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Lamu, the cult anime in France
First aired in Japan in 1981, the Urusei Yatsura anime conquered France under the title Lamu, becoming one of the very first Japanese animated series to leave a lasting mark on French audiences.
The original anime spans 195 episodes aired between 1981 and 1986, produced by Studio Pierrot, with early directing duties handled by Mamoru Oshii.
In France, the series was broadcast from the late 1980s under the title Lamu, notably on Canal+, with a French dub that became legendary for its offbeat tone and memorable lines.
The name "Lamu" came from the choice made by French translators at the time to adapt "Lum", the alien heroine's original name.
This broadcast helped popularize Japanese animation with a wide audience in France, at a time when the genre was still largely unknown.
Several films and OVAs complemented the original series, including Beautiful Dreamer (1984), directed by Mamoru Oshii and regarded as a genre classic.
The 2022 remake pays tribute to this first adaptation while offering modernized direction and animation, faithful to Rumiko Takahashi's original work.
Then and now
The cult opening theme
Watch the original opening on YouTube
