Ranma 1/2 Season 2: Netflix Series Review
Happy New Year!
I swear I had a whole plan to get this review out sooner! I started writing this after the first two episodes of the new season that came out...but then decided I'll wait until the season finished...
AND THEN I started on a whole new blog and all the plans I had for that (no you didn't miss read that, I'll talk about more later)
But I always came back to writing this review & I found myself struggling to talk about it. Like everything I was writing down just didn't make sense or didn't feel like enough? If that makes sense? Which is weird cause I do wanna talk about it!
This is my fourth time writing this review so hopefully it sounds and comes across more put together 😅
Okay let’s dive in!
Geez really started this review like i was recording a video lol
One thing to keep in mind...
YES, i'm still watching the dub version. I am going to watch an episode or maybe re watch this whole season as God intended, the right way. Japanese dub with English subtitles and see if the issues I have still stand (something tells me, they won't)
Okay let’s go...
Things I absolutely love,
~the animation~
It feels better! It feels like they had more time (or budget) to really add more detail and attention to the animation this time around. There’s a shot from the first episode of the season 2 where Akane runs down some steps and her hair is animated really nicely. Like more followthrough and overlap.
Yeah i notice weird stuff like that 😅
I miss the stylized version of the fight scenes from the first season. It felt like it was their way of making the show different (or to stand out from other animes) so it feels weird to lose it already.
~the new opening theme~
I was shocked we got a new one because it didn't feel like the start of a new season, it just felt like a continuation. So to lose the opening from the first season already felt too soon. Like back in the day, you had the opening theme for at least 2 years. I mean 66 episodes AT least!
random question!
have you ever had a song, show or even a scent that just reminded you of a certain place, time or thing?
that's the first opening song for me. I hear it and it instantly reminds me of my place. It makes me all warm and cozy inside and...nostalgic even? I don't know why but I like the way I feel when I hear it
now that being said, the new theme is fun, it grew on me. I absolutely did not like it at first! It took me until about episode 5 or 8 to really start bopping to it. Plus that shot of Akane leaning on Ranma is super cute 😆
There also seems to be a nod or like an easter egg to the OG Ranma 1/2 opening and it just so awesome! Or at least i think it's a nod. I saw at least a few other people noticed it too
it's kind hard to tell in photos but just check it out for yourself, it's kinda cool
During the end credits, Akane does a little dance which is also a nod to the opening credits from the original
actually I don't know if you could even call that a nod, they just straight up used the same animation lol!
speaking of end credits, I'm glad they kept the same style from season one. I think it works really well for the show and I hope they keep the style going. The end song I'm not that big of a fan of (surprise, surprise, I hate change) it's nice but I don't think it holds a candle to first one and I stand by that.
~The opening bit~
you know, that part that explains ranma's situation? I think they're really fun! My favourite so far has been the first one from season 2 that has this scary, foreboding vibe going on (which actually fits with the episode as it's the first time we're introduced to Gosun....ooohhhhhhh....! I see...I see what they did there...)
Anyway! They're kinda fun and i will never say no to hearing more of the David Kaye’s voice, when he actually does the narration that is (he actually voiced Sesshomaru in Inuyasha, if I haven't stated that before, and i just LOVE his voice so much!) I WISH he was voicing Mr. Tendo so bad!
It does feel like they either ran out of ideas or money because by the end of the season 2, the bit is either lazily done or non-existence
random side note and this one may just be me but…i love seeing Dr. Tofu
He reminds me of the late voice actor Kirby Morrow (RIP). Fun Fact: he did the English dub of Miroku from Inuyasha (another Rumiko creation)
and honestly for a while there i thought he also did the English dub voice for Dr. Tofu in the 90's version. But maybe I'm just thinking that because the looks of both characters are very similar, or at least the ponytail anyway 😅
But i find it kind of cool how now Dr. Tofu is voiced by Josh Keaton, THE spectacular Spider-Man!
He's the only character I like from the OG anime and this new remake.
Last thing I liked,
It's the same thing I said I liked from my previous review, just the fact that this anime is back. It seems a lot of fans are happy its back too and asking, hoping, for a remake of Inuyasha...and oh boy do I have my own thoughts on that.
Surprise! They are not positive
Actually you know what, let me talk about that real quick right here...
~Inuyasha~
I don't want a remake of Inuyasha. Inuyasha means WAYY to much to me! It's the first anime I was absolutely OBSESSED WITH! And i mean, didn't wanna go to church when the second movie was about to debut on YTV, speaking Japanese after hearing one theme song, inserting myself into episodes in my dreams cause I could and was obsessed. I have a whole 32gb USB filled with Inuaysha pictures, theme songs & videos and more! It's sacred!
And while I don't think Inuyasha is considered "retro" its feels like one of those older anime's that just can't be made today. The animation (even in episodes where the look was really off...if you know YOU KNOW!
bruuhhh...when the theme song ended and we were stuck with this look for the next 20mins...I cried...)
anyway, the animation almost reminds of film, or technicolor or 2D Disney animation. It's something that just can't be made today because that skill, that technique doesn't exist anymore.
The animation these days either feel very static, stiff when it comes to movement or it's overly squashed or noodled (it was the only word I could think that I felt describe this properly) when they try to give characters more movement.
