List of Ranma ½ episodes (original) (raw)

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Cover of the first North American DVD box set by Viz Media

Ranma ½ (らんま⁠1/2⁠) is a Japanese anime series adapted from the manga of the same name by Rumiko Takahashi. It was created by Studio Deen and aired weekly between April 15, 1989, and September 16, 1989, on Fuji TV before being canceled after 18 episodes due to low ratings. Shortly after, the series was reworked by most of the same staff, retitled Ranma ½ Nettōhen (らんま½ 熱闘編) and launched in a different time slot, running between October 20, 1989, and September 25, 1992, for 143 episodes.[1]

Three movies were produced, The Battle of Nekonron, China! A Battle to Defy the Rules! on November 2, 1991; Battle at Togenkyo! Get Back the Brides on August 1, 1992; and Super Indiscriminate Decisive Battle! Team Ranma vs. the Legendary Phoenix on August 20, 1994. The first two movies are feature length, but the third was originally aired in theaters with two other movies: Ghost Sweeper Mikami and Heisei Dog Stories: Bow. Following the ending of the TV series, 12 OVA episodes were released directly to home video, the earliest on December 7, 1993, and the twelfth on October 20, 2010. In celebration of Rumiko Takahashi's 35th anniversary as a manga artist, the TV series was released on Blu-ray for the first time in three box sets between May 24, 2013, and January 24, 2014.[2][3][4][5]

Viz Media licensed both anime, the films and the first 11 OVAs for English dubs in North America. They labeled both anime as one series and first released it on subtitled and dubbed VHS, later combining it into seven DVD collections they call "seasons".[6] Besides changing the ordering of many of the anime episodes, Viz also added the third film to their set of the OVAs. They began re-releasing the show on Blu-ray and DVD in 2014.[7] Madman Entertainment released part of the anime series and the first two movies in Australasia, before their license expired, and MVM Films released the first two movies in the United Kingdom.[8][9][10][11]

A note on the "Season" nomenclature:

The "seasons" that comprise the following list correspond to the box sets released in North America by Viz Media, which combined both the first Ranma ½ anime and Ranma ½ Nettōhen (らんま½ 熱闘編) into one series and changed the order of many episodes. In Japan, each Ranma ½ anime was aired continuously, with regular pre-emptions for sporting events and television specials, and not split into standard seasonal cycles. The new Viz releases issued throughout 2014 and 2015 come in revised sets that are compiled in original production order and contain 23 episodes per set.

Season 1 "Digital Dojo" (1989)

[[edit](/w/index.php?title=List%5Fof%5FRanma%5F%C2%BD%5Fepisodes&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Season 1 "Digital Dojo" (1989)")]

Season 2 "Anything-Goes Martial Arts" (1989–1990)

[[edit](/w/index.php?title=List%5Fof%5FRanma%5F%C2%BD%5Fepisodes&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Season 2 "Anything-Goes Martial Arts" (1989–1990)")]

Note: This is the beginning of Ranma ½ Nettōhen (らんま½ 熱闘編).

Season 3 "Hard Battle" (1990)

[[edit](/w/index.php?title=List%5Fof%5FRanma%5F%C2%BD%5Fepisodes&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Season 3 "Hard Battle" (1990)")]

Season 4 "Outta Control" (1990–91)

[[edit](/w/index.php?title=List%5Fof%5FRanma%5F%C2%BD%5Fepisodes&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Season 4 "Outta Control" (1990–91)")]

Note: Episode 51 was not included in Viz's season 4 release, but in season 3. It is shown below for proper chronological purposes.

Season 5 "Martial Mayhem" (1991)

[[edit](/w/index.php?title=List%5Fof%5FRanma%5F%C2%BD%5Fepisodes&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Season 5 "Martial Mayhem" (1991)")]

Note Episode 72 was not included in Viz's season 5 release, but in season 4. It is shown below for proper chronological purposes.

Season 6 "Random Rhapsody" (1991–92)

[[edit](/w/index.php?title=List%5Fof%5FRanma%5F%C2%BD%5Fepisodes&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Season 6 "Random Rhapsody" (1991–92)")]

Season 7 "Ranma Forever" (1992)

[[edit](/w/index.php?title=List%5Fof%5FRanma%5F%C2%BD%5Fepisodes&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Season 7 "Ranma Forever" (1992)")]

