OAV & 3rd Movie Soundtrack

Reviewed by:
Harley Acres (July 9, 2002)

Without a doubt, the hardest to find and most sought after Ranma ½ recording is the OAV & 3rd Movie Soundtrack. Containing 30 tracks (27 instumental and 3 vocal) it is the jewel in any fans collection.

Released in 1994 it contains some of the best music from Ranma ½. The songs lack the Chinese flavor of the TV series, but has a more synthesized rhythm to many tracks. This change in style is what seems to give it it's popularity (helped along by the extreme fan enjoyment of the OAVs).

The three vocal tracks are both of very high quality. The first is "Love Panic" by YAWMIN. Many Ranma ½ fan's first glimpes at the series was the opening theme of this very song. It's an energetic early 1990's pop piece that even has an English version produced by Viz.

The second vocal track is "The Ballad of Ranma & Akane" sung by the seiyuu for both characters (Kappei Yamaguchi and Noriko Hidaka respectively). It is one of the few slower vocals found in the series, and is quite good.

The final vocal is "Neverending Summer Vacation" by DoCo, a seiyuu group comprised of actresses from Ranma ½. This song can also be found on the DoCo Second album. It's an upbeat fast piece that was used later in the run of the OAVs as an opening.

Overall this is probably the best of the many Ranma ½ musical releases out there. It certainly is the rarest, so if you ever come across this CD do yourself a favor and purchase it. You never know if it may be the last chance you'll get...