Copyright © 1999 Ryouei Tsukimura, Tenamonya Project / Bandai Visual, Studio Pierrot

It was bound to happen sooner or later: a DVD only release. Well actually when TENAMONYA VOYAGERS was released originally in Japan in late 1999, it came out on VHS, LD and DVD (at 6090 yen or around $60 US per 30 minute episode). But, thanks to Bandai, TENAMONYA VOYAGERS has made its journey across the Pacific relatively untouched as one 100 minute DVD (with your choice of Japanese or English audio tracks).
Some will understandably ask why Bandai chose TENAMONYA VOYAGERS to test out the DVD-only waters, and I can only guess that its because this is a such a strange show in parts, even by Japanese standards. If I were forced to compare TENAMONYA VOYAGERS to other series, I would mix it between TENCHI MUYO (without the Tenchi) and EXCEL SAGA (though even TENAMONYA VOYAGERS isn't that manic).
The story starts out with Ayako, a timid woman in a harsh job market who is unable to find work as a teacher. She had decided to take a tempting offer in another city... on another planet. Sure enough, when she arrives after spending most of her money to get there, she finds the school has been closed down. Along with her is Wakana, a high school student also from Earth who received an athletic scholarship to the same school. With collect calls being ¥1,000,000 a minute, they have never felt so far away from home.
The excitement begins when a battle mech falls from the sky and crash lands next to the two paupers. The pilot emerges and introduces herself as a student named Paraila, and upon hearing they are from Earth she decides to accompany them.
Thus begins their journey to reach Earth with little cash in a large universe. However, little do Ayako and Wakana realize their companion happens to be wanted by one of the largest crime syndicates in the universe and the galactic police. Not to mention that Paraila tends to have little problem with breaking almost every law in the books.
The strength of TENAMONYA VOYAGERS in my mind is the characters' responses to the strangest of situations. Constantly stranded or facing unbelievable odds, the way these people react to the tough situations they get themselves into is the source of some great comedy. From being ambushed on a space train by an army, trapped on deserted islands, digging out of a huge illegal gambling debt, to even stripping down for a ship-wide sauna, the show gets rather warped.
Given that TENAMONYA VOYAGERS is an OVA series, the production values are noticeably higher than an average TV show. Being an OVA also means that they have more freedom in content, so be prepared to see the characters scantily clad in many situations.
The DVD print is a great transfer, with little sign of artifacting and such. The DVD also contains the standard creditless opening (a worthy trend), a small picture gallery and the standard slew of Bandai trailers. The menus are very animated and cute but practical. My only concern on this DVD is the increasing trend of non-skippable copyright warnings and company logo screens when you start to play the DVD, which became very apparent to me when I viewed this disk in separate sittings.
My biggest negative of the show is that I wanted more. TENAMONYA VOYAGERS with its whacked out characters and situations worked well for me, and I felt let down at an ending that left a big "To be continued?" that may never be continued. Then again, to some viewers maybe all the fan-service in the fourth episode might make up for that.
Misgivings aside, with all four OVA episodes on one DVD I certainly felt the trip was worthwhile. It is DVDs like TENAMONYA VOYAGERS that truly show that the anime scene in North America has never been better when it comes to choice and value (as long as you have a DVD player that is).

Released in North America by Bandai Entertainment
Bilingual DVD, 100 minutes
English dubbed / Japanese with English subtitles: Order # 1520 / ISBN 1-58354-637-5
$29.95
Available now in the USA
Where to buy