According to the creator, Matsumoto Izumi, the beautiful Ayukawa Madoka's physique was inspired by the American actress Phoebe Cates.
First appeared as a popular manga (Japanese comic) weekly feature by Matsumoto Izumi. The series ran in the "Shuukan Shoonen Jampu" (Weekly Youth Jump Magazine) between 1984 and 1988.
The Japanese word "Kimagure" can be translated several ways in English: capricious, whimsical, and unpredictable. "Orange Road" is where "ABCB cafe" is located. It is also where many events took place in the series.
The word "kimagure" in the title referred to the elements in the series: (1) Kasuga Kyosuke's indecisiveness in everyday decisions. This is even more apparent when it comes to the love triangle between him, Ayukawa Madoka and Hiyama Hikaru. (2) Ayukawa Madoka's mood since she can be kind and gentle towards Kasuga Kyosuke in one scene, tough and cold in another scene.
The adoring lovers that appear in brief cameos in most episodes, Ushiko and Umao, have joke names based off of farm animals. "Ushi" is Japanese for "cow" and "Uma" means "horse".
Followed by
Kimagure orenji rôdo: Ano hi ni kaeritai (1988)
Kimagure orenji rôdo (1989) (V)
Spin off
Shin Kimagure orenji rôdo: Soshite, ano natsu no hajimari (1996) (V)