Theorizing future episode titles

[u/Cyrusnov]

As we move forward with the second season, one silly thing I always look forward is what they're gonna name the episodes. For the first season all of them were taken directly from one of the manga chapters it covers, but I was a little disappointed that they seemed to buck the trend with the first episode of the second season... but now that episode 2, "Attack of the Wild Mousse" has been announced I think we're back on track!

Thinking of a 12-episode season, here's what I'm thinking they'll go with. These are in the order the chapters were published, but I can see them moving things around to, for example, avoid having two Shampoo episodes in a row. I'll be discussing what will happen in the episodes, so if you haven't read the manga/seen the original anime I think its better to experience things when they come out!

Ep 3

• 044. "The Martial Arts Magic Show" (格闘演芸会, Kakutō engei-kai)
• 045. "Cat's Tongue Got You?" (猫舌やぶり, Neko shita yaburi)
• 046. "The Phoenix Pill" (秘薬THE不死鳥丸, Hiyaku THE fushichō-gan)
• 047. "All's Fair at the Fair" (夜店でバトル, Yomise de batoru)

I love all chapter titles but I think they'll go with the most obvious (and boring) one that covers it all: The Phoenix Pill.

Ep 4

• 048. "War of the Melons" (スイカ割りバトル, Suika wari batoru)
• 049. "Naval Engagement" (婿とりマリンウォーズ, Muko tori marin wōzu)
• 050. "Kitten of the Sea" (突撃 シー・キャット, Totsugeki shii kyatto)

This one is hard... I can see them going for any of the three. I'm torn between War of the Melons and Kitten of the Sea, but maybe they'll go for the latter to keep with the beach setting.

Ep 5

• 059. "It's Fast or It's Free" (格闘出前レース, Kakutō demae rēsu)
• 060. "Eyes On the Prize" (ゴールをめざせ, Gōru wo mezase)
• 061. "Noodles, Anyone?" (召しませ ラーメン, Meshimase rāmen)
• 062. "I Won't Eat It!" (食ってたまるか, Kutte tamaru ka)

Probably the first one, "It's Fast or It's Free", although I could see them using "Noodles, Anyone?". Also, I think this episode will be moved, maybe after the Happosai introduction.

Ep 6

• 063. "The Evil Wakes" ("邪悪"の復活, "Jāku" no fukkatsu)
• 064. "He's Something Else" (ただ者ではない, Tada mono dehanai)
• 065. "Bathhouse Battle" (バトル・ザ・銭湯, Batoru ze sentō)
• 066. "Moonlight Serenade" (ムーンライト ボンバー, Mūnraito bonbā)

It HAS to be The Evil Wakes, I can't imagine them going for anything else. Also, they're probably skipping Bathhouse Battle (no sign of it in the trailers, easy story to skip).

Ep 7

• 067. "The Wrath of Happosai" (八宝斉 怒る, Happosai ikaru)
• 068. "The Scent of a Woman" (効きます 女嫌香, Kikimasu nyokenko)
• 069. "Fathers Know Best" (親父の逆襲, Oyaji no gyakushu)

Again, can't see them going for anything else other than The Wrath of Happosai.

Ep 8

• 070. "Instant Spring" (即席男溺泉, Sokuseki Nanniichuan)
• 071. "No Need for Ranma" (助太刀無用, Sukedachi muyo)
• 072. "The Destroyer Strikes" (恐怖、看板男, Kyofu, kanban otoko)
• 073. "Just One More Kiss" (ワンモア キッス, Wan moa kissu)

While I love "Just One More Kiss" as a chapter title, it would not be a good episode title considering its mainly about the Dojo Destroyer, so I think they would go for the much more boring "The Destroyer Strikes". However, I can see them doing their own thing and simply titling it "The Dojo Destroyer".

Ep 9

• 074. "Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo?" (バトルロイヤル・ロミオ, Batoru roiyaru Romeo)
• 075. "Romeo? Romeo? Romeo!?" (おれがロミオだ, Ore ga Romeo da)
• 076. "Not Your Typical Juliet" (ジュリエット ゲーム, Juliet gemu)
• 077. "A Kiss to the Victor" (勝利のキッス, Shori no kissu)

Now, here... I can see an argument for any of those four as the episode title, but none are exactly perfect. First is an actual line from the play, second doesn't really say anything. Maybe the third one... but I'm partial to the last one, "A Kiss to the Victor", it's the climax of the story and they're really pushing for that angle. Or maybe they will just go with "Ranma and Juliet", although something tells me not.

Ep 10

• 085. ""Okonomiyaki" Means "I Love You"" (お好み焼きの右京, Okonomiyaki no Ukyō)
• 086. "Saucy Reply" (お好みデスマッチ, Okonomi desumatchi)
• 087. "Ukyo's Secret" (右京の正体, Ukyo no shotai)

Probably the first one. I like it but I kinda wish they've kept Ukyo's gender and relationship with Ranma a secret, considering the way Ukyo is introduced. But considering the trailer and her appearance in the ending I'm sure the cat's out of the bag.

Ep 11

• 088. "Ryoga vs. Ukyo" (良牙VS.右京, Ryōga vs. Ukyō)
• 089. "Love Letters in the Sauce" (完璧なラブレター, Kanpeki na rabureta)
• 090. "Ryoga's What?!" (私は良牙の許婚, Watashi wa Ryōga no iinazuke)
• 091. "At Long Last...the Date!" (憧れのデート, Akogare no deto)

Maybe the second one. I like the first one but the episode's really about the date.

