Overview
Ranma 1/2 is Rumiko Takahashi's action comedy romance manga, serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday from 1987 to 1996 across 38 volumes. Ranma Saotome, heir to a martial arts school, falls into a cursed spring in China during training and from then on turns into a girl whenever splashed with cold water, changing back only with hot water. His father does not escape either and turns into a panda. Back in Japan, Ranma is forced into an engagement with Akane Tendo, the hot-tempered daughter of a dojo owner.
OtaHub's take
The first anime, made by Studio Deen in 1989, turned Ranma into a phenomenon. The MAPPA remake premiered in October 2024 on NTV before streaming on Netflix, with Konosuke Uda directing, Kimiko Ueno handling series composition and Kaoru Wada composing the music. Most of the original main voice cast, including Kappei Yamaguchi, Megumi Hayashibara and Noriko Hidaka, returned, keeping a link to older viewers while the animation was completely refreshed.
Season 2 followed in October 2025 under the same release model. On 26 July 2026, the team revealed a key visual and the season 3 schedule: from 3 October 2026 on NTV at 24:55, then streaming exclusively on Netflix. Konosuke Uda continues as director, joined by Atsuko Ishida, who worked as a key animator on the 1989 version. New cast members include Masako Nozawa and Jun Fukuyama as two members of the Daimonji family of the Martial Arts Tea Ceremony school, plus Minami Tanaka as Tsubasa Kurenai.
Verdict
The Ranma 1/2 remake suits both newcomers looking for a fast-paced romantic comedy and longtime fans wanting to see Ranma, Akane and the chaotic chases around Nerima again. MAPPA's pace of one season per year with the same director makes it easy to follow without long waits between parts.
