#rumiko ruminations

[basedkikuenjoyer]

Why did no one tell me this sweet, perfect angel was hiding out towards the tail end of the Ranma 1/2 manga? I've only watched the anime that late...

Trans enough for me kunoichi with a Cinderella plotline? That ends up as Ukyo's bestest buddy and totally doesn't have a forbidden girl crush on our dear okonomiyaki vendor? I still love Space Girl, and Sango, and precious Kyoko, and Shampoo...but Konatsu. This is why you should actually finish series Rhea.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Skip & Loafer catch-up week to bring you...Konatsu. Because I woke up to a huge spike of love for an old Konatsu post. And because Konatsu & Ukyo are wonderful together. For this dynamic I'd not be into seeing play out in real life. Amazing single-chapter story about Konatsu, Ranma, and Akane trying to salvage the okonomoyaki shop while Ukyo is sick. Would love to see this animated in the remake because it's a hoot. You even get a pretty solid gag of our male kunoichi dressing for a gimmick as a "cute boy" but really it looks more like Lady Oscar or a Takarazuka actress.

This was a great gag too in the final chapter. Look behind the "Ran-chan!" panel. Konatsu's hiding behind it. Honestly? I was kind looking for an excuse to mention this one. Because it is a gag I've wondered about with Kiku. She never does quite like this where it's so obvious, but she has a habit of ending up blocked by speech bubbles and has that shy streak that her Academy appearances cranked up. So seeing it on another similar character in an iconic finale when we know Eiichiro Oda is a fan of Rumiko Takahashi? Especially right there in the same time period he'd be pitching Kamatari for Rurouni Kenshin. Definitely makes me think about that aspect a little more.

Anyways, thanks for the surprise when I woke up this morning. Always have time for Konatsu positivity.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

#4 - Lum (Urusei Yatsura)

I love you space girl. Lum is just pure, unfiltered fun. And she feels like the type of character we don't have as much today. Urusei Yatsura feels a lot like an old 70s sitcom more than an anime to me. Especially something like I Dream of Jeannie. Even modern shows about a guy who's life is taken over by a mysterious otherworldly girl can never quite catch the magic of Lum. It's the right balance of a girl who can easily overpower her man but still gets very hurt by his womanizing. She really does love her darling.

Lum is just plain iconic. She looks great in any style. Some characters are just one of those who transcend the work they're a part of. And Lum is the poster girl of that to me. Everything she does is absolutely adorable.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

#6 - Ranma Saotome (Ranma 1/2)

Our main man him...this all really starts to break down when we're talking Ranma. But as a main character I actually do really enjoy Ranma Saotome. Cursed with his gender-swapping body, a bunch of crazed suitors after him, and a really shitty dad Ranma still finds a way to stay plucky. I really love how he finds ways to take advantage of the girl form. Enjoying fruity parfaits and stuff. Ranma 1/2 works as a story because underneath the wacky martial arts there's a good story about a young man who is forced to get in touch with his feminine side. To learn it isn't all bad and have first-hand experience with problems girls deal with. That doesn't work without a protagonist that is willing to roll with it.

But also...the Anything-Goes Martial Arts stuff is really fun too. Ranma's a badass as long as there aren't cats around. But a really fun fighter to watch. Even in casual scenes he's so bouncy, often perched in a way that shows off his balance. Just a great MC with a lot more layers than he gets credit for.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

#2 Shampoo (Ranma 1/2)

Nihao! Hi-ya! This girl has always been my favorite part of Ranma. Is she a little outdated with the broken Japanese? Yeah, but it isn't nearly as bad as stuff like the hot springs guard dude. Shampoo is also supposed to be from a pretty remote tribe and all. And look at her. She is such a cutie! I just love the pure chaos she brings into the series. Especially when she doesn't quite understand the two forms of Ranma are the same person. Trying to simultaneously marry "boy-type" Ranma and kill "girl-type" Ranma.

Shampoo just keeps getting better too. The cat form is cute and opens up Ranma's phobia. Obaba Cologne is an excellent tertiary character as is her childhood friend Mousse. Ranma is all about silly fun and Shampoo delivers that in spades any time she shows up in a story.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

#7 - Oyuki (Urusei Yatsura)

This one's just up here for the archetype. I love prim and proper snow queens. Oyuki is a great one. I like her having a bit of that Nabiki/Nami greedy vibe and her ice powers are scary in-universe. And the dynamic of being old childhood friends with Lum is always a plus. I don't know why but I also find it really funny she's just from Neptune.

But mostly I just took one look at her and knew right away she'd be a beloved. I love you snow queen.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

#9 - Akemi Roppongi (Maison Ikkoku)

The tenants at the Maison are all pretty wacky and lovable in their own right, but none of them make me laugh quite as much as the party girl Akemi. Running around in her panties and usually the one nominating Godai's room for a nightly party, but there is a real sweet side underneath the hangover. And if you didn't know, her surname Roppongi is a nod to one of Tokyo's biggest party districts.

Akemi's usually at her best providing a more sulty, worldly foil to good girl Kyoko. But when she actually gets a spotlight episode? That's what got Akemi a spot on the list. When you get that peek into her inner life that usually shows a very "Plastic Love" type of disillusionment with the lifestyle the girl's got a good story to tell. Of everyone in the Maison I feel like she's the one who could lead a series in her own right.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

Because I can do what I want we're gonna do a top ten for best Rumiverse characters. And because I can double do what I want we're starting with a pair:

#10 - Konatsu & Ukyo (Ranma 1/2)

Really you could say this one is Ukyo Kuonji, but Konatsu is right there and a total sweetie. I've always been a big fan of the Okonomiyaki girl we first meet dressed as a guy because Ranma 1/2 is all about playing with gender. Our goddess with a giant spatula comes in late which works to her advantage. You're used to seeing new suitors pop up so yet another broken promise from Genma isn't anything new, but the way Ranma treats Ukyo more like a buddy is always a fun dynamic.

Adding the dynamic with Konatsu though, the kunoichi trapped in a man's body...that just made both better. The way Ukyo treats her Cinderella simp? Priceless.