▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	ASPECT RATIO:		4:3 FULL SCREEN
		▪	AUDIO:		ENGLISH AND JAPANESE DD 2.0
		▪	RUNNING TIME:		600 MIN
		▪	RATING:		T+
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		01/29/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		02/14/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

SYNOPSIS:
The story of a boy who turns into a girl, a father who turns into a panda and the strange Chinese curse what did it to ‘em.

It’s not easy being teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome, bit it’s even worse when your martial-artist father Genma takes you from home at an early age to go on a decade-long training mission. He doesn’t speak a word of Chinese, and yet he insists upon bringing you to the cursed training ground known as Jusenkyo, where falling into one of the many springs there instantly turns you into whoever-or whatever- drowned there last. And then, the two you have this little accident…

From now on, a splash of cold water will turn your father into a giant panda, while you…well you turn into a red-haired (and problematically well-built) female version of yourself. Hot water will reverse the effect, but only until the next time. What’s a half-guy, half-girl to do?

All 24 episodes of the TV’s fifth season on five DVD discs in an inexpensive and newly repackaged thinpack box set.

REVIEW:
The fifth season of the classic and all-time fan favorite martial arts comedy has new enemies and old rivals making appearances as well as a few crazy secrets revealed. The show follows a long standing formula of primarily stand alone episodes except for the odd two-parter. There is the discovery of why Ranma always has his hair tied back in that rat tail. The secret of the Dragon’s Whisker is about to be revealed! Happosai makes an appearance and turns Ranma into a lady killer for all kinds of romantic mayhem, Akane must be the one to defend the dojo when a determined girl shows up with claims of her own, a game of life-sized Shogi (Japanese chess) will make you never see the game the same way again, and there are episodes highlighting many of the secondary characters that make Ranma such an eclectic comedic anime.

Special episodes are in this set involving Ryoga, a challenge for Ukyo, Sasuke is put to the test, and Kuno may discover a most disturbing fact about his lineage. But nothing could be more disturbing than Nabiki’s confession of love – to Ranma! This episode also has one of the too rare romantic moments Ranma fans will treasure between Ranma and Akane. The finale of the season sees Ranma trying a special new Chinese incense to better his training only to find himself fighting his shadow-self – with disastrous results!

With all the mayhem there’s plenty of room for laughs and the show keeps the characters rotating enough so that it’s never too much of any one of them with plenty for all. It features a new opening and ending. The opening theme “Earth Orchestra” may not be as catchy as some of the anime’s other season openers, but is still fun and light.

EXTRAS:
Bonus features include clean opening and closing animation, line art gallery, staff credits and actor profiles.

IN SUMMARY:
Ranma ½ : martial arts comedy with a timeless appeal.