And now for something completely different..
This is the opening sequence of a screenplay for a Ranma Movie.
It is in standard screenplay format including special instructions
for the seiyuu, animators, foley, and background music.
It's in a state ready for story boarding and timing.
I followed a few self imposed rules.
1) It's for a MOVIE, it should feel different from a TV episode.
Kind of like how star trek movies "Feel" different from TV
2) No additions to Nermia. Stick with the regulars.
3) It's a movie, everything is on the screen or on the soundtrack
no "Akane was thinking..."
4) Text format with tabs at 8 please.
It's meant to be read SLOWLY, imagining each scene as if
you were the head illustrator, doing the story board.
This part happens BEFORE the opening credits, and is a little long, like a
James Bond movie.
Here goes nothing.
___________________________________________________________________________
Ninja no Himitsu
( The Ninja's Secret. )
Galley Revision 1.0
by J. Palmer
(Part 1 Opening)
Dark screen
BGM : Traditional Japanese instrumental (Plucked strings, or flute)
(Not from Ranma Music stock)
Fade to:
SCENE: Winter Night, a light snow falling at an Outside onsen
PAN: Slow past pools of water with steam rising
Snow covered stone lanterns,
Snow covered Hillocks.
Pan: to Ryokan building, a single round window is illuminated.
SCENE: Interior view of Ryokan.
RANMA and AKANE are sitting in dark blue patterned robes on small
cushions watching the snow fall through a round window.
OLD WOMAN INNKEEPER slides open the door and gently slides a small tea
service into the room.
She walks down a narrow hallway lit in soft lights
RANMA and AKANE each quietly sip tea from a small tea service.
BGM: Continues in the background, Change atmospheric reverb to reflect music
source is a speaker in the room.
RANMA lays back with his head in his hands and closes his eyes.
AKANE:
Ranma, wake up!
POV: RANMA
RANMA opens his eyes to find Akane leaning over him . She is smiling
softly at him.
INTERIOR OF ROOM AT RYOKAN:
RANMA reaches up with his arms and gently pulls Akane down and hugs
her.
INTERIOR OF RANMA'S ROOM AT THE TENDOU DOUJO
RANMA is holding an extremely surprised AKANE in his arms. Ranma is in
his fish cake pajamas and Akane is dressed in a summer outfit. He
opens his eyes and realizes what he is doing.
CLOSE UP AKANE
AKANE's face goes from surprise to anger, then slowly softens. She
closes her eyes and sighs.
RANMA
I um, Sorry.... I was dreaming.
AKANE
Ohayo to you too, It's o.k..
AKANE sits up, RANMA scrambles to cover himself with a thin quilt.
AKANE
Kasumi has breakfast ready, hurry up, we want to catch an early
train.
RANMA (Still Shaken)
H- Hai!
AKANE gets up and goes to the door, she turns and asks,
AKANE
Ne, Ranma (beat) just who was it you were dreaming of?
RANMA
Well I, Um....
RANMA: Turns very Red
AKANE
I thought so. Coward!
AKANE Slides the door closed and skips down the hall singing softly to
herself.
TENDOU DINING TABLE
BGM : Ranma "Morning theme" from first series
KASUMI and NABIKI are sitting at the table.
AKANE enters and sits at her usual place.
KASUMI
Is Ranma up yet?
AKANE
Mmm.
KASUMI
He was up so late finishing his summer homework.
NABIKI
Homework? Ranma? Will wonders never cease. (Shakes head)
AKANE
So where are we going today?
KASUMI
I heard about an old bookstore down town, I heard they have a
lot of antique medical books.
NABIKI
Looking for a gift for Toufu's birthday, sis?
KASUMI Turns red , RANMA enters yawning and plops down next to AKANE
RANMA
Ohayo everyone.
KASUMI
Ah, there you are.
AKANE hands Ranma's rice bowl to Kasumi, who fills it and returns it to
Akane who places it in front of Ranma. Ranma does not notice.
NABIKI
Hey Ranma, what's up? You still dreaming?
RANMA looks at Akane, and blushes. AKANE blushes in return.
KASUMI giggles knowingly.
AKANE
Onechan!
GENMA and SOUN enter and sit.
GENMA and SOUN
OHAYO!
KASUMI dishes out rice for her father, it is intercepted by Genma,
who is about to dig in when HAPPOSI enters and grabs the bowl and
begins to eat noisily.
HAPPOSAI
Iitadekimasu!
HAPPOSAI begins to eat noisily.
GENMA
So Ranma, you finished your summer homework, that's good. Now
we have more time for training. Right after breakfast I'll show
you a few things...
KASUMI
Sorry uncle Saotome, but Ranma has promised to take Akane and
me into town for some shopping.
KASUMI again dishes out rice for her father She puts the bowl in his
outstretched hand. Again GENMA Grabs it. SOUNs chopsticks miss the
bowl and end up in his outstretched hand.
