Few directors in the world of anime have had the same kind of cultural reach as Shinichiro Watanabe. His 1998 seriesCowboy Bebopturned the genre on its headwith a smooth blend of jazz, film noir, and futuristic melancholy. It became a global phenomenon and continues to influence creators decades later. Watanabe is now known as a master of mood, style, and subversion, often drawing on the past to remix the future. But in recent interviews, he revealed that one specific anime film sparked his creative awakening in the pivotal year of 1984.
In a 2023 interview withForbes, Watanabe discussed the media landscape of 1984 and how three anime films,Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, andMacross: Do You Remember Love?, had a profound impact on him. All three premiered within months of each other and were commercial artistic landmarks in their own right. But when asked which one he liked the most, Watanabe didn’t hesitate. “Urusei Yatsura 2was my favorite,” he said. It is a surprising answer for many fans, especially given howNausicaäis often hailed as the birth of Studio Ghibli and a cornerstone of anime history.
The Wild World of Urusei Yatsura
Mamoru Oshii’s Surreal Detour in Beautiful Dreamer
To understand Watanabe’s preference, we need to rewind to the origins ofUrusei Yatsura, a manga created by Rumiko Takahashi in 1978. The story follows unlucky high schooler Ataru Moroboshi and Lum, a lightning-wielding alien princess who moves in after a misunderstanding leads her to believe they’re engaged. The manga was a runaway success, leading to a TV anime adaptation that began airing in 1981, produced by Studio Pierrot and later Studio Deen. Its chaotic blend of slapstick, romance, and science fiction satire captured the spirit of early 1980s Japan, and became a major stepping stone inRumiko Takahashi’s career, leading toRanma ½andInuYasha.
By the time the secondUrusei Yatsurafilm premiered in 1984, director Mamoru Oshii had grown restless with the formulaic nature of the TV show.Beautiful Dreamerreflected this dissatisfaction. It tossed out the typical structure and delivereda dreamlike, existential tale where time loops, alternate realities, and questions about identity replaced the series' usual romantic hijinks. Oshii’s visual style, influenced by European avant-garde cinema and literature, gave the film a somber, philosophical tone unlike anything seen in previous anime comedies. Critics were initially divided, but in retrospect, the film is now seen as a bold artistic leap for Oshii (who would eventuallyhit big with hisGhost in the Shellin 1995) and one that clearly resonated with Watanabe.
1984 Gave Watanabe His Cinematic Blueprint
Why Beautiful Dreamer Still Matters Today
Released just a month afterBeautiful Dreamer,Nausicaä of the Valley of the Windwas Hayao Miyazaki’s passion project. It combined environmental themes, steampunk aesthetics, and an epic scale to tell the story of a brave princess navigating a poisoned world. The film’s success led directly to the founding of Studio Ghibli, making it one of the most important milestones in animation history. Today,Nausicaäis revered not just for its artistry but also for what it represents. It is often placed at the top of best-of lists,overshadowing other films from the same year, includingUrusei Yatsura 2.
Watanabe has credited 1984 as the year that revealed anime’s full potential to him.Macrossshowed how action and music could mergein emotionally powerful ways.Nausicaäpresented a model for epic, world-building fantasy. But it wasUrusei Yatsura 2that struck the deepest chord. He admired how the film broke structure, played with time, and blurred the lines between comedy and philosophical inquiry. Those elements can be seen inCowboy Bebop, where episodes often unfold like short films, and inLazarus, his newest series, where dystopia meets metaphysicswith a rhythm all its own.
Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamerremains one of anime’s great cult classics. It is a film that rewards rewatching, revealing new ideas each time its dream logic unfolds. For fans ofCowboy BeboporGhost in the Shell, it is a must-see milestone that helped lay the groundwork for what came after. Watanabe’s endorsement is not just nostalgia. It is a reminder that anime’s true power lies in its ability to surprise, reflect, and transcend expectations. If you have only heard aboutBeautiful Dreamerin passing, orUrusei Yatsuravia its recent series, now is the time to track it down and see what one of anime’s greatest directors saw in it.
Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer
Cast
Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer, directed by Mamoru Oshii, follows Ataru and his friends from Tomobiki High School as they prepare for a carnival. They soon discover that their days are repeating, trapping them in a surreal and unending cycle.
