The Best Side Characters In Ranma 1/2

With the Ranma 1/2 remake, MAPPA has breathed brand-new life into a story that started in the 1980s. Even more, the studio has also improved plenty of aspects that the other anime adaptations based on the manga were unable to take advantage of. From much smoother pacing that’s more accurate to the source material to the quality of animation that just wasn’t possible years ago, there are a few changes that accompany the latest anime reboot of Rumiko Takahashi’s classic work.

However, the remake sticks by the source material’s greatest strengths and does not stray too far from bringing them to life, and Ranma 1/2’s vibrant characters are what keep its legacy alive even after all these decades.

8

Soun Tendo

Voiced By Akio Otsuka / J. Michael Tatum

Trying to be a single parent to three daughters and running a dojo simultaneously can be a difficult task. Soun Tendo does it spectacularly, though, despite some of his decisions feeling like they should have had some more thought put into them. Being one of the very first characters you meet in the Ranma 1/2 remake, the manager of Anything-Goes Martial Arts Dojo is absolutely hilarious and sets the tone of the kind of comedy you can expect from the series later on.

He is straightforward with his emotions and feelings, genuinely cares about his daughters and the people who come to visit his dojo, and is one of the most wholesome characters in the anime despite being a questionable father at times.

7

Nabiki Tendo

Voiced By Minami Takayama / Stephanie Sheh

Out of the three Tendo sisters, Nabiki stands out as the one who extrudes the most personality not usually found in female anime characters. She is unapologetic about putting herself first and being a source of a lot of humor in the Ranma 1/2 remake. Not inheriting any of the moral values that were passed down to her sisters, Nabiki makes the best out of the Ranma situation by seeing monetary value in it. While it is definitely problematic to take pictures of someone without their consent, Nabiki thinks of it as more of a business strategy.

Despite having limited screen time as compared to other characters in the anime, Nabiki’s defiant attitude helps her steal any scene she is a part of. She doesn’t really care about either the martial arts that everyone seems to be obsessed with or disingenuously coming across as a nice human being.

6

Genma Saotome

Voiced By Chō / Fred Tatasciore

While his son Ranma keeps complaining about the curse that befell both of them during their training in China, Genma Saotome seems to have made his peace with the unfortunate situation. For starters, who does not love a giant panda? He spends the majority of his screen time in the Ranma 1/2 remake simply chilling. He can sometimes be seen drinking and offering a nice hot cup of tea or not caring too much about anything that is going on around him.

Even while witnessing his son getting devoured by opponents during intense, life-threatening battles, Genma never interferes and just observes from the sidelines. He lets Ranma handle his own challenges so he can also become a master of the Anything-Goes Martial Arts one day, like his father.

5

Tatewaki Kuno

Voiced By Tomokazu Sugita / Jonah Scott

Tatewaki Kuno may not be the greatest person when it comes to morals or understanding boundaries, but considering that he is responsible for one of the first fight sequences in the Ranma 1/2 remake, during which MAPPA got the chance to show off its animation chops, his series debut serves as a welcome addition. Being a little too passionate about the love he has to offer, the upperclassman at Ranma’s high school challenges him to an over-the-top battle, which is both hilarious and visually impressive.

He is not the brightest guy and is actually quite gullible, but he has more than enough influence over the students of Furinkan High School to do things like somehow convince them to fight Akane every single day to earn her love, providing both comic relief and action at the very beginning of the series.

4

Ryoga Hibiki

Voiced By Koichi Yamadera / Damien Hass And Rachel Slotky

While Ryoga’s initial motivation to go after Ranma in China does not make much sense, his getting the curse of the Drowned Black Piglet because of the protagonist takes things up a notch, giving rise to a never-ending rivalry between the two. While Ryoga keeps getting in Ranma’s way in some shape or form, he also somehow manages to be the much-needed help that the protagonist needs in dire scenarios, coming through for his rival in the most unexpected of ways, despite not really wanting to aid him.

As the Ranma 1/2 remake progresses, you get to see a softer and more caring side to Ryoga as he spends more time with Akane as P-Chan, a form that is responsible for some of the most amusing conflicts in the entire series.

3

Kodachi Kuno

Voiced By Ayane Sakura / Allegra Clark

Just when you thought you had seen all the eccentricities that the Kuno family has to offer, Kodachi enters to prove you wrong by going to extreme lengths to win a simple martial arts rhythmic gymnastics match, as her introduction shows her trying to kill Akane in the middle of the night before the official battle. Similar to how excessive Tatewaki can get at expressing his love, Kodachi takes things even further by using deadly weapons during a gymnastic match to win Ranma’s heart.

Being responsible for one of the best episodes and battles in the Ranma 1/2 remake, Kodachi, who is also known as The Black Rose, instantly shines whenever she’s on the screen, letting her exaggerated personality traits become an enjoyable highlight in the process.

2

Mikado Sanzenin

Voiced By Mamoru Miyano / Marin M. Miller

When Mikado shows up in the Ranma 1/2 remake, he comes across as a reasonable person who is genuinely apologetic and embarrassed by the actions of his Golden Pair partner, Azusa Shiratori, but his attitude quickly switches in the same scene he is introduced in. Despite his obsession with trying to kiss Akane, Mikado has some of the funniest lines in the series, which only gets better during the deadly ice skating battle that ensues after his challenge to Ranma.

His relationship with Azusa is so strong that they both allow one another to try their luck with other potential lovers as well, collaborating on the iconic Couple Break-Up Spin attack and leaving no stone unturned to acquire whatever they set their eyes on. The explosive reactions he gives to his girlfriend’s problematic habits serve as the hilarious cherry on top of an already enjoyable character.

1

Shampoo

Voiced By Rei Sakuma / Grace Lu

Although it takes a good ten episodes for Shampoo to make her Ranma 1/2 remake debut, the Chinese Amazon’s backstory and motivation to kill the protagonist is more than enough to set her up as a compelling character. The three-episode run that revolves around Shampoo is the most focused the series has ever felt, serving as a great tool for Akane’s own character development, as the Amazon goes through drastic measures to first kill Ranma and then try to marry him.

From genuine moments of emotion to the series’ first proper cliffhanger, Shampoo’s time in the Ranma 1/2 remake is short but leaves an impact, making her one of the best characters to be featured in the MAPPA anime.