Tenchi in Tokyo
Encyclopedia
, is a 26-episode Japan
ese cartoon series produced by AIC
in 1997. It is the third series (the OVA
and Universe
series being the first two) from the Tenchi Muyo!
series.
's royal family, and the secret behind the Masaki family in this series is to protect the Earth from evil as Planet Guardians. Many of the returning characters were also given completely different, exaggerated or simplified personalities that makes them different from the previous series. The series also features a drastically different style of humor than the previous series, with more surreal gags and situations, and a greater emphasis on physical comedy and exaggeration. To facilitate this, the cast was redesigned so their characters designs are much simpler, which allows for more fluid movement which lends itself better to this style of comedy. One final new change is that all the girls are introduced in the first episode as already living in the Masaki home and then a flashback in episode 7 shows how they all met Tenchi, rather than introducing them separately as shown in the previous series.
, , and
(PretenDad in Pioneer's subtitles)
from 1 April 1997 to 23 September 1997.
The English-dubbed version was picked up by Cartoon Network
in 2000 for broadcast on its Toonami
block (US and Europe). The Toonami version was edited for content, and featured custom opening and closing credits.
After Cartoon Network's rights to broadcast the show expired, International Channel
picked up the rights to air the dubbed version in 2004.
The Spanish dub (co-produced by Cloverway Inc.) was broadcast on Univision
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese cartoon series produced by AIC
AIC (company)
, often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese anime studio with headquarters in Nerima, Tokyo.The company was founded on July 15, 1982. In addition to producing anime for domestic consumption in Japan, AIC has provided animation assistance on other animated series such as Inspector Gadget...
in 1997. It is the third series (the OVA
Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki
is a twenty episode collection of OVAs produced by AIC, initially released in Japan in 1992. The first two OVA series were later licensed and distributed in North America by Pioneer LDC, with FUNimation Entertainment taking over the rights for the third series.The distribution of the first OVA...
and Universe
Tenchi Universe
was a 26 episode anime series produced by the AIC and Pioneer Animation. It is loosely based on the first six episodes of the Tenchi Muyo! OVA series. The series premiered on April 2, 1995 in Japan and concluded its airing on September 24, 1995. The series aired in the United States on Cartoon...
series being the first two) from the Tenchi Muyo!
Tenchi Muyo!
, is a Japanese anime, light novel, and manga series created by Masaki Kajishima and Hiroki Hayashi.The generally accepted translation of the title is No Need for Tenchi or Useless Tenchi, though at the time of its appearance it was also translated variably as No Heaven and Earth and This Way Up...
series.
Overview
Unlike its predecessor Tenchi Universe, the last Tenchi series is completely unrelated to the initial concept of Tenchi Muyo! and is different from the OVAs and first TV series. A couple of changes are that Tenchi and his grandfather are not related to JuraiJurai
is a planet in the AIC anime Tenchi Muyo!, and also the name of its royal family. The planet and royal family of Jurai appear mostly in the Ryo-Ohki OVA and Tenchi Universe series and briefly in Tenchi in Tokyo...
's royal family, and the secret behind the Masaki family in this series is to protect the Earth from evil as Planet Guardians. Many of the returning characters were also given completely different, exaggerated or simplified personalities that makes them different from the previous series. The series also features a drastically different style of humor than the previous series, with more surreal gags and situations, and a greater emphasis on physical comedy and exaggeration. To facilitate this, the cast was redesigned so their characters designs are much simpler, which allows for more fluid movement which lends itself better to this style of comedy. One final new change is that all the girls are introduced in the first episode as already living in the Masaki home and then a flashback in episode 7 shows how they all met Tenchi, rather than introducing them separately as shown in the previous series.
Major characters
- Tenchi Masaki
- Ryoko
- Ayeka Jurai
- Sakuya KumashiroSakuya Kumashirois a character from Tenchi in Tokyo.-History:Sakuya Kumashiro has been rated 3 on Temangu High's "Must Have List" by her male classmates. However, it is newcomer Tenchi Masaki that gets her attention. On one of his first days, she chooses to sit next to him at lunch, much to the envy of the other...
