1.It definitely felt incomplete. More on that later.
2.I grew a somewhat powerful bond with the characters over the seasons and actually feel devastated having to let them go like this.
Story: 6
How sad. A pitiful little six. For those of you who don't realize, a strong plotline is the most important component of an anime. However, Ranma ½ just doesn't pull it off. Let's begin with my earlier point: it felt incomplete. The more sensitive people may consider the next paragraph a breeding ground of spoilers. It is for that reason that I indent here in order to be fair to everyone. However, in my personal opinion, these shouldn't count as spoilers, but warnings. I won't tell you what does happen, only what doesn't.
Ranma never confesses to Akane. Their relationship never gets anywhere. Ranma never becomes all-man. If there is any conflict that isn't resolved in the same episode it originated in, it will invariably persist throughout the series. Unfortunately, I can only think of one exception (codewords “Martial Arts Tea”). The last episode doesn't actually feel conclusive until its final moments, and not because anything happened there either; just because it was a familiar looking scene. The final two episodes have their own special conflict a step above the regular events of the series. However, ironically, not even that lonely circumstance is given a satisfying ending. Just another “we're back where we started” ending. Absolutely every single possible step forward is chained in place because of the character's inability to move out of square one. I don't know why they refuse to progress the plot even in the series' dying moments. Although an actual storyline may prevent the writers (namely Takahashi) from using ideas they surmised after they made it canonically impossible (i.e. if Ranma became all-man halfway through, then they couldn't use the female Ranma ever again), they should at least grant us a true ending where at least SOMETHING happens.
This series is episodic, and what I previously mentioned was only one of the flaws such a setup brings. The tones vary from episode to episode, sometimes with two neighboring stories feeling like two different anime for the a lack of a consistent voice. Special techniques Ranma learns during the course of one episode are quickly forgotten after the credits roll. He and Ryoga only readily use one attack each that we saw them train to obtain. The rest you never see again, even when they would clearly be useful. There are characters you only see once. And while the romantic scenes between Ranma and Akane become more common the longer you watch the series, they never last a very long time or tell you anything that you wouldn't already know.
However, each of these individual episodes are creative and well written. Ranma 1/2's colorful cast of friends, family, and enemies make this series an interesting watch to those who are already used to a decidedly more “American” structure. Even if they don't add to an overall plot, these are still very fun tidbits about the Tendo family and their daily affairs, about Ranma and his futile shear for a cure, or about some strange relic that's been unearthed. Excepting the episodes which yank the cast back onto linearity at the last second in order to prevent plot progression, Ranma's individual storylines and arcs are filled with action, comedy, and occasionally even heartwarming moments. Something which I can say about Ranma with a clear conscience is that it is never, ever dull. However, it's famous sense of humor may have been only slightly overrated. You'll still enjoy it if it's your style.
Art: 7
I don't care about animation quality. I like eye candy as much as the next guy, but the only time I'll ever be angry about animation is if it somehow detracts from from the overall experience. And I enjoyed Evangelion's ending, so it looks like I have pretty low standards regarding this subject. Or a low attention span. Anyway, Ranma ½ has a noticeably slow frame rate along with a purposeful lack of detail. I love the art style anyway, as its movements and colors, along with Rumiko Takahashi's flawless character designs, fit the series perfectly. I liked the lighting in particular. The backgrounds are relatively simple, too, though again, it really shouldn't matter if you like the anime.
Sound: 8
Ranma ½ has fantastic music. The battle themes and everyday songs were well composed and well used. None of the songs have stuck with me, but I was instilled with excitement or a sense of calm whenever I heard them play. There wasn't a single opening that I didn't try to sing along to, even if most of the endings lack that charm. It's hard to describe music, though. The Japanese voice acting was great, too. Every voice fits each character with perfection.
Character: 9
No doubt the series strong point. Its varied cast is full of faces, voices, and personalities that you're certain to remember long after the series ends. None of them are simple, lazy archetypes, but full-fledged well thought out people that really help flesh out Ranma's crazy universe, even if you sometimes don't see certain favorites for ten or so episodes. However, they don't often develop.
Enjoyment: 8
As I mentioned earlier, while Ranma ½'s storyline isn't as strong as I'd like, everything else pretty much makes up for it. This is an anime that I find impossible to hate. There's too much spirit in it for me to ever even comprehend slandering its good name. Simply put, it isn't hard to see why this is a classic, though you'll have to see the anime for yourself to truly realize why, even with my detailed description.
Overall: 7
While Ranma's story may never reach condescending levels of greatness, the depth of the characters, the hilarity and fun, and its truckloads of charm pull through to give it a passing grade. This series isn't for everyone, but if you want to immerse one of your good-humored friends in the world of anime, this would be an excellent first step.
Rezindez, the Immortal Crow
