Ep. 1: Ranma Saotome visits the Tendo Dojo in 1980s Tokyo, revealing a curse from Jusenkyo.

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In 1980s Tokyo, Soun Tendo announces that one of his three daughters—Kasumi, Nabiki, or Akane—will marry Ranma Saotome, the son of his friend Genma. Ranma and Genma have spent years training in martial arts across China. Upon arrival, Akane spars with Ranma, who appears as a girl, before transforming into a man after a hot bath, which frightens her. Genma, currently a panda, explains that two weeks prior, they fell into the cursed springs of Jusenkyo. This dangerous site contains over a hundred springs, each holding the tragic legend of a drowned creature or human. Falling into these waters causes a person to take the physical form of what drowned there. Genma and Ranma fell into the Spring of Drowned Panda and Spring of Drowned Girl, respectively. The curse acts as a switch: cold water triggers the transformation, while hot water reverses it. Soun, Kasumi, and Nabiki nominate Akane as the bride, believing her martial arts skills and hatred of men make her suitable for the half-girl Ranma. Both Ranma and Akane protest the engagement despite their similar personalities.