New Series — Ai: Tenchi Muyo!
Well, it seems that Kajishima-sensei is getting the anime series he was wanting. That series is tentatively being titled Ai: Tenchi Muyo! The series is apparently being set in Takahashi, Japan in the prefecture of Okayama and is being funded by the city to help promote tourism, specifically otaku tourism. Of course, the Okayama prefecture is where Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki takes place.
Ai: Tenchi Muyo! is only going to be a collection of five minute shorts, specifically fifty of them. So, what is the series going to be about? I think we can look to Kajishima-sensei’s words from the last Comiket. As mentioned in Omatsu Zenjitsu no Yoru – Tenchi Ban 13.12.
Now then, I am going to talk about the upcoming projects. Now even though this is talking about what is being made, let me share with you in the most unprofessional way, a heart to heart. At the winter Comiket “Tenchi Muyo If” was released. The book was released in the style of a story board; however, the explanation for its content was not included. Because the doujin is tied to an anime project I didn’t want to reveal much. The contents of Tenchi Muyo “If” will be the future installment. When you pitch a new Tenchi project, it’s a good idea to try and entice them with pictures. I’ve been trying to avoid images that would be considered finalized.
So, I think we are going to see the contents of -If- in anime form. I look forward to that as we’ll get little glimpses of life in the Tenchi household, with Tenchi’s (and Seina’s) kids growing up.
I would like to interject a note of caution though. Even though these are five minute episodes, roughly two minutes will be dedicated to credits, based on my experiences with other series with five minute shorts.
Regardless, I’m looking forward to this. ^_^
Thanks to everyone who alerted me about this. ^_^
50 five-minute shorts? Why not ten 25-minute episodes? That just seems really weird. Oh well. At least we’re getting more Tenchi.
The nature of the series. It isn’t the first time that this has been done for anime titles. As I recall, Azumanga Daioh was done as a series of 5-minute shorts. When released on DVD, they were done as 25 minutes episodes. Why a few series were done this way, I don’t know.
when will be the release date for this new series
I’m not sure yet. I’ll have to try to keep an eye open for that.
I think I read somewhere that it is supposed to be this Fall. But I’m not sure – it might have been for something else.
It’ll be nice and fun, but I was hoping for something more substantial! It’s a step in the right direction.
Yeah, I agree. ^_^
I welcome it, but i’m not looking forward to it. This seems to be more of a promotional and political move. Kajishima doesn’t have any concrete plot for the series, so short day in the life episodes of the casts is right up his alley, while serving the community and industry at the same time. It’ll be like a most of Tenchi-ban doujins in one season versus the two we get every year.
You pretty much nailed it, because this is exactly the kind of stories Kajishima-sensei loves. He may have a Tolkien-like ability to create an entire universe, but he always has the most personal fun doing the tapestry, slice-of-life stuff.
Still, I am looking forward to this just because it is Tenchi. 😛
I’m not being too ignorant, I don’t mind new material, especially from the main source, but I would like more serious work to be animated. Hayashi gets down and dirty, but we never get to see it delivered.
*lol* Very true. (I just “heard” the “down and dirty” words in the voice of Bill Paxton. I blame having just watched Edge of Tomorrow.
Why was it used in the film?
No, but he did say something similar. He had a lot of humorous, one-liners. ^_^
Possible release date… OK, it’s a month: “October 2014 via Tokyo MX”.
Found it here: http://tenchiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1303 (first post)
Man, I don’t know how I missed this. I do comments through WordPress’s internal functionality to try to avoid missing stuff. Sorry about that, but thanks for the info.
They’re doing five minute shorts because you can waste time on credits, and you can make quick action packed stories that should have little fluff not important to what the author wants to tell. Don’t need to sell as much to guarantee a profit and they’re safer to produce. Anime shorts that are comedies though don’t seem to fare too well unless it’s wacky randomness. Plastic Nee-san for instance. Luckily Tenchi has an overarching story and a well defined setting already in play so hopefully the mood will be easier to set. I’m just thrilled they’re using five minutes instead of the three minute anime’ which are also around now. Besides, if it does well enough we might get another Tenchi movie that’s actually related to the main OVA. <3 I know, I know, I can still dream though.
True, if the series does well enough in sales, more TM!R stuff will be produced.
