Big Trouble in Nekonron, China



Big Trouble in Nekonron, China (Ranma Nibunnoichi: Chūgoku Shinkonron Daikessen! Okite Yaburi no Gekitō Hen!, らんま1/2 中国寝崑崙大決戦! 掟やぶりの激闘篇!!) is the first movie of the Ranma ½ anime series.

When Prince Kirin of the 7 Lucky Gods shows up at the Tendo Dojo looking for his bride-to-be, guess who's accidentally holding the scroll that signifies his future mate? Why, Akane, of course, and the rest of the Ranma crew is forced to take a boat to China in order to save her from the horrors of marriage and a diet of pickled vegetables.

Another Day for Happosai
A woman is hanging a shirt out to dry and puts out her underwear to dry as well. However, after she walks back from the balcony she feels something's wrong and turns around, only to see Happosai on one of his usual panty raids. As the woman screams in terror, Happosai runs off yelling his usual "what a haul!". After jumping across several rooftops Happosai runs across the fence to a building site.

As Happosai runs across the fence, a black object amongst the building waste produces some red sparks. Happosai doesn't see this, but senses something, stops and looks behind him, he then declares "I see you there", however, this turns out to be a brasier someone's hug out to dry. The large black object then moves the streets of Furinkan as Happosai continues to take more panties (much to the distress and annoyance of their owners).

Having now collected a large number of panties in his arms, Happosai hugs them and pretends that they're saying they want to go with him. Meanwhile, the black object struggles to walk through the more narrow streets. Once again, Happosai sense something and turns around, he then runs on to another street thinking he's found what he's sensing, but it is actually a car which runs into Happosai and sends him flying into the air; as his underwear from his latest raid fall across Furinkan.

At the Tendo Dojo
With his raid being in vain, Happosai returns to the Dojo to steal some panties from the Tendo Sisters. After being careful to avoid Soun and Genma (who are playing a game of Go), Happosai's plan is ultimately foiled by Ranma who grabs Happosai on the washing line leading to the girls' underwear. Trying to squirm his way of this situation, Happosai first says he dropped something and when that fails he offers the split the panties with Ranma.

In response to this offer, Ranma (who's grabbed Happosai by the back of his shirt by this point) outright refuses the offer. Not giving up, Happosai then asks Ranma if he'll make him a deal, and in return he'll (Happosai) will give him a pair of Akane's panties. Ranma quickly answers by asking Happosai what would he want with that tomboy's panties.

Unfortunately for Ranma, Akane heard what he just said about calling her a tomboy. She then begins to remove the wire holding up the washing line which Ranma and Happosai are stood on, so both try to run off the line before she does. However, both are too slow so Akane then pulls on the line, causing it to bounce and make both Ranma and Happosai fall into the Koi pond.

Quickly emerging from the pond, Ranma (now in his female form) begins to shout at Akane asking why she did that as she was only... However, before Ranma can finish she notices the panties which Happosai placed in her hand when she was shouting. This sight makes Akane declare that she's finally seen Ranma's true colours of being a pervert, she then pulls out a mallet and tries to hit Ranma with it.

As Ranma tries to dodge Akane, Happosai makes a run for it and is followed by Ranma and Akane. While the trio leave, Nabiki appears and asks if they ever get tired of their constant fighting, while Kasumi shouts that dinner is ready.

The Great Chase
Elsewhere in Furinkan, Ryoga is wandering a street completely lost and wondering just where he could be this time. On the parallel street Happosai is being chased by Ranma and is loving the fact he's being chased by "two lovely girls". Ranma, who in turn, is being chased by Akane, tells Happosai to just give up, while Akane tells Ranma she's the one who should give up and takes at her with the mallet she's still carrying.

Ryoga hears the mallet clash followed by Akane's voice and wonders why he hears it wherever he goes. However, Ryoga then hears the voices of Ranma and Happosai so turns around confused, only to be met by the face of Happosai (which scares Ryoga) who then steps on his face. Ryoga is then subject to Ranma jumping off his back, sending Ryoga to the floor. This makes Ryoga have no doubt that that was Happosai and Ranma just then. Angered, Ryoga declares that they won't make a mockery of him, however, Akane (not looking where she's going) steps on Ryoga's head, but when she looks back and sees Ryoga she apologises to him.

