Takahashi Rumiko
Fucking thesis digging into my game time...
The first thing I ever saw that was anime-related was Ranma. Back in 1992, my brother acquired the first four episodes, this being back in the day when they distributed about two episodes on a single VHS. I imagine that isn't the type of series you should show a five-year-old, but I still loved it nevertheless (I think I could go into some sort of psychological spiel about myself if I really examine it). It wouldn't be for another five years or so before I started collecting the manga. After that, my obsession with such things took off and now I guess I'm what people today would refer to as an otaku.
In any case, Takahashi is most famous for Inuyasha for reasons that are beyond me. Her trademark is never being able to finish a series, repetitiveness, and having poor endings. I could say... yes, yes that is somewhat true. The difference, however, between Ranma and Inuyasha is this: Ranma was meant to be episodic humor. There was never really an end the characters were going for. So the goodness could keep on going no matter what. Inuyasha was the same exact fights doing the same exact shit every single day. I'm more willing to forgive Ranma for such things.
My problem is Ranma and Inuyasha are the only series she made that were ridiculously long; others weren't quite as bad. For me, my favorites series is Maison Ikkoku. It had the same type of humor as Ranma, but it progressed as a series. Through only fourteen volumes we watched the main character being unable to enter college to marrying his love interest and starting a family.
...
I actually have no idea how to end this. I just wanted to make a point.