- Sasami Jurai
- Ryo-Ohki
- Washu Hakubi
- Mihoshi Kuramitsu
- Kiyone Makibi
- YugiYugi (Tenchi Muyo!)is a fictional character in the anime Tenchi Muyo!, the main antagonist from the television series Tenchi in Tokyo. Her appearance is that of a young blonde girl with a red and black striped headdress and large spiked armor that hovers around her....
Other characters
- Katsuhito Masaki
- Nobuyuki Masaki
Recurring characters
- Hotsuma is one of Yugi's servants. He is dressed as a scientist and has long blond hair. In the series, he tries to get the attention of Ryoko, and he succeeds in bringing her back to her former life as a space pirate, following Ryoko's heartbreak after seeing Tenchi and Sakuya kiss on the school rooftops. Hotsuma's determination to keep Ryoko away from her old friends is where he has framed Mihoshi and Kiyone for tipping off the Galaxy Police when the two had infiltrated their gang, and later reminding Ryoko that Tenchi has Sakuya, when Ryoko has started to miss the Earth.
- Eventually when Ryoko starts to get bored with her life as a space pirate, she finds that she has been tricked after overhearing Hotsuma talking about her bad qualities during his conversation with Yugi. Thinking that at least she is honest with her flaws and never ever backstabs the other girls, she decides to leave and got ready to do so.
- When Hotsuma notices Ryoko's presence, Yugi decides that he should just kill her and Hotsuma almost succeeds by blowing up their ship. Luckily, Ryoko notices that she forgot the pictures of her and Tenchi and leaves the ship in time which saved her life. Ryoko then fights Hotsuma and although he gets the upper hand by turning into a monster, she manages to kill Hotsuma and get free.
- Tsugaru is one of Yugi's servants, and a master manipulator rather than a fighter. Distinguished by his brown hair, yellow shirt, and rather effeminate mannerisms.
- Tsugaru first tries to kill Sasami in Tokyo until Ryo-ohki forces him away, and then he helps Hotsuma with gaining the trust of the Masaki family and dividing them apart, targeting Ayeka and later Mihoshi and Kiyone, while Hotsuma goes against Ryoko. First, he contacts Ayeka when she is walking outside the temple and shows an image of Tenchi and Sakuya kissing, telling her to call Tenchi and ask him directly; encouraged by Sasami, Ayeka does so, but she does not obtain a satisfactory reply (Tenchi was just about to go out with Sakuya), and decides to stay home anyway.
- Tsugaru later shoots down Mihoshi and Kiyone's shuttle on their way back to Earth and then attacks them. Mihoshi and Kiyone's normal guns have no effect on Tsugaru, until Tsugaru is killed when he was shot by Kiyone's gun, which was loaded with an anti-matter bullet which vaporized him.
- One of Yugi's servants created by Yugi in Episode 4 to help carry out of her mission. Matori is distinguished by her black hair and the red marks on her face. Her specialty is that she can create guardian spirits from inanimate objects.
- Matori first creates Daidara Hoshi by tricking the girls (minus Sasami and Washu) into constructing him. Matori then creates a fake Nobuyuki Masaki to kidnap Sakuya Kumashiro and draw the real Nobuyuki and Tenchi to him to bring Tenchi and Sakuya together. During Yugi's attack on the Masaki shrine, Matori severs the dimensional tunnel from Tenchi's side so the girls could not escape to Tokyo.
- Near the end of the series, Yugi assigns Matori to kidnap Sasami to make her part of her kingdom. Despite her initial opinion of preferring to kill Sasami with the others, Matori carries out these orders, and with her guardian spirits she easily destroys Ayeka's defense system and almost kills Ayeka herself. Matori then kidnaps Sasami and takes her to Yugi.
