We often get a lot of e-mail with the same questions. Hopefully this FAQ will help with any questions you may have. If you have any other questions, please feel free to e-mail us.
- How do you pronounce the title?
- When did Ranma ½ originally air on television?
- When did Ranma ½ begin and end in Japan?
- When will Ranma ½ end in the US?
- What is the third Ranma ½ movie about and when will it be released in the US?
- How can I find a certain Ranma ½ CD?
- Where are good places to purchase Ranma ½ products?
- What's okonomiyaki? Is that all Ukyo can cook well?
- Ukyo and Ryoga are a great couple! They will get together in the end, right?
- How about Kuno and Nabiki? Won't they end up together?
- Will there be anymore Ranma ½ OAVs?
- Why does the TV series end that way?
- If the TV series is not the end of the anime, then what is?
- Give me a link!
- How often do you update?
- Why don't you have sections for "anime only" characters?
- Do the characters names have any special meaning?
- What are some rare Ranma ½ products?
- In the second movie Ranma's holding something in his hand when he fights Toma, what is that and where did he get it?
- What happened to Mrs. Tendo?
- I've never seen a lot of your images, where do you get them?
- Where does the series take place, and is it a real town?
- Do Ranma and Akane really have a competition to see who's breasts are bigger?
- What is the order that the tapes have come out in the US?
- Why is Ranma afraid of cats?
- What are some of the differences between the manga and TV series?
The title is pronounced "Ranma Ni-bun-no-ichi" and in English it's "Ranma One-Half".
2. When did Ranma ½ originally air on television?
The Ranma ½ television series debuted on April 15, 1989. It aired on Saturdays at 7:30 on Fuji TV. After the first series, Ranma ½ Nettohen moved to Fridays. It began November 17, 1989 and came to an end on September 25, 1992.
3. When did Ranma ½ begin and end in Japan?
The manga ran in Shonen Sunday from September of 1987 until February of 1996 and covered a total of 407 weekly chapters.
4. When will Ranma ½ end in the US?
There are 407 chapters of Ranma ½ which are released in a two chapter per month format. Chapter 200 (Part 9 Number 5 in the US) was published in September 2000. That means the manga run is approximately half way over as of that date. At the current rate the manga will end around June of 2008.
The anime of Ranma ½ as of September 2000 was up to episode 87 of the Nettohen run. Viz releases two episodes per month (barring any delays which are becoming frequent). At the current rate there are 56 more episodes. The series will end at approximately January of 2004.
5. What is the third Ranma ½ movie about and when will it be released in the US?
It already has been released, but most people confuse it as being an OAV. In the USA, it was released on the tape "One Grew Over the Kuno's Nest". "Team Ranma vs. The Legendary Phoenix" is actually the third Ranma ½ film.
6. How can I find a certain Ranma ½ CD?
Animenation will do special orders for any product you are looking for as long as you can provide them with the title and product code (and as long as the item is still being produced). The following is a list of Ranma ½ CDs and their product codes:
Musical Dojo Vol. 1 (Pony Canyon PCCG-00192)
Musical Dojo Vol. 2 (Pony Canyon PCCG-00193)
Opening Theme Songs Collection (Pony Canyon PCCG-00190)
Closing Theme Songs Collection (Pony Canyon PCCG-00191)
1991 Music Calendar (Pony Canyon PCCG-00195)
1995 Music Calendar (Son May SM-041)
Movie 1 Soundtrack (Pony Canyon PCCG-00156)
Movie 2 Soundtrack (Pony Canyon PCCG-00186)
Movie 3 and OAV Soundtrack (Kitty KTCR-1269)
Fighting Songs Karuta (Pony Canyon PCCG-00163)
Hot Songs Contest (Pony Canyon PCCG-00194)
Strongest Music Collection (Pony Canyon PCCG-00175)
Super Best OST (Pony Canyon PCCG-491)
Electronic Game Music (Nippon Columbia COCC-10689)
DoCo First (Pony Canyon PCCG-00142)
DoCo Second (Pony Canyon PCCG-00326)
DoCo Karaoke (Pony Canyon PCCG-00327)
Singles Box Set (Kitty KACD-4001~4018)
7. Where are good places to purchase Ranma ½ products?
The best place to purchase Ranma ½ items is J-pop.com. This is Viz's official online store, J-pop sells only domestic items though so if you're looking for an import CD a good place to try is Anime Nation, and for rare items try e-Bay.
8. What's okonomiyaki? Is that all Ukyo can cook well?
Okonomiyaki is a mixture between pancake and pizza. "Okonomi" means "as you like". This refers to the ingredients. Ukyo is a very good cook overall, and as Kasumi points out in Vol. 19 part 8 (Part 9 No. 4 in the US) she can make tasty non-okonomiyaki meals.
