Why I Hate Ranma 1/2

Yes, I'm aware that Ranma 1/2 is one of the most popular domesticaly released anime out there, and I know I'm probably going to get a lot of nasty emails for putting this on the web for everyone to see, but oh well, it's my webpage and I'm going to state my opinion.

Let me start by saying I think Ranma 1/2 coudl've been a *GREAT* show. In fact, I still like the manga. The anime, in my opinion completely ruins Takahashi Rumiko's original characters and storylines, and that's why I hate it. Wanna hear more? Keep reading.

The characters are the main reason I dislike in Ranma 1/2. While most of them are interesting in the manga, I found them rather comtemptable in the anime. With the exceptions of Ukyo and Ryoga, all the characters came off as selfish and only out for their own well being.

Let's look at Ranma's fiancees for example. In my opinion, the only one that truly and deeply loves Ranma is Ukyo. "What about Akane?" you ask? In the manga, they don't fight nearly as much, and they are actualy civil to each a lot of the time. In the anime, Akane and Ranma are ALWAYS arguing about one stupid thing or another, and we're supposed to believe that a romance is forged out of that? I don't think so. Yes, Ranma does save her a lot, but as soon as she's able, she smacks the crap out of him. Okay, yes, even in the anime they have "moments", but these are few and far between.

Then there's Shampoo. Me no like Shampoo. Shampoo need jump off big cliff, yes? Blah. She's either not really in love with a Ranmam, a total idiot, or, as I like to think, both. If she loved Ranma, she wouldn't stoop to poisoning his friends and plotting to trap him with her shrivled up chicken nugget of a great grandmother. Really, can you imagine either Shampoo or Ranma being happy if they got married? I know I can't. Shampoo is not only stupid, but she's cold, calculating, ungrateful, mean spirited, and likable at ALL. In the end of the manga, we see signs of her warming up to Mousse, and possibly them having a future together. In the anime, she does carry the wounded Mousse back to Neko Hanten after his duel with Ranma, but only so she can tie him to a table and tease him o.O

Then there's Kodachi. She's just a wacko, and there is NO basis for her interest in Ranma in the anime. In one of the later manga volumes, when her old rival Asuka shows up, Kodachi admits to Ranma that she knows he doesn't like her, and realizes that they don't have a future together. Anime Kodachi is just an annoying, selfish idiot who's only out to please herself. Oh, of course as long as she has her darling Ranma, it doesn't matter if he's miserable and doesn't like her at all. She's just GOT to have him.

As for Ukyo, she's one of the few anime characters I actualy like in the anime, although why she falls for Ranma, I'll never know. I like the fact that she actualy cares about Ranma's happiness, and isn't completely blinded by her own selfishness. I think she should end up with Ryoga in the anime, and find someone else in the manga because I can't see her and Konatsu ever getting married.

Now let's take a look at the rest of the supporting cast. I do like Ryoga a lot, and I admit he's where my nickname comes from. He's the best character in Ranma 1/2. He doesn't throw himself at Akane, he chooses not to interfere with her already hectic life by coveting her from afar. He's the only one who sees to the heart of Ranma and Akane relationship as well, and although the contrived plot says that they're in love, so he backs away. I think his ideal woman is Akari from the manga, and I wish she'd been introduced earlier.

Kuno, in my opinion, is a real dumbass, and must have the IQ of a paperclip. I think he knows that Ranma and "the pig-tailed girl" are the same person, but he's such a raging penis head that he doesn't want to believe it. He sees Akane and girl-type Ranma as trophies that he has to win. He suffers from the same rampant selfishness and stupidity that you've seen me mentioned throughout this page. After he gets one, or even both of them, then what? I bet he'd probably find someone new to chase after.

There's not much to say about the rest of the cast. I consider Happosai more of plot device than a character. Soun is a boring wimp, and I don't see how two of his daughters turned out to be so strong willed. Genma is just a bastard and a terrible father, right up there with Gendo from Evangelion. I like Nabiki a lot, I think she sees all the other characters exactly the same way I do, and she knows she can make some money off of them. Smart girl. Kasumi isn't nearly as oblivious to everything as she seems, and I think she would gladly go out with Dr. Tofu if he would just ask. Either that, of she's on crack. I would like Mousse a lot more if he would give up on Shampoo, all I think he is one of the few characters who is honestly in love.

Anyway you look at it, the true problem with the show lies in Ranma and Akane themselves. I honestly and truthfuly believe that if they ever got married, it would end after less than a year in bitter divorce. They are quite simply two of the stupidest anime characters I've ever seen, and I have no doubt in my mind that Ranma is gay. He never shows ANY interest in actualy marrying ANY of his fiancees, and he rarley even hints that he's even interested in girls at all. He's also a masochist. Does he not release that Akane's going to hit him whenever he makes a smart ass remark?

Akane herself is even worse. If she KNOWS that Ranma doesn't want to marry Shampoo, like he CONSTANTLY tells her, then WHY is that whenever Shampoo glomps onto him, she hits Ranma for being a "pervert" instead of Shampoo? Is she so insecure that she feels she can just block out everything everyone tries to tell her? It really pisses me off that Akane tries to make herself out to be a victim with her constant whining, but in reality most of what happens to her is her own fault.

The fact that Akane never figures out about Ryoga's crush on her or his curse seals my hatred for her. Just how many P-chan jokes is Ranma going to have to make?! Plus, Ryoga and P-chan where the same banadana. Hello?!?! Is someone going to have to beat her over the head with a sign that says "Ryoga is P-chan?" As for Ryoga's crush on her, she's gotten enough clues from various sources to make one of her crappy-psuedo desserts with! And while we're on the subject of cooking, is it really so hard to actualy follow the recipe when she's cooking? A retard like Ranma can cook, and she can't?

So, in conclusion, my hatred for Ranma 1/2 basicaly stems from the rampany stupidity and selfishness of it's characters. Ranma coudl've been a lot better if it'd been shorter, and there'd actualy been character developement! I don't ever get the impression that the characters are actualy growing, developing, and learning from their mistakes.

If you like Ranma 1/2, then good for you. I personaly enjoy anime that have likable characters and at least a little character development. If you enjoy watching a bunch of selfish morons parading around like the Spice Girls, giving all their attention and energy to a dork who's not worth a fraction of it, then I guess Ranma is the show for you.