That said, I think Kajishima-sensei’s next anime project would be Paradise War, if he can get it approved.
It’s sad that an established series and franchise has to play by “testing waters” method. And still, after all the commercial success, they have to do a watered down release for them to see if they should do a serious plotted story. If they could, AIC should have gone in the same format as BPS. There was enough time to get a slice of life story and deep plot action stories in ten minutes. Although, it’s probably just Hayashi’s skill in making a few minutes as good as a feature film.
I’m not sure why this comment was missed by us. ^_^; Its here now though.
Some small news about the series and a couple new characters + Tenchi’s design: http://tenchiforum.com/universe/tenchi-universes-hiroshi-negishi-returns-to-direct-ai-tenchi-muyo-tenchi-muyo-love-suzuhito-yasuda-to-design-characters/
Thanks. ^_^
Now that is really an unexpected shocker. A new artist taking over and Negishi back at the helm of the series. I never believed Negishi and Kajishima ever crossed each other in person. Judging by what the article says “Kajishima credited as original creator” makes it feel like he is just lending his creation like he did with all other non-canon material. And with the two new characters, it would seem like Kajishima has no influence with the story at all.
This news takes the series in a alternate direction than what was given about it earlier. I am all for an actual K-sensei and Negishi collaboration. Now, before I stated that Kajishima is doing this for the love of daily life stories, may no longer be the case.
Yeah, I think you are right – Kajishima-sensei isn’t making this series so much as he’s just the original creator, which he’s been credited with on other Tenchi titles.
Also I’d like to say a few words on Negishi, whom has a special place in my favorite creators list, which is quite small. I have not watched anything outside his works on tenchi but I seen the reviews on his other roles and they have been fairly decent to terrible. So the fact that he is still a significant director and running a well known series to spectacular reviews is a specular feat. That’s why I favor him, because of his contradictions. Almost none of his own creations or efforts have really broke records besides tenchi.
Finally, I believe if it were a Kajishima produced series, Kuroda and Yatagi(or Yatani, if they are the same person) would be attached.
I agree.
Still, it gives me hope that the -If- doujinshi can be made into a proper anime.
probably everthing is due to the contract with kajishima has expired and they want to make this series first before they produce ova 4th (we have to think like a business company), beside kajishima has alway being careful about everything, at this point i believe that a proper continuation for the series still very possible we just have to be patients.
one thing i truly consider negative is the way the producers conceive this new series. I know they want to attract tourism to the town but the decision of changing the characters design, the new setting, well that already brought them a really bad reception from the originals fans of the series, and they did it HOPING to get new fans well that WAS NOT WELL PLAYED, (and i got knowledge about marketing).
honestly i hope the new series does fine in ratings if that means we could get a 4th ova faster and kajishima could have the control over it once again.
I agree. I don’t think this was the way to go.
I will try to give this a look-see, since it is a Tenchi title.
I prefer first to wait and see and then judge. It might turn not so bad and more meaningful than we think it is right now.
The whole “Isekai…” OVA was composed of new characters and it definately was not bad.
And besides, annoncing the new characters doesn’t mean that the old ones won’t return. Tenchi is there and Ryoko and Aeka were in the -If-. And Tenchi’s half-brother too.
So don’t trash the series without having enough information about the series. Or even better – watch it first! The original Star Wars: Clone Wars (from Genndy Tartakovsky) was surprisingly good and popular although the episodes were just 4-5 minutes long. Avatar: The Legend of Korra, sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, is also exceptionally good although initially people disliked it and wanted more of Aang and the gang.
P.S. I don’t remember reading anywhere that tourism is the ONLY reason they’re shooting this anime. It might be an important reason, or just an added bonus because of the setting (Tenchi’s home is there anyway), but I highly doubt it it is the only reason or the point of every episode would be “look, this is a shop”, “look, this is a statue” and there would be nothing else noteworthy, such as plot or characters.
Having tourism as one of the goals is fine, as long as this is not the whole plot.
The thing about Isekai no Seikishi was that we knew about it YEARS ago, and that it would be coming down the pipe after GXP and TM!R OVA3. We also knew it would be part of the canon.
With Ai Tenchi Muyo, there was the initial disappointment that this wasn’t part of the canon -If- stuff. Further, seeing the new character designs, I’m going, “That’s not Tenchi!” Had the character designs not been so radically different, I wouldn’t be so annoyed.
