!" Dream Island is actually a landfill in Tokyo Bay, in other words, a garbage dump, with a name meant to make it sound nicer than it is.
"I hope she's not at another matchmaking session!" For details on this reference, see TV Set 6, Episode 22, Story 43, "The Great Space Matchmaking Operation."
This episode marks the earliest animation work on Urusei Yatsura by Kazuo Yamazaki, who would take over as Chief Director on the latter part of the TV series, as well as direct two Urusei Yatsura movies ("Remember My Love" and "Lum the Forever," the latter of which he also co-scripted). Yamazaki made the storyboards, as well as working as Animation Director and on the key animation.
Episode 45: ラムちゃんのクラス会
Ramu-chan no kurasu kai (Lum-chan's Class Party)
During the day, many visitors interrupt the class; which are Cherry, Jariten, Benten, Oyuki, Rei, Prim, and the Prince of the Underground; all who are avoiding Lum. Then Ataru and Mendo disappear. It turns out that Lum's alien friends are having a surprise party for Lum and things end with a happy festival.
English classes are a required part of education in Japan, usually starting in intermediate school (equivalent to 7th grade in the US).
"We mustn't interfere with class... Here! It's heavy." That big white thing Ten's holding is a Japanese radish, or "Daikon." He's grating it. One of the most popular ways of consuming grated Daikon is to put some on grilled fish, which Cherry is apparently preparing on his Hibachi.
"She hasn't been here since Setsubun, right?" Setsubun is the last day of Winter in the traditional Japanese calendar, which falls on Feb. 3. To understand what Ataru is referring to in this scene, see TV Set 4, Episode 15, Story 29, "The Great Spring War," and Story 30, "The Benten Gang's Return Match."
"In that moment, a dark memory crossed the minds of the Gang of Four. It was a painful memory of their trip to Neptune via a Dimensional Tunnel." For details of this experience, see TV Set 2, Episode 8, Story 15, "Neptune is Beyond My Closet."
"It was a painful memory of the time he first met Rei, when he lost a contest over their looks." For details, see TV Set 10, Episode 36, "Rei Returns! The Big Study Hall Panic!!" For details of his reaction to Shinobu in this scene, refer to TV Set 7, Episode 23, "The Big Springtime Picnic Uproar!"
"Hold on a second!" The little green man Lum sees Ran talking with right before the commercial break is the Space Taxi driver from TV Set 1, Episode 1, Story 2, "It's Raining Oil in Our Town." Later, he is being carried around by Prim, from TV Set 6, Episode 22, "The Great Space Matchmaking Operation."
"My name is the Prince of the Underground!" For more about the Prince, and many of the guest stars in this episode (most notably Diana and Uni), see TV Set 6, Episode 22, "The Great Space Matchmaking Operation."
Episode 46: 買い食いするものよっといで!
Kai-gui surumono yottoide! (Lunch is a Battlefield!)
During lunchtime at school, the teachers are using espionage and force to keep the students at school for lunch; and the teachers are aided by Mendo and a few other students. Ataru, Lum, and the other rebel students discover their teachers' plan and retaliate.
Eating out of school during lunch breaks, or at any time in school uniform, is known as "kaigui," and is against school rules in Japan.
"Baked goods and ice cream at 'Akamaru...'" "Pan" normally translates as bread, but in this case, it's more likely that Onsen is referring to baked goods or pastries in addition.
"...Okonomiyaki at 'Zipangu...'" Okonomiyaki are basically Japanese-style pancakes. Zipangu is an ancient term for Japan.
"...the Taiyaki joint, 'Ebiya...'" Taiyaki is a fish-shaped "pastry," with Anko (sweet bean paste) inside and a little dough on the outside. It contains no fish whatsoever, despite its name. It's served very hot (see Mr. Hanawa's expression later on).
"...Ramen and Takoyaki at 'Neko Restaurant...'" Takoyaki is a dough puff, the size of a golf ball. Its ingredients are mainly eggs and flour, plus some vegetables. There's also a tiny piece of octopus (tako) in the center, hence the name. Takoyaki is perhaps the most popular snack during festivals, eaten using a little plate and toothpicks.
