SYNOPSIS:

Based on the manga series by Rumiko Takahashi, the story follows the general life & comic problems of one Ranma Saotome. Most of the story revolves around him as he discovers more about himself with every challenge that he meets. Ranma is engaged to Akane, a pretty tomboy who would never admit to liking him. Akane is forever fighting with him and she would die if he ever suspected that she liked him. One of his greatest trials is coming to grips with the curse accidentally bequeathed to him by his father. Because of falling into the cursed pool of "drowned girl" when training in Nekron China, every time he gets splashed by cold water, he turns into a redheaded pigtailed girl! Only by bathing in hot water can he revert to his normal self.

The show is interspersed with various battle scenes with the many other zany characters with around half of them also carrying curses (it seems that Nekron China is a popular training ground) and this keeps the show quite interesting.

CHARACTERS:

Akane
Age: 15
Specialty: Getting boys to fall in love with her (despite her not wanting them to)
Choice weapon: A pocket-universe wooden mallet

Akane's mom died when she was a little girl, so she never learned half the stuff she's suppose to know (ex. cooking, cleaning, arts & craft, sewing, or even just acting like a girl) Even though she can't do all these things, she still has a very caring heart, and an easy-going personality!

As the heir of her mom's training hall, she feels obliged to use it well and learn martial arts. By sheer determination she is able to get a pretty good at the basics. The problem starts when she tries to measure herself up to her fiancee's much higher level. Thus is the cause of her endless fights and love-hate relationship with Ranma.

Ranma
Age: 16
Specialty: Getting Akane riled
Choice Weapons: His quick thinking & highly trained body in Martial Arts
Magical Curse: Turns into a redheaded pig-tailed girl

Though somewhat arrogant and overbearing, he still really cares for the people around him and he is always concerned for their welfare. Of course, because he is just sooo good at everything he does, one could say he's allowed the conceit he so often displays. Just about the only thing he screws up is the way he handles his ever-prickly fiancee, Akane. On the whole, he is a very honorable person when it comes to dealing with everybody else: both his enemies & his friends.

P-Chan
Specialty: Starting trouble & getting Ranma blamed for it
Magical Curse: Turns back into Ryoga when splashed with hot water

Akane's pet pig who mysteriously appears just as soon as Ryoga gets wet with cold water. (Akane has no idea that P-chan & Ryoga are one & the same). P-chan delights in being cuddled by Akane (since if he was in human form, she would never do that). He also makes sure that she does so in front of Ranma as often as possible. This is because since Ranma knows that p-chan really is Ryoga, it usually enrages Ranma to see Akane cuddling P-chan. Lucky for P-chan/Ryoga, Ranma is too honorable to reveal his true nature to Akane. At least not yet...

Ukyou
Age: 17
Specialty: Making great ukonomiaki (Japanese pizza)
Choice weapon: a REALLY BIG steel spatula

Ukyou believes herself to be in love with Ranma and so she strives to do her all to make him return her regard. Unfortunately that pesky Akane has him wrapped around her finger (without her realizing it) which frustrates Ukyou even more. Luckily, there is always Ryoga who needs her help and wants to accomplish the same thing she does: separate Ranma & Akane! Now isn't it unfortunate that because they always hang out together while forming their plans, everyone thinks that there's something going on between them. Then again, maybe there is…

Ryoga
Age: 16
Specialty: Getting lost (truly has no sense of direction)
Choice weapons: His steel Kasa (Japanese umbrella) & his (polka-dotted) bandana that turns into steel daggers

Ryoga has been trying to follow Ranma since junior high (keeps getting lost wouldn't you know) in order to avenge himself. It's because he blames Ranma for accidentally pushing him into the cursed pools of the "drowned black pig". Ryoga is also in love with Akane and so he nurtures another huge grudge against Ranma for being engaged to his one true love, Akane. So he does whatever he can to make sure that Akane & Ranma continue to hate each other. In Ukyou, he found a willing partner to help him achieve this goal. In fact, one could say he loves her for always being there for him.