Okay, here's my two yen on the whole Ranma 1/2 fanon thing from what little I've seen (first 3 seasons).
Ranma:
Egotistical and pompous. Personally, I don't think he actually realizes he's being as much of an asshole as he is. Evidence towards this is seen in the
anime's more quiet moments. The guy does have a heart of gold, it's just buried under all egostical programming that daddy dearest filled his head
with. More on that later when I get to Genma. Another thing is that despite the hell people will put him through, Ranma is actually very defensive of those
close to him once things get to the point where someone is being unduly mistreated.
Akane:
God DAMN girl, you got a fowl temper! Okay, let's step back a bit and take a look at the forest here. You got the oldest sister, Kasumi, and you got the
youngest sister, Akane. It is highly inevitable that the younger sister is going to wish that she could be just like her oldest sister, who is extremely
successful by Japanese standards (exceedingly well mannered, beautiful, graceful, good cook, excels at domestic engineering, and has the undivided attention of
the young and successful local doctor). Now, if anything, Akane is equal parts lover *and* fighter. The trouble is that she's let her thing with Kasumi get
to be a complex and she doesn't really realize it. This may not have been such a big deal if she had her mother around to catch it and curtail it, because
obviously Kasumi doesn't notice. Hell, I'd bet Dollars to Yen that Nabiki, being the bitch that she is, even egged her on at an early age (Remeber:
Nabiki doesn't just do things for profit - she also does it for the personal discomfort of others).
SO... Enter Ranma Saotome and it is no small wonder this guy gets under her skin. While we do see her eventually letting go of her vain efforts to try and be
more like Kasumi, Ranma never helps matters anyways by calling her un-cute every chance he gets. I'd crack a table over his head any day of the week if I
were Akane. However, I still think she's got a fowl temper and could use just a bit of anger management.
Oh, and am I the only one who thinks that Akane must be dense as a rock herself to not realize that P-chan is Ryouga? If she thought Ranma was a pervert...
Genma:
Okay, if this were Dragonball Z and Genma were to die, he'd go straight to HFIL (The Home for Infinite Losers). This guy isn't just a loser, he's a
coward and will do anything for a meal. That thing about the man asking for his son in exchange for a meal? The one where Genma stole baby Ranma back? His
initial motive was just to get that one meal. And then, he couldn't leave Ranma behind - the boy was his legacy! Forget the fact that he's an actual
person. Genma's just gotta secure his legacy as the man who raised the next master of Anything Goes. Of course, this motivation does indeed lead to success
in this respect, but that was his sole motivation. This guy is about as selfish as they come - in corporate culture, he'd be that leach you find taking
credit for everyone else's hard work so he could get promoted over everyone else. And as for being a coward... Just look at what happens whenever Haposai
pops up. With a bit of luck and good strategic planning, Ranma can nail the little pervert any day of the week. If Genma would work with his son he could
possibly drive off the old nuisance for good.
Ukyo:
Okay, I don't quite understand *exactly* how this girl's childhood went, but from what little I understand it was just as messed up as Ranma's.
Think about it: her father and Genma were 'best friends' so to speak. If her father was anything like Genma, then it is no wonder why she turns out the
way she does. I have pity for her, but she does need to pull her head out of her ass.
Shampoo:
Wow. What a piece of work! Trained to destroy any and all women who can better her. Trained to take to bed any man who can better her. Such is the mentality of
the Chinese Amazon: a very base instinct-cum-social quirk to ensure that only your children will be the the best. No doubt the old Hag that goes around on a
pogo-stick knows this. I just wonder if Shampoo does herself. I don't know which would be worse for certain: whether she knows or not. Really, I'd bet
if you could get Shampoo's elder out of the picture and force her to behave, she'd eventually pick up on what's wrong with her... Although
she'd probably still want Ranma.
So in closing, I feel that while a lot of the Fannon is bad, the actual characters themselves aren't too much better. I certainly won't be putting
Akane on a pedestal whenever I write about her.
