The fourth episode of the completely new anime version of Takahashi Rumiko's smash hit manga Ranma 1/2, entitled The Man Who Chased Ranma, will air on Nippon TV on October 26th. The series was originally adapted into a TV anime from 1989 to 1992, and this will be the first time it has been adapted into a TV anime in 32 years. The new anime is also attracting attention for the fact that the voice actors Yamaguchi Kappei, who plays Saotome Ranma, Hayashibara Megumi, who plays Ranma, and Hidaka Noriko, who plays Tendo Akane, will be reprising their roles.
Looking for Saotome Ranma, Hibiki Ryoga appears at Furinkan High School. Ryoga, who says he has seen hell because of Ranma, declares that he will take revenge and challenges him to a fight. Ranma is unable to think of any reason why Ryoga could have done this, and is not convinced, but Ryoga challenges him to a fight. As the fight unfolds, an unexpected tragedy befalls Akane.
Ranma 1/2 was serialized in the manga magazine Weekly Shonen Sunday (Shogakukan) from 1987 to 1996 by Takahashi, who is also known for Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku. It depicts the hectic daily life of high school martial artist Saotome Ranma, who turns into a woman when splashed with water, and his fiancee Tendo Akane. While training in the indiscriminate fighting style with his father Genma, Ranma develops a unique condition in which he turns into a woman when splashed with water and reverts to a man when splashed with hot water in China. When Ranma returns to Japan, he and his son end up staying with Genma's best friend Tendo Soun, and by chance he becomes engaged to Soun's daughter Akane.
In addition to the theatrical version, an original video animation (OVA) was also produced. A TV anime series was broadcast on Fuji TV and other networks from 1989 to 1992, and a live-action TV drama starring Aragaki Yui, Kaku Kento, and Natsuna aired in December 2011, which also garnered attention. The new anime, the first in 32 years, will be directed by Uda Konosuke, who has worked on "One Piece," among others, and will be produced by MAPPA, which has worked on "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Chainsaw Man." It is currently airing on Nippon TV every Saturday at 12:55 a.m.
