Ranma 1/2
PLEASE NOTE: Ranma 1/2 is the original 18 part series and is not to be confused with the 143 part sequel Ranma 1/2 Nettōhen.
Summary
Genma Saotome takes his son Ranma on a trip to China for martial arts training. Despite warnings from their tour guide, the two fight on the cursed springs of Jusenkyo. Legend has it that thousands of years ago many tragically drowned in the springs, resulting in anyone falling into them taking the physical form of what had drowned. After both falling into the springs, Ranma takes the from of a female while Genma becomes a Panda. The curse will revert when coming into contact with hot water, but will work again once coming into contact with cold water.
As if matters weren’t already complicated enough for Ranma, his father decides to return to Japan to organise an arranged marriage for him. Genma organized this arranged marriage years ago with his good friend and fellow martial arts practitioner Soun Tendo. Soun has three teenage daughters, Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane. Sharing the age of 16 it is decided that Akane, the hot tempered tomboy, will marry Ranma.
Review
Ranma 1/2 runs on a flow of brilliant comic creativity. Featuring a wide variety of characters and ideas, Ranma 1/2 is consistantly funny and entertaining. The action scenes are fast paced and do not disappoint, backed by nice fluid animation and an energetic soundtrack. Speaking of the soundtrack, the theme tracks feature some really catchy 80’s J-pop that are so good, I’m listening to them as I write this.
The weakest point is the ending, which is a clipshow episode. Along with the ending being rushed due to early cancellation, more bad luck hit the production team as the episode “The Abduction Of P-chan” had to be pushed back due to a number of high profile kidnappings at the time. The episode never even showed during it’s short run, causing a painfully bad and confusing continuity error, a flashback to an episode that never happened!
Final Verdict
Ranma 1/2 has brilliant ideas and executes them perfectly. Funny, action packed and certainly never boring. Unfortunately the ending is terrible and in one episode we get a cringe-worthy continuity error. However, Ranma 1/2 has so many classic episodes and characters, and is worthy of being up there on a pedestal with many other great anime titles ★★★★
March 21st, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I’ve never given this a try, but I think it’s about time I do.