Tenchi Muyo - OAV DVD Boxed Set

Rating:
Summary: About as overrated as a series can get
Review: Sorry gang...I realize I'll get bashed for this - but since it looked popular enough, and got rave reviews, plus had a couple of spin-off's, I figured: How could I go wrong ???

This is hands down, the most disappointed I have ever felt after watching an entire anime series. Maybe I expected too much ???

The major problem I had with this series is some episodes are clever and entertaining....others are boring.....and others are just plain *stupid*. I honestly don't remember if there were 2 episodes in a row that were good. Frustration really set in after a great opening episode - then an "ok" 2nd - a terrible 3rd - a good 4th - a poor 5th, ect ect ect...It just never picked up steam and kept me wanting more.

Another problem is characters. The only one I really enjoyed throughout was Ryouko, with Washuu a close 2nd. I found these characters to be the best written with their quick sharp witted sense of humor...But their development was hammered by the whiny Sasami, the prissyness of Aeka, and the stupidity of 'blonde bimbo' Mihoshi.....and don't even get me started on that annoying Ryoohki character. After the first 3-4 "MEOWS" I just about had enough. Toooo cute for his/her/it own good.

I realize this is the world of "Anime" - but damn, folks....The story was just plain *stupid*...and the villans just didn't have that *spunk* and *sharpness* you love to hate. They are DULL.

Oh - do I have to mention how stupid Aeka's guards Azaka and Kamidake are ??????? Not funny folks...

So for all you who are hoping to nab the "Anime of all Animes", this is *not* it. Maybe its for some people - but certainly not for me. There is *much* better anime out there.

The biggest dissapointment of my anime watching tenure.

I also would like to add this is ***ridiculously*** overpriced. Pioneer, you should be ashamed of yourself. THREE disks and "ok" packaging ?? Doesn't add up in any way, shape, or form.





Rating:
Summary: The best of the best
Review: What you're looking at is the best Tenchi Muyo DVD set ever. Best storyline, characters, and romance comedy!

And if you think they won't make anymore of the greatest OAV series, think again. Tenchi Muyo GXP is also part of the OAV series along with No Need For Tenchi/The All-New Tenchi Muyo books and also Tenchi Muyo OAV3 (future).

I give Tenchi Muyo OVA DVD Boxed Set a max 5 stars!

Rating:
Summary: Check it out before Ova 3
Review: This anime is what got me started and though it was created a few years ago it is still loved very much at all the conventions. With the new ova coming out I suggest everyone check this out. It is my favorite of the Tenchi series. With such charasmatic characters, great story line and lots of slap stick comedy it really has something for everyone. My first anime love and maybe it will be yours?

Rating:
Summary: Poorly done set; separate volumes might be better
Review: The 4 separate volumes put together would cost less than this; you might complain that those don't include the "Tenchi Muyo Encyclopedia" disc, but that disc doesn't actually contain any extras: essentially all it has is a link to Pioneer's website for the extras (and now the website is Geneon and the extras have been removed, making that disc completely worthless). Also, the formatting of the discs isn't that good: each episode takes up an entire scene (whereas with the Tenchi Universe set discs, the episodes are divided into several scenes so you could skip over certain parts of an episode, such as the closing credits (and btw, I think the opening sequence for the 1st season of the OVA is much too flashy -- definitely bad for viewers who have epilepsy)).

Rating:
Summary: You are in the presence of greatness...
Review: First of all I personally belive that the key to any story lies in it's characters. Tenchi Muyo! the OVA series is certainly no exception.

This anime is Masaki Kajishima's finest hour, combining a tale of somewhat unorthodox romance with a fast paced and suprisingly deep storyline. The depth of this storyline lies in it's characters, most of which have a storied past.

This even includeds the antagonist characters which is a practiacally unheard of act.

Everyone who likes this show has a favourite character, and this is the driving force behind the events that unfold over the course of the story.

From a technical perspective, Tenchi Muyo! excels even today over a decade after its original release. The re-mastering of both visuals and sound truly brings the show to life as it was intended.

This brings me to the voice-acting. The simplest way for me to explain this is: both the Japanese and the English have their pros and cons. Undeniably, once the viwer has become accoustomed to one or the other they are almost unwilling to try the other.

For example the English voice of Hakubi Washu is K.T Vogt, now I feel that she was well cast but where her inflexibility really shows up is in certain key scenes (try comparing EP 8 towards the end in both languages...notice the lack of emotion in the Dub in comparison to the Jap?)

