Ranma ½ OAV

Since the domestic release of the Ranma 1/2 anime franchise, Viz Media LLC has given the OAV releases titles that parody movie titles: "Desperately Seeking Shampoo" (Desperately Seeking Susan), "Like Water for Ranma" (Like Water for Chocolate), "Akane and Her Sisters" (Hannah and Her Sisters), "An Akane to Remember" (An Affair to Remember) and "Faster Kasumi! Kill! Kill!" (Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!).

The first two theme songs were dubbed into English for the North American home video release. The first theme song was used for OAVs 1-6, while the second theme song was used for OAVs 7-11, replacing the last four theme songs for OAVs 8-11. The reason for not using the last four theme songs remains unknown. When Viz release the Blu-ray edition of the OAVs, the original openings for OAVs 8-11 were included.

The opening theme song "Love Panic" used for episodes 1-6 was the only opening theme song for a Ranma ½ OAV not sung by the music group DoCo.

Rumiko Takahashi provide the character designs for Natsume and Kurumi.

In episode 1, Shampoo was seen holding her hand palm down with the fingers extended and dropping the wrist up and down is the Japanese gesture for "Come here."

The cast of characters in episode 2 was the largest assembly of characters for any of the Ranma ½ related anime.

In episode 2, among the guests at the Tendo Christmas Party are as follow: Ryoga Hibiki (as a human & as P-chan), Tatewaki Kuno, Sasuke Sarugakure, Kodachi Kuno, Shampoo, Ukyo Kuonji, Mousse (as a human and as a duck),Happosai, Principal Kuno, Gambling King, Higuma Torajiro, the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics Judge, Mr. Ryokou, Farmer Brown, Kinnii, Azusa Shiratori, Copycat Ken, Ling-Ling, Lung-Lung, the Kimen School Calligraphy Teacher, the Good Old Days Martial Artists, Jo the Crepe King, the Niku Men, Mariko Konjo, Anna, Tsubasa Kurenai, Panda Doodle, Miyo the Fortune Teller Girl, Picolet Chardin II, Madame St. Paul, the Director with his Assistant, the Old Rich Man (from episode 10), Yuka, Sayuri, Hiroshi, Daisuke, Jusenkyo Guide, Uragishi Sankichi, the Frog Hermit, Toramasa Kobayakawa, the Paper Doll Salesman, Rinko, Princess Ori, Kengyu, Mikado Sanzenin, Sentaro Daimonji, Satsuki Miyakoji, & Sentaro's Grandmother.

In episode 2, Dr. Tofu Ono was one of the fewest characters to not be seen as a guest at the Tendo Christmas Party, despite that he's a close friend to the Tendos and he had a much bigger role in the TV anime than many of the invited characters whom most of them only previously appeared in one to a couple episodes of the TV anime.

In episode 2, Kasumi's calendar notes that December 25th, and by extension the events of this episode, is a Saturday. Coincidentally (although the chances of it being purposeful are equally likely) the year this episode originally was original released (1993) December 25th was also on a Saturday.

In episode 2, for the English dub it was implied that Soun and Genma have known each other since grade school at the very least.

In episode 2, The Kimen School Calligraphy teacher, the Paper Doll Salesman, Farmer Brown and Anna were the only characters who never met the Tendos before. Yet they were among the invited guests at the Christmas party.

In episode 2, the photo on Akane's cork board is of her and her family and friends paired up with Toma, Sarutoru, Torristan, & Wanton on Togenkyo Island during the events of the second movie.

In episode 3, the original manga chapter the episode is based on, there is no mention of Mrs. Tendo or her old cookbook. Akane's desire to assist Mrs. Saotome comes simply from wanting to be better than Ranma.

In episode 4, the scene with Gosunkugi being harassed by the bullies at the start was taken from a completely different manga chapter than the one that Hinako was introduced in. In it, Gosunkugi decides to get his own battle suit to defeat Ranma once and for all only for it to fail and explode off of him. In this version, Hinako had not been introduced yet, so she was the one to save him from the thugs.

In episode 4, during the rumor spreading, Ogawa and chemistry club members can be seen gossiping.

In episode 4, the first part of Hinako's name, "Hina", means "young bird", while "ko" is a common feminine name ending, usually meaning "child", from the word kodomo. "Ninomiya" is broken down into "two princesses," which is a reference to her adult and child forms.

In episode 4, when Hinako transforms, her clothes change turn into a darker shade of yellow.

In episode 7, upon discovering the letter, Genma muses that he never thought that Akane would run away. This is somewhat erroneous with what occurred in the events of the previous two OAVS.

In episode 7, in the manga counterpart, instead of being pets, the Ryugenzawa animals were actually creatures in a zoo where Shinnosuke's grandfather worked at. Eventually they grew too large and destructive for the enclosures and the old man was forced to release them into the wilds.

The Yamato no Orochi in episode 7, is a legendary dragon from Japanese mythology. Having eight heads and eight tails, it devoured maidens until the exiled storm god Susano-o used trickery to kill it. In one of its tails, he found a sword, which is now one of the Three Regalia of Japan.

In episode 7, the first part of Shinnosuke's name "Shi" means "death", referring to the fact that he is near death, but "shin" means "devotion or deep affection," which he has for Akane Tendo. The "suke" part of his name can mean "assistance".

In episode 8, for the English dub, the Eight Headed Orochi makes roars provided by an unspecific sound effect of a monstrous roar. In the Japanese version they make bizarre "oyashiku" noises.

In episode 9, the plot includes a much wider cast than the manga counterpart did. In the manga Ukyo, Ryoga, Ranma and Akane are the only ones to enter the tunnel.

In episode 9, the couple who enter the tunnel are named Wanio and Kabako. The English dub changed the names to Wade and Marsha. Another couple named Shiruo and Menko had their names altered to Peter and Jan. Yet another went from Tsuruhiko and Kameko to Bubby and Cindy. And yet another was changed from Torako and Kumao to Alice and Sam.

In episode 10, Genma accused Ranma of being possessed by the oni and believed he’ll start spitting up pea soup. He is referring to Regan from the original Exorcist movie in which she did the exact same thing when possessed by a demon.

In episode 11, the manga counterpart has the doll's story told by Nabiki, while in this episode it has Nabiki as the doubter.

In episode 11, for the English dub, Ranma refer his spying father and Tendo family as the “Hills Have Eyes”. An obvious reference to the original Wes Craven horror film.