Koi Anime Report; Manga Also
February 1999
Volume 1, Issue 2

      There is one day a year when love is widely encouraged, something that is seen far too rarely in our current world. True, this day may come wrapped in commercialism and presented in small boxes of chocolate, but there is still somthing wonderful about the feeling of companionship, the everyday facades encouraged to fall. February 14: Valentines Day Thanks, Ko-chan, for the mallet.
      In the Ranma 1/2 universe, freely expressed love is similarly rare, and equally treasurable. Last month, I promised a review of an "Atatakai to kebadatteiru kimochi" fanfiction, or a Warm and Fuzzy Feeling (Thanks, Megan, for the translation!) In preparing for this month's edition, I thought it would be easy to find a good fanfiction that was light, cheerful, and yet keeping to what is fundamental in the Ranma universe.
      This was no easy task, it turned out. The problem is twofold. First, although Takahashi-sama wrote Ranma 1/2 as a romantic comedy, comedy seems to have taken a much more prominent role; thus, by following what is already scripted, a writer will not focus overly on the emotions of the characters. Second, the easiest way to bring these feelings to the surface (as is required by definition in a WAFFy fanfiction) is for the writer to introduce some event, usually tragic, which forces a character to confront what they feel. To shorten an unnecessarily long story, I was left with essentially two types of fanfiction in the WAFFy category: short bits of fluff that bent characterization, and longer ones that took the normal characters and believably created strong emotional ties.
      Unable to resolve this dilemma, I originally selected "Three Little Words" to review. However, at less than 10K, this issue of KARMA would be likely to be longer than the story itself! Additionally, it became increasingly evident that it would be impossible to review it without giving the story away! So I decided to add an additional review, of the second type of WAFFy fanfiction, and that is why "Standing in the Way" is also in this issue.

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Three Little Words

Location: ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/ranma.three-little-words.gz
Size: 4.5 KB compacted, 9.7 KB uncompacted
Classification: WAFFy
Author: Jason L. Langlois, jasonllanglois@unn.unisys.com
Structure: Shortfic, prose format, completed

      This fanfiction, although straining characterization, could conceiveably have occured in the canonical series. There is not much else to say without giving the entire story away.

Background:
      "Three Little Words" is not dependant on any of the events in the anime/manga, and so can occur any time after Ranma and Akane meet, but before the end of the series.

Overall:
      This story was not bad, and I liked it. This is surprising when one considers how little the author wrote, still managing to create a small window into the lives of Nermia's favorite couple.

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Standing in the Way

Location: ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/ranma.standing-in-the-way.gz
Size: 43.8 KB compacted, 109 KB uncompacted
Classification: ????
Author: Ukyou Kuonji, ukyoukwnji@aol.com
Webpage: http://hometown.aol.com/ukyoukwnji/index.htm
Structure: Six chapters, prose format, completed

      Before I review this, I have to admit that I am biased towards Ukyo, both the writer and character. Ukyo, the writer, is one of my favorite authors because she can write so well and maintains a webpage that is completely "In Character". As a character in the Ranmaverse, she is probably the most caring (other than Kasumi), realistic and rational person; and the 'cute' fiancŽe to top it off. Keep this in mind while reading the rest of this review.

Background:
      "Standing in the Way" occurs after Genma's promise to Nodoka is revealed, but before the matter is resolved. In case you were not aware (a forgivable oversight as VIZ has yet to translate the appropriate episodes), in order to convince his wife to let him take Ranma on his 10-year training mission, Genma swore that Ranma would become a 'man among men', or he (and Ranma) would commit seppuku, or ritual suicide. With Ranma's curse, this is a problem; in order to escape the results of Genma's disasterous agreement, whenever Nodoka visits the Tendo Dojo, Ranma and Genma hide as Ranko Tendo, Akane's cousin, and her pet, Mr. Panda.

Story Summary:
      "Standing in the Way" is an alternate resolution to the 'man among men' promise, where Nodoka does not release Ranma and Genma from their promise. Ukyo literally blocks Nodoka's path, threatening to commit suicide along with Ranma if the ritual continues. She demands to know why Ranma must be punished for his father's failures, over a promise that he did not even know he had made.
      Surprisingly, Nodoka is able to respond. She answers that it is not because of Jusenkyo, nor Genma. Instead, it is because Ranma has acted as a coward, hiding from his mother, and stringing every fiancŽe along, not making a decision between them. This leads to an intense debate, during which Genma sneaks away, unnoticed.
      During the search for Genma, most of the regular cast is met, revealing how they react to Ranma's impending death. Still, the story centers around Ukyo and Nodoka. Ultimately, Ranma is vindicated as Nodoka realizes that she was the one who caused such fear, instead of a kind mother, she had been only a terrible katana symbolizing death; and that Ranma had refused to make a choice simply because it would have equally devastating results as not making a decision.
      In the end, Ranma's fiancŽes are still left unanwered. Genma's influence over Ranma will surely fade, and Ranma is free to finally know the mother he left ten years earlier.

Overall:
      Although this fanfiction is not quite of the Warm and Fuzzy variety, it is close. "Standing in the Way" is a testament to Ukyo's love for Ranma, and to a lesser extent, each of the other fiancŽes as well. Because of this, the reasons inspiring the fanfiction, and the excellent balance between vividness and readability, "Standing in the Way" is one of my all-time favorites of Ranma fanfiction. You should definitely read this.

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Extra to KARMA:
Balticon 33

      April 2-4, 1999
      $40 until Mar. 13, 1999
      $45 at the door

      Balticon is a small, three-day science-fiction convention in Baltimore. Some features include a dealers room, where people buy and sell books, weapons, costumes, and other interesting items. A computer room, where new Science Fiction related software will be on display. A gaming room with role-palying and free-form, as well as Live Action Role-Playing. There is a nice art show, where art is displayed and auctioned. The Masquerade, where costuming from South Park to Star Trek was seen last year.
      There are two major features, though, one that is official and one that I have singles out as of interest to the KoiML. Of universal interest are the panels, supposedly the major reason for the convention. Panels are places where convention-goers discuss different topics (according to the panel), all related to science-fiction in some way. The second item of interest is the anime room, where anime is shown almost constantly. The anime is less of the everybody's-seen-it type of Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon, or DragonBall Z, and more of this-is-interesting-maybe-you-will-want-to-buy-it-later. Last year's program included

Friday
      Gunsmith Cats
      Hikeden
      AD project Zeorymer
      Gatchaman
      Giant Robo
      Macross Plus
      They Were 11
      Urkisto Doji*
      Ogenki Clinic*

*These were shown extremely late, and the audience's age was checked beforehand, so do not get your hopes up!

Saturday
      Area 88
      Plastic Little
      Gai arth
      Wind of Amnesia
      AD project Zeorymer
      Wigs of Honeomis
      Robot Carnival
      Ghost in the Shell

Sunday
      Ninku
      Orgus 2
      Altimate Teacher
      Root Search
      MD Geist
      Capricorn

Note that there are typos in this list, as it was copied directly from the program, and I do not know the correct spellings ^_^

BALTICON 33
PO BOX 686
Baltimore, MD 21203-0686
(410) JOE-BSFS (563-2737)
e-mail: bsfs@balticon.org
WWW: http://www.balticon.org

      For more information, I suggest you contact either the above address or ask Megan, the resident expert on conventions.

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      That is all for this issue of KARMA! Next month, the darker side of fanfiction, and a few thoughts on driving.

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