The other problem that shows up is in the English voice of Aeka. Obviously Pioneer thought it would be funny to have someone with an accent play the part of the Princess. This attempt at humor falls flat, as any chance of Aeka being a likable character is lost (I.M.O). Also she plays her voice differently for the first 2-3 episodes after which she sounds drastically different. (try watching some of the later episodes and then the second episode).

It is also noticable that somtimes in the dub voice actors change from one episode to the next. Admittantly these are only minor characters and most would not notice. The main cast is always the same. The one gripe with this has nothing to do with this particular release but that for Tenchi Muyo! GXP none but one of the original actors were signed on for their parts, resulting in a terrible feeling of low-budget dub. (not Pioneer though so I guess its not surprising and it really has nothing to do with this dub)

Finally there is the lack of consistency in the Dub, for the most part the writing of the dub is almost exact to the original but sometimes it strays. For example the character of Kagato acts like a sarcastic jerk in the dub whereas in the jap his lines are much more composed.

Desipe this the Dub of Tenchi Muyo! is one of the very best dubbings that I have ever heard and is streets ahead of most others. At the end of the day the preference is in the ear of the beholder though personally for me its Jap all the way.

This release is the Ultimate Edition and lives up to this moniker with ease. My one problem with this is the third disc which in fairness does include some usefull information but the guide of the Masaki house is riddled with faults (It shows Ryoko's room as it appears in Shin Tenchi Muyo and not this particular series)

The OVA series is in my opinion at least one and a half as good as its closest Tenchi Muyo! spin off rival: Tenchi Universe.

The reasons are simple, while Universe is arguably more fun, the characters are broken down into their most basic medium.(Mihoshi is even more incompetent than before!) For example the character of Washu-chan is dismantled completly leaving only a stereotypical mad scientist character that we have all seen hundreds of times before in other shows(and yes the original Washu-chan is my favourite character of all time). Not to mention the breakdown of storyline and simplification of the family tree.

This is one of the only shows where I can honestly say I like the Protagonist. Tenchi himself is somewhat irritating at first but his extreme kindness will soon persuade you otherwise (also he is not lecherous which helps).

Try as I might I cannot fault this show and I could go one for the rest of my life about why I love it so much (Washu-chan is a great reason!) but unfortunatly I dont have time (or space!). So to finish I will say that I belive this is the single greatest piece of anime ever assembled bar none.

No one can call themselves a true Otaku without owning this!

I also recommend:

Tenchi Universe (not as good but excellent fun nonetheless)

Shin Tenchi Muyo! (Tenchi in Tokyo: a great idea and unbeliveably funny, falls short of the other two though)

Tenchi Muyo! in Love. (follows the Universe storyline, lacks character development but is one hell of a ride!)

Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2. (A different type of Tenchi Muyo! this still follows the Universe storyline and is strangely emotional to watch, a nice alternate on the designs too)

Matsuno No Eve. (Daughter Of Darkness: This movie is based on one of the unofficial Tenchi Muyo! novels printed only in Japan. It is strange and that is definatly a good thing in this case, I can't say I like Mayuka much though)

Any of the Tenchi Muyo! albums of soundtracks (These can be hard to find but are well worth the effort...I love Yuko Kobayashi!!)

The Tenchi Muyo! Manga series by Hitoshi Okuda (These are brilliant, and for the most part can be chosen to be accepted as part of the OVA canon)

The Official Tenchi Muyo! Novels (These are written by the man himself and contain simply invaluable information relevent to the OVA story line...esp book three which is based on Washu's life. Yeah!!! Unfortunatly for those of you who cannot read Japanese, they were never printed in English...I advise learing Jap, it will take years buy is well worth it!!)



Rating:
Summary: tenchi at its best a uk fan
Review: This 14-episode series, made from the First and Second OVA story-arches, is still the best of the Tenchi settings. In it Tenchi Masaki meets the legendary demoan, Ryoko, a galactic space pirate. He also meets a couple of Royal Princesses, Ayeka and Sasami, a Galaxy Police Detective, Mihoshi, an alien creature, the cute Ryo-Ohki, and the greatest scientific genius in the universe, WASHU! Mystery, space combat and comedy all in one.
Tenchi soon gets into a lot of trouble as he discovers the TRUE history of his family and about the power locked up in his blood.
This collection is the best, even with all the new volumes and improved collections that are now out. The first two DVDs have the first 13 episodes, plus the bonus 14th episode, and the third DVD is the Tenchi Encyclopedia with interviews, info files, trailers and more. This is the perfect way to caught up on the series without paying a lot of cash. Better do it soon, because the Third OVA should be available any day now!