Tenchi in Tokyo

TENCHI IN TOKYO(1999)

Format: 26 24-minute episodes on 8 DVDs

Rating: PG-13 (AC, V)

Type: Sci-Fi Comedy/Romance/Action/Drama

American Production: Pioneer Animation

English Dub Production: Network

Japanese Production: ??

Grading
Premise:	C+
Story:	B-
Writing:	B-
Character Design:	C+
Animation:	C-
Artistic Merits:	C-
English Dub:	B-
Musical Score:	B
Songs:	B-
Opener:	not reviewed
Closer:	B

Humor Content:	B
Action Content:	C+
Drama Content:	B

DVD Presentation:	not reviewed
DVD Extras:	not reviewed

OVERALL:	C+

Synopsis

Tenchi must move to Tokyo to further his studies, a move that does not sit well with his female acquaintances. They go to great lengths to try to arrange ways to visit him, even after he puts his foot down about this behavior. Meanwhile, Tenchi meets a cute girl named Sakuya, who also quickly becomes attracted to Tenchi but is much less pushy and possessive, which Tenchi seems to find refreshing.

All is not well in the Tenchi Universe, however. A new villainess seems intent on separating Tenchi from his old associates for some dark purpose and employs various devious and powerful minions to discourage the others from interfering, even while taking on a childlike persona in an attempt to befriend Sasami. But it Sakuya just part of her plan, or an innocent girl swept up in events well beyond her?

And needless to say, the discovery that Tenchi might have a new love interest doesn’t sit well with Ryoko or Aeka.

The Long View

Tenchi in Tokyo has more real plot than the previous two series, but it tries so hard to be funny that it too often descends into abject silliness. That the computer-based artistry and animation is by far the worst of the three series doesn’t help matters, nor does the fact that a few key roles have new voice actors in the English dub for the series. While Tenchi in Tokyo uses the same characters and relationships as the earlier series and seems to be merely advanced a year or two down the road of the stories told in those series, the background on how the characters got together is totally different. This series also drops Tenchi’s Jurai connection entirely, instead crediting his status as a “defender of earth” or some such thing as the source of his power. (It’s been a while since I’ve actually seen the series so I might be a little off here.)

This review is based on the TV broadcast version shown on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block. It was edited to PG rating standards, but I cannot comment on whether it was this tame originally or not. (I assume not, based on what was done with the two original series.)

If you have liked other Tenchi material then you will probably like this series, too, although it will likely not be the highlight of the franchise for you.

DVD Extras

Not reviewed.

Principle English Voice Actors

Role	Voice Actor
Tenchi Masaki, Hotsuma	Matt “Kermit” Miller
Sakuya, Matori	Julie Maddalena
Noboyuke and Katsuhito Masaki, minor roles	Bob Papenbrook
Ayeka, Ine Suzuki	Jennifer Darling (aka Kristen Tanner)
Sasami, Sugano	Sherry Lynn (aka Kate Ashley)
Ryoko	Petrea Burchard (aka Celeste Burch)
Mihoshi, Matsuno	Rebecca Forstadt
Washu	Kate T. Vogt
Ryo-Ohki, Yugi	Debi Derryberry
Kamidake, Kazuhiko Amagasaki, Daidara	Michael Sorich
Kiyone, Yoshinaga	Wendee Lee
Sadako, minor roles	Brianne Siddall
Masayo Manuketa	Lara Cody
Azaka	Doug Stone
Yoshiaki, Tsugaru, minor roles	Richard Cansino