I Won't Stand for a Fiancé Like This!
Crosstalk: Kappei Yamaguchi x Megumi Hayashibara x Noriko Hidaka

Translated by: Harley Acres

A masterpiece that continues to be loved by people of all generations and regions

Rumiko Takahashi, one of the great contributors to establishing the "romantic comedy" genre in Japanese shonen manga magazines, continues to be a prolific artist forty years after her debut. Her most famous work, Ranma 1/2, is back in anime form.

If you splash water on him, he'll turn into a girl?!?!
The timeless classic is back!
Watch out for this Reiwa-era slapstick fighting love comedy!!!

Ranma 1/2 is a slapstick comedy that follows the awkward love story of Ranma Saotome, a boy who fell into a spring during his training and is cursed with a unique condition that causes him to transform into a girl when splashed with cold water and back into a boy when splashed with hot water. His fiancée is the fiesty, martial arts-loving girl Akane Tendo, along with the chaos caused by a cast of eccentric supporting characters. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday from 1987 to 1996. It was also adapted into a TV anime series that ran for three long years from 1989 to 1992. Following its broadcast, the anime continued to be released in movie theaters and as an OVA series, and is frequently rebroadcast on satellite channels. Furthermore, it has been widely distributed overseas for a long time and continues to be loved by people of all generations and regions.

The anime adaptation is being produced by MAPPA, known for Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan: The Final Season, and Chainsaw Man. Its director is Konosuke Uda, known for One Piece, Rainbow Firefly: Eternal Summer Vacation, and DAYS. ^[2] The Ranma 1/2 anime is well known for its incredibly popular cast, with each actor perfectly suited to their role (and is one of the origins of today's character song culture), and many of the main cast members, including Kappei Yamaguchi, Megumi Hayashibara, and Noriko Hidaka, will be reprising their roles from the previous series. ^[3] The overwhelming response when the cast was announced also attests to their enduring popularity. Indeed, the unchanged voices and polished acting lend stability and conviction to the newly crafted visuals. It's all thanks to these voices.

Don't miss out on the Reiwa era of Ranma 1/2, everyone!

Episode 1
"Here Comes Ranma"
Set in 1980s Japan, Soun Tendo receives news from his best friend, Genma Saotome, that he will be returning to Japan. This means that the day has finally come for the three Tendo sisters, Akane, Nabiki and Kasumi, and Genma's son, Ranma, to meet in person as their parents have arranged for them to be married. However, Ranma appears to be a charmingly beautiful girl. Due to a curse from a spring that occurred during his training, Ranma has been given a unique condition that changes his gender. This condition immediately causes trouble for Ranma and Akane. What will become of their turbulent life together?

Let's enjoy the Reiwa era of Ranma together!

How did it feel to take on the story of Ranma 1/2 from the beginning again?

Yamaguchi: When the cast was being decided for this series, there was a voice test. It was basically like an audition, but at the time I was still confident that I could properly voice Ranma, and that I could still play the role. But once I got the role and it was time to record, I gradually lost my confidence...

Hidaka: At that point?? During the voice test, you were the one who came to cheer me up when I was feeling down. ^[4]

Hayashibara: Feeling down? Oh my gosh, you're so cute! (laughs)

Hidaka: For me, the time I spent with the cast on Ranma 1/2 remains a truly shining memory in my career as a voice actor. It was a part of my youth. So I'd been thinking about events and doing various things for over 10 years, hoping to somehow get everyone together again, but I never thought we'd be able to do an anime again. When the situation suddenly became one of tension, I started to worry about whether I could act.

Hayashibara: But we've done so many roles in Detective Conan, like high school detectives and elementary school students. ^[5] So didn't you think you could do Ranma too?

Yamaguchi: That's true, and that's why I was confident at first. But Ranma appears last out of all the main characters in the first episode, right? So when I saw the other actors' performances, I thought, "They're just like they were back then. Their voices haven't changed." So the bar for me gradually got higher, and I was really nervous about saying my first line in the first episode (laughs).



Hayashibara: Like some kind of rookie, huh? (laughs)! On the contrary, I feel like I've "gained freedom" this time. Last time, I hadn't done that many voice acting roles and was still pretty much a rookie, and the sound director, (Shigeharu) Shiba-san, would repeatedly tell me to "steal Kappei Yamaguchi's acting style" and I kept getting negative feedback. ^[6] He also told me things that didn't match up with me, like "She just sounds like a strong-willed girl. This girl is a boy" or "She's dignified and cute," and I couldn't really process them. That's why Ranma's voice in the first episode was so high-pitched. That was the result of being conscious of being "dignified and cute."

