Live-Action Ranma 1/2 This December
To those old enough to remember, Rumiko Takahashi (高橋 留美子) already had a string of hits prior to Inu Yasha (犬夜叉), Ranma 1/2 being among the most popular. On December 9th at 19:00 Japan time (+9 GMT), NTV will air a 2-hour live-action TV special of Ranma 1/2 (らんま 1/2).
Boy-Type Ranma, Akane, and Girl-Type Ranma. Image via NTV.
The manga/anime revolves around the titular character, Ranma Saotome, a guy who is cursed to turn into a girl whenever he’s hit by cold water (hot water turns him back to a guy) because he accidentally fell into a cursed spring while undergoing martial-arts training in China. Prior to the accident, his father Genma already arranged a marriage for his son with his best friend’s daughter, Akane Tendou. The stories revolve around the development of Ranma and Akane’s romantic relationship, having to deal with and search for a cure to the curse, and the hijinks of high school life, martial arts, and living under one roof.
ANN points out that the TV special will be an original story that centers more around Akane. ザwebテレビジョン (The Web Television) has pictures of the cast in costume. Since both boy-type and girl-type Ranma are cast, we know Ranma transforms in the show. The question is…will Genma transform into a panda?
[Via Topless Robot, Anime News Network, NTV, and ザwebテレビジョン (The Web Television). Image via NTV.]
As a fan of the anime, this new interests me, but I don’t see myself taking the time to watch it.