Character Profiles:
Ranma 1/2 is about a boy Ranma Saotome. He goes on a dangerous training mission with his father in China. The training ground is made up of hundreds of cursed springs, the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo. Ranma's father, Genma, falls into the "Spring of Drowned Panda" and Ranma falls into "Spring of Drowned Girl". Whenever Ranma is splashed with cold water, he turns into a red-headed girl. His father turns into this huge panda! They change back when they're splashed with hot water.
The series starts when the Saotomes - in their alternate forms - visit Mr. Saotome's friend, Soun Tendo. Mr. Saotome and Mr. Tendo plan to join their two fighting schools ("Anything Goes Tendo School of Martial Arts" and "Anything Goes Saotome School of Martial Arts") by marrying Ranma and one of the Tendo daughters - Kasumi (19), Nabiki(17) or Akane (16).
Ranma goes through various problems, mostly centering around his curse and/or his past. Various characters pop up throughout the series and they try to kill, pummel or marry him. Also, other characters eventually receive similar curses as the Saotomes, turning into cats and pigs and ducks and whatever else ^_^.
Ranma 1/2 is not only an OAV series, but also has some movies out. This is a HILARIOUS anime! For a great site with English translations of Books 18-27, go to http://i.am/wei/