Interest

The Results are in for NHK's Ultimate Rumiko Takahashi Poll

NHK announced the final results during its program for the fan-favorite series, characters, and songs by popular manga creator Rumiko Takahashi on November 16. Takahashi has authored popular series like Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha, Urusei Yatsura, and Maison Ikkoku over the course of her 38-year professional career. Voters ranked her impressive body of work with none other than Inuyasha in the top spot followed by the gender-bending martial arts comedy Ranma 1/2 and filling out the top three is romantic comedy Maison Ikkoku.

NHK Rumiko Takahashi Poll: Best Series

1. Inuyasha
2. Ranma 1/2
3. Maison Ikkoku
4. Urusei Yatsura
5. Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer
6. RINNE
7. Ranma ½: Nihao My Concubine
8. Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter
9. InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time
10. InuYasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler
11. Fire Tripper
12. InuYasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass
13. Mermaid Forest (OAV)
14. Urusei Yatsura: Only You
15. Mermaid Forest (TV)
16. Ranma ½: One Grew Over the Kuno's Nest
17. Ranma 1/2 OAV: Tendo Family Christmas Scramble
18. Maison Ikkoku: Through the Passing of the Seasons
19. Ranma ½: Nettō Uta Gassen
20. Urusei Yatsura OAV: Inaba the Dreammaker
21. InuYasha the Movie 4: Fire on the Mystic Island
22. Urusei Yatsura: Remember My Love
23. Urusei Yatsura: Lum The Forever
24. Ranma ½: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China
25. Ranma 1/2 OAV: Shampoo's Sudden Switch - The Curse of the Contrary Jewel
26. Rumiko Takahashi Anthology
27. The Laughing Target
28. Mermaid Scar
29. Ranma 1/2 OAV: The Two Akanes! 'Ranma, Look at Me!
30. One Pound Gospel

The character poll was even more thorough with 150 characters listed in the final result. In first place is the titular Inuyasha, followed by bikini-wearing alien Lum from Urusei Yatsura, and the villainous Sesshōmaru (Inuyasha). Shampoo was the highest ranking character from Ranma 1/2, taking fourth place and just placing above Ranma Saotome in fifth.

In the songs category, Urusei Yatsura took the top spot with its opening theme "Lum's Love Song" by Yūko Matsutani. "Change the World" by V6 from Inuyasha took second place and the impossibly catchy "Jaja Uma ni Sasenai de" by Etsuko Nishio from Ranma 1/2 took third.

Fans were able to choose from 52 anime series, about 1100 characters, about 700 TV episodes, and about 160 songs. Did your favorites make the top spots? Let us know in the forums!

Source: NHK