Ranma 1/2 - Ranma Forever - Initiation Nite (Vol. 1) (2002)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Directed by Junji Nishimura
Based on the manga by Rumiko Takahashi
Written by Trish Ledoux and Terry Klassen

Features:

• None. Nope not one
  

Dindrane's Anime Warnings:

• rampant silliness
• Kuno in a position of power
• ancient martial arts master as a lecher

Rating: 13+

Anamorphic: N/A

My Advice: Buy it, but grumble about a few things.

Initiation Nite is the newest disc in the newest Ranma 1/2 series, called Ranma Forever. Three episodes grace this disk--the first episode has the principal of Furinkan High going on vacation and leaving his son Kuno in charge!? The next episode follows Ranma as he fights to keep the Tendo Dojo and his life in a mysterious battle with ninjas...but why is Happosai helping him? The final episode contains the return of the Jusenkyo Tour Guide, who is touring Japan for reasons he keeps to himself. Could they have to do with a Japanese Naniichuan?

The plots of these episodes are as funny as Ranma 1/2 gets and as creative as they've been in a while. Yes, there are some convenient plot developments, but that's comedy for you. The characters develop as they always have, and that's reassuring in a way. Akane continues to pull weaponry out of Hammerspace, Nabiki is still working the angles, and Ukyo looks adorable dressed as a boy.

The voices and character design were all effective and good enough, but it should be noted that the character of Ranma has a new voice in the English version. Why, I don't know. But the replacement does a good enough job, especially given the pressure he must have been under to voice such a well-known and liked character. Special kudos also for the Jusenkyo Tour Guide--it can't be easy to carry a foreign accent in a translation and not sound like an idiot. Happosai is, well, Happosai, and that's always fun.

The sound and production quality are top-notch. The colors are clear and bright, and the animation is smooth and pleasing to the eye. There was none of the fuzzing that sometimes occurs in fight sequences where the animators are struggling with frames-per-second issues.

The features are, alas, non-existent. No trading cards, no entire season on a disc, no image galleries, out-takes, or interviews. Surely a series as venerable and beloved as Ranma 1/2 deserves something? Given that there are only three episodes on this disc, especially, it seems as if Initiation Nite could have, say, a manga comparison, or a recent interview with Takahashi herself, busy as the queen of Japanese manga must be. Fans can't even look back to previous discs in the Ranma 1/2 universe for comfort, as no other discs have had much in the way of features, either--a disappointing trend that I hope does not continue. The transfer quality is the least producers can do--not enough as a feature.

While Initiation Nite may not contain the best Ranma 1/2 episodes ever, they're certainly amusing and fun enough to be worth their shelf space. Kuno in charge of the school is hysterical, as are his cronies in the protection league he establishes. Nabiki shines in this episode, as well. Bascially, in this disc, Viz continues to feed the cravings of Ranma 1/2 fans all over the world, and bless 'em for it. Where, after all, would we be without shrieking boys turned into girls or pandas dodging work?