Ranma 1/2 (By Rumiko Takahashi)

[PointOfNoReturn612]

Does anyone else like this anime/manga series?

I'm not a huge anime/manga fan, but this is one of about 5 that I really enjoy (Includin Takahashi's other popular series, Inuyasha and Maison Ikkoku)

It has to be one of the most insane stories ever! It's a comedy/romance/action story... About a cursed, 16-year-old martial arts fighter named Ranma who turns into a girl when he's splashed w/ cold water. Only warm water can bring him back to his original form! (it is SO much better than I make it sound, trust me!) Oh, and he's also engaged against his will to a girl named Akane. They fight ALL the time (to hide how they really feel, of course )

It's definately bizarre, but SO funny! There are some HILARIOUS secondary characters...they're just too awesome! And the little romantic moments between Ranma and Akane are too adorable!

It's definately a hilarious show/manga series!

I highly recommend it!

Boy/Girl Ranma:

[Shany]

I watch the anime, but am stuck in the middle of the third season. Reason - the show is really repetitive.

It's really funny but currntly there are only about 3 episode ideas that repeat themselves over and over, and the characters don't even evolve during that time so it's hard to keep watching it.
Some characters are even devolving - Akane, who at the start of the show beat every boy in her school and practiced martial arts all the time now lets Ranma do nearly all her fights, and even when she does fight it's usully with the help of someone or something.

[PointOfNoReturn612]

That's one of the major realsons I like the manga better than the TV series. The first 3 seasons stick to the Manga's plotlines...but after that, they start making up things that never happened and taking away important key points!

Also, they make Akane appear as much more of a weakling in the TV series...They portray Shampoo and Ukyo (don't think she's appeared yet where you are though) as much stronger and more powerful...when, in the manga, it's usually Akane kicking THEIR butts! (Well...unless she's too busy beating up on Ranma... )

Also, the development of Ranma and Akane's relationship takes WAY too long in the show...and they even ended the show differently than they did the manga!

But, I still really do enjoy the show...but I only own seasons 1-6 because the episodes started getting SO bad, I figured I wouldn't waste another 100 bucks or so...but maybe I'll get Season 7 for fun someday...who knows?

Seasons 1 and 2 had the best episodes ever, in my opinion (There were a few good ones in Season 3 though...especially when Ranma thinks he really is a girl )

[Shany]

Nice to hear that Akane is better in the manga, it's like they completely stopped caring about anything but the whole she likes Ranma/ she dislikes Ranma thing in the anime. It's strange how some animes stray away from the manga early on (like Fullmetal Alchemist in some ways).

The show apparently doesn't end at season 7, but there's an OVA as well, I think it takes place after the series so there is quite a lot to watch.

I know Ukyo, she appears at the very start of season 3. She's a nice character and her costume is funny, but so far I don't know what to think about her since there's no character development.

My favourite character is Ryoga, he's just so cute and hopeless in how he always gets lost, and never realizes that Akane doesn't love him...

[kageri]

shany said:

My favourite character is Ryoga, he's just so cute and hopeless in how he always gets lost, and never realizes that Akane doesn't love him...

You and me both. He's definitely my favorite anime character ever.

The manga is indeed better than the anime, although they both drag out for so incredibly long that I've given up on seeing all of either incarnation. Either way, the best thing about it is the characters. They're just.... great. Bah, I'm not very coherent today.

[PointOfNoReturn612]

Random Question for anyone who wants to answer How many episodes/mangas have you seen/read? I've seen all of seasons 1-6, as well as both movies, and I've read up to #28 in the manga series (Only 8 more to go!) I've been lazy about buying them though...so up to #35 have actually been published...I need a trip to Borders!!

As for Ryoga...
Awwww! I love Ryoga/P-Chan! I love how he's so physically strong (and can even prove to be a match for Ranma at times!) Yet, emotionally, he's so fragile and weak. It's a nice contrast to see! I also feel a little bad for him, because of the whole Akane thing, but, in the manga...

*****RYOGA SPOILERS AHEAD!!!*****(Manga only, not anime)

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In volume 28 of the manga, Ryoga meets a girl named Akari who raises sumo-wrestling pigs, and she falls in love with him. From what I understand, the two have an on-again, off-again romance up until the end of the series. By the time the manga ends, Ryoga is happy with Akari, but still feels some lingering attatchment to Akane...But I was really happy he finally found someone!! :-D
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*****End of Spoilers*****

Do you guys have a favorite episode/manga chapter? I love the Romeo and Juliet episode/manga chapter a lot... And I also love the manga volume with Shinnosuke and his grandfather...it was really funny, action-packed, AND sweet

But I really love almost every manga volume...and probably the majority of anime episodes

[kageri]

In the manga, I loved the "hot springs race" thing, where Ranma and... Shampoo I think, teamed up and Akane and Mousse were stuck together, and Ukyo and Ryoga kept ending up in the attic -- and won the race and a trip to Jusenkyo just out of his sheer directionlessness. Good times. I so wish they had animated that story arc.

[PointOfNoReturn612]

I remember that one! LoL Ukyo and Ryoga are so cute together...I love it!

PS: *Squee!* I bought SEVEN Ranma books today, so now I have up to number 35! Only one more left in the series! *dances* Too bad it won't be out till November though...