There has been a little discussion about Ranma on US airwaves. Yuri Adropov
will be re-elected Premier of the Soviet Union before that ever happens.
There are several reasons:

1. Few children (the #1 target audience of animation) will actually
understand the plot. The subtle nuances of Japanese custom that makes Ranma
so funny will not fly. Most people into anime are either Asian or
non-Asians into Japenese (Far Eastern) culture. Both can get into Ranma,
understand it, and find it hilarious. 

2. The sexual content and references are too numerous. How many times has
Ranma run around topless. How in the heck are people going to understand
the first argument of Ranma and Akane when that is cut. You guys and gals
the nude bathroom encounter and subsequent argument over breast size. How
many people are going to understand the traditional hoops Ukyo jumps
through to press her claim on Ranma.

3. The corporal punishment at school (holding the water buckets for those
of you in Rio Linda ^_-). (True its still legal in a number of states, but
try to enforce it without losing your job and getting sued.)

I don't want to beat a dead horse here. I'm just stating all this to
preface my main argument. Ranma should not be broadcast unless it is pure
and found enjoyable by the massess (and I'm not talking about Ryoko's
father). I don't want to see Ranma hacked to bits. I also don't want to
hear ignorant fools badmouthing what they don't understand.

If someone wants to see it the availability is there. Most colleges and a
growing number of high schools have anime / animation clubs. More than
likely someone there has the Ranma anime. More and more video outlets and
fantasy stores are stocking anime to be rented. It can, of course, be
purchased.

I like anime where it is now. Its readily available and has major cult
status. I do want its popularity to grow enough to see it on the Big
Screen. However for that to happen (here in the US) is a pipe dream. Anime
in its true, unedited form, just isn't socially acceptable by a large
enough group of people. Princess Mononoke blew box office records in Japan.
It barely got a limited release in the US.

Eh... I'm done... I gotta get some sleep.
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*****JUSTY HAKUBI*****
ICQ# 78408296
AIM  Justy_Hakubi_1
[http://pages.map.com/~ebaker]
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"Oh curse those evil octopi!!"