Rumiko Takahashi's beloved series Ranma 1/2 has finally had the live-action treatment! One of my favorites! I started watching the Ranma anime series way back around 1996, when VHS tapes were all the rage and you could get two episodes per tape for $30. What a deal!! The sad part, besides the price, was that after the third season it started to feel tacked on. My suggestion for anyone out there that has not seen any of the Ranma anime is to search out the first three seasons, OVAs, and movies. This will be all you need to enjoy this wonderful romantic action comedy.

Does the live-action TV movie special hold up to it's anime counterpart? Can Ranma find a way to stay a guy forever? Will Akane and Ranma finally find the courage to confess their feeling for each other? Find out this and more on the next episode of Ranma 1/2!!

Ranma 1/2
Year: 2011
Genre: Action, Romance, Comedy
Episodes: TV Movie Special

We start out with Ranma and father Genma coming to the Tendou household for the first time. Yup, an origin story. We get introduced to some of the major characters in the Ranma world, assuming that you have never seen the series, which can be a good thing to all of you young'ns that have not experienced Ranma before. As for the rest of us that have our fond memories of the series, you will enjoy the flashback inducing slapstick antics.

The basic plot premise is there. Ranma wants to find some way to stay a guy forever. Akane and Ranma have lovers spats. The main plot this time is Ranma finds out that the Tendou family have been entrusted in protecting a ancient spring that turns anyone into a man. Well, that's all that Ranma has to hear to go full tilt after it, but there is a problem. Another group wants the spring as well for their own evil schemes.

Most of the cast is represented very well in this adaptation. The beef that I have with it is that we are missing a lot of fan favorites. We have basically the bare bones of a cast here. Where is Shampoo, Moose, Ryoga, Ukyo, and the top one of all MASTER HAPPOSAI!! We only get a name mention in here of him. Other then that, since this is an origin story, we have not meet the rest. This is a crying shame but I can understand that they couldn't of crammed that many characters in here without blowing out the story. All I have to say is that if there is a live-action series or another special they better step up their game!

The low budget of this special is pretty up front. The fights are not as spectacular with loads of effects. It's mainly nice camera tricks. Meh, no matter, it's still fun. It does seem to stick to the anime pretty well with little hints here and there. It was nice seeing them and smiling fondly remembering the fun of watching the anime. All I have to say is that Panda is a pimp.

Overall this is a fun special. It will take you back to those days watching the series. The pacing is good and everything seems to flow. I never found myself bored when watching it. I did see some stuff coming a mile away but that is only because I have watched so much of the show and know the jokes. Some of you that are new to the series and just start watching this might be a little disappointed in it. They do explain most of what is going on but it you don't really get it it can be hard to watch. I can tell you from experience that this is not hard to watch.

Yum....