So the day has finally arrived, Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma 1/2 lives again, and thanks to modern technology we can be there to view right there with the home audience - and what a glorious experience it was!
I’ve made no secret of my bias for this series - Ranma was the manga that spawned my infatuation with Japanese culture and ultimately resulted in the creation of the UK Anime Network, a site that has lasted from 1996 to the present day, nearly 30 years of articles, reviews and news. My personal blood, sweat and tears. So how does a series from the 80’s work in the modern day environment? How will the “modern audience” perceive it?
The Tendos shortly before their lives go insane
Well hopefully they’ll dig it. Having recently re-watched the 80’s series, I have to say that the new take is literally a breath of fresh air. It just looks so sharp, with lovely pastel colours that just pop, all tied up with snappy direction that ensures that every interaction is infused with energy. In comedy, timing is everything, and even though I know every beat by heart, I still found myself smiling at every slap, punch and unfortunately timed door opening of the classic opening episode.
The nudity of the manga has been covered up for the new release, and that's to be expected if the series is to reach a wider audience. That said, there's still plenty of cleavage, naked shots from the rear and implied nudity, but masterfully framed and never in anything less than service of the comedy. Purists may turn up their noses at the lack of a nipple, but honestly it had no affect at all on my enjoyment. The characters get to see everything, we get to see their reactions. It's still hilarious.
Ranma is a series that, at least in its early chapters, is so perfectly written that I put it up there with Yes Minister and Only Fools and Horses as just perfectly written and paced. We’re sticking close to the original manga by the looks of things, and that’s a good thing - the original series meandered off into filler and original characters that simply aren’t needed, especially when later chapters of the manga wandered into self-indulgent territory by adding repetitive story beats and characters that were just too wacky to be credible. Like Tenchi Muyo that would arrive several years later, Ranma became too expanded and fractured for my tastes and my interest wained. But here, in the genesis of all things Ranma, we’re in classic comedy territory and we have at least 3 seasons worth of prime Takahashi writing.
There's less towel in the source material, but the joke still lands.
It’s heartening to hear many familiar voices from the original cast returning to the series, though for the purposes of this review I rewatched again in English and found everyone to be at least passable - it’ll be a useful fallback when I want to rewatch the series in the background while I’m working (it’s a perk) but I’ll stick to the Japanese dub on my first go round and suggest you do the same - there’s just something about Japanese actors that really sell the lines.
So yes, for the series proper we’re all good here. The show looks great, makes the jokes land and of course should net us longtime fans the figures and merchandise we’ve been craving for decades. Even if this remake had sucked, that one by-product would have made it worth the effort, but happily our befuddled hero is on form and ripe for chasing by his harem of would be brides. It's not politically correct but plays to its historical context - even the opening line is "somewhere in Tokyo in the 80's" and God love it, that's where it will always be in my heart, immune to current day culture wars or "issues".
Can I recommend this? Absolutely - it's a joy to see it back on screen!
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