Tenchi Muyo!

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Tenchi Muyo! (天地無用! Tenchi Muyō!), is an anime, light novel, and manga series about a boy named Tenchi Masaki and the alien women that love him.

The original series, Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki, was a six episode OVA (Original Video Animation or Direct-to-Home Video) series; released in Japan in 1992–93. As its popularity grew, it spurred a seventh episode (also known as the Tenchi Special) and the standalone Mihoshi Special. In 1994-95, the second OVA series was created and released, featuring episodes 8–13. From 2003 to 2005, a third OVA series was released, with episodes 14–19, centering around the three goddesses introduced in the second OVA series. This is then followed by a special twentieth episode which centered around some of the remaining plot threads towards Tenchi's mother, as well as Noike, who was introduced in episode 15. The series can be somewhat confusing to newcomers because it has several continuities, although due to later creative changes many consider the original OVAs 'true' canon.

Before the popularity of series like Love Hina, to American fans Tenchi Muyo! set the benchmark for a series with a somewhat meek but kind male lead surrounded by attractive but often bizarre women, an anime subgenre (harem comedy) which would later become common. The TM franchise is also well-known in having a manga developed after an animated version was released, when typically the reverse is true.

Tenchi Muyo! was one of the early successes for AIC, the animation company behind it, which went on to create El-Hazard, Battle Athletes, Oh My Goddess!, Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure and many other anime series. The main artist for the series is Masaki Kajishima.

The name of the manga is a play on words. Template:Nihongo in Japanese means "This way up", a phrase written, for example, on boxes to show they should not be upturned. The word muyō also means "unnecessary", thus with a lead character "Tenchi" this name could also mean "unnecessary Tenchi" and is more often than not translated to "No need for Tenchi" (even so far as the episode titles for the "Universe" series to have the running gag of having the titles start with "No need for...") The name 'Tenchi' also means 'Heaven and Earth' so one could also take the title to mean "No Need for Heaven and Earth."

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Contents

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Canon

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Series

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Summary

The three major series continuities are Tenchi Muyo!, Tenchi Universe, and Tenchi in Tokyo. The first series, TM!, is the original OVA (Original Video Animation) which introduces the core characters. The other two are spin-offs that utilize the same characters, with the addition of Kiyone Makibi, though the backstory is quite different from the original OVAs. The first of the spin-offs was Tenchi Muyo! TV (also known as Tenchi Universe), in 1995; it is a twenty-six episode TV series that retells the original series differently. This anime was one of few anime to be broadcast on PBS member station KTEH San Jose, according to the ANN.

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Tenchi Muyo! OAV series, Kajishima canon

The canon accepted by series creator Kajishima is as follows:

Animation

  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 1 (episodes 1-6)
  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 1 Special, The Night Before the Carnival (episode 7)
  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 2 (episodes 8-13 + the bonus episode 13.5)
  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 3 (episodes 14-19)
  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 3 Special (episode 20)
  • Tenchi Muyo! GXP: Galaxy Police Transporter

Other Materials

  • Shin Tenchi Muyo! Jurai (novel, tells of Azusa's life from a boy to the events in episode 13)
  • Shin Tenchi Muyo! Yosho (novel, tells of Yosho's life from a boy until he defeats Ryoko on Earth)
  • Shin Tenchi Muyo! Washu (novel, tells of Washu's life from when she was found 20,000 years ago through the death of her friend Naja)
  • Tenchi Muyo! GXP 01 (novel, novel form of the TV series with very little NB)
  • Tenchi Muyo! GXP 02 (novel, 2006 release)
  • Various doujinshi from Kajishima
  • Various interviews with Kajishima
  • The book 101 Questions and Answers of Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Oh-Ki (aka. 101 Secrets)

For more details about these materials, see Tenchi Muyo! FAQ

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Tenchi Muyo! OAV series, Hasegawa canon

Naoko Hasegawa, co-writer of the first OAV series, uses a different canon, which includes the following:

Animation

  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 1 (episodes 1-6)
  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki Galaxy Police Mihoshi's Space Adventure (also known as the Mihoshi Special), though except for the framing sequence, much of the story is as an exaggeration by Mihoshi and is not considered as canon to the Kajishima version.
  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki Manatsu no Eve (movie 2, known as Daughter of Darkness in English)

Other Materials

  • Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki Manatsu no Carnival (radio drama)
  • A series of 12 novels by Hasegawa, including the Manatsu no Eve book upon which the movie was based

A few characters from OAV 2 (episodes 8-13.5), such as Tokimi, Emperor Azusa, and Empress Misaki, make appearances in Hasegawa's novels. However, the episodes and events from OAV 2, as well as episode 7, do not take place in Hasegawa's canon.

Hasegawa also worked on the TV series, which includes her characters Kiyone and (in the movies) Achika, but the TV series is not considered to be in the same continuity.

