<b>Ranma Saotome</b>, the only son of <b>Genma</b> and <b>Nodoka Saotome</b> has led a fairly difficult life. At a young age, he was taken by <b>Genma</b> on various training journeys. On one of the most recent ones, <b>Genma</b> decided to take <b>Ranma</b> to China to train in Jusenkyo, an area of cursed springs (which <b>Genma</b> did not know). <b>Ranma</b> was knocked in to the "Spring of Drowned Girl," and now transforms into a female version of himself when splashed with cold water.

<b>Ranma</b> is 16 years old, and lives with the Tendo family and his father at the Tendo Dojo. <b>Genma</b> and <b>Soun Tendo</b> arranged for their children to be wed, and so <b>Ranma</b> and <b>Akane</b> were engaged (<b>Nabiki</b> and <b>Kasumi</b> said that they didn't want to marry <b>Ranma</b>, so <b>Akane</b> was chosen by default). <b>Ranma</b> and <b>Akane</b> rarely get along, which seems to stem from the fact that <b>Ranma</b> is quite the ladies man. In fact, he is also engaged to <b>Shampoo</b> and <b>Ukyo Kuonji</b>. While not engaged, <b>Kodachi Kuno</b> also hopes to marry <b>Ranma</b> one day.

<b>Ranma</b> is also an excellent martial artist. He is able to learn techniques very quickly and has mastered many different styles. He is very competitve and rarely loses a fight (on the rare occasion that he is bested he always gets revenge later on). <b>Ranma</b> also has a (somewhat) sensitive side, and he actually does have strong feelings for <b>Akane</b> even though he would never admit it. <b>Ranma</b>'s only weakness is an intense fear of cats, due to the harsh training he recieved in Cat-fu as a child.