Ranma ½ 2024 Episode 1 Review: It’s A Boy Girl Thing

The 1st episode of the much-awaited adaptation of this classic franchise is here, and it turned out pretty good. Let’s see how this turned out.

Ranma ½ 2024 Overview

Ranma ½ is a Japanese manga created by Rumiko Takahashi, which ran from August 1987 until March 1996. The series was compiled into 38 volumes published by Shogakukan. Known for its unique blend of comedy, martial arts, and supernatural elements, the story centres on Ranma Saotome, a martial artist with a problem.

The popularity of the manga led to its first anime adaptation by Studio Deen, consisting of two series: Ranma ½ and Ranma ½ Nettōhen, which aired from 1989 to 1992 on Fuji TV. Alongside the TV series, 12 original video animations (OVAs) and three feature films were released, expanding the franchise’s multimedia presence. In 2011, the story was adapted into a live-action special that aired on Nippon Television, offering a fresh take on the classic series.

A brand new anime adaptation was announced in June 2024, with MAPPA taking the reins for production. This latest version premiered in October 2024 on Nippon Television and also you can stream it on Netflix. Directed by Kōnosuke Uda, the series features scripts by Kimiko Ueno, character designs by Hiromi Taniguchi and music composed by Kaoru Wada. Fans of the original anime will be excited to hear that most of the original voice actors will return to reprise their roles.

Ranma ½ 2024 Episode 1 Review

After Urusei Yatsura and Rurouni Kenshin, this is another classic anime that got re-animated into a much better version with new-age technologies. The old series is definitely great on its own, as it is nothing short of legendary. But with MAPPA’s animation, this instalment lives up to the hype with good action and even better comedy. The plot itself is very funny as we see Soun, a Dojo master, awaiting the arrival of his friend’s son, Ranma, who is also a martial artist. Soun plans to marry one of his three daughters to Ranma and leave the Dojo to them.

We also get introduced to the three sisters where the older sister Kasumi is a gentle lady, Nabiki is the teasing middle sister, and then we have the tomboy Akane, who hates men. They all get the news, and some agree to it with open arms, while others remain absolutely against this entire matchmaking procedure. However, all their hopes and preconceived notions wash away when, instead of a son, a daughter arrives.

With such a 360° turn of events, at least Akane is happy that she will not have to marry anyone anymore. However, what she does not know is that Ranma is actually a boy who was cursed to temporarily become a woman. And only by getting dunked in water can he switch genders. This takes the whole series into an entirely new direction, and chaos ensues.

I absolutely support the decision to revive old shows that deserve more attention. With the growth of the anime industry and the addition of many new fans, these series get the chance to reach new heights and recognition after being re-imagined in such a modern way. The vibe of the show remains similar to the old adaptation, and it is just the animation that gets smoother and better.

Verdict

I loved this episode as this is the perfect comedy that gives us a much-needed break from all the Shounen and Isekai that we are seeing this season. I’m also sensing a good love-hate relationship that can bloom from here on, and I would love to witness how this whole thing goes.

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