It's not fluid like animes of the past, you know? Also, you think the new theme songs of the remake are gonna hit as hard as this?
IT'S NOT.
But that's just my opinion and I'm probably looking at this anime through rose covered glasses.
I get that there are things in the manga, the anime got wrong or straight up left out. But in this case, I don't need to see that in animated form, i'm good.
ANYWAYS! back to Ranma...
I do wish there were more episodes in the season. Season 1 of the OG anime had like 20 episodes, so only getting 12 this time around is ridiculous. But I guess it could be considered a win since we don't have to wait a whole MONTH for the rest of the episodes in the season like other Netflix shows...
Hey Netflix...stop doing that. It's annoying and your customers hate that.
Now… onto the things i still don’t like (the fun part of the review lol)
~It's the voices okay! It's the English dub voices!~
I’m sorry but Ranma’s voice still sounds like sonic to me, i just can’t unhear it.
It also sounds like there’s a new voice actor for Mr. Tendo and it so jarring! i am not fan. Actually let me look this up...
...
CONFIRMED! It is a new voice actor!
J. Michael Tatum voiced Mr. Tendo in the first season and now he's voiced by Jude Gerard Prest
sssiiggghhhh....I don’t think it will ever grow on me and like stated before, i WISH David Kaye was doing the voice rather than just narrating 😭
Now in episode 2, we are introduce to Shampoo’s great grandmother, Cologne (get it? Cause Shampoo’s name is shampoo so…yeah..you get it, we get it)
and we also get Mousse (GET IT? Cause shampoo is shampoo and cologne…)
Anyway, not a fan of their voices (not a surprise 🫠). But this is probably the purest take of “oh the original was better” because in this case, YEAH! the original English dub voice actors WERE absolutely better. They had way more character in their voice performances than these guys. It’s sad to compare really.
Even some of the phrases as well. In the manga and the 90's anime, Cologne would call Ranma Son-in-law and it worked, it rolled off the tongue in a way. At least it did better than what she calls him in this remake, Grand son-in-law....like...why....? Grand? Groom boy is fine, that one works but Grand son-in-law...I get that makes sense seeing as Cologne is Shampoo's great grandmother but still.
I also feel Cologne’s voice actress, Barbara Goodson, may grow on me but Mousse…?! he just sounds so dull and i just pray and hope it gets better with time. He is voiced by SungWon Cho so fingers crossed 🤞
We were also introduced to Ukyo this season. I don't have much to say about her, honestly voice-wise, she was fine. I do think her voice actress, Erica Mendez actually does a good job. But I'm wondering if I only think that because she does sound a litttttlllleeeeee bit like Kelly Sheridan, just a bit 🤏
so...ummm...
I guess we can't talk about the new season without talking about...the introduction of another character...
honestly they handled him well. There wasn't much of him as I feared there would be but there also wasn't much...actually if any, of his character changed. He's a character that...given today's climate...wouldn't work, can't work, shouldn't work. He's...
okay I'm done beating around the bush with this, he's an old preverted man the enjoys stealing girls underwear and molesting them (sometimes). He basically rivals Master Roshi in that department!
I'll be honest, I'm glad they didn't really change him. While he is questionable and obviously his doings are wrong, to change him would not be staying true to the original work and it seems with these remakes, that's what they're all about. I also think he just adds to the zaniness of the series and I just don't think it would be Ranma without him. Because of him, there is...maybe you can call it, arch that Ranma goes on, which I hope we get too & there's also a really sweet moment between Ranma and Akane I hope we get to see 🤭 😏
We also got this change where Ranma carries Akane
instead of grabs her...with his feet lol
I noticed it right away and replayed it back a couple times 🫣 because it was just so rare and cute and felt like the beginning, you know?
This time around it feels I’m more positive on the show than I was in my last review (at least I hope it comes across that way 😅) there are more stuff I found I liked better but the major things i had issues with, i still VERY much have issues with
I wish with all my might that the English dub actors were better. Change that, and this would be a 10/10 show for me! I would be singing this show praises from the heavens!
Despite my grievances with the voices, it’s the show that reminds of my place (yeah new thing I haven't really talked about yet but will soon!). When i think of ranma 1/2, I think of my little apartment, my little space and it makes me feel cozy, I love it ☺️
I would rate this new season a solid 3.5/5 ⭐️
And it sounndsss like we should be getting more seasons, I saw something about it on Twitter but it was in Japanese and there was no translate option so I hope it was good news! It would really suck to remake this series and end it at season two when they have the opportunity to continue the series in its entirety, not waiting for the manga to catch up and have to create filler.
As stated before, I'm working on a new "official" blog. I guess you could call it a more professional one.
will the content change? who knows
will I stick with it? knowing me, absolutely not
Will my grammar and spelling get any better? absolutely not, who do you take me for? At this point, my poor spelling and grammar is my charm ☺️
This blog isn't going anywhere, I feel...safe, blogging here and it means too much to me. I'm really not 100% where this will go, I wanted to try something new so I hope you will join me when it's up and running which should be soon!
Please let me know your thoughts about this new direction & about the ranma remake if you're watching it! Really would love to discuss it and stay warm and safe guys!
🫧
