According to the creator, Matsumoto Izumi, the beautiful Ayukawa Madoka 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 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.
"Message in Rouge" is the last episode of the KOR anime to ever be produced (excepting Summer's Beginning six years later). As such there are several subtle gestures of farewell in it. Most notably Ayukawa's message in the mirror (which can apply equally well to the audience) and her re-climbing the staircase and counting the number of steps. It was also released with its previous episode "An Unexpected Situation" which was based on one of the last KOR stories that appeared in the manga.