Anime Colony: Tenchi Muyo in Love

Exclusive review: Inu-Yasha:
Rumiko Takahashi's (Ranma 1/2, Maison Ikkoku, Mermaid Tales) new hit TV series in Japan

  Rating: PG
  U.S. Distribution Rights: Pioneer Entertainment
  Genres: Action, Shounen, Sci-Fi

Tenchi Muyo in Love (Movie)
Alternate Title: Tenchi the Movie

Description: One day, when Tenchi watched an old video of his mother, his mother's image starts to vanish and so does he. They found out that someone has gone back to the past and has eliminated Tenchi's mother thus erasing Tenchi's existence! Washu sends Tenchi and co. back to 1970, when Tenchi's parents were still in high school. Even with Tenchi and co. around her, Achika's (Tenchi's mother) safety is not guaranteed, since the villain whom they face is Kain, an extremely powerful galaxy criminal seeking revenge from the Jurai blood. Will Achika be safe, and will there be a Tenchi Muyo at all?

Overall Grade: 89.5% (B+)

The Magical Project S (TV) Review
The No Need for Tenchi! (Manga) Review
The Pretty Sammy (OVA) Review
The Tenchi Forever!: The Movie 3 (Movie) Review
The Tenchi Muyo! (OVA) Review
The Tenchi Muyo!: Mihoshi Special (OVA) Review
The Tenchi Universe (TV) Review
The Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness (Movie) Review

Reviewer #1: Aimei Wong
Episodes reviewed: Subtitled

Grade: 83% (B)

This is a movie adaptation to the popular TV series. It goes into the past and talks about Tenchi's parents when they were young, and how this galaxy criminal Kain tried to destroy Tenchi's mother. It is the most typical kind of plot. There's a powerful bad guy who wants revenge on the good people. There's a huge fight. The good people fights desperately, and they win. The plot is nothing new, but it does not necessarily mean that this animation is bad. The art and graphics are pretty good in my opinion. It's not a "must-see" anime, but watch it when you're bored.

Although I do like the character designs, I can't stand these people's personalities. (Well, I can't stand most of them.) Why do all these girls, including a great scientist and a cool space pilot, like Tenchi? What's so good about him? If you just watch the movie and not the TV series or the OAV's, you wouldn't understand why all the girls are so into him. Well, I watched the OAV's, but I still don't get what's so good about him. In the beginning of the movie when Tenchi was vanishing, I was thinking, "Just let him vanish, dammit!"

I especially cannot stand Mihoshi in this movie. I don't even know why she exists. She is nothing but plain stupid. Her stupidity, which is supposed to be funny, is not even funny. I find her really annoying. My favorite character is Ryo-oh-ki, the little rabbit-like creature that goes "meow." (Is cabbit the word?)

Reviewer #2: Clyde Adams III
Episodes reviewed: Movie; Subtitled

Grade: 96% (A)

Tenchi the Movie is an exciting, emotional, tightly plotted adventure story, with very high production values and an outstanding score by veteran score-writer Christopher Franke (once of Tangerine Dream, and founder of the Berlin Symphonic Film Orchestra). It features legendary voice actress Megumi Hayashibara as Tenchi's mother Achika. I highly recommend it, but only for viewer who already know the Tenchi Muyou characters; the movie does not develop the characters, it takes them for granted.

Kain, a mysterious, incredibly powerful entity with a grudge against the Jurai royal family (Tenchi's family), escapes from a galactic prison, travels back in time, and kills Tenchi's mother Achika years before Tenchi's birth. Tenchi and his friends go back in time to prevent this.

The film focuses on Tenchi's love and longing for his mother, who died (in the real timeline) when he was very small. In the past setting, Tenchi and Achika are the same age, 17. Tenchi's feelings resonate with Achika, who comes to sense his true identity, and finds more strength in herself to fight Kain.