Irresponsible Captain Tylor...

Sometime ago, I picked up the VHS version of Irresponsible Captain Tylor...

TV Series
Fans of well written and executed comedy-drama will love this series for its characters. Mecha fans will revel in the outstanding starship battles. Discover for yourself why this greatly under-appreciated show is a cult favorite!

Justy Ueki Tylor is an unlikely candidate for commander of a space cruiser, no matter what kind of shape it's in. When confronted with a crisis which will certainly mean the death of everyone around him, you'll have a hard time just keeping him awake. And, in the future, crises abound! The entire United Planets Space Force is at war with the Raalgon Empire, and both sides are going to throw their entire resources behind the conflict! His immediate superiors hate him, and gave him this command with the idea that the crew (who have a reputation for going through captains) would rid them of this pest. His crew hates him as well, and many plan to dispose of him as soon as they can. The Raalgon, once they learn who he is, want his head on a pike too. Tylor, though, has a secret weapon... he has the most disarming persona in the known universe. But, that isn't going to save his bacon once the cannons start to fire... or is it?

Volume 1
The Mysterious Irresponsible Man
On little more than a whim, 20 year old Justy Ueki Tylor joins the United Planets Space Force. It couldn't have come at a more appropriate time: the Raalgon Empire is in turmoil! For both side, it looks like space warfare on a grand scale is about to be unleashed. For Tylor, well, he's just counting the days until he can retire.

Hey, Ho! The Happy Pensioned Life!
Though war hasn't formally been declared, both sides are plotting and maneuvering into position. The UPSF forces are readying their fleet... and the Raalgon forces are attempting to remove public support for their enemy. Making a hostage a decorated war veteran goes flawlessly, What the Raalgon don't count on is Tylor delivering his pension... in person!

The Ship Sets Sail, but Misgivings Remain
With the hostage crisis behind him, Tylor is commissioned and given command of the "Soyokaze" ("Gentle Breeze": a rusty tin can by any other name). The ship isn't without its surprises... or its dirty little secrets. None of the crew is very impressed with their new commander, and unpopular commanders don't last long here!

Enemy! Crisis! We surrender!
Things are rapidly from bad to worse on board the Soyokaze... seems the Marines hate the Fighter Pilots and vice versa. The problem is that full scale war is breaking out between them... and when Tylor is brought in to solve the problem, well...

Angel in White Begin With an H
The Soyokaze has received a new crew member... and suddenly every male on the ship is stricken with an incurable disease! The symptoms are racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, and an irresistible urge to supply the new officer with... flowers. Lots of flowers. Her arrival is a surprise, though, and there's more to her than just a pretty face.

The Tail of the Lizard's Tail
Tylor is receiving a commendation for the Soyokaze's performance against the Raalgon... but it's a booby prize to be sure! Fuji and Mifune aren't at all happy about their victorious commander and have decided to deal with him once and for all. If he was killed in the battle along with his crew, everything would be great! Not too difficult for them...

A Gentleman's Word is His Bond
Yuriko has had it with the crew's lax attitude, and sees her chance to fix things to her liking and the regulations! Even Captain Tylor is not immune to her campaign to make the Soyokaze a first class fighting vessel! Of course, it would be a terrible thing if the Raalgon fleet (and an excellent commander) were to attack... right now!

Volume 2
Life is Short, So Girls Should Kill
Harumi's superiors are getting impatient with her inability to come up with a way to neutralize Tylor. It therefore falls to her to deal with him and leave his inert body floating in space. Tylor, in the meantime, is only thinking about the Miss Soyokaze contest which is about to start... you expected him to be concerned about something?

When You Wish Upon a Flower
It appears that Tylor's rather casual style of command has caught up with him... the Soyokaze is being sent out to the boonies where it will hopefully be forgotten. The crew, though, has one chance at redemption: Tylor can appeal the high commander's decision in person before a specified time. Of course, he has this thing about doing what he's supposed to...

