Ranma 1/2 (2024)

If you’re aware of more classic or old school anime, you may have watched the first or second adaptation that ran in the ’80s and early ’90s. I’ve never delved much into the past beyond Ghibli movies, though YuYu Hakusho started airing the year the second adaption ended. Anyways, point is I never heard of this and I was unlikely to watch the original unless someone mentioned it to me, but a third adaptation must mean it’s pretty good.

Now as might be expected, the original adaptations added filler and deviated from the source. As I mentioned in my recent Spice and Wolf review, a remake gives hope that there will be a full adaptation. Unlike Spice and Wolf, I don’t have any friends who are big fans of Ranma 1/2 and have read the source material, or if they have they haven’t told me. Without having watched the original or being aware of more of the source, I went into this without the same enthusiasm. However, I was delightfully surprised.

Now basic setup, Ranma is a boy who while training with his father fell into a spring and is now cursed. Touching cold water turns him into a girl, and hot water turns him back. Same rules for his father, except he turns into a panda. Upon returning to Japan, he is engaged to the youngest of three sisters. Comedy ensues as Ranma and Akane are both kind of tsunderes with a lot of physical strength to back up their denial of their feelings. We have numerous side characters who also provide some laughs, whether through their eccentricity or recurring gags. Some comedy does revolve around transforming Ranma, though it’s worth noting his female form is the subject of fan service, though it’s not often and the other girls largely avoid similar treatment.

There’s some heartfelt moments among the laughs, and luckily a second season has already been confirmed. MAPPA is a pretty busy studio though, so hopefully we don’t have to wait too long in between seasons on this show.