What is Ranma 1/2?
For those of you who have never heard of Ranma 1/2 and would like some background information in order to read my stories, (someone out there must fit this description), here's a brief rundown.
Ranma 1/2 is a manga (Japanese comic) series by Rumiko Takahashi. It was also turned into an animated tv series that ran for 5 years, and there were several movies and video-only additions to the anime (Japanese animation) catalogue.
Ms. Rumiko Takahashi is the most popular comics artist in the word, ever. Comics are very big in Japan, and comic magazine sales can rival the sales of magazines like Time and Newsweek. Rumiko Takahashi began publishing in the late seventies/early eighties, and she created a series, Ursei Yatsura, that became one of the most popular comic series of all time. This is a comic with recognition worldwide to rival just about any comic you could name. Superman? Archie? Few creators in any genre are lucky enough to strike gold in this way even once.
Rumiko Takahashi did it again... and again... and again.
Her series Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2, One Pound Gospel, Mermaid Scar, and Inu Yasha have all had success, ranging from good to phenomenal. Ranma 1/2 has actually exceeded Ursei Yatsura in popularity. So what is it about?
Ranma Saotome is a 16-year old boy. He's been travelling with his father and learning martial arts since he was a little kid, so he's become an excellent martial artist. Now they're back in the Nerima district of Tokyo, where Ranma learns that he's to marry the daughter of his father's old friend. He's not too thrilled about it, and things are complicated by this weird curse of his....
Recently, Ranma's father took him to Jusenkyo, "the legendary training ground of cursed springs" located deep in the moutainous region of western China, to train. The Chinese guide said, "There are very many springs (small pools), and each has it's own tragic story", but were they listening? No. They both fell into a pool, and now they're cursed. Dad fell into the "spring of drowned panda", while Ranma fell into the "spring of drowned girl". When splashed with cold water, Dad becomes a panda, while Ranma becomes... well you get the idea. Hot water restores them, but there seems to be a lot of water in the Nerima district....
Ranma's dad's friend has a martial arts training hall and three daughters, but it's Akane who winds up engaged to him. She's none too thrilled, either. Ranma and his dad settle down, he goes to school, he gets into fights, he wins, but then enemies from his past begin to show up, some with their own curses, and he finds out that he has more than one fiancée (more than two, in fact) and there are boys attracted to his girl form.... everyone wants a piece of the poor boy/girl! It's not an easy life, being a teenage martial artist wonderkind who changes sex more often than clothes....
This series is, above all, hilariously funny.
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