NHK announced the final results during its program for the fan-favorite series, characters, and songs by popular manga creator Rumiko Takahashi on November 16. Takahashi has authored popular series like Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha , Urusei Yatsura , and Maison Ikkoku over the course of her 38-year professional career. Voters ranked her impressive body of work with none other than Inuyasha in the top spot followed by the gender-bending martial arts comedy Ranma 1/2 and filling out the top three is romantic comedy Maison Ikkoku .

NHK Rumiko Takahashi Poll: Best Series

Inuyasha

Ranma 1/2

Maison Ikkoku

Urusei Yatsura

Ranma 1/2 OAV : Tendo Family Christmas Scramble

Ranma ½ : Nettō Uta Gassen

Urusei Yatsura OAV : Inaba the Dreammaker

Ranma 1/2 OAV : Shampoo's Sudden Switch - The Curse of the Contrary Jewel

Mermaid Scar

Ranma 1/2 OAV : The Two Akanes! 'Ranma, Look at Me!

The character poll was even more thorough with 150 characters listed in the final result. In first place is the titular Inuyasha, followed by bikini-wearing alien Lum from Urusei Yatsura , and the villainous Sesshōmaru ( Inuyasha ). Shampoo was the highest ranking character from Ranma 1/2, taking fourth place and just placing above Ranma Saotome in fifth.

In the songs category, Urusei Yatsura took the top spot with its opening theme "Lum's Love Song" by Yūko Matsutani. "Change the World" by V6 from Inuyasha took second place and the impossibly catchy "Jaja Uma ni Sasenai de" by Etsuko Nishio from Ranma 1/2 took third.

Fans were able to choose from 52 anime series, about 1100 characters, about 700 TV episodes, and about 160 songs. Did your favorites make the top spots? Let us know in the forums!

Source: NHK