"The Irresponsible Captain Tylor": A thorough review of the humorous and adventurous space voyage!

The Irresponsible Captain Tylor: The most irresponsible man in the universe causes chaos

■Overview of the work

"The Irresponsible Captain Tylor" is a TV anime series based on Yoshioka Taira's light novel series "The Most Irresponsible Man in the Universe." It aired on TSC (Television Setouchi) from January 25, 1993 to July 19, 1993, every Monday from 6:00 p.m. for 30 minutes. It consists of 26 episodes and was produced by Big West, Tyler Project, and TSC, with animation by Tatsunoko Productions. Copyright belongs to Yoshioka Taira, Kadokawa Shoten, and Tyler Project.

■ Story

Justy Ueki Tyler is a 20-year-old young man. He joins the Planetary Union Space Force because he wants to take it easy, and becomes the captain of the destroyer "Soyokaze." Tyler uses his natural irresponsibility and good luck to repel the large fleet of the Raalgon Empire. However, his irresponsibility causes trouble one after another, drawing those around him into chaos. Eventually, Azarin, Emperor Goza XVI of the enemy Raalgon Empire, begins to take an interest in Tyler, and the story becomes even more chaotic.

■Explanation

"The Irresponsible Captain Tylor" is based on the light novel series "The Most Irresponsible Man in the Universe" by Taira Yoshioka. This series has been published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko since 1981, and a total of 58 volumes (including remakes and spin-offs) have been released. It is also considered an important work in the history of Japanese light novels.

The worldview is that of a space war, and the story revolves around the battle between Earth (the United Planetary Space Force), which has been invaded from outer space, and the aliens (the Raalgon Empire). However, the story is about the protagonist Justy Ueki Tyler, who disrupts this serious world with his irresponsibility and good fortune. In the original novel, Tyler is depicted as a lolicon uncle in his late 20s, who eventually rises to the position of president (original: Irresponsible President Tyler). On the other hand, in the anime version, he is depicted as a young man in his 20s, and serves as a destroyer captain (major). Emperor Goza XVI Azarin of the Raalgon Empire is 16 years old, and it is debatable whether the relationship between a 20-year-old and a 16-year-old constitutes lolicon.

In terms of time setting, the latest "Irresponsible Romance of the Three Kingdoms" features the great-great-grandson of Justy Ueki Tyler, while the oldest "The Irresponsible Three Musketeers" is centered around the era of Goza VII, spanning about 400 years of space history centered around "The Most Irresponsible Man in the Universe," on which the anime is based.

The anime was produced by Tatsunoko Productions, and was produced by the Tyler Project, a production committee consisting of King Records, VAP, and Media Ring, as well as TV Setouchi and Big West. There have been many anime series based on manga and other media, but works based on light novels have often been developed as OVAs, and this was the first TV anime based on a light novel. At the time, TV anime was not intended to be sold on video, but this work was produced with the assumption that it would be commercialized in various media. Since this work, video sales have become common, so it can be said to be a pioneer of TV anime based on sales. In addition, in parallel with the TV broadcast, this work was actively promoted as a media mix, with related CDs and videos, product development and advertising, paid dial-up and free distribution of the Tyler Newspaper, and various events. This initiative provided various know-how to the companies involved, and this work is also evaluated as a successful example of media mix development.

Due to the success of the TV broadcast, a new OVA, "The Irresponsible Captain Tylor: Special Edition - The Lonely War," was released in 1994, but animation production was switched to Dome, and for the OVA released in 1995, it was changed to Studio Deen, and the staff was largely replaced.

When compared to the original "The Most Irresponsible Man in the Universe" series, there are many differences when you look closely at the protagonist Tyler's age and the character's personality. Later, the original author himself rewrote the novel series to be closer to the anime's setting, and the "True Irresponsible Captain Tylor" series was born. This work was also released overseas, and dubbed and English versions of the theme song were also made, making it a very carefully made work for an overseas release at the time.

■Cast

・Justy Ueki Tyler／Tsujitani Koji・Azarin D. L. Clan Raikun／Kasahara Hiroko・Makoto Yamamoto／Hayami Sho・Yuriko Star／Amano Yuri・Lu Baraba Dom／Seki Toshihiko・Harumi／Okamoto Maya・Kyung-Wha Kim／Mitsuishi Kotono・Emi Hannah／Kai Mika・Yumi Hannah／Kai Mika・Harold Catri／Narita Ken・Kojiro Sakai／Iwata Mitsuo・M. Cliburn／Nakata Kazuhiro・K.B. Andresen／Shibamoto Hiroyuki・Hidezaburo Kitaguchi／Yanami Joji・Seishu Mifune／Mugihito Susumu Fuji／Nishimura Tomomichi・Roberto J. Hannah／Nishikawa Ikuo・Xia Has／Mita Yuko Ronawer／Nishio Toku・Wang／Tsukada Masaaki

