A completely new anime version of the hit manga "Ranma 1/2" by Takahashi Rumiko, known for "Urusei Yatsura" and "Maison Ikkoku," has been airing on Nippon Television every Saturday at 12:55 a.m. since October, and it has been the talk of the town. The series was broadcast as a TV anime from 1989 to 1992, and this is the first time it has been adapted for TV in about 32 years. The original manga was serialized in the manga magazine "Weekly Shonen Sunday" (Shogakukan) from 1987 to 1996. What kind of era was 1987 when the serialization began? Looking back at "those days." ◇ "Salad Anniversary" becomes a bestseller; the legendary "Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise" is released. "Ranma 1/2" 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. In addition to the TV anime, a movie version and an original video animation (OVA) were also produced. A live-action TV drama starring Aragaki Yui, Kaku Kento, and Natsuna was also broadcast in December 2011, which was a hot topic. This new anime, the first in about 32 years, is also a hot topic because the voice actors Yamaguchi Kappei as Saotome Ranma, Hayashibara Megumi as Ranma, and Hidaka Noriko as Tendo Akane are reprising their roles.
In 1987, when the serialization of "Ranma 1/2" began, Japan was in the midst of a bubble economy. Tawara Machi's "Salad Anniversary" and Murakami Haruki's "Norwegian Wood" became bestsellers, and Itami Juzo's film "Marusa no Onna" became a hit. "Dokuganryu Masamune" was also broadcast, which recorded the highest average audience rating of 39.7% in the history of NHK's Taiga dramas.
Television anime such as "Armored War Dragonar," "City Hunter," "Kimagure Orange Road," "Mr. Ajikko," and "Bikkuriman" also started. Games such as "Dragon Quest II: The Gods of Evil" and "Final Fantasy" were released, as well as game consoles and the PC Engine.
The legendary animated feature film "Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise" was released in 1987, directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga, character designed by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, and created by a stellar team of creators including Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi. They would go on to create masterpieces that remain in anime history, such as "Aim for the Top!", "Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water", and "Neon Genesis Evangelion".
◇"Animal Doctor" and "Magic Kaito" were also released in 1987.
Takahashi finished the serialization of "Urusei Yatsura", which began in 1978, in 1987, and started "Ranma 1/2" in the same year. "Maison Ikkoku" also ended its serialization in 1987. At the time, "Sunday" had ended Adachi Mitsuru's "Touch", which had been serialized from 1981 to 1986, and "Rough" would begin serialization in 1987. Other works being serialized in the magazine included Hara Hidenori's "Just Meet", Nakahara Yutaka's "Bucchigiri", Katsu Aki's "Happy Just Before", and Shimamoto Kazuhiko's "Totugeki Wolf". 1987 was also the year that Aoyama Gosho's "Magic Kaito" was first published in the magazine.
In 1988, Masami Yuki's "Mobile Police Patlabor" and Aoyama's "YAIBA" began serialization. This year, it was announced that a new "Mobile Police Patlabor" anime, "Mobile Police Patlabor EZY", would be launched in 2026, and a new "YAIBA" anime would be produced, which has been a hot topic.
Manga that began in other magazines in 1987 include "Animal Doctor," "3×3EYES (Southern Eyes)," and "Dash! Yonkuro."
◇The legend of Rumiko Takahashi continues
In 1987, Takahashi started not only "Ranma 1/2," but also the irregular serialization of "One Pound Gospel." In 1996, when the serialization of "Ranma 1/2" ended, "Inuyasha" began and continued until 2008. "Kyoukai no Rinne" was serialized from 2009 to 2018, and "MAO" is currently being serialized. Since her debut in 1978 with "Self-centered Yatsura," Takahashi has continued to be active at the forefront and is sometimes called a "genius," "living legend," and "god."
Takahashi's works continue to be loved across generations, with the completely new TV anime "Urusei Yatsura" scheduled to air from October 2022 to March 2023 and from January to June 2024. "Ranma 1/2" is also a masterpiece with universal appeal, which is probably why it's being broadcast as a TV anime for the first time in about 32 years.