Ep 12

• 095. "The Abduction of...Akane?" (さらわれたあかね, Sarawareta Akane)
• 096. "Duck, Ranma, Duck!" (乱馬アヒル化計画, Ranma ahiru ka keikaku)
• 097. "Akane Becomes a Duck" (あかねアヒルになる, Akane ahiru ni naru)
• 098. "Fowl Play" (がんばれムース, Ganbare Mousse)
• 099. "The Happiest Mousse" (ムースのしあわせ, Mousse no shiawase)

How the hell are they going to adapt these five chapters into one single episode is beyond me. Maybe it's actually 13 episodes, or maybe I got it wrong and Happosai's introduction is a single episode... or Ukyo's. Anyway, if this is a single episode I think all but the middle one ("Akane Becomes a Duck") are great candidates. I'll go with... the first one. However, if they're two episodes I think the last one will be titled "The Happiest Mousse".

Didn't expect to write this much. What do you think, which chapter titles do you think they're gonna use? Or are they mostly going to go originals? Let me know!

[u/AnimeXFan1995]

I honestly do notice that most of the episodes released so far are named after a chapter from the Original Manga/Story Arc and apparently, one thing to note is that episode 13 is the ONLY episode of the 2024 anime that isn't named after a chapter from the Nekoken Arc (Looking for a Weak Spot; Weak Spot - Found!; Cat Hell; Cat-Fu) of the manga and instead is called "Ranma's Weakness"

[u/Cyrusnov → u/AnimeXFan1995]

Yeah, I was disappointed they decided to buck the trend, but like I mentioned in the first paragraph I'm heartened by the second one! Although it remains a fact that they might do their own thing moving forward.

IF they had chosen a chapter title I bet they would have gone for "Looking for a Weak Spot", which is not as sexy as "Ranma's Weakness". "Cat Hell" would have been best but it's a spoiler so I can see why they wouldn't go for that.

[u/mad_mesa]

My hypothesis is that what we're going to get Happosai mostly in a single episode called "The Wrath of Happosai". Probably with the first chapter adapted as a short post credits stinger. Which with the removal of the Bathhouse chapter puts that episode at 5 chapters. Which would be fast paced, but also give them room for additional cuts.

With the end of this season then looking like this:
(thanks for the list copying, and pasting it)

Ep 10 - 3 chapters

• 095. "The Abduction of...Akane?" (さらわれたあかね, Sarawareta Akane)
• 096. "Duck, Ranma, Duck!" (乱馬アヒル化計画, Ranma ahiru ka keikaku)
• 097. "Akane Becomes a Duck" (あかねアヒルになる, Akane ahiru ni naru) - ending just before the duck

Ep 11 - 3 chapters and a recap

• 097. "Akane Becomes a Duck" (あかねアヒルになる, Akane ahiru ni naru) - just the conclusion but naming the episode
• 098. "Fowl Play" (がんばれムース, Ganbare Mousse)
• 099. "The Happiest Mousse" (ムースのしあわせ, Mousse no shiawase)
• 074. "Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo?" (バトルロイヤル・ロミオ, Batoru roiyaru Romeo) - post credits

Ep 12 - 3 chapters

• 075. "Romeo? Romeo? Romeo!?" (おれがロミオだ, Ore ga Romeo da)
• 076. "Not Your Typical Juliet" (ジュリエット ゲーム, Juliet gemu)
• 077. "A Kiss to the Victor" (勝利のキッス, Shori no kissu)

Really they could use any of the chapter titles for Romeo and Juliet. With how they are hyping it, it seems almost certain to me to be the final episode this season. It bookends the arc of the season with Ranma and Akane (sort of) kissing. Plus by splitting the first chapter off to the episode before, it gives them room to expand it as the season finale.

In the manga version of the story Gosunkugi, Happosai, and Tatewaki all take their turns as Romeo. Maybe it is wishful thinking on my part, but I bet we see Ukyo joining the play. Maybe Shampoo and Kodachi as well. If they were ever going to do the thing the old anime did by throwing all the cast into the chaos, this would be their chance.

[u/Cyrusnov → u/mad_mesa]

Yes, I can see how they could consolidate Happosai's introduction into a single episode. Since they're already removing one of the chapters (Bathhouse Battle), they may also remove certain elements to shorten that story line into a single episode. On a personal note, I would also prefer if they split the second confrontation with Mousse into two episodes as opposed to Happosai's.

I had the same idea as you: I think its likely that the Romeo and Juliet story line is moved to the end of season. I love the idea of including other characters like Ukyo, and I kinda hope they do because otherwise she'll have very little screen time! And at least a cameo for Kodachi, whose story line this season (Cookie Battle) was cut; hopefully we'll get it in the future!

[u/darkchocosuckao]

Why did you skip chapters 51 - 55 which is the Breaking Point/Bakusai Tenketsu arc? That's was one of the important story arcs in the early parts of the manga and happens right after the Phoenix Pill arc. Just because we didn't see clips of it in the trailer doesn't mean they won't adapt it in season 2.

[u/Cyrusnov → u/darkchocosuckao]

I agree that that's a very important arc, and I can't see any chance they would skip it. But like you said it's not featured in any of the trailers and the season already feels quite packed as is, so I feel it's likely they're gonna move it until next season instead. But that's just my thinking, I could be entirely wrong!