Cultured otaku have been anticipating a Ranma 1/2 remake after Urusei Yatsura made its return. Rumiko Takahashi’s legendary genderswap and martial arts series has been a fan favorite for decades. The title character, Ranma, has to find a way to undo his curse while taking on martial artists in epic battles. We’ll see how he fares when this anime series premieres on October 5th, 2024.
Rumiko Takahashi released the original Ranma 1/2 manga series between August 19th, 1987, and March 6th, 1996. Shogakukan published all 38 volumes in the Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine. Studio Deen’s anime adaptation premiered on April 15th, 1989.
Our unlikely martial arts couple is as follows:
- Ranma Saotome — Kappei Yamaguchi (male Ranma) (Kechizu from Jujutsu Kaisen), Megumi Hayashibara (female Ranma) (Musashi/Jessie from Pokémon). A martial artist whose ego matches his skill. A curse transforms Ranma into a girl whenever cold water douses him.
- Akane Tendo — Noriko Hidaka (Shiny Chariot / Professor Ursula from Little Witch Academia). Ranma’s fiancée and a fellow martial artist. She is a tomboy at heart. Neither are happy with their fathers’ arrangement.
Studio MAPPA has maintained a home page, a TikTok channel, and a Twitter (X) page to promote Ranma 1/2. You can find more information about the series and the key visuals there. Fans can see the cast of characters return in all their glory. Rumiko Takahashi celebrated the new adaptation with a commemorative illustration.
Ranma 1/2 Fights on No Matter What
Ranma Saotome has trained in martial arts with his father, Genma, since childhood. His latest trip to China changed them both. The father and son duo sparred above the Jusenkyo Cursed Springs, unaware of their true nature. Genma fell into the Spring of Drowned Panda, and a curse turned him into a panda. Likewise, Ranma fell into the Spring of Drowned Girl, wherein he turns into a cute girl whenever cold water douses him.
Genma and Ranma travel back to Japan and settle in Nerima, Tokyo. Genma arranged for his son to marry one of Soun Tendo’s daughters. Ranma is against this, as are Soun’s daughters, but the youngest daughter, Akane, becomes the frontrunner as the fiancée. Ranma now must balance his father’s expectations, his own martial arts training, and the numerous rivals that keep appearing to challenge him, all as he tries to remove his curse. His female form doesn’t interfere with his life too much, but it annoys him.
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Are you going to watch the new Ranma 1/2 anime series? Have you seen the original anime adaptation? Who is your Best Girl (and why is it Ranko)? Let us know in the comments below.
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