Maison Ikkoku

actually has the male and female lead not only acknowledge their relationship, but to come full circle with a marriage.

The differences between the anime and manga are small but so far I feel it makes the anime better. Episode 1 follows chapter one pretty closely with exception of the anime opening with Kyoko arriving to town in the box truck. Episode 2 though squeezes chapters 2 & 3 together. Which works since a whole episode devoted to why Soichiro (the dog) has his name would have been lacking. In Episode 3, which follows chapter 4, when Kyoko and Godai get up into the attic of Maison Ikkoku they discover writing on the wall that reveals some of Maison Ikkoku's history. Part of which was lovers torn apart because of the war (WWII) is an addition in the anime. Finally in Episode 4 that follows chapter 5 there's a repeat of Kyoko cheering on Godai each morning as he sets off to take a different test each day and scenes of the gang taking bets on which, if not all, of those tests he will fail that's added.

part where he sweeps her off her feet more in the anime, it is in motion, and more fun.

the first time Kyoko slaps Godai, in the anime, lighting flashes in the background as she raises her hand.

with the lightning. lol I wonder if that is used in ranma too

Episode 5 following chapter 6 has Godai at Sakamoto's place waking up to the face of his grandmother from a dream of Kyoko giving him a new pair of underwear at the beginning. Then, later at the pachinko parlor, he hits the jackpot and ends up buying Sakamoto and himself bar-b-q with the winnings instead of a new pair of underwear. Sakamoto guilts him into it for Godai staying at his place. This leads to Godai making an excursion to Maison Ikkoku to try and sneak a pair of his underwear from his room without being seen by Kyoko. He later stops at a laundry mat next to a public bath to wash his underwear. He's caught not wearing underwear under his clothes while there. Which at the end of the episode the added joke is the result of him wrestling over a pair of his underwear with Soichiro. Also, the celebration for him making it in to a college takes place in his room rather than at Chachamaru.

Episode 6 following chapter 7 starts with Godai waking from a daydream in class screaming to be left alone since he has an entrance exam tomorrow. Seems some habits are hard to break. The following scene has Godai and his friends at coffee shop talking about he's spaced out and he ends up talking how he hasn' goten any sleep because of his manager. Dreams of wanting to hld her hand seems to keep him up a night. Poor boy has it bad for her. After which the episode picks up where the manga starts with the last addition being the walk down the path with Soichiro being longer. The big reveal of who Soichiro, the man, was, is much more striking in the anime as well.

Episode 7 following chapter 8 the first difference is in Godai's nightmare when Kyoko embraces the picture of Soichiro that Godai imagines Kyoko is in a dress instead of being stark naked. No big deal, probably for the best, can't be having naughty bits all out there, well, unless you're Akemi I guess. Later at the coffee shop Godai's friends get him so upset he grabs the ticket and they thank him for the treat. Everyone takes advantage of the poor guy, then again he doesn't put up that much resistance, makes a lot of noise but never does anything about it. Cut to him thinking about getting a part time job in his room when in slips Yotsuya to torment him about what Soichiro must have been like.

Episode 8 follows chapter 9 with the exception of the start which shows how and why Godai was drunk the night he professed his love for Kyoko to all the neighborhood. There's also some playful chibi characterizations of Kyoko and Godai as Godai tries to imagine what he must have did the previous night. Things could go much smoother for our guy if his tormentors didn't use him as a play thing. It's for the best though, Maison Ikkoku thrives on simple misunderstandings being taken over the top.

I think that takahashi is quite simply the BEST at making the "Boy Likes girl, Other girl likes boy who likes girl, and Little boy likes young girl who likes boy who likes main gal."

obviously steamed about Godai out with that other gal. What you were talking about with the whole jealousy that crops up in all takahasi stories

I love how Mitaka is deathly afraid of dogs. Serves that bastard right. I guess feel like I can connect with Godai more than Mitaka. Every time Mitaka tosses that sparkling smile out the words "that motherfucker" escape from my mouth. But I just noticed something, from playing the episode in fast forward, where Godai and Mitaka go back and forth talking about their advantages over each other before they leave for the beach. Kyoko is standing between them on the side line and she looks back and forth at them, its like a tennis match as she looks left and right. Which would be unfair for poor Godai. Also, the bit where Yotsuya gets left behind cracks me up every time, he's like the odd kid out in dodge ball or something.

With the added bits it at the beginning it made the episode feel much more focused on Kentaro. Well, that's obviously what they were aiming for with his name being in he episode title. But yeah, Takahashi spins an intricate web of love, yet it's never confusing.

The tension of Kyoko's jealousy from seeing Kozue on Godai's arm is intensified so much in the anime. You also get a sense of Kozue trying to send a message to Kyoko too, "this man is mine, if you want him you better come after him like I am." Ah, but the end with Mitaka cowering on the ground with Soichiro on top him is gold.