On Sun, 21 Apr 2002, Gary Kleppe wrote:

Given the many times Ranma has gotten away with disguises when a
distinctive hair color would have given him away, even passing for his
male self at one point (the first fight against Mousse, which Tofu ended
by giving him the heat-resistance pressure point), it seems pretty
obvious to me that the hair colors are in this category as well.
Fanfics, of course, are free to assume differently, but then they either
have to (1) come up with a plausible reason why these colors aren't
instantly recognizable (and a plausible reason why the characters *have*
them in the first place would be nice too), (2) alter the history so
that the colors were *always* recognized and deal with the consequent
changes in the backstory, or (3) face the fact that you're introducing
an inconsistency that, while certainly not major, is going to adversely
affect at least some readers' suspension of disbelief.

I think your standards are a little bit too high here, Gary.  Come up with a
plausible reason why the characters have such changes in the first place?
We all know that Jyusenkyou is already completely inconsistent--some pools
change personality, some don't.  Some are specific (drowned Akane) and some
are general (drowned girl, not drowned-insert-name-of-ancient-Chinese-girl-
here).  Taro's octopus curse combined, yet Nannichuan would be a cure, it
wouldn't make Ranma half of each sex.  Compared to this, making hair color
red is nothing.

And I have a counter-suggestion, Gary.  If you're *not* going to make female
Ranma's hair red, then you have to explain away the scene in Ranma 1/2
Nettouhen episode #68 where Azusa wants "Scarlett" and Ranma thinks Azusa
means her.  (Most references to this episode say that Akane did it, but I
checked the actual episode--it's Ranma).


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