![]() Author has written 1 story for Ranma. Who I am: I'm 21 years old, female and live in Germany. I've learned English since my fifth grade at school and I'm sure everyone can see by the way I write that English was not my mother tongue. I really, really love to read fanfics. I even modified my Nintendo DS, so it is capable of displaying txt-files. And a book? Don't ask me what a book is, I haven't touched one in ages. Though, I only read Ranma fanfics. Crossovers too, but only crossed with Ranma. My Favorite Anime and as well Manga is guess what? Ranma . I like Takahashi-sama's most famous work Inuyasha as well, both Manga and Anime. But actually I read everyting I can get my hands on, shonen as well as shojo and seinen. Warning: From now on the text contains opinions. My opinions. To Ranma in general: First of all I want to say that Ranma is a character, who is easy to use in fanfictions, due to his personality. Personally, I would not describe him as naive, since it's not that, that he doesn't notice when someone is trying to manipulate him. But his lack of social skill and fitness let him sometimes appear this way, especially when some girls, who are aware of his weak defenses of emotional or crying girls, are involved. He has a very forgiving soul and is ready to safe everyone, even his enemies. Even though he is not interested in academic that much, when it comes to martial arts he is rather perceptive and sly. Mixed with his stubborness, he has the unique ability to learn a technique by simply seeing it once. Most authors miss some important things, though: As noble as Ranma might be, he is not a totally flawless character like most people want to make clear in their stories. Rumiko herself stated that she does not like perfect characters. He is pretty petty and in some ways a bully himself. He does not hesitate to solve his problems with martial arts, he even threaten weaker persons with his abilities. Also does his light-hearted helpfulness have its limits. As long as it is no problem for him, he goes along, but when there is a chance that pride may get insulted, the helpfulness ends right at this point (understandable, if someone threatens you not to take his life-rescuring medicine until you give him a kiss). Ranma is pretty shameless, especially in girl form. The moment, however, the person, who denounces him is not him, he tries to pay it back to the someone by all available means. Also there is a great opinion about Ranma's abilities as a martial artist. The most (I count myself to them) overestimate his fighting abilities. Remember the fight with Saffron or even Herb. Most of the time he got blasted around and Ranma does not really come close in defeating Cologne or Happosai in a fair fight. His regeneration is incredible fast, seconds after the thoughtest fights he is up in instant again. And the probably most important reason for him still winning against much stronger opponents is his stamina and incredible endurance, which might even be greater than Ryoga's (Ranma withstood four of Ryoga's Shi-shi Hokodan, Ryoga not even a single one of his own). He's durable enough to withstand the full power of Ryu Kumon's, large, stone Buddha-statue splitting, "demon god assault bomb" vacuum blade-barrage, and immediately continue to fight afterwards, (which, at the very least, would qualify him as bulletproof). His body strengh is underestimated at most times. Ranma can exert force equivalent to lifting at least several thousand tonnes under optimal circumstances. However, instead of overpowering and relying on this strength, his fighting style is characterized by quick thinking, speed and improvisations. His tactic in fights against more powerful individuals mostly consists of dodging or taking the blows while trying to figure out the weakness and then taking the opponent out with a single attack. Somehow he often gets hit by slow or predicable attacks(like Akane's slashes) or almost beaten by opponents, who are clearly below his skills. Ranma rarly fights with all he has got and has rather sloppy defenses for surprising attacks. The reason for being hit by Akane repeatedly might not be only unwareness, though, rather guilt. Pairings: That is a point where opinions crash and part. I, myself, am so totally mainstream or rather prefer it. I am willing to accept others girls as Ranma's potential partners, but if it comes out of blue or without serious backround I really can't agree with them. Say, Ranma would suddenly treat Akane very poor (I'm aware that he likes to point out her flaws, but he does it only if she has insulted his pride beforehand or when he sees no other way in getting her attention. And sometimes he just full of himself or wants to tease his fiancée) and the runs to China with Shampoo without any real explenation or reason shortly after the failed wedding even though he still should be mad at her for interfering. I know, that is exxagerated but I want to make my point clear. Only re-reading the mangas would proove, that after the canon, there is no chance for another pairing but Ranma/Akane First Ukyo. Ranma, while he actually appreciates her as a good long time friend, does not love her in any remote romantic sense. This is a fact. That he did not know that Ukyo actually was a girl in the first place may only emphasize it further. Otherwise, this pairing is more considerable than others. Still there seemed to be a reason why Takahashi did not match them up in the canon. Next Kasumi. Well, here I only say that they rarely have something in common. This would only work out if one of them would adapt their personality during the story, and since I'm very fond of both's, Ranma's and Kasumi's personalities, that's rather a shame. I think, writing a reasonable