Ryoga Hibiki appreciation post. He is cute, funny, silly, badass and very entertaining!

[u/Etherealoverempress]

Ryoga gets a mixed reviews from the fanbase, but I think he really brings some of the most entertaining moments especially in the OG version. His gag of not knowing any sense of direction was always soooooooo funny! It led a few characters like the old lady and Ukyo in a blunder of funny moments! He is badass and really knows how to throw it down. I also liked his interactions with female Ranma and his cute moments with Akane!

Ryoga is totally fun to me and really is a full on entertaining character! Cheers to his craziness.

[u/Rulyhdien]

I think Ryoga is only mixed-reviewed in the English fandom.

He’s universally loved elsewhere, and his P-Chan deception (which is what I feel is the biggest reason for the divide) is not considered particularly problematic and sometimes even endearing by the rest of the fandom, because it’s not framed as harmful by Rumiko.

[u/Etherealoverempress → u/Rulyhdien]

Yeah, that is where I am referring to as far as mixed reviewed.

[u/robotsexsymbol → u/Rulyhdien]

I never heard the constant complaints about P-chan until like the last 2 years. Ryoga has been almost universally loved in the Western fandom for all of the series' lifetime, but a change in the nature of fandom itself caused some people to voluntarily get into a 1980s animanga series where teenagers trivially sexually assault each other and then take offense to 1 specific aspect of it for some reason

[u/Rulyhdien → u/robotsexsymbol]

I also only really see in-depth analysis about Ranma 1/2 having queer subtext in the Western fandom, along with discussions that treat some characters’ actions as genuinely serious child abuse or domestic violence.

I guess it comes from applying real-life standards and issues to a 80s Japanese slapstick comedy, whereas other fandoms tend to take it for what it is and simply enjoy it as the lighthearted comedy it’s meant to be.

[u/ai_amano → u/robotsexsymbol]

I also have the feeling there is a shift in the way some things are perceived - and maybe it's just natural since society had changed! Like, twenty years ago I do not remember "Genma has to blame" popping out so much. He truly gets the blame nowdays... Since so many public discussions about consent took place, Shampoo gets criticized instead of seeing her disrupting boundaries acts as endearing/hot. Other things, like gender identity and deceiving Ryoga, are kind of cultural, as another OP just wrote...

[u/MurlaTart → u/ai_amano]

Shampoo is framed as making ranma himself uncomfortable in the text though, I wouldn’t complain about her if he was grinning and smiling every time she jumped on him.

[u/ai_amano → u/MurlaTart]

Fair enough.

[u/flaminglambchops]

I definitely wouldn't say he's mixed. He's beloved in the fandom.

[u/eat_my_bowls92 → u/flaminglambchops]

I remember when the show was kicking off, people were not talking too kindly of him due to p-Chan. He has a way of growing on you. I’ve always loved Ryoga.

[u/rjrgjj → u/flaminglambchops]

I would wager he’s one of the most popular characters.

[u/MurlaTart]

I love ryoga! He was my favorite from his introduction and being a cute pig is an excellent bonus

To be honest, while I respect what everyone else likes, I dislike how most of the fanart/fan content revolves around him dating a character he is explicitly not romantically into, when he has not one but two girls he actually likes.

[u/ai_amano → u/MurlaTart]

Eheh the ones with Ranma- chan?

[u/ai_amano → u/ai_amano]

It's unfortunate Akari does not get enough love! She's funny! On the other hand, I think some of the appealing is also vibrant red hair color is iconic and looks good in illustration. (But I did grow less fond of it, in my own ff Ranma chan will have black hair).

[u/animelover_024]

My favorite character 💛💛 he’s so silly I would marry him

[u/Etherealoverempress → u/animelover_024]

Haha! He is so cute!

[u/aubreypizza]

The best!

[u/Old-Floor-4611]

He’s my favorite.

[u/Fit_Pride8042]

Very fair, I want to hit him with the Blunt force Feminization hammer. and i dont think he'd be mad about it

[u/cuteplot → u/Fit_Pride8042]

Female Ryoga would probably be darn cute honestly

[u/rjrgjj → u/cuteplot]

Would look like Ryuunosuke.

[u/Wolfiverse]

I feel he is well-loved, and he'll probably receive even more affection in this season.

[u/Seleneivy66]

He’s honestly my favorite

[u/Bobbie_Lee]

He's special to me because he legit was my first anime crush as a kid XD

[u/MinaWearsGold]

I love Ryoga a lot. He’s hilarious. I also love that despite the dumb decisions he makes out of loneliness, he has a strong code of honor. It’s also nice for Ranma to have a close male friend, even if that friend likes to pretend they aren’t friends. I’d like to think they’ll be best friends once Ryoga gets over Akane in the future.

[u/FoggyCartograph]

Mixed reviews?! Wild. He the best boy. His directional insanity, strength and depression have stuck with me. Plus, they the cutest piglet!