9. Ukyo and Ryoga are a great couple! They will get together in the end, right?
Well, Ukyo and Ryoga aren't a couple, and never have been. Ukyo loves Ranma with all her heart and Ryoga is totally devoted to Akane. Of course neither of them end up with Ranma or Akane in the end, but they don't wind up with each other either. That's what Konatsu and Akari are introduced for.
10. How about Kuno and Nabiki? Won't they end up together?
This is another weird one... not only do Kuno and Nabiki not like each other, Kuno is interested in female-Ranma and Akane. They each have no interest in each other, not even as friends.
11. Will there be anymore Ranma ½ OAVs?
It certainly would make sense that there would at least be one more. Maison Ikkoku and Urusei Yatsura both had their final chapters animated and we would expect that Ranma ½ will eventally see it's conclusion animated as well.
12. Why does the TV series end that way?
The final episode of the televison series was not meant to be the end of the Ranma ½ story. Immediately after the television series ended OAVs were released focusing on other stories and specials. If the real ending of Ranma ½ is animated it will be as an OAV or film.
13. If the TV series is not the end of the anime, then what is?
The last piece of animation released in Japan was "The Two Akanes! Ranma Look at Me!" which was an OAV released in 1996. This is not the end of the series however. The order of the anime is as follows...
Ranma ½ Episodes 1-18
Ranma ½ Nettohen Episodes 1-100
Ranma ½ Movie 1
Ranma ½ Nettohen Episodes 101-135
Ranma ½ Movie 2
Ranma ½ Nettohen Episdoes 136-143
Ranma ½ OAVs 1-8
Ranma ½ Movie 3
Ranma ½ Super OAVs 1-3
14. Give me a link!
We usually don't give out links just because someone asks us to. If you have a non-Ranma, Rumiko Takahashi/Rumiko Takahashi related series site and would like us to consider it then just send us an e-mail or sign our guestbook.
15. How often do you update?
We've gotten into the habit of updating at least once a week, usually twice. Here's a brief run-down of how often each section is updated.
Characters section- As often as possible, but no set time. Usually once every two months or so, but sometimes we will do a few within a weeks time. If you have a certain character you'd like to see a profile for sooner than later, just let us know and we'll do that character first.
Music section- Most of that has been finished, except for the Midi section which is updated every Monday with a new midi.
News and New Releases- This section is updated usually twice a month or more depending on when new news arrives or when a manga or anime tape is released.
Gallery- The Cover Gallery is updated approximately half way through the run of each part.
Manga Summaries- This section is updated after each part has been completed or half of a part is completed.
Episode, Film, and OAV Summaries- These sections have been completed, but new English titles are added to the Episode summaries as the tapes are released in the US.
Items and Locations- whenever a new item or locations comes to mind we'll put it up, but there is no set period for updating.
Video Games- This section has been completed.
16. Why don't you have sections for "anime only" characters?
Actually, we do now! This is an old question we used to get before we had the section posted, but if you're interested in any of the many "Anime Only" characters either from the TV series, movies, or OAVs, just click here.
17. Do the characters names have any special meaning?
They certainly do! For info about the meaning behind each character's name please see their specific section in under the Characters Section.
18. What are some rare Ranma ½ products?
There are quite a few rare products, but the most notable ones are:
Ranma ½ Memorial Book- This was published by Shonen Sunday in 1996 following the conclusion of Ranma ½ in Japan. It features quite a lot of color artwork, charts, manga summaries and an interview with Rumiko Takahashi.
Ranma ½ Movie + OAV Visual Selection- This tankoban-size book contains two manga stories that use footage from the third movie and "The One To Carry On" OAVs as the artwork. It also contains character designs from the TV series and OAVs as well as layouts for the Tendo Home. This is very difficult to find.
Ranma ½ Singles Collection- This is an expensive 18 disc set of all the singles from the artists who performed the opening and ending songs for the series and first two movies. It comes in a beautiful case with a booklet, and has all of the b-sides by the artists.
OAV and 3rd Movie Soundtrack- This one is becoming harder to find, and is one of the best CDs in the Ranma discography. It features music from the OAV series and 3rd movie.
19. In the second movie Ranma's holding something in his hand when he fights Toma, what is that and where did he get it?
You've got good eyesight if you caught the pin in Ranma's hand when he fights Toma the second time. Cologne gives him the pin and tells him he must feel real pain to overcome Toma's illusions. The scene where he was given the pin was cut from the film before its release.
20. What happened to Mrs. Tendo?
It's never said how Mrs. Tendo passed away, but she did so when Akane was quite young. It was probably from natural causes though. Miss Tendo is never mentioned in the manga until Akane has a dream about her (Vol 22 Part 2). The Tendos, Ranma and Genma go to her grave to pay their respects to her on the anniversary of her death. As indicated by Akane's memories of her mother, she was a very kind and nurturing woman.
21. I've never seen a lot of your images, where do you get them?
We scan or capture all images on our site, and purposefully use lesser seen images when possible. They are all taken from our English mangas, tankobans, import laser discs, VHS tapes or DVDs.
