Ranma Saotome

  • Gender: Male
  • Age: 16
  • Hair: Black
  • Eyes: Blue
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • From the manga Ranma 1/2, by Rumiko Takahashi
  • First Appearance: Chapter 1

The only son and heir to Genma Saotome and the Saotome Musabetsu Kakutou school of martial arts. Ranma is an arrogant, chauvinistic, narcissistic, dishonest and lazy young man. These traits he mostly learned from his father, who has been the only family he’s known since he was a toddler. However, he’s also brave, loyal to his friends, comes to the aid of those in need, nonjudgemental, and an incredible martial arts prodigy.

Ranma’s martial arts skills are among the most impressive in his series, and indeed most series’. Aside from his vastly superhuman speed, strength, and durability, he also has an innate talent and understanding of martial arts on a fundamental level, such that he can literally pick up styles and techniques on the fly, create his own improvisations that are often better than the originals, and more than once pull things completely out of his hind region. Though he is not the strongest warrior in his series, he is certainly in the top tier, and very few people in his age class can hope to approach him.

He’s also cursed. A recent trip to the cursed springs of Jyusenkyou has left Ranma with the Nyannichuan (Spring of Girl) curse, and thus he now becomes a short, busty female version of himself when doused with cold water. Hot water reverses the effect, but nonetheless, Ranma is a bit miffed over the whole situation, and blames it mostly (and rightly) on his father.

All content unless stated otherwise is ©2021 Chris McNeil. He can be contacted here. The banner picture is courtesy of Jason Heavensrun. You can find more of his stuff at Checkmate Studios.