Newsgroups: alt.manga
Date:     Tue, 7 Apr 1992 12:24:51 -0500 
From: Z_BEDDOERJ@CCSVAX.SFASU.EDU (Crusher Joe)
Subject: re: Is Ranma 1/2 really ending?  (and Ranma 1/2 information)
To: anime-l@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu, alt-manga@darwin.sura.net
X-Vmsmail-To: @ANIME., SMTP%"alt-manga@darwin.sura.net"

Hello all,

Well, hearing all this stuff on the net is really disturbing, however, 
I find it kind of hard to believe.  Why, you ask?  Well, I've recently had a 
chance to get some "inside information" on Ranma, and some of the goings-on
with the show, and Kitty Animation (the studio that produces Ranma 1/2)

First off, I got this information from a person who has been living in Japan 
for a couple of years, and working in animation studios.  He is from Denver,
and I got this information from Dan Durkin, a good friend from the Denver
area, who had a long talk with this guy.  This answers why Ranma 1/2 
Nettouhen really bit it, story and animation wise, for so long.  You see,
apparently the head of Kitty, who had been with the company for a long while,
up and retired.  His predessor, who was younger, and a bit more ambitious,
came on to the scene and decided to kick the studio into high gear, taking on
several jobs.  Unfortunately, all of this extra work got the studio into
trouble....it was more than they could do in house.  So, several projects were 
"farmed out" to Korea, and other lesser studios.  Ergo, the quality suffered.
Greatly.  It is just recently that Kitty has "caught up" with all of the 
extra work, and begun to do Ranma "in house" again.  You can see the
difference, I think somewhere around episode #110 or so.  (some stuff, like
#93, was done in house, you can tell....)  It also seems that Ranma 1/2
Nettouhen has even picked up in the ratings lately.  I'm not completely
caught up, I have only seen up to #110, but the quality has improved
considerably over the last few episodes.

Apparently this guy (I don't remember his name, and I'm not sure that he wants
to be mentioned by name anyways, this may be considered "sensitive"
information.  I don't think so, I talked to Dan about releasing this to the 
net, he didn't object, but you can never be too sure.) was well-connected
with Kitty.  He got several "parting gifts" from them when he left, one of
which I now have. :)  (well, a copy of, anyways. :) )  I have no reason to
think he would be lieing, or mis-informed.  I'm told that the information
is *very* reliable.

Now, what does this have to do with Ranma ending?  Well, you see, he told us
(well, actually told Dan, who told me) several things about Ranma, he even
let Dan see copies of the 3rd generation character designs for Ranma 1/2.
(no mean trick, I assure you.)  However, he made *no mention at all* about
Ranma ending.  Not even a hint.  Not one tiny smidgen.  I think that something
like that would have been mentioned, were it to be true, and in the works.

I'm not saying it can't be that Ranma is ending, but I just find it hard 
to believe, in light of the information that I have.  I mean, I personally
thought that Ranma was going to be ending soon (as far as the manga goes)
but lately I haven't thought that at all.  A little development would be
nice, but I don't think that just because Ranma and Akane's relationship 
gets a little attention is cause to start thinking its all about to be over.
Of course, I could be sadly, sadly mistaken.  You never know with
Takahashi-sensei. :)  Even if the manga were to end next week, I think the
show would go one for quite some time.  I certainly hope its not all about
to end.  Ranma is by far my favorite show of all time, American or otherwise.

Oh well.  I've said enough. :)

Ja ne,
"Crusher" Joe.

  *-------------------------> note NEW address <--------------------------*
  |   "Crusher" Joe Beddoe * President, Shampoo International Fan Club    |
  |     Graphics Coordinator, SFA-TV2 * Nightrock! DJ, KSAU 90.1 FM       |
  *-----------------------------*-----------------------------------------*
  | crusher@calvin.sfasu.edu *  |           "Sh...Shampoo..."             |
  | z_beddoerj@ccsvax.sfasu.edu |    --Ranma, "Ranma 1/2 Nettouhen" #3    |
  *-----------------------------*"Shampoo, you're cute when you're angry."|
  |   Hey look!  Blank space!   |    --Ranma, "Ranma 1/2 Nettouhen" #84   |
  *--------------------------> * = new address <--------------------------*