For fans of Rumiko Takahashi’s iconic martial arts romantic comedy, Ranma ½, the concept of a definitive “season finale” is more complex than with most anime series. Spanning a beloved manga, an extensive original anime, and a recent reboot, Ranma ½ offers several points of conclusion, each with its own nuances and degrees of resolution for its perpetually cursed protagonist, Ranma Saotome, and his fiancée, Akane Tendo. The most recent “season finale” refers to the highly anticipated 2024 anime remake’s first season.
The Original Anime’s “Ending”: A Gradual Fade
The original Ranma ½ anime television series, which first aired from 1989 to 1992, did not culminate in a single, grand finale episode designed to wrap up all storylines. Instead, the series, divided into Ranma ½ (18 episodes) and Ranma ½ Nettōhen (143 episodes), concluded after 161 episodes without adapting the entirety of Rumiko Takahashi’s manga.
Its conclusion was less a definitive ending and more an abrupt halt, primarily due to declining ratings and the financial difficulties of its animation studio, Kitty Film. The anime ceased production around the “Nodoka arc,” which corresponds to chapters 225-229 of the manga, leaving a substantial portion of the original story, including many significant character developments and plot resolutions, unanimated. This left many long-running gags, character relationships, and, most notably, Ranma’s central curse, unresolved on screen.
OVAs and Movies: Supplementary Stories, Not a True Conclusion
Following the television series’ conclusion, the Ranma ½ universe was expanded through a series of 12 Original Video Animations (OVAs) and three feature films. These productions, released between 1991 and 2010, offered additional animated adventures and adapted some later manga chapters that the TV series missed.
While the OVAs delved into more manga storylines, such as the “Doll of Vengeance” arc, they did not collectively serve as a comprehensive or overarching “finale” for the entire Ranma ½ narrative. Each OVA typically presented a self-contained story, and while they provided more content for fans, they still left the core curses and the central romantic entanglement of Ranma and Akane in their familiar, unresolved state.
The Manga’s Resolution: An Open-Ended Engagement
For fans seeking the most complete narrative conclusion, the original Ranma ½ manga, which ran from 1987 to 1996 and comprised 38 volumes, offers a more developed, albeit still open-ended, resolution. The manga’s final arc centers around a hastily arranged wedding between Ranma and Akane.
In this climax, Ranma and Akane openly acknowledge their feelings for each other amidst chaos. However, in classic Ranma ½ fashion, the wedding is dramatically interrupted by virtually all of Ranma’s rivals and fiancées, leading to a massive, destructive brawl. A potential cure for Ranma’s curse, brought by the Jusenkyo Guide, is accidentally consumed by Happosai, ensuring Ranma remains cursed. The manga concludes with the wedding postponed indefinitely, and Ranma and Akane resuming their bickering yet affectionate daily lives, still engaged and still cursed. This ending, while offering emotional closure regarding their relationship, purposefully maintains the series’ core comedic premise of unresolved curses and complicated love.
The 2024 Ranma ½ Remake: A Modern Season Finale
A significant development for Ranma ½ enthusiasts is the new anime adaptation produced by Studio MAPPA. This remake premiered on October 6, 2024, bringing the beloved characters to a new generation with updated animation. This modern adaptation follows a more conventional seasonal release schedule.
The first season of the 2024 Ranma ½ remake aired its season finale on December 21, 2024. This finale concluded the initial arc covered by the remake, which, while faithful to the manga, naturally only covers a portion of the extensive story. Notably, a second season for this remake has already been announced, confirming that this “season finale” is merely a pause in an ongoing retelling of the classic tale. This new adaptation offers the most contemporary answer to the concept of a “Ranma ½ season finale,” signaling a break before the next installment of the story.
Enduring Legacy and Fan Interpretations
Despite the original anime’s open ending and the manga’s deliberately unresolved final moments, Ranma ½‘s legacy as a groundbreaking and influential series remains strong. Fans often debate the various “endings” and what they imply for the characters’ futures. The enduring popularity of the series, coupled with the excitement around the 2024 remake, underscores the timeless appeal of its unique blend of martial arts, comedy, and romantic tension, proving that even without a definitive “happily ever after,” the journey itself is what truly captivates.
