Hi all. I probably should have put something like this in the first chapter or so, but I didn't. This is just a bit of information about Ranma ½ for those who need to know. Feel free to skip over this.

Ranma ½ is an awesome manga and acceptable anime. It follows the life of teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome from his arrival at the Tendo dojo in Nerima Tokyo. Ranma is an active 16 year old boy who is also the heir to the Saotome School of Indiscriminate Grappling, aka Anything Goes. He has a curse that changes him into a girl when he is hit by cold water. Hot water changes him back into a boy. In the anime his hair is black while her hair is red. There is no difference in the manga. Ranma also has two official fiances, one wife, and two crazed stalkers.

Fiance number one is Akane Tendo. She is the youngest daughter of Soun Tendo. She practices the Tendo School of Indiscriminate Grappling. Her engagement to Ranma is arranged by their fathers in an attempt to join the schools. They have been engaged since birth, even though they didn't find out until Ranma came to the Tendo dojo. Akane has no other fiances, but she does share a crazed stalker with Ranma and has a secret admirer. Akane does not have a curse.

Fiance number two is Ukyo Kuonji. She dresses like a boy and practices okonomiyaki martial arts. She was engaged to Ranma when they were six. Shortly after that Ranma's father took her dowry and ran. Ukyo decided to "lose her femininity" and hunt Ranma down to get her vengence. When she found him, she fell in love and the engagement was back on. Now she runs her own okonomiyaki restaurant. Ukyo has a waitress/kunoichi working for her who is in love with her.

Ranma's wife is Shampoo. She is a Chinese Amazon. In her village if female warrior is defeated by a girl, that warrior must hunt down and kill that girl. If a female warrior is defeated by a boy, the warrior and the boy are married. Initially Shampoo was defeated by girl Ranma, so she hunted her down to kill. Later she returned to China and got a curse. She turns into a cat when hit by cold water. Now she is trying to convince Ranma to leave Japan and return with her to her village. Shampoo has one admirer.

Crazed stalker number one is Tatewaki Kuno. He is in love with Akane and girl Ranma. Even though Ranma has changed forms in his arms, Kuno is convinced that girl Ranma and boy Ranma are not the same person. He also hates boy Ranma. He practices Kendo and recites bad poetry. No body loves him.

Crazed stalker number two is Kodachi Kuno. She is in love with boy Ranma, and is Tatwaki's sister. She hates girl Ranma, and like her brother does not realize that boy Ranma and girl Ranma are the same person. She practices martial arts rhythmic gymnastics, uses potions and poisons, and wears a leotard everywhere she goes. No body loves her either.

Ryouga Hibiki is Akane's secret admirer. He is incredibly shy, has the worst sense of direction ever, and hates Ranma. Ryouga also has a curse. He turns into Akane's pet pig when hit by cold water. Akane is not aware that her pet is actually a person. Ryouga is engaged to a girl who raises sumo pigs named Akari after he defeated the grand champion sumo pig.

Mousse is a Chinese Amazon. He practices the Hidden Weapons Technique. He is blind without his glasses, which he doesn't like to wear, and madly in love with Shampoo, who can't stand him. Mousse turns into a duck.

Konatsu is a boy raised as a kunoichi. He is madly in love with Ukyo, who he works for, and dresses like a woman, because he always thought he was one. He was raised by his evil step mother and her two daughters. All three of them are nightmare inducing ugly, but are not aware of it.

Genma Saotome is Ranma's father. He turns into a panda. He is a good martial artist but a huge idiot.

Soun Tendo is Akane's father. He is emotionally unstable. His martial arts abilities is unknown. His wife died before the series started and he is still in love with her.

Kasumi Tendo is Akane's oldest sister. She takes care of the cooking and the cleaning. She is nice to the point of oblivion.

Nabiki Tendo is the middle child. She likes money and scheming. Her specialties are blackmailing and selling photos of her sister and girl Ranma.

Cologne is Shampoo's great grandmother. She is very wise and a strong martial artist. She is also very short and mostly balances on a stick, which she uses to hit everybody. She is helping Shampoo win her man.

Dr. Tofu is a family doctor to the Tendos. He specializes in accupuncture and shiatsu. He is familiar with the uses of potions and magic. He also goes a little crazy in the presence of Kasumi. He disappears from the manga shortly after Cologne arrives.

Happosai is Soun's and Genma's master. He is a huge pervert, enjoys stealing underwear/groping girls, and is a very powerful martial artist. He spends most of his time trying to convince Ranma to change into a girl and model underwear of him.

I believe that that's everything. If there are any questions after this about character histories, just let me know. Ranma ½ is written by Takahashi Rumiko, the same author as Inuyasha and Urusei Yatsura.