Ranma ½ Ranma canon questions
- Thread starter Dumbledork
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Ranma temporarily froze his entire body in the Saffron arc to take Saffrons biggest blast. The other time when he was sick I assumed he heated up and froze because the illness screwed up his ability to control his ki's temperature. Both instances should have changed him though, but considering it's magic who knows how it works.
I've done a timeline based solely on the manga, making all sorts of assumptions, trying to shuffle arcs around no more than necessary (but in many cases it was necessary). I wasn't aiming for the goal of squeezing everything into the absolute minimum time, but except near the beginning it's all packed in there fairly tightly. It took a bit less than two years, putting Akane and Ranma near the end of their second year in high school by the end of the Saffron arc.
If interested, it's on the neutral tab of my web site. The direct link is
http://home.comcast.net/~mzephyrus/timeline.html
And yes, obviously anyone can find tons to criticize in this timeline if they choose. The sheer impossibility of creating a consistent timeline guarantees that.
If interested, it's on the neutral tab of my web site. The direct link is
http://home.comcast.net/~mzephyrus/timeline.html
And yes, obviously anyone can find tons to criticize in this timeline if they choose. The sheer impossibility of creating a consistent timeline guarantees that.
Genma wanting to marry Ranma off so badly could be explained by him wanting to prove Ranma's manliness. Hence why he suddenly was so gung ho about it after Ranma gained the curse.
And all that would be fine, except for the seppuku contract that GENMA came up with, that Genma knew she would eventually call him on, and Genma knew that she would eventually find him. It's not like she lived in another city, she lived close enough to Furinkan that Ranma didn't even have to transfer out when he moved in with her. It might even be worth a look through to see if Nodoka was actually featured as a filler character somewhere before her introduction.
And all that would be fine, except for the seppuku contract that GENMA came up with, that Genma knew she would eventually call him on, and Genma knew that she would eventually find him. It's not like she lived in another city, she lived close enough to Furinkan that Ranma didn't even have to transfer out when he moved in with her. It might even be worth a look through to see if Nodoka was actually featured as a filler character somewhere before her introduction.
That is a fanon view, marriage to prove manliness, nothing in the manga shows that. If that was the reason it would be a plot hole, since that is not shown to be the reason at all no plot hole (Soun is just as gung ho as Genma).
Even if she lived on another island entirely it is unlikely Ranma would transfer to a new school, the Japanese do not transfer high schools very often (earlier schools like primary and junior high commonly but not high school) , parents will often leave children alone or with someone else to stay in the school. Also long commutes to high school are common in Japan, two hour commutes by train are not unheard of, this is true because parents want to get their children in good schools and the best schools the children are able to get in are quite often pretty far away.
Genma made the contract so she would let them leave, doesn't show that he actually thinks that way. All evidence points to Genma not carrying if Ranma is manly or not, but Nodoka views manliness as very important (hence using that as an excuse to take Ranma away).
Genma's way of dealing with the contract was to stop sending letters to Nodoka and hide from her to avoid her finding him. Genma did not expect her to find him and gave Ranma no reason to seek her out (never even told him anything about her, not even if she was alive), the chances of her finding him in the largest city on Earth with a daytime population approaching 20 million was minuscule (particularly since she did not know what Ranma looked like).
Even if she lived on another island entirely it is unlikely Ranma would transfer to a new school, the Japanese do not transfer high schools very often (earlier schools like primary and junior high commonly but not high school) , parents will often leave children alone or with someone else to stay in the school. Also long commutes to high school are common in Japan, two hour commutes by train are not unheard of, this is true because parents want to get their children in good schools and the best schools the children are able to get in are quite often pretty far away.
Genma made the contract so she would let them leave, doesn't show that he actually thinks that way. All evidence points to Genma not carrying if Ranma is manly or not, but Nodoka views manliness as very important (hence using that as an excuse to take Ranma away).
Genma's way of dealing with the contract was to stop sending letters to Nodoka and hide from her to avoid her finding him. Genma did not expect her to find him and gave Ranma no reason to seek her out (never even told him anything about her, not even if she was alive), the chances of her finding him in the largest city on Earth with a daytime population approaching 20 million was minuscule (particularly since she did not know what Ranma looked like).
I said it was a way to explain why he made a b-line back to Nerima so soon after getting the curse. Canon doesn't go into the details of why either of them want the marriage.
If Furinkan is a school worth a 2 hour commute then it's not shown to be. <_< Also during the pill box arc, all the characters are able to go to and from the Saotome home in a short amount of time. So no, it's not that far away.
