The seventh episode of the completely new anime version of Takahashi Rumiko's smash hit manga Ranma 1/2, "Fierce Gymnastics Battle," will air on Nippon TV on November 16th. The series was originally broadcast as a TV anime from 1989 to 1992, and this is 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.
Ranma, who has decided to participate in a rhythmic gymnastics competition, trains hard all night with Ryoga, and the day of the competition finally arrives. His opponent is the flower of rhythmic gymnastics, the Black Rose Short Sword, and bare-handed attacks are prohibited, and the fight will not end until the opponent is completely down or out of the ring, in an unlimited single match. With each person's intentions intertwined, the battle begins with their relationship with Ranma at stake.
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.