Number Title Release date
1 Ranma ½: The Battle of Nekonron, China! A Battle to Defy the Rules! (らんま1/2 中国寝崑崙大決戦! 掟やぶりの激闘篇!!, Ranma Nibunnoichi: Chūgoku Nekonron Daikessen! Okite Yaburi no Gekitō Hen!) (Viz title: Ranma ½: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China) November 2, 1991
It's just another day at the Tendo Anything-Goes Martial Arts Training Hall, that is, until a strange girl named Lychee and her giant elephant Jasmine arrive to settle a score with lecherous martial arts master Happosai. Apparently, a very long time ago, Happosai gave Lychee's great-grandmother half of a legendary scroll guaranteed to bring happiness to whoever was holding it. The women of Lychee's family have been waiting for three generations now, and the prince still has not come. But of course, the moment Lychee lets the scroll out of her hands, the prince finally appears. Only now it's the reluctant fiancée Akane Tendo who is holding the scroll, and the long-awaited prince is only too ready to sweep his lucky bride off her feet. Ranma Saotome and the others currently have no choice but to follow Prince Kirin's majestic flying barge all the way to Nekonron, China, where they find themselves in a showdown with the seven lucky gods of martial arts.
2 Ranma ½: Battle at Togenkyo! Get Back the Brides (らんま1/2 決戦桃幻郷! 花嫁を奪りもどせ!!, Ranma Nibunnoichi: Kessen Tōgenkyō! Hanayome o Torimodose!) (Viz title: Ranma ½: Nihao, My Concubine) August 1, 1992
When poetry-spouting swordsman Tatewaki Kuno invites Ranma and the others for a jaunt on his new luxury yacht, the last thing the group expects is a sudden storm to shipwreck them all on a deserted island. However, fixing the boat to get home soon becomes the least of their worries, as all the young girls in the group begin to disappear. They have been bride-napped by Prince Toma, the youthful ruler of a floating island, Togenkyo. Because of a magical spring which turns anything it touches instantly male, would-be bridegrooms kidnap girls.
3 Ranma ½: Super Indiscriminate Decisive Battle! Team Ranma vs. the Legendary Phoenix (らんま1/2 超無差別決戦! 乱馬チームVS伝説の鳳凰, Ranma Nibunnoichi: Chō Musabetsu Kessen! Ranma Team vs Densetsu no Hōō) (Viz title: "One Grew Over the Kuno's Nest"[12]) August 20, 1994
The short film was shown together with Heisei Dog Stories (平成イヌ物語バウ) and the movie Ghost Sweeper Mikami at the Toei Film Festival. Later it was first released in Japan on VHS and Laserdisc and get an Opening Owaranai Natsu Yasumi (終わらない夏休み) by DoCo and an Ending Usotsuki (うそつき) by DoCo, present in Fullscreen. The movie itself is produced in widescreen. When released in North America by Viz, it was labeled as OVA number 9 and released with the 11 OVAs. The DVD release of the third film in Japan is also released together with the 11 OVAs.

Following the ending of the TV series, 11 OVAs were released directly to home video, the earliest on October 21, 1993 and the eleventh on June 4, 1996. All but three are based on stories originally in the manga.

Viz Media released all 11 OVAs in North American in one set. It also includes the third film, Super Indiscriminate Decisive Battle! Team Ranma vs. the Legendary Phoenix, added as the ninth episode, bringing the set's episode count to 12.

Twelve years after the eleventh OVA was released, a new piece of Ranma ½ animation was made for the "It's a Rumic World" exhibition of Rumiko Takahashi's artwork. It is based on the "Nightmare! Incense of Deep Sleep" manga story from volume 34, and was shown on odd numbered days at the exhibition in Tokyo from July 30 to August 11, 2008.[13][14] This half-hour special was directed by Takeshi Mori (an episode director on the first season of the TV series) with animation direction by Ranma veteran animator and character designer Atsuko Nakajima. But it was not released until January 29, 2010, when it was put in a DVD box set with the Urusei Yatsura and InuYasha specials that premiered at the same exhibit.[15] It was then released on DVD and Blu-ray by itself on October 20, 2010.[16]

Number Title Release date
1 "Shampoo's Sudden Switch - The Curse of the Contrary Jewel"Shampoo Hyōhen! Hanten Hōju no Wazawai (シャンプー豹変!反転宝珠の禍) October 21, 1993
2 "Tendo Family Christmas Scramble"Tendō-ke Scramble Christmas (天道家すくらんぶるクリスマス) December 17, 1993
3 "Akane vs. Ranma! I'll Be the One to Inherit Mother's Recipes!"Akane vs Ranma: Okā-san no Aji wa Watashi ga Mamoru! (あかねVSらんま お母さんの味は私が守る!) February 18, 1994
4 "Stormy Weather Comes to School! Growing Up With Miss Hinako"Gakuen ni Fuku Arashi! Adult Change Hinako-sensei (学園に吹く嵐!アダルトチェンジひな子先生) April 21, 1994
5 "The One to Carry On (1)"Michi o Tsugu Mono – Zenpen (道を継ぐ者・前編) June 17, 1994
6 "The One to Carry On (2)"Michi o Tsugu Mono – Kōhen (道を継ぐ者・後編) August 19, 1994
7 "Reawakening Memories (1)"Yomigaeru Kioku – Jōkan (よみがえる記憶・上巻) December 16, 1994
8 "Reawakening Memories (2)"Yomigaeru Kioku – Gekan (よみがえる記憶・下巻) February 17, 1995
9 "Oh, Cursed Tunnel of Lost Love! Let My Love Be Forever"Aa! Noroi no Harendō! Waga Ai wa Eien ni (ああ呪いの破恋洞!我が愛は永遠に) September 21, 1995
10 "The Evil Ogre! Hell Hath No Fury Like Kasumi Scorned"Jāku no Oni (邪悪の鬼) November 17, 1995
11 "The Two Akanes! 'Ranma, Look at Me!'"Futari no Akane: "Ranma, Atashi o Mite!" (二人のあかね『乱馬、私を見て!』) January 19, 1996
12 "Nightmare! Incense of Deep Sleep"Akumu! Shunminkō (悪夢!春眠香) July 31, 2008

