Tag: Rumiko Takahashi

Just How Much More Exciting Episodes of Ranma½ Will There Be? Questioning Netflix’s Commitment

Just like the West, some fond classics are getting a visual update, and Ranma½ looks great, but do we really need it?

Ranma½ Netflix PosterStreaming on Netflix

With the first season still going strong, I’m not finding the refreshed Ranma½ series significantly different from its predecessor. Sadly, the wait for stories from the manga which haven’t been adapted is going to be long. While the order of chapters is different between what I recall from the past version and the book, I’m okay with the alterations.

Here, Kodachi gets introduced much earlier; in the books, she doesn’t appear until chapter 17. In the first series, she didn’t get the spotlight until episode 11. And instead of following the six unit narrative arc from the books, the series condenses it into a well told two-part episode. With the latest, the deadly Golden Pair (ice skating duo), Mikado Sanzenin and Azusa Shiratori, appear to show that some members of the Tendo family have challengers.

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Ranma ½ Splashes Back Onto Screens This Fall!

This year is looking fabulous with the return of many beloved Japanese animation classics from the 90s and Ranma ½ is perhaps the most iconic!

Ranma ½ Manga CoverRanma ½, the beloved manga and anime series from the 80s and 90s is being resurrected for 2024!

Thanks to Nippon TV and Netflix, animation studio MAPPA is producing a new Ranma ½ anime premiering in the fall which will reintroduce the wacky world of Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo to the world with a modern level of animation quality backing it up.

Ranma Saotome (Kappei Yamaguchi/Megumi Hayashibara), a sixteen-year-old martial artist who has been learning martial arts while travelling with his father most of his life, has his life turned upside down when his father takes him to China. While sparring at what is supposed to be a training ground in the mountains, Ranma cursed when he falls into a magical spring and finds that he’s been transformed into a girl! being splashed with hot water reverses the curse, but only until the next time he’s touched with cold water, which reactivates the curse. His life is further complicated when his father, Genma, tells him that he’s to be married to Akane Tendo, the daughter of Genma’s best friend.

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Japan’s Graniph is Breaking out the Lum Wear for All Ages!

Lumclothing1By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Still going strong after all these years Rumiko Takahashi’s creation of Urusei Yatsura finds a way to reach a new generation of anime fans. As of June 14th, Graniph’s of Japan will be carrying officially licensed Urusei Yatsura clothing for both children and adults in their store. Takahashi’s Yatsura exploded in the 1980’s as an animated series after first premiering in the “Weekly Shōnen Sunday” in 1978. The manga ran until 1987 while the animated series was broadcast from 1981 to 1986. In all 195 episodes of the series, 11 OVAs, and 6 theatrical films tells the adventures of lascivious Ataru Moroboshi after he saves planet earth against an invading horde of aliens (the Oni) in a deciding game of tag, only to find he’s now saddled with the combatant from a misunderstood marriage proposal. Ataru’s girlfriend and intended betrothed Shinobu Miyake, is less than pleased. Though Ataru has no interest in his new bride-to-be, he must try to rekindle the flame of love with Shinobu and avoid Lum’s jealous electrical shock attacks.

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Rumiko Takahashi Manga Creations to Adorn Cup Noodles

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Rumiko1When it came to promoting store-bought noodles to the Japanese public, using characters created by affluent manga artist Rumiko Takahasi (creator of Maison Ikkoku, InuYasha, and Rin-ne) is a no brainer. In fact we here at Otaku no Culture think the meeting at Aceccok to agree to such an idea would’ve taken about as much time as cooking one of their instant noodles.

In December Aceccook of Japan will release a pair of cup noodles featuring character artwork from Takahashi’s manga. The products are marketed with the 30-40 year-olds in mind but this may introduce earlier Takahashi characters to a whole new generation.

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