Ranma Saotome

Ranma Saotome is half boy half girl. How is that possible you ask? Well, when he is splashed with hot water, he turns into a boy. When he is splashed with cold water, he turns into a girl. How the hell did all this water-splashin' occur? Well, Genma Saotome * look below for reference on Genma * took Ranma training at the Jusenkyo Springs after he promised Nodoka Saotome (Ranma's Mother) to make Ranma a MAN [Gee, lookit how THAT worked out]. Then as they were training, Ranma knocked Genma into "Spring of Drowned Panda" (with a long tale attached to it), and he turned into a panda. The Genma-Panda was so angry that he knocked Ranma into "Spring of Drowned Girl", and Ranma turned into a girl. There's the basic story. Ranma then is told that he is to marry any of the 3 sisters of the Tendo Family to carry on the name and become Anything-Goes-Martial Arts masters. When Ranma appeared, he was in girl form, and it was all confused and all, until Genma explained it to Soun Tendo (see the Tendo's page) and they arranged that Ranma was to marry Akane Tendo (see below).

And that's the story! The series goes onto to show how Ranma gets into scrapes and stuff like that when he is part girl, and part guy. It's too much to list all of it here. There just WOULD NOT be enough space, and I am too lazy.

Ranma has a very good heart, but can be rather insensitive, come to think of it he only seems to be insensitive to Akane. Either in response to Akane's violent temper, or because he loves her (probably a bit of both).
It's interesting to note that Ranma's enemies usually become his friends by the time they have resolved their differences (mostly by violent means!). This is because Ranma seldom holds a grudge and will help even his enemies if they are in mortal danger.

Akane Tendo

Here is a lovely fan art of Akane by my friend the very lovely Bowaggi ^^

Are Ranma and Akane in love?

Genma Saotome

Genma is of course Ranma's father and mentor, more than that he is a damn fool. Ranma would not be in the predicament he is in if not for Genma. So, we should be grateful to him for having made such a hilarious mess of poor Ranma's life! ^_^ It was Genma's decision to take baby Ranma away from his wife in order to make a "real man" out of him, making a stupid pledge to commit seppuku (which is a japanese word for suicide that warriors use when they've failed at something) together with Ranma should he fail to fulfill this goal. Then he foolishly took Ranma to train at the Jusenkyo Springs and we know what happened there... During his travels he also engaged Ranma to goodness knows how many girls, without Ranma's prior knowledge or consent of course. On one occasion he engaged baby Ranma to a baby girl named Kaori in exchange for a fish and one bowl of noodles...And he tossed in the pickles too! ^-~ Genma's curse from the Jusenkyo Springs is that he turns into a Panda every time he is splashed with cold water, he doesn't seem to mind this very much and often he will deliberately transform as a refuge to get away from his responsibilities.

Genma is the ever-loving, ever-hated father. He loves Ranma when it benefits his own stomach, and Ranma hates Genma at times when he is forced to eat Lettuce with Mayonnaise...."the height of SHEER LUXURY to be able to eat that kinda food, m'boy"...Genma feels that he has to be fatherly when Ranma seems to be unfaithful to Akane, and goes out on dates with Shampoo to get little Juskenyo Tourist items from her, in hopes of changing back to a guy for good. In short, Genma is a panda, and is a cowardly one too. To change into a panda for no good reason, other than to get out of sticky situations.

Mini page special: An In depth look at Genma (by Web Dragon)

Ryoga Hibiki

IMO, Ryoga is a lovable oaf, you can't help but be charmed by his simple devotion to Akane, especially when he is trying to confess his love for her which usually results in the nearest wall being demolished).
There are hints in the manga that doesn't hate Ranma exactly, he just envies him his superior martial arts skill and his being engaged to and living in the same house as Akane. He has actually saved Ranma's life on several occasions. In spite of his tendency to cause trouble, Ryoga is a man of principles, he always attack Ranma openly and never uses any underhanded scheme (uh.. that may also be because he can't think of any!) 

New! Ryoga In Love! click on this link to read all about the girl who loves Ryoga.