Hidaka: It felt like my voice was coming from the top of my head.

Hayashibara: That's right. By the way, for this first episode as well, I deliberately tried to keep the key of my voice to the sound of that first episode. From there, I hoped to gradually return to the lower voice I used in the second half of the series. Even though I'm trying to recreate things from before, my mind is very free.

The announcement of the cast, which has generated a lot of buzz, has led to a free rein for Ranma 1/2. How do the cast members view Ranma from 35 years ago and today?

Yamaguchi: Back then, I had no idea Hayashibara was being told that. On my end, Shiba-san was telling me the exact opposite: "Just steal Hayashibara's performance." But while I could mimic her ad-libbed action scenes, I couldn't reach the dazzling vibrancy of Hayashibara's Ranma. Honestly, I was frustrated with myself (laughs). I just couldn't match that effortless cheerfulness.

Hayashibara: Huh, I see!

Yamaguchi: But this time, when we re-acted 32 years later (after the previous series ended), I felt like I might be able to get a little closer. I think the consistency of our acting as the two of us playing the same role is even better than before. And yet, this time, there are parts where we were able to act more naturally, without putting in as much effort as before.

Hayashibara: That's right. I think we were able to play the male Ranma, the female Ranma, and both Ranmas naturally, without trying to imitate each other.

Hidaka: It's amazing that you were able to sense each other's greatness and steal from each other like that.

Hayashibara: That's true~ (laughs). But at the time I really did worry, wondering, "Why am I acting like a girl?" Of course, it can't be helped since I'm the one playing the role (laughs). But as I went along, I gradually started to find Akane incredibly cute, and it made my heart flutter. This was influenced not only by the way the character was portrayed, but also by the way Non-san (Hidaka's nickname) was so considerate on set.

Yamaguchi: Speaking of which, what was interesting when I was talking with Hayashibara about my role again this time was that we both agreed that "Ranma definitely fell in love with Akane first." "It was almost like love at first sight, in a way." So, I actually felt like the way you portrayed Akane changed a bit.

This is my house!

Hidaka-san, what did you think about the nuances of Akane's romantic feelings in that part?

Hidaka: I actually thought that recalling those painful feelings of adolescence might be a difficult task in the dubbing this time. I reread the original manga over and over again, and then deliberately let my emotions take a breather, and analyzed my feelings in my own way, while doing my best to act. It was tough, but I was really happy. It's not often you get to do heart-fluttering acting at this age, after all (laughs).

How was it working with the new cast members who are joining you for the first time?

Hidaka: It seems like our mere presence makes everyone a little nervous (laughs). That's why I tried to keep the atmosphere in the studio as relaxed and calm as possible.

Yamaguchi: Everyone who comes as a guest says, "I watched the previous show."

Hayashibara: But I feel like these young people are pulling us into the Reiwa era. We brought the atmosphere of the '80s and '90s in fresh, like unmelted ice, so they've inherited something of the times, but with the help of all the new people, we're also connecting to the Reiwa era.

Yamaguchi: Working with these people made me keenly aware that I, back when I was a newbie, was being pulled along by the power of my seniors on previous sets, including Hirotaka Suzuoki-san, who played (Tatewaki) Kuno-senpai. ^[7] So now, I feel like it's my turn to lead and convey to those young actors the "Rumic World" I know...the world of Rumiko Takahashi-sensei.

How would you describe the appeal of "Rumic World" in words?

Yamaguchi: "Slapstick romantic comedy" is a perfect description, isn't it? But within that, Rumiko-sensei's works always reflect the atmosphere of the times. For example, the nature of couples in Urusei Yatsura and Ranma are distinctly different. The main story is important, but the details are also incredibly important in this world, like all the little gags. That's why it's important to act with seriousness and emphasis on the details.

Hayashibara: "Escapes" and "misses" are also important, aren't they? If you go full speed towards a wall, it's not like you just crash right into it; it's like there's no wall at all and you fall. That kind of abandonment that makes you feel like you're suddenly letting go. There's a solid rhythm, but then it suddenly stops with a bang, and the next moment it's a completely different rhythm. It's an addictive feeling.