"...the Oden joint, 'Kotobuki...'" Oden is hotchpotch, consisting of all kinds of boiled stuff. Aside from potatoes and daikon, there is baked tofu and other goodies, including Konnyaku, a jello-like substance made of a certain kind of potato.
"Lum, what's going on? Is this the School Olympics?" Every fall, grade schools hold a major sports event called Undoukai. Essentially, it's a combination of miniaturized Olympics and athletics exhibition.
"I'll have Tanuki Ramen and a half-serving of rice!" Tanuki-Udon is literally, "Raccoon Wheat Noodles." Despite its name, it has no raccoons in it. It's Wheat noodles immersed in a thick soup, topped with Tenkasu (Deep-fried egg-flour droplets, left over from cooking Tempura). Related to this is something called Kitsune-Udon (lit., "Fox Wheat Noodles"), which doesn't have fox in it either. Instead of Tenkasu, it's got what's called Age, which is something like a thin deep-fried tofu.
"At Taian Store's Yakisoba Corner, two male students were reprimanded." Yakisoba is cooked buckwheat noodles.
In the bookstore some of the magazines on display are for Shonen Sunday, Maison Ikkoku and GuGu Ganmo
The spiderweb weapon which Onsen-Mark wields has its origins in kabuki theater, and is the secret weapon which the villain typically uses to trap and manipulate his enemies.
Knighted Pawn, read you loud and clear." " Honarinotokin" (Knighted Pawn) is a term from Shogi, which will be considered a Japanese form of Chess for simplicity's sake. It refers to a pawn reaching the opposite side of the board from where it started. When this happens, it can be turned over, revealing a more powerful piece on the other side, typically a knight. Sakura being the traditional Japanese that she is (mostly), she would use a Shogi term as her codename rather than one from Chess.
"One enemy motorcycle and two private cars are heading toward Mrs. Donut's." No surprise that this is a takeoff on Mr. Donut, which, like McDonalds, is very successful in Japan. Shinobu is also shown standing outsid a restaurant named Kemo, which is Rumiko Takahashi's former nickname and alias from her dojinshi days.
"Excuse us." "Excuse us." In the background are characters are from another Takahashi Rumiko classic, Maison Ikkoku (which was starting up at this time in the manga weekly Big Comic Spirits). They are the grandfather-in-law and niece-in-law of the heroine, Kyoko Otonashi, by her late husband, note also the Wonder Woman and Supergirl knockoffs who run past in addition to Rumiko Takahashi herself.
The girl jumping out of the dumpster and Megane running out of Zipangu both say "Shuwacchi!" This is the sound effect made by Ultraman when he flew. Also, the poster next to the dumpster is from the legendary opening animation to Daicon IV. In another scene, note also the Mach-Go, (the car from Maha GoGoGo, aka "Speed Racer") with a red paint job.
"Cherry, let's make a deal for some Modanyaki!" Modanyaki is a sort of combination of yakisoba and okonomiyaki.
"Uncle, this is for the sake of my job. I won't go easy on you!" Cherry is striking a pose from sumo, namely the stance taken for warming up, or just before starting the match.
"Youth can't be explained away as simply as that!" This speech by Megane is reminiscent of a uniquely Japanese narrative form: "Seishun (youth) Drama." The stories typically revolve around a high-school student and the teacher who does everything he can to show him the glory that is youth. Megane's lines deliberately point up just how maudlin these shows can (and usually do) get.
"Everyone rush immediately to Tomobiki-Ginza..." Attaching "Ginza" to a placename is a common device used for naming shopping districts in Japan.
