Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Ranma 1/2 Episode #10The next big character in Ranma 1/2 has officially arrived in the remake, and she's already gotten a much-needed change. The long-anticipated remake of Rumiko Takahashi's iconic manga is cruising through the original story now with Ranma, Ryoga, and Akane's battle against martial arts skaters Azusa and Mikado officially completed. However, episode 10 of the remake gave fans a taste of what's to come with the introduction of the next big side character in the series, Shampoo.

For the most part, Shampoo is the same as she's always been in both the manga and anime. She's introduced as a Chinese Amazon woman who's defeated by girl Ranma in battle. Not knowing about the curse, this leads to Shampoo trying to hunt her down and kill her for defeating her after she gives her the Kiss of Death. Then, when Ranma defeats her again in boy form, she kisses him on the lips, beginning her storyline to marry him. However, there's a small detail that ultimately changes Shampoo for the better: her English translations show that she no longer speaks in heavily broken Japanese.

Shampoo's Slight Shift in Language Changes One of Her Most Problematic Traits

She No Longer Feels Like a Blatant Stereotype

Language is an important way of showcasing who a character is when their native language doesn't match the primary language spoken in a story. However, if handled the wrong way, this can lead to a character coming off as a stereotype. This was a problem that was incredibly prevalent in the original anime adaptation of Ranma 1/2, as Shampoo was shown to be nearly unintelligible given how broken her speaking was. This made her come off as an offensive stereotype for some fans. However, cleaning up many of her translations, it fixes one of the more frustrating parts of her character while retaining what has made her a fan-favorite, as it allows newcomers to focus on who she is as a character.

However, what's interesting about this new take on Shampoo is how it still pays homage to how she was in both the manga and the original anime. After all, she'd been hunting down Ranma throughout his journey in China after he fell into the Jusenkyo Springs and became cursed. So, she hasn't had much time to learn Japanese and traverse the country to find him. This is shown with her occasionally having a flub every now and again, with one of the most notable examples being her threatening Akane with "You hide Ranma too, and I'll kill you." There are still some grammatical errors in her dialogue, but it's not exaggerated to the point of being offensive.

Shampoo's New Direction Proves It's Okay for Remakes to Make Changes

Sometimes Changes are Necessary

One of the best things about the remake of Ranma 1/2 is how much it's stayed faithful to the original manga by Rumiko Takahashi. It's completely avoided the inclusion of the original anime's filler arcs, making it arguably a better adaptation than the series from the 80s and 90s. Still, this doesn't mean that the manga itself is without flaws. Shampoo in particular, while having her fans, has drawn criticism from readers over the years for her depiction. Granted, she was created in the late 80s, so the culture was different at the time; but the use of broken language was found to be a sticking point with some fans.

By adjusting this slightly for the remake to make it less exaggerated, Shampoo feels like more of a character than she did in the manga and original anime. It's a phenomenal example of just how much remakes can not just reintroduce familiar stories to new audiences, but also improve on what might not have worked at the time. There's no denying that some fans will object to the change, but it's such a subtle detail in the remake that it's unlikely that viewers will notice until it's pointed out to them.

Shampoo Still Has Some Baggage the Remake Must Handle Wisely

The Way She Spoke Wasn't the Only Problem for Some Fans

While it's irable to see the remake take tiny steps to improve how Shampoo communicates with Ranma and other characters, she still has a ways to go to prove herself to newcomers. Aside from the use of broken language, Shampoo has also drawn criticism for how she behaves. She's been described as overly violent and manipulative to the point of her being seen as an unlikable character. While she absolutely has her fans, this has drawn ire from other viewers, making her one of the most mixed characters in the series.

It will be interesting to see just how the remake approaches Shampoo as she's explored in future episodes. She's nowhere near the most problematic character in the series, but she has enough history to make her someone fans either love or hate. Still, this much-needed change to Shampoo's use of language is a welcome addition to the Ranma 1/2 remake, and it paints a bright future for her as she makes her long-awaited debut.