The Ranma 1/2 Remake Will Have To Fix The Series' Most Problematic Character (2024)

The Ranma 1/2 franchise is home to some of anime’s most iconic and beloved characters. For many decades, this amazing series has remained one of the most popular, mostly thanks to how endearing its cast is. From the stubborn but kind Ranma to the hot-headed and caring Akane, the show has someone for all audience members to enjoy.

Nonetheless, among the loveable cast, hides one of the most divisive and despicable characters, Master Happosai. Mentor to Genma and Soun, this conniving and manipulative elder has been described as the least popular character by most fans. His behavior, lack of morals, and refusal to better himself make him the most despised individual in the series. The Ranma 1/2 remake has garnered praise for its fresh rendition of this iconic story, but how it deals with Happosai will be the true testing ground of the new series.

Happosai Is Ranma 1/2's Worst Character

Not Even The Villains Are As Despicable

Master Happosai is a short, almost harmless elderly man known for being the creator of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, as well as being Genma and Soun’s teacher. Despite his frail appearance, he is among the most powerful characters in Ranma 1/2, with even the protagonist having problems defeating him in a fair fight. Instead of using his skills for good, Happosai has spent his entire life cheating, stealing, and mocking others, confident in the fact that not many can harm him.

Worst of all, he is a womanizer who does not care about age and is willing to harass anyone if he can satisfy his lowest desires. He is often being pursued out of the Furinkan High girls’ locker rooms for trying to spy on the teenagers or stealing their undergarments. He has never shown remorse for his actions, going as far as to proudly display the stolen clothes while bragging about his skills. While not a recurring antagonist, his disrespectful attitude has caused most fans to despise him.

Happosai's Contributions to the Series Could Have Been Handled By Other Characters

His Teachings Could Have Been Imparted By Any Other Recurring Master

While not one of the main characters, Happosai is a recurring member of Ranma 1/2’s cast, being a regular teacher for the protagonist. Due to his incredible strength and plethora of special techniques, he was often used as a temporary teacher for the heroes. This led to him becoming a constant inhabitant of the Tendo Household, a decision that greatly facilitated his horrible hobby. Although his teaching did serve Ranma on several occasions, like forcing him to admit his hidden care and affection for Akane, they do not justify his presence in a series otherwise praised for its great depiction of gender issues.

Happosai's role could have been given to any of the several other martial artists Ranma crossed paths with. Cologne, Shampoo’s grandmother, is several times more capable and sensible as a teacher than Genma’s mentor and could have been a perfect teacher for the protagonist. If not her, the series could have introduced another mentor for Ranma, one who would not indulge in the same lecherous acts as Happosai. Besides being the man who traumatized Genma and Soun, Happosai does not serve any unique role in the show.

Happosai's Actions Should Not Be Justified

The Series Never Truly Punishes Him For His Crimes

Throughout most of the series, Happosai’s crimes are treated as nothing more than a joke, with the worst punishment he has received being the women he harassed hitting him. There are never any serious consequences for his actions, letting him continue with his obscenities unabated. Ranma tried several times to put a stop to the elderly man, mostly when Akane was being targeted by him. Even then, Happosai would come out victorious on most occasions, as if to prove that his behavior was not a real threat.

What is more, the master would constantly get rewarded before his punishment, with Ranma having to use the cursed form he acquired in Jusenkyo to distract him. The protagonist would allow Happosai to ogle or even touch him just to have enough time to properly attack him. This is an unusual stumble for a series that's famous for being so forward-thinking, and a result of the times when it was originally written, when Happosai's brand of "comedic relief" was pretty common. The fact that the series finds new ways to justify his harassment is one of its most controversial aspects, seeing as most fans do not agree with his actions.

Genma and Ranma's Trauma Is Mainly Due To Hapossai

His Only Positive Contribution To The Series Is Explaining Why Genma Is Such A Bad Father

See Also

Ranma 1/2 (2024) Episodes 4 & 5 Give Us Ryoga, the Game Changer - The Game of Nerds

As a youngster, Genma Saotome endured harrowing training as Happosai’s student. His mentor would force him to be an accomplice in his crimes and torture him for fun. Genma was also essentially kidnapped by his trainer, who would never stay too long in a town as he would be persecuted by its citizens. By the end of the journey, Genma and his trusted friend Soun decided to abandon their master, trapping him inside a cave. Even though he became free from his master’s torment, the trauma left on his mind never abandoned him.

He imposed the same gruesome and nomadic training on his son, dragging him across the globe as just an infant to turn him into a masterful martial artist. Genma also imposed on his son the idea of becoming a man among men, forcing him to hide his emotions, implanting in his head the idea that women were weaker, and forcing him to learn inhumane techniques like the Cat Fist. To escape from his teacher, Ranma’s father became something worse. This is one of the many difficulties that the protagonist learns to break away from during the story.

As the manga and anime progressed, fans witnessed how Ranma and Akane abandoned the toxic ideas that were imparted to them as children. This is one of the main themes of the series, breaking away from harmful traditions and accepting who one is. Happosai was necessary to explain why Genma became such a harsh and negative role model for his son. Nevertheless, introducing him back to the plot was not a necessity, and actively disregarded the idea of fighting against toxic teachings.

Overall, Happosai is one of the least popular cast members of the Ranma 1/2 anime, and with good reason. He is a horrible teacher, an unrepentant criminal, and the cause of many of the protagonist’s troubles. The remake has been nothing short of impressive until now, but it will have to find a way to make Happosai's character less controversial.

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9.7/10

Ranma 1/2

TV-MA

In this comedic series, martial artist Ranma Saotome navigates life with a unique predicament: he transforms into a girl when splashed with cold water. His engagement to Akane Tendo adds further complexity, as they encounter numerous challenges within familial and martial arts dynamics.

Cast

Kappei Yamaguchi , Megumi Hayashibara , Noriko Hidaka , Minami Takayama , Kikuko Inoue , Akio Otsuka , Chō , Shou Okumura , Soshiro Hori , Kouichi Souma , Koichi Yamadera

Character(s)

Ranma Saotome , Ranma , Akane Tendo , Nabiki Tendo , Kasumi Tendo , Soun Tendo , Genma Saotome , Passerby , Postman , Jusenkyo Guide

Release Date

October 6, 2024

Main Genre

Animation