Theme songs

Many of the theme songs are sung by DoCo, a band formed by the five of the voice actress. DoCo USA is the name used by their corresponding English voice actors.

Opening themes:

Ending themes:

Opening themes, Western release:

Ending themes, Western release:

Specials (1990–2011)

[edit]

Ranma ½ had a handful of specials that were only available through home videos, or being a member of the Kitty Animation Circle, the fanclub for the production team that created Rumiko Takahashi's anime. These specials are extremely rare for the most part. With the exception of TV Titles (which was released in North America as The Ranma ½ Video Jukebox[17]), none of the specials have been released outside Japan.[18]

Title Medium Release date
Japanese English (unofficial)
熱闘歌合戦(Nettō Uta Gassen) Hot Song Contest VCD 7 November 1990
? Ranma ½: Chuugoku Nekonron Daikessen! Preview VHS 1991
天道家のおよびでない奴ら!(Tendō-ke no Oyobidenai Yatsura!) Tendo Family's Annoying Acquaintances VHS 30 August 1992
らんま1/2 1994年ミュージックカレンダー Ranma ½: 1994 Music Calendar VHS early 1993
TVタイトルズ TV Titles[a] VCD 21 April 1993
らんま1/2 とっておきトーク ベスト・オブ・メモリーズ Ranma ½ Totteoki Talk: Best of Memories VHS 1 May 1993
スペシャルビデオ バトルがいっぱい29人の懲りないやつら Special Video: Battle ga Ippai 29-nin no Korinai Yatsura Huge Battle! 29 Unteachable Fools VCD 3 March 1995
DoCoミュージックビデオ DoCo Music Video VCD 19 August 1995
乱馬½[19] Ranma ½ Live-action Special TV 9 December 2011
  1. ^ Viz Video reissued TV Titles on VHS in North America as The Ranma ½ Video Jukebox (1999)

Opening Theme:

Ending Theme

  1. ^ "Ranma ½ Perfect Edition: About the Anime". Furinkan.com. Retrieved October 30, 2008.
  2. ^ "Ranma, Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku BDs Listed in Japan". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  3. ^ "TVシリーズ「らんま1/2」Blu-ray BOX (1)". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "TVシリーズ「らんま1/2」Blu-ray BOX (2)". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  5. ^ "TVシリーズ「らんま1/2」Blu-ray BOX (3)". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  6. ^ Beveridge, Chris (November 20, 2001). "Ranma 1/2: Digital Dojo Season 1 Box Set". Mania.com. Demand Media. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  7. ^ "Viz Media to Release Ranma Anime on BD/DVD". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  8. ^ Eriani, John (June 22, 2006). "Ranma 1/2 TV Season 1 Collection". Mania.com. Demand Media. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  9. ^ "Madman Panel - Complete Report". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  10. ^ Wolstenholme, Kim (July 28, 2005). "Ranma 1/2 The Movie - Big Trouble Nekonron China". Mania.com. Demand Media. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  11. ^ Wolstenholme, Kim (December 15, 2005). "Ranma 1/2 The Movie 2 - Nihao My Concubine". Mania.com. Demand Media. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "Ranma ½: One Grew Over the Kuno's Nest". Viz Video. Back of the video (VHS) jacket. ISBN 156931059-9
  13. ^ "New Ranma 1/2 Short Debuts at Takahashi's Tokyo Event". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  14. ^ "Ranma ½ Perfect Edition: OVAs". Furinkan.com. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  15. ^ "It's a Rumic World スペシャルアニメBOX【完全予約限定商品】 (DVD)". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  16. ^ "It's a Rumic World らんま1/2~悪夢!春眠香 (DVD)". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  17. ^ Ranma ½ - Video Jukebox (1999). ASIN 6304389396.
  18. ^ "Ranma ½ Perfect Edition: Specials". Furinkan.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  19. ^ "スペシャルドラマ「らんま1/2」|日本テレビ". NTV. Retrieved January 4, 2012.