- When Tenchi breaks free from Yugi's illusionary dimension, Matori attacks him but is driven back when the Masaki family appears in Yugi's dimension. Sasami then tries to convince Yugi to give up her mad scheme, and after Matori suggests to Yugi that they should just kill all of them, in a fit of anger Yugi kills Matori.
- Other than his brief appearance in the Tenchi Muyo OVA series Kazuhiko Amagasaki also appears in this series as a regular. Tenchi first met Amagasaki in this series when he moves to Tokyo. Amagasaki and his good friend Umanosuke Tsuchida hang out with Tenchi and although Amagasaki does not seem to be bright, Tenchi is able to help tutor him when he needed it so he could go on summer vacation with everyone else. Amagasaki also has an interest in professional wrestlingProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and is once able to defeat Sadako Ikarinu in battle.
- Umanosuke is one of Tenchi's new friends after he moves to Tokyo. He is the grandson of Dokuzen Tsuchida, the Shinto priest that Tenchi is apprenticing to. Unlike Tenchi, Umanosuke has no interest in inheriting his family's shrine. He is also good friends with Kazuhiko Amagasaki and like him, Umanosuke also has an interest in wrestling.
, , and
- These three girls hang out with Sakuya Kumashiro and other than gossiping with her about boys, they are also trying to match her up with Tenchi and bring them together.
- Sugano voiced by: Manabi Mizuno (Japanese), Sherry LynnSherry LynnSherry Lynn is a veteran American voice actress, known for young girl roles in animation and video games. She is represented by Arlene Thornton & Associates...
(English) - Yoshinaga voiced by: Yukari TamuraYukari Tamura, is a popular Japanese singer-songwriter and voice actress, affiliated with the talent agency I'm Enterprise. Affectionately called Yukarin by her fans, she is also known for her high-pitched voice and interest in Lolita fashion...
(Japanese), Wendee LeeWendee LeeWendee Lee is an American voice actress. While she has done voice work for many video games as well as several episodes in the Power Rangers franchise, she is particularly prolific in the dubbing of anime. As of April 2009, with 223 credits to her name, she has more credits in this medium than any...
(English) - Matsuno voiced by: Ayaka HibikiAyaka Hibikiis a Japanese stage actress and voice actress. She was formerly credited as , which is also her . She played the role of Miki Kaoru in the musical adaptation of Revolutionary Girl Utena.-Notable voice roles:*Hiromi Ohara in Kochikame...
and Hisoka Moriya (Japanese), Rebecca ForstadtRebecca ForstadtRebecca Lynn Olkowski , better known by her maiden name, Rebecca Forstadt, is an American voice actor who is best known for playing anime girls with sweet voices. She is also known as Reba West and Becky Olkowski.After studying theater at Orange Coast College, in Costa Mesa, California, Ms...
(English)
Minor characters
- A shinto priest and an old friend of Katsuhito Masaki, as his ancestors had helped build the Masaki shrine. At his request to Katsuhito, Tenchi was sent to Tokyo to serve as Dokuzen's apprentice so Tenchi could train as a Shinto priest and be able to inherit his family's shrine as part of the favor that Katsuhito owes to the Tsuchida family. Dokuzen is a good natured and friendly priest although he has a tendency to have Tenchi perform his duties for him as he is getting on in age. Dokuzen is also Umanosuke's grandfather.
- The teacher of Tenchi's class, bears a resemblance to Masamichi Fujisawa of El-HazardEl-Hazardis a Japanese anime franchise written by Ryoe Tsukimura and directed by Hiroki Hayashi. The series was produced and animated by AIC.There is also a manga adaptation, which is published in English by VIZ Media. The series was formerly distributed in the U.S. by Pioneer LDC, now known as Geneon...
, another anime series also produced by AICAIC (company), often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese anime studio with headquarters in Nerima, Tokyo.The company was founded on July 15, 1982. In addition to producing anime for domestic consumption in Japan, AIC has provided animation assistance on other animated series such as Inspector Gadget...
He even mentions the magical world.
