Ranma ep 1.1: "A Strange Stranger From China (Here's Ranma)"

Summary | Dub & Animation | Notes & Comments | Screencaps

Random notes:

• I love the original opening. That is one of the catchiest damn songs... And really, the animation is a lot of fun. The kata as a dance move is inspired, and then everyone just runnin' and runnin'. *snerk* In retrospect it's really amusing that people we won't see for at least another year show up here... ie the Golden Pair, and Cologne... And hee, Akane-chan is so cute with the long hair. I loved that look.
• *SNERK* Okay, my Japanese is pathetic, and I can't understand the title. Except that I know the words "Here's Ranma" don't appear in it anywhere. *G*
• Damn, that is the biggest panda I've EVER seen.
• Hm, that sequence at the beginning is better than I remembered. I think the dub damages it in my memories, 'cause Megumi Hayashibara is great from step one, and the animation is pretty good. All the fighting works really well. The onlookers crack me up, too. "Look what that panda did to that girl! What's this world coming to!?" In the dub the only crowd thing you can make out is a guy saying "I'm gettin' outta here!" after the panda growls *lol*
• Kasumi's voice (in Japanese) sounds higher than later on in the series, I think. But then again so does Ranma's, so... maybe it's me.
• Heh, it's interesting that Nabiki is the only one who bothers to wear a kimono for Ranma. She seems more chipper than usual, too. Funny that Akane says "not everyone thinks the world revolves around boys!" - where does that behaviour disappear to? Maybe Nabiki was really into guys until Ranma showed up, and then Ranma kind of put her off that phase. ;) Akane meanwhile is pissy from the beginning, but also the only one not to hide behind Soun when the panda arrives... Plus she only takes interest in Ranma after she sees he looks like a girl *snicker*
• Man, Ranma's a lot more polite here than he is later, to pretty much anyone. Can't remember the last time I heard him use "kudasai". Of course "yamete" kind of translates more as "knock it off" so I guess it's not that polite *g*
• Aw, Akane's desperate for friends! ;) no, seriously though, she doesn't seem to have many female friends. Her two school friends, of course, but they're not into kenpo... I bet the idea of another girl her age who does some martial arts work was really appealing.
• During their spar, it's really hard to read Ranma. Is he enjoying himself, or mocking her? Never makes a move, never does anything but avoid her moves, and always with that little smile on his face... is he actually impressed by her ability, or is he thinking "Man, she's way below me"? I guess either one is possible...
• I wish I'd seen this from the beginning not knowing the panda was Genma, and so on... the sheer lunacy of a girl showing up with her pet panda, who apparently arranged her in marriage, is wonderful :D
• Man, there are so many boobs on this show *laugh*
• Mmmm, Kappei Yamaguchi. I love him, he's the perfect Ranma. And the almost-perfect Inuyasha.
• Wow. I never noticed before, but the bathroom scene is perfectly paced. It's one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. The lack of dialogue - Akane's expression - the looooong staring, before Akane's gaze shifts a bit and she looks slightly down, then - more staring - ooookay, back away, shut the door, and Ranma looks down at himself *LOLOLOL* I could die now. :D
• Ranma's too handsome to start with. Handsome and normal. I like 'im better later, when they give him slightly larger eyes (kinda girly eyes *G*) and make his hair a little more unruly.
• Heh, get used to that look on Akane's face, Ranma... you're gonna see it a LOT.
• The flashback with the Guide is odd - it's a totally different tone from the rest of the ep so far. It's like a parody, almost. Hee - I love the signs the Guide holds up.
• Only moment of truly lousy animation I noticed was of Genma and the Tendos on the porch, looking out at Ranma after Genma threw him into the pond a second time.
• Heh! Soun is so eager to use the hot water on them to turn them back. I can see why - it looks damn fun ;)
• Huh - again, my Japanese is pretty much non-existant, but isn't Soun introducing his daughters as something along the lines of "Girl 1, Girl 2, and Girl 3"?
• It cracks me up how eager Kasumi and Nabiki are to toss Ranma off onto Akane... no sooner is Soun done saying "Take your pick!" than they're over there talking Akane up. "It's settled then!"
• If Akane hadn't called him a pervert, or Ranma hadn't said he was better built, I wonder what would have happened? It was definitely established that they hit it off before the whole gender issue came up... Eh, well, there's a zillion fanfics exploring that territory, and I'll never know the real answer. ^_~
• Megumi Hayashibara makes that "Gah!" noise soooo well. The one when she's been squashed by something heavy by Akane. *LOL*
• HA! Cherry blossoms accompanying the slap!
• Wheee! The first "kawaikunee!" I. Love. That. Term. I love the way Kappei says it, I love how often Ranma says it, and I love the fact that it is a blatant lie :D
• "Platonic" ending sequence. I used to hate this song. Man, Ranma looks surly in that pic... and P-chan looks slightly scary O_o