Episode 47: 戦りつ！化石のへき地の謎,
Senritsu! Kaseki no hekichi no nazo (Shiver! Mystery in the Odd of Fossil Land)
Ataru, Lum, Mendo, Shinobu, and Ten all go on a picnic to a remote part of Japan which has some fossils. A group of archaeologists are also exploring this area and using a lot of fancy tricks to make the exploration seem more dramatic than it is. Ataru constructs a bird monstrosity with some fossils and Lum bring it to life. The bird then goes about reaping havoc.
"Gori, set the light on it and make a good shadow, would you?" "Gori," in this case, may be short for "Gorilla," a possible nickname for the lighting man on this crew.
"We got any straw festoon ropes?" Shimenawa is a type of rope (festoon) which is sacred to Shinto.
"Terror! A do-or-die invasion of the mysterious mountain which is protected by weird Jizo statues." This is an example of a practice used in some Japanese TV documentary shows called "yarase" or "detarame," which means fabrication or elaboration on the truth. It's used typically when a director or producer decides that reality won't be interesting enough to get ratings. The staff simply makes up something that they think will sell. "Jizo" are stone statues of Buddha, which makes stringing them together with shimenawa, a sacred Shinto rope, all the more amusing.
"You've got a sports newspaper that you bought this morning, right?" Sports newspapers are one of the major classes of tabloid dailies in Japan. In addition to sports coverage, they also contain large doses of salacious gossip and numerous pinups.
"How long have you been an Assistant Director?" In the Japanese entertainment businesses, esp. TV and movies, Assistant Directors (ADs) are legendary for the abuse they have to take, from higher-up staffers and performers alike. One anecdote tells of a TV show being filmed at the beach. The director thought the waves were too small, so he told the AD, "Make the waves bigger."
"Testing, 1, 2, 3..." "Amemboakainaaieuo" is a phrase commonly used in Japanese broadcasting to check that the audio is working properly.
"Here, on 'Low-Ratings Special...'" "Uraban," short for "urabangumi," which refers to the lowest-rated show in a given timeslot.
"If it doesn't go as I want, I'll make it the way I want." "Nakanai hototogisu o nakaseteyaru" (If the nightingale won't sing, I'll make it sing) is part of a classic anecdote from Japan's Sengoku Jidai (Warring States Period), in which numerous warlords battled for control of Japan in the 16th Century. The entire story is a depiction of the personality types of the three greatest warlords of the time: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu (who would eventually defeat his two rivals and unite Japan into one nation as the first Tokugawa Shogun). These examples represent the attitudes and personalities of the three warlords. Oda's attitude would be, "If it won't sing, I'll kill it." Toyotomi's would be, "If it won't sing, I'll make it sing," which is the portion borrowed here. Tokugawa, on the other hand, would be of the opinion, "If it doesn't sing, I'll wait until it does." The fictional character Yoshi Toranaga, from James Clavell's "Shogun," is based on Tokugawa Ieyasu.
"A mysterious monk who isn't seaweed, not even Kombu or Wakame seaweed!" The word "kaiso," written with one set of kanji, can mean "mysterious monk." Written another way, it can mean "seaweed." An awful pun, but not as bad as...
"By 'mysterious bird,' I don't mean 'the head of a community association...'" Again, with one writing, "kaicho" can mean "mysterious bird." Written another way, it can mean "president of a community association."
"Momoe!" This is probably a reference to Momoe Yamaguchi, who was Japan's most popular singer when she retired around this time period to get married, at the ripe old age of 21.
Episode 48: クラマ姫 新たなる挑戦！
Kurama hime - arata naru chōsen! (Princess Kurama - A New Challenge!)
Kurama has her subjects place her in suspended sleep again in the hopes that some prince may awaken her. Although Ataru is the one to really kiss and revive her. Kurama thinks Mendo did and she goes through great efforts to get him to be her mate.
"Why are they so interested in an old woman in a box?" "Hakoiri-toshima" (Old Woman in a Box) is a pun. The original phrase, "Hakoiri-musume" (Young Girl in a Box) means a girl sheltered by her family, believing that protectiveness is the best way to raise her. Thus, she doesn't know much about the outside world.