- A guardian spirit created when Sakuya Kumashiro prayed to the marriage goddess at the Love Knot shrine. Ine Suzuki tried a couple of times to put the thread of fate on Tenchi and Sakuya's fingers during multiple romantic settings, but wasn't able to succeed. Ine Suzuki eventually drew them into her dimension, the hill of legend.
- After successfully placing the thread, Ine Suzuki was surprised to see so many threads on Tenchi's finger, as they represnt the rest of the Masaki clan. It drew both Ryoko and Ayeka into her dimension and although they had a little trouble dealing with her thread at first, they break free and make a huge ball of her own thread and crush her to death with it, and sending Ine Suzuki's spirit back to the shrine.
- A guardian spirit created by Yugi, through a discarded cell phone. He was able to disrupt all cell phone calls, as well as corrupt Washu's surveillance units that were observing Tenchi. Once Washu found out that something was corrupting her units and traced Yoshiaki Zumino's location, Ryoko headed out with Sasami and Ryo-Ohki and easily killed Yoshiaki Zumino.
- A giant construction worker guardian spirit brought to life when Yugi's servant Matori tricked Ryoko, Ayeka, Mihoshi, and Kiyone into building Daidara Hoshi for her in exchange for money. Daidara's job was to build a palace suitable for Yugi.
- An enraged Kiyone alongside Mihoshi tried to take him down with their GP blasters, only to find it had no effect. Then Kiyone noticed a weak spot, which Mihoshi admitted she caused when she tripped and made a mess earlier by making a hole in the wall. The two then fired at the weak spot and caused Daidara Hoshi to fall into the bay taking a partly constructed palace with him.
- A monkey guardian spirit created by Yugi to steal the gems from the Masaki clan after Tenchi returns home for their anniversary and have Sakuya Kumashiro blamed for it, when she decided to follow Tenchi and meet his family. After an angry Ryoko left, Washu is able to use a device to track the gems to the real thief Satoru Zuimoto. Ayeka knocked him out of the house with her fan, and following him to the lake where Ryoko was, Ryoko finished him off when she found out the truth.
- A cabbit created by Yugi to separate Ryo-ohkiRyo-Ohki, is a fictional character in the Japanese anime series Tenchi Muyo! and its spinoffs. Ryo-Ohki's appearance is similar to a cross between a cat and a rabbit, and for this reason Ryo-Ohki is commonly referred to as a cabbit...
from the group after she was blamed by Sasami for damaging Katsuhito's golden statue (which was actually caused by Ryoko and Ayeka who were fighting). Once Sasami found out the truth she and the others (minus Washu and Tenchi) followed them to the moon. After Sasami's feelings got through to Ryo-ohki, Yu-Ohki grew to a giant form, only to defeated by Ryo-ohki's mecha form and ran away. Yu-Ohki was then killed by Yugi.
(PretenDad in Pioneer's subtitles)
- A guardian spirit which is a fake of Nobuyuki Masaki created by Matori from one of Nobuyuki's discarded cigarettes. Although her plan was to use him to capture Sakuya Kumashiro and bring her and Tenchi together, Pseudo-Dad had a problem of picking up any pretty woman he sees.
- Once Matori had to discipline him, Pseudo-Dad carried out his mission and took Sakuya to the Tsuchida shrine. Matori then lured the real Nobuyuki right to them, and Nobuyuki bought a traffic safety exorcising arrow from the Tsuchida shrine and used it on Pseudo-Dad which finished him off.
- Masayo Manuketa is one of the twin comets brought to life by Tsugaru, who takes on the form of a female motorcycle racer. She would help Ayeka and Sasami in their attempt to hitchhike their way to Tokyo. During a lunch stop, Masayo tells a story to Ayeka on how she always tunes up her motorcycle to catch her boyfriend, Isao. Touched by their story, Ayeka decides to give up on visiting Tenchi and helps Masayo to reach for Isao instead; reunited, they thank Ayeka and Sasami and go back to their galaxy.
