Reviews

I wasn't sure what to think of the 2024 remake of Ranma ½, but honestly, I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. I remember catching glimpses of the original years back, but this time around, I actually watched it through. What I enjoyed most was that the show doesn't try to tell some huge, heavy, long-term story. Instead, it's episodic, and the majority of attention is actually just on Ranma and Akane slowly developing their relationship as they sort of trudge through all the chaos that's around them. That was really great for me. They definitely annoy each other, but you can tell there's something genuine starting to form between them, and that adds this wonderful little amount of heart to all the jokes.

The humor is actually the highlight here. Ranma's curse is funny no matter how many times it occurs, and I have to admit I kinda adored his girl form. His father, being a panda, was having me laugh a lot more than I expected. I don't personally care for the whole "arranged marriage" concept that the series uses to get things rolling, but the characters make it work. Akane was probably my favorite of the cast. She's short-tempered and hot-headed, but also sweet as can be when she lets her guard down. Ryoga was a stand-out, both as comic relief and as a character who is more of an adversary. The guy can't get his bearings, and the pig thing is just dumb, but he's still a good guy at heart, so you can't really help but not despise him even when he's being a bit of a jerk. The supporting characters help add to the flavor, too. Kuno and his sister Kodachi did have some pretty solid moments, too, and Shampoo was a blast when she showed up. The only plot development I wasn't really keen on was the figure skating plot, but even that had some jokes in it that managed to make me laugh.

The visuals were also top-notch in this remake, as they kept the feel of the original art style but polished it with modern animation. It was old and new at the same time, exactly what I was hoping for. The fight scenes and over-the-top martial arts sequences looked really sharp, and they even still carried that hyperbolic, silly energy that makes this show so great. The music was a pleasant surprise as well. It has that bouncy, carefree sort of quality that fits the humor so perfectly, but also resonates on an emotional level when it has to. I was also delighted to see so many of the original Japanese cast members return, as their acting really grounds the characters. I watched it mostly in Japanese, but I also checked out the English dub and found it to be good all-around.

I really enjoyed viewing this overall. Ranma ½ (2024) isn't the sort of show you watch for substantial plot or dense drama, but it doesn't need to be. It's funny, lighthearted, and backed by heroes who are similarly ridiculous and endearing in their own ways. Sure, there were definitely a few weaker arcs, and the forced interaction gimmick isn't necessarily my favorite thing, but it was able to keep me hooked front to back anyway. I gave it a 7/10 because while it’s not perfect, it’s a really cute and consistently funny watch that I’d happily come back to for a laugh.