Contents
- Introduction
- 1.) Jusendo Arc
- 2.) Pill Box Arc
- 3.) Mushrooms of Time Arc
- 4.) Battle Dogi Arc
- 5.) Musk Dynasty Arc
- 6.) Battle of the Busts Arc
- 7.) Ryu Kumon Arc
- 8.) Cursed Mirror Arc
- 9.) Kinnosuke Kashao Arc
- 10.) Fishing Pole of Love Arc
- Bonus: Konatsu and Akari's Introduction Arcs
- The Ranma ½ 2024 Remake
- What do you think?
- About the Writer
Introduction
The beloved anime Ranma 1/2 has long captured the hearts of fans with its blend of humor, romance, and martial arts, which we have tackled in depth previously in Anime Throwback. Yet, several intriguing story arcs from the manga never made it to the original anime adaptation. Here are the top unanimated arcs that fans are eager to see brought to life in the upcoming remake—but if you haven’t read the manga, prepare yourself for major spoilers, of course!
1.) Jusendo Arc
Ranma vs. Saffron.
The Jusendo Arc is one of the most intense and dramatic storylines in the Ranma 1/2 series, which spanned three volumes and served as the series' big finale. It begins with the bird people from Phoenix Mountain attacking the Jusenkyo Guide in search of a map to Jusendo, the source of the Jusenkyo Springs. Shampoo is captured and brainwashed by the bird people, leading Ranma and his friends on a perilous journey to rescue her and protect the springs.
The stakes are higher than ever, with Ranma facing off against the formidable Lord Saffron. This arc's epic battles, emotional depth, and high stakes make it a must-see. The climax involves a desperate fight to save Akane, who has been transformed into a doll. The emotional intensity of Ranma's confession of love to Akane, believing she is dying, promises to be a highlight of the remake.
Ranma cries, thinking that Akane is dying after he realizes that she is not breathing despite his attempts to save her and bring her back to normal.
2.) Pill Box Arc
Ranma gives Akane a box containing a ring—which they thought of as an engagement ring.
In the Pill Box Arc, Ranma’s mother, Nodoka, instructs Ranma to give Akane a small box, which Ranma discovers contains an engagement ring. Ranma struggles to give the box to Akane without making a big deal out of it. His other fiancées learn about the ring and try to get it for themselves. Eventually, Ranma gives the box to Akane, who loves the gift. However, the box actually contains pills Nodoka uses to cope with the stress of being married to Genma, and the ring on top is the handle to the cover.
3.) Mushrooms of Time Arc
Akane takes care of Ranma and Ryoga while they’re still in their child forms.
This arc sees Ryoga and Ranma accidentally consuming the Mushrooms of Time, which age or de-age the consumer depending on the mushroom's height. Both regress to five-year-olds and must navigate their way back to normal age while others take advantage of their vulnerable state. Ranma and Ryoga try to protect their respective mushrooms as they try to sabotage the other’s attempts to grow their mushroom.
4.) Battle Dogi Arc
Akane wears the battle dogi.
The Battle Dogi Arc introduces a legendary battle armor that chooses Akane as its wearer. The sentient armor enhances the wearer’s abilities but can only be defeated by exploiting its jealousy. The arc explores themes of power and jealousy, with Ranma needing to decide how far he’s willing to go to win.
5.) Musk Dynasty Arc
Ranma vs. Herb.
In the Musk Dynasty Arc, Ranma faces Herb, leader of an ancient clan of Chinese martial artists. Herb's use of the mystical Pail of Preservation traps Ranma in his female form, setting off a quest to find the Water Pot of Liberation. This arc delves into the rich lore of the Ranma universe and features intense martial arts action, making it a perfect candidate for animation.
6.) Battle of the Busts Arc
Ranma gloats over his bigger bust size compared to Akane, while saying that Akane’s bust has gotten smaller.
In this humorous arc, both Akane and Ranma’s female form experience a sudden increase in bust size. This leads to a series of comedic events, including bra shopping and misunderstandings with Nodoka. The arc explores Ranma’s struggle with his dual identity and his evolving relationship with Akane.
7.) Ryu Kumon Arc
Ranma vs. Ryu Kumon.
Ryu Kumon, claiming to be Ranma Saotome, challenges Ranma to prove his identity. This arc introduces the deadly Yama-Sen Ken fighting style created by Genma Saotome and sees Ranma facing an imposter who seeks the secrets of the Umi-Sen Ken style.
8.) Cursed Mirror Arc
Ranma brings his copy, who is in love with him, to school.