"It's a nightmare. Today is evidently a bad day." Butsumetsu, the day Buddha died, is the unluckiest day in "Rokki," the six-day Buddhist nomenclature. For details, see TV Set 3, Episode 10, Stories 19-20, "Pitter Patter Christmas Eve."
"Princess Kurama and I are destined to be united in marriage!" "Unmei no akai ito" (the red string of fate) is an invisible thread which supposedly ties destined lovers together. For details, see Urusei Yatsura Movie 3, "Remember My Love."
"It's your favorite deep-fried saurel dinner!" "Teishoku" is a combination meal set, comprised of fixed meal items for ease of both the customer (when ordering) and the restaurant (when preparing).
"With the very best rice." "Sasanishiki" is a particular brand of rice, originally from Miyagi Prefecture. Together with Kooshihikari brand, from Niigata Prefecture, it is considered one of the top brands of Japanese rice.
"The guy with the swept-back hair is so-and-so, and the idiot is such-and-such!" "Kakugaku" and "shikajika" more or less mean the equivalent of "so-and-so" and "such-and-such."
"One day, when I was taking a walk in the forest..." "Ippo, niho, sampo to sampo shiteita" is a pun. With one writing, the word "sampo" by itself means "to take a walk." With the variant writing used in the phrase "Ippo, niho, sampo" (one step, two steps, three steps), it means "three steps," and the entire phrase means "to stroll."
Episode 49: 恐怖のムシ歯ＷＡＲＳ
Kyofu no mushiba UOZU! (The Terrifying Cavity WARS!)
Jariten has a weird toothache. It can spread like a disease by biting someone, and he bites Ataru, who the starts to spread it among his school mates and Onsen-Mark. As Lum demonstrates on Onsen-Mark, the cure is very painful; so they continue to fight.
"I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't stop eating sweets before bed. Ow..." "Yokan" are sticks of anko, or bean jam.
"Wanna go for it?" In this scene, Ataru's poses and noises are reminiscent of Bruce Lee.
"So-and-so, such-and-such, thus-and-such!" The Dappya Kaijuu is using the same words as the Karasutengu in the previous episode.
Episode 50: ザ・面堂兄妹！
Za Mendo kyoudai! (The Mendo Siblings!)
On the way to school, Ataru is scared by Ryoko in her Death guise. At school, Ryoko tries to feed her brother lunch; but Mendo is wise to her tricks. Ataru nobly offers to be fed the lunch, but Lum intervenes. Ryoko then makes an offer for Ataru to visit her for a Romeo and Juliet rendezvous. Mendo and Lum try their best to stop this meeting.
This episode marks Ryoko Mendo's first appearance in the Urusei Yatsura TV series.
"I will interfere any way I can!" "But I'm going!" This exchange is a pun on "jama suru," which normally means "to interfere." But it is also a polite way of saying that one is entering someone else's home.
"Intruder in World's Dumbest Son District!" "Sangokuichi no Hanayome" means "Number One Bride in the Three Kingdoms," referring to Japan, China and India. It was a common saying in the Muromachi Period (1392-1572).
Episode 51: 対談に猫が怨念
Taidan ni neko ga onnen (A Cat with a Grudge on the Stairs)
Jariten meets Kotatsuneko and invites him home. Upon seeing a kotatsu, a heater table, in the house; Kotatsuneko cuddles up beside it, blocking the stairway. Sakura and Cherry arrive to expel Kotatsuneko and finds out that the giant cat died of cold many years ago and that is why he wants heat. Ataru tries to leave his room and Mrs. Moroboshi tries to leave Mr. Moroboshi; but everyone, including Kotatsuneko, ends up staying home.
This episode features the first appearance of Kotatsuneko.
The original Japanese title of this episode, "Kaidan ni Neko ga Onnen," is a pun. "Onnen" is a dialectical way of saying "oru," which is one way of saying "to be." But written with a different set of kanji, "onnen" can also mean "to curse" or "haunt." So the full meaning would be something like, "There's a Cat Cursing on the Stairs."