■ Main staff

・Original story: Yoshioka Taira・Produced by: Media Ring, Tatsunoko Productions・Series Composition: Kawasaki Yukihiro・Screenplay: Watanabe Asami, Kimura Naoto, and others・Director: Mashimo Koichi・Direction: Kobayashi Tetsuya, Chiba Daisuke, and others・Main characters: Hirata Tomohiro・Main mechanics: Ito Koji, Masuo Shoichi・Chief animation directors: Hirata Tomohiro, Takagi Hiroki, Kishida Takahiro, Honda Yu, and others・Main art setting: Sato Masaru・Director of photography: Shirai Hisao

■ Main Characters

Justin Ueki Tyler
Born July 7, UC 6978, 20 years old. "I want to take it easy," he enlisted in the Planetary Union Space Force. Thanks to his natural good mood and bad luck (?), he was promoted to captain of the destroyer "Soyokaze." A mysterious captain who stirs up space!

Azarin de El Clan Raikun
Born in UC 6982, 16 years old. The young emperor of the Holy Raalgon Empire. Although he behaves in a manner befitting the name of emperor, his true face is that of a 16-year-old girl. She is quite a playful girl who snacks and causes pregnancy commotions.

・Makoto Yamamoto
Born in UC 6973, 25 years old. First officer of the destroyer "Soyokaze". Simple, sentimental, and a true military man. Often manipulated by Tyler, he undergoes nerve cleansing treatments, making him a very stern and troubled first officer.

・Yuriko Star
Born on August 25, UC 6979, 19 years old. An intelligence officer who volunteered for the Soyokaze. Her goal is to change Tyler's irresponsibility. But...

・Le Baraba Dom
Born in UC 6975, he is 23 years old. Despite his young age, he is in charge of commanding a fleet and is one of the smartest captains in Raalgon. He is extremely loyal to Azarin and will do anything to protect Azarin.

・Harumi
Manufactured in UC 6995, 3 years old. A beautiful, kind, and well-proportioned nurse who serves as the doctor's excellent assistant on the "Soyokaze." But her true identity is...

Kyung-Hwa Kim
Born in UC (Space Calendar) 6980, 18 years old. A charming radio operator for the "Soyokaze". Although he has a laid-back personality and believes that everything turns out fine in the end, he keeps his military and private life separate and takes his work very seriously.

Emi Hannah
Born in UC 6981, 17 years old. The twin daughter of former Admiral Hannah. A rookie pilot of the "Soyokaze," she always wears her hair tied on the right. Like her twin sister Yumi, she was given the lowest "Ding" rating in the pilot aptitude test, but her maiden flight revealed her natural talent?

Yumi Hannah
Born in UC 6981, 17 years old. The twin daughter of former Admiral Hannah. A rookie pilot of the "Soyokaze," she always wears her hair tied on the left. Like her twin sister Emi, she was given the lowest "Ding" rating in the pilot aptitude test, but her maiden flight revealed her natural talent?

Harold Catley
Born in UC 6978, 20 years old. He is the helmsman of the Soyokaze. He is a skilled pilot, and has navigated the junky warship Soyokaze with ease, escaping repeated crises on numerous occasions. He is a third-generation Japanese who enjoys Zen meditation and drinking gyokuro tea.

・Kojiro Sakai
Born in UC (Space Calendar) 6979, 19 years old. Pilot of the Soyokaze carrier fighter "Ranpu". Graduated from the United Space Forces Academy Flight Department with excellent grades. Has extreme gynophobia and hates women (?).

・M. Cliburn
Born in UC 6966, 32 years old. Leader of the group of troublemakers on board the Soyokaze. Together with Andresen and others, he causes trouble by sending a bomb to Tyler and starting a rebellion. He is crazy about Harumi.

K.B. Andresen
Born in UC 6970, 28 years old. A veteran of the Soyokaze. Together with Clyburn and others, he causes trouble by sending a bomb to Tyler and starting a rebellion. He is crazy about Harumi.

・Hidezaburo Kitaguchi
Born in UC 6965, 33 years old. He is a military doctor on the Soyokaze who never lets go of his alcohol. He boasts that he is the best doctor in the universe (if he has alcohol), and is a skilled doctor. He is also a good advisor to the crew members who are troubled by various issues.

