Ranma ½/Heartwarming

• Upon defeating Prince Herb, a major enemy -- the first bona fide lethal adversary he had ever faced, and which had Akane wracked with worry -- Ranma and the others sneak into the Tendo home's bath to change back to their normal forms, to fulfill Ranma's promise that they next time she saw him, he'd be a man. Akane catches them, and is on the verge of tears as she berates him for sneaking in without telling her. Ranma responds in his usual manner, Akane stares at him for a moment... and crushes him in a sincere, heartfelt embrace that completely disarms him, all while she cries and welcomes him home. It was their first sign of love in the manga.
  • And two panels afterwards, bookended with Akane's "Welcome home", we see Herb, who has been told that Ranma saved his life despite the several dozen times the Chinese warrior nearly murdered him. It drives home the point that Ranma may be an insensitive, rude, immature, egocentric Jerkass more often than not, but he is a hero.
• Ever since he first met his mother Nodoka, but was forced to hide as a girl lest she find out his secret, Ranma daydreamed of presenting himself to her as an unshakable, manly man, complete with endless praise and admiration. When he finally did, after performing the manliest deed ever seen in the manga (and not realizing it,) he broke down into tears and hugged his mother while crying out for her. She did the same.
  • And also when she finally finds out Ranma's secret:

Nodoka: Ranma looked manly enough. This child is a man.

• We also have him expressing genuine compassion for a rival (when he often mocks and teases them) after his first fight with Mousse in the circus, when Shampoo cruely berates Mousse and this triggers the guy's Motive Rant that makes almost every witness bawl.
• Let's not forget that scene on the ledge near Jusenkyo from the manga's final volume when Ranma thought Akane was dead. "All this just 'cause you wanted to save me? It would have been better if it were me. You should have let me die. But you're always butting in... Why did you have to get involved? Damn, Akane. You fool. Why didn't you let me go? (punches himself) I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. What I'm trying to say is... thank you. I'm so sorry, Akane. I'm so awkward with words. There were so many things I always wanted to tell you but I could never get the words out. Over and over again, I kept trying to tell you how I really felt, but it always came out wrong. I just ended up bothering you and making you angry. But that was never what I meant to do. Wake up, Akane. There's something I need to tell you. I've waited too long to say it, but it can't wait another moment. Akane? Can't you hear me? Please, Akane. I need you to hear me now... I wanted to tell you (tear drops on Akane's face) I wanted to tell you I love you!!" Though we're not sure if he said the L-word out loud, he screams Akane's name making it abit of a tear-jerker as well. But really, who can remember this and not feel even the slightest tug on their heart?
• In one of the sweetest and most realistic moments this troper ever read, after being placed in the middle of Akane's jealously and Nabiki's greed, Ranma attempts to take Nabiki on a terrible date, while Nabiki has Akane entrapped in her own web of lies. Eventually, Ranma and Akane are left alone, without anything to say. Ranma then produces a bouquet of flowers.

Ranma: ... Want?
Akane (with a smile, as Ranma is completely disarmed) Thank you.

• In the The One To Carry On OAV, Ryoga is struggling with his emotions as he trains Akane for a rematch with her opponents. On the one hand, he oh so desperately wants to help her (implying that it's really for her sake rather than to get in her good graces.) On the other, if she loses then the Dojo, and by extension her bethrothal to Ranma, goes to someone else. On the eve of the fated match, he watches her sleep as he tries to sort out his priorities. In one of the best cases of Superlative Dubbing, Ryoga realizes that by staying with her, he will ultimately sabotage her chances, and he'd rather see her win even if he loses his chance to court her. He then departs to clear his mind, content in knowing that he helped her in her time of need:

Ryoga: At least, this once, I get to be the hero.

• Another anime-exclusive moment; in the original manga, the Harumaki story ends with the old man's astral projection sadly admitting that he shouldn't have expected things not to change and returning to his body upon discovering a construction site has gone up where his beloved sakura grove once was. In the anime version, when Karumaki is devastated upon seeing the trees have all been gone, Ranma convinces him that they're still there, allowing Harumaki's memories to make ghostly sakura trees form, their blossoms raining down all around while the old man weeps in joy and thanks Ranma for her/his kindness. What makes this more impressive is that Ranma has been suffering Catapult Nightmares for a week or so because of Harumaki's constantly invading his dreams, due to her resemblence to his wife in her younger days, she was forced to go on a date with the creepy old man in order to make him stop, and he's been bugging and harrassing her all day. And yet, s/he still feels sorry enough for him to try and make him feel better after this emotional blow.
• Volume 26 has several: Ranma goes off to bait the gigantic eight-headed monster, willing to sacrifice himself to ensure Akane's safety. Then, Akane jumps toward the serpent's maw with hot water, risking herself to save him instead (which is also pretty awesome), but once they put the monster to bed with a convenient Chekhov's Gun, the heartwarming goes Up to Eleven: Ranma can't quite bring himself to express his gratitude or the anxiety he's felt over the whole arc, so he puts out his hand, hoping, and Akane takes it.

