Tenchi in Tokyo...and Grounded

Tenchi in Tokyo: A New Start

© 1997 AIC - Pioneer LDC, Inc. - Kadokawa Shoten - Sotsu Agency - TV Tokyo
Licensed by GETS

Genre: comedy (could be considered romantic/sci-fi) Length: 100 minutes (4 episodes) Audience Age: 12+ (this is not the Cartoon Network version)

Opinion: Interesting to see the newer attitudes of the great, established characters from the previous series.

This is a review of the dubbed, out of print VHS version.

This is one of the most popular titles in all of anime spawning multiple spin off series and films.

Anyone who knows anything about anime knows of "Tenchi Muyo!" It is great to know that high quality Japanimation can crossover into the mainstream since it is now part of Cartoon Network's Toonami line up. Great writing, a cool art style, and very neurotic characters put this series above the Japanese standby situation of a normal guy in an unusual scenario with three or more unstable women. 

Unfortunately, American producers feel any show that is imported from another country must make sacrifices to become mainstream. I will not even tell you where the producers can stick this idea. Tenchi just is not Tenchi without the sake jokes, the brief comedic nude scenes, and other jokes that are more or less meant for a PG-13 audience, so if you can afford to, buy at least one of the Tenchi Muyo! videos to see how much better it can be when you have a little more open sense of humor.

Yosho, Tenchi's grandfather, has given his grandson the opportunity to serve under a friend and fellow shrine care keeper in Tokyo. Despite the objections to his leaving and vicious forms of persuasion for him to stay by the girls, Tenchi decides to seize this chance to expand his horizons. This is not a total loss for the girls since Washu has created a dimensional tunnel between the Misaki residence and Tenchi's apartment in Tokyo.

For our hero's sake, hopefully he is not using the chance to train at another shrine as an excuse to gain some peace and quiet from the girls, because as long as he does not make his bed every morning, the aliens can visit him at any time. It also appears that Tenchi has not put much thought into how he can start up meaningful relationships with other girls, like his new classmate Sakuya, when Ayeka and Ryoko are set on winning his heart. This will definitely be an interesting time in this Juraian Prince's life that seems like it will be worth documenting on eight video tapes.

"Tenchi in Tokyo" seems to be aimed at an older audience despite the fact that the humor is rather tame. The series also seems to lack the flare and color of the first two series (Tenchi Muyo! and "Tenchi Universe"). Animation wise, it just seems to be pretty bland. 

Even though the animation may not be up to par, the writing makes this series viewable by at least open-minded Tenchi fans. Despite the fact that this series starts the Tenchi story line over again, the characters have all seemed to have matured. If anything, this is the only element that allows this series to be unique enough to tear up the continuity of the previous Tenchi stories.

The only flaw with the writing of this series is that our heroes always end up facing some one shot, minor villain. These villains are cleverly made, but seem to only be an attempt to make the series marketable to kids. This flaw can almost be overlooked by the opportunities for the character to interact with the new, almost normal character, Sakuya, and that you get to see all of the neurotic traits of the characters rise up whenever they are in extremely stressful scenarios. 

Tenchi's adventures in the "Neon Metropolis" are interesting for the newer attitudes of the great, established characters from the previous series, but it is not as laugh-out-loud funny as its predecessors. This is probably because of the tame humor. You have to want to enjoy a series based on character interaction to enjoy Tenchi in Tokyo. I guess the latest Tenchi series is an oxymoron of anime since the plots of each episode are almost identical to those featured in "Sailor Moon".

Image from the CG Shrines