Which is why Genma's characterization up until Nodoka shows up, makes no sense. He has a suicide contract hanging over his head that Ranma be manly. Genma is very attached to his backside, why would he tolerate Ranma being girly, or even encouraging it at times?
If Furinkan is a school worth a 2 hour commute then it's not shown to be. <_< Also during the pill box arc, all the characters are able to go to and from the Saotome home in a short amount of time. So no, it's not that far away.
Which is why Genma's characterization up until Nodoka shows up, makes no sense. He has a suicide contract hanging over his head that Ranma be manly. Genma is very attached to his backside, why would he tolerate Ranma being girly, or even encouraging it at times?
He would tolerate it, even encourage it, because he doesn't care if Ranma is manly and never expected to have to carry out the pact. He made the pact to get what he wanted, take Ranma away, but never had any inclination to follow through with it (short-sighted thinking amongst other things and possibly doesn't agree with her views on manliness). He did not expect her to find him and since Ranma had the curse that turned him into a girl it was pointless to care if Ranma acted manly or not since the curse itself was sufficient to count as not being manly (Genma at least thought so). Genma's point of view how Ranma acted didn't matter the curse itself would automatically make Ranma unmanly regardless how Ranma acted.
Genma did intend to go back home after the training trip though. He sent Nodoka letters, up until Ranma got cursed. That's when he started hiding from her.
Nodoka said that the last letter she got from Genma was right before they reached some training ground named Jusenkyo. And Genma was extremely disapointed that Nodoka cared more about Ranma than him, to the point of forgetting to pick Genma up when she brought Ranma home.
Nodoka said that the last letter she got from Genma was right before they reached some training ground named Jusenkyo. And Genma was extremely disapointed that Nodoka cared more about Ranma than him, to the point of forgetting to pick Genma up when she brought Ranma home.
I think he sent them after they got cursed. It would make sense, since it would only take a few days for the card to arrive in Japan. I think it was mentioned that Shampoo chased Ranma and Genma through all of China, so that's a few days probably. Then there's the crossing of the sea. If they swam back it would probably take a few days too. And Soun got he card the day they arrived.
Is the postcard shown in the manga or anime? Didn't Soun day there was a panda and a girl on it? Could be a photo of Genma and Ranma in their cursed forms.
Is the postcard shown in the manga or anime? Didn't Soun day there was a panda and a girl on it? Could be a photo of Genma and Ranma in their cursed forms.
Ah, yes. It was two fateful weeks ago...
Ranma and Genma were cursed two weeks before they arrived at the Tendo's.
The postcard in panel two shows a panda eating bamboo. Since it is addressed to JAPAN Tokyo Nerima, and it has a panda stamp, Genma must have sent it from China.
(This could be different in the Japanese original.)
Ranma and Genma were cursed two weeks before they arrived at the Tendo's.
The postcard in panel two shows a panda eating bamboo. Since it is addressed to JAPAN Tokyo Nerima, and it has a panda stamp, Genma must have sent it from China.
(This could be different in the Japanese original.)
The postcard in the Japanese original is also addressed to "Japan Tokyo Nerima," in English. The rest of the writing is in Japanese. There is a picture of a panda on one side, and the stamp also shows a panda bear.
That "two weeks" is a very short time span if Genma and Ranma were on foot the whole time. The Bayankala Mountains in Qinghai are over one thousand miles from the coast (well over, I think, but I haven't looked it up). To cover that distance on foot, and swim over to Japan, in just two weeks is pretty amazing even given their capabilities. I have occasionally speculated that they hopped a train or two, or did some hitchhiking, along the way.
That "two weeks" is a very short time span if Genma and Ranma were on foot the whole time. The Bayankala Mountains in Qinghai are over one thousand miles from the coast (well over, I think, but I haven't looked it up). To cover that distance on foot, and swim over to Japan, in just two weeks is pretty amazing even given their capabilities. I have occasionally speculated that they hopped a train or two, or did some hitchhiking, along the way.
Which is part of the anime canon, I do remember there being a quick shot of Ranma/Genma swimming in one of the earlier episodes. It is not mentioned or shown in the manga. The original text also says 2 weeks.
But it's around 500 miles to swim from Japan to China. That would require more than a weeks time swimming if they were going at 3mph (above average pace). If they actually did make this trek, they should be contacting Guinness or someone, since they both absolutely crushed the record for longest swim.
And yes, the two traveling from Jusenkyo to Japan in two weeks on foot is pushing it, even with Shampoo chasing them. Hitching rides, hopping on trains, and anything else to make the trip shorter is more in keeping with both of them being rather lazy. But it's a lot less ridiculous than them swimming from China to Japan.
