I've been told that Viz really messed up the distribution of Ranma 1/2 when they originally released it. Out-of-order episodes on the tapes. The seasons were not released in proper order. This information make just be Wiki bull, and I got it second hand from my media obsessed sister, but as one who claims to be a Fanboy, the disrespect a distributor can have towards a product is disturbing.
Then again, this is Ranma 1/2. I cannot say that I got the impression that there was a running plot from reading the backs of tape boxs. This is situation comedy done with the right intentions. Create impossible situations that should allow for new ideas each time.
Of course Ranma 1/2 is not The Simpsons, Excel Saga, Red Dwarf, or South Park, so it falls into formulated situations. But these are formulated situations derived from Kung Fu experts turning into chicks, cats, ducks, pigs, and pandas. How can one not be intrigued to see what the series has to offer? Especially when you get a cute theme song like this one.
Ranma Gains Yet Another Suitor Akane and Ryouga, 2-gether 4-ever Akane the Super Duper Girl Killer from Jusenkyo
If your really into animation, and that doesn't just mean anime, it would not be surprising for you to have heard of Ranma 1/2. Just the concept of a guy changing into a girl when splashed with cold water seems to sparks anyones interest. Then you throw in the panda, the cat, and P-chan, how can you resist seeing this at some point.
There are some constant flaws with the series. The fact that the show will squeeze in an "Anything Goes Martial Arts" fight if it is needed or not can get annoying, but all in all every episode is pretty funny. I don't advice trying to collect the entire series (it would cost 4 times what Evangelion does), and if you are going to collect only certain episodes make sure they're definately the ones you want. I do feel that every anime fan should try to view Ranma 1/2 because the series seems to fit for the American mainstream, it just seems meant for MTV's Twisted Toon Thursdays (am I the only one who remembers Cartoon Sushi?). Put Steve Austin's commentary over some of the fights, and you know it would work.
Ranma Gains Yet Another Suitor
Akane, Ranma's fiance, witnesses Ranma's father get the crap kick out of him by spatula wielding challenger. Ranma is unable to get pops to tell him what is going on, and the only theory that he and Akane have is that pops has an illegitimate child. No matter how impressed Ranma is by the concept that his dad still gets around (^_-,^_-), he knows there is definitely trouble ahead which he meets the next day when his old friend and now the greatest okonomiyaki cook in Japan, Ukyo, transfers to his high school. The new kids reason for the transfer, vengeance and this grudge will be settled under anything goes okonomiyaki rules.
Pretty cool episode despite not much use of the Jusenkyo curse. All the characters are fun with their extreme personalities, and Ukyo's use of kitchen utensils and food make the character worthwhile. Her (oops gave away the ending) attitude is also pretty cool, wanting to be tough but has an obvious obstacle in doing that (to her credit, she is more interesting than Mulan). The fight does fit in but runs a little to long. After the climax everything calms down a little to fast. All in all its a great show, but Ukyo's dubbing is done pretty poorly though since there isn't even an attempt to cover up the estrogen.
Akane and Ryouga, 2-gether 4-ever
Ryouga has come back from another trip with gifts for Akane, but he kind of forgets about his reason for coming back when he finds out Ranma has another fiance. After he fails to defeat a double team by Ukyo and Ranma, Akane tends his wounds which gives Ukyo an idea to win Ran-Chan. Ukyo decides to set Ryouga and Akane on a date, but when the okonomiyaki love letter reaches the Tendo Training Hall, half of it gets stepped on by Ranma during a chase with P-Chan, so Akane think she has a new challenger to face.
This episodes pretty cute because I guess I can sympathize with Ryouga's dating difficulties (you will disavow any knowledge of the above statement after you read the review). Its a good episode for Ukyo playing towards her personality well, and the Jusenkyo curse is used extremely well. Unfortunately it falls apart when Akane is willing to go on a date with Ryouga. The show is still well paced, but could have been a lot shorter.
Akane the Super Duper Girl
Shampoo pulls another trick on Akane to try to show her superiority, and Akane is pissed, but with Ranma's attitude towards helping her train, how can she defeat her rival. In the mean time, Happosai, Genma's master, is fixing up some Super Sopa which will make him the strongest man on Earth, but allowing his perversion to get the best of him, he misplaces his food which is accidently by Akane. Now she believes she can not only beat Shampoo, but even Ranma. Is her vengeane worth ignoring the possible side effect that Ranma claims there is?
Better than I expected because the basis of the character of Happosai turned me away from getting any video with him in it. He's actually one of the better parts about the episode along with Ranma gluttonous attitude. Otherwise there is nothing overly impressive with the episode except the thought of what the side effect could do to Akane. It runs long, the anything goes table tennis is rather tedious and when they have a second game you know they are just filling in 30 min. To bad it had to be on the same tape with "Killer from Jusenkyo".
Killer from Jusenkyo
Who knew you were regulated in how you were cursed? The Jusenkyo Commitee is pretty peeved with the antics of Genma, Ranma, Shampoo, Mouse, and Ryouga, so they plan to teach them a lesson. First the cat and duck are kidnapped, followed by P-Chan, and then the panda. It's now up to Happosai, Ranma, Akane, and Kenay, a master swordsman of the commitee with one weakness, to save the four before they get special training on how to use their curse correctly.
This is probably the best paced episode in the series. You might get bored with Genma and Ranma taking repeated swims, but otherwise everything fits in. The characters are all used well (the only thing the video is missing is Ukyo) and the common foe works well. Maybe not the funniest episode, but definitely worth the time to see.
Ranma 1/2 © 1996 Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan, Inc. - Kitty - Fuji TV
No comments:
Post a Comment