Ranma ½
Created by Rumiko Takahashi, the architect of Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, and Inuyasha, Ranma ½ began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1987 and ran for seven years. The anime adaptation by Studio Deen aired from 1989 to 1992, producing 161 TV episodes plus a mountain of OVAs and three theatrical films. It is one of the foundational texts of the fansub era, one of the shows that built the underground tape-trading networks that eventually became digital fansub culture in the West.
The cast is enormous and every single member of it is insane. Akane Tendo is the fiancée who would rather hit Ranma than admit she likes him. Shampoo is a Chinese Amazon who becomes a cat when splashed with cold water, which is its own catastrophic problem. Ryoga Hibiki has the worst sense of direction in human history and turns into a small black pig. P-chan is not a pig. Everyone knows P-chan is not a pig except Akane.
The 2024 Netflix remake exists. It is fine. Watch the original.
Guides and reference pages for this series. More coming.