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The same year Dragon Ball Z came out, another classic anime premiered that was based on a manga from the same author as Inuyasha, albeit with significantly less fanfare. Ranma 1/2 is 161 episodes, 12 OVAs, and three movies of comedic and romantic exploits between the two main characters, with a fantastical plot twist. However, the original anime does cut off the story due to the animation company for the series going bankrupt. That being said, the anime is worth watching, even if you have to finish it by starting in the manga where the anime left off.
Ranma 1/2 tells the story of Ranma Saotome, a young boy and martial arts prodigy. Despite his martial arts prowess, he can't fight his way out of a fantastical curse; he turns into a girl whenever he comes into contact with cold water, and becomes a boy again once exposed to warm water. He is betrothed to girl who is also talented at martial arts, but hate men. While living with his betrothed fiancé, he attempts to make peace with her while trying to get rid of his curse. This anime has been largely forgotten by the modern anime community, however, below are the reasons why it shouldn't be, even if the anime didn't adapt the manga fully.
The Dynamic Between The Protagonist and Love Interest
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One of the most entertaining parts of the show is the dynamic between Ranma and his betrothed fiancé, Akane. The couple are often chaotic, fighting, and generally annoyed with each other. They are not the typical loving shoujo couple you see in most romantic comedies. They are incredibly adverse to each other in the beginning, however that makes watching them fall in love more satisfying as the series progresses.
Instead of instantaneously falling in love, we see a slow burn relationship as they slowly learn to overcome their distances and grow as people. And by overcoming their difficulties, that mainly means overcoming their constant senseless but hilarious bickering. That being said, a large portion of what makes their relationship so satisfying is watching them grow into better people because of each other. Their relationship is reminiscent of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship in Inuyasha, but the competitiveness and annoyance are multiplied tenfold, and those who liked those aspects of Kagome and Inuyasha will find the same charm in Ranma 1/2, just with a much higher focus on that dynamic.
A Bingeable Episodic Anime
A lot of anime today focuses on a complex plot. Something important happens every episode, requiring your full attention. Every episode someone dies, someone comes back to life, and there is a plot twist. A new villain is revealed in the same episode of the protagonist's discovery of the real plot, and exploring another side plot that will become the main plot in a few episodes. It can be tiring to keep up with. Of course, there is nothing wrong with shows like this; many of the best anime follow this structure. However, with over a hundred episodes mainly being episodic, or having very little to do with the plot, it makes this anime perfect for casual watching or relaxed binging.
This isn't to say, of course, that Ranma 1/2 doesn't have a plot. However, it takes a gentler approach and focuses more on the day-to-day lives of our quirky protagonists. This makes it easier to watch while talking with friends, or while cleaning up the house, or even just to zone out to on a rainy day. However, these episodes don't feel as boring as many filler episodes you may find in shonen anime, as this is a romantic comedy and this day-to-day lifestyle keeps up these two elements throughout the series.
The Character's Growth In The Series
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A lot of anime characters tend to stay the same, with a few minor changes. They have the same personality, the same flaws, and same drives, with no differences from the first season to the fifth. This can make characters feel stale and repetitive throughout such a long series, especially in an anime that has focused so much on the daily lives of its character's. Ranma 1/2, however, truly allows the characters to grow.
When the series first begins, Akane is a temperamental man-hating young girl, who has no control over her violent tendencies. Through getting to know Ranma, and just experiencing more of life, she develops into a more intelligent and open-minded young girl and gains control over her martial outbursts. The same can be said for Ranma, who begins the series with only one defining trait; his martial arts abilities. Later, we learn that this is because he sees no value in himself other than his abilities, and throughout the series begins to slowly love himself and become confident for less superficial and temporary reasons.