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Reviewer: Rich (Webmaster)
Based
on: First DVD
UK Distributor:
MVM (DVD)
Tenchi is relatively normal. I
say relatively because the average Japanese schoolboy generally doesn’t live in
a shrine and undergo martial arts training every day, no matter what many anime
series will have us think. Also not many Japanese shrines have
intergalactic demons sealed beneath them.
However, Tenchi’s has. And of course, he releases it. This is
just the start of his troubles, as before long the demon’s enemies and
acquaintances begin to pop up from outer space and wreak havoc. Once the
carnage has died down Tenchi is stuck in the enviable position of living
with a beautiful but demonic woman (Ryoko), a beautiful but aloof intergalactic
princess (Ayeka), a cute but too young intergalactic princess (Sasami), a
beautiful but ditzy space policewoman (Mihoshi), an attractive but slightly evil
genius inventor (Washu), and a carrot crunching cat/rabbit hybrid who can turn
into a spaceship (Ryo-Oh-Ki). Obviously much mayhem ensues in one of the
most imitated and popular anime series of the last ten years.
Tenchi may be responsible for creating an entire genre that is unfairly
much maligned by many hard-core fans and critics, it may be guilty of spawning
so many spin-offs and sequels that repetition set in, but one thing you can’t
say is that it isn’t great fun.
One of the things people sometimes forget with anime is that although the likes
of Serial Experiments Lain is a great and extremely thought provoking
piece of animation, you are hardly going to watch it frequently. However,
Tenchi Muyo is great light viewing that has absolutely everything you
want from anime – huge amounts of action, great comedy, large explosions,
attractive characters, some fan service nudity and a hugely enjoyable story.
Although seeming like a sci-fi spin on a mish-mash of clichéd swords n sorcery
ideas – demons, princesses, magic swords, pervy old men, mystical powers, etc –
Tenchi isn’t as hackneyed and predictable as you may think. Yes,
there are the obligatory ancient prophecies, super powerful demonic enemies,
gratuitous bath scenes, dramatic revelations and love octagons (too many
characters for a triangle…) that you would expect, but there is also quite a lot
of very funny comedy, some quite touching scenes and frenetic action to keep you
interested.
The OAV series focuses on Tenchi and his harem of wannabe girlfriends
being brought together, settling down to a series of mildly antagonistic
hi-jinks and subsequently having to face a hugely powerful space pirate from
Ryoko’s past. The series is well written and animated with memorable
characters and some great set pieces that mostly paper over some huge narrative
leaps.
Hang about, huge narrative leaps? Yep you did read that right; although I
really enjoyed this there are some quite big changes that happen with absolutely
no explanation. For example, in the first episode Ryoko is trying to kill
Tenchi to get his sword (which contains the key to her powers), in the
second episode she tries to seduce him to get it and in the third episode she
fancies him. What is odd about this is that she explains in the third
episode that she has always watched over Tenchi and liked him since he
was very young, which doesn’t explain why she repeatedly tried to kill him two
episodes earlier. There is also the simple matter of a huge tropical dome
which appears from absolutely nowhere for the characters to bathe in
after they wreck the local bath house. The creators seem to expect the
viewer to take these things for granted – possibly the explanation had to be cut
because of the series length, possibly they didn’t think it was important.
And to be perfectly honest it isn’t really that important, but often you can’t
shake the feeling that you’ve missed something, and it can niggle.
This is really the series’ only drawback, the vast majority of it is enjoyable
and it quite skilfully manages to move from comedy to action to romance to drama
without losing focus on the characters. There are some quite moving scenes
about Ayeka’s past and the antagonism over this between her and Ryoko is the
most enjoyable aspect of the series.
I really enjoyed this. Although I can’t say it’s the best anime series I
have seen recently (I mean, I have seen the likes of Trigun, Neon
Genesis Evangelion and Haibane Renmei in the last few months) it is
probably the most enjoyable one I have watched in a long, long time. It
manages to be funny but dramatic, action packed but moving, and above all
extremely watchable. I do have some minor gripes – the lack of explanation
mentioned above, and Ayeka and Mihoshi can sometimes be a bit annoying – but
overall you will not be disappointed if you buy this. One of the best
releases of the year so far, great fun and highly enjoyable.
Best Bit: The bath house
episode (look, it’s funny ok? It’s not just cos I like seeing Ryoko and
Ayeka in the buff…)
Worst bit: Ryoko’s ‘oh I know I tried to kill you but I fancy you
really’ contradiction.
Ratings
Feature:
Extras:
N/A
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