Manatsu No Eve
(also known as:Midsummer's Eve/Daughter of Darkness/Tenchi The Movie II)
(Second Movie)

Okay. Manatsu No Eve, the second movie. Where does this fit in, exactly, in the world of canon?

Honestly, it doesn't. It's loosely linked to the original OVA six episodes, but it's based on a novel -as I understand it - written in Japanese that has not seen an English translation. In a sense, it incorporates both canons, because it mentions a tree which Ayeka refers to as her brother's tree - but it also includes Kiyone, and though Katsuhito is Yosho, it's not indicated that he's Ayeka's brother. The feel you get is that they're a family who have been together for quite a while - it's a mish-mash, then, of OVA and Universe canons but considering that, it works pretty well all in all.

Yes, it's a kitsch, cheesy plot in some ways. A demon from the Dimension of Darkness gets all jealous over Yosho's happy Christmas celebrations and the good time everyone is having, so she decides to wreck it with a little 'gift' of her own. Mayuka is Tenchi's daughter, but also Yazuha's, created through cloning and sent to Earth to drag Tenchi back to the Dark Dimension - simply because Yuzuha reckons he 'thinks himself prince charming'.

Perhaps the reason I love this film is because, despite the occasional cheesines, it's a very Ryoko movie. The rapport between her and Tenchi is interesting in this film - as can be seen by the screen grab above - although more about that on their character relationship page. It also involves the age old battle between light and darkness, introduces a Jurai festival called 'Startica' and some dodgy behaviour from a daughter to her father.

Oddly enough, nobody seems to question to begin with the fact Mayuka acts like an eight year old but looks like a fifteen or sixteen year old, or how Tenchi could have a child of that age. And even when Washu proves that Tenchi is Mayuka's father, Tenchi tells Mayuka there's no proof. (How much proof do you need, boy?!)

Even so, it's a good watch. It's only an hour, and you can bear the kitsch for that long, surely? If you're a Ryoko fan - and I am, just a leetle bit - it's definitely worth it :D

RATING: 8/10 Two points deducted for mentioning Christmas. And for the seriously bad toys with knives thing. Yes. ^_^.