The iconic manga series “Ranma 1/2”created by the renowned mangaka Rumiko Takahashiwill have a new anime adaptation, generating great anticipation and discussion on social media. The work, which narrates the hilarious and often chaotic adventures of Ranma Saotome, a young martial artist who transforms into a girl when he is bathed in cold water, and his fiancée Akane Tendo, was a huge success in its original 1989 adaptation.

This new remake project follows in the footsteps of another popular Takahashi series, “Urusei Yatsura”, which was recently adapted again. However, this revival brought with it some debates, mainly regarding how certain characters and themes will be adapted to current standards. One of the points of controversy is the character Happosai, an elderly martial arts master known for his inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment and stealing women's underwear.

Happosai, who is the teacher of Ranma and Akane's parents, is a character with a strong comic charge and deviant behavior, which has raised concerns among fans about how he will be portrayed in the remake. The portrayal of characters with Behaviors like Happosai's could be problematic today, so there is speculation about possible changes in his characterization or even his elimination. Some fans have already spoken out, remembering that even in his original time, the character was the target of criticism.

In recent statements, Rumiko Takahashi explained that she created Happosai as an annoying and loud character to interact awkwardly with Ranma's character.. Despite his troublesome nature, Happosai plays an important role in the story, not only as an occasional antagonist, but also as a mentor in Ranma's growth as a martial artist. The skill “Heavenly Dragon Explosion”One of Ranma's most powerful techniques was learned in his confrontation with Happosai.

The discussion also extended to the voice cast, as Ichiro Nagai, who played Happosai in the original series, died in 2014. Among the names that have emerged to replace him are Takehito Koyasu, known for his work in anime as Dio Brando in “JoJo's Bizarre Adventure”, and Kappei Yamaguchi, who played Ranma in the original series.

The remake of “Ranma ½” Not only does it promise a new opportunity to enjoy this classic, it also represents an interesting challenge for creators: How to adapt a beloved work with controversial elements to a contemporary context. The fan community is eagerly awaiting more details about the project, which will undoubtedly be a hot topic in the anime world in the coming months.

• «Happosai is not only not funny, he is also disgusting. When someone scolds him for stealing underwear, he becomes furious and plays the victim, without realizing that he is doing anything wrong.».
• «Furthermore, this guy is one of the strongest in the series, so even when others seriously try to stop him, they end up being defeated by him. Pantyhose Taro's child abuse storyline was also very cruel. Pure evil triumphs over good, causing viewers to build up hatred very quickly. It's a stress generator.».
• «He's like Master Roshi from Dragon Ball, right? A copy».
• «Nothing like Master Roshi. Roshi is a pervert, but deep down he is a righteous person and a good teacher. Happosai, on the other hand, is a sex offender to the core. It is a mystery how he could live in the Tendo house.».
• «He's the only character I didn't like in Ranma 1/2».
• «Happosai is a character that doesn't really matter if he's not there. They could remove him completely and it would be almost no problem. They could adapt Pantyhose Taro's backstory in Ranma 1/2 in some other way.».
• «Happosai does whatever he wants and is almost never punished in the end, which is why he is so hated. If there was always an outcome where he got into trouble, that would have saved him. Charisma is important».

Source: Hachima Kikou