But it's around 500 miles to swim from Japan to China. That would require more than a weeks time swimming if they were going at 3mph (above average pace). If they actually did make this trek, they should be contacting Guinness or someone, since they both absolutely crushed the record for longest swim.
And yes, the two traveling from Jusenkyo to Japan in two weeks on foot is pushing it, even with Shampoo chasing them. Hitching rides, hopping on trains, and anything else to make the trip shorter is more in keeping with both of them being rather lazy. But it's a lot less ridiculous than them swimming from China to Japan.
You know, it always kinda bugged me... How exactly did Nodoka track them down? Don't think she knew about the Tendo arrangement. I get the impression that if she had known, she might have wanted to pay them a visit now and then to get to know her future daughter in law... Or perhaps even paid them a visit once the letters stopped coming. Either way she'd have appeared a bit sooner than she wound up doing.
As far as the whole thing with Genma taking Ranma to the Tendos goes, I used to think his thought process went like.
A: Boy is cursed.
B: Can't get near place to investigate possible cures without encountering murderous <s>Amazon</s> Warrior Girl.
C: If Nodoka finds out, we die.
D: Marry the boy off! That'll surely help!
But the discussion in this thread made me realise a couple of things that are flawed about that.
Firstly, he wouldn't necessarily be so specific about pushing the Tendo arrangement on him. So there has to be another reason, either in addition to the seppuku contract or instead of it.
Secondly, if this was really a concern Genma would have acted more to stop any form of girlish behaviour outright. Certainly, he would have allowed the Ranko disguise to happen as the curse alone would likely convince Nodoka. But he also would not risk something like, say, the date with Kuno for the wishing sword to occur. Which he not only allowed but encouraged. If Nodoka had heard about that after finding out about Ranma's curse? Yeah, very bad.
So, for certain actions Genma takes his motivation is a mystery. He seems to be a very simple person on the surface. Not thinking through his actions for the long term, being very selfish the majority of the time... But exactly why he's so dead set on the Tendo engagement is a mystery. What does he get out of it? Really? :huh.:
As far as the whole thing with Genma taking Ranma to the Tendos goes, I used to think his thought process went like.
A: Boy is cursed.
B: Can't get near place to investigate possible cures without encountering murderous <s>Amazon</s> Warrior Girl.
C: If Nodoka finds out, we die.
D: Marry the boy off! That'll surely help!
But the discussion in this thread made me realise a couple of things that are flawed about that.
Firstly, he wouldn't necessarily be so specific about pushing the Tendo arrangement on him. So there has to be another reason, either in addition to the seppuku contract or instead of it.
Secondly, if this was really a concern Genma would have acted more to stop any form of girlish behaviour outright. Certainly, he would have allowed the Ranko disguise to happen as the curse alone would likely convince Nodoka. But he also would not risk something like, say, the date with Kuno for the wishing sword to occur. Which he not only allowed but encouraged. If Nodoka had heard about that after finding out about Ranma's curse? Yeah, very bad.
So, for certain actions Genma takes his motivation is a mystery. He seems to be a very simple person on the surface. Not thinking through his actions for the long term, being very selfish the majority of the time... But exactly why he's so dead set on the Tendo engagement is a mystery. What does he get out of it? Really? :huh.:
Ranma wasn't very secretive about throwing around his name at big events. Since Nodoka lives relatively close, she probably heard someone talking about 'that crazy ranma' and found out through that.
Ryoga finding out where Ranma is, is far more of a stretch. How did he know that Ranma would be at Furinkan when Ranma himself didn't even know he would be going to school?
Shampoo tracking Ranma down as well, though she could have been snooping around Nerima for a while.
Anime can be it's own canon, but it's off by itself in the corner crying because it knows it's just an animated fanfic.
Ryoga finding out where Ranma is, is far more of a stretch. How did he know that Ranma would be at Furinkan when Ranma himself didn't even know he would be going to school?
Shampoo tracking Ranma down as well, though she could have been snooping around Nerima for a while.
Anime can be it's own canon, but it's off by itself in the corner crying because it knows it's just an animated fanfic.
Actually, it's funny you mentioned Ryoga. I was considering mentioning him finding Ranma in the same post...
And I did have a theory I was planning on writing as a short story/scene. It goes something like this.
Ryoga is wandering through the Furinkan area, and passes two students. They are talking about Ranma's first day of school. Naturally, his name comes up and that gets Ryoga's attention. But before he can ask them about where Furinkan High School is, he gets splashed. Or the students turn a corner. Or he actually does ask them and is given directions to the place instead of taken there.