Hidaka: And then there's the "warmth of the family." In Ranma, there's the warmth of the Tendo family first, and when Ranma and his father (Genma) come into the picture, even though it feels a bit strange, they quickly become like a family. It's because they're so overflowing with love that what they do seems strange to an outsider. Even though it's an odd family and a hectic life, it has a sense of everyday life, and when you explore everyday life to the fullest, it becomes interesting... It's amazing how carefully these aspects are portrayed. Since we, who have such a long history, are performing in this anime again, younger viewers might be wondering, "Am I really allowed to watch this?" (laughs) But anyway, I hope you will watch it without any preconceived notions.

Yamaguchi: We had a lot of fun making it, so we'd be happy if you could enjoy watching it with us.

Hayashibara: For little kids, we say, "It features a strange panda and a strange pig, so why don't you check it out?"

Hidaka: Hahaha. But seriously, even kindergarten-aged children are surprisingly into Ranma.

Hayashibara: Her breasts are quite bouncy, though (laughs).

Hidaka: But that's because it's drawn in a cheerful style (laughs).

Ranma Saotome

A first-year high school student at Furinkan High School and the second generation of the Saotome school of Anything Goes Martial Arts. During his training, he fell into the "Spring of Drowned Girl" in Jusenkyo and has a mysterious curse that thurns him into a girl when spleashed with cold water.

Ranma turns into a girl after pouring cold water over himself. When he pours hot water over himself, he turns back into a boy. Both father and son are living with the Tendo family, and Akane is engaged to Ranma in an arrangement made by their fathers.

Akane Tendo

The third daughter of the Tendo family, 16 years old. She is the second generation of the Tendo Dojo and has outstanding physical abilities. Although she often gets into fights with her fiance, Ranma, she also has a kind-hearted side.

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Footnotes

• [1] Hiromi Taniguchi (谷口宏美) is the character designer on Ranma 1/2. Additionally he has worked on One-Punch Man (ワンパンマン), KILL La KILL and Naruto: Shippuden.
• [2] Konosuke Uda (宇田鋼之介) is the director of the 2024 adaptation of Ranma 1/2. You can read an interview with him here.
• [3] Ranma 1/2 was one of the series that popularized releasing albums of music sung by the voice actors in character the most prominent being the DoCo First and DoCo Second albums followed by the Hot Song Contest and Fighting Song Karuta.
• [4] Many of the actors have expressed excitement about returning to their roles on Ranma 1/2 after over 30 years since they first began as the characters, but have also admitted to having nerves about if their voices have changed or if they can still connect to what being a teenager is like.
• [5] Many of the Ranma 1/2 cast later went on to have starring and recurring roles in the Detective Conan (名探偵コナン/Meitantei Conan) anime including: Minami Takeyama (Nabiki/Conan Edogawa), Kappei Yamaguchi (male Ranma/Shinichi Kudo), Megumi Hayashibara (female Ranma/Ai Haibara), Kenichi Ogata (Genma/Dr. Agasa), Kikuko Inoue (Kasumi/Chianti), Koichi Yamadera (Ryoga/Tsutomu), Kazuhiko Inoue (Mikado Sanzenin/Shiratori), Naoko Matsui (Azusa Shiratori/Sonoko), Shigeru Chiba (Sasuke/Kanenori) and Ichiro Nagai (Happosai/Jirokichi).
• [6] Shigeharu Shiba (斯波重治) was the sound director on Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku and Ranma 1/2 in addition to My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ/Tonari no Totoro), Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ/Kaze no tani no Naushika), and Patlabor: The Movie (機動警察パトレイバー the Movie/Kido Keisatsu Patoreibaa the Movie). We have a number of interview with Shigeharu Shiba on the site including, "The Blitz Broadcast is about to Begin!", "Main Staff and Cast Message", "Maison Ikkoku Music Box Interviews", and "Urusei Yatsura Music Box Interviews". Kappei Yamaguchi and Noriko Hidaka spoke about working with him in their interview in the same issue of DaVinci as well and Saeko Shimazu, the voice of Kodachi in the 1989 anime spoke of him as well.
• [7] Hirotaka Suzuoki (鈴置洋孝), the original voice of Tatewaki Kuno, passed away from lung cancer in 2006. One Ranma 1/2 OVA was released after his passing, "The Insense of Spring Sleep" in which the role was played by Koji Tsujitani (best known as Miroku in Inuyasha and Hiroshi in Ranma 1/2. Tsujitani had filled in for Suzuoki as Kuno in three episodes of Ranma 1/2 Nettohen. However, Tsujitani himself had passed away by the time of the 2024 Ranma 1/2 adaptation. The role of Tatewaki Kuno was then filled by Tomokazu Sugita.

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