Ranma ½: ​​Battle of Togenkyo! Battle to Rescue the Bride!! - Appeal and Evaluation of Movie #2

Appeal and evaluation of "Ranma ½: ​​Battle at Togenkyo! Get the Bride Back!!"

"Ranma ½: ​​Battle at Tougenkyo! Get Your Bride Back!!" is the second movie version of "Ranma ½" that was released on August 1, 1992. The original is a popular manga by Rumiko Takahashi, and this movie, which was made after the success of the TV series, has a special place in the hearts of fans. Below, we will introduce the appeal and reviews of this work, as well as related information in detail.

story

Ranma and his friends are invited by Kuno to enjoy a vacation on a southern island. However, an incident occurs where women there are kidnapped one after another by a mysterious shadow. The shadow's true identity is a boy named Momoma, the genjutsu prince of Shangri-La. He has been gathering beautiful women in search of potential brides. To solve this case, Ranma and his friends must confront Momoma.

Commentary

This film, which was released as the Ranma ½ TV series entered its fourth year, is a sequel to the well-received first film. This episode, set on a vacation on a southern island, has no direct connection to the main story, but it is full of the charm of the characters and comedic elements. It was directed by Yuki Suzuki, with animation production assistance from Studio Deen.

cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Ranma Saotome: Kappei Yamaguchi
• Ranma: Megumi Hayashibara
• Akane Tendo: Noriko Hidaka
• Tendo Nabiki: Minami Takayama
• Tendo Kasumi: Kikuko Inoue
• Tendo Soun: Ryunosuke Obayashi
• Genma Saotome: Kenichi Ogata
• Kuno Tateto: Hirotaka Suzuoki
• Shampoo: Sakuma Rei

Main Staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of this work. Below is a list of the main staff members.

• Original story: Rumiko Takahashi (Shogakukan/Serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday)
• Planning: Shigekazu Ochiai
• Producers: Yoko Matsushita, Motoko Ariru, Hiroshi Hasegawa
• Screenplay: Ryota Yamaguchi
• Storyboard, direction: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
• Character design and animation director: Atsuko Nakajima
• Art Director: Torao Arai
• Director of photography: Yoshida Mitsunobu
• Recording Director: Shigeharu Shiba
• Recording Production: Omnibus Promotion
• Music: Akihisa Matsuura (Soundtrack, Pony Canyon)
• Color design: Koichi Tako
• Special effects: Takeshi Saito
• Cooperation: Shogakukan, Fuji Television
• Animation production cooperation: Studio Deen
• Director: Yuki Suzuki

The theme song is "A Piece of Love" sung by Picasso, with lyrics by Shota Namikawa and music by Tetsuya Tsujihata. The song was released by Kitty Records.

Main Characters

Below are details about the main characters:

Ranma Saotome

The second generation of the Saotome-ryu indiscriminate fighting style. Ranma is a first-year student at Furinkan High School. When he was young, he was taken by his father to train in China, and fell into a spring of water. This caused him to turn into a woman when splashed with water, and a man when splashed with hot water. Ranma's character is appealing because of the comedic elements that come from his dual nature as both a man and a woman.

Akane Tendo

Akane is the third daughter of the Tendo Dojo and is engaged to Ranma. However, she is always fighting with Ranma. Akane's character is strong-willed and has a strong sense of justice, but she is also loved by fans for the kindness and sensitivity she sometimes shows.

Saotome Genma

Ranma's father. Founder of the Saotome style of indiscriminate fighting. He has a unique background in that he fell into a panda fountain during training and turned into a panda when splashed with water. Genma's character is a mix of humorous and responsible fatherhood.

Kunou Tateto

Captain of the Kendo Club at Furinkan High School. The strongest man at Furinkan High School, he was called "Furinkan High School's Blue Thunder". He is rich, has an overconfident personality, and is prone to jumping to conclusions. He is in love with Tendo Akane, and sees Ranma as a rival. Kuno's character is appealing for his presence as a rival and his comical side.

shampoo

A Chinese girl from the Joshi tribe. She falls into a cat-drowning spring and turns into a cat when splashed with water. After being defeated by female Ranma in the past, she chased him all the way to Japan in an attempt to kill him. After being defeated by male Ranma, she began to chase him around, trying to make him her husband according to the village rules. Shampoo's character is a fascinating one, combining strength and cuteness.

Related Titles

"Ranma ½: ​​Decisive Battle at Tougenkyo! Get Back the Bride!!" is related to the following works:

• TV "Ranma ½"
• Movie "Ranma ½: ​​The Great Battle of Nekonlun, China! A Fierce Battle that Breaks the Rules!!"
• Movie "Ranma ½: ​​Super Indiscriminate Battle! Team Ranma vs. the Legendary Phoenix"

Theme songs and music

The theme song "A Piece of Love" is sung by Picasso, with lyrics by Shota Namikawa and music by Tetsuya Tsujihata. This song was released by Kitty Records and is an important element in creating the atmosphere of the movie.

Evaluation and Appeal

"Ranma ½: ​​Battle of Tougenkyo! Get Your Bride Back!!" is a must-watch for fans of the TV series. The unusual setting of a southern island and the introduction of a new character, Momoma, add a fresh feel to the story. In addition, the comedy and action scenes, which fully demonstrate the personalities of Ranma and friends, are full of elements that will entertain viewers.

In particular, the comedy that makes use of Ranma's dual nature as a man and a woman and the dialogue between the characters are beautifully drawn, bringing out the charm of the original to the fullest. Furthermore, Momoma's battles using genjutsu and his struggle to recapture his bride are visually enjoyable elements.

The voice actors' performances are also superb, especially Yamaguchi Kappei's Ranma, Hayashibara Megumi's Ranma, and Hidaka Noriko's Akane, who express the individuality of the characters. As for the music, Akihisa Matsuura's soundtrack adds excitement to the story, and the theme song "A Piece of Love" is also memorable.

Recommended points

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• A story and characters that bring out the best of the original
• The unusual setting of a southern island
• Introducing a new character, Momoma
• Great balance of comedy and action
• Great performances from the voice actors
• Impressive music and theme song

"Ranma ½: ​​Battle at Tougenkyo! Get Your Bride Back!!" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the TV series, but also to those who like anime and comedies. Please give it a watch.