Tenchi in Tokyo

TV Series

CARL's TAKE: <<<One and a half out of Four Stars>>>

Summary - recasted yet again, the gang gets hit with a shock as Tenchi announces he's moving to Tokyo for school. This doesn't stop the girls at the Misaki residence, though, as they're willing to try anything to keep in contact with him. This becomes a problem, for a city-girl named Sakuya has stolen Tenchi's heart. This could prove especially fatal for the planet as Tenchi has a tradition passed through his family to defend the Earth using a special sword - a piece of which is worn by each of the six girls in his life. A dark figure from Jurai's past shows up to capitalize on this by breaking apart Tenchi's relationships with all of them - something that with Sakuya's influence turns out to be pretty easy.

Impression - the worst animation of the bunch coupled with the most senseless plot. Probably wouldn't have survived without the Tenchi name.

Review - I'm with the majority that thinks Tenchi in Tokyo is the worst of the Tenchis, but not for the common complaint about Sakuya (actually she was my favorite character in the series, as by this time I was so bored with the same old garbage from everyone else a semi-normal girl was bliss). I really don't like this title because of how little it has to offer. The context and plot of the series is new but the characters and situations are not. They've abandoned the deep and thoughtful beginning in the OVA for a hokey, fast-paced collage of slapstick. Everything from the ridiculous Sailor Moon-ish spirit monsters to the 'let's go to Tokyo in every episode' plot direction makes this title seem like it was perfectly fine with never amounting to anything.

VERDICT: Even big fans of Tenchi could live without seeing this. But it is gratifying to see Tenchi finally evolving a little a getting a girlfriend - even if the rest of the cast hasn't changed a bit since the beginning of the franchise.

MIKE'S TAKE: <<< >>>

BEN'S TAKE: <<< >>>