Toonami’s Sci-Fi Classic Gets Official Sequel 31 Years Later

The Return of Tenchi Muyo! with a New Sequel

After a 31-year-long wait, the original Tenchi Muyo! anime series is finally making a comeback with a brand-new sequel titled Tenchi Galaxy. This official anime sequel features the original voice cast and production staff, marking a significant moment for fans of the franchise. The project has already achieved a major milestone by reaching its Kickstarter goal of $400,000 within just 48 hours of its launch.

Armiger Entertainment announced that the production costs for an animated pilot of Tenchi Galaxy reached its $400,000 goal on Saturday, July 11, 2026. As of now, the campaign has surpassed its target, sitting at $466,459 with 57 days remaining. Over 3,000 backers have contributed to the project, showing strong support from the fan community.

In another positive development for Toonami fans, Anime International Company (AIC) revealed on Friday, July 3, 2026, that it had won its civil suit against AIC Rights and producer Yoshikazu Maeda. According to Anime News Network, this civil suit, which dates back to August 2021, officially recognizes AIC as a shareholder of AIC Rights, the previous copyright owner of the Tenchi Muyo! franchise, alongside other anime legacy properties. Notably, the Tenchi Galaxy Kickstarter project lists AIC as the main rights holder rather than AIC Rights, ensuring smooth production for the estimated 2028 pilot release.

A Major Milestone for the Project

The Tenchi Galaxy Kickstarter campaign has reached its funding goal in less than 48 hours, a testament to the enduring popularity of the Tenchi Muyo! franchise. Armiger Entertainment shared the exciting news in its latest Kickstarter update, stating:

“We are amazed, astounded, and otherwise awestruck to report that the minimum required amount to bring the Tenchi Galaxy pilot to life has already been reached! 400k in under 48 hours,” Armiger Entertainment said in its latest Kickstarter update.

“This means that the English cast, including Cristina Vee and Nerissa Ravencroft, is going to go on an all-new space adventure. Incredible. Absolutely incredible. We’re showing the world that Tenchi Muyo! fandom is still kicking, and that with the help of our new friends the Jailbirds, we’re all more than ready for the carnival to come to town again.”

Jailbirds is the official fandom name for Nerissa Ravencroft, a popular VTuber member of “-Advent-,” the third generation of Hololive English. Tenchi Galaxy will mark the first English-speaking anime role for Nerissa Ravencroft following her 2023 debut in Hololive EN.

Reunion of Original Cast Members

The new Tenchi sequel will also mark the reunion of the central English cast members from the original anime in the 2000s, when it aired on Cartoon Network’s Toonami action block. Petrea Burchard reprises her role as Ryoko Hakubi, alongside Matt K. Miller as Tenchi Masaki. However, Ayeka Masaki Jurai will be portrayed by English voice actor Cristina Vee.

Additional Funding and Production Plans

Although the Tenchi Galaxy anime pilot successfully reached its $400,000 goal in under 48 hours, Armiger Entertainment has made it clear that, due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of anime production, additional minutes to the initially planned 30-minute pilot will not be added. Instead, all additional funding will go toward producing exclusive rewards, ranging from official behind-the-scenes materials to limited-edition collectibles, such as rare Blu-ray cases and a VHS copy of the pilot.

Looking Ahead to 2028

The production crew for the new Tenchi Galaxy is aiming for a 2028 release, believing the pilot will pave the way for a full-season order. Previously, Armiger Entertainment ran the equally successful 2025 Kickstarter project for Tenchi Muyo!: American Omnibus Edition, a re-release of the original 1997 Tenchi Muyo! comic books by writer JD Calderon and artist Matt Lunsford.