Pantyhose Taro Intro Arc

The  is the 41th story arc of the Ranma ½ manga, spanning eleven chapters. It was included as part of Volume 18 of the Weekly Shōnen Sunday tankōbon and volume 16 of the Viz Media tankōbon.

Plot Summary
Mysterious thief using pantyhose as a weapon steals Jusenkyo visitor registry and begins attacking previous visitors. When faced with Ranma it's revealed thief is another victim Jusenkyo, turning into strange demon (later we learn he fell into a spring of drowned "yeti holding an eel and crane while riding an ox"). When Happosai intervenes in a fight, monster kidnaps Akane and retreats.

Ranma eventually learns that kidnapper's real target is Happosai. He was present at kidnapper's birth and washed him in Jusenkyo's water. Kidnapper wants to trade Akane for Happosai, but Happosai escapes. Eventually Ranma gather Ryoga, Shampoo and Moose and they all gather to face mysterious enemy. Meanwhile Akane learns that her kidnapper hates Happosai for something far worse than Jusenkyo's curse.

Ranma's group faces kidnapper in his hideout, filled with water booby traps that affect everyone's curses. Eventually working together they defeat kidnapper and learn the truth: by his village's law, Happosai (as a person who washed newborn) is to give baby a name. After long consideration Happosai chose a name: Pantyhose Taro.

By rules of his Pantyhose Taro, he's stuck permanently with his embarrassing name and only Happosai can change it, however old pervert refuses, claiming it to be a great name. Ranma and his friends feel bad for Pantyhose Taro and decide to help him: they put Happosai in a trance and trick him into believing Pantyhose Taro will steal of pantyhose in the world and that Happosai was send back in time to day of his birth to change his name. However Happosai decided to simply kill the "baby". After the battle and getting Happosai out of trance, they do force him to co-operate and Pantyhose chooses his new name: Awesome Taro (everyone thinks the name is even lamer, but don't say it out loud).

In return for their help, Taro flies away with Happosai, promising to drop him for away from here. But during their travel Happosai changes his mind and decides Pantyhose Taro is still his name, causing Taro to drop him into the ocean.

Major Events

 * Pantyhose Taro is introduced.

Changes in anime

 * Taro never attacks Ryoga, Genma or Moose.
 * Instead he first tries chasing after Happosai, but fails, so changes his plan to kidnap Akane.
 * Taro doesn’t get captured either the first or second time.
 * After the heroes are done fighting with Taro, Happosai is captured and the arc ends immediately. There is no plan to manipulate him into changing Taro’s name.

Characters Introduced

 * Pantyhose Taro