Ranma ½ episode 1: Ranma's introduction, Akane's anger, and a lot more

Modified Oct 07, 2024 12:01 GMT

Ranma ½ episode 1 highlights and more (Image via MAPPA).

Ranma ½ episode 1 has just been released, and the legendary story of Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo has returned with all the fanfare it deserves. The episode served as an introduction to the main cast and the most important plot point, which is the Saotome family being cursed, as well as Ranma's arranged marriage to Akane.

While this is a comedic anime with many episodic storylines, Ranma ½ episode 1 also sets up the protagonist and Akane to have a steady development throughout the series. They do not get along after a misunderstanding in the shower, but as the series progresses, they will find more common ground and begin to develop feelings for each other.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

Ranma ½ episode 1 introduces the Saotome family's curse and their new status quo

Male Ranma in the anime (Image via MAPPA).

The beginning of Ranma ½ episode 1 sets up the introduction of Soun Tendo, the patriarch of the Tendo family, receiving a letter from his old friend Genma Saotome. The letter states that Ranma will visit them, along with a drawing of a panda. This results in Soun explaining to his three daughters, Akane, Nabiki, and Kazumi, that he had arranged a marriage with Genma for their children to protect his dojo.

The story then switches to a redhead girl who happens to be Ranma fighting with a panda on the streets, although the latter ends up playing dirty tricks to knock her out. They are later seen in the Tendo family household. Ranma introduces herself, much to the shock of Akane and her sisters and the disappointment of their father.

Akane and Ranma begin their feud

Akane as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA).

The second part of Ranma ½ episode 1 begins with Akane lending a friendly hand to Ranma and offering the chance to have a sparring match since they are both martial artists, as already depicted in this episode. This friendly combat shows the protagonist's natural talent for martial arts and also depicts Akane's distaste for men as she claims that she wouldn't have liked to lose against a guy.

It is later revealed that Ranma is actually a man when he and Akane see each other naked by accident in the bathroom. Genma Saotome, now no longer a panda, reveals that they went to China to train and ended up falling in cursed springs, which results in him turning into a panda and Ranma turning into a girl when touched by cold water.

They both need hot water to return to their original forms, but the damage is done as Akane doesn't want anything to do with the protagonist, deeming him "a pervert." However, their parents continue with the idea they should get married, much to their annoyance, ending the episode with the two main characters having a massive feud.

Final thoughts

For the most part, Ranma ½ episode 1 was mostly an introduction to the main cast and the premise of the story. It also served to establish Ranma's disgust with his curse of turning into a woman and Akane's issues with him, which are going to be a key plot point moving forward.

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Edited by Gayatri Chivukula