Here you'll find some short synopses of manga stories for perusal, to get a quick idea of what happens in each story in the manga. Of course, nothing is the substitute of the real thing, so be sure to go to the Viz Communications page to find out about how to get the actual manga in English.

NOTE: In these synopses, I am following the volumes as they are released by Viz. This is because the Japanese version released the series in a different division and setup than the English version. Thus I only have up to the current release by Viz. If you want to get synopses for all 38 volumes as they were originally divided in the Japanese version, please go to the Ranma FAQ run by Chris Rijk.

A menu with volume numbers is at the bottom of every volume's synopis page...

Here's Ranma: The Tendo dojo gets plenty of surprises in one day when a panda and a girl show up instead of Soun Tendo's old friend Genma and his son Ranma. There's more to this panda and the girl than they think, though, as Akane finds out when she walks in on the "girl", who somehow changed to a boy, in the shower! Is this really Ranma Saotome, the guy that she's supposedly engaged to? It's certainly not Akane's idea of a fiancee....

Ranma's Secret: Genma explains his and Ranma's strange curse to the surprised Tendo family. It appears that on a training trip to China, Genma and Ranma traveled to an alleged training ground called Jusenkyo. While there, they were both hit into cursed springs, whcih make them change into a panda and a girl, respectively, when wet! Soun decides to go through with the engagement anyway, and when Akane is picked as Ranma's fiancee, it's going to be difficult for the two to get along..especially if Ranma walks in again on Akane (this time as a female)...

I Hate Men!: Ranma and Akane go off to their first day together at Furinkan High school, and on the way Ranma gets splashed, causing the two to take a detour to Dr. Tofu's office to get some hot water. Ranma suspects Akane of liking the good doctor, but has no time to think about it as Ranma's going to find out that Furinkan's not exactly your normal school - especially when bokken-wielding, poetry-spouting Tatewaki Kunou is the voice of influence. A chance speech by him at the beginning of the semester has Akane having to literally fight off the advances of the boys at the school. Kunou challenges Ranma to a fight, and Ranma gladly accepts, despite Akane's protests...

Never, Never, Never:Ranma and Kunou's fight ends in a draw as the rain almost reveals Ranma's curse to the whole school. later, Kunou finds out about the engagement of his "dear Akane" and Ranma and challenges Ranma again, this time in the middle of school! Ranma accepts once again, but a foolish jump into a pool of cold water reveals Ranma's female form to the angry Kunou...

To the Tree-Borne Kettle-Girl: Despite glomping onto her, Kunou hasn't made the connection between the female and male Ranmas and thinks that they are two separate people. Akane tries to get Onna-Ranma a kettle of hot water, but the kettle goes unused as Kunou challenges the female Ranma to combat. Onna-Ranma defeats Kunou easily, but if you thought it was bad enough for the male Ranma dealing with Tatewaki Kunou, just wait until he sends a note asking the female Ranma to meet him somewhere alone...

Body and Soul: Ranma's still having nightmares over Kunou's confession of love for his girl-side, and things get worse when at first Nabiki sells pictures of Onna-Ranma to Kunou and then when even an obvious change still does not show Kunou that his beloved "pig-tailed girl" and male Ranma are one and the same. Yet another fight breaks out, and this time a distracted Ranma may lose, as seeing the pictures Kunou was sold may prove fatal for Ranma...

You'll Understand Soon Enough: Ranma gets greviously wounded by Kunou, but still manages to defeat him with a swift multiple kick to his vital spots. The wound doesn't seem bad at first, but upon further inspection (and much pain from Ranma), Akane decides to take Ranma to Dr. Tofu's office. All of these fights with Kuno (and sometimes Akane) has Ranma exhausted and being treated at the local chiropractic clinic run by Dr. Tofu is a welcome release from all the tension. As he treats her, Tofu tries to steer Ranma to a better understanding of Akane, and uses a special pressure point which makes Ranma's legs weak. Akane offers to piggy-back Ranma home, leaving Ranma to wonder about Tofu's reasons for his actions and about Akane...

Because There's a Girl He Likes: The male population at school has found out about Kunou's defeat, and all give up their attacks on Akane to acknowledge Ranma as her true fiance - all except Kunou, who, bandaged and all, swears to keep after both Akane and his pig-tailed goddess. A chance hit by a baseball hit by Akane lands Ranma back in Dr. Tofu's office, and Ranma confirms Akane's feelings for the doctor. But as Akane is well aware of, Dr. Tofu is head-over-heels in love with someone else, who just happens to be on her way to the clinic...

You're Cute When You Smile: Ranma is about to find out the hard way that love can make even the best doctors act like total fools when Dr. Tofu's love interest turns out to be none other than Akane's older sister Kasumi. Dr. Tofu is so lovestruck that he bends Ranma's head the wrong way, much to Ranma's discomfort. Meanwhile, a devastated Akane goes home, and though she still has feelings for Dr. Tofu, manages to feel a little better after a sparring match with Ranma, who calls her "cute when she smiles"...

The Hunter: Things actually seem to be settling down a bit in Nerima. The hordes of boys have stopped chasing Akane, Kuno isn't attacking male Ranma all that often, and believe it or not, Akane and Ranma seem to be getting along. However, the peace doesn't last long as an old rival of Ranma's shows up to settle the score. Ryoga Hibiki's horrible sense of direction may make him seem like he's an idiot, but his brute strength and skill are easily equal to Ranma's...Ryoga challenges Ranma to a duel, and Rnama is left to ponder the determination of his mysterious rival..

Bread Feud: Ranma remembers Ryoga's reason for his grudge against him. It seems that when Ryoga and Ranma went to the same junior high school Ranma was able to outsmart Ryoga for the last piece of the "Bread of the Day" every time, causing Ryoga to challenge Ranma to a duel. Unfortunately, Ryoga's horrid sense of direction makes him late for the duel by three days, and Ranma leaves, making Ryoga think Ranma a coward. Now, Ryoga's finally caught up to Ranma, and despite Rnama's attempts to make peace, Ryoga attacks. Ryoga draws first blood, and Ranma begins to think he has to get serious to defeat his enemy...

Showdown: Ranma has to defend himself against the enraged Eternal Lost Boy, even if Ranma's "secret" becomes known to him in the process. Ranma tries to draw pity from Ryoga, but Ryoga only gets more enraged at finding out Ranma's curse as he furiously attacks Ranma. Meanwhile, Akane tries to find Ranma some hot water, risking her own life to do so. An alarmed Ranma tries to help a helpless Akane up as Ryoga throws his umbrella straight at Ranma's back...

A Bad Cut: Ranma manages to avoid the fatal umbrella blow and jumps with Akane to safety. A worried Ranma then angrily reprimands Akane for her foolishness, enraging Akane to the point of calling Ranma non-existent to her. Ryoga meanwhile, tries to finish the fight by tossing his cutting bandannas at Ranma. Unfortunately, the only loser of this battle happens to be Akane, who is robbed of something very important to her...

Who Says You're Cute: Akane's loss finally gets her to accept the fact that Dr. Tofu loves someone else, and a new day seems to have begun for her. Ranma, on the other hand, secretly realizes that this new Akane, both physically and spiritually, might actually be cute...

(NOTE: More to be added as time goes on. All Mangas are copyrights of Viz and Rumiko Takahashi).

To the Anime Synopses of Ranma 1/2