Ranma 1/2’s Shampoo Stars in a Real Shampoo Collaboration

In a pun that practically writes itself, the Ranma 1/2 character Shampoo is now fronting an actual line of shampoo. The Japanese hair care company NatureLab Tokyo announced a collaboration between its Diane Perfect Beauty line and Rumiko Takahashi’s classic series.

Fittingly, the packaging features both Shampoo and Ranma, and the tie in runs from October 1 through November 30.

The collaboration leans happily into the joke. On the Diane Perfect Beauty website, fans can even consult Shampoo herself to find out which shampoo might suit them best.

There are extras to collect too. Shoppers who spend at least 2,000 yen on Diane Perfect Beauty products at a NatureLab store can receive one of two collaboration sticker sets, featuring Shampoo in her Chinese dress or pajamas, each paired with her cat form, while supplies last.

It is a cheerful bit of crossover marketing built entirely around one perfect bit of wordplay.

My take: Sometimes a collaboration exists purely for the pun, and that is completely fine by me. After all these years, finally being able to buy Shampoo’s shampoo is the kind of silly delight fans will adore.