Original Ranma 1/2 Star Reveals a 35-Year-Old Secret About One of Anime’s Weirdest Ladies

In 1989, voice actor Saeko Shimazu played the role of Kodachi Kuno from Kitty Films’ original Ranma 1/2 anime series. Over 35 years after the series’ conclusion, she recently learned the combination of factors that compelled staff to pick her for the job.

These details came to light in a recent interview conducted by Mantan Web. Before playing Kodachi, Shimazu was involved with several other anime based on manga created by Rumiko Takahashi. In the original Urusei Yatsura (1981), she portrayed Ataru Moroboshi’s human fiancée, Miyake Shinobu. Several years later, she also took on the role of Kuroki Sayoko from Maison Ikkoku (1986). Despite having a great deal of experience as a voice actor, Shimazu quickly realized that Kodachi was on a “whole different level” than her previous roles.

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Ranma 1/2 Voice Actor Opens Up About Playing One of Anime’s Strangest Characters

In Ranma 1/2, Kodachi is a talented yet highly eccentric martial arts gymnast who develops an obsessive crush on the series’ titular protagonist. In many scenes, she relentlessly pursues Ranma across rooftops while laughing in a spirited — yet somewhat deranged — fashion. According to Shimazu, Studio Pierrot producer Yuji Nunokawa immediately felt that she was perfect for the role of Kodachi. “The role of Kodachi was the highest role I’ve ever played in terms of tension…when Nunokawa [Yuji] heard my voice at the audition, he thought, ‘an incredible new talent’ has appeared. I heard that story 30 years later though,” Shimazu said.

Kodachi’s unique personality demanded an equally unique performance and voice. However, Shimazu had cultivated relevant experience while playing the role of Megumi Ayase in Pierrot’s classic magical girl series, Creamy Mami (1983). In the series, Megumi is the self-proclaimed “rival” of Mami and competes against her for the love of Shingo Tachibana. “Ayase wasn’t an ordinary girl either, so I [had the impression] of being okay with high-tension roles…after I played Kodachi in Ranma 1/2, the roles I was given suddenly changed.”

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Shimazu ultimately chose to audition for Kodachi thanks to the character’s “queen-like” persona. “I got the impression that she had a very strong personality and was a strong-willed young lady…I thought, ‘That’s the role for me!’ and I was so happy.” While she was very enthusiastic, her nervousness initially hindered her performance. According to Shimazu, Yo Inoue — a co-star who had worked alongside her on other projects — gave her the confidence to move forward. “I said to her, ‘I’ve been playing a lot of these kinds of roles lately…’ and she replied, ‘It’s fine, because you’re playing a role that only you can play.’ These words from Yo have stayed with me,” said Shimazu.

Studio MAPPA (Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen) recently released a remake of the original Ranma 1/2 series. In this anime, Kodachi is played by Ayane Sakura, the voice of Ochaco Uraraka from My Hero Academia. In a previous interview with Mantan Web, Sakura conveyed her appreciation for Shimazu’s original performance, which now serves as a continuous source of inspiration. “Shimazu’s Kodachi occupies the image of Kodachi in my mind, and I’m sure this is true for everyone even more than [myself]. I would like to continue to work hard at recording so that I can properly carry on the voice and spirit of Kodachi that Shimazu has always cherished,” Sakura stated.

MAPPA’s Ranma 1/2 anime remake is available to stream on Netflix. The first Ranma 1/2 anime (1989) is available on Hulu.

Ranma 1/2

Ranma Saotome, the boy who turns into a girl with a splash of water, always has his hands full fending off crazed admirers. One of the most fanatical is Shampoo, a girl from a tribe of Chinese Amazons who tried to kill girl Ranma, was defeated by boy Ranma, and then proposes marriage to him due to her clan’s rule. 

Release Date

April 5, 1989

Cast

Megumi Hayashibara , Noriko Hidaka , Kappei Yamaguchi , Sarah Strange

Seasons

7

Studio

Studio Deen

Creator

Rumiko Takahashi

Number of Episodes

143

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Source: Mantan Web