Mind's Eye, Half Blind, Headed For a Rough Ride
Kojiro, a pilot who's legendary in his own mind, has pretty much had the run of the ship as far as fighter piloting goes. So, what happens when both Emi and Yumi decide they want a piece of the fighter pilot jockey pie as well? Only Tylor can solve the problem... but will there be any pilots left afterward?

In Demotion Does a Woman Bloom
Yuriko had obviously hoped that her reform measures would last for more than a few days, but it seem they haven't. Crew members are switching off on the duty roster without telling anyone, and the worst rule-breaker is Kim. Tylor, of course, wants everyone to do whatever they want; therefore Kim and Yuriko are now on a collision course!

The Day the Soyokaze Vanished
Of the many stories told about the Soyokaze is one particularly bizarre one of a past Captain and his crew (also demoted) who all killed themselves on board. The story continues that on a certain day at a certain time, the Captain's unquiet spirit roams the corridors looking to destroy the living. Suppose it isn't just a story... ?

Be Prepared, Be Smart, or Be Lucky
Admiral Donan, with blood in his eyes and a turkey leg in his hand, has sworn to avenge his previous loss to the UPSF by destroying Tylor. With Donan and a sizable portion of the Raalgon fleet after them, the Soyokaze is doing perhaps the worst possible thing: sailing directly through the front lines! Only a genius... or Captain Tylor... has any chance at all!

Equation of Kindness
As if Captain Tylor and the Soyokaze couldn't get any more attention from the Raalgon forces, more of their resources are being brought to bear! Sia-Has, another capable commander, has decreed that she will be the one to bring Tylor in alive, and with some help she'll do just that!

Volume 3
Happy! Happy! (Deadly) Germs!
The Raalgon have finally and truly had it with Captain Tylor making fools of them... and they're going to use Harumi to deliver him to them! Armed with an engineered virus, the entire crew has become infected. Only by handing over their commander will the crew be saved from a horrible death!

Strange Love
Tylor, now captured by the Raalgon, can reasonably only look forward to his impending execution by firing squad. Of course, he's really only concerned about one thing: getting something to eat. The midnight snack is a universal language, of course, Tylor's destiny will change while rummaging about for that last drumstick.

The Unjust Dessert
Back at base, the entire crew of the Soyokaze has been quarantined... for their own good (or so they've been told). Tylor's case is lost (they're also told) since the Raalgon's don't take prisoners, but the crew will have none of that. No one, they reason, has the right to kill Tylor but them.

A Place for Confessions
With the loyal UPSF troops in hot pursuit, the Soyokaze is running for all it's worth... unfortunately, that's not quite good enough. With the UPSF fleet behind them and the Raalgon fleet ahead of them, they're in for a hot time. Tylor, of course, is enjoying the Raalgon hospitality... but why does he feel so lousy?

Sleeping Beauty
Although Tylor (and an unexpected guest) are now on board the Soyokaze, all is not well. In addition to his being gravely injured, it's discovered that Tylor also has some kind of implant in his head (courtesy of the Raalgon) which must be removed! An operation must therefore be performed (which has an abysmal success rate).. with some unlikely help!

Well Handled Solutions
As if the Raalgon internal situation wasn't complicated enough, Wang is attempting a coup! Surely, this will cause a schism within the ranks and there is no force more dangerous than one without control! But, on the Soyokaze, thing s are pretty much back to normal... and all Tylor wants to do is to watch that "special" videotape the Marine gave him!

Volume 4
Paco-Paco Junior
According to the rules (and we all know, Yamamoto and Yuriko LIVE for the rules), Azalyn must now be treated as a prisoner of war, The Raalgon forces aren't happy about the way things are going either, and are about to do something about it. But, Azalyn has the biggest bombshell of them all to drop! Could she be... with child? TYLOR's child??

Force of One
With Azalyn's potentially explosive situation behind them, things can return to normal... or can they? Fuji and Mifune weren't part of THAT plan, and aren't happy about Tylor's typically unique solution. For his careful work, he's been sentenced to death by firing squad! Under arrest, it looks like this is one appointment he's likely to keep!

