Amazon Village (Coming Soon...)
Are you interested in cool looking animation? Amazing feats of martial arts? Acts of magic and the comic problems that occur because when they tragically backfire?! Then this might be something you want to look into.
So you want to know more about the series? I'm afraid I don't have the time or the patience to explain every aspect of the Ranmaverse to you people so I'll be brief. If you want to know more, please visit your local library, bookstore, or video store and get some Ranma 1/2 videos or books. (Also known as anime and manga). You won't regret it! (If you do, the owner of this site takes no responsibility for your dissatisfaction.) :)
Before I start the explanation of this popular Japanese series let's begin with some basics. You may have noticed that I have used the words Anime and Manga. As you may have guessed the English equivalents of these terms are animated films and graphic novels. Don't look at me like that. The Japanese take these things very seriously and if you're expecting Bugs Bunny type stuff with little plot and characterization then you're going to be severely disappointed. These type of shows are more similar to action packed sitcoms than anything else. Am I being redundant?
This all started out in Japan and you might just be wondering what's so special about it. You see, the creator of Ranma 1/2, Rumiko Takahashi, wrote and drew many, very funny graphic novels concerning the antics of a young martial artist and his friends. These books were so popular that they were taken and turned into an animated series and also translated into different languages for countries like the United States to read and watch. Of course, there are many differences but they're basically similar.
Let me try to boil down the story to its simple components. Being so simple-minded myself, this should be pretty easy for me. This story started when a young martial artist and his idiotic father (Ranma Saotome and Genma Saotome) take a training trip to the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo in China. Not bothering to find out why it was called the Cursed Springs, they proceed to jump around on the bamboo sticks sticking out of the ponds trying to hit the other in. Of course, they fall into the waters and they find the true horrors of Jusenkyo.
Apparently, anyone who falls into these magical bodies of water takes on the form of the original creature who drowned there. I bet you can see where this is leading. Ranma knocks his father into the Spring of Drowned Panda and Ranma himself falls into the Spring of Drowned Girl where he turns into a cute looking redhead! (Wierd, huh? Whoever heard of a redheaded asian girl?!)
To their relief, they find the curse is reversed by hot water but they also find that cold water will simply bring it back. Can you imagine turning into a girl every time you were splashed by cold water?!
Ahem. Getting back on track now. Now, after finding out more about their curses, Genma immediately drags his son to Nerima, Japan instead of staying to look for a cure for their conditions. (There wouldn't be a series if they found one!) Anyway, if things weren't complicated enough, Ranma's father took him to Japan to be engaged of one of the three daughters of his old friend, Soun Tendo. This poor aquatranssexual (guy who changes gender with water) has the choice of: Akane Tendo, the violent tomboy; or, Nabiki Tendo, the money grubbing mercenary; or, Kasumi Tendo, the world's nicest woman. Okay, I'm exaggerating (not that much!) but I got your interest, right?
I must apologize because I know you must still be confused. This is one of the hardest series to explain and you have to see it for youself to really get a feel for all the hijinks that occur.
Anyway, things aren't over yet. Not by a long shot. Ranma Saotome is one extremely powerful trouble magnet and Nerima soon becomes one of the Chaos Capitals of the World! You know, like Angel Grove of the Power Rangers, Gotham City of Batman, or Sunnydale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where absolutely anything is possible. With monsters, princes, and every ridiculously superpowered martial artist out for his blood, this soon becomes one of the funniest series I've ever seen. If you want a more concise explanation, please visit these links made by some very great people:
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I have found a hilarious summary/short story at the Homepage of Jeffrey Oneshot Wong. It details the author having a conversation with his friend and trying desperately to explain the inner workings of Ranma 1/2 without going crazy in the process! Check out Ranma 1/2: Explaining Ranma
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