I will give the new series a look-see though.
I’m happy and confident that Negishi is in charge. I don’t have much against his input. He has put more serious work in tenchi than Hayashi and Kajishima, but at the same time Tenchi Universe did feel more like a sitcom with lots of fillers.
Yeah, that’s true.
Looks like we got a fresh new case of the “IF”s and he’s back to the monogatari stories in the doujins. http://auctions.search.yahoo.co.jp/search?fr=&p=%E6%A2%B6%E5%B3%B6%E6%AD%A3%E6%A8%B9&auccat=0&f=0x2&tab_ex=commerce&ei=UTF-8&b=1
Thanks for the heads up! ^_^
More characters: http://tenchiforum.com/universe/new-character-bios-for-ai-tenchi-muyotenchi-muyo-love-revealed/
It turns out it is Washu’s fault for the whole ordeal, aka anime. So if you don’t like it – blame Washu.
I’m blaming someone. ^_~
Negishi back to his antics again. Its basically going to be a drawn out tv series of the Time and Space Adventures from Tenchi Universe. It looks like he going to pull a Kajishima, as in what K-sensei did in Monogatari. I have only watched episode one but it was thought to be Washu whom had sent Kenshi. So I don’t believe the main cast is going to get any screen time, As what happened in Saint Knights Tale.
With these new characters and the setting, it feels like the concept is taken from Ken Akamatsu’s Negima series. This is a double fan service to you, Astronerdboy!
Saint Knights Tale wasn’t bad at all. And it’s still linked to the main canon. I liked even GXP – it showed us the bigger galaxy.
And lets not forget Dual! and Photon, which have zero Tenchi and the gang but are still good on their own. Or Pretty Sammy stuff.
So even if looks really bad and dumb right now (and it does to me), it might actually turn out to be good. And it’s not like there’s any competition there: most short-episode series I watched were a wasted time for me. But I still remember how Tartakovsky managed to put actual plot in his Clone Wars series (3-4 minutes long), so it is possible to make something good.
And from what I can see for now, it MIGHT have a plot (not just some backstory and 100% slapstick and 0% plot and development in the present).
Please, Negishi and K-sensei, make something very good and don’t waste the opportunity.
Other than being the original creator, I don’t think Kajishima-sensei is involved with this project.
I’ve been super busy with work stuff of late, but the first episode is already out? I have to go give it a look-see.
I have everything known and unknown of Kajishima material. I just have not sunk into the other anime yet. He hasn’t put anything outside his canon yet. I consider all his works as one, so I don’t really forget anything. I could remind him of what he has stated, cause I know he has overlooked his own details.
GXP is certainly tons more exciting than all the other series. Plus it expands on Kajishima’s world big time. So kudos to Watanabe. If he weren’t begged to put his high life into the series, OAV 3 wouldn’t have made it and we would have lost the franchise altogether. Kajsihima should be thankful, instead of regretting the choice. OAV 3 should have been placed first because it just didn’t have the spunk of GXP.
I don’t think it looks bad at all. It wasn’t expected to have a new artist but he’s fairing well and with Negishi at the helm I aint worried about it being dumb. So far the detail he put into the characters are more in-depth then the TMiL2 film and Universe series. The plot is already action packed with the character descriptions. Though I could be wrong with the five minute mark. Negishi may not be able to pull it off like Hayashi.
As to your pleas to Negishi and K-sensei, evgenidb, I doubt the two are in cahoots. In fact, I don’t think the two ever really met. Either K-sensei has 90% input (actual work such as animation, design, direction, etc) or he is not involved. Kajishima and Hayashi probably don’t even say hello to each other no more. And they might be passing through the halls of AIC building often, like complete strangers.
Actually I am quite hopeful for this. You cant look at this as a Tenchi Muyo canon or What If but rather an opportunity to appeal to the Japanese public and attract more viewers that would lead to more investment in Tenchi Muyo itself. It can be a blessing or a curse here is to hoping its a success.
Yeah, I’m not looking at it as canon, seeing as how Kajishima-sensei doesn’t appear to be involved with the project other than being the original creator (which is his usual credit).
People are screaming for new serious animation and the producers are trying to pull in viewers.
