If you’d told the me that was a zygote anime fan *** years ago that Rurouni Kenshin and Ranma ½ would be airing new episodes in 2024, I’d have laughed you out of the room. Or if you’d told me that two years ago, for that matter. These were two of the early anime for me – very, very early. Like, borrowed VHS early. They were formative. Ranma nowhere near so much as RuroKen, but even so, my memories of it are rather evocative of those days. It’s very strange to go back to it now, I can tell you that.
The thing is, of course Ranma is just the latest in a string of classic anime reboots nobody really needed (arguably). RK is one thing, that never got a complete adaptation. But most of the others just seem odd, not even proper cash grabs under the circumstances. Among them was Takahashi Rumiko’s Urusei Yatsura, which is still eating up NoitaminA time and seems wholly unnecessary on so many levels. I must admit, however, that I enjoyed this premiere a lot more than I expected. And I wasn’t sure I would – I liked Ranma when I first watched it but that me was a tremendously different viewer than the one here today.
In the first place, I just think Ranma ½ is a better series than Urusei Yatsura. It came along almost a decade later and I think Rumiko had grown as a writer (though she did Maison Ikoku in-between and that might be the best of the lot – but then, it was a seinen). As well, this reboot has done something important that’s different from all the others in this boom – it’s retained as many of the original seiyuu as it could (no need to elaborate). I wasn’t sure how I would feel about that. After all, it’s been 35 years since the first adaptation premiered. It’s understatement to say that these actors are now way too old for their roles.
But somehow… it kind of works. If this were, say, a Hourou Musuko remake airing 35 years later I think this would be a terrible idea. But Ranma is a farce, and it calls for personalities more than anything. Plus, these are like the likes of Ohtsuka Akio and Hayashibara Megumi and Yamaguchi Kappei – hell, even Yamadera Kouichi is hilarious reprising his role as the Jusenkyo guide. These are great, great seiyuu – some of the best of all-time. And who doesn’t love a rare chance to hear the Marlin Brando of seiyuu (Ohtsuka) do screwball comedy?
With Ranma ½ – and Rumiko generally – we’re in the territory where stuff feels dated because we’ve seen it so many times, except those times were mostly copying it. This is proto-anime romcom stuff. The gender-bending schtick is really funny, and the overall conceit of this premise just works. And MAPPA have done a very nice job capturing the feel of the original. It’s cleaned-up and modern but still vibes like something from the 90’s. In Uda Koonosuke they have a supremely experienced director who understands what that means. This is authentically nostalgic without being pandering about it.
I won’t explain the plot – I mean at this point if you don’t know it just be surprised. But basically cold water girl, hot water boy, boy-hating fiancee, panda, lots of bonks on the head and walking in on someone in the bath. All the staples of anime romcom in the form that established them. These trips down memory lane are a tricky business, the alchemy has to be just right or they don’t work. Urusei Yatsura didn’t, for me. But so far Ranma does. I don’t imagine we’re going to get 161 episodes like we did the first go-around – times have changed – and that could present a challenge. But if it keeps this same sense of fun about it, the material is certainly good enough to make this particular reboot a successful one.
Joshua
October 6, 2024 at 10:34 pmFrankly, I couldn’t stand the nostalgia bait that was present in this remake, down to bringing back most of the same cast here. imo it committed the same cardinal sins that the UY remake made in how little time it gives for the jokes to land properly and backtracking on the creative decisions that the 90s series made in its plotting and comedy build. The only thing this has going for is the fact that it will adapt the arcs that the 90s series couldn’t get to (due to being cancelled abruptly), but for the first and second cours at least, I won’t be sticking around for this retread with prettier sakuga (a lesson I learned with the UY remake when I chose to directly compare it to 80s UY and the reboot ended up readapting most of what the 80s series covered but much weaker by comparison). At least I gained a newfound appreciation for the 80s Urusei Yatsura and the wild creative swings that Mamoru Oshii and Kazuo Yamazaki made, even in the “filler” after sitting through the remake just for this little comparison experiment.
ruicarlov
October 7, 2024 at 3:35 amI have never seen the original Urusei Yatsura or Ranma, so no nostalgia for me. Therefore I was quite surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did, since I didn’t like Urusei Yatsura very much, and ended up dropping it.
This feels more like Rumiko’s Inuyasha in terms of the main characters, where she created a bit abrasive but likable characters, something I think Yatsura didn’t manage to do it for me.
So I’m continuing this with good expectations.
Guardian Enzo
October 7, 2024 at 6:35 amAs I said, I definitely find this to be the better of the two series.
Raikou
October 7, 2024 at 8:52 amTo be fair, Ranma didn’t have complete adaptation so there would be people who want a remake, but since it’s 38 volumes, it will be long unless compressed.
Uda Konosuke is really great choice. He managed to kept the old school feeling, as a director he is exceptional. Also they maintained the core seiyuu with amazing replacements.
Collectr
October 7, 2024 at 9:46 pmYeah, it was fun. I liked the retention of the original seiyuu, including Ranma, the Tendou sisters, and Shampoo and Ryouga (when they show up). It’s a hoot to hear Hayashibara Megumi, now in her late 50s, play the 16-year-old girl version of Ranma. I only wish Ogata Kenichi had been able to play father/panda Genma, although he will act as narrator. His gravelly voice is so distinctive. I also liked the retention of the introductory episode’s plot, more or less intact. The jokes were good then and hold up now, despite familiarity.
However, the animation looks too smooth to me; in particular, the fills look too uniform. I understand the “need” to update the visuals, but I associate Rumiko Takahashi’s seminal works with the animation styles of the 80s and 90s, and that’s how I prefer them to look.
Anna Yanami
October 8, 2024 at 2:53 amEh, maybe I’m just crazy, but I don’t think voices change that much? Not until the extremes of old age anyway. My parents are in their 70s and sound almost the same as home videos from when they were in their 30s and 40s. Screams and such might be harder, but regular conversational voices don’t always change much.
Ronbb
October 8, 2024 at 4:17 amSuper thrilled for the return of a Takahashi Rumiko’s show. Among her many successful and awesome stories, I enjoy her Rumic Theater the most. Ranma 1/2 is for sure a locked-in for me this season.
nadavu
October 8, 2024 at 6:11 amThis was fun, and Ranma is definitely a show I overall enjoyed back in the day, but some of it was too much even back then. Like Happosai; he was the worst. Ryuuga is an all-time favorite, though.