Armiger Entertainment kicked off a Kickstarter campaign Friday to fund a pilot episode for Tenchi Galaxy, positioning the project as a spiritual successor to the original Tenchi Universe anime series. The campaign is aiming to raise $400,000 by September 8, and has already exceeded half its goal with over $220,000 pledged from nearly 1,300 backers.

The 30-minute pilot will include English audio and subtitles in English, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. Backers can receive the pilot on standard Blu-ray, a Special Edition SteelBook release, or as a digital download. The campaign notes that the pilot specifically aims to greenlight a full Tenchi Muyo! series down the line.

Stretch goals include adding a Japanese audio track ($450K), a 4K version ($475K), and a making-of documentary ($500K). Additional perks range from posters and art books to vinyl soundtracks and even a VHS release of the pilot.

Director Hiroshi Negishi, who helmed the original Tenchi Universe series and several Tenchi films, returns to direct the pilot. Tenchi Muyo! creator Masaki Kajishima has personally blessed the project, according to the campaign. AIC president Tōru Miura serves as executive producer.

The English voice cast includes returning talent like Petrea Burchard as Ryoko, Matt K. Miller as Tenchi, and Cristina Vee as Ayeka. The lineup also features Sherry Lynn reprising her roles as Sasami and Detective Kiyone, Rebecca Forstadt as Mihoshi, Kate T. Vogt as Washu, and Debi Derryberry as Ryo-Ohki. Notable additions include VTuber Nerissa Ravencroft voicing new character Rise, the Space Pirate.

Armiger Entertainment previously crowdfunded the "Tenchi Muyo! American Omnibus Edition," a collected reprint of a 1997 comic book series. The company was founded by Wesley Vaughn, a podcast contributor and co-author of an upcoming book on the Tenchi Muyo! franchise's history.