Genderbending isn’t a completely foreign trope for Western audiences, but it’s rare to see the shenanigans that happen in Ranma ½, which takes a genderbending water curse to form a complicated web of relationships, that starts out as a casual romance comedy (albeit with plenty of kicks) and eventually evolves into a ridiculous fighting fantasy adventure. It’s rather revolutionary for its time, in part due to Ranma’s queer gender, but also due to its precursor of the harem trope, as well as its then-new take on the tsundere in Ranma’s intended fiancée Akane Tendo. Ranma ½ is eccentric, but the chaotic comedy is also so entertaining to watch.
Ranma Saotome, a teenage martial artist, and his father Genma travel to the 'cursed training ground' of Jusenkyo in China. There, despite the warnings of the Chinese guard, they fall into the cursed springs. From now on, whenever Ranma is doused in cold water, he turns into a girl and a cute, well-built redhead at that. Hot water changes him back into a man again, but only until the next time. To make matters worse, his father engages him to Akane Tendo, a girl who hates boys.
After falling in a Chinese hot spring, brash teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome is cursed to transform into a female version of himself and back every time he’s doused in water, which makes a major mess of the various engagements his selfish father promised, including the dojo owner’s daughter Akane Tendo.
It’s not great that every time Ranma transforms into a girl, everyone is compelled to feel Ranma up, but it’s so satisfying to see Ranma beat the hell out of them immediately after.
It’s just so fun to see gender roles beaten the hell out of everyone, man.