・Seishu Mifune
Born in UC 6943, 55 years old. Supreme Commander of the fleet to which the Soyokaze belongs. Tyler, who does not fit into the framework of a military man, is appointed to the Soyokaze, a hangout for outcasts, and the government tries to expel him from the military, but...

・Susumu Fuji
Born in UC 6947, 51 years old. A big shot in uniform who commands the Joint Chiefs of Staff aboard the huge aircraft carrier "Hōō", flagship of the Planetary Union Space Force. He devises various schemes to get rid of Tyler. He and Mifune are rivals.

Robert J. Hannah
Born in UC 6929, he is 69 years old. He is a former commander of the Planetary Alliance and the father of Yumi and Emi. Although he is an old man who needs a wheelchair, his spirit shows no signs of weakening.

・Shea Hass
Born in UC 6977, 21 years old. A beautiful female captain who serves as Dom's right-hand man. She is an excellent soldier with a fiery temperament and courage that is willing to sacrifice her life, but she can be a bit rigid.

・Ronawar
Born in UC 6943, 55 years old. Commander-in-chief of the fleet to which Dom's high-speed cruiser "Drome" belongs. A powerful man who serves as Minister of Defense, he is a loyal old admiral who does everything he can to protect Azarin.

・Wang
Born in UC 6933, 65 years old. A cunning Prime Minister who assassinated Azarin's father, the previous Emperor Goza XV, in an attempt to take over the Raalgon Empire for himself.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: The Mysterious Irresponsible Man (1993/01/25)
Episode 2: Here we go! A beautiful pension (1993/02/01)
Episode 3: The ship leaves, but the scum remains (1993/02/08)
Episode 4: It's the enemy! It's a crisis! I give up! (1993/02/15)
Episode 5: White Coat Angel Starting with H (1993/02/22)
Episode 6: The Lizard's Tail (1993/03/01)
Episode 7: The Gentleman's Agreement (1993/03/08)
Episode 8: Life is short, kill me, girl (1993/03/15)
Episode 9: Praying for Flower Fortune Telling (1993/03/22)
Episode 10: Mind's Eye, Nearsightedness, Dogandogan (1993/03/29)
Episode 11: Demoted and in the prime of womanhood (1993/04/05)
Episode 12: The day the gentle breeze disappeared (1993/04/12)
Episode 13: Preparation, Review, and Lack of Study (1993/04/19)
Episode 14: The Kindness Equation (1993/04/26)
Episode 15: The Dangerous Pathogen (1993/05/03)
・Episode 16/Strange Love (1993/05/10)
Episode 17: Escape without Honor (1993/05/17)
Episode 18: The Confession (1993/05/24)
Episode 19: Sleeping Beauty (1993/05/31)
Episode 20: Plan for the best (1993/06/07)
Episode 21: Paco Paco Junior! (1993/06/14)
Episode 22: A One-Man Army (1993/06/21)
Episode 23: The Longest Day in Space (1993/06/28)
Episode 24: Peeew, Peeew, Peeew, Peeew (1993/07/05)
Episode 25: My Way is Sad (1993/07/12)
・Episode 26: Hiroki Okite Utsuwamono (1993/07/19)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・just think of tomorrow
Lyrics by Shima Erina, Music by Nakamura Yusuke, Arrangement by Maruo Megumi, Singer by Sasaki Mari

・ED1
・Downtown Dance ・Lyrics by Kaoru Ishijima ・Music by Katsumi Yamaura ・Arrangement by Megumi Maruo ・Singer by Mari Sasaki

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"The Irresponsible Captain Tylor" has won many fans with its unique humor and charming characters. In particular, the comedic elements created by the irresponsibility and good luck of the main character, Justy Ueki Tyler, entertain viewers while also depicting deep human drama. The setting of the anime version is different from that of the original novel, which creates a new appeal.

The success of this work can also be attributed to the fact that it was a pioneer in the broadcast of anime based on light novels as television series. It is also regarded as a successful example of media mix development, and the development of video sales and related products had a major impact on the anime industry in the future.

Some recommended points include:

• Unique humor and comedy elements: Tyler's irresponsibility causes trouble and his luck in overcoming it will make viewers laugh.
• Deep human drama: The growth of the characters and the changes in their relationships are carefully depicted, moving the viewer.
• Pioneer of media mix: The company is recognized for the influence its video sales and related merchandise had on the later anime industry.
• Carefully produced for overseas distribution: The film was produced with great care for overseas distribution at the time, including dubbing and an English version of the theme song.

"The Irresponsible Captain Tylor" is a comedy anime set in a space war, and is loved by many viewers. I highly recommend it to those who like light novels and comedy anime in particular. It will also be an interesting work for those who want to know the history of media mix development.