- Isao Ketauchi is one of the twin comets who takes on the form of a male track sprinter who had become a living legend among bikers. Eventually for Masayo to catch up with Isao, Ayeka, Sasami, and Ryo-ohki had to jump from the sidecar on Masayo's bike to lighten the weight and make it go faster. Masayo and Isao then immediately went back to being comets.
- Sadako Ikarinu was a masked joshi puroresu (female professional wrestler). Yugi brings Sadako's spirit back to life as a guardian spirit from her mask. Her goal was to prevent Amagasaki from interfering during Tenchi and Sakuya's meetings. Amagasaki eventually defeated her with one of his own wrestling moves on the school roof.
- (Note: Based on actual female wrestler Sadako Inokari from the 1950s.)
- The Jurai Empress from 3,500 years who had sealed away YugiYugi (Tenchi Muyo!)is a fictional character in the anime Tenchi Muyo!, the main antagonist from the television series Tenchi in Tokyo. Her appearance is that of a young blonde girl with a red and black striped headdress and large spiked armor that hovers around her....
. Although she knew that Yugi wasn't intentionally harming the Jurai people with her playful mischief, Hinase still sealed Yugi away as her power was simply too dangerous to allow her to roam unchecked.
- (Note: Empress Hinase's appearance is similar to Tokimi in the OVA.)
- Voiced by: Yuriko YamaguchiYuriko Yamaguchi (voice actor)is a Japanese voice actress who was born in Osaka. Previously a member of Vi-Vo, Yuriko is currently freelance. She is most known for the roles of Nico Robin and the second voice of Nurse Joy . Her hobby is overtone singing. Her nickname is "Yuruko"...
(Japanese), Brianne SiddallBrianne SiddallBrianne Siddall is an American voice actress. She is usually cast in the short kid role of a timid young boy. She was also a voice actress during the Power Rangers era who was active in the franchise until it moved to New Zealand in 2003...
(English)
Broadcast history
Tenchi in Tokyo was broadcast on TV TokyoTV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
from 1 April 1997 to 23 September 1997.
The English-dubbed version was picked up by Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
in 2000 for broadcast on its Toonami
Toonami
Toonami was a registered trademark of Cartoon Network, used initially for action-oriented programming blocks on Cartoon Network television channels worldwide, mostly showing American cartoons and Japanese anime, originating in the United States on March 17, 1997 and ended on September 20, 2008.The...
block (US and Europe). The Toonami version was edited for content, and featured custom opening and closing credits.
After Cartoon Network's rights to broadcast the show expired, International Channel
AZN Television
AZN Television promoted itself as "the network for Asian America". It was run by International Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. The channel’s programming targeted the fast-growing, young, affluent, English-speaking Asian American community...
picked up the rights to air the dubbed version in 2004.
The Spanish dub (co-produced by Cloverway Inc.) was broadcast on Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
.
Music
- Opening Theme: Yume wa doko e itta? [Where Did the Dream Go?] (performed by Linda YamamotoLinda Yamamotois a Japanese singer and actress whose greatest hit song was in 1973.-Biography :Yamamoto was born March 4, 1951 in Kitakyushu to a Japanese mother and an American father. Her father was a U.S. serviceman who died in the Korean War when she was only two years old. Yamamoto moved to Yokohama as a...
) - Ending Theme: Yamerarenai, Yamerarenai! [Unstoppable, Unstoppable!] (performed by the Japanese Tenchi Muyo cast)
- 2nd Ending Theme (episode 24): Kataomoi [Unrequited Love] (performed by Mayumi IizukaMayumi Iizukais a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Tokyo and grew up in Taiwan and Yokohama. Iizuka is a member of Gekidan Wakakusa and Tokuma Japan Communications....
) - Background Music: Shunsuke KikuchiShunsuke Kikuchiis a prolific Japanese composer from Hirosaki. He specializes in incidental music for media such as television and film.Active since the early 60s, he has been one of Japan's most highly demanded film and TV composers, working principally on tokusatsu and anime productions for children, as well as...