Viz Communications, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of Ranma 1/2 Anything-Goes Martial Arts DVD Box Set in April 2002. Part of the Viz Video line, this 5 DVD set includes all 22 episodes from the second season of the Ranma 1/2 anime series and features stereo sound, a selection of English or Japanese audio, English subtitles and DVD extras including line art, text-less versions of the opening and closing sequences and cast profiles. This set will retail for $119.98 U.S.
This set continues to develop the on-going storylines of Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo, their families, and introduces even more of the series' zany cast of characters.Get to know the infamous Golden Pair of the high school combat figure skating world; Mikado "Emperor" Sanzenin; Azusa Shiratori, the girl who gives anything "cute" a bad name (before taking it home); Sasuke, loyal ninja manservant to high school swordsman Tatewaki "Blue Thunder" Kuno; Cologne, the hundreds-of-years-old-leader of the same Chinese Amazon tribe that introduced the sassy Shampoo; Mousse, the nearsighted master of hidden weapons and all things avian; Happosai, panty stealing master of both Ranma and Akane's fathers; plus a host of others.
Creator Rumiko Takahashi is the world's most popular female comic artist, with over 100,000,000 copies of her work (including Lum*Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2 and Inu-Yasha) sold. Her works have provided the basis for three long-running animated TV series and over eight animated movies, almost all of which are available in the U.S through Viz Video.
About Ranma 1/2
At the time, martial arts training hall or "dojo" owner Soun Tendo thought engaging one of this three daughters to Ranma - the son of longtime friend and training partner Genma Saotome - was a good idea, but that was before "he" turned out to be a "she!" Due to an unfortunate accident at the cursed Chinese training ground known as Jusenkyo, when martial artists Ranma and his father, Genma, get splashed with cold water, dad transforms into a giant panda - and male Ranma becomes a buxom young girl! Hot water reverses the effect, but only until the next time.
Her older sisters quickly nominate the youngest and most fiery Tendo daughter, Akane, for bridal duty, while an unruly Ranma (who never wants to do anything his dad says, on general principle) must come to grips with the mixed blessing of having a fiancée and his/her own sex appeal. When Ranma is constantly challenged by battle-crazed martial artists for offenses both real and imagined, and pursued by lovesick suitors of both genders, what's a half-boy, half-girl to do?
About Viz Viz Communications, Inc. is the leading U.S. publisher of Japanese animation and comics (anime and manga) for English-speaking audiences, serving a growing market of dedicated fans of all ages. Founded in 1986, Viz publishes over 20 titles every month including Ranma 1/2, Pokémon, Gundam and Dragon Ball Z. Viz also offers an integrated product line of consumer entertainment that includes magazines, comics, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks.
Based in San Francisco, California, Viz is one of the top five comics publishers in the U.S. and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shogakukan, one of Japan's three largest publishers. With some of the most innovative products in the industry, Viz has expanded its offerings to its loyal fans through web sites such as www.animerica-mag.com, www.pulp-mag.com, www.j-pop.com and its corporate site, www.viz.com.
