"Can't you see that you are a pioneer
Not one of the endless talkers
Who tell you the same old rules you're heard before
I can tell that you are a pioneer
You want to be facing danger
Not happy to hide your big dreams anymore
You are a pioneer, the same as me"
As with most anime fans in the 90s, I loved me some Tenchi Muyo. When I was young, the local library had three anime VHS- Tenchi Muyo volumes 1 and 2, and the Complete collection of Casshern, the early 90s ova. These were my second anime experiences, after watching Samurai Pizza Cats when I was like 3. Damn, I am old. When I first viewed the Tenchi Muyo tapes, I loved them. I'm pretty sure I didn't get past the fourth OVA til Toonami answered my prayers and aired all three Tenchi series! Still, I loved them for what they were. They perpetuated the early 90s stereotypes- unnaturally colored hair, lots of boobs,a harem for our normal lead, and a super powers abound. Space travel as well, but that's more of a Sci-Fi trope. Blockbuster had the first two episodes of Universe when I was young, and upon viewing, found it confusing, since in every series the characters and their arrivals are slightly different. They had the first movie too, Tenchi Muyo in Love. I still love that film, but then again I love anything with time travel. The time Travelere's Wife, Time Cop, Demolition Man, etc.
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| It just screams 90s, and I love it! | | |
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After almost a decade since my last viewing, I felt it was time to revisit Tenchi Muyo Ryo-Ohki OVAs 1-13. There is a third part of the OVA series, but the less said about that the better. It's dead to me! Does it hold up ? Of course! Otherwise this would just be a rant on facespace or some shit. There's a huge nostalgia factor to be sure, and I love 90s animation so. So what makes this seeming generic series loved by so many ? Read on youngbloods!
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| I watch Tenchi for the plot! Said this one guy! |
Tenchi Muyo means Useless Tenchi, or no need for Tenchi, along with a handful of other puns. Tenchi Misaki is our lead, a young boy living in Japan next to an ancient shrine. He's basically your generic lead, except he has a gay rat tail.
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| At least it's not a mullet. |
Yep, guess Japan is a decade or so behind 'Murica in style. The story of Tenchi begins with Tenchi entering a cave next to his grandfather's shrine, that he has explicitly forbidden to enter, as it traps some demon inside. Being a curious youth, he disregards this, and disturbs the seal keeping the demon inside. While in the process he finds a bad ass looking sword handle with three jewels in the hilt. Thinking nothing of this, he goes to school the next day, and promptly falls asleep there. After waking up, a beautiful woman appears, enter Ryoko
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| Yep, this is a demon. What a world he lives in. |
Ryoko appears to Tenchi at school, and demands his balls. Nope not those balls, the ones in the sword! Tenchi runs, and when Ryoko catches up to him, he is able to activate the sword hilt, forming a light blade. Between all the fighting and running the two of them decimate the school. During the mayhem, Tenchi returns home, only to find Ryoko in his bed! She begins to fall for him, and his harem begins!
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| Despite only being 13 episodes, there were 3 hot springs episodes. |
Soon Ryoko is joined by two Princesses of Jurai- Ayeka and Sasami. Jurai is basically the universe's royalty, complete with space ships and eternal youth. There's also Mihoshi, an idiot space cop, and Wasshu- a genius scientist. Ryoko is revealed to be not a demon- but a space criminal. Yep harems and outer space! Everything you want in a series and more! Plus it was the 90s, so tits, tits everywhere! Even better, the adorable animal mascot- a Cat/ rabbit (or cabbit) named Ryo-Ohki can turn into a space ship! Just when you though it couldn't get any better!
The best part about this series is how well it mixes comedy, with adventure. In almost every Tenchi incarnation, there is space fighting to balance out the comedy. That's what I love about this series, it just feels so well balanced. Tenchi's grandfather is revealed during the series to be a prince of Jurai, and capable of generating something called the Light Hawk Wings, which are supposedly only usable by spaceships of Jurai.
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| An outfit upgrade to go with the Light Hawk Wings. |
When this show gets serious, everyone puts on their battle outfits, including facepaint! I love the designs!
They mostly head into space to fight, then back to earth for more hijinks. The first time they head out, it's to rescue Ryoko from this guy:
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| A silver haired man with a long cloak? How original! |
After a hard fought battle, Tenchi is able to overcome him with the power of the Light Hawk wings. The second time, its Ryoko being kidnapped and replaced with a clone! Not original on any level, but whatever works right ? The second villain basically has a pitiful grudge against Wasshu, he's not particularly impressive:
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| Quake with fear! |
Tenchi is such a loveable chap, anyone who isn't completely related to him falls for him.
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| Ayeka's and Sasami's mom instantly wanting the D |
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| Even Ryo-Ohki once she gets a human body wants some of dis. |
I suppose there must not be many men in space. And those that are seem pretty effeminate.
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| Ayeka and Sasami's father, and his other wife. |
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| Ayeka's butch fiance. |
In any case, I love Tenchi Muyo, and would recommend the series to anyone who can enjoy old anime. You kids today and your simulcasting and crunchyrolls don't know what it was like back in my day! Tenchi Universe isn't bad, and it introduces the best Tenchi girl- Kiyone!
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| That's her on the right, that's bubble-head Mihoshi on the left. |
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It's been too long since I saw Tenchi in Tokyo to say anything about it. I remember hating the animation, but I'm currently flying through Universe, so I'll give it a go next.Here's my scores for the Tenchi media I've seen.
Update: I watched the first two, and last two episodes of Tenchi in Tokyo. I hate it, from the nonsense of Tenchi going to Tokyo, to some girl who was Sasami's friend creating a shadow to make Tenchi fall in love, and even a random ass monster of the week theme, there is nothing to like here. I even hate the Turkey in the Strawesque end theme. A fiddle ? Really? It is noteworthy that Tenchi is some sort of earth guardian in this timeline, not a Jurai descendant.
Also Tenchi Universe is a solid 7. It's a bit drawn out at points, but entertaining as a whole. It has a showdown against the big bad Kagato, and a satisfying conclusion.
Tenchi Muyo Ryo-Ohki OVAs 1&2-8/10
Tenchi in Love-8/10
Tenchi Universe- 7/10
Tenchi in Tokyo- 0/10
Tenchi: Daughter of Darkness- 4/10
Magical Project S Tv- 3/10 ( might be higher for pedos or magical girl fans)
Tenchi Forever-1/10
Tenchi Muyo Ryo-Ohki OVA 3- 0/10
My brother bought this back in 2000 or so at an anime shop called Atomic Eye, and when he got older he decided I'd appreciate it more. So he gave this to me
The tag says 1997, and Pioneer. It's made by Dragon toys. I still keep him displayed between volumes of manga. Pretty cool, looking on ebay it seems to be decently rare, all the ones on there are made by aAnimatrix, not Dragon, or are this fugly looking one with a glowing gem.
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