Ranma:
Egotistical and pompous. Personally, I don't think he actually realizes he's being as much of an asshole as he is. Evidence towards this is seen in the
anime's more quiet moments. The guy does have a heart of gold, it's just buried under all egostical programming that daddy dearest filled his head
with. More on that later when I get to Genma. Another thing is that despite the hell people will put him through, Ranma is actually very defensive of those
close to him once things get to the point where someone is being unduly mistreated.
Akane:
God DAMN girl, you got a fowl temper! Okay, let's step back a bit and take a look at the forest here. You got the oldest sister, Kasumi, and you got the
youngest sister, Akane. It is highly inevitable that the younger sister is going to wish that she could be just like her oldest sister, who is extremely
successful by Japanese standards (exceedingly well mannered, beautiful, graceful, good cook, excels at domestic engineering, and has the undivided attention of
the young and successful local doctor). Now, if anything, Akane is equal parts lover *and* fighter. The trouble is that she's let her thing with Kasumi get
to be a complex and she doesn't really realize it. This may not have been such a big deal if she had her mother around to catch it and curtail it, because
obviously Kasumi doesn't notice. Hell, I'd bet Dollars to Yen that Nabiki, being the bitch that she is, even egged her on at an early age (Remeber:
Nabiki doesn't just do things for profit - she also does it for the personal discomfort of others).
SO... Enter Ranma Saotome and it is no small wonder this guy gets under her skin. While we do see her eventually letting go of her vain efforts to try and be
more like Kasumi, Ranma never helps matters anyways by calling her un-cute every chance he gets. I'd crack a table over his head any day of the week if I
were Akane. However, I still think she's got a fowl temper and could use just a bit of anger management.
Oh, and am I the only one who thinks that Akane must be dense as a rock herself to not realize that P-chan is Ryouga? If she thought Ranma was a pervert...
Genma:
Okay, if this were Dragonball Z and Genma were to die, he'd go straight to HFIL (The Home for Infinite Losers). This guy isn't just a loser, he's a
coward and will do anything for a meal. That thing about the man asking for his son in exchange for a meal? The one where Genma stole baby Ranma back? His
initial motive was just to get that one meal. And then, he couldn't leave Ranma behind - the boy was his legacy! Forget the fact that he's an actual
person. Genma's just gotta secure his legacy as the man who raised the next master of Anything Goes. Of course, this motivation does indeed lead to success
in this respect, but that was his sole motivation. This guy is about as selfish as they come - in corporate culture, he'd be that leach you find taking
credit for everyone else's hard work so he could get promoted over everyone else. And as for being a coward... Just look at what happens whenever Haposai
pops up. With a bit of luck and good strategic planning, Ranma can nail the little pervert any day of the week. If Genma would work with his son he could
possibly drive off the old nuisance for good.
Ukyo:
Okay, I don't quite understand *exactly* how this girl's childhood went, but from what little I understand it was just as messed up as Ranma's.
Think about it: her father and Genma were 'best friends' so to speak. If her father was anything like Genma, then it is no wonder why she turns out the
way she does. I have pity for her, but she does need to pull her head out of her ass.
Shampoo:
Wow. What a piece of work! Trained to destroy any and all women who can better her. Trained to take to bed any man who can better her. Such is the mentality of
the Chinese Amazon: a very base instinct-cum-social quirk to ensure that only your children will be the the best. No doubt the old Hag that goes around on a
pogo-stick knows this. I just wonder if Shampoo does herself. I don't know which would be worse for certain: whether she knows or not. Really, I'd bet
if you could get Shampoo's elder out of the picture and force her to behave, she'd eventually pick up on what's wrong with her... Although
she'd probably still want Ranma.
So in closing, I feel that while a lot of the Fannon is bad, the actual characters themselves aren't too much better. I certainly won't be putting
Akane on a pedestal whenever I write about her.