22. Where does the series take place, and is it a real town?
Yes, Nerima is a ward in Tokyo, and is in fact a real place. The phone number for the area is 03-3993-1111.
23. Do Ranma and Akane really have a competition to see who's breasts are bigger?
Indeed they do, in Vol. 34 Akane is quite proud of her bust until Ranma upsets her by pointing out that hers is larger.
24. What is the order that the tapes have come out in the US?
Ranma 1/2 Season 1
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 1
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 2
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 3
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 4
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 5
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 6
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 7
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 8
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 9
Ranma 1/2 Season 2 "Anything Goes Martial Arts"
Darling Charlotte
It's Fast or It's Free
Cat-fu Fighting
Chestnut's Roasting on an Open Fire
Cold Competition
The Breaking Point
Fowl Play
The Evil Wakes
Goodbye Girl-Type
Tough Cookies
Ranma and Juliet
Ranma 1/2 Season 3 "Hard Battle"
Ukyo Can Cook
Dim Sum Darling
Dharma Chameleon
Once Upon a Time In Jusenkyo
Pretty Womanhood
Suddenly Sasuke
Melancholy Baby
Back To The Happosai
Da Do Ling-Ling Lung-Lung
Smells Like Evil Spirit
Soap Get's In Your Eyes
Mirror, Mirror
Ranma 1/2 Season 4 "Outta Control"
Headmaster From Hell
...The Harder They Fall
Immoral Kombat
My Fiance, The Cat
The Spirit of Furinkan
A Room With a Zoo
Happy's Heart
Tattoo You
Great Eggspectations
Pinky Promised
You Bet Your Dojo
Eat Drink, Man Who Turns Into Woman
Ranma 1/2 Season 5 "Martial Mayhem"
Buns of Steel
Marry Me, Akane
Tea for Three
Daddy Dearest
One Lump or Two
Croak and Dagger
Three Girls, a Guy, and a Japanese Pizza Place
To the Victor the Spoils
Battle: Foie Gras
Swimming with Psychos
Nightmare on Happosai Street
My Kagemusha, Myself
The Movies
Big Trouble in Nekonron, China
Nihao, My Concubine
The OAVs
Desperately Seeking Shampoo
Akane and her Sisters
Like Water for Ranma
An Akane to Remember
One Grew Over the Kuno's Nest (also has the 3rd movie on this tape)
Faster Kasumi! Kill! Kill!
25. Why is Ranma afraid of cats?
Ranma is afraid of cats because when he was a small child, his father, Genma decided to train him in a martial arts style known as "Cat-fist" (Neko-ken in Japanese). The training involved covering Ranma in fish sausages and throwing him into a room full of cats. Genma later discovered that the technique was phony, but because of Ranma being clawed and bitten by cats he developed his intense fear of them.
26. What are some of the differences between the manga and TV series?
The manga and TV series compare and contrast in many ways. The manga has more character development in it (as do the OAVs, this is because most of the OAVs are based directly on manga stories). It's a little easier to see Ranma and Akane's relationship progress through the manga than in the TV series.
The TV series also introduces many characters that never appeared in the manga such as Higuma Torajiro (the "Youth" teacher) and Sasuke (the Kuno's ninja servant). Sasuke, for instance, was introduced to replace Hikaru Gosunkugi. Gosunkugi was later introduced in the anime, much later than he originally appeared in the manga. You could also say that because Lin-Lin and Ran-Ran were introduced in the anime it would make it difficult to have Pink and Rink (from the manga) appear without it seeming like this story had already been done before.
Another example of this is Sentaro Daimonji. Sentaro was introduced quite early in the manga, but showed up late in the anime. He also only had one storyline in the manga, while in the anime he reappears for quite a few episodes.
The TV series focuses more on the formula of "Ranma vs New Martial Artist with a Unique Fighting Style". An example of this would be Ranma vs. the Crepe King, Ranma vs. Copycat Ken, or Ranma vs. Uragishi Sankichi (the Shogi Martial Artist). This isn't done quite as often in the manga, but when it is done it usually lasts for a few chapters (which makes the character he is fighting seem more memorable, rather than the "one episode and they're gone" characters of the TV series).
Another difference is some of the relationships. Because characters like Kinnosuke, Mariko, Akari, and Konatsu were never introduced in the anime some of the characters are left without a possible match. This has led to other "pairings" such as Ryoga and Ukyo and Kuno and Nabiki. Fans that read the manga would see that these "relationships" aren't as played up in the original source as they sometimes are precieved to be in the anime.
Then, of course, there are those that would argue about the differences in appearance of the characters from the manga when compared to their anime counterparts. Many fans argue about the color of female Ranma's hair saying that it is black in the manga instead of red. The large bust sizes (yes, some fans do actually argue about this).
So overall there are quite a few significant differences. Hopefully Shokakukan will decide to go back and make a few more OAVs based on Takahashi's original stories that will bring some closure to the series and help tighten the differances between the manga and anime.