Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Anime » REVIEW: ‘Ranma 1/2’ Episode 5 — “Who Says You’re Cute”

REVIEW: ‘Ranma 1/2’ Episode 5 — “Who Says You’re Cute”

Allyson JohnsonBy Allyson Johnson11/04/20244 Mins ReadUpdated:11/11/2024
Ranma 1/2 Episode 5
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Ranma 1/2 Episode 5 injects itself with its now-expected zany atmosphere and hyper-energized style. Following Episode 4, we open with Akane (Noriko Hidaka) silently processing the shock of her hair being lobbed off due to Ranma (Megumi Hayashibara and Kappei Yamaguchi) and Ryoga’s battle. Her wide-eyed shock, Ranma’s tentative steps toward her, and both Ranma and Ryoga telling her to hit them as revenge is hilarious. It’s all so heightened and keyed up — befitting the tone of the series as a whole. The series continued ability to marry non-stop comedy with beautiful artistry without one ever distracting from the other is why it’s such a must-watch this season.

There are two main plot points in Ranma 1/2 Episode 5. The first, of course, is Akane’s now cropped hair. The series treats this less like a triviality and more with the realistic reaction of a teenage girl who doesn’t want to care but does. And, in the end, it’s less that Akane is mourning her long locks and more that she’s saying goodbye to a version of her who tried to look stereotypically girly, like her sister, Kasumi, to seek the affection of Dr. Tofu. She cries in front of him over it, letting her guard down in pure release as she sobs about the hair, what it meant for her, and an unrequited crush.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

It’s an excellent way to give the narrative some gravitas while keeping it bound to the light-on-its-feet atmosphere of the series. By embracing the new cut, Akane also embraces her most authentic self, who doesn’t seek the approval of any man based on her looks. It’s also, however, what makes Ranma turn his focus on her, finding her cute and immediately panicking about it.

This sequence also allows Ranma to be open and deliberate with her rather than constantly posturing. He’s genuine in his apology, something even Akane can recognize. The sequence of the two walking home again, the vibrant pinks and blues of the sunset, is stunning in its rendering. The show’s beauty heightens when the series slows down to let the characters breathe. We see this in the score, emphasizing the traditional Chinese instrument, the erhu, and in that meditative walk home. There’s nothing overtly flashy about the moment, content in stillness, and yet it’s breathtaking due to the unusual color pallets and the vibrancy of the sun peeking through the clouds.

Ranma 1/2 Episode 5

The abrupt tone shift with overtly saturated frames helps pivot us into the second major storyline of Ranma 1/2 Episode 5. The back half deals with Ryoga and his past ties to Ranma. In an extended fight sequence where Ryoga takes pains to stay covered under an umbrella as rain pelts down on them, we learn he followed Ranma to Jueynko. Unsurprisingly, Ryoga, too, fell into one of the pools of drowned spirits. And while Ranma’s curse involves him transforming into a girl, Ryoga’s is to transform into a pig.

How this is found out maintains a lot of physical comedy and sight gags, as Ranma realizes while he brings the pig version of Ryoga to the bath while still in his female form. It’s one of the funnier character beats when Ranma tries to utilize this to his benefit when he realizes Ryoga believes it’s Ranma’s fault he’s cursed since Ranma unknowingly knocked Ryoga into the pool. As the series progresses, Ranma seems increasingly unbothered by his female state, happy to utilize it in his favor if it means interrupting a potential brawl.

However, the episode ends with Akane none the wiser, leading to another violent exchange in which she believes Ranma had snuck into her room when he was trying to take pig Ryoga away from her. It’s all very silly and lighthearted while continuing to build out the wider ensemble surrounding the core characters.

Ranma 1/2 Episode 5 doesn’t reach the extreme highs of its best moments narratively but excels, again, with startlingly beautiful visuals. There’s an ever-present warmth in the animation that helps give this series an engaging glow. The growth these characters experience might be slowly earned, but it never settles into tedium due to witty writing and tremendous artistry.

Ranma 1/2 Episode 5 is out now on Netflix.

Ranma 1/2 Episode 5
  • 7.5/10
    Rating - 7.5/10
7.5/10

TL;DR

Ranma 1/2 Episode 5 doesn’t reach the extreme highs of its best moments narratively but excels, again, with startlingly beautiful visuals.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleYour Monster Director Says Everyone Needs To See More Angry Women
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Planet Coaster 2’ Is Fun But With A Harsh Learning Curve (PC)
Allyson Johnson

Allyson Johnson is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of InBetweenDrafts. Former Editor-in-Chief at TheYoungFolks, she is a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Boston Online Film Critics Association. Her writing has also appeared at CambridgeDay, ThePlaylist, Pajiba, VagueVisages, RogerEbert, TheBostonGlobe, Inverse, Bustle, her Substack, and every scrap of paper within her reach.

Related Posts

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11
8.5

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 11 – “Hey, It’s a Kaiju”

09/11/2025
Sakamoto Days Episode 20
6.5

REVIEW: ‘Sakamoto Days’ Episode 20 — “Mutual Fans”

09/08/2025
Tougen Anki Episode 9 still from Netflix
4.0

REVIEW: ‘Tougen Anki’ Episode 9 — “Momotaro Spirit”

09/06/2025
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 10 promotional image from Crunchyroll
10.0

REVIEW: ‘My Dress-Up Darling’ Season 2 Episode 10 — “So We’re Gonna Do It All Right Now?”

09/06/2025
Arknights Rise From Ember Rosmontis

REVIEW: ‘Arknights: Rise From Ember’ Is Phenomenal But Drags On Too Long

09/06/2025
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Episode 1
7.5

REVIEW: ‘The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity’ Episode 1 – “Rintaro and Kaoruko”

09/05/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Gojo Jujutsu Kaisen - But Why Tho (2) Features

Everything To Know About Satoru Gojo

By Kate Sánchez09/07/2023Updated:02/16/2025

Satoru Gojo is the heart of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 — now, heading into Cour 2, here is everything you need to know about the character.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here