This scene makes Ryoga decide that Happosai and Ranma must've done something horrible to Akane and so he must protect her from their evil clutches. Unfortunately, a Moped drives past and splashes the water in the puddle in front of Ryoga onto him, turning him into his cursed form. This only delays Ryoga slightly, however, as he's soon chasing after Ranma as well.

The chase has now ended up with Happosai and Ranma jumping over rooftops, with Ranma desperate to get Happosai to stop she decides to throw a roof tile at him. Unfortunately this has the opposite effect and Happosai ends up going faster (much to his delight) and flies through some woman's house. As Ranma calls Happosai a freak of nature, she hears a bike bell and is subsequently run over by Shampoo on her bike.

Shampoo proceeds to say Nihao to Ranma and continues by commenting on how beautiful a day it is, and that Ranma should go on a date with her this afternoon. Ranma gets out from under Shampoo's bike and demands to know what she's thinking of riding her bike on top of roofs. Shampoo just ignores Ranma and, while pouring some boiled water over her, tells Ranma to just take her on a date. With Shampoo hugging Ranma's waist the pair jump off the roof, however, when they land Akane is right next to them. Akane quickly throws a bucket of cold water over the pair, making Ranma run in fear of Shampoo's cat form. Shampoo, Akane and P-chan give chase.

As Ranma runs, she wonders why this is happening to her. Suddenly, Kuno appears from a side-street and tells the "pigtailed girl" to jump into his arms, however, Ranma just punches Kuno in the face and sends him flying. Kuno, while in the air, decides to follow his love.

With the group getting larger by the second, they pass the Cat Café, where Mousse is finishing off some noodles when he hears the group running past. Mousse asks Shampoo (although she obviously isn't there) if that was Ranma who just ran past, Cologne confirms that it was and she saw Shampoo as well; she also wonders what could be going on. Mousse, after putting his glasses back on, walks up to Cologne and mistakes her for Mackerel Jerky, this angers Cologne who sends Mousse flying out the window. Outside, Mousse makes a successful landing and shouts to Ranma that he's going to die for messing with his future bride. After Mousse runs off, Cologne leaves the Cat Café and thinks this situation looks interesting, so decides to follow as well.

Ukyo Kuonji is about to open Okonomiyaki Ucchan's when she notices the group run past. As she wonders what's going on, Tsubasa (disguised as the sign to Ucchan's) appears and beings rub Ukyo's buttocks with his head/the sign. Angered, Ukyo sends Tsubasa flying with the shop curtain she brought out with her. Realising she can't open her store with the curtain, Ukyo joins the chase as well.

The chase is now along the Furinkan High Street, and passes Mikado and Azusa. While Mikado remembers about his past encounters with the "pigtailed girl", Azusa notices her Charlotte (P-chan) and tells Mikado they should join them. Before Mikado can say anything, Azusa's shoes have become four-wheeled skates and she is chasing after the group as well (dragging Mikado by his scarf along with her).

As the chases continues down the High Street, the group passes Kodachi who removes her St. Hebereke's uniform (revealing her leotard underneath) and Principal Kuno, both of whom join in the chase as well. Happosai, meanwhile, is slightly out of breath and runs into a store and steals some food (not before telling them to send the bill to the Tendo Dojo, courtesy of Ranma Saotome). The food is quickly devoured by Happosai, who then decides to return to the Dojo for lunch.

Just then Happosai is grabbed from behind by Ranma (who's still running). Seeing who's grabbed him, Happosai asks Ranma who she's doing, to which Ranma turns Happosai to face behind her, revealing the extremely large crowd of people chasing after her. Happosai wonders if this is meant to be some kind of marathon, to which Ranma asks Happosai who he thinks is responsible for this fiasco and then proceeds to kick Happosai into the air. As Happosai screams while in the air, a Chinese woman is standing atop a tall Chimney and notices him. She then declares that she's at last found Happosai and lets out a loud whistle, which is picked up by the large black object from earlier.

Happosai lands safely, but is no running in front of Ranma and Akane again (who are still running from the large crowd behind them). Ranma then tells Happosai that as the master he should do something, however, Happosai says that as the pupil, Ranma must sacrifice himself so he can get out of this predicament. Akane then butts in and tells Ranma that this is all her fault as she does this every time. Ranma objects to Akane's view and demands she listen to her side of the story for once, Akane, however, asks Ranma is he has an excuse for his flirting with Shampoo. Ranma replies by telling Akane she didn't know she was the jealous type, to which Akane retorts that she's not the kind of girl to just shut up at a comment like that.

