Ranma 1/2 : From VHS to Blu-ray and Beyond

Netflix just dropped a bomb. Ranma 1/2 is back in 2024.

For fans like me, it’s time to dust off the old collection. Just kidding brah, I never put it away.

But let’s rewind a bit.

Ranma 1/2, the martial arts comedy that was a touchstone for a lot of early 90s anime fans, is more than just an anime.

It’s a trip through media formats and drained bank accounts.  Let me explain.

From pricey VHS tapes to shiny Blu-rays, I and a lot of old-school fans been there for 30-something years.

And now, with MAPPA’s new anime adaptation on the horizon, it feels like the perfect time to dive into our collection.

So grab a cup of tea (or cold water, if you’re feeling adventurous), and let’s explore the world of Ranma Saotome and the Tendo dojo.

This is about a boy who transforms into a girl.  It’s also about how one manga series by Rumiko Takahashi captured hearts worldwide.

And how it keeps pulling us back in, cursed spring and all.

Rumiko Takahashi’s Martial Arts Mayhem: The Birth of Ranma 1/2

Rumiko Takahashi‘s career began in 1978.

She hit it big with Urusei Yatsura, that boy-meets-alien comedy series.

But Takahashi wasn’t done.

She followed up with one blockbuster hit after another.

Enter Ranma 1/2.

This manga series kicked off in 1987.

Published by Shogakukan, it ran in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.

Ranma Saotome, a martial arts prodigy with a water-triggered gender swap.

Akane Tendo, his reluctant fiancée.

Genma and Soun Tendo, the scheming fathers.

And a cast of characters as colorful as a Jusenkyo guidebook.

The manga was a hit.

So naturally, anime came knocking.

Ranma Saotome Splashed onto VHS: A Costly Commitment

The first anime adaptation hit Japanese TV in 1989.

18 episodes. That’s all we got at first.

But fans wanted more. And boy, did we get it.

Ranma 1/2 Nettōhen followed with a whopping 143 episodes.

For collectors like me, it was a dream. And a nightmare for my wallet.

Here’s the kicker: Each VHS tape? $30 Canadian.

Do the math. Over $2000 in 90s money.

That’s a lot of okonomiyaki.

But for fans, it was worth every yen.

These tapes were a gateway drug to a whole new world of anime beyond the taste we got on television.  It was around this time the direct market really started to become a thing.  Those of us who had grown up knowing there was something different…better about Astro Boy, Battle of the Planets, Voltron and Robotech could finally get our hands on real unedited anime in all it’s glory.  Ranma specifically brought us…

To Ranma’s curse.

To Akane’s mallet.

To Ryoga’s eternal lost boy status.

Each tape a treasure, each episode a new adventure.

Sure, rewinding was a pain.

And those bulky VHS cases took up more space than Happosai’s stolen underwear collection.

But we didn’t care.  In fact it probably made them cooler in retrospect.

It was Ranma. On our TVs. Whenever we wanted.

Little did we know, DVDs were just around the corner.

And with them, a whole new way to experience the cursed spring chaos.

From Cursed Spring to Digital Discs: Ranma 1/2 on DVD

The DVD era hit, and Ranma fans rejoiced.

No more rewinding. No more bulky tapes.  HALF THE PRICE OF A SERIES ON VHS!

Just pure, digital martial arts mayhem.

I jumped on these releases faster than Genma turns into a panda to get out of things.

Viz Media brought the goods.

Better quality. Extras. And those sweet, sweet box sets.

The entire series, OVAs included, all in one place.

It was like the Tendo Family Christmas, but with more gender-swapping hijinks and off key karaoke.

Each disc a portal to Furinkan High.

To Ukyo’s okonomiyaki shop.

To the Tendo Dojo.

The DVDs weren’t just convenient.

They were a reinvention of how we consumed anime.

Multiple language tracks?

Check.

Crisp picture quality?

You bet.

Ability to skip Akane’s cooking disasters until Kasumi takes over?

Priceless. (this is 90s humour, felt appropriate)

High-Definition Martial Arts: Ranma 1/2 Blu-ray Collection

Just when I thought my collection was complete, Blu-ray entered the chat.

High-def Ranma? Take my money.

But here’s where the story takes a heartwarming turn.

My sister, the MVP, gifted me these over birthdays and Christmases.

Talk about family understanding your obsession.  I feel like I already put someone at Viz’s kids thorugh college.  

It’s wild the Blu-rays aren’t all currently in print.  Some of these later sets go for over $500 now.

Out of print. Rare. The holy grail for Ranma collectors.

Seeing Ranma’s curse in HD?

Akane’s mallet in crystal clear quality?

It’s like seeing the series for the first time all over again.  Did I mention since the DVDs the series is actually in proper order now even though the VHS weren’t?

Every splash of water.

Every martial arts technique.

Every “Ranma no baka!”

All in glorious high-definition.

From grainy VHS to crystal clear Blu-ray.

Rumiko Takahashi’s creation, preserved for generations to come.

And with each viewing, the same thought:

“I can’t believe I’m still watching this after all 30 years.”

Ranma 1/2 pulling us back in just like that cursed spring.

Beyond the Anime: Ranma 1/2 in the Gaming World

Ranma’s world wasn’t confined to just manga and anime.

Video games?  Heck yeah brah, from early console brawlers to a quirky RPG with a fan translation patch.

