Ranma Saotome is the main protagonist of Ranma ½.
A proficient martial artist, he spent most of his youth on training trips with his father. The last of these trips led them to Jusenkyo, China, where he fell into the Spring of Drowned Girl. Since then, he changes into a red headed, well built girl when splashed with cold water. When splashed with hot water, he changes back into a man, but only until the next time he is hit with cold water. Thanks to an agreement between his father and Soun Tendo, he is engaged to Soun's daughter Akane. Due to a series of other involuntary entanglements, he has several additional love interests, most notably the Chinese Amazon Shampoo, okonomiyaki chef and childhood friend Ukyo Kuonji, and Kodachi Kuno, the younger sister of rival Tatewaki Kuno. He is very much in love with Akane, but does not want to admit it. When another man shows general interest in her, he can't help but grow jealous leading him to becoming depressed, scheming something to separate them, or growing worried.
His male half is voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi in the Japanese anime and by Sarah Strange (Seasons 1-3, Movies and OVAs) and Richard Ian Cox (Seasons 4-7) in English. His female half and childhood is voiced by Megumi Hayashibara in the Japanese anime and by Brigitta Dau (Episodes 1-6, OVAs 1-2) and Venus Terzo (Episodes 7-161, OVAs 3-12, Movies) in English. In the Live Action Special, Ranma Saotome's male half is played by Kento Kaku while his female half is played by Natsuna Watanabe. In the Hong Kong-aired Animax dub male Ranma is voiced by Darren Pleavin and female Ranma is voiced by Andrea Kwan.