Review: Ranma 1/2 Digital Dojo (TV series season 1)

Shortly after the accident which caused this condition, he is pulled into an arranged marriage with Akane, an independent girl who is the third daughter of Soun Tendo. The series follows Ranma's attempts to live a relatively normal life under his curse as he deals with the assorted loonies who inhabit Furinkan high... and the odd character from his past.

There seems to be a consensus amongst anime fans that Ranma as a series has become repetitious and a little boring, with little character development. There also seems to be a consensus that the first season was by far the best of the series.

Personally I found the series consistently funny. The romance between Ranma and Akane (to which neither will admit, but which shows up in occasional acts of concern and kindness in addition to sheer jealousy) forms a core around which the humour moves. The frequent introduction of new rivals for Ranma (or Akane) helps keep the series fresh.

And of course Ranma's curse - and the similar cold/hot water curses of much of the rest of the cast - occasionally adds a bizarre twist. Upperclassman Kuno is a staunch (if clueless) rival of Ranma for Akane's affections... but he also falls for Ranma-chan (female Ranma) which does odd things with the chemistry of some situations. He refuses to acknowledge that the two Ranmas are the same person.

Regardless of the state of the later series, Season 1 of Ranma was hilarious and fresh. If you haven't seen the series before, I recommend it highly. If you have seen it before, you may (from what I've heard) find it a little too similar to what you have already seen...

I must make special mention of the opening song; it's the most infectiously bouncy song I've heard for ages. I haven't heard it for a month or so, but it still returns to haunt me. :-) Other than this, audio tends to be OK, nothing special but nothing too bad either.

Voice acting is of a reasonable standard. In the Japanese dub, Ranma-chan is voiced by acclaimed voice actress Megumi Hayashibara. However, I have not listened to enough of the series in Japanese to form a solid opinion of the Japanese VA. What I have heard is of a similar standard to the English dub.

Animation is decent, nothing spectacular, but conveying the story well.