Ranma 1/2 – Season 1, Episode 2 – “School is no Place for Horsing Around” – Akane Rocks

   “School is no Place for Horsing Around” is mostly setup. It introduces us to the cool character of Dr. Tofu and the drama king Kuno as well as establishing ways in which Akane and Ranma are similar…if it had just been this it would be great, but it ending on a cliffhanger brings it down to simply good.

     The episode involves Tendo’s girls going to school and Renma’s first time as well since he’s going to be in the area for a while. Once they get to school a group of males attack Akane to claim her love and our easily beaten until Kuno arrives and Ranma realizes that he may have found someone as good as him at fighting.

The Pros: Dr. Tofu – He is the school doctor and a pretty chill guy. He also is super quiet and experienced at martial arts as he sneaks up on Renma and Renma can’t sense him. He is a bit of a mentor to Akane and her possible crush.

Kuno – This guy is dramatic about everything and in charge of the Kendo Club. He is a dick and thinks he’s entitled to Akane, which she has none of as she has defeated him countless times and kept his challenge to be with her open. The episode ends with him and Ranma falling into a pool in their search for a place to duel after getting kicked out of class.

Ranma – Ranma shows that he can be a good guy in this episode as we see him respecting Akane’s space and every time anyone asks about them he only says he is a guest. It isn’t until one of Akane’s sister mentions their engagement that people react and even than he is fighting that rumor since he doesn’t know if wants it or Akane wants it.

Akane – This is Akane’s episode and we see why she is so hard as she had to fight off suitors for a long time in High School. She’s a great martial artist and we see her softer side in this when she opens up to Ranma about Dr. Tofu inspiring her and also Kuno’s sick challenge, which hardened her even more. The episode ends with her being worried about Ranma.

  This was good but not great. It could have been better if we had more character moments. The comedy is good though as well as the fact that Ranma and Genma are always fighting and knocking each other into water. Kuno is the arrogant prick so seeing being brought down is always a lot of fun.

Final Score: 8.3 / 10

Ranma 1/2 Pilot – Season 1, Episode 1 – “Here’s Ranma” – Establishing the Relationships and the Crazy

     “Ranma 1/2” is going to be insane, and I think I’m probably going to like it. The relationships are never what they seem and all the characters are unhinged and the relationships are complicated. It’s a nice change of pace from what I usually watch in regards to anime where there are usually clear antagonists. This was a show that quite a few friends recommended to me, so it feels good finally getting started on it.

     The episode involves Soun Tendo setting up his daughters so that one of them will be the fiance of the famous martial artist Renma. Instead of Renma showing up as himself a red haired woman arrives with a Panda. After chaos and hot water it is soon discovered the red haired woman is Renma and that she changes back into he when hot water is poured on her and cold is when the Panda turns back into his father Genma.

The Pros: Soun Tendo – He’s a well meaning father just trying to save his Dojo and I never felt he didn’t care about his daughters. He actually faints when the red haired girl says she’s Renma as he feels betrayed by Genma. In the end it is established and he’s cool with them and the only cool head in the room.

Genma – Genma is Renma’s dad and is violent but never in a harmful way. He’s playful with Renma and always pushing him to be better and is very much a child as he is constantly trolling him.

Akane – Akane is the youngest of Soun’s daughters and the one uninterested in having a relationship. She actually makes friends with Renma when Renma is a she but feels betrayed after the hot water turns Renma back and comes to hate him because of it. She is openly violent and knocks Renma out after Renma insults how she looks and that she looks better as a she than Akane.

Renma – Renma has a huge ego and most of his/her problems are on him/her. Renma is always fighting and trolling and like Akane doesn’t want to be in a relationship since he’s been in so many already that he just doesn’t care anymore. Renma does grow to at least have an inkling of something for Akane though, I think it’s cause Akane can fight and Renma respects that.

The Cons: The Other Daughters – Kasumi and Nabiki are ciphers and don’t really have any personality. I hope they are made to be distinct later, if not there isn’t any point to having them around in the show.

   This was a good start to the series. It establishes that it is a relationship show and that all the characters are crazy in different ways…creating conflict right out the door. I’m curious to see how the relationships develop though, especially between Akane and Renma and I really like how Renma is comfortable being both a man and a woman. It makes Renma a great character.

Final Score: 8 / 10. Solid start to the series.

Ranma 1/2 – Upcoming Anime Reviews

   “Ranma 1/2” is one of the animes I’ve had recommended to me a few times so I’ve decided to that I will be reviewing the show! I’ll be doing it episodically with Season reviews and also taking my time on it too, that way there can still be a variety of other shows and films being reviewed as well.

     The story was created by Rumiko Takahashi and Fuji TV was who aired the show.

   “Ranma 1/2” ran for 7 seasons and is more of a romantic type anime though it does have fighting as the main character is a martial artist Ranma who has to deal with the curse where he changes into a girl while dealing with the threats from rivals and fiances who his con man father had tried to set him up with.

    So without further ado, “Ranma 1/2” will be the next anime reviewed!