Ranma ended at the end of 1996, with 38 volumes published as Rumiko Takahashi's longest running manga. The manga enjoyed extreme popularity, in Japan but also very much overseas! The world has recently discovered manga, and at the frontline of the manga onslaught was none other than Ranma 1/2. I thought this was very unusual as Ranma 1/2 is surely one of the strangest stories I have ever come across. But then the weird and the wonderful seems to be what's "in" this decade, so... Urusei Yatsura is a work of hers which is on this web page, and certainly worth checking out as I personally dub it as one of the, if not the funniest manga I have ever read. Her work has been immensely popular for literally decades, with Maison Ikkoku, a romantic comedy; One Pound Gospel, a sporting romantic comedy, The Mermaid Saga, a brush with horror; and 1 or W, which I'm not sure what it is. There are also some short stories such as Rumic World and Rumic Theatre. Her latest masterpiece is Sengoko OtokiZoushi, which seems to be more of an action-packed drama than side-splitting comedy. The title is self-explanatory, so there seemed to be no problem with translations just as long as the characters' names are preserved. Ranma stands for the name of the main character, Ranma (providing the names don't get meddled with in the translations). 1/2 stands for...no, you have to read the story to find out. It's quite fascinating actually...

STORY

Akane Tendo came home one day to be confronted by her father Souun Tendo (in a flood of nostalgic tears) telling her that his long-time friend Genma Saotome were returning from China from a martial arts training expedition. The Tendos own a dojo, and the two friends, Souun and Genma had pledged that they would betrove their children so that they could continue the line of their dojo; Anything-goes Martial Arts School. Just as Souun was telling his three daughters, Akane, Nabiki and Kasumi this, visitors arrived at the door. Expecting his friend, Souun rushed to the door but ran straight back in followed by a giant panda carrying a girl. After some speculation of the panda being Genma, the girl finally introduces herself as Ranma Saotome, the person one of the three girls was to be engaged to.

Like what happens nearly everyday, Souun lapses into one of his temporary nervous breakdowns; he collapses immobilized on the bed. He soon makes a miracle recovery. When Akane walks into the bathroom to find a guy there, she freaks and runs out screaming that there was a pervert in the bath. Following her, a bit flustered and definately embaressed, came Ranma Saotome, who is in reality a guy.

Confused? There is a good explanation. When Ranma and Genma went to China, they trained at a fabled martial arts training ground called the Jiyusenkiyou. Jiyusenkiyou was a collection of ponds, each with it's own tragic story and curse. Anyone who fell into a pond would take the shape of whatever last drowned there; and even ducks drown in those places. But do not despair, no one is doomed to remain in that shape forever. Splashed with hot water, you will return to your original form, while cold water turns you into whatever you turned into. Genma's lack of expertise with the Chinese language got them there, and both of them fell into a pond. Genma into the Pond of the Drowned Panda, while Ranma - you guessed it - fell into the Pond of the Drowned Girl.

One would think that poor Ranma was shocked enough to have transcended the definition of a transvestite, yet he is soon in for another shock. Everyone decides immediately that Ranma's fiancee was to be Akane, who was already miffed at Ranma having beaten her at martial arts. A boy-hater because she is highly-sought after at school, it was the first time she had ever lost to a boy. Unhappy with the choice of fiancee himself, Ranma then makes a rude comment about Akane's figure (or supposed lack of it) compared to his own in a female body; and she promptly reacts by crushing him with a table. A wonderful start to a beautiful relationship; destined to end with a gatecrashed wedding ceremony.

Such is the romantic martial arts comedy about the cursed martial artist with a real identity crisis; and his violent, boy-hating fiancee. As the manga progresses in short story format, they are joined by a cast of whacko characters who are either cursed, mad or both. It seemed that everyone who goes to Jiyusenkiyou is doomed to fall into a pond. Ranma himself earns a score of admirers and other fiancees; including the rhythmic gymnast Kodachi, Chinese martial artist Shampoo, and pancake-maker Ukyou. The cast is joined by the eternally-lost boy Ryouga, almost blind Muusu, weirdo samurai Kunou, and let's not forget the senior citizens; perverted old man Happosai and super old woman Colon.

Another round of frenzied and merry goings-on in this manga, the story consisting of a single short story or a series of parts. The action is spectacular martial arts drama; though the neighbourhood is not destroyed as regularly as one may expect. It is still destroyed nevertheless. Rumiko Takahashi really exercises her ability to twist everyday, boring events into the weird and the wonderful; this time she turns everything into martial arts contests. Since Ranma always wins everything with "martial arts" in the title, this proves not a problem. Martial arts Rhythmic Gymnastics, martial arts Ice Skating, martial arts Tea Ceremonies, martial arts Eating (French style - where the tongues of the contestants reach up to a metre long); the list is endless. The characters are definately not without charisma; characterisation and relationships are the strongest points in Takahashi's manga. They are always so alive with character interaction; even if it has been Takahashi-warped and exaggerated. But that is where the fun part comes in. I suppose this is why this manga is hailed as one of the great success stories of the '90s, with an ever-increasing bastion of fans even though the manga has ended. Everyone will continue seeing Ranma 1/2 for some time at the rate this is going.

Iron Mouse's Comment

I have the overwhelming desire to compare this with Urusei Yatsura... but before I get bashed I better tell you that this manga is worth a read. This style of weirdness may not be suited to everybody, so be warned, but if you look for the totally eccentric this is definately you. I personally think that Ranma 1/2 is not Rumiko Takahashi's best manga; but the stories are good, the characters are good, the artwork is good, so what do you have to lose? If you don't want to check out Ranma 1/2 your friend most certainly will, so you don't have a choice. Ranma 1/2 is certainly Takahashi's best known work, especially internationally as the world has started to take an interest in the Japanese pop culture of manga and anime. So in other words the anime and manga of Ranma 1/2 is easy to find. Which is a bonus; no fuss over ordering - just go down to your local video store and they should have it if they have a Manga Video section.

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