Ranma/Kasumi fanfiction is a challange for every writer. Now to the one, to whom Ranma even sometimes lovingly refer as 'heartless bitch'. I think I made my point clear already. Ranma has a low tolerance for people who try to steal from him, manipulate him, or otherwise treat him very badly, such as Nabiki. Happosai also goes with this description and you all know how Ranma gets back on the 'old freak'. Probably only the fact that Nabiki was born female had saved her from some serious beating multiple times. I still remember the story, where Ranma and Nabiki were alone in the Tendo house. Ranma had a hard time preventing himself from hitting her in the end. Nabiki knows exacltly how to pull Ranma's strings and she takes adventage of it without remorse. I would say, after these 38 volumes of blackmailing, Ranma would never have, let alone even consider having, romantic feelings toward this girl. However, I have read some, I must say, really good fics with them as couple, so as much as I may object, authors proved and still prove that it is possible. I thinks there is only one word I can say about a Ranma/Kodachi pairing: NOT...Ok, it is not fair of me or rather nasty to not even give her some credit. But there are certain things in this world, where everyone can see that they simply do not match, not without OOC behaviour that is. And now to the last (my opinion to Ryoga comes later) but not least, Shampoo. The reason why she is in love with Ranma is as dubious as Ukyo's actually. With a complete lack of personal ambition she chases after him only because he has kicked her butt. That really defines true love. As mentioned before, Ranma hates people who try to manipulate him and it's all known that Shampoo often tries to make him fall in love with her by using various potions or posions. In the manga it's made quite clear that he considers Shampoo, Kodachi, Tatewaki and especially Happosai as pests. With Shampoo's normal behaviour, it's quite doubtful if Ranma choose her above the others. Lock Fics: These fics are so special that they even deserve a own category. Also there was a reason why I have not mentioned a Ranma/Ryoga pairing yet or have lost any words about Ranma's internal fight with his own gender. It all is concerned with this little problem we have here. Lock fics. They are called like this (or rather so I call them) because in the course of the story or even from the beginning Ranma is locked in his female form, is forced to stay the rest of his life in it or has somehow decided life is better as a women and abdomed manhood on his own. In this kind of story, the most prefered couple is actually Ranma/Ryoga. Now my opinion to them: I have no idea what the authors are thinking while they write a lock fic, I, however, would not be able to bring myself to do so. Mind you, I actually like the character Ranma and have not intentions of putting him through one of his worst-case scenario nightmares. His sense of being a male was strong before he got the curse, after he fell into the pool, however, this only increased. The fear of being locked in his female form forever can only be surpassed by the fear of Akane dying. This is a fact, pointed out in the manga, clearly (Herb (24/25) and Saffron (37/38)). He would probably rather kill himself before spending the rest of his life as a girl without the prospect of a cure. And afterwards setting him up with Ryoga is plainly sick. Also, the chance of Ranma choosing to life as a women by himself is as unlikely as Akane wishing to become a man. Nonexistent. Ranma is a man, from the bottom of his heart and nothing could change that. He himself repeats often enough that he still is guy up there, even if his body is not. Even though, it does not match the headline, I still want to mention this here: The thought of Ranma getting cured or somehow loosing his curse is not appealing to me either. As much as he might hate it, it is a important part of himself, with which he simply can not come to terms with. The curse will bother Ranma as long as he lives and he will probably never accept it fully. Though, Ranma not getting cursed in the first place is a different story. Other Characters: (comming soon(TM)...) Have you ever wondered, why Anime or Manga characters suddenly have various items in their hands (microphones), even if it was not in their surroundings or that they had no chance to hide it on themselves? Here's the explanation: The Hammerspace The Hammerspace contains anything. Here is a list of the most popular Ranma characters and their hammerspace abilities Ranma: disguises, wigs, kettles with hot water, bras, panties, microphones, melons, buckets with cold water, mallets Akane: kettles with hot water, buckets with cold water, melons, mallets Nabiki: calculators, cameras, microphones, photos of her little sister and Ranma Kasumi: tea services, books from Dr. Tofu (honestly, have you ever seen her actually go to Tofu to borrow some?) Genma: wooden signs, little fans, buckets with cold water, microphones, beach balls, gis, chicken costumes Soun: little fans, shogi boards, microphones, buckets with cold water, chicken costumes Ryoga: bandannas (lots of them), clothes, his backpack, a heavy umbrella Ukyo: little spatulas, grills, okonomiyaki (and ingredients), mallets Shampoo: weapons, which look like bonboris (chuis), microphones, clothes, forks, delivery boxes, mallets Mousse (master of the hammerspace): everything (even the sink of the cat café) Cologne: wooden staffs Happosai: litted pipes, fire cracker, animal disguises, melons, mallets Kuno Tatewaki: wooden swords, school uniforms, red roses Kuno Kodachi: gymnastic tools, skimpy leotards, black roses (petals), mallets |
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