Comments on: rethinking Ranma http://www.haibane.info/2008/04/01/rethinking-ranma/ a celebration of science fiction, anime, and geek culture Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:00:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: fledgling otaku http://www.haibane.info/2008/04/01/rethinking-ranma/comment-page-1/#comment-1482 fledgling otaku Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:50:36 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/?p=964#comment-1482 Wow. That's good to know up front :) But you know, that is actually a smart choice, plot wise. Every show with an unresolved love triangle, animated or otherwise, immediately suffers once it gets resolved. Sexual tension works as a plot driver. And comedic gold. Once you cross that line, though, its boring relationship humor, which is really hard to keep fresh. Wow. That’s good to know up front :) But you know, that is actually a smart choice, plot wise. Every show with an unresolved love triangle, animated or otherwise, immediately suffers once it gets resolved. Sexual tension works as a plot driver. And comedic gold. Once you cross that line, though, its boring relationship humor, which is really hard to keep fresh.

]]> By: Steven Den Beste http://www.haibane.info/2008/04/01/rethinking-ranma/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 Steven Den Beste Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:44:12 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/?p=964#comment-1481 Well, for me the ecchi is a big plus. I admit it, my tastes are low. But that's an example of the way people's tastes are different. You're right, though; this is fundamentally a situation comedy with little-to-no long term plot development. After 163 episodes of the regular series plus two movies, the summary description of the OVA that follows in plot terms includes Ranma trying to work up his courage to tell Akane that he likes her. Not a lot of movement for all that time, eh? Well, for me the ecchi is a big plus. I admit it, my tastes are low. But that’s an example of the way people’s tastes are different. You’re right, though; this is fundamentally a situation comedy with little-to-no long term plot development.

After 163 episodes of the regular series plus two movies, the summary description of the OVA that follows in plot terms includes Ranma trying to work up his courage to tell Akane that he likes her. Not a lot of movement for all that time, eh?

]]> By: fledgling otaku http://www.haibane.info/2008/04/01/rethinking-ranma/comment-page-1/#comment-1480 fledgling otaku Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:36:12 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/?p=964#comment-1480 I actually watched disc 2 today, where P-chan and the Black Rose are introduced. I think I appreciate it more and have more patience with it. There were some genuinely hilarious moments involving P-chan (Ryogi) on disc 2 that really did a lot to get me to stay with it. Truly, the echhi level of the first few episodes really turned me off and it is possible that colored my view. The atrocious stereotype of the Chinese also didn't help :P You are ahead of me in overall plot awareness/episode consumption, but it is cool to think we are watching season 1 in tandem :) I actually watched disc 2 today, where P-chan and the Black Rose are introduced. I think I appreciate it more and have more patience with it. There were some genuinely hilarious moments involving P-chan (Ryogi) on disc 2 that really did a lot to get me to stay with it.

Truly, the echhi level of the first few episodes really turned me off and it is possible that colored my view. The atrocious stereotype of the Chinese also didn’t help :P

You are ahead of me in overall plot awareness/episode consumption, but it is cool to think we are watching season 1 in tandem :)

]]> By: Steven Den Beste http://www.haibane.info/2008/04/01/rethinking-ranma/comment-page-1/#comment-1479 Steven Den Beste Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:55:16 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/?p=964#comment-1479 A bit more: Actually, in watching the first season I was rather surprised by the love hypercube when they started hinting at it. There's no trace of that in the second season. The chiropractor (Dr. Tofu) only shows up once, and just as a comedic prop in one of the arcs. A bit more: Actually, in watching the first season I was rather surprised by the love hypercube when they started hinting at it. There’s no trace of that in the second season. The chiropractor (Dr. Tofu) only shows up once, and just as a comedic prop in one of the arcs.

]]> By: Steven Den Beste http://www.haibane.info/2008/04/01/rethinking-ranma/comment-page-1/#comment-1478 Steven Den Beste Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:53:14 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/?p=964#comment-1478 It may not be for you; not everything is for everyone. But now that I'm watching season 1, and just having finished the first DVD, I am noticing a qualitative diference between season 1 and season 2. Season 1 is more serious. And things are more complicated. One of my readers said that the first season wasn't as successful as they hoped, and they rethought the whole presentation before they restarted production. I think that is why Kasumi and Nabiki are not really very important in season 2, for example; they represent the kind of complication in the first season that they decided to get rid of later. Season 1 now comes off as more soap-operish than season 2 did. Season 2 is more slapstick, more farce. But the main thing is that it's lighter, more fluffy, more fun. It may not be for you; not everything is for everyone. But now that I’m watching season 1, and just having finished the first DVD, I am noticing a qualitative diference between season 1 and season 2.

Season 1 is more serious. And things are more complicated. One of my readers said that the first season wasn’t as successful as they hoped, and they rethought the whole presentation before they restarted production. I think that is why Kasumi and Nabiki are not really very important in season 2, for example; they represent the kind of complication in the first season that they decided to get rid of later.

Season 1 now comes off as more soap-operish than season 2 did. Season 2 is more slapstick, more farce. But the main thing is that it’s lighter, more fluffy, more fun.

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