TV-Series
Description
Ataru Vater, whose real name is never revealed in the series, is a prominent supporting character in the anime and manga. His background is that of a typical Japanese salaryman, working long hours to provide for his family. He is married to Ataru's Mother, and together they live in a house that frequently becomes a casualty of the chaotic events surrounding their son.
In terms of personality, Ataru Vater is a quiet, timid man who desires nothing more than a nice and peaceful home life. He often tries to distance himself from the bizarre situations unfolding around him, typically by hiding behind his newspaper. This passive approach, however, rarely works, as his home is a regular target for destruction. In the anime, he frequently laments this fact, especially worrying about the remaining payments on his mortgage, a running joke that underscores his perpetual financial anxiety. He is an extreme doormat, possessing very little dignity and often wishing he were treated with more respect as the family's sole provider.
His primary motivation is to maintain a semblance of normalcy and financial stability. He finds himself in a constant struggle against the alien-induced chaos, particularly the antics of his son and Lum, which lead to property damage and public embarrassment. Despite his exasperation, there is a core of genuine family feeling. On the rare occasions when he believes Ataru might be in genuine danger or even dead, he and his wife are genuinely distraught, proving that their verbal abuse masks a real, if often tested, love for their son.
Ataru Vater's role in the story is largely that of a bystander and a comedic foil. He serves as a representation of the average adult trying to cope with the surreal. His reactions to the destruction of his house, the strange alien visitors, and his son's lecherous behavior ground the fantastical elements of the plot in mundane, relatable frustrations. In the movie Only You, his role expands slightly when he and his wife join forces with Lum's parents to pressure Ataru into officially marrying Lum, hoping to secure a better life for themselves on the Oni homeworld.
His key relationships are with his immediate family and in-laws. He and his wife, though occasionally bickering in the 1981 anime, are shown to have an affectionate, quiet love for each other. His relationship with his son, Ataru, is one of exasperated disappointment; he and his wife often express that they had wanted a daughter and now adore Lum as if she were the child they always wished for, which makes Ataru jealous. Initially, Ataru Vater is wary of Lum's father due to his intimidating size and manner. However, after Lum's father stays with the family for a few days, Ataru Vater begins to look up to him as a role model of manly living, a development that shows his capacity for admiration beyond his timid nature.
There is little character development for Ataru Vater throughout the series; he remains a consistent source of parental frustration and financial worry. One of the few notable changes is his evolving respect for Lum's father. He does not possess any notable special abilities or combat skills, his primary talent being his endurance as the family's breadwinner and his ability to voice his despair over the mortgage.
In terms of personality, Ataru Vater is a quiet, timid man who desires nothing more than a nice and peaceful home life. He often tries to distance himself from the bizarre situations unfolding around him, typically by hiding behind his newspaper. This passive approach, however, rarely works, as his home is a regular target for destruction. In the anime, he frequently laments this fact, especially worrying about the remaining payments on his mortgage, a running joke that underscores his perpetual financial anxiety. He is an extreme doormat, possessing very little dignity and often wishing he were treated with more respect as the family's sole provider.
His primary motivation is to maintain a semblance of normalcy and financial stability. He finds himself in a constant struggle against the alien-induced chaos, particularly the antics of his son and Lum, which lead to property damage and public embarrassment. Despite his exasperation, there is a core of genuine family feeling. On the rare occasions when he believes Ataru might be in genuine danger or even dead, he and his wife are genuinely distraught, proving that their verbal abuse masks a real, if often tested, love for their son.
Ataru Vater's role in the story is largely that of a bystander and a comedic foil. He serves as a representation of the average adult trying to cope with the surreal. His reactions to the destruction of his house, the strange alien visitors, and his son's lecherous behavior ground the fantastical elements of the plot in mundane, relatable frustrations. In the movie Only You, his role expands slightly when he and his wife join forces with Lum's parents to pressure Ataru into officially marrying Lum, hoping to secure a better life for themselves on the Oni homeworld.
His key relationships are with his immediate family and in-laws. He and his wife, though occasionally bickering in the 1981 anime, are shown to have an affectionate, quiet love for each other. His relationship with his son, Ataru, is one of exasperated disappointment; he and his wife often express that they had wanted a daughter and now adore Lum as if she were the child they always wished for, which makes Ataru jealous. Initially, Ataru Vater is wary of Lum's father due to his intimidating size and manner. However, after Lum's father stays with the family for a few days, Ataru Vater begins to look up to him as a role model of manly living, a development that shows his capacity for admiration beyond his timid nature.
There is little character development for Ataru Vater throughout the series; he remains a consistent source of parental frustration and financial worry. One of the few notable changes is his evolving respect for Lum's father. He does not possess any notable special abilities or combat skills, his primary talent being his endurance as the family's breadwinner and his ability to voice his despair over the mortgage.