I was rather hoping for Kajishima-sensei’s -If- doujinshi concept to be brought to life as an anime.
hey the old gang is back.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-29/ai-tenchi-muyo-brings-back-original-characters/.78170
WOO more Tenchi!
50 Minute episodes like Isekai Seikishi no Monogatari which starts airing this month Wohooooooooooo!!!!!
Erm… no. It 50 episodes, each one being 5 minutes (probably closer to around 3 – 3:30 mins each, but whatever).
So hopefully it’ll be something like this:
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVk9lPotcW4
– this: http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=1607
With an actual plot!
And not:
– http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=186
– http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=6552
– Many others.
With no plot or a poor excuse for a plot.
Anyway, the series start tomorrow. Any luck and we might see it translated within a couple of days. After a number of episodes we might be able to tell how good or bad the series are. I also like the slice of life in Tenchi Muyo but I definatelly don’t want it to be only that with no plot progress. TM, Isekai and the rest of the primary canon had a good balance of slice of life and plot progress, sometimes even combining the two. I’d want to see the same thing here. Heck, even some of the spin-offs had regular plot progress, so I have high hopes for this series, considering it is part of the main canon.
Yeah, well, I wish it would have a story, but I suspect it won’t.
Remember, K-sensei has no hand in this, so slice of life is going to be minimal. I wish what Blaze thought was true. He had me going like we had it the other way around. 5 fifty minute episodes seems like a plot would be more involved.
Yeah, but instead we get 50 episodes, a few minutes each. That doesn’t mean that if the episodes are only 3-4 minutes, it’s impossible to have plot. The old Clone Wars animated series (the YouTube link up) proves it can have a plot.
And the series might even be more focused on plot progress than most other anime because, there would be not much time for long expositions or conversations. If it’s done right, of course. Or they can go the other route and say that there’s not enough time for a plot during an episode and have 3-4 episodes with a plot in the begining, 6-7 in the end to wrap the anime and the rest is worthless slapstic comedy which doesn’t add anything to the overall story and could very well most of it be skipped.
Hopefully they’ll take the former path and keep the filler episodes to a minimum.
It will be interesting to see what is actually done with this.
No, I believe limited time and resources give more creativity for plot. Probably why Sekishi was kind of stale and boring for the most part. Maybe Kajishima will sit and watch what others can do with his creation.
Today/Tomorrow is the day! Soon, soon… *drools over the desk*
Prepare for Tenchiness! The new Tenchi series has begun: http://tenchiforum.com/universe/tenchiforumtranslations-fansubbing-for-ai-tenchi-muyo-first-episode-live/
Cels and animations feel very much like GXP and OAV 3, but even more beautiful. Lots of kinks but there is definitely a plot being laid out and hopefully there can be an episode where the fan service doesn’t take the spotlight entirely. Strange that Negishi picked Yoshihisa HIrano for the score though, but I like it.
im liking this more and more with each episode its a rough starter but the main characters are starting to flow well twith the new ones
Yeah, after the first few episodes, it shouldn’t be that hard to make the story better. But still Tenchi in Tokyo looks like a masterpiece compared to this series. Lets hope that the cituation will change. The last few episodes weren’t that bad. But again – after such bad and stupid begining, pretty much anything different would look good.
it seem no noike in this series?
And no Kiyone, either. And we’re not even entirely sure in which continuity is this series. (They might even be in yet another one.) Every character with concept art released on the main website ( http://www.ai-tenchi.jp/chara/index.html ) has appeared, so it’s very likely that there would be no other major characters appearing. So, no Noike, Tennyo, Seto, Kiyone, Seina, Kenshi, you-name-her-or-him. In a minor role, maybe even just in the epilog – maybe.
I didn’t know about this addition to TenchiVerse until last night. I started watching the episodes back to back and the plot is basic, but there and engaging enough to want to keep on watching. I am enjoying this series!
As for the character design, at first it struck me as odd, but definitely don’t have a problem with it at all. I actually rather like it!
So far 20 episodes have been released, no clue when the next batch is, but I’ll definitely check back in a couple of weeks to avoid sudden cliff-hangers 😛
IMPO, this is publicity done right! ^_^!
New episodes are every week, Monday to Thursday + recap on Friday. The anime will finish by the end of December (probably). http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=cmt&id=52453 – here you can see when the BDs will be released, if you want to wait that long. But when and whether a group would pick them up is unknown.