This is a Review for the DVD version.
Hey, kids. Do you like the adventures of Ranma? I’m sure you do. Want to continue enjoying all the animated goodness that was the original TV series? Well then, you’re in luck. VIZ Media, the wonderful people who brought you Ranma 1/2 – Set 1, are bringing you the next installment of hilarious Martial Arts adventures in Ranma 1/2 – Set 2 on Blu-Ray and DVD.
In this 3-Disc set, we continue with the adventures of Ranma, a teen male Martial Artist from the “Anything-Goes School Of Martial Arts” who has been cursed by one of the many cursed springs of Jusenkyo to turn into a female anytime he is splashed with cold water, while hot water changes him back. You would think that would be enough of an issue. Oh, no. His father, Genma, also fell into a cursed spring and turns into a Panda in the same manner. Genma also betrothed Ranma, without his knowledge, to Akane, the daughter of his oldest friend and training partner, Soun Tendo. From there, the misadventures just keep on coming.
At this point in the series, we have been introduced to other “cursed” characters who all have a connection to Ranma. Ryoga, Ranma’s rival, who turns into a little black Pig named P-Chan. Shampoo, a Chinese Amazon who was bested by Ranma in combat and therefore falls in love with him and wants to marry him, who turns into a Cat, which also happens to be Ranma’s phobia. Of course, we can’t forget the “normal” (using the term very loosely here) characters, such as Kuno, Kodachi, Nabiki, and Dr. Tofu.
Ranma 1/2 – Set 2 introduces some more fan-favorite characters, both cursed and not. We have Cologne (Shampoo’s great-grandmother who is a master Martial Artist from the same Amazon tribe and owner of the Cat Cafè), Mousse (who has been obsessively in love with Shampoo since childhood, therefore he hates Ranma and tries to best him, and also turns into a Duck), and Ukyo (the Okonmiyaki chef who is also in love with Ranma, after she tried to defeat him because he left her behind when they were children after Genma betrothed Ranma to her and stole her father’s Okonmiyaki cart). Of course, this set also introduces one of my personal favorite characters from the series, Happosai (the master of the “Anything-Goes School Of Martial Arts” and master to Genma & Soun, who has a weakness/fondness for women’s undergarments). Happosai brings a whole new level of misbehaving adventures to Ranma and all those involved in his world.
VIZ Media has again produced a quality product. The episodes are presented in their original aspect ratio, English & Japanese audio, and English & “Songs & Signs” subtitles. The picture is super clean and the audio is crystal clear. The Special Features on this DVD version are “Textless Openings & Endings” and Trailers. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to this series or have been a fan forever, if you enjoyed the first released set, then this one is a definite must-have.