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Tenchi Universe, a.k.a. the Negishi canon

Called the "Negishi canon", after Hiroshi Negishi, the director who was the main creative force behind the series and connecting movies, Tenchi Universe (known as Tenchi Muyo! TV in Japan) has no sentient Jurai trees, Ayeka is not closely related to Katsuhito, and Washu is the person sealed in the cave. Kiyone has a major role in this series. Also, this series has a stronger emphasis on Ryoko, as shown in the show's opening credits and in some episodes, as well as Tenchi Forever, although Ayeka also gets equal billing in the latter title.

Animation

  • Tenchi Muyo! TV (Tenchi Universe), 26 episodes
  • Tenchi Muyo! In Love (movie 1)
  • Tenchi Muyo in Love 2: Haruka Naru Omoi (Tenchi Forever!) (movie 3)

Other Material

  • Tenchi Muyo! In Love 2: Eternal Memory (manga)
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Tenchi in Tokyo

Shin Tenchi Muyo! (known as Tenchi in Tokyo in English), in 1997, is yet a third version of the story, but this time centered on Tenchi's high school adventures in Tokyo. It is also a twenty-six episode TV series and many of the main characters had some personality changes. Because it is completely different from the OVAs and first TV series, Tenchi in Tokyo was met with mixed reviews among fans.

Animation

  • Shin Tenchi Muyo! (26 episodes)
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Movies

There are also three movies: Tenchi Muyo in Love!, 1996; Tenchi Muyo: Manatsu no Eve (The Daughter of Darkness), 1997; and Tenchi Muyo in Love 2: Haruka Naru Omoi (Tenchi Forever), 1999.

Movies 1 and 3 are intended to be in, and match with, the Tenchi Universe continuity. Movie 3 concludes the Tenchi Muyo! TV (Universe) series.

The continuity of movie 2 is more complicated. It is written by Naoko Hasegawa, who co-wrote the first OAV series and wrote several Tenchi novels in Japanese; the movie is based on one of her novels.

Movie 2 is sometimes believed to be in Tenchi Universe continuity because of the presence of Kiyone and because Ayeka refers to my brother's tree instead of your tree while speaking to Katsuhito. Neither of these are related to Tenchi Universe; Kiyone is present because she is from Hasegawa's OAV-based novels, and the Ayeka line is a misleading translation. In reality, the movie is an animated version of the Hasegawa novel of the same name, and is part of her continuity. In Japanese, a name or title may be used in some circumstances where English would require a pronoun; saying brother's tree to Katsuhito does not mean that her brother is someone other than him. Furthermore, in the Universe series it is never demonstrated that she has a brother.

Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo! in Love (1996)

Tenchi Muyo! in Love was the first Tenchi movie, and takes place within the Universe timeline.

The movie is about how the gang must save Tenchi from utter disappearance by capturing a criminal named Kain, which had traveled back in time to destroy Tenchi's mother, Achika Misaki so that Tenchi isn't born to threaten his conquest of Jurai. In order to save Achika and Tenchi, Tenchi and crew travel back in time to the year of 1970 to protect Achika.

Tenchi the Movie II: The Daughter of Darkness (Manatsu no Eve, 1997)

Tenchi the Movie II: The Daughter of Darkness (Manatsu no Eve) is the second Tenchi movie.

The movie is about a girl named Mayuka who appears out of nowhere claiming to be Tenchi's daughter. Ryoko and Ayeka are jealous and/or suspicious, Sasami befriends her, Kiyone and Mihoshi are the same, and Washu suspects something. Mayuka turns out to have been created by the demonic villain Yuzuha, who wanted revenge on Yosho because after befriending Yosho as a child she was banished by Jurai.

Tenchi Forever: Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2: Haruka Naru Omoi (1999)

Tenchi Forever: Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2 is a continuation of the TV series (Universe) and is the last of the movies. The movie takes place after Tenchi Muyo! in Love 1.

After a fight between Ryoko and Ayeka, Tenchi runs into the mountains to be seduced by a beautiful woman and disappear. Six months later, he is found with a woman named Haruna and he has forgotten his previous life.

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Manga

The Tenchi manga consists of two series, Tenchi Muyo! and Shin Tenchi Muyo! (the shin here means new and has no connection to the second television series, Shin Tenchi Muyo (aka Tenchi in Tokyo)), written by Hitoshi Okuda. They have been released in America as No Need for Tenchi and The All-New Tenchi Muyo!.

Unlike most anime/manga combinations, for Tenchi the anime came first, and the manga is considered unofficial. It is based on OAV series 1 and 2. Since the manga originally began in Japan before the release of OAV 2, the OAV 2 elements are not introduced immediately at the beginning. Because the manga is unofficial, new elements introduced in the manga do not carry over to the anime.