Akane: I'm glad we're going home together, Ranma. Sorry for making you worry.

• • Cue Luminescent Blush from Ranma, with his heartfelt, unspoken thoughts in the background of the panel. He still Cannot Spit It Out, but I dare say this is one of the most unambiguously tender moments in the entire manga. See for yourself. And the corresponding OVAs are very well done, too.
• Season 6 episode 15, "Akane Goes to the Hospital", ends with one of these. After having screwed up yet again when Akane's hurt in the hospital, at the end of the episode, Ranma shows up to bring her home from the hospital with a giant banner with a written apology to her that he made. Afterwards, they're blushing with Akane happy that he was thinking of her all this time, and everybody shows up, as usual. However, this time, instead of denying everything and insulting her like he usually does, he actually grabs her and runs off with her.
• For this troper, while it may be the shipper in him, Shampoo proving that she loves Ranma so much that she will give the Kiss of Death to her own little sisters-in-all-but-blood during the "Two, Too Violent Girls!" episode in order to protect him is this, if not a little Awesome.
• Towards the climax of "Here Comes Ranma's Mom!" (a Filler episode in which Happosai makes everybody think a mysterious woman is Ranma's mother), Ranma and Genma have a "father/son talk", towards the end of which Genma breaks down crying while asking Ranma to just meet with her and promising that nothing will come of it if Ranma doesn't like what she has to say. While what comes next ruins Genma's apparently acting like a true father and actually sincerely offering Ranma a choice for once, it still doesn't foil what happens. In a delightfully understated moment, Ranma agrees, and softly declares he is Genma's son, after all -- for the first time in the series, Ranma actually expresses a genuine familial love for his father.
• I don't know if this is in the manga, but in episode 37 Ranma ends up going through a whole series of events to stop Akane from seeing a picture that looks like he's about to kiss Kodachi. Akane, upon realizing this is the reason he didn't eat her food during the whole thing (although everyone's distaste towards it didn't help) runs off in tears. Ranma finally explains the whole situation and then eats almost all of the cookies she made, and calls them good. Ranma manages to hide from her that they were terrible and left him sick. He did all this, just to make her happy again. Daaaaaaw.
  • It is in the manga and it is no less affectional.
• The first movie has the scene where Lychee finally manages to get through Kirin and they introduce themselves to each other. Plus, we get a photo from them showing that they did go on to marry each other soon afterwards... but since the Legendary Scroll that would've forcibly joined its owners in marriage had been completed previously, it's heavily implied that they married out of actual love.
• In the chapter "Stand Up, Ranma!", after Ranma tries to use the Hiryu Shoten Ha against Herb and fails, he gets hit so hard that he doesn't even try to get back up again. He simply lies there for a minute, until he hears Akane's voice. A picture of Akane with tears in her eyes appears in his mind. She's crying because he never came back, because he died in the fight against Herb. That's when Ranma realizes he has to become a man again and he has to make it back home for her sake. So, he pulls himself up off the ground once more, but now, with new motivation to succeed... This troper always found that really touching.
• Ranma freely admitting that Akane's cute when she smiles.
• Early in the story, about volume 1 of the manga, and episode 3 of the anime, Akane stalls Kuno in order to give Ranma time to change back into a guy. What makes this moment great is the fact that Akane and Ranma do NOT get along well at this point at all. Akane doesn't do this cause she cares for Ranma, but simply because it is the right thing to do.
• Mouse gets one in the final manga arc. He has the chance to make Shampoo his love slave and all he has to do is make sure he's the first one she sees comming out of the egg. He has an Imagine Spot them as a happy couple; the only thing he's wanted the entire series. When Shampoo bursts from the egg, he pulls out a mirror and she sees only her reflection. He kicks himself for it immediately afterward but it proves he really does love Shampoo and wouldn't take advantage of her.
• In episode 87 after Ranma accidentally turns into a girl and learns that Akane is still gone she's shown looking upset and saying "Don't you know that without you I'm just..." (Akane sneezes interrupting her)