Ranma ½

Ranma ½

らんま½
1989 -1992 Studio Deen Fuji TV 161 episodes Completed
Comedy Martial Arts Romance Supernatural
Details & Synopsis
Ranma Saotome is a martial arts prodigy. He is also, depending on water temperature, a girl. A childhood training accident in the cursed springs of Jusenkyo left him with a condition his father, who turns into a panda, considers a minor inconvenience. Cold water: girl. Hot water: boy. This is presented as a problem. It is actually the greatest comedic premise in the history of anime.

Created by Rumiko Takahashi, the architect of Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, and Inuyasha, Ranma ½ began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1987 and ran for seven years. The anime adaptation by Studio Deen aired from 1989 to 1992, producing 161 TV episodes plus a mountain of OVAs and three theatrical films. It is one of the foundational texts of the fansub era, one of the shows that built the underground tape-trading networks that eventually became digital fansub culture in the West.

The cast is enormous and every single member of it is insane. Akane Tendo is the fiancée who would rather hit Ranma than admit she likes him. Shampoo is a Chinese Amazon who becomes a cat when splashed with cold water, which is its own catastrophic problem. Ryoga Hibiki has the worst sense of direction in human history and turns into a small black pig. P-chan is not a pig. Everyone knows P-chan is not a pig except Akane.

The 2024 Netflix remake exists. It is fine. Watch the original.
Alt Title らんま½
Studio Studio Deen
Network Fuji TV
Aired 1989 - 1992
Episodes 161
Genre Comedy, Martial Arts, Romance, Supernatural
Status Completed

Ranma Combat Ledger

Ranma Saotome vs. Ryoga Hibiki (Break-Through Duel)

Furinkan High Grounds · Ranma Tactical Victory

Ryoga challenged Ranma using his heavy iron umbrella and bandanas, seeking revenge for his Jusenkyo curse. Ranma struggled against Ryoga's superior raw physical strength and endurance.
The Breakdown
Ranma analyzed Ryoga's rigid movement patterns, using high-speed Anything-Goes agility to dodge Ryoga's bandana blades. Ranma tricked Ryoga into slicing off his own headband defenses, landing a point-blank aerial strike to win.

Ranma Saotome vs. Mikado Sanzenin (Martial Arts Rhythmic Skating)

Furinkan Ice Rink · Ranma & Akane Victory

Mikado and Azusa challenged Ranma and Akane to a high-stakes Martial Arts Figure Skating match over ownership of P-chan (Ryoga).
The Breakdown
Mikado utilized high-velocity ice-blade strikes and dirty tricks. Ranma transformed into his female form to match Mikado's flexibility, pairing with Akane to execute an acrobatic spin throw that shattered Mikado's ice defense.

Ranma Saotome vs. Happosai (Grandmaster Showdown)

SPOILER!

Tendo Dojo Courtyard · Draw / Happosai Escapes

Ranma attempted to seal away the perverted Grandmaster Happosai using the secret "Hiryu Shoten-ha" (Flying Dragon Soaring Blast) technique.
The Breakdown
Hiryu Shoten-ha requires drawing an opponent into a spiraling cold-air vortex created by contrasting hot and cold fighting spirits. Ranma successfully triggered the tornado strike, launching Happosai into the stratosphere, though the grandmaster survived undamaged due to his absurd durability.

Ranma Saotome vs. Kodachi Kuno (Martial Gymnastics)

Furinkan Gymnasium · Female Ranma Victory

Kodachi challenged Akane to a gymnastics duel, but Ranma stepped in wearing female form to defend the Tendo Dojo honor.
The Breakdown
Kodachi deployed poisoned black-rose dust and razor club throws. Ranma utilized high-speed Anything-Goes acrobatic counters, redirecting Kodachi's ribbon whip around Kodachi herself to bind her movements.

Ranma Saotome vs. Mousse (Duck & Hidden Weapons)

Furinkan Rooftop · Ranma Victory

Mousse challenged Ranma to steal the Phoenix Pill required to cure Shampoo's memory-erasing curse.
The Breakdown
Mousse launched a massive barrage of flying daggers, chains, and iron eggs from his sleeves. Ranma exploited Mousse's severe nearsightedness, throwing a decoy hat to trick Mousse into striking empty air before knocking him out.

Ranma & Ryoga vs. Pantyhose Taro (TV Debut)

SPOILER!

Tendo Dojo Grounds · Combined Force Victory

Pantyhose Taro invaded the dojo seeking revenge against Happosai for naming him after underwear at his Jusenkyo baptism, revealing his monstrous curse (Yeti-Bull-Eel-Crane hybrid).
The Breakdown
Taro's massive chimera form proved immune to normal punches. Ranma and Ryoga combined high-velocity Mōko Takabisha and fire strikes to drive Taro back into cold water, resetting his transformation.

Debut: Ep 121 - The Demon from Jusenkyo! (Part 1)

Ranma Saotome vs. Ryoga Hibiki (Bakusai Tenketsu Duel)

Construction Site Grounds · Ranma Tactical Victory

Ryoga deployed his newly mastered Bakusai Tenketsu to rain flying stone shrapnel onto Ranma, seeking to overpower Ranma's speed with environmental destruction.
The Breakdown
Ranma realized Ryoga's technique could not shatter human flesh directly. Ranma used his high-speed Tenshin Amaguri-ken punches to deflect incoming stone debris back at Ryoga, disorienting him and breaking his footing.

Ranma Saotome vs. Ukyo Kuonji (Okonomiyaki Showdown)

Tendo Dojo Courtyard · Ranma Victory / Betrothal Truth Revealed

Ukyo ambushed Ranma with high-velocity iron spatulas, flour dust-bombs, and sticky dough traps to settle their childhood debt.
The Breakdown
Ranma struggled against Ukyo's long-range chef ordnance until discovering Ukyo was female. Ranma used Anything-Goes agility to disarm her giant spatula, resolving the feud by acknowledging Genma's past betrayal.

Ranma Saotome vs. Prince Herb (Dragon's Ground Climax)

SPOILER!

Musabetsu Mountain Ridge · Ranma Victory

Prince Herb of the Musk Dynasty engaged Ranma to secure the Dragon's Ladle, utilizing high-output Chi Dragon blasts that locked Ranma in female form.
The Breakdown
Ranma deployed the Hiryu Shoten-ha, drawing Herb's explosive heat energy into a cold-spirit spiral. The resulting atmospheric tornado counter-struck Herb's chi blast, overcoming his dragon aura and breaking the lock.