They're back! Ready or not, North America is being hit again by the TENCHI phenomenon courtesy of Pioneer Entertainment. This time around though, it is a new look at a series which has become something of a phenomenon.
The TENCHI MUYO TV series is long over in Japan (though MAGICAL GIRL PRETTY SAMMY is now on the air), but the 24 episode television run is finally being released four episodes at a time in standard Pioneer fashion (simultaneous subbed, dubbed, and LD releases). This is a quick look at specifically the LD version.
Opening the box reveals two CAV LDs (English Dub on Digital, Original Japanese on Analog, Closed Captioned subtitled translation), liner notes, and a "collectable" Tenchi card (that will fit together with ones from future episodes).
"No Need for Discussions" (episode 1) deals a new intro to the series, with the space pirate Ryoko being chased by everybody's favorite detective, Mihoshi, and crashing into Earth.
"No Need for a Princess" (episode 2) brings Princess Aeka to Earth after picking up Mihoshi's distress beacon. This is also an excuse to escape the Juraian Royal Scene, but Aeka lands only to meet her old childhood nemesis, Ryoko.
"No Need for Worries" (episode 3) brings Sasami to the rescue of Aeka, and along with the introduction of Ryo-oh-ki (the cabbit) comes another event that strands our spacefaring characters at Tenchi's house once more.
"No Need for Monsters" (episode 4) explores the cave where Ryoko was originally discovered in the OVA series, only to find a different kind of space monster.
Overall, the plots are similar to the original series, but the designers definitely had fun changing around the characters, histories, and in-jokes. Tenchi's father plays a larger role in the group, Ryoko was always a space pirate, Mihoshi has not fallen for Tenchi, Ryo-oh-ki loves carrots more than ever before, we learn more about the past histories of the characters, and we even get to see a Galaxy Police Power Suit.
But although the TV series has higher production values than your average show, it still is noticably less than the OVA series. There are more shortcut effects, talking heads, and other tricks throughout (see EX issue 2.1 for a glossary of terms). Also, these first plots tend to lack the mystery and relations to ancient Japanese culture in the OVA.
A quick listen to the dubbing reveals a reasonable job to me (as the North American voices have gotten into their roles more over the years). The English intro song was also performed by one of the same singers as the Japanese edition (Oyaki Jun & Boogie Burns) with relative success (and fluent English!) although I found the song lyrics to be too literal. However, I am noticably biased as I prefer the original Japanese voices since they have truly defined the characters for me from the beginning. I even own the "SONIA WONDERLAND" CD containing the original TV theme and other works from Jun and Boogie.
I have to admit I have been a TENCHI fan since the original Japanese OVA run, through the infamous rivalry between Ryoko and Aeka, and even the full brunt of Takada Yumi's singing. I guess I have a softspot for ultra cute Ryo-oh-ki, or maybe the idea of a boy, a sword, a club of females, and the universe just works for me. The TV series is something I plan on continuing to follow, not only to see new characters like Kiyone, but also to see what occurs in the second part of the series with "TENCHI MUYO IN SPACE."
So in summary, if you want to take a first look into that "TENCHI" thing, you would not do badly by checking out the TV series. A mix of comedy, high female to male ratio, and action is not for everyone though, and I would strongly suggest first looking into the original OVA "classic" that started it all, to see what Tenchi Muyo is all about. But if you are a TENCHI fan begging for more, what are you waiting for?

THE TENCHI UNIVERSE COLLECTION 1
TENCHI MUYO ON EARTH 1 (TV Series)
© AIC / Pioneer LDC, Inc. / Pioneer Entertainment (USA) L.P.
CAV LD PILA-1321A $44.98
VHS dubbed PIVA-1321D $24.98
VHS subtitled PIVA-1321S $29.98
100 minutes
Released in North America by Pioneer Entertainment