Maomolin (猫魔鈴 Maomōrin) is a supporting antagonist in Ranma ½. He is a Chinese bakeneko who is obsessed with finding a wife and this leads him to cause problems for Ranma and company.
He was voiced by Yō Yoshimura in his debut and Masahiro Anzai in the rest of episodes in Japanese and Samuel Vincent in English.
Appearance
Maomolin is a giant ghostly cat with glowing white fur and yellow eyes. He wears no clothes but carries a bell the size of a human head hanging under his chin, with no visible collar. His body is robust, though this might be an illusion due to his fluffy fur. His appearance combines the ethereal with exaggerated feline features.
Personality
He is desperately stubborn: three millennia of searching for a wife define him. Though polite, he resorts to questionable methods (possessions, curses) to achieve his goals. He doesn’t take "no" for an answer, though he avoids extreme violence (he rejected an aggressive bride). He is ironic: he mocked Ryoga's shyness but ignores his own flaws. His obsession leads him to ignore uncomfortable realities, such as Tsubasa's gender, showing a mix of stubbornness and adaptability.
Biography
Maomolin is a cat spirit (bakeneko) who has wandered China for 3000 years, obsessed with finding a human wife. To attract candidates, he spread a legend about a bell charm that would guarantee true love. Unsuccessful, he traveled to Japan after meeting Shampoo, who used his bell to try to win over Ranma Saotome. Maomolin fell for her but was rejected. Since then, he has remained in Japan, getting involved in absurd situations: he possessed Ryoga to court Akane, helped Nabiki sabotage Kuno at Furinkan High, and cast a spell on Shampoo to turn her into his feline bride, which was neutralized by Ranma. He also pursued Tsubasa Kurenai, ignoring the fact that Tsubasa was a male crossdresser. Despite his failures, he persists in his quest.
Powers and Abilities
As a bakeneko, he possesses limited supernatural powers:
- Ghostly Transformation: He turns into vapor to travel inside his giant floating bell or possess bodies (e.g., Ryoga), though the possession reveals feline traits in the host.
- Curses: He created a spell to permanently turn Shampoo into a cat, possibly enhanced by her existing Jusenkyo curse.
- Weaknesses: Physically weak; a strong blow can exorcise him from a body. His plans often fail due to his clumsiness or external interventions.
Though mysterious, his powers reflect his persistent yet ineffective nature.
External Links
- Maomolin on the Ranma ½ Wiki
 Villains
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Sasuke Sarugakure | Dojo Destroyer | Happosai | Youkihi | Kin'ni | Miyamoto Musashi | Copycat Ken | Ling-Ling & Lung-Lung | Ying Ranma | Principal Kuno | Maomolin | Gambling King | Kaeru-Sen'nin | Hikaru Gosunkugi | Ushinosuke Oshamanbe | Rinko | Nu | Pantyhose Taro | Hinako Ninomiya | Pink & Link | Rakkyosai | Kinnosuke Kashao | Asuka Saginomiya | Hayato Myojin | Kotetsu, Kome & Koeda | Herb | Mint & Lime | Saffron | Kiema | Rouge | ||