Shampoo

Shampoo....the beautiful chinese Amazon! She is tough as a character, but not as powerful as Ranma or Akane, I think. She can really wield the bonbori (those sticks she's always waving 'round). Her cutie-pie-chinese accent is what hooks most people as being the best character of all. Shampoo is undoubtedly strong! She used to be the best fighter in the Amazon village, having beaten out everyone that challenged her. Then came along Ranma (again), and he was in his girl form while he beat Shampoo in the contest to win some food as the first prize for the fighting competition. Shampoo gives Ranma the "Kiss of Death" vowing to track him down to the ends of the earth and to kill her. When she finally catches up with Ranma, she learns that he's a GUY, so she changes her rule and vows to MARRY him instead of kill him. Somewhere along the line, Shampoo went back to China, and Cologne (her great-grandghoul....I mean, great-grandmother) was disappointed in her, and started to train Shampoo all over again because Shampoo failed to kill Ranma-Girl type. Shampoo then is knocked into the " Jusenkyo Spring of Drowned Cat ". 

Cologne

In Ranma's words, Cologne is a "3,000 year old ghoul......" Cologne is Shampoo's great-grandmother who is somewhat psychic. She wants Shampoo to marry Ranma, so she calls him "son-in-law". Cologne is very experienced and she has taught Ranma many techniques to use in his fights against others that are stronger or others that have unique attacks that seem impossible to defeat. Cologne was also Happosai's SWEETHEART way back when ...a few hundred years, a few thousand years, who knows?!?. 

Cologne is not only an amazing martial artist who seems to know more ancient secrets of the martial arts than anybody, she is also very bright. She often used clever schemes toward attaining the goal (ie. to get Ranma to marry Shampoo). Her schemes always fail because of Ranma's resoucefullness and Akane's always dependable aid.

Ukyou

Yet another lovable character. In spite of her boyish demeanor Ukyou is the "nicest" of Ranma's suitors, she helps him more than hinder him and seldom cause any trouble directly. Of course she is after Ranma too, but she never resort to dirty trickery and even manages to be on friendly terms with Akane. Ukyou appears to be one of the most intelligent and reasonable girl in the series, she even has her own okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) restaurant. Her fighting technique is based on okonomiyaki cooking, the chief weapon being a giant spatula that she seems to have within reach at all times.

Ukyou's Story A deeper insight in Ukyou's character. Excellent written contribution from the Web Dragon (I'm hoping it will grow into a sizable zone later.

Mousse

Happosai

(texts by Red Dragon)

Panties, you say? Hobbies range far and wide, but collecting women's lingerie is THIS little pervert's main occupation. He's also a very powerful martial artist, on par with Cologne and far above Ranma's level, but this is not apparent when he's not REALLY trying. Wait a minute. He's ALSO Genma and Soun's sensei in the martial arts (teacher)?

Ladies and Gentlemen, we present you Happosai, pervert extraordinaire, dimunitive old lech, overall nuisance and a bane to all women.

Tied up and sealed in a barrel ringed with dynamite (fuse already burning, of course), thrown into a deep, dark mountain cave and sealed inside by a huge boulder with spirit-wards draped over it, Happosai was thought to be disposed of forever, and ever.

Alas, for all of Genma and Soun's dedicated efforts to get rid of their master, old Happosai bounced back, spry as ever and not even changed a whit from what he had been before his incarceration.

And worse, he has taken on Ranma as his pupil in the martial arts! With some side training in the art of stealing a panty and in the skill of peeking into a girls' locker room, or the ladies' side of the public bath, of course.

And even worse. He has taken a liking to Ranma's FEMALE side ("Ranma's better half", or so the old goat would say) and tries constantly to get hi...I mean, her to model a bra for him! Yipes! Talk about pasttimes!

Happosai carries a pipe with him, which he often uses in the most ridiculous ways...such as hooking the opponent's arm with the crook of it and hurling the unfortunate victim at least fifty feet STRAIGHT UP into the air with no more than a flick of his wrist. Not bad for a little old man who can barely reach Ranma's kneecaps in height.

Taken as he is, Happosai is a great supporting character, and really, really good for laughs. The author of this character profile likes Happosai, if only for the old lech's ability to raise hell! ;)

Hinako

BOINK!!!!!

"Where are my family?!!!"

Uh.. they are in the next page!