Customer Reviews

Ranma 1/2 - Outta Control - The Complete Fourth Season Boxed Set

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The ones who say that this season isn't all that. They happen to be right. There are a few good episodes (written by takahashi) and a lot of bad episodes (written by amateurs) and a few should-have-been-good episodes written by takahashi that were butchered to fit in one episode.And the art/animation quality? Don't get me started. The few episodes where they flashback to the beginning of the series painfully demonstrate how far the series has degraded. In fact, if you really want to see how far this series falls short, watch 2-3 of the OVA's THEN watch this. They were producing this season on the cheap, that's for sure.I got it, because I intend to collect the whole series. Non-collectors should think twice. And if you're looking for a Ranma gift for someone, pick season one or two. They're better.

There weren't a lot of surprises on this DVD.

Voice Acting: I'd really like to know where the voice actor for Ranma that I fell in love with the first season went. If I knew I'd beg him to reprise the role, because the current American voice actor rubbs me the wrong way.

General Content: I had high expectations. I thought maybe we'd meet Ranma's mother. They teased us but didn't deliver. There was very little Shampoo, always a mistake. She's one of the more interesting sympathetic characters and she was wasted this season.

Overall: This is one season that I don't think I would have missed if I'd skipped it entirely. More of the same, little development beyond where the characters already were. Buy it if you love Ranma, but try not to be disappointed.

Ranma 1/2 is easily one of my favorite series. It's got great varying characters, a great Japanese voice cast, wonderful songs, good FITTING BGM, tons of comedy, and pure over-the-top fun. But for whatever reason, the quality seems to go down bit by bit as the series goes along, with much more mediocrity than before though still plenty of moments of greatness (much like The Simpsons became in later years). That's not to say it's bad though.

I think the reasons for this shift in quality is simple -- for whatever reason they decided to compress many of the manga-based stories into one episode, when they really should probably have been two. But not only that, they decided to take some elements of manga stories and use it in FUTURE episodes -- for instance, the 1st episode where the principal returns (the only haracter ntroduced in this season that appearas in more than two episodes), in the Manga there's a section about who he actually is (I won't spoil if you don't know), but they turn that section into a whole new episode in a later season.

Another things is a matter of sameness -- Happosai still glomps everyone all the time, Ryoga still blames Ranma all the time, etc etc. While yes characters have certain personalities, things tend to be a bit Ranma-centric (the manga is guilty of this too) than it really needed to be.

Still, there's plenty of good stuff to be found. For instance, there's the three part Moxibustion arc, where Happosai makes Ranma weak, which is Takahashi's favorite part, and there's the hilarious epsidoe where Azusa the cleptomaniac ice skater claims Kuno as her "Marrianne". And my favorite episode is the final one, with the return of Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung.

Now, as far as the DVDs themselves go, there's not much difference from seasons 2-4. Same type of so-called extras, 4 DVDs in 5-5-5-5-4, and nice box with Shampoo's picture (interesting becasue she's in so few episodes this season, another minus in my book). Really, to sum it up, it's good if you really love Ranma, but make sure to get the first two seasons, and season 3 is a BIT better than this one.

but better than what I've seen of the 1st season. Hard Battle had some great eps(particularly the ep where Ranma becomes a girl mentally as well as physically) so it's a hard act to follow, but most long-running series hit a rut or two. I actually prefer the new English male Ranma voice actor, but then I love him as Inu-Yasha also(So Viz is following Japan using the same voice actor for both roles). I understand where those who don't like the change are coming from--I always check both vocal tracks & often prefer the Japanese actors. Heaven knows DBZ's changed enough actors & I know we'll be hearing a new Excel on the 4th Volume of Excel Saga(When my daughter complains about the prospect, I point out there've been 3 English Sailor Moon actresses & 3 Son Goku in DBZ, not counting DB)
I don't care for Principal Kuno, although my daughter loved his bits(she also loves Happosai...).The new teacher ep was interesting & the Ranma-gets-weak set is good. I've read 13 of the graphic novels so I know much of it's from the manga, but a few details were changed such as in the manga Principal Kuno offering the get-out-of-haircut-card to whoever located his long-lost son who is quickly revealed as Tatewaki Kuno. The game show ep was much better in the manga--the anime maybe is more like tv game shows, but the manga had a running sub-plot that the people running the contest didn't want anyone to win because they couldn't really afford the prize & the contests were less annoying. Had they followed the manga closer this probably would have been a better season.

