At 11:33 PM 9/23/96 -0600, Travis Butler wrote:

It seems like this discussion comes up every month or two. The best 
answer I've seen to 'Why so much Ranma?' is a combination of two or three 
things:

* People like to write and read what they know -- and Ranma is one of the 
most popular series out there.

And the more R 1/2 fanfics are written, the more popular it gets among 
readers, then when those readers start writing, you get a vicious circle.

* Ranma is also one of the easiest series to write for -- several 
characters with easy 'hooks' a writer can write from, an open-ended 
plotline with lots of room to operate (unlike, say, Maison Ikkoku -- 
which has a pretty definite beginning and end, and not a lot of room in 
between to insert stories), and a broad universe with a lot of things to 
spark plot ideas.

Since this comes up so often, perhaps it should be added to the ML FAQ? 
Saf? Panda?

Also, translations or extensive summaries of the entire series (both manga 
and anime) are available on the internet (I have a .zip file that covers 
almost everything if anyone wants it).  That way, you don't have to buy a 
lot of books or videos, or wait for publishers to translate, before you can 
know enough about the series to write fanfics.

Actually, are there any other series where the whole thing is available over 
the internet?  I think UY is almost covered, but I was looking for a Gunnm
translation/summary and I only found a few parts.