Ranma 1/2 was started in 1988 as comics (manga), and the series was continuously run for 6 years. It has ended in 1996, with a total number of 36 volumes. The stories was made into TV series and three Ranma 1/2 anime films were also produced. Several OVA are also produced and are quite popular.

The plot centers around the main character, Saotome Ranma. Ranma is a martial artist, following his father, Genma, from his early childhood to train himself as a "man among man". Yet one day, his stupid father brought him to a place in China called Jusenkyo, which consists of hundreds of pools. Accidentally (Remember: accidents are very, very normal in this series. Normality, on the contrast, is very rare) they both fall into two different pools, only to find out that all the pools there are cursed. When they got out of the water, Ranma found out that he has turned into a *girl*, and that his father has turned into a giant panda. Later they find out that *COLD WATER* turn them the way they are cursed and *HOT WATER* can change them back.

Well if that's all about it then Takahashi won't be so successful (in fact, she's one of the (or the most?) wealthiest woman in Japan). Ranma's stupid father had a good friend, Soun Tendo, who have three daughters. When Ranma was young, Genma and Soun decided that Ranma has to marry one of the three daughters, so as to find an heir to the dojo Soun's running. And when Ranma and Gemma who are cursed went to the dojo, Ranma was forced to choose one fiancee among the three. Now it happens that the one chosen (um...actually not by Ranma) is the one who hate boys (for some reasons...) *very much*. Of course the two aren't happy about this. In fact they hate each other in the beginning.

To futher complicate things up (the excellent work of Takahashi), there are characters like Ryoga, who turns into a cute pig, Shampoo, who turns into a cat, and many other crazy characters. Who knows what will happen to you if you live in a world like this.

Later as the story developes, the relationship between Ranma and Akane is improving bit by bit, unnoticed by them. They started to learn how to deal with each other, and finally in the end...(you don't want spoilers, right?)