The Longest Day in Space
The Raalgon fleet has smashed each of the ever-contracting defensive perimeters in turn, and is now threatening the home worlds! Things look very desperate for the UPSF... and some dramatic measures are called for. But, can even the Soyokaze's crew solve the riddle of winning the war without more bloodshed (and without the Raalgon also losing it)?

Snap! Snap! Crackle! Snap!
The outward hostilities are now over... Captain Tylor has done the impossible! Rumor has it that he will be offered command of Aso,, the newest and best ship in the fleet, but none of that means anything to him. For, although he has beaten the odds and won the war, his most important ally has left him.. and Tylor's life is now totally empty.

My Way is the Hard Way
While it should be a time of rejoicing for the victorious Soyokaze crew, there is only one thing on their minds... where has Tylor gone? While searching for him though, Yuriko must avert a potential catastrophe which would surely plunge the UPSF back into war with the Raalgon!

For his was a genius on rule could contain
With Tylor gone, the crew of the Soyokaze have e gone their separate ways as if he'd never existed. There have been promotions all around... Yamamoto has even been given command of the most powerful ship in the fleet! But, have they learned the lessons Tylor taught them? Find out, and see a perfect series end!

OVA Series
Six long months have passed. The Raalgon Empire has developed a horrible new type of weapon, and Tylor has been charged with the duty of intercepting it as it is being transported. But when all that could go wrong does go wrong, the crew members of the Soyokaze find themselves at the mercy of their enemies. As the hours tick down toward their execution, the crew wonders: has their irresponsible captain misled them? Or is this all a part of some greater strategy?

Volume 1
An Exceptional Episode
The shooting war is over. The undefeated Soyokaze has returned home and all should be right in the universe. It's not... the Raalgon Empire has created an incredibly powerful and destabilizing new weapon system. With the urging of the Prime Minister, they're about to deploy it and when the UPSF forces realize this the choice is clear. These are desperate times... The shape of the future will be determined by the actions of very unlikely allies. Their choices will be difficult and their situation may well be hopeless. Any hope for galactic peace rests on the most irresponsible man in history. Perhaps Tylor will stay awake for this. This is the first in a set of made-for-videotape (OVA) releases made shortly after the "Irresponsible Captain Tylor" TV series concluded production, and is sometimes known by fans as "Tylor's War". They deal with events that occur about six months after the conclusion of the Raalgon war.

Volume 2
With the war mostly behind the crew of the Soyokaze as well as the Raalgon royalty, the action shifts to a series of sidestories which explore some of the principal characters in more depth. These next tapes focus more specifically on so called "character portraits", although they do link the previous "Exceptional Episode" with the final "Here to Eternity". Many years ago, Azalyn's best friend in all the universe was a similar aged boy named Ruu. Also royalty of a sort, they shared the way that children do and both pledged that one day they would rule fairly. Both also agreed that one day they would meet again. While on vacation years later, Azalyn encounters a mute and unresponsive Ruu along with a family retainer... he's been like this since Azalyn's father ordered the insurrection lead by Ruu's family to be crushed. Should he regain his memories, he will once again lead the charge and war may begin once more. Dom realizes this. The Ashran people realize this. The Raalgon court recognizes this. Azalyn, however... This episode marks the return of Amy Howard (Nova, from Star Blazers) to anime voice acting. Also included in this volume is the Kojiro sidestory detailing the testing and implementation of a prototype fighter... and the testing of his own resolve and abilities!

Volume 3
So far, we've learned very little about Karl Bjorn Andressen other than he's popular with the ladies and gets the job done when he's called upon to fight. Now, we learn that he too has a past, when the Marines are called upon to evaluate the newest battlesuit for the UPSF. More capable than their existing hammers, this is a technological leap forward which will revolutionize warfare. Still, Andressen knows a bit more about them than anyone else does... Also contains "White Christmas", where it's Christmas, Yuriko is waiting and Tylor is... late.