"Legsweep!" The Dappya Kaiju is dressed as a Sumo referee in this scene because he is describing Kotatsu Neko's maneuver against Ataru as a Sumo technique, namely, "komata sukui," of which legsweep is a convenient if somewhat unsatisfactory translation.
"We came to chase evil spirits from this house." "Are you sure? The only thing I want to have chased away is our mortgage!" This exchange is a pun on the word "harau," which can be used to mean either "to pay, " as in a bill, or in this case, a loan or mortgage, or "to chase away," as in to exorcise evil spirits.
"A scary stairy ghost!" Written one way, "kaidan" can mean "horror story, but with different kanji, it can mean "stairs," hence the pun. The original also makes reference to the horror story being out of season. This is because summer, particularly June/July, is the traditional horror season in Japan, and this episode takes place in December.
"Two eels, please." Unajuu is, essentially, sliced eel in a box over rice. Other such meals include katsujuu, which is breaded pork slices, also in a box over rice.
"We'd like the most expensive kind. Can we pay in installments?" Foods such as eel typically come in three grades: Nami (Ordinary), Joo (Good), and Tokujoo (Special, or the Highest Grade). Grade also determines price.
"My head isn't for pounding on!" A Mokugyo is a type of drum used by Buddhist priests during their meditations.
Episode 52: タヌキは恩返しできるか！？
Tanuki wa ongaeshi dekiru ka!? (Can the Racoon Return the Favor!?)
Ataru helps a wounded bird who transforms itself into a raccoon and moves in to repay Ataru. The raccoon tries to do good deeds, yet always makes a mess of matters. Eventually it changes back into a bird and flies away.
"Going is fine, returning is cold." The original version of this line, "Going is fine, returning is hazardous," is a famous Japanese proverb, orginating in a children's song, the specifics of which can be found in the next episode, "The Do-or-Die Subspace Part-time Job."
"I'm Oshima!" A raccoon of the same name appears in Urusei Yatsura Movie 3, "Remember My Love," which was made in 1985, some three years after this episode. Both of the Oshima's are played by the same voice actress, Masako Sugaya, and both Oshima raccoons are absolutely good for nothing, but the similarities between the two end there. For all intents and purposes, they are not the same character.
Episode 53: 決死の亜空間アルバイト
Kesshi no akūkan aru baito (Desperate Sub-Space Part Time Job)
Lum takes Ataru down an alley into an weird ancient Japanese town. After getting lost, Ataru does some running around and meets Lum again. Lum then introduces Ataru to a being who gives Ataru a job in a bath house for aliens and Ataru tries desperately to get over to the female's side.
"Miss, I'll have a Sunday Part-time Jobs Weekly." Shukan Arbaito Sunday is a pun on Shukan Shoonen Sunday, the magazine in which Urusei Yatsura was originally serialized.
"Yochinoya Beef-bowls is hiring a few. 500 per hour..." Yochinoya is a take-off on Yoshinoya, a major Japanese gyudon (beef-bowl) chain.
"Bath? Bath... Hazels!" "Hazels? Sacred!" "Uh... I'm not here to play games. Do you know where it is?" Shiritori is a word game wherein the object is to make a word beginning with the last character used in the previous word given. Ataru makes an indavertent pun on "shiritori" when he asks, "Shirimasen ka?" (Do you know where it is?) The pun is that the "shiri" is "shiritori" means "rear," and the "shiri" in "shirimasen" is the -masu form of the verb "shiru," which means "to know."
"Asura, according to Buddhism, was one of Tenryu's eight clans..." Tenryu hachibushu are eight different beings who protect Buddhism. They consist of Ten, Ryuu, Yasha, Kendasuba, Asura, Karura, Kinnara, and Magoraga.
"Wait! Do you want menko? How about Rooseki? Or Biidama?" Menko is round thick cardboard card, used in a traditional kids' game, the like of which hardly exists today, in the age of Nintendo. One card is placed on the ground, and players take turns trying to flip it over by throwing their own cards at it. Flipping it over earns points. Rooseki are stones cut into long sticks, used for drawing lines and circles on the ground for children to play in. Biidama are marbles, and used in much the same way in Japan as in the US.
