Tenchi Muyo! War On Geminar Parts 1 and 2 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Reviews
“Tenchi Muyo! War On Geminar” is an obnoxious anime series.
In this Tenchi-less spin-off OVA series, the story revolves around a teen boy from Earth (Kenshi) who is transported to a planet called Geminar. Kenshi wants nothing more than to return home and he gets an opportunity to do so when he gets an assignment from a mysterious masked man to kill Empress Lashara. Knowing this is morally wrong, Kenshi decides he can’t go through with it and he soon finds himself being imprisoned by the female driven Shtrayu Empire. Luckily for Kenshi, his life is spared and he soon finds himself becoming a servant to the Empress.
In part 1 (which consists of the first 7 50 minute episodes), viewers can expect to see stories about: Kenshi controlling a white Sacred Mechanoid, Empress bodyguard/pilot Chiaia and her perverted sister Mexiah, the masked man (and the dangerous Doll), Aura the Dark Elf Princess, the Holy Land Academy, mechamasters, Lashara’s cousin Princess Maria, massages (cue the fan service groan), girls chasing after Kenshi, Kenshi attending Holy Land and becoming part of the Student Council, a food gathering competition, a trip to visit Queen Florda in Havoniwa, bandits Cordyline and Lan capturing Ceres (a male student and mechamaster) and Dagmyer (a pivotal character), a warrior tournament, and a typical intense cliffhanger that is better than anything that has preceeded it thus far. This one happens to involve 2 characters (one of which is the masked man) attacking the Holy Land while recruiting male Sacred Mechamasters (aside from Kenshi).
In part 2 (containing the 50 minute episodes 8-13), the masked man, his father (Babulan), and the male mechamasters continue to try to take over the Holy Land, but they have to get past Kenshi, the female leaders, and the rebel forces first. Other key storylines involve Doll’s identity, Babulan’s plan to resurrect the Sacred Mechalord Gaia (which contains the Shield of Gaia), Female leaders staff and students evacuating to a ship named The Swan (which plays an integral role amongst the heroes and refugees), several characters (won’t say who) having romantic feelings for Kenshi, bandits, more mech exposition, a special sword, and, of course, a final battle between Kenshi, the Swan, the women, and the rebels against Babulan and his forces.
Having never a big fan of “Tenchi Muyo!,” I was intrigued by the fact that ‘War On Geminar’ seemed to be a departure from its predecessor. Alas, ‘Geminar’ is worse in every way than “Tenchi Muyo!”
In the first 7 episodes, this spin-off series is plagued with plot holes, haremy hijinks, yawn worthy mech fights, and fan service so shameless and cringe worthy that you have to wonder about the writers that scripted it (see Mexai randomly getting nude to keep Kenshi warm in episode 1). To say that the show revels in cliches and overplayed story conventions is an understatement. It doesn’t help that the first 7 episodes (which run a LONG 50 minutes) are mostly comprised of filler. Only the first and seventh episodes are remotely eventful.
With episode 7 picking up in both the story and action departments, one would hope that part 2 would be better. While it is definitely darker and more eventful thanks to the Babulan story arc, the series remains a tonal mess thanks to battles and conflicts being watered down by out of place humor. The ending, for example, sums up the show perfectly to me. Just as the exhausting, chaotic, and intense war ends, the writers plug in an eye-rolling comedic end scene in which Kenshi is being chased by a group of female characters who adore him. If that needless, forced, unfunny moment doesn’t sum up why this show is a flop, I don’t know what does.
Video/Audio:
The series, which is presented in widescreen 1080p, is a little disappointing for a hi-def upgrade. Yes, it’s superior to the DVD quality, but the 2D animation looks rather bland here. At least the 3D animation looks sharp though.
These 2 sets contain English and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio tracks. The English track is overacted which makes the Japanese track the clear option to go with here. In terms of the audio quality, both tracks deliver clear hi-def audio quality (especially during the action sequences).
Part 1 Extras:
* Trailers for “Summer Wars,” “Heaven’s Lost Property,” “One Piece,” “A Certain Scientific Railgun,” “Rosario + Vampire CAPU2,” “My Bride Is A Mermaid,” “Birdy the Mighty: Decode,” “Toriko,” “Sekirei,” “Remnant Knights Game,” and Funimation.com.
* Commentary on episode 1 led by Joel McDonald with a host of other commentators whose jobs range from writing to voice acting. It’s nice to hear a new type of commentary track on a Funimation set (especially one that is more serious and less jokey).
* Textless opening and closing songs.
* 2 teaser trailers for “Tenchi Muyo!: War On Geminar” and information and sneak peek of the pay-per-view program episodes 1-6.
* “Stills Of Recording The Music For Tenchi Muyo! War On Geminar”- Behind-the-scenes still photos of the score being composed.
* “Digest In Commemoration Of Sales Release (Second half of episodes1-2)”- A plot summary of the episodes via clips.
* “About Making The Closing Theme “Destino” by Alchemy+”- The title says it all.
* A booklet featuring art stills.
Part 2 Extras:
* Trailers for “Appleseed XIII,” “Fairy Tail,” “Shakugan No Shana,” “Baka and Test,” “Chrome Shelled Regios,” “A Certain Magical Index,” “Sengoku Basara,” “Dragon Ball Z Kai,” “Remnant Knights Game,” and Funimation.com
* Textless opening and closing songs.
* A U.S. trailer, web trailers, presale promo videos, teaser trailers 3-5, and sneak peeks of 7-13 for “Tenchi Muyo! War On Geminar.”
* “A Taste Of A Day Recording Tenchi Muyo! War On Geminar’s Radio Broadcast”- A behind-the-scenes look at two voice actors (Mie Sonozaki and Hiro Shimono) doing a radio show to chat about the series.
* Commentary on episode 13. Again, Joel McDonald talks to a variety of cast and crew members of the English dub. Please do more commentaries like this Funimation!
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