I’m rather startled by how much I’m enjoying Ranma ½. It’s not even nostalgia so much, because it’s been so long since I watched the original that I barely remember it. I just like it – it’s so damn much fun and makes a perfect unwind after the intensity of Chi Chikyuu. I think Inuyasha will always be closest to my heart, and intellectually I can call Maison Ikoku her finest work. But Ranma ½ might just be the most pure Rumiko of any Rumiko series. Her sense of humor comes across most strongly here, I think. And in fact, Kyoukai no Rinne may come the closest in tone – one reason why I consider that Rumiko’s most under-appreciated series.
Nabiki is a very underrated part of the mix. Her droll deadpan plays beautifully against the pure bakayarocity of almost everyone else. Especially Tatewaki, with whom Nabiki has great comic chemistry. That bit where she sold him photos of Ramna (female) and Akane was classic Rumiko. And Tatewaki is so shameless in lusting after both “girls”. He doesn’t have a prayer with either for different reasons, but if he ever turned his attention to someone his own age he might just have a shot.
Ranma and and all their random transformations are a continuing source of laughs as well. Female Ranma is so totally unconcerned with modesty yet unabashedly declares that she’s hotter than Akane. Then we have Tofu-sensei, who has a big role to play in this episode. Morikawa Toshiyuki is one of the new actors in main roles, which is interesting as Mitsuya Yuuji is still around (sadly this deprives us of the chance to have Takuya and Minami reunited on-screen). You wonder if his coming out as gay in 2017 has something to do with it, but I hope not. Outwardly sensible, Tofu is really just as much of a goof as everybody else in the cast. Especially when Kasumi-oneechan is around (Inoue Kikuko is really putting that “Ever-17” thing to the test here).
The gags here just work. Like Genma strolling into Tofu-sensei’s office in panda form and the latter declaring that he and Ranma “look nothing alike”. And then Genma answering the phone despite not being able to talk. But all kidding aside, we start to see the beginnings of a thaw here between Ranma and Akane (though with plenty of abuse, to be sure). He even calls her “cute”, which prompts one hell of a reaction. And they really are adorable together. Of course the seiyuu are decades too old for that but that absurdity sort of works in an ironic way (and Yamaguchi Kappei especially is one of the best there is). This reboot remains a blast, and I’m enjoying the hell out of it.
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