Ranma 1/2, Vol. 36
The spotlight on Rumiko Takahashi's career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest forThose Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series,Urusei Yatsura, was serialized inWeekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another--Maison Ikkokuran from 1980 to 1987,Ranma1/2from 1987 to 1996, andInuyashafrom 1996 to 2008. Other notable works includeMermaid Saga,Rumic Theater, andOne-Pound Gospel.