TV-Series
Description
Moustique, also known as Ten, is a young Oni alien from the anime Urusei Yatsura. He is the younger cousin of Lum, the series' main alien character. Moustique is a toddler by appearance, with blue or green hair, horns, and the ability to fly and breathe fire, though his control over these powers is clumsy and unreliable due to his inexperience.
His background is straightforward: he first arrives on Earth motivated by curiosity about Lum’s new fiancé, Ataru Moroboshi. Upon meeting Ataru, he quickly forms a strong dislike for him, believing Ataru is unworthy of Lum. This initial disapproval drives Moustique’s primary motivation throughout the series: to sabotage Ataru and Lum’s relationship and protect his cousin from what he sees as a bad match. He moves into the Moroboshi household with Lum acting as his legal guardian, allowing him to constantly monitor and interfere.
Personality-wise, Moustique is bratty, loud, and smart-mouthed, often acting aggressively or mischievously around men, especially Ataru. He is precocious for his age, displaying a level of adult intelligence and cunning that surprises others. Despite this sharpness, he remains essentially a naive child and is easily charmed by attractive older women, whom he tries to impress with his cuteness. Around women he tends to be diminutive and sweet, while around men he is pesky and confrontational.
Moustique’s role in the story is primarily as a supporting comic antagonist. He frequently spies on Ataru, tattles to Lum, and devises schemes to get Ataru in trouble or drive him away. His presence adds a layer of domestic chaos and fuels many of the series’ slapstick conflicts. His relationship with Ataru is one of mutual antagonism: Ataru often retaliates verbally or physically, and they exchange insults and pranks. In contrast, his relationship with Lum is affectionate and protective; she acts as his caretaker and he genuinely looks out for her interests, even if his methods are childish.
Over the course of the series, Moustique shows little significant character development—he remains a toddler in behavior and mindset—but occasional moments reveal a softer side, such as when he cooperates with Ataru in a common goal or shows vulnerability. His notable abilities include flight, albeit slow and awkward, and fire breathing, which he uses to express anger or cause minor destruction. He also uses his cute appearance to manipulate situations, particularly to gain favor with women. Some versions of the series refer to him as Moustique, which is the French-language name for the character.
His background is straightforward: he first arrives on Earth motivated by curiosity about Lum’s new fiancé, Ataru Moroboshi. Upon meeting Ataru, he quickly forms a strong dislike for him, believing Ataru is unworthy of Lum. This initial disapproval drives Moustique’s primary motivation throughout the series: to sabotage Ataru and Lum’s relationship and protect his cousin from what he sees as a bad match. He moves into the Moroboshi household with Lum acting as his legal guardian, allowing him to constantly monitor and interfere.
Personality-wise, Moustique is bratty, loud, and smart-mouthed, often acting aggressively or mischievously around men, especially Ataru. He is precocious for his age, displaying a level of adult intelligence and cunning that surprises others. Despite this sharpness, he remains essentially a naive child and is easily charmed by attractive older women, whom he tries to impress with his cuteness. Around women he tends to be diminutive and sweet, while around men he is pesky and confrontational.
Moustique’s role in the story is primarily as a supporting comic antagonist. He frequently spies on Ataru, tattles to Lum, and devises schemes to get Ataru in trouble or drive him away. His presence adds a layer of domestic chaos and fuels many of the series’ slapstick conflicts. His relationship with Ataru is one of mutual antagonism: Ataru often retaliates verbally or physically, and they exchange insults and pranks. In contrast, his relationship with Lum is affectionate and protective; she acts as his caretaker and he genuinely looks out for her interests, even if his methods are childish.
Over the course of the series, Moustique shows little significant character development—he remains a toddler in behavior and mindset—but occasional moments reveal a softer side, such as when he cooperates with Ataru in a common goal or shows vulnerability. His notable abilities include flight, albeit slow and awkward, and fire breathing, which he uses to express anger or cause minor destruction. He also uses his cute appearance to manipulate situations, particularly to gain favor with women. Some versions of the series refer to him as Moustique, which is the French-language name for the character.