After Ranma insults Akane and says that she's not really a girl, they hear a large explosion from behind them and wonder what's going on. Behind the crowd the large black object appears and sends several of the chasers flying in every direction. It then attacks the rest of the group, much to their shock.

Back at the Dojo
Kasumi has set out the lunch, which Genma (now in his human form), Soun, Nabiki and Kasumi herself are enjoying. After Genma compliments Kasumi on her cooking, she begins to wonder when the others will return, to which Genma replies that he's sure they'll smell her food and come running. At that moment, the ground begins to shake, and Nabiki gets up and walks off, saying that it sounds like they're already on their way.

Nabiki is right, and as soon as she leaves Soun, Genma and Kasumi are sent flying by all the others arriving. With the living room now ruined, Soun goes to Ranma (who turned back into his male form thanks to a teapot spilling on him) and demands that he and Akane explains themselves. Nabiki pokes her head through the remains of the door and tells Soun what she expects them to explain when he should look behind him. Soun does, and sees the large back creature from a few moments earlier.

While Soun screams in terror, the black object begins to reduce in size, ultimately revealing it to be a simple elephant. After Kasumi comments on how cute she thinks the elephant is, Cologne explains that it isn't an ordinary elephant as what they thought was it's body was actually the aura of it's fighting spirit.

At this point, Akane comes to on Ranma's lap and punches him, while asking him what he thinks he's doing. Ryoga also appears (still steaming from the hot water he poured on himself) and asks Akane is she's all right. The elephant then notices that Happosai is stuck in the door above the trio, so breathes in until Happosai is pulled out, and begins to beat up Happosai by landing on him.

A whistle is then heard by the elephant, so it turns and holds out if truck, so as the Chinese woman seen earlier can stand on it. The Chinese girl dismounts from the elephant, and says "Good girl, Jasmine" (at this point, Akane wonders if the woman is an elephant trainer). The Chinese woman then looks at Happosai and throws half a scroll at his head, which bounces into Akane's hands.

Referring to herself in the third-person, the woman identifies herself as Lychee and she demands of Happosai that he gives her her childhood back!

A Storm Brews
Lightning then begins to fall behind Lychee and Jasmine, and soon a large flying ship appears from the clouds and makes it's way to the Tendo Dojo. Everyone looks at the flying boat, except Lychee who gets annoyed at being ignored by everyone while she's talking. Some of the passengers of the boat come into view, one being a man holding a bowl of rice and some long chopsticks. The man then begins to laugh and introduces himself as Kirin, one the patrons of Seven Lucky Gods Martial Arts.

Lychee calls Kirin her prince. Kirin then declares that he has at last found the one chosen by the Seven Lucky Gods who shall come with them. Hearing this, Lychee runs towards Kirin and declares that he's come to make her happy for ever after. Kirin, however, asks Lychee who she is and continues by saying he has no business with her as she does not posses the scroll.

As Lychee is set aback by this statement, Nabiki puts her hand on Akane's shoulder and asks if she thinks he's talking about the scroll she's holding. Just then Kirin notices that Akane is holding the scroll, he calls Ebiten who uses a long fishing line to bring Akane up to the ship. Ryoga runs to save Akane, but is used as a jumping off point by Ranma so he can reach the ship.

Ranma manages to get to the ship and tries to punch Kirin, however, Kirin stops Ranma's attack with his chopsticks alone; much to Ranma's shock and confusion. Kirin tells Ranma not assume he can step aboard his ship and that as punishment he'll feel the wrath of the "Pinch of a Hundred Chopsticks". The attack Kirin the performs sends him back to the ground, and land on Ryoga.

Despite Ranma wanting to continue the fight, Kirin leaves with Akane declaring that now the two scrolls can be joined, the world will be theirs. The clouds above the ship clear, revealing the large ballon holding the ship in the air. The ship then leaves. Lychee doesn't want her prince to leave, so desperately tries to keep up with on the back of Jasmine.

Trivia

 * When originally played in Japan this film was part of a double-feature with Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling.
 * The films's title is a parody of 1986 film, Big Trouble in Little China.
 * When Ryoga gets hit by Happosai an image of a blond man followed by an image of Happosai flash on the screen, then when Ryoga gets kicked by Ranma a white cat (mostly likely Moamolin) flashes on the screen.
 * When Akane is sneaking out to the kitchen in order to cook something, she briefly has a see-through hand.