Search - Kenji Kawai, Etsuko Nishio :: Ranma 1/2 Original TV Soundtrack Vol. 2

The second volume of a classic Anime score.

James Thomas Jeans | Glenwood Acres, TX USA | 08/27/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As I said in my review for the first volume, Ranma 1/2 is by far my favorite story to come out of Japan. Both the manga and the Anime really left an impression on me growing up, and I've never left them behind. And important part of what made the Anime so special was the music. Currently, Viz has only released two volumes from the television series in America (and the third volume is out of print in Japan, along with the OAV Soundtrack) but really, there's no need to release that third disc, which pales in comparison to the greatness that is Kenji Kawai's work on Ranma 1/2.



When the series was canceled after it's initial 18 episode run, it was slightly retooled and restored to television as 'Ranma 1/2 Nettohen', which ran for another 143 episodes. With the new run of episodes came a new composer. Kenji Kawai is responsible for injecting the Chinese flavor, which has become so associated with Ranma 1/2 (Kenji Kawai also worked on the OAV series, as well as the first film).



Kawai's style varies, but I think he managed to nail the essence of the show, the fun and madness of the core concepts, while also managing to keep it dramatic when it needs to be. Some of the dramatic themes he composed for the series are among the best dramatic music I've ever heard in a television show (examples include, but are not limited to, 'Danger Threatens', 'A Melancholy Moment', 'Wistful What Ifs', and 'Hurry Ranma Saotome').



He also wrote some really memorable battle themes ('Cut to the Chase part 3', 'In The Throes of Combat' and 'It All Comes Down To This') that are only marred by the fact that they're used constantly throughout about 125 episodes.



I really wanted to give this disc a 5 star review, but I'm forced to know it down to 4. The problem is not with the music, but with the disc itself. The tracks on the disc is composed of suites, as was the case with the first soundtrack, but the track list on the back of the case is a bit useless. You'll notice [...] has listed a number of "Bonus Tracks", but this isn't the case. The tracks are split up incorrectly, and so they tumble way beyond the provided listing. Here's a corrected track list:



01: "Meet Ranma Saotome"/Danger Threatens/Here Comes a New Challenger

02: An Evil omen

03: Prepare for the Worst

04: Cat Fu Fighting

05: Panda Hopscotch/Down Home Country Goodness

06: Lather, Rinse & Repeat/Happy, Shiny Morning

07: A Melancholy Moment

08: Skulking in Corners

09: Making the Best of It/Come One, Come All/Carnival

10: Kuno's Counter Attack

11: This Should Be a HAPPY Occasion/Plans 'n' Plots

12: Cut to the Chase Part 2

13: Cut to the Chase Part 3

14: All Purty, Like

15: Wistful "What Ifs"/It Could Have Been

16: The Comeback Kid/Eyecatch No. 3

17: Eyecatch No. 4/Pomp and Stupid Stances/Anything Goes Takeout

18: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is/Same As it Ever Was

19: Curse of the Full-Body Cat Tongue/ Eldritch Arts/The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Smelts/Danger Hits a New Lever (The Phoenix Pill)

20: P-chan's Dilemma/Beat the Clock

21: A Blushing Example of Japanese Womanhood

22: Can't You See Where I'm Coming Form?

23: Mousse Needs Women

24: Hurry, Ranma Saotome!

25: Akane's Daydream/Ever Since I Was a Little Girl

26: In the Throes of Combat/It All Comes Down to This

27: Don't Mind, Lay-Lay Boy



Over all, this second volume of music from Ranma 1/2 is a must have for fans, and I would suggest it to anyone who has an eclectic taste in music. It's fun, dramatic, peppy and heartwarming."