Ranma and Genma stumble upon a cursed mirror that creates a troublesome copy of Ranma. This copy falls in love with Ranma’s male form, leading to a series of comedic and dramatic events as they try to subdue the copy and rescue Akane from the mirror.
9.) Kinnosuke Kashao Arc
Nabiki dares Kinnosuke to a “Ten Yen Challenge”.
Nabiki’s date with Kinnosuke Kashao, a master of a Martial Arts School specializing in debt-fu, becomes a battle of wits and finances. This arc showcases Nabiki’s cunning nature and similarities with Kinnosuke, culminating in a high-stakes date where they try to outspend each other, much to the chagrin of both Ranma and Akane.
10.) Fishing Pole of Love Arc
Ranma, who is influenced by the Fishing Pole of Love, declares Akane as his rival for Ryoga’s affection.
Ryoga’s discovery of the "Fishing Pole of Love" leads to unintended consequences when he accidentally uses it on Ranma. The arc is filled with comedic moments as Ranma, under the influence of the pole, expresses genuine affection towards Ryoga. Akane’s misunderstanding adds to the hilarity, and the resolution involves a battle to remove the suction cup’s mark.
Bonus: Konatsu and Akari's Introduction Arcs
Akari, the sumo pig breeder (left), and Konatsu, the kunoichi (right).
Konatsu and Akari have long been a part of the Ranma ½ fanlore, with Akari and Konatsu being a constant part of the fandom’s fanfics and doujinshi. However, we still haven’t seen them animated—and there is a high chance that they will finally be animated in the remake.
Konatsu, a kunoichi, seeks revenge on Ranma and Genma but ends up working at Ukyo’s restaurant. The arc explores her abusive family dynamics and her growing bond with Ukyo, Ranma, and Akane. Meanwhile, Ryoga meets Akari Unryu, who falls in love with him after he defeats her champion pig. They navigate misunderstandings and eventually realize they are perfect for each other.
The Ranma ½ 2024 Remake
The differences in the art style between the two are apparent.
As announced on July 17th, the new Ranma 1/2 anime is confirmed to be a full remake and not a “Best Of” series, similar to the approach taken with the Urusei Yatsura remake. However, it remains uncertain whether the entirety of the manga will be adapted, as the number of episodes has not been disclosed yet. Given the decision to create a Ranma 1/2 remake decades after the original anime concluded, there is a strong likelihood that most of the manga will be animated, although some arcs or one-shot stories may be skipped.
Based on the trailer, the remake will begin from the very start and will adapt the manga faithfully, including the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics arc and the Martial Arts Ice Skating arc. The series' visual also features characters like Ukyo, Happosai, Cologne, and Mousse, who appear later in the series, suggesting that the remake will likely span several seasons until the end.
The recurring cast of Ranma ½, as seen from the remake’s official poster.
The most exciting aspect of the remake? Aside from the thrill of new Ranma 1/2 episodes and seeing previously unanimated chapters come to life, most of the original voice cast is returning. Studio MAPPA will be handling the animation, and while the character designs differ from Atsuko Nakajima’s original work, we can expect the fight scenes to have more fluid animation. Additionally, Kaoru Wada, the composer for Inuyasha, will be joining the production committee, ensuring an outstanding musical score for the series.
「らんま1/2」アニメ制作決定特報PV / "Ranma 1/2" Anime announcement Special PV
TV アニメ「らんま 1/2」第 1 弾 PV ／ "Ranma1/2" Trailer 1
Ranma 1/2 Remake 2024 Trailer 1 (2024 | 1989)
Are you excited for the new Ranma 1/2 anime? We’ll see it soon in October 5 this year on Netlix, so there’s no need to wait that long! After all, long-time Ranma fans have already waited decades for their favorite unanimated arcs to be adapted into anime, so a few months of waiting won’t be that hard. And of course, if you’re excited to relive the experience before the anime comes, you can buy the manga and other Ranma ½ merchandise here at ZenPlus, carefully packed and shipped to you straight from Japan!
What do you think?
How many episodes do you think this remake will get?
Will they censor the remake as compared to the more blatant nudity of the manga and the 1989 anime?
Will the remake animate all the existing manga chapters?
Let us know in the comments or drop us a line on social media: X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook! We’d love to hear from you!
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You can watch 1989 anime on Hulu and Prime Video while the remake will be shown on Netflix.
About the Writer
Cristy is a freelance artist and writer who has been obsessed with anime and manga since childhood. Her love for these imaginative worlds fuels her creative endeavors, and she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