SOUN frowns and begins to shake, Tears well in his eyes. He jumps up
and materializes between Ranma and Akane, his hands on their
shoulders.
SOUN
That's the spirit Ranma! There are some good jewelry stores in
town, but remember that as a marshal arts instructor, you can't
spend too much on a ring. Kasumi, make sure he finds something
good.
AKANE
NANI-YO! otosan, we're just going to a used bookstore!
SOUN
Oh, Sorry. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...
SOUN returns to his seat, Kasumi again fills his rice bowl
NABIKI
Hey, used books? Can I come along? do they have manga?
KASUMI
Of course!
SOUN gets his bowl, just in time to find that all of the dishes on the
table are empty.
TOKYO Street Scene: Lots of background traffic noise, but no cars are ever
seen in shot
RANMA is asking directions from a police officer, who performs a mime
routine of lefts and rights with his hands. Ranma repeats the display
move for move, much to the surprise of the policeman.
AKANE, NABIKI, KASUMI and RANMA walk off together. After a bit NABIKI
stops and points down a street.
NABIKI
Hey guys, it's this way.
RANMA stops and replays the moves...
RANMA
Oh you're right, but how did you know?
NABIKI
I convert the directions into Yen, You know, at first 3 blocks
is 300 Yen, then a left is 1000 Yen, a right 2000 Yen, and so
on. I like numbers, especially when they add up to LOTS of yen.
RANMA
Oh boy.
They walk on down the street and around the corner. After a bit
Kasumi stops and points down an alley.
NABIKI
Oops I must have added a couple extra million....
RANMA stops and replays the moves.
RANMA
O.K., but how did you remember?
KASUMI
Oh, it's easy! I just convert the directions into a recipe! I
use ingredients that rhyme with the street names, and
measurements for the number of blocks.
KASUMI Stops and giggles.
NABIKI
What is it?
KASUMI
I was just thinking how awful this route would taste!
AKANE
RANMA! SHUT UP!
RANMA
Wrong! What! WHAT? I didn't say anything!
NABIKI
But you were thinking it, Soutome.
RANMA
Wrong! Wrong! I'm innocent!
AKANE turns and walks on
AKANE
Hph.
RANMA
But I... Jeez.
They walk on a while, then they all stop, except AKANE who is walking
towards a dark doorway.
RANMA
Hey! Where are you going? The directions stop here.
AKANE returns to the group.
AKANE
Well you know Kasumi's recipe trick, and Nabiki's Money trick?
RANMA
Yeah, do you have a trick of your own?
AKANE
Mm.
AKANE nods and points to a sign in a second story window.
SIGN: RARE BOOKS ENTER HERE (and an arrow pointing to the dark doorway.)
RANMA's shoulders sag, The Tendou sisters walk off into the doorway
giggling.
RANMA Pauses, then follows
RANMA
Hey wait a second!
PAN INTERIOR OF BOOKSTORE: Row after row of bookshelves.
Books stacked in every surface. Scrolls stuck into every nook and
cranny.
KASUMI and NABIKI are receiving hushed directions from an old man.
PAN ENDS on front desk.
AKANE and RANMA at counter, AKANE lifts her bag onto the counter. A
bookish woman appears behind the counter.
AKANE
May I leave this here?
WOMAN
Yes, please do, can I help you find anything?
HAPPOSI pops his head out of Akane's bag.
AKANE and RANMA both face fault.
HAPPOSI
Why yes, I'm looking for....
RANMA Bops HAPPOSI on the head.
HAPPOSAI
Ranma! Never interrupt me when I am speaking to a beautiful
lady!
Have you forgotten that I am the originator of the unlimited
fighting school! HAPODIKARIN!
HAPPOSI gently tosses a fuse bomb to Ranma.
RANMA juggles the bomb a moment, snaps his head back and fourth
searching for a safe place to throw the bomb, then runs down the
stairway.
RANMA
AIIIAAAAA!!!
HAPPOSAI
As I was saying, I'm looking for...
HAPPOSI gestures the Woman closer and whispers in her ear.
WOMAN Turns Bright pink. then recovers herself.
A large explosion sounds from outside, Dust is lifted throughout the
store, it quickly settles.
WOMAN
Oh, yes, do you mean...
Woman gestures HAPPOSI closer, and whispers in his ear.
HAPPOSI Turns pink, then blue then red as the woman whispers.
HAPPOSAI
Yes, Yes, where are they?
WOMAN
Isle 10. In the back.
HAPPOSAI
Where is Isle 10?
RANMA , slightly disheveled appears behind him
RANMA
It's right over THERE!
RANMA kicks HAPPOSI in the back of the head, who flies off over the top
of the shelves
HAPPOSAI
RANMA! HAPODI-
SFX Loud metallic CLANK (No reverb, just a serious solid clank!)
