[Eibu]

I have Ranma NiBunNoIchi in English only because it's cheaper (which doesn't make a whole lot of sense) but anyhoo...

Old friends Genma Saotome and Soun Tendo agreed that their children should get married someday in order to carry on the "Anything Goes School of Martial Arts" and take over Soun's dojo. Right before Genma and his 16 year old son, Ranma, were to meet Soun and his three daughters back in Japan Genma took Ranma to a training sight in China. It turns out this training sight, Jusenkyo is a cursed springs.

now here is the gimmick
Every pool has a curse in it and if you fall in from then on when you came into contact with cold water the curse would transform you into whatever drowned in that pool. Hot water changes you back to normal.

It just so happens Ranma, a stubborn sort of guy (like all of Takahashi-sensei's characters), fell into the spring of drowned young girl and his dad fell into spring of drowned giant panda.

The two go to Japan and meet the Tendo's where somehow it's decided Ranma and Soun's youngest daughter, Akane , were betroved. (Akane is the same age as Ranma and is the only daughter who practices martial arts).

From then on much comedy, semi-romance and strange martial arts ensue and along the way Ranma gets 1000's of fiances.

My favorite characters are Shampoo, a Chinese Amazon who wants to kill Ranma's female side and marry his male side, she also happens to turn into a cat (which Ranma happens to have a fear of). The other is Mousse, also from China, master of hidden weapons, and has a thing for Shampoo. Too bad he never wears his glasses and always confuses Shampoo-chan for a pig or statue which pisses her off. He also turns into a duck (Mu-chan).

There is so much to the story I could go on all day but there is the gist. It really has to be read/seen to believe.

BTW those who are following the anime release in America be warned, the animated version does not come to a conclusion like the manga did. So don't be dissapointed when all they do is wave goodbye at the screen leaving you sitting there and going "WTF, aren't you two getting married?!"