I don’t have anywhere near a complete collection…I just grabbed what I could find over the years, mostly on trips to Japan.  You’ll find most are pretty reasonably priced, or at least were.  Retro gaming stocks are up and honestly I haven’t been paying attention. 

There’s too many to name (I mean that’s what Wikipedia is for) but highlights you should be aware of according to…uh, me.

 “Ranma 1/2: Hard Battle” was actually somehow released in North America for the SNES.  Fighting game goodness with a Takahashi twist.  I have no idea how this happened.  I think they’d just stamp of approval anything that looked like Street Fighter and somehow Ranma slipped through and got a Western release.  

Ranma vs Ryoga in a 16-bit digital dojo?  I’ll take it.

Ranma ½: Battle Renaissance was probably the number 1 game my friends and I would have imported if we had the first clue how or the money to do so.  In retrospect it’s probably for the best…first gen PSX 3D title that reaaaally doesn’t hold up but still a good conversation piece.  

Ranma ½: Akanekodan Teki Hihou (Red Cat Gang) for the Super Famicom is probably the game I’d recommend the most of any.  A SNES style RPG there’s an excellent fan translation patch as it was never released in English.  RPGs are my favorute game genre so adding Ranma on top makes for a must play IMO.

Ranma 1/2 Ougi Jaanken: Super Famicom/SNES puzzle game.  Similar to Tetris or Dr. Mario except “Secret Jaanken” (a Japanese variation of Paper-Rock-Scissors)

From 18 Episodes to 143: The Evolution of Ranma 1/2 Anime

The Ranma 1/2 anime journey kicked off in 1989 with 18 episodes.  

Enter Ranma 1/2 Nettōhen.

143 episodes of pure Nerima nonsense.

From 1989 to 1992, it was Ranma time.

The original manga? Faithfully adapted.

Well, mostly.

Anime-only characters? Meet Sasuke Sarugakure.

Filling in for manga-only Hikaru Gosunkugi.

Different, but it worked.  I think we’ll miss Sasuke in the new adaptation.  

The anime brought Takahashi’s world to life.

Ranma’s curse in full color.

Akane’s cooking disasters in all their glory.

Genma’s panda antics animated.

But it didn’t stop with the TV series….

There were a series of 12 OVAs 

Spread over 6 tapes.  The last two tapes released Ranma ½: One Grew Over the Kuno’s Nest and Ranma ½: Faster Kasumi! Kill! Kill! are my two personal favourite Ranma stories. 

Splashing Between Languages: Ranma’s Sub vs Dub Showdown

Anime dubs often (deservedly) get a bad rap.  But Ranma 1/2? It’s a different story. The original Japanese cast such as Megumi Hayashibara as female Ranma and  Kappei Yamaguchi as male Ranma set the bar high.  Noriko Hidaka brought perfectly captured Akane Tendo.  

Yet, the English dub holds a special place for North American anime fans.  They’ve got a soft spot for it.

Viz Media (Wordfit system FTW)’s dub dub captured Ranma’s spirit.

Genma and Soun Tendo’s schemes?

Just as ridiculous in English.

The martial arts mayhem translated well.

Happosai’s antics? Still cringe-worthy (in a good way).

Ranma keeps getting dunked in both languages.

The Jusenkyo curse knows no linguistic barriers.

Now, 2024 brings a new chapter.

MAPPA’s anime adaptation for Netflix.

Here’s the kicker:

Many of the original Japanese cast are returning.

It’s like the cursed spring of nostalgia.

Old voices, new animation.

For fans of the sub, it’s a dream.

Dub fans? They’re in for a treat too.

Ranma Saotome’s journey continues.

From manga to anime, VHS to streaming.

The language may change.

But the heart of Rumiko Takahashi’s creation?

That stays the same.

Whether it’s “Ranma no baka!” or “Ranma, you jerk!”

The spirit of Ranma 1/2 lives on.

In Japanese, in English, and beyond. Speaking of which…

Ranma Returns: MAPPA’s New Anime Adaptation

2024. Mark your calendars.

Ranma’s back. And it’s big.

MAPPA, the animation powerhouse, is at the helm.

This isn’t just a reboot. It’s a rebirth.

Streaming on Netflix? Game-changer.

Global audience. Instant access.

No more waiting for dubs or subs.

Ranma, Akane, and the gang? In your living room. On demand.

Kōnosuke Uda directing?

The guy behind One Piece and Gintama?

Expectations are sky-high.

Original voice cast returning?

Nostalgia overload.

But it’s not just about the old guard.

New blood. Fresh takes.

MAPPA‘s known for slick animation.

Imagine Ranma’s transformation sequences now.

Akane’s mallet in fluid, high-def glory.

Ryoga’s attacks with modern flair.

It’s more than just a visual upgrade.

It’s Ranma for a new generation.

But will it capture the magic of the original?

The chaos of Nerima?

The heart of Takahashi’s creation?

Time will tell.

One thing’s for sure:

Ranma’s world is expanding.

New fans will discover the cursed springs.

Old fans will revisit familiar haunts.

2024 isn’t just another year.

It’s the year Ranma splashes back into the spotlight.

And for collectors like me?

New merch. New releases.

The journey continues.

From VHS to streaming.

Ranma 1/2 keeps evolving.

Just like its gender-swapping protagonist.

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