New Ranma 1/2 anime‘s official website unveiled that the upcoming season 2 will premiere on October 4, 2025 and also confirmed the new theme songs.
Wednesday Campanella will be performing the opening theme song “Wo Aini” and Nishina will be performing the ending theme song “Panda Girl.”
Ranma ½ is a Japanese manga crafted by Rumiko Takahashi, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 1987 to March 1996, and compiled into 38 tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan. The narrative centers on Ranma Saotome, a teenage martial artist trained rigorously from a young age. Due to a mishap during a training expedition, Ranma is afflicted with a curse that transforms him into a girl when doused with cold water, reverting to a boy with hot water. The series follows Ranma’s quest to break his curse, navigating obstacles posed by friends, rivals, and multiple fiancées who complicate his journey.
The story blends humor with Ranma’s gender-switching antics, as he sometimes deliberately shifts to his female form to achieve his objectives. The cast is populated with diverse characters, each with quirky traits and complex interrelationships that fuel the plot’s comedic and chaotic energy. Once established, these characters and their dynamics remain consistent, anchoring the series’ intricate yet stable narrative.
Ranma ½ spawned two anime adaptations by Studio Deen: Ranma ½ and Ranma ½ Nettōhen, aired on Fuji TV between 1989 and 1992, complemented by 12 OVAs and three movies. A live-action TV special aired on Nippon Television in 2011. A new anime by MAPPA debuted on October 6, 2024, broadcast on Nippon Television and streamed on Netflix. Viz Media licensed the manga and anime for English releases in North America, while Madman Entertainment distributed the manga, select anime episodes, and the first two films in Australasia. MVM Films handled the first two films’ release in the UK.
With over 55 million copies in circulation, Ranma ½ ranks among the top-selling manga series globally. Both the manga and anime are recognized as early trailblazers in gaining widespread popularity in the United States.
