Ranma 1/2 Gets New Anime Project

The Legendary Anime Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi will get a brand-new anime adaptation. This will be Ranma 1/2’s first anime project in over a decade since the release of an OVA in 2010.

Alongside an announcement on Rumiko Takahashi’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, a brief minute-long PV (promotional video) was also released on the new X (formerly Twitter) page for the Ranma 1/2 anime project. This PV did not reveal any new anime visuals, but did feature classic manga panels and new promotional art, as well as the announcement of a further presentation regarding the project, to be aired on July 17.

Rumiko Takahashi’s Classic Series Returns

Oricon News reported thisRanma series update, but no further information is planned to be revealed until July 17. Rumiko Takahashi’s name is among the greats in Manga and Anime. If you don’t know Ranma 1/2, then odds are you know some of her other hits; Inuyasha, Maison Ikkoku, or Urusei Yatsura. While her first major success would be Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2 would go on to be perhaps her most popular work, at least in Japan, with over 55 million manga copies now in circulation. For a brief summary, Ranma 1/2 is a romantic-comedy that focuses on the protagonist Ranma Saotome, a martial artist who is cursed to transform into a girl when splashed with cold water, or back into a boy with hot water. While the premise may be fairly simple, the eccentric cast of characters and their ever-evolving relationships ensure that Ranma 1/2 is an entertaining tale from beginning to end.

The Ranma 1/2 manga was first serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday starting in 1987, with the anime following not too long after, in 1989. Films, OVAs and even live action adaptations would follow, but the original Ranma 1/2 anime is what has really achieved staying power in the anime world. That does beg the question though: What is the purpose of this new anime project?

Many current anime revival projects will focus on updating visuals to more modern standards, or completing or changing storylines. For Ranma 1/2, the manga ran much longer than the anime, so it’s possible the whole series could look to be adapted. As for visuals, Rumiko Takahashi’s style is incredibly classic, with the 80s and 90s anime visuals, especially in Inuyasha, holding up even today. It’s unlikely that this new anime will simply seek to be a visual upgrade to the classic anime, but ultimately, the true scope of the project will be revealed in time, starting with the production presentation on July 17th. Rumiko Takahashi’s level of involvement, the choice of studio, a seasonal or weekly format, and many other factors will all need to be carefully considered for this new adaptation in the new anime landscape. Whatever the case, this adaptation will have an incredibly high standard to live up to, as Ranma 1/2 is an already incredibly beloved entry in the history of anime.

Source: Oricon