Urusei Yatsura, TV Series 3 (Episodes 9-12)
The interplanetary high jinks continue at Tomobiki High in Rumiko Takahashi's zany comedy. When Ataru awakens the sleeping princess of a race of alien crow-goblins, custom requires her to mate with him! She refuses until he becomes a decent person--a transformation roughly equivalent to turning a sow's ear into a silk person. In the very funny New Year's episode, rich kid Shutaro Mendou appears at a party and announces, "I'll be joining the regular cast very soon." Later, Ataru and Lum visit the world of "The Tale of Genji"; American viewers unfamiliar with the 11th-century romance will miss only a few references. "Pitter Patter Christmas Eve" reveals the rarely seen gentler side of Ataru's nature: he and Lum share a warm moment that anticipates Takahashi's handling of the sentiment between two equally fractious lovers inRanma 1/2. Unrated; suitable for ages 12 and up: Risqué humor, brief nudity.--Charles Solomon