Anything-Goes Martial Arts



Technically, Ranma ½ was released as two series: Ranma ½ which ran for 18 episodes (the last of which was a clip show) and Ranma ½ Nettōhen (らんま½ 熱闘編) which ran for 143. The first Ranma TV series was canceled due to low ratings in September 1989 (despite its low ratings, the first 18-episode series is considered by some American fans to be the franchise's creative high point), then was retooled and brought back in December as the much more popular and much longer-running Nettōhen. "Anything-Goes Martial Arts" is the first season of "Nettōhen" and ran for 22 episodes.

The opening theme of this season is "Little★Date" (リトル★デイト Ritoru Deito) by Ribbon while the closing theme is "Don't Mind China Boy " (ド·ン·マ·イ 来々少年(ボイ) Don Mai Rairai Boi) by Etsuko Nishio. In Japan, both songs were used up to the 23rd Nettōhen episode, "Ranma Gains Yet Another Suitor" (which is part of the Hard Battle season). Furthermore, "Little★Date" was not used up to the 6th Nettōhen episode "Cool Runnings! The Race of the Snowmen"; it started airing only on the 7th, "The Abduction of P-Chan." Instead, the introductory piece "Ranma You Pervert" was the lone opening skit for the first 6th Nettōhen episodes; in succeeding episodes up to the 23rd Nettōhen episode, it follows "Little★Date" as a refresher.

Another interesting fact is several Nettōhen episodes were reordered in the English dub to put them closer to the events in the manga.

Airdates reflect first airing in Japan.