HAPPOSI , while flying backwards through the air has a close
encounter with a large sprinkler pipe and the back of his head. His
eyes cross and he falls unconscious to he top of a set of shelves.
RANMA (to no one in particular)
Hapodi-clank? What's a Hapodi-clank?
AKANE: (To Woman)
Sorry about that, we'll pick him up on the way out.
RANMA
(Under his breath) Or not.
AKANE
Where are the cookbooks?
RANMA waves his hands behind Akane trying too get the woman's
attention. He mimes eating, then choking. He begins to pray.
WOMAN
W- we have some fine beginners cookbooks, Isle 3 near the front.
AKANE
Thank you!
RANMA Relaxes a bit. Akane heads off.
RANMA: (To Woman)
Do you have any old martial arts books? (Then whispers)
Thanks, you may have saved a life!
WOMAN: (Whispering)
No Problem, (then louder, for Akane's benefit) Oh those? Isle
10. In the back.
AKANE Stops, slowly turns and blue flames begin to appear around
her. She takes three stomping steps back towards the counter.
Several books slide off of their precarious positions.
AKANE
RANMA!
RANMA
WHAT, NO! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! I ASKED FOR MARTIAL ARTS BOOKS!
REALLY!
WOMAN
Oh, you said Martial arts, not marital arts. Sorry.
Isle 15.
In the front.
RANMA walks off shaking his head.
AKANE and WOMAN watch him go, then begin to laugh together.
Akane walks off.
WOMAN
Works every time.
SCENES of BOOKSHELF ISLES
RANMA has a book open and is trying a move from a diagram.
KASUMI is casually browsing through a bookshelf.
AKANE is frowning at a cookbook.
NABIKI has found the manga and is eating a rice cracker.
RANMA approaches NABIKI, selects a manga from the shelf and begins to
read.
AKANE appears with several small cookbooks, selects a manga and
begins to read. KASUMI peeks around the corner.
KASUMI
Everyone found everything you are looking for?
EVERYONE
Yes!
They head off to the front of the store together. Akane Pays for her
cookbooks, Nabiki has found a copy of _THE_ ART_OF_THE_DEAL_,
Kasumi has several hand bound medical texts, Ranma has one old thick
training text, and several Manga. They head for the door.
WOMAN
I'm sorry, aren't you forgetting something?
AKANE:
SORRY! I'll go find him.
RANMA
Rats. It's O.K., I'll get him. You know how he is when he first
wakes up.
RANMA heads off towards the back of the store. He walks along until he
finds a sprinkler pipe with a pronounced dent in it.
RANMA
He must be around here somewhere.
RANMA takes a single leap to the top of the shelves. Happosi is
sleeping with his face in the crack between two rows of shelves.
RANMA
Hey, Letch, It's time to go!
POV: from between bookshelves looking up at Happosi.
Happosai's Eyes snap open with a sinister gleam.
RANMA
Come on old man.
HAPPOSAI Jumps instantly into the fighting stance.
HAPPOSAI
RANMA! Now I'll show you a lesson!
HAPPOSAI Takes a menacing step towards Ranma, then stops and points
his hand down between the bookshelves.
HAPPOSAI
What's this?
RANMA
The oldest trick in the book, I'd say!
RANMA takes a vicious kick at HAPPOSAI, who flicks him off the shelf
with the bowl of his pipe. Ranma teeters on the edge, waving his arms
frantically. Happosai pulls a book out from the crack, sits for a moment
browsing through it, then jumps from the shelves and walks towards
the front of the store.
COUNTER of BOOKSTORE:
HAPPOSI hands book to woman
HAPPOSAI
This please.
The Woman looks the book over, but cannot find a price. She calls the
the old man over and he looks through the book, then marks it 10,000
Yen. (About $100.00) She hands the book to Happosi, who spies the
price, and what little hair he has left stands strait out.
Happosi looks at the old man who gives him a knowing glance.
A large crash sounds from the back of the store.
RANMA
Ouch!
RANMA appears from between the stacks rubbing his head.
HAPPOSI Turns to Ranma and points his pipe at him.
HAPPOSAI
RANMA!
RANMA Twists, blocks and tries to hide in place.
{This should be fun for the animators ---J.)
HAPPOSAI
Loan me 1000 Yen!
RANMA Collapses to the floor in a heap. He raises a 1000 Yen note.
HAPPOSI pays for the book and they all leave the store.
Street scene. All are walking down the street
HAPPOSAI is reading his book and occasionally bumps into things.
RANMA and AKANE walk behind
RANMA
I think I'll stay home and practice with Dad tomorrow. This
shopping is too much of a work out.
AKANE
Oh now, it wasn't that bad was it?
RANMA
No, but I am going to bed early tonight.
AKANE
Hm. Sweet dreams!
RANMA stops and turns red. Akane skips on ahead to catch up with the
others.
END of part one.