Not exactly sure that any other way really makes sense. It's the only one that I can think of. Others may have their own thoughts on the matter.
And I did have a theory I was planning on writing as a short story/scene. It goes something like this.
Ryoga is wandering through the Furinkan area, and passes two students. They are talking about Ranma's first day of school. Naturally, his name comes up and that gets Ryoga's attention. But before he can ask them about where Furinkan High School is, he gets splashed. Or the students turn a corner. Or he actually does ask them and is given directions to the place instead of taken there.
Not exactly sure that any other way really makes sense. It's the only one that I can think of. Others may have their own thoughts on the matter.
I've been wondering about that one for a long while too. What are the benefits?
First of all, the pact. What is it about exactly? Uniting the schools or the families?
Why would Genma still want to unite the schools after meeting the Tendo heir? Compared to Ranma Akane is a novice and except for the ominous 'taking out blunt weapons from an undisclosed place' technique Akane has nothing worth adding to the Saotome school.
Why is Genma so dead set on Akane although Ranma was offered the choice in the beginning? Apart from some fighting skills she's untalented in almost anything else.
What could Genma get out of the pact? The dojo? I don't think so. First of all, the dojo belongs to the Tendo family, and I don't really think Akane (and especially Nabiki) would let it go over to Ranma. In fact, I'm sure Ranma would have to take the Tendo name if the marriage should ever take place.
Genma is greedy, I agree, but why is he so dead set on the pact? It it were only for money he could simply sell Ranma to Kodachi and not have to work for the rest of his life.
For honor? I don't think so, or he would not have sold Ranma to all those other families.
Conclusion? PLOT HOLE!!!! Once again.
First of all, the pact. What is it about exactly? Uniting the schools or the families?
Why would Genma still want to unite the schools after meeting the Tendo heir? Compared to Ranma Akane is a novice and except for the ominous 'taking out blunt weapons from an undisclosed place' technique Akane has nothing worth adding to the Saotome school.
Why is Genma so dead set on Akane although Ranma was offered the choice in the beginning? Apart from some fighting skills she's untalented in almost anything else.
What could Genma get out of the pact? The dojo? I don't think so. First of all, the dojo belongs to the Tendo family, and I don't really think Akane (and especially Nabiki) would let it go over to Ranma. In fact, I'm sure Ranma would have to take the Tendo name if the marriage should ever take place.
Genma is greedy, I agree, but why is he so dead set on the pact? It it were only for money he could simply sell Ranma to Kodachi and not have to work for the rest of his life.
For honor? I don't think so, or he would not have sold Ranma to all those other families.
Conclusion? PLOT HOLE!!!! Once again.
And yet Ranma apparently had the legal authority to gamble away the dojo to the Gambling King on the grounds that he was going to inherit it one day, so you'd apparently be wrong about Ranma not getting the dojo, Dumbledork. And Nabiki, Akane, and Soun went along with it without protesting that Ranma had no right to do so, as I recall.
And what do you mean by selling Ranma to all those other families? Genma made two engagements. The Tendo one, and the Kunoji one...and Ukyo's father knew darn well that Ranma was already engaged to someone else, he just bribed Genma to cancel it, who immediately did so. And then later cancelled his cancellation.
Edit: Anyways, who says Nabiki and Akane have a say as to whether or not the dojo goes to Ranma or not?
And what do you mean by selling Ranma to all those other families? Genma made two engagements. The Tendo one, and the Kunoji one...and Ukyo's father knew darn well that Ranma was already engaged to someone else, he just bribed Genma to cancel it, who immediately did so. And then later cancelled his cancellation.
Edit: Anyways, who says Nabiki and Akane have a say as to whether or not the dojo goes to Ranma or not?
Okay, I give you that. But what does this say about Genma's honor? He only has honor when it suits him.
A question about honor. Why does Ranma follows his father's stupid ideas? Isn't it Genma who's dishonoring the family? I don't really understand the concept of honor here. Genma's dishonoring the Saotome name, so why does Ranma have to pay for it? Can't he just say "Screw you! You've caused the trouble so why don't you take care of your mess?"?
A question about honor. Why does Ranma follows his father's stupid ideas? Isn't it Genma who's dishonoring the family? I don't really understand the concept of honor here. Genma's dishonoring the Saotome name, so why does Ranma have to pay for it? Can't he just say "Screw you! You've caused the trouble so why don't you take care of your mess?"?
