Based heavily on the manga, this show offers a lot of fanservice early on to get your attention and then keeps it with it's constant side stories, and colorful characters. Ranma is a teenage martial artist who sets off with his father to train in china, they each fall into separate cursed hot springs that transform them when hit with cold water and turn back when hit with hot water. Ranma, who turns into a red-headed female counterpart when doused with cold water, is the object of affection and 'fiancee' to several characters in both male and female forms, which leads him into trouble constantly. A truly must see anime from the creator of Inunyasha, Rumiko Takahashi 'recycles' characters, so you will see some characters that are rather familiar such as the flea myoga(Happosai) and koga the wolf demon(Ryoga) and many others.

*SEMI-SPOILER*


the series does cut short a few chapters of the manga just as Inuyasha cut off a few volumes before 'the final act' was released. Although in the end both endings are rather close to one another. (show less)

This is probably one of Rumiko Takahashi most famous works (In front of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku but behind InuYasha). This show just has everything in it! Action, comedy, romance, the occasional harem/ecchi (especially in the first season), slice-of-life, and even adventure in the movies!
The characters are to die for. Shampoo is annoying but I respect her skill, both Ranma's have the comedic and fighting side, Ryoga is the guy you always feel sorry for, Tatewaki and Kodachi Kuno annoy you but you can't help but laugh every time they appear, Mousse is another Ryoga, Happosai is another Miroku but times 10, and..... Gah, there's too many to name! But each character is pretty much unique in their own way. Even the extras!
The story in the anime has no real end and you wanna just shout at the screen as I did, "What the heck is that? Tell me there's more!" Sadly, there isn't. You can read the end of the manga (romantic, but Takahashi makes is comedic!), but the anime is done and done, dropped as its status says. The only bad part of the series.
The animation is awesome considering how old this show is. You can tell where they had to cut, say, a mouth to make the arms moves better but nothing too bad.
Dialogue.... Oh, gosh, the dialogue! It is so horrible yet so hilarious at times!
Overall, this is a purely great anime. It's also the first one out the reviews I've written (by what I can remember) that gets a five in every category! Yay!
I would suggest this to any fans of Rumiko Takahashi's other works, mainly Urusei Yatsura and InuYasha. Heck, if you're reading Kyoukai no Rinne you'll love Ranma 1/2!! (show less)