Volume 4
With the war mostly behind the crew of the Soyokaze, as well as the Raalgon royalty, the action shifts to a series of "sidestories" which explore some of the principal characters in more depth. It appears the time of relaxation from the many battles is over... and that someone is following Yuriko! Of course, it could be the product of an overactive imagination (which she's never had before) or a series of coincidences (which seems even less likely). It could also be that someone... either a UPSF agent or a Raalgon spy... is out to make the relative peace a thing of the past! And, best of all... here's your chance to see Makato Yamamoto: Action Hero!

Volume 5
From Here to Eternity
Something's not right in the Universe: UPSF ships are being destroyed and it looks like the Raalgon forces are to blame. It would be a logical conclusion that they're behind this - it's no secret they're not happy about the war's resolution any more than the UPSF is. Worse, there was that very recent situation with the weapon developed in Raalgon laboratories first seen in "An Exceptional Episode." Then, there's that situation with Yuriko in "If Only the Skies Would Clear" where she was kidnapped by Raalgon agents and forced to rewrite her report. It certainly looks like the shooting is going to start up once again, and this time it won't end until both sides are utterly destroyed. Jockeying for position in this upcoming war, neither side has given their situation a great deal of thought... but it appears to each that the UPSF might have an advantage this time around. Having developed their own secret weapon and now being able to deploy it, the UPSF has the Raalgon forces concerned. This new weapon is almost as destabilizing as the Raalgon anti-shield weapon... but it renders most of the UPSF's ships obsolete. For some in the high command, though, there is a tiny nagging voice in the back of their minds. Could something else be going on here? Find out in the final volume of the Irresponsible Captain Tylor!

According to the Anime Movie Guide by Helen McCarthy (page 178). ISBN# 0-87951-781-6...

The homage to the sixties movie series [Irresponsible Man] in the title and lead chara Justy Ueki Tylor's name: he was Hitoshi Ueki, and the kanji for Hitoshi can be read as Taira. The first series was made specifically for both TV showing and direct-to-video release.

According to Wikipedia...

Originally a series of novels by Japanese author Hitoshi Yoshiyoka, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (original Japanese name: "Musekinin Kanchou Tylor") was developed for television by some of Japan's strongest studios, including Big West, King Record, and VAP. The series ran on Japanese television in 1993-1994, and received strong enough ratings that a follow on direct-to-video, "OVA" (Original Video Animation), series was produced in 1996. The OVA series follows on to the TV series, providing additional backstory for the characters in a story arc format. Individual characters are focused upon between two "bookend" two-part movies.

Tylor, the most un-captain-like-captain ever, jumps head-first into one bizarre situation after another. In my favorite episode, "The Longest Day In Space", Tylor enters a war and manages to allow both sides to win. My second favorite episode is "A Gentleman's Word Is His Bond", where Tylor becomes a model captain for one day. My favorite episodes are in the TV series, but, the OVA series is also good. I used to have all eight subtitled TV series VHS volumes. I enjoyed this series so much that I repurchased the TV series on DVD and also picked up the OVA series on DVD as well. I gave Irresponsible Captain Tylor a 5 out of 5.

I picked up three Irresponsible Captain Tylor CDs. The Irresponsible Captain Tylor TV soundtrack CD has 15 tracks and I liked 7 tracks for a total of 46.6% which works out to a rating of 2 out of 4. The Irresponsible Captain Tylor OVA soundtrack CD has 40 tracks and I liked 5 tracks for a total of 12.5% which works out to a rating of 1 out of 4. It should be noted that many tracks are less than one minute, with the shortest track being only eight seconds. The Irresponsible Captain Tylor Song Collection CD has 20 tracks and I liked 5 tracks for a total of 25% which works out to a rating of 2 out of 4. Despite the large number of short tracks in the OVA soundtrack, my favorite track of all three CDs, is the instrumental track, Inevitable War on the OVA soundtrack.