Description
Ranma 1/2 is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 1987 to March 1996, with the chapters collected into 38 tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan. The story revolves around a teenage boy named Ranma Saotome who has trained in martial arts since early childhood. As a result of an accident during a training journey, he is cursed to become a girl when splashed with cold water, while hot water changes him back into a boy. Throughout the series Ranma seeks out a way to rid himself of his curse, while his friends, enemies and many fiancées constantly hinder and interfere.
The manga has been adapted into two anime series created by Studio Deen which together were broadcast on Fuji Television from 1989 to 1992. In addition, they developed 12 original video animations and three films.Both the manga and anime are cited as some of the first of their mediums to have become popular in the United States. The Ranma 1/2 anime was ranked number 17 on Anime Insider’s 2001 list of the Top 50 Anime.
