The Ranma 1/2 remake will have to fix the series’ most problematic character

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

However, among the adorable cast lurks one of the most controversial 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 improve make him the most despised individual in the series. THE Ranma 1/2 The remake received praise for its fresh take on this iconic story, but How do you deal with Happosai? it will be the true testing ground for the new series.

Happosai is the worst character in Ranma 1/2

Not even villains are that despicable

Master Happosai is a short and almost harmless elderly man known for being the creator of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, as well as being a teacher of Genma and Soun. Despite his frail appearance, he is among the most powerful characters in Ranma 1/2even the protagonist having trouble defeating him in a fair fight. Instead of using his abilities for good, Happosai spent his entire life betraying, stealing, and mocking others, confident in the fact that few could harm him.

The worst of all is that he is a womanizer who doesn’t care about age and is willing to harass anyone if he can satisfy his lowest desires. He is often chased into the girls’ locker rooms at Furinkan High for trying to spy on the teenage girls or stealing their underwear. He has never shown remorse for his actions, going so far as to proudly display the stolen clothes while boasting about his skills. Although he is 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 transmitted by any other recurring master

Although not one of the main characters, Happosai is a recurring member of the Ranma 1/2cast, being a regular teacher for the protagonist. Due to his incredible strength and abundance of special techniques, he was often used as a temporary teacher for heroes. This led to him becoming a constant inhabitant of Casa Tendo, a decision that made his horrible hobby much easier. While her teachings have served Ranma well on several occasions, such as forcing him to admit his hidden care and affection for Akane, they do not justify her presence in a series praised for its excellent representation of gender issues.

The role of Happosai could have been given to any of the several other martial artists Ranma crossed paths with. Cologne, Shampoo’s grandmotheris 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 for her, the series could have introduced another mentor for Ranma, someone who wouldn’t indulge in the same lewd acts as Happosai. Other than being the man who traumatized Genma and Soun, Happosai plays no unique role in the series.

Happosai’s actions should not be justified

The series never really punishes him for his crimes

Throughout most of the series, Happosai’s crimes are treated as nothing more than a jokeThe worst punishment he received was from the women he harassed, beating him. There are never serious consequences for his actions, allowing him to continue his obscenities unabated. Ranma tried several times to finish off the elderly man, especially when Akane was being targeted by him. Even so, Happosai would emerge victorious on most occasions, as if to prove that his behavior was not a real threat.

What’s more, the master would constantly be 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 look at him or even touch him just to have enough time to attack him properly. This is an unusual trope for a series that is famous for being so innovative and a result of the era in which it was originally written, when Happosai’s brand of “comic relief” was quite common. The fact that the series finds new ways to justify its harassment is one of its most controversial aspects, given that the majority of fans do not agree with its 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.

As a young man, Genma Saotome underwent harrowing training as a student of Happosai. His mentor would force him to be an accomplice to his crimes and torture him for fun. Genma was also essentially kidnapped by his trainer, who never stayed in a city for long as he would be chased by its citizens. At the end of the trip, Genma and his trusted friend Soun decided to abandon their master, trapping him inside a cave. Even though he was freed from his master’s torment, the trauma left in his mind never left him.

He imposed the same horrible, nomadic training on his sondragging him around the world as a child to transform 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 such as the Cat Fist . To escape his teacher, Ranma’s father became something worse. This is one of the many difficulties that the protagonist learns to escape from throughout the story.

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

Overall, Happosai is one of the least popular cast members in 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 problems. The remake has been impressive so far, but it will have to find a way to make Happosai’s character less controversial.