One of the first anime shows I had ever seen was Ranma 1/2. I was new to the world of Japanese animation and didn't know what to expect. When my friend brought some VHS tapes over and told me I simply had to watch the show I was naturally intrigued. After a couple of episodes I fell in love despite a sub-par English dubbing and it drew me into the world of anime; a place that still firmly has its claws rooted in me.

Over the years Ranma 1/2 has been released at numerous times. Recently VIZ has taken a look at their catalog once again to bring the classic out on DVD. In case you're not knowledgeable about the world of Ranma 1/2 you're missing out on one of the most unique and entertaining shows ever to come from Japan. Created by Rumiko Takahashi (Inuyasha, Urusei Yatsura) the show stems from a manga and has a lofty 161 episodes under its belt. That number climbs even higher when you toss the OVA and movies into the mix but for the purposes of this review we're just looking at the first season

Originally airing in Japan during 1989 the first season of Ranma 1/2 introduced the whacky concept and adorable characters to the anime fan. On the surface this is a fighting show with a gratuitous amount of fanservice and a wild sense of humor. Each of these facets comes together to make a show that is a barrel of laughs the entire way through and the very definition of endearing. Through the seasons several characters were introduced and as things went on it's safe to say that situations just got weirder and weirder.

In the previous seasons we were introduced to Ranma, shown his world, and given a look at the bizarre fate that has befallen him. You see, Ranma is a master of kung fu. With strong dedication and a father who turns out to be a fantastic, if not unorthodox, teacher, Ranma has become a martial arts force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately during one particular training exercise Ranma fell into a cursed pool and emerged with the body of a teenage girl. If that doesn't tip you off then I'll just come right out and tell you that's the gimmick for the series.

Whomever falls into one of these cursed pools gains the form of the being that died there. This is triggered by cold water and in order to revert back into their natural body the person in question has to pour hot water on themselves. So Ranma turns into a girl, his father turns into a panda, another character named Ryoga morphs into a piglet, and so on. To be honest the series only gets sillier in this regard as it goes on but that's really just part of Ranma 1/2's charm; just when you think you've seen it all it springs something new upon you.

Up to the point of this fourth release we have a total of 14 DVDs packed with episodes to explore. Granted we never got the opportunity to see what happened in the third season but here we are looking at year four of Ranma. For the most part things haven't changed a whole lot and the cast is just as kooky as ever. Unlike the previous seasons this one focuses almost entirely on episodic content with only a couple multi-part storylines in between it all. I must say that by this point in Ranma's run the show has begun feeling tired somewhat and the spark enjoyed by the earlier seasons is almost non-existent.

Very little changes within the structure of these episodes though the biggest thing to happen this time around is the return of the school's principle. The man had been in Hawaii training in new ways of education and watching him come back to dominate the faculty and students was rather amusing. His unorthodox mannerisms and terrible English help make him stand out amidst the school's rebellion.

The better content from this season arguably comes in the form of the two multi-episode stories. In the first Ranma becomes weaker thanks to a cursed mark and in the second Ryoga becomes stronger for much the same reason. Each situation was amusing by itself though I felt the plot was stronger during Ryoga's stint as super-powerful kung fu master thanks to the doodle he received on his belly.

In between it all there is some silly Ranma relationship madness. Shampoo gives Ranma a bell that contains the spirit of a ghost cat looking for a bride, Ryoga tries to find a way to get Akane to love him, Happosai falls for a teacher, and Mousse tries to get between Shampoo and Ranma. There are several nuances within each character's relationship and it's safe to say that the secondary cast gets a lot of play time with this season. Ranma kind of steps aside a little and allows the rest of the characters to spread their wings a little bit. In all honesty though it feels a little too late this far into the game; why wait until the fourth season to really develop other personalities?

Whatever the case, Ranma continues to be a highly entertaining show that embodies the ideal of classic anime. It's irreverent, fun, charming, and insightful all at the same time. Hopefully otaku of a new generation will be able to check it out thanks to VIZ's new releases because, quite honestly, this is a classic among classics. That's right you young whippersnappers, Ranma 1/2 is still a "must have" if you're in the market for an example of anime at its best.

Originally released between 1989 and 1990 Ranma 1/2 is ancient by today's standards. I mean the show is eighteen years old but that's not to say it is horrible looking; just dated. The video quality is soft with grain, compression, and the occasional bit of dirt making its way into the transfer. There was no aliasing time and to be honest considering the age I was kind of expecting the aforementioned flaws. The look of the show is still intact though and you can expect to see some fantastic character designs mixed with some abrupt animation.

Ranma 1/2 receives an audio presentation that like the video is in step with its date of production. The dubbing quality for both the English and Japanese languages is decent though I found the Japanese one to hold more appeal. The English dub was ok but it didn't convey the humor and emotion as much as the original language did. As far as the technical quality is concerned both tracks are presented like you'd expect and offer little diversity on the soundstage. Music and sound effects are fairly dynamic and fortunately do not drown out the dialogue. Balance is otherwise fine and there is no distortion to complain about.

The bonus features for Ranma have been kind of skimpy and the trend continues with the fourth volume. Line art galleries, textless animation, and actor profiles are all you're going to find on the fifth disc in the collection.

Ranma 1/2 is one of those classic shows that has been overlooked in recent years by many otaku. It's a fun-loving series that stays entertaining from start to finish and the fourth season of 24 episodes is proof of that quality. Throughout this collection the episodes entertaining on just about every level. The show is engaging, light, energetic, and funny all at the same time. It's easy to see why Ranma ran for as long as it did in Japan and if you have never seen it you're missing out on one of the best and most iconic shows of its time. This fourth season doesn't feel quite as strong as previous ones but it's still very good. Recommended.

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