The following may contain some spoilers...be advised.
I have recently completed watching every season of the Ranma 1/2 anime, including the movies, OAV's and all of the Manga.
I enjoyed this movie to a point. One aspect I found as a let down, there really isn't any real comedy in this one. While there are points at comedy, Suon & Genma provide some, and the "chase scene" (Our group trying to chase Kirin's Blimp with a small dingy, as an example). I won't give way the main plot, which is a sort of a comic device of why Happôsai did what he did. Yet in all it seems the movie tries to take a serious look..with a serious plot, something that was rarely done in the series. Which is probably why most "Ranma 1/2" fans don't like it all that much.
On it's own, the story holds up. If you have not seen any of the anime after Season 3, you may just enjoy this one. If you have seen Seasons 4-7, you will find a lot of what this movie is about is just part of a rehashed storyline that was over done in the anime. One aspect that most "Ranma 1/2" fans have a problem with was the "Akane as the damsel-in-distress" story plots. To many this was over done, and at one point, while Akane still has a fiery temper and can hold her own in a fight, she is shown in more ways to be less of a fighter...or needs help...or simply waits for Ranma to show up. Something she blatantly states to Kirin almost word for word after she is kidnapped and told she will be his bride.
However, we do see Ranma starting to come out of his shell about his feelings for Akane. Backed up by Kirin's last words to Ranma before he leaves.
It's not the best of the series. But it can hold it's own.
The opening sequence is a nice touch, featuring all, or nearly all, of the reoccurring characters from the series. Another nice touch was the background cell paintings. If you watch the series, then this movie...you can immediately see a difference in the background. It is much more detailed, especially the Tendo home, and along the streets as Female Ranma chases Happôsai. It gives the area in which the characters live much more depth and a nice rich color.
I have recently completed watching every season of the Ranma 1/2 anime, including the movies, OAV's and all of the Manga.
I enjoyed this movie to a point. One aspect I found as a let down, there really isn't any real comedy in this one. While there are points at comedy, Suon & Genma provide some, and the "chase scene" (Our group trying to chase Kirin's Blimp with a small dingy, as an example). I won't give way the main plot, which is a sort of a comic device of why Happôsai did what he did. Yet in all it seems the movie tries to take a serious look..with a serious plot, something that was rarely done in the series. Which is probably why most "Ranma 1/2" fans don't like it all that much.
On it's own, the story holds up. If you have not seen any of the anime after Season 3, you may just enjoy this one. If you have seen Seasons 4-7, you will find a lot of what this movie is about is just part of a rehashed storyline that was over done in the anime. One aspect that most "Ranma 1/2" fans have a problem with was the "Akane as the damsel-in-distress" story plots. To many this was over done, and at one point, while Akane still has a fiery temper and can hold her own in a fight, she is shown in more ways to be less of a fighter...or needs help...or simply waits for Ranma to show up. Something she blatantly states to Kirin almost word for word after she is kidnapped and told she will be his bride.
However, we do see Ranma starting to come out of his shell about his feelings for Akane. Backed up by Kirin's last words to Ranma before he leaves.
It's not the best of the series. But it can hold it's own.
The opening sequence is a nice touch, featuring all, or nearly all, of the reoccurring characters from the series. Another nice touch was the background cell paintings. If you watch the series, then this movie...you can immediately see a difference in the background. It is much more detailed, especially the Tendo home, and along the streets as Female Ranma chases Happôsai. It gives the area in which the characters live much more depth and a nice rich color.