Manga series released in the US:

  • "No Need for Tenchi" series! (Volumes 1-2, earlier half of volume 3, 4-6, first half of 7, and 8-12.)
  • "No Need for Tenchi: Magical Girl Pretty Sammy" (Later half of Volume 3, based on the Magical Project S "Pretty Sammy" anime. Not thought of as part of the Manga storyline)
  • "No Need for Tenchi: Tenchi in Love" (Second half of Volume 7, based on the first Tenchi movie. Has characters from the Tenchi Universe timeline. Not thought of as part of the Manga storyline)
  • "Tenchi Muyo: Sasami Stories" (A collection or reprint of several of the Sasami related events that happened in the No Need for Tenchi Manga series. However, the book itself is in the new smaller format, and also features bonus comics in the back that were printed over the years. The bonus comics are not thought of as part of the overall Manga story.)
  • "The All New Tenchi Muyo" series (Volumes 1-7/still being published. Set in the same story and time (It is a continuation of the No Need for Tenchi manga) as the No Need for Tenchi series, but with a smaller book format. Introduces several new characters that weren't in the No Need for Tenchi series.)
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Spin-offs

The first Tenchi spinoff is the Pretty Sammy, the Magical Girl series, a magical girl series where Sasami is the lead character. The first use of Pretty Sammy was in the Tenchi Muyo! Sound File, a Japanese-only music video release. The same animation was used in the ending of the Mihoshi Special. In 1995, a three episode Pretty Sammy OVA series began, where Sasami, who is known as Sasami Kawai, magically becomes Pretty Sammy. The second Pretty Sammy is a TV series (titled in America as Magical Project S), which came out in 1996. This series is a separate continuity from the OAV series. Pretty Sammy also appears in the Mihoshi Special and in an alternate reality sequence in the Tenchi Universe series.

The second is Tenchi Muyo! GXP, which was released in Japan in 2001. The series takes place during the Kajishima version of the OVA continuity, directly after the events in the third OVA series, though it was released first. The main character of this twenty-six episode TV series is Seina Yamada, a friend of Tenchi Masaki who accidentally joined the Galaxy Police. Many characters from the Tenchi OAV series make appearances in this series, including the use of Seiryo as a major character and a full-fledged Tenchi Muyo! crossover in episode 17.

Other versions of Tenchi Muyo! are also available as graphic novels, video games and radio dramas.

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English Adaptions Distributor History

The manga is published in English in North America by Viz Communications. In Singapore it is published in English by Chuang Yi as No Need for Tenchi!

Pioneer USA (now Geneon Entertainment) has brought out most of the releases in the USA up to 2002. They released the Tenchi OAV series, the Mihoshi Special episode, both of the Tenchi Muyo! television series, and all three of the Tenchi Muyo! movies. Pioneer USA has also distributed the Pretty Sammy spinoff, with both the Pretty Sammy OAV's and Magical Project S TV series. On DVD the Mihoshi Special is released with Pretty Sammy, not with the rest of the Tenchi series.

OVA1 and OVA2 were released on DVD in the UK in 2004. A single boxset was released in the UK which includes OVA1, OVA2 and the Mihoshi Special.

Funimation Productions licensed the second Tenchi Muyo! spinoff series Tenchi Muyo! GXP for distribution in the United States in 2003, and released it in 2004. FUNimation also licensed the third OAV series and released it on DVD starting July 2005. FUNimation has kept most of the original dub voice cast except for Petrea Burchard, who dubbed Ryoko's voice in the Pioneer/Geneon releases. She is replaced by Mona Marshall in the GXP and OAV 3 series.

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Characters

Template:Tenchi Muyo!

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Trivia

  • The creator of Tenchi Muyo!, Masaki Kajishima, named several of the characters after locations in his Okayama Prefecture hometown. [1]
  • When first aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami in America, Cartoon Network did some editing to the character's lines. The girls (mostly Ryoko) often drink 'tea' throughout the series. However, their 'tea' is often poured and distributed like sake, a Japanese rice wine. Characters often begin to blush, slur their words together, hiccup, and slowly decline in their mannerisms as they chugged down their 'tea.' This was done to prevent backlash from the more conservative American audiences.
  • Guardians of Order published an English-language role-playing game based on OVA Episodes 1-13. The game, now out of print due to the expiry of the license, was moderately successful but is mainly of interest for combining many of the design elements that would be incorporated a few months later into the second edition of Big Eyes, Small Mouth and for the insights its writers gave on Tenchi's dilemma.
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Tenchi Muyo Situation

Many Japanese anime and manga titles have one boy who, for some reason or another, must be surrounded by a significant number of girls, many of which want to go out on a date with him by the end of the series. In recent years, this has been called a "Tenchi Muyo Situation". An example of this type of anime is Love Hina where many of the girls at the lodge begin to fancy him.

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External links

es:Tenchi Muyo! fr:Tenchi muyo! ja:天地無用! pt:Tenchi Muyo zh:天地無用

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