▪	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:		03/25/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		02/21/2008
		▪	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 second season on five DVD discs in an inexpensive and newly repackaged thinpack box set.

REVIEW:
The penultimate box set of the fan favorite series sees the gang of the Tendo Dojo dealing with more martial arts tea ceremony mayhem, a visit to watermelon island, Happosai causing the worst trouble yet, Ryoga attempting to steal Akane away, the appearance of a scribbled panda brought to life, a ghost story, principal Kuno teaming up with Kodachi to kick up some mischief, and some of the most memorable episodes such as the Demon of Jusenkyo!

The Demon of Jusenkyo is great two-parter involving mythical creatures, the cursed springs, and a major opponent for Ranma to fight. He abducts Akane. Ranma along with his friends, follow and must infiltrate the Water Fortress, a deed more easily said then done when most of them will change when hit with cold water.  It’s a story that could have been turned almost into a movie and is a stand out in this sixth season. Another set of episodes that set this season apart involves Akane and Ranma. They are some of the most romantic seen throughout the entire series. “An Xmas Without Ranma” and “Akane Goes to the Hospital” all serve to highlight the ever slowly growing bond between Ranma and Akane romantically. One of my personal favorites out of the entire series, not just this sixth season, is the Christmas story. It’s indelibly tender and affectionate and is one of the most romantic episodes out of the entire anime.

Another highlight is a two-part story about Ukyo in “Ukyo’s Secret Sauce”. She’s a favorite character for me so it was great to see her focused on more in this season. Due to a childhood pledge and a big screw up on the part of young Ranma, further complicated by the now grown up one, Ukyo is pledged to marry him! Nabiki comes up with the fabulously terrible idea to have Akane and Ranma pretend they’ve already been married in order to save him from marrying Ukyo. But these two bickering people are going to have their tempers pushed to the limit trying to pretend to be happy newlyweds! The season ends with a laugh and more Happosai madness when he ends up being stuck to Ranma and they have to figure out a way to get unglued because this is not a match made in Heaven!

The sixth season has a warmhearted opening theme “Don’t Cry Anymore” which is quieter than the usual Ranma while remaining sweet. The animation standard has seen little change during the various seasons with the exception of season 1 which had exemplary animation for a TV series. The rest of the seasons, this one included, remain colorful and action-packed fun animation fare.

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

IN SUMMARY:
The sixth season holds some of the best two-parters and romantic episodes of the entire series of Ranma.