I *LOVE* the Ranma 1/2 series, it is the series that officially launched me into the rabid ranks of the otaku (otaku = "fan-boys" for all you non-animé-watching heathen out there).

The reason I am rating this set with 4 stars instead of my standard 5 for anything Ranma, isn't because of the quality of the animé. The reason is that Viz CHANGED the male Ranma voice actor for the English dub! I could *NOT* believe they did this. I have yet to be able to find out how and why this happened. If the original voice actor walked out for whatever reason, then I guess Viz can be excused. But if this was a case of egos or salaries interfering with a great product, then everyone at Viz should hang their heads in shame.

Over-all though, you can just switch to the subtitled mode anyway (which I have now discovered I prefer over dubbed anyway) and there is no change. The stories are great, and the animation, music and most especially the jokes are all great.

Ranma does it again! The 4th season of the show is great! It's funny, crazy, and likeable! ^__^ There are some very good breakout eps for Ranma in this one. And some very funny and GREAT eps for Ranma and Ryoga fans! (I am one) But I often read at places this is the season where the show lost some of it's edge. I don't think so,Ranma 1/2 to me gets funnier as the seasons go on. I also know Ranma got a different voice-over. Well the first Ranma voice-over did a WONDERFUL job! But the guy taking over Ranma also to me does a WONDERFUL job as well. True it might sound different but it is still Ranma and to me the new voice-over is doing just fine ^__^ (And I don't say that for most people taking over a role) Anyway GREAT season for Ranma I'm truly glad I got this season. Now on too Season Five!

This set is on par with the other 3 releases by Viz so far both in quality of transfer as with what you get in the box. Although a bit low on extras I was nonetheless very pleased.

This is of course due to what is actually on the discs. This season is better (in my eyes) than the third, nearly as good as my favourite (namely the first 2 season).
It contains some very funny episodes, especially the one with the gambling king had me and my brother laughing a lot.

Anyway, if you know Ranma 1/2 you can't really go amiss with buying this set!

I was really disappointed with this season. Most stories are not continual, they are just 20 minutes of gags that really don't impact the character development or are referenced to anymore. I watch the subtitled version and I was really upset that there are some lines which are not translated at all in each ep.

Overall, it's good to have for a complete Ranma collection. But you'll probably only watch it once.

funny as the rest of the seasons are,this series keeps me laughing whenever i wathc it. i love this anime and i can't wait for the rest of the seasons! more characters show up in their first apperences to the season (except the season 1 opening) including kuno's father and alos azuza returns as well. wonder how long till season 5, hmmm couple of months.

I'm going to list the good and bad things in this season.

The good things are!
-Ranma has a new voice actor, so he doesn't have a dumb sounding laugh anymore.
-A new character appears, but...

Now on to the bad.
-but... He has a deep and annoying voice...
-Shampoo is barly in this season, and every time she does appears, she seems to be the "bad guy".
-There are some really boring episodes...
-Some of the only good episodes are the ones with Shampoo in them, there are a few other good ones without her, but still...
-Ranma has a new english voice actor, so it might be hard to get use to.
-Ranma is really mean and rude to his Fiances in this season.

Well that is my good/bad review. For some reason I don't really like Akane in this season either, maybe it's because I don't want Ranma to marry her... Anyway, buy this season only if you are collecting the entire series of Ranma 1/2 (Like me) Otherwise just skip this one, you won't be missing much.