"Hey, you, over there... YOU! What's your name?" This character is in the style of manga artist Tsujino Taro, creator of "Kyofu Shimbun" (Terror Times) and other horror stories. For more information, see Urusei Yatsura OVA set 3, "Goat and Cheese."
"What's this, Jariten? You're old enough to be in the men's bath?!" Young children often go to the women's baths, with their mothers.
Episode 54: ラムちゃん主催大忘年会！
Ramu-chan shusai dai bō-nen kai! (Lum-chan's Great Year End Celebration!)
Lum brings two dimensional doors to class that take the students to a crazy fictional world where they temporarily forget themselves and take new identities; Mendo becomes Sherlock Holmes, Lum becomes a genie. Onsen-Mark show up and Ataru and Mendo try to help him remember who he is.
Everything in this episode points fairly obviously to the tale of Urashima Taroo, with the joke being that nobody figures it out, no matter how obvious it gets.
"I'm the protector of justice, Heiji Zenigata!" Heiji Zenigata was a legendary Edo-period detective, whose special technique for capturing criminals was (as shown in this episode) to throw a handful of zeni (a type of old Japanese coin, of fairly low value) at them.
"Come, Kojiroo!" "Here I come, Sashi!" This scene is a parody of the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Ganryuu Sasaki Kojiroo. Unlike the actual event, Kojiroo wins. For more information, see TV Set 15.
"A traveling takoyaki seller!" Takoyaki are pieces of baked octopus, rolled into balls and wrapped in seaweed.
"Where's Garapachi?" Garapachi was Heiji Zenigata's actual assistant.
"OK, then, how about this?" Yoiko no Ehon (A Good Child's Picture Book) is a typical title or slogan for a book for children. "Yoiko no..." is often attached to the names of merchandise intended for children, as if to say, reading or using such products will make your children into good children.
"Hey! Y...You look familiar!" "Don't be shocked, but I'm the thief Lupin!" This exchange between the original Heiji Zenigata and Arsene Lupin is an in-joke directed towards the popular manga/anime series "Lupin III," which had finished its smash-hit second series run in 1980, only about a year before Urusei Yatsura began what would become an even more successful TV run. To be precise, the descendants of both Zenigata and Lupin are two of the five regular stars of "Lupin III."
"Good place to meet! Does this mean anything to you?" "Not really. Why?" "Me ni hairu" can mean to recognize something, or to literally get something in one's eye. "Me ni ireru," on the other hand, means to put something into one's eye, which Lupin says is impossible.
Visual jokes: Chase scene one: Leaning Tower of Pisa and Pyramids of Egypt in background, the Invaders' saucer, Kazama Shin's F-20 Tigershark, from "Area 88." Chase scene two: Ultraman, Tetsujin 28-go.
"Come in!" The pun here is that turtle, in Japanese, is "kame," and this turtle says "kam-in," playing on the sound similarity of "kame," and "come in."
"Was it a dream? Or was it real?" The music in this sequence is from a song about Urashima Taro. Also, note the various women seated around Onsen-mark when he sits at the banquet table. The Macross bridge crew are directly behind him.
"I want to have a good poke with all the girls in the world!" Written one way, "tsuki au" means to go out with, or date, someone. Written another way, it means to poke, or stab, one another.
"What? Treasure? As a hero I can't let this go by!" This is the legendary "Gekko Kamen" (Moonlight Mask), perhaps the original mysterious masked motorcycle-driving superhero in Japan. An awful lot of similar Japanese heroes over the last twenty or thirty years more or less owe their existence to Gekkoo Kamen.
Note also the various cameos by famous heroes and monsters in the last part of this episode, including Frankenstein's Monster, Wolfman, Batman and Robin (albeit with slightly different color schemes), Wonder Woman (same), Spock (ditto), and Tinkerbell.
