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Review of the New Ranma 1/2 Series: A Missed Opportunity for Revival

For fans of the original Ranma 1/2—especially those who experienced it through the iconic Mexican dub—this reboot feels like an ambitious swing that ends up missing the mark. The original was a perfect blend of absurd comedy, heartfelt character dynamics, and the cultural charm that elevated its humor. The new series, by comparison, is like eating Taco Bell when you’re craving authentic Mexican food. It’s serviceable for newcomers but ultimately hollow for seasoned fans.

Story: Familiar but Lacking Charm
The new Ranma 1/2 doesn’t stray far from the original’s premise—martial arts battles, romantic hijinks, and the ... ever-hilarious chaos of cursed springs—but its execution lacks the same spark. While predictability isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker in a series like this, the humor feels more sanitized and less daring. The outrageous misunderstandings and over-the-top physical comedy that defined the original feel watered down, as if they were afraid of going "too far."

Art Style: Polished Yet Soulless
The updated art style is clean and modern, but it sacrifices the charm of the original's hand-drawn aesthetic. The exaggerated expressions that made the comedy land so effectively feel more restrained. While the animation quality is technically superior, it doesn’t feel fitting for the slapstick humor and chaotic tone of the series. It’s like the series traded its quirky personality for a polished, yet generic look.

Characters: Familiar Faces, Diminished Depth
While the main cast is all here—Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, Ryoga, and the rest—their personalities feel like shallow imitations of their former selves. In the original, each character had a balance of flaws and strengths that made their interactions compelling. Here, they feel more like caricatures, with Akane’s temper and Ranma’s arrogance dialed up to 11, leaving little room for the nuance and growth that made their dynamic endearing.

Moreover, their reactions to events feel oddly muted. The original series thrived on exaggerated, often ridiculous responses, but this reboot seems afraid to fully embrace that chaos. This makes the humor feel forced and the stakes less engaging.

Is It for Everyone?
While long-time fans will likely be disappointed, newcomers unfamiliar with the original might enjoy the series for its lighthearted humor and action. However, even for this audience, there are better modern comedy anime that offer a more cohesive blend of humor and character development.

Verdict: A Faded Reflection
The new Ranma 1/2 series is an attempt to bring a classic to a new generation, but it ultimately falls short of recapturing the magic of its predecessor. While the Mexican dub elevated the original to legendary status with its perfect comedic timing and localization, this reboot feels like it’s playing it too safe. Fans of the original will likely feel nostalgic for the days when Ranma 1/2 was genuinely daring and outrageously funny. New viewers might find some enjoyment here, but the series is unlikely to leave a lasting impression.

Final Rating: 5/10. A serviceable entry for newcomers, but a missed opportunity for a true revival.

The first 4 or 5 episodes were fine, like 7 or 8 out of 10, but after that the main character start to be really annoying and the story just vanished in the forgettable.

Meh ending, very disappointing.

The Art is fine, I very like this new way of "drawing" where the characters looks really good and the usage of vibrant colours and known places.

The characters were fine, each of them makes some sense on the story, but I will rather prefer a more convincing story than this (you will see from episode 6 and later that is like watch the 4th season of two and a ... half men).