One day, Soun Tendo, owner of the Tendo Dojo of Anything-Goes Martial Arts recieves a letter from his old friend, Genma Saotome. As they had agreed years before, Genma is bringing his son, Ranma, so that he can be engaged to one of Soun''s daughters to carry on the dojo. When Genma turns out to be a giant panda, and Ranma turns out to be a short, busty, red-headed girl, Soun is, to say the least, surprised. Eventually the truth is revealed--both of them are cursed, after falling into a cursed spring in China. Cold water changes them into their alternate forms, hot changes them back. Soun''s youngest daughter Akane, is nominated to become Ranma''s fiance, and they immediately begin to